10 best VPNs for iPlayer that work in December 2020 | Unblock and watch iPlayer abroad

ExpressVPN has become one of the most popular, well-respected names in the VPN world – and it’s plain why. Blazing-fast download speeds, a large and reliable network of servers, and the ability to consistently unblock the world’s most in-demand streaming services like Netflix US and BBC iPlayer are just a few of the reasons why ExpressVPN has claimed the top spot in our list. An Express subscription is more expensive than the other services in this guide, but the VPN provides a sleek, premium-feeling service with true value for money that’s hard to find elsewhere.

ExpressVPN offers an industry standard of 5 simultaneous connections. When it comes to privacy, ExpressVPN leads the pack thanks to military-grade encryption, watertight privacy policy, and a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost VPN has taken the industry by storm in a short space of time by offering an excellent premium VPN product at a great price. On top of that, it’s a fantastic option for unblocking UK content, especially iPlayer. It has a choice of lightning-fast UK servers capable of unblocking iPlayer, each of which is well up to the task of streaming in HD smoothly with no buffering.

Software is available for all major platforms, is extremely easy to use, and the VPN is highly secure thanks to military-grade encryption. With a 45-day money-back guarantee, an attractive price, and a robust offering overall, CyberGhost is certainly one worth considering for anyone looking to unblock iPlayer content.

NordVPN is one of our top choices for watching BBC iPlayer abroad because it offers truly fantastic value for money! This is no surprise to our readers, however, as the provider achieved our most coveted award, winning Best Overall VPN at the ProPrivacy Awards in 2019.

Speeds are fast enough to let you enjoy shows in full HD, and you can use the VPN on up to 6 devices at the same time. The software is streamlined and intuitive, which means you can be streaming your favorite content in seconds. With clients available on all popular platforms, NordVPN is a cost-effective solution for streaming BBC iPlayer on the go.

Surfshark burst onto the VPN scene and now boasts an impressive network of more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries. Connect to any of these to enjoy uninterrupted HD streaming thanks to Surfshark’s stunning speeds, and check out iPlayer, Netflix, and more without pesky geo-restrictions. Surfshark is compatible with all devices, and you can rest assured that your connection will remain secure, thanks to OpenVPN encryption and an independently audited zero-logs policy.

As should be expected from today’s top VPN providers, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live chat support. What’s more unusual – and more impressive – is that Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections with just one subscription. This means you can connect as many devices to the service as you like, and all at the same time.

PrivateVPN is regularly praised in VPN circles as a great all-rounder. The provider has proven itself to be good at unblocking a wide range of streaming content, including iPlayer. It is fast, efficient, and offers an extremely reliable service. It is a pleasure to use the software and has all the important security features you would need in a quality VPN service.

PrivateVPN has a robust zero-logs policy, and considering how polished the product is, comes in at a really attractive price. Why not make use of the 30-day money-back guarantee and see what all the fuss is about?

VyprVPN is a provider based in Switzerland that is renowned both for providing fast speeds and access to many sought-after streaming services from around the globe. With VyprVPN, users can access not only iPlayer, but also other British TV channels and Netflix. We like VyprVPN because it is easy to use, and it has excellent apps for all platforms. This is also one of the few VPNs that has proven its no-logs claims with a full third-party audit of its platform and server network.

VyprVPN provides servers in over 70 countries, which is great for bypassing censorship or accessing content from back home while on holiday. Plus, this VPN implements robust levels of OpenVPN encryption and other top-notch security features like DNS leak protection and a kill-switch.

Ivacy is a VPN based in Singapore that is perfect for unblocking UK streams such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and Channel 4.

The VPN is both secure and fast, which means you can trust it for gaining online privacy and for streaming content online in HD. Plus, with Ivacy you get servers in over 100 countries – ideal for unblocking iPlayer and other popular streaming services like Netflix US, Hulu, and much more. With Ivacy you get strong OpenVPN encryption, which means your data is always secure. On top of all that, this VPN will never have any records about what you do online thanks to its no-logs policy.

All in all, Ivacy is an excellent VPN at a superb price point. You can test it completely risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Hotspot Shield is a popular US-based VPN provider that is well known due to its free VPN apps for mobile devices. However, besides having the free service (which only provides VPN connections in the USA) it also has full premium service with servers in 98 countries – including the UK.

What is unusual about Hotspot Shield is that it uses a proprietary protocol called Catapult Hydra to transport data. And it is super fast. In fact, this is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, making it great for streaming iPlayer. Admittedly, the closed-source nature of the protocol does raise some questions, so any users with an elevated threat model may prefer to stick to a provider using OpenVPN (like the rest in this list).

On the other hand, Hotspot Shield’s home-grown protocol has been audited and the premium version unblocks iPlayer without issue, Hotspot Shield provides a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee – so you can test it thoroughly for a month and a half!

VPNArea is an excellent Bulgarian provider that is a superb choice for streaming content online. It is a relatively cheap service when you opt for the yearly plan, and it will let you stream not only the UK’s iPlayer, but many other popular streaming sites from all around the globe. 

VPNArea has solid software for all platforms, and they all come fully equipped with what you need to keep your data private. DNS leak protection and a kill-switch are included, and the VPN keeps zero-logs. Finally, and most importantly for users wanting to access iPlayer, VPNArea provides reliable and fast connections for streaming without buffering.

StrongVPN is a secure VPN provider that has apps for all platforms. It is a secure no-logs VPN that is based in the USA. Until recently, the VPN could unblock iPlayer by connecting to the UK server in the VPN clients. However, the service has informed us that customers will need to avail of its Smart DNS service instead.

The good news is that this is available for free as part of your regular VPN subscription plan, and it is not hard to set up (thanks to the guide on its website). As soon as you do, you can unblock iPlayer with ease. We think this VPN provides excellent unblocking capabilities, and it is a highly secure VPN that can be trusted to protect your digital privacy.

Well worth testing using its 30-day money-back guarantee.