BBC iPlayer Abroad

BBC iPlayer VPN.

BBC is the largest broadcaster in the world, employing over 20k people and has been around close to a hundred years, making it the oldest one as well.  As of 2007, UK viewers can access all of BBC’s content online via the broadcasters’ streaming service – BBC iPlayer. Although its easy for anyone in the UK to access the iPlayer, due to licensing laws, the iPlayer is geo-blocked in other regions, making it difficult to watch BBC iPlayer abroad. Here are the 7 best VPN’s that let you watch BBC iPlayer, no matter your location.

Find out more, further down in this article, but for those in a rush, here are our 3 short-listed best BBC iPlayer VPNs.

Top 3 BBC iPlayer VPNs

What Makes a Good VPN for BBC iPlayer?

No matter which VPN you find is the best for your needs, there are a few factors you should keep in mind when picking one specifically for BBC iPlayer:

  • Streaming Speeds – Speed is the most important aspect of a quality and reliable VPN service. A VPN that can unblock the iPlayer is useless if the streaming speeds are so slow that the content is barely watchable. All of the above-listed VPN’s are fast, though some are faster than others.
  • Privacy and Anonymity – Although many users put this at the bottom of their list when streaming online, it is worth noting that protecting your anonymity and digital privacy should be one of your top concerns. These VPN’ provide excellent privacy policies, though not all of them have the same security features, so make sure you pick accordingly.
  • Price and Value for Money – Finally, it’s worth taking into account that not all of these services cost the same and that some VPN’s offer more features if you decide to opt for a more long-term option. Some offer a free trial period, while others have a money-back guarantee. The very best VPN’s tend to cost more than the rest, however, the cheaper ones can be a good option if you’re tight on budget or just need to watch a quick episode of Eastenders. There isn’t a poor VPN on this list, it all depends on what types of features you want to prioritize.

There are many VPN services you can choose from, so make sure you shop around for a bit before committing to a certain provider. No matter which VPN you choose for your BBC iPlayer needs, any of the 7 above listed VPN’s are a great option if you want a secure and private service.

Best 3 BBC iPlayer VPNs

ExpressVPN Review
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Widely regarded as one of the best VPN’s on the market, ExpressVPN has 7 UK dedicated servers. With high internet speeds and zero connection drops, you can stream the BBC iPlayer in HD. It’s easy to use and reliable plus, the provider has a 24/7 customer support service you can contact, in case you have any issues with their service. Using ExpressVPN, you can simultaneously connect up to 3 devices, meaning you can stream on multiple devices in your household. To round all of this up, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee, which basically means you can use their services for free for a whole month.

Besides from being a premier choice for the iPlayer, ExpressVPN supports P2P file sharing and is powerful enough to unblock geo-restricted websites all around the world. Though the company doesn’t blatantly state they support file torrenting, all of their features, from unlimited bandwidth, high speeds, and complete user anonymity do give the impression that ExpressVPN fully supports all manners of torrenting.

This VPN also comes with a military-grade encryption, built in kill switch and a strict no logs policy. Located in the British Virgin Islands, they have almost no information regarding their business, owners or employees.

NordVPN
NordVPN

NordVPN

Out of all the VPN services featured on the list, NordVPN probably offers the best value for your money. The provider claims to be ‘The most Advanced VPN’, and with a service like theirs, it’s hard to disagree. It offers blazing internet speeds that will let you stream in HD without any issues and is overall a fast, secure and very affordable VPN for BBC iPlayer. Unlimited bandwidth and over 5,700+ servers around the world, NordVPN is a great choice, not only for the iPlayer but for other geo-blocked websites like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.

NordVPN is also at the top of the list when it comes to P2P file sharing and torrenting. You can quickly share and download content through their Peer-to-Peer network. Being strictly committed to the privacy and safety of their users, NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs of your online activity, nor do they track what websites you visit while using their VPN. They are also one of the few VPN providers that offer Bitcoin payment options, for users who want to go for full anonymity when using a Virtual Private Network.

