It’s not all about staying private online, though – with a VPN for the UK you’ll also be able to access BBC iPlayer absolutely anywhere, and even unblock the UK’s excellent library of exclusive Netflix hits (or any other global library, for that matter). However, finding a VPN that can do all that can be tricky. That’s why we’ve tested just about every worthwhile service on the market from our base in the UK to make sure we can recommend the very best UK VPNs available today.
What makes a great UK VPN?
You’ll want to seek out a UK VPN that’s got hard-as-nails security alongside great streaming performance and swift connection speeds. List-topper ExpressVPN (read our full ExpressVPN review for more) ticks all the boxes above, and combines that with simple yet powerful apps that make it a doddle to stay protected on pretty much any device you own. Having good security means that your ISP – and therefore anyone it divulges information to – will have no idea what you’re accessing online. Plus, a VPN for the UK with proven no-logging status won’t be able to spill the beans to any law enforcement should they want to investigate, because they’ll have nothing about you stored. Great connection speeds and streaming power go hand in hand – there’s no point in being able to access overseas Netflix if it’s buffering every five seconds. Also, for Brits abroad, it’s definitely worth going for a service with a good selection of servers and locations to ensure you’ll have a backup or two, should one not perform as expected.
The best UK VPNs today
ExpressVPN is quite simply the best UK VPN because it provides everything you need in a tidy package. You’ll have access to slick mobile apps as well as options for Windows PCs and Macs, and there’s excellent 24/7 support in case anything doesn’t work as it should Privacy is a major priority for ExpressVPN, and with any plan you’ll be covered by industry-standard 256-bit encryption. You’ll also have a good selection of protocols to choose from, meaning you can choose to prioritise speed or security. ExpressVPN is able to access just about any streaming service you can think of, ranging from BBC iPlayer Netflix, and just about everything else in between. No matter where you are in the world, you won’t have to miss out on a thing. Backing all that up are excellent connection speeds. Connections are virtually unaffected when using UK servers, and remain swift even when connected to farther-flung ones. That’s great if you’re looking to stream in HD, or torrent large files swiftly. Although ExpressVPN might be marginally more expensive than others, it more than makes up for that by offering the most well-rounded UK VPN service on the market. With great apps, excellent speeds and top-class support for when anything goes wrong plus an audited privacy policy, it’s the perfect option for anyone looking for a UK VPN. Possibly the biggest name on the scene, NordVPN is a great choice for those looking for a security-focused UK VPN. Recently independently audited for the second time by PwC, the provider has again proved itself to be reliably secure – you can read the full NordVPN review for more info. Usability is good too, as Nord unblocks most streaming services, most importantly BBC iPlayer. Netflix performance is second to none, and you can rely on Nord to get you streaming what you need. You’ll have access to over 5,500 servers worldwide to choose from, so no matter where you are – or where you want to appear to be – you’ll be able to find a good connection. On desktop Nord’s apps are attractive and easy to use, and you’ll be able to change a number of settings to tailor your experience. For example, you’ll have a choice of protocols and a kill switch to protect you if your VPN connection drops. Mobile apps are functional too, but the interface is a little clunky. While the map-based location picker works well on the larger screen of a computer, on mobile it can leave even the deftest swiper feeling fat-fingered. In practice, though, that’s not a huge issue, as you’ll usually just set and forget. For those who want to both ensure their data is as safe as can be and have access to the world’s streaming media, NordVPN is a great choice as a UK VPN. Head over to the NordVPN website (opens in new tab) to sign up
Here’s how to watch UK TV abroad (opens in new tab)
In our Surfshark review, we found it to be a seriously good-value proposition for those seeking a balance between price and performance, and available for less than £2 a month, it delivers unbeatable value for money while providing a fully-featured UK VPN service. What stands out about Surfshark is its great streaming power, and it’s a great choice if you want to watch UK TV abroad. Unblocking BBC iPlayer along with Netflix and the rest, it performs better than a number of more expensive services. Also, this unlocking ability is clearly advertised on its website, meaning as a business Surfshark should be committed to maintaining users’ access to content. Surfshark’s clients are also well thought out, with apps across all devices sharing a similar, stable interface that makes it easy to select your server. It’s also easy to find and change settings, which