The best BBC iPlayer VPN

If you’re outside of the UK but still want to watch the best of British TV, you’ll need one of the best BBC iPlayer VPNs to do so.

By using one of the best VPNs, you’ll be able to spoof your location to the UK and unblock BBC iPlayer without being detected.

We’ve tested dozens of VPNs to make sure they are actually able to access BBC iPlayer, as well as taking a look at their speeds, their server spread, their ease of use, and any extra features (if they have any) to determine the top 5 VPNs for BBC iPlayer.

I’ll be going in-depth into these VPNs, but if you want a quick answer, check out the top 3 BBC iPlayer VPNs below: NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN.

The 3 best BBC iPlayer VPNs at a glance

NordVPN: the best overall BBC iPlayer VPN
NordVPN performed excellently in my streaming tests, unblocking BBC iPlayer with ease. It also has tons of handy cybersecurity extra features, like protection from tracking and ads, as well as malware, phishing attempts and scams. It’s decent value for money, too, with prices starting at $3.39 per month ($81.36 plus tax up front for 24 months’ coverage). It even has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.

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Surfshark: the best cheap BBC iPlayer VPN
Surfshark is a super powerful VPN that doesn’t have a super high price, with prices starting at $1.99 per month ($53 plus tax up front for 27 months’ coverage). Not only did it unblock BBC iPlayer, it also unblocked every streaming site I tested it with. Coupled with excellent speeds and simple yet powerful apps, Surfshark is a great choice. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out risk-free.

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ExpressVPN: the easiest to use BBC iPlayer VPN
ExpressVPN has simple apps that are consistent across all platforms, making it one of the easiest VPNs to use. This means that no matter where you are, you’ll be able to stream BBC iPlayer with ease. Prices start from $4.99 per month ($139 paid up front, for 28 months’ coverage), and it also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

View DealHow we chose the best BBC iPlayer VPNs

Why you can trust Tom’s Guide

Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

We test whether or not VPNs support unblocking in multiple different ways. First, we use a semi-automated tool built by our in-house VPN tester. This gives us an overview of whether or not they are able to access streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer.

However, the tests don’t stop here. I’ve individually tested each VPN on this list to make sure it is able to access BBC iPlayer in real-world scenarios on my personal devices – a Dell laptop and an iPhone 11. This means I’ve got a good idea of exactly what using these VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer is like during streaming sessions.

To do this, I select a UK-based server from my chosen VPN’s server list, then attempt to stream content on BBC iPlayer (e.g. Doctor Who). If the VPN was detected, I switched to a different server. If this didn’t solve the issues, I classed this as the VPN being unable to unblock BBC iPlayer.

This wasn’t the end of the test, though, as if any VPN was unable to unblock BBC iPlayer, I contacted their support to see if they had a fix for the issue. I then factored the level of support I received into that provider’s placing on this list.

Other factors also went into the ranking of the VPN services on this list. One in particular is speed, as high VPN connection speeds mean that your base connection won’t be slowed down, keeping your streams reliable. So, all of the VPNs were tested on a 1 Gbps line to determine their top speeds.

The amount of servers and locations the VPN providers have in the UK were also taken into consideration, as the more servers the provider has, the less likely is that your VPN use will be detected.

I’ve also taken a look at the level of privacy and security these VPNs offer. While this may not be the first thing you look at if you’re looking for a VPN for BBC iPlayer, it is integral in ensuring a VPN performs as expected. Plus, it’s an important factor in keeping you and your data safe online.

The final factor I’ve considered is what additional features these VPNs offer beyond their streaming support and a strong, secure connection, whether this is ad and malware blocking or a free password manager. While these are definitely bonuses rather than must-have features, they do still factor into how appealing a VPN is for certain users.

Read more about how we test VPNs for an in-depth look at our testing process.