It supports Windows, Linux, and Mac computers and can be used on mobile and tablet devices, as it has its own iPhone and Android app. This allows you to access the iPlayer anywhere and anytime you want, all you need is a stable internet connection.

Private VPN
PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is one of the smaller and lesser-known providers included in this list. It hosts over 80 servers, 5 of which are located in the UK. PrivateVPN perfectly does the trick of unblocking geo-restricted websites around the world, including the BBC iPlayer. It comes at a really affordable price, complete zero-logs privacy policy, and a very professional and responsible customer support service.

PrivateVPN is a cheap choice for accessing geo-blocked content, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try their services risk-free. If you’re looking for a fast and reliable VPN for iPlayer, PrivateVPN is a fantastic choice.

Other Great VPNs for BBC iPlayer

CyberGhost

The main feature that makes CyberGhost great is the VPN’s ability to unblock content. This means that you can stream Netflix, Hulu or any other geo-blocked site, without any issues. This especially applies to streaming content from the BBC iPlayer, as there are nearly 300 UK –based servers. Its one of the most capable VPN’s for the iPlayer, with a settings, mode specially made for it.

If you’re worried about privacy and security issues, CyberGhost has got you fully covered. They use AES-256 bit encryption and offer DNS and IP leak protection to ensure your IP address won’t be exposed at any time. CyberGhost is one of the safest VPN’s on the market, as they don’t keep any logs or data record of user activity. To top all of this off, they are registered in Romania, a country that has really lenient online censorship and privacy laws.

PureVPN

PureVPN has an expansive network that numbers more than 750 servers in 140 countries around the world. They have an easy to use and intuitive app that supports 6 protocols and 256-bit encryption. PureVPN is an excellent choice for the BBC iPlayer, as they host over 50 servers in the UK alone. Their dedicated servers and unlimited bandwidth packages allow you ultra-fast streaming and instant access to BBC’s online video player.

While PureVPN does receive some flak for its relatively slow download speeds, if you plan on using their services for streaming, there are more than enough for your everyday needs. They have a 15-day money back guarantee, so you don’t have to worry about your money if you don’t find their VPN service sufficient.

VyprVPN

Unlike the other VPN’s listed above, VyprVPN operates completely on their own and without any third-parties. They use their own hardware and servers and run their own network. On top of this, they also implement a proprietary Chameleon protocol that easily bypasses VPN blocks and gives you a reliable and trustworthy unblocking service. This works excellently on online streaming services like the BBC iPlayer, and on websites like Netflix and Hulu as well.

If you’re looking for a long-term VPN solution that offers more than just streaming, VyprVPN is a great option, as it possesses a global server network that numbers more than 200,000 unique IP addresses. This VPN provider doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee to their users, as they operate under a no-refund policy. However, there is a free 3-day trial period you can use to test the service before purchasing it.

SaferVPN

SaferVPN uses specially dedicated servers for the UK and US. The UK servers allow them to unblock the BBC iPlayer in full HD without breaking a sweat, while the US servers unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime and many other streaming websites. Their UK, EU and US servers offer great speeds at a very budget-friendly price rate. Their service packages offer unlimited server switching, as well as unlimited bandwidth. The torrenting possibilities are available, though limited.

Getting started with SaferVPN is very easy, as this service has one of the most user-friendly interfaces out of all the VPN’s listed above. They have dedicated apps available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, as well as a browser extension for Chrome. Created with their users in mind, the apps are simple to use and offer unrestricted and secure internet access with just a single tap or click. If you encounter any issues using their service, you have live chat and email support available at all hours of the week.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve helped you find the right VPN to watch BBC iPlayer and hopefully you’re sitting back watching the next episode of Poldark. However remember that you must have a paid UK TV licence to watch BBC and although its a grey area when watching abroad, at least you’ve done your bit to help pay for the service.

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