include different protocols and features like ‘Double Hop’, which routes your traffic through two servers to further obfuscate your location. For the price it’s hard not to recommend Surfshark as a cheap VPN – especially if you’re after a UK VPN to help you stream what you want when you’re abroad. Head over to the Surfshark website (opens in new tab) to sign up Hugely improved in the past year or so, Proton VPN is a privacy-focused provider that’s upped its game and can now really compete with the big guns. Standout features include its Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through multiple servers to completely obfuscate your activity. A fully-audited privacy policy and powerful, super stable apps and come together to deliver well-rounded product. What’s most impressive, though, is the fact that Proton VPN is a seriously capable streaming VPN. With access to the UK, US, and Canadian libraries, it’s an excellent choice as a Netflix VPN and BBC iPlayer VPN, and also for unblocking Disney+, Prime Video and tons more. The only issue is that Proton VPN is a little more expensive than some providers, and you need to go with the Plus plan to get all the benefits. However, there’s a class-leading free VPN to test out the software, and special offers drop the price significantly. All in, Proton VPN is a powerful UK VPN, and we highly recommend it. Sign up now on the Proton VPN website (opens in new tab) For streaming and torrenting fans, CyberGhost offers a specialised UK VPN that’s very useful, and is used by over 10 million people worldwide. As you’ll discover in our CyberGhost VPN review, the Romania-based provider has a huge range of servers worldwide, virtually guaranteeing users a decent connection wherever they are. However, one of our favourite features is CyberGhost’s filtering system. If you’re looking for a server that’s best suited to, say, streaming Netflix, you can filter servers to only display those that will deliver the best Netflix experience. Unfortunately, though, in our last round of testing CyberGhost failed to get access to iPlayer, which does make it less ideal for the UK that those above. CyberGhost’s privacy policy appears to be very positive, claiming not to log any identifying information about any of its users – but while that’s all well and good, we’d love to see it undertake an independent audit to prove this. Also, CyberGhost’s support system isn’t nearly as good as ExpressVPN’s, and while you won’t be left in the lurch if something goes wrong, it’s possible it’ll take a little longer for any problems to be rectified. All in all, though, CyberGhost is a great value UK VPN that’s good for streaming and only has a couple of minor downsides – it’s certainly one to keep in mind. Head over to the CyberGhost website to sign up (opens in new tab)
Read about the best iPhone VPNCheck out the best torrenting VPN
Other Brits might just want to have access to overseas streaming media. While we’ve got iPlayer and the UK library on Netflix, having a VPN can give you access to the world’s media, including foreign Netflix and even services like Hulu if you’ve got a subscription. Finally, if you’re abroad, you might want to hop onto iPlayer, but you’ll find that you’ll be unable to access it. iPlayer also has some of the strictest VPN blocking tech in the streaming industry, so only the best can bypass this and get you watching abroad. Thankfully, every VPN on this list can do that for you. Now you just have to pick which one to go with. One of the best is Proton VPN Free (opens in new tab) which, although it’s still nowhere near as good as the paid product. While useful for very infrequent use, they’re no good for streaming and torrenting, and you’ll soon find yourself on the hunt for the best UK VPN – even if it’ll cost you a couple of quid a month. A VPN can relocate you to any country you want, and the best will do this in a way that’s undetectable by the streaming service. Once you’ve done that, you’re free to watch whatever you want. While there’s not a huge amount anyway, the most well-known UK-based VPN is HideMyAss. HMA doesn’t often feature on our roundups of top VPN services, but that’s because the competition is just so strong. However, while it’s UK-based, it does have a fairly robust no-logging policy, which means that even if the UK government decided to stick their oar in and demand information, HMA wouldn’t have anything to hand over. A no logging policy is especially important for a VPN based in country with stricter data laws – the UK being one of them – so when you’re making your decision that should be factored in.
title: “The Best Uk Vpn In 2022” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Nancy Wynn”
It’s not all about staying private online, though – with a VPN for the UK you’ll also be able to access BBC iPlayer absolutely anywhere, and even unblock the UK’s excellent library of exclusive Netflix hits (or any other global library, for that matter). However, finding a VPN that can do all that can be tricky. That’s why we’ve tested just about every worthwhile service on the market from our base in the UK to make sure we can recommend the very best UK VPNs available today.
