I’m a VPN expert and these are the top 5 services for streaming

Who should use NordVPN?

For my money, NordVPN is the best all-around VPN for streaming. In my latest round of testing, it worked with every major streaming service I threw at it, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and Apple TV. Pair that with its excellent speeds and it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who regularly streams with a VPN.

NordVPN was also the fastest VPN in my testing, retaining an average of 75 percent of my base download speed. That’s plenty for smooth HD and 4K streaming, even when connecting to servers farther away.

It also has a huge global server network, so you have plenty of locations to choose from. Better yet, NordVPN lets you pick individual servers, which comes in handy if you ever have trouble with a particular connection. Streaming access can vary depending on the server or region, but NordVPN has been one of the most consistently reliable services I’ve tested.

NordVPN: Further considerations

NordVPN also includes SmartPlay, which combines VPN protection with SmartDNS to make streaming a little easier. It works automatically through the NordVPN app, so there’s nothing extra you need to set up. NordVPN also offers SmartDNS separately for devices that don’t support VPN apps, such as some smart TVs.

Outside of streaming, NordVPN comes with a long list of privacy and security features if you subscribe to higher tiers. These include Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, Meshnet, ad- and tracker-blocking, malware protection, a password manager, and Link Checker. You probably won’t use most of these just to watch Netflix, but they make NordVPN a much more well-rounded VPN overall.

The main drawback is still the price. NordVPN’s monthly plans are expensive, and renewal prices can jump quite a bit once your introductory deal ends.

Who should use ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is right up there with NordVPN as my recommendation for most people. Its great server spread means you’ll likely find a country to connect to no matter where you are. Also, as one of our top VPN’s overall, ExpressVPN will serve you just as well with non-streaming activities as it will unblocking Netflix.

It promises that Netflix will work with every server it has, and our testing showed this to be true. ExpressVPN also offers lightning-fast speeds and the recent Turbo upgrade to it’s Lightway protocol means that it’s now even faster.

ExpressVPN: Further considerations

ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries and has extremely broad app compatibility so no matter what device you want to use it on, you can bet it will work. The service also comes with a good set of additional features such as ad- and tracker-blockers and a built-in password manager. I also believe that ExpressVPN’s app is the best designed VPN app on the market and it’s extremely easy to use even for novices.

The service is on the pricier side but it recently revamped its membership model offering multiple subscription tiers so you can pick the plan that works best for your price range. The lower tiers however don’t always come with quite as many extra features as competitors such as NordVPN or Surfshark.

Who should use CyberGhost VPN?

If you’re looking for the greatest server spread with the most server locations to choose from, then CyberGhost VPN is the ticket. For those who travel a lot or just need access to a wide-ranging server network all over the world, CyberGhost is more than worth your time and money.

When using a VPN to stream Netflix or another service, having a large pool of servers to choose from is a huge benefit. This is because streaming services and VPN providers are in a constant cat-and-mouse game for access to content. And if you want variety and options in the server locations from your VPN, then CyberGhost VPN can’t be beat.

It offers a staggering 11,500+ servers for users to connect to — more than twice as many as most other top services. These servers aren’t all concentrated in the U.S. or Europe either. They boast an equally impressive international server spread covering 100+ countries across the world. It even provides optimized servers to users for various needs such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. The streaming-optimized servers even specify which services they work with so you can rest assured you’ll have access to your favorite streaming platform anywhere you go.

CyberGhost VPN: Further considerations

CyberGhost has an intuitive and easy-to-use Windows app with good functionality. It lacks some of the power-user features that other VPNs on this list provide, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you’re just looking to use the service to stream.

Additionally, I did find that some of the servers were faster than others, with servers located in Europe having excellent speeds while servers in Asia not so much. The service provides so many servers, though, that if you encounter a slow connection, there is likely another server in the same country with faster speeds. All-in-all, in my testing I found that the speeds were good enough to stream on practically any and all of CyberGhost’s servers.

Who should use Surfshark?

Surfshark does most everything well for a very low price and that makes it an excellent option for those looking to unblock Netflix without breaking the bank. It has blazing-fast speeds, a robust feature set, and excellent privacy credentials thanks to its no-log policy and multiple independent audits. A subscription comes with all of your standard VPN features, plus highly customizable multi-hop connections, identity protection tools, and antivirus/malware protection. Every single server I’ve ever tested with Surfshark was able to unblock Netflix and any other streaming service I accessed.

But the best thing about Surfshark is the price. With a subscription to its 2-year plan you’ll get comprehensive protection for just over $2 per month. That’s ridiculously cheap for a premium VPN service. Surfshark is a great all-around VPN option for most people. That being said, those who don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a VPN to access Netflix will find that Surfshark checks all of the boxes. If you want to save some money and get one of the best VPNs on the market, look no further.

Surfshark: Further considerations

While the price for long-term plans are very affordable, a monthly subscription to Surfshark is quite expensive. I typically advise against long-term VPN plans as the market changes so frequently, but Surfshark is a rare exception. It’s an established company with a reliable track-record and consistently good service. Just be aware that it’s only considered ‘cheap’ if you’re willing to opt for a long-term plan.

Something else that potential users should be aware of is that Surfshark is based out of the Netherlands. The country itself has strong personal privacy laws, but it’s a member nation of the 14 Eyes Data Sharing Alliance, meaning the government could require Surfshark to share user data if asked. The company maintains a strict no-logs policy so this shouldn’t matter, but it’s still something privacy-conscious users should be aware of before committing.

Who should use Proton VPN?

Unlike the rest of the VPNs on this list, you won’t have to pay a dime to use Proton VPN’s free tier. The free version specifically appeals to those on a tight budget, or those who want to stream safely and securely online without paying another subscription fee. Whether you opt for the free or paid version, Proton VPN is a good option for anyone.

It does restrict you to a one-device limit and access to 10 servers located across the world. These restrictions are fairly common among other free VPNs, but where Proton really shines is in the fact that it has no data or time limits and doesn’t even serve you ads.

In my testing, I had no problems accessing Netflix or other streaming services on Proton VPN’s free U.S. servers, but I did encounter a few blocks on servers in other parts of the world. Still, these results may vary in the ever-changing game of cat-and-mouse that VPNs play with streaming services. Especially with a free VPN, this is just something that comes with the territory. There are currently no better options for streaming unlimited content with a free VPN, and certainly none with as trustworthy of a reputation as Proton VPN.

Proton VPN: Further considerations

Proton offers a whole suite of great services including Proton Mail, a privacy-focused email service, so it’s very easy to integrate the VPN into the Proton ecosystem if you so wish.

Proton VPN is open-source and has undergone multiple independent audits confirming its no-logs policy — including the free VPN, as well. The premium version’s monthly price is a bit expensive though, so it’s probably best to try out the free version first before considering an upgrade.