What makes a great UK VPN?
You’ll want to seek out a UK VPN that’s got hard-as-nails security alongside great streaming performance and swift connection speeds. List-topper ExpressVPN (read our full ExpressVPN review for more) ticks all the boxes above, and combines that with simple yet powerful apps that make it a doddle to stay protected on pretty much any device you own. Having good security means that your ISP – and therefore anyone it divulges information to – will have no idea what you’re accessing online. Plus, a VPN for the UK with proven no-logging status won’t be able to spill the beans to any law enforcement should they want to investigate, because they’ll have nothing about you stored. Great connection speeds and streaming power go hand in hand – there’s no point in being able to access overseas Netflix if it’s buffering every five seconds. Also, for Brits abroad, it’s definitely worth going for a service with a good selection of servers and locations to ensure you’ll have a backup or two, should one not perform as expected.
The best UK VPNs today
ExpressVPN is quite simply the best UK VPN because it provides everything you need in a tidy package. You’ll have access to slick mobile apps as well as options for Windows PCs and Macs, and there’s excellent 24/7 support in case anything doesn’t work as it should Privacy is a major priority for ExpressVPN, and with any plan you’ll be covered by industry-standard 256-bit encryption. You’ll also have a good selection of protocols to choose from, meaning you can choose to prioritise speed or security. ExpressVPN is able to access just about any streaming service you can think of, ranging from BBC iPlayer Netflix, and just about everything else in between. No matter where you are in the world, you won’t have to miss out on a thing. Backing all that up are excellent connection speeds. Connections are virtually unaffected when using UK servers, and remain swift even when connected to farther-flung ones. That’s great if you’re looking to stream in HD, or torrent large files swiftly. Although ExpressVPN might be marginally more expensive than others, it more than makes up for that by offering the most well-rounded UK VPN service on the market. With great apps, excellent speeds and top-class support for when anything goes wrong plus an audited privacy policy, it’s the perfect option for anyone looking for a UK VPN. Possibly the biggest name on the scene, NordVPN is a great choice for those looking for a security-focused UK VPN. Recently independently audited for the second time by PwC, the provider has again proved itself to be reliably secure – you can read the full NordVPN review for more info. Usability is good too, as Nord unblocks most streaming services, most importantly BBC iPlayer. Netflix performance is second to none, and you can rely on Nord to get you streaming what you need. You’ll have access to over 5,500 servers worldwide to choose from, so no matter where you are – or where you want to appear to be – you’ll be able to find a good connection. On desktop Nord’s apps are attractive and easy to use, and you’ll be able to change a number of settings to tailor your experience. For example, you’ll have a choice of protocols and a kill switch to protect you if your VPN connection drops. Mobile apps are functional too, but the interface is a little clunky. While the map-based location picker works well on the larger screen of a computer, on mobile it can leave even the deftest swiper feeling fat-fingered. In practice, though, that’s not a huge issue, as you’ll usually just set and forget. For those who want to both ensure their data is as safe as can be and have access to the world’s streaming media, NordVPN is a great choice as a UK VPN. Head over to the NordVPN website (opens in new tab) to sign up
Here’s how to watch UK TV abroad (opens in new tab)
In our Surfshark review, we found it to be a seriously good-value proposition for those seeking a balance between price and performance, and available for less than £2 a month, it delivers unbeatable value for money while providing a fully-featured UK VPN service. What stands out about Surfshark is its great streaming power, and it’s a great choice if you want to watch UK TV abroad. Unblocking BBC iPlayer along with Netflix and the rest, it performs better than a number of more expensive services. Also, this unlocking ability is clearly advertised on its website, meaning as a business Surfshark should be committed to maintaining users’ access to content. Surfshark’s clients are also well thought out, with apps across all devices sharing a similar, stable interface that makes it easy to select your server. It’s also easy to find and change settings, which include different protocols and features like ‘Double Hop’, which routes your traffic through two servers to further obfuscate your location. For the price it’s hard not to recommend Surfshark as a cheap VPN – especially if you’re after a UK VPN to help you stream what you want when you’re abroad. Head over to the Surfshark website (opens in new tab) to sign up Hugely improved in the past year or so, Proton VPN is a privacy-focused provider that’s upped its game and can now really compete with the big guns. Standout features include its Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through multiple servers to completely obfuscate your activity. A fully-audited privacy policy and powerful, super stable apps and come together to deliver well-rounded product. What’s most impressive, though, is the fact that Proton VPN is a seriously capable streaming VPN. With access to the UK, US, and Canadian libraries, it’s an excellent choice as a Netflix VPN and BBC iPlayer VPN, and also for unblocking Disney+, Prime Video and tons more. The only issue is that Proton VPN is a little more expensive than some providers, and you need to go with the Plus plan to get all the benefits. However, there’s a class-leading free VPN to test out the software, and special offers drop the price significantly. All in, Proton VPN is a powerful UK VPN, and we highly recommend it. Sign up now on the Proton VPN website (opens in new tab) For streaming and torrenting fans, CyberGhost offers a specialised UK VPN that’s very useful, and is used by over 10 million people worldwide. As you’ll discover in our CyberGhost VPN review, the Romania-based provider has a huge range of servers worldwide, virtually guaranteeing users a decent connection wherever they are. However, one of our favourite features is CyberGhost’s filtering system. If you’re looking for a server that’s best suited to, say, streaming Netflix, you can filter servers to only display those that will deliver the best Netflix experience. Unfortunately, though, in our last round of testing CyberGhost failed to get access to iPlayer, which does make it less ideal for the UK that those above. CyberGhost’s privacy policy appears to be very positive, claiming not to log any identifying information about any of its users – but while that’s all well and good, we’d love to see it undertake an independent audit to prove this. Also, CyberGhost’s support system isn’t nearly as good as ExpressVPN’s, and while you won’t be left in the lurch if something goes wrong, it’s possible it’ll take a little longer for any problems to be rectified. All in all, though, CyberGhost is a great value UK VPN that’s good for streaming and only has a couple of minor downsides – it’s certainly one to keep in mind. Head over to the CyberGhost website to sign up (opens in new tab)
Read about the best iPhone VPNCheck out the best torrenting VPN
Other Brits might just want to have access to overseas streaming media. While we’ve got iPlayer and the UK library on Netflix, having a VPN can give you access to the world’s media, including foreign Netflix and even services like Hulu if you’ve got a subscription. Finally, if you’re abroad, you might want to hop onto iPlayer, but you’ll find that you’ll be unable to access it. iPlayer also has some of the strictest VPN blocking tech in the streaming industry, so only the best can bypass this and get you watching abroad. Thankfully, every VPN on this list can do that for you. Now you just have to pick which one to go with. One of the best is Proton VPN Free (opens in new tab) which, although it’s still nowhere near as good as the paid product. While useful for very infrequent use, they’re no good for streaming and torrenting, and you’ll soon find yourself on the hunt for the best UK VPN – even if it’ll cost you a couple of quid a month. A VPN can relocate you to any country you want, and the best will do this in a way that’s undetectable by the streaming service. Once you’ve done that, you’re free to watch whatever you want. While there’s not a huge amount anyway, the most well-known UK-based VPN is HideMyAss. HMA doesn’t often feature on our roundups of top VPN services, but that’s because the competition is just so strong. However, while it’s UK-based, it does have a fairly robust no-logging policy, which means that even if the UK government decided to stick their oar in and demand information, HMA wouldn’t have anything to hand over. A no logging policy is especially important for a VPN based in country with stricter data laws – the UK being one of them – so when you’re making your decision that should be factored in.
