How to Watch BBC iPlayer from the USA (Tested 2024)

Kate Hawkins
Last Updated by Kate Hawkins on April 19, 2021

I love streaming oldies on BBC iPlayer, but get frustrated when I can’t use the site outside of the UK. Fortunately, a quality Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets me sneak past BBC iPlayer’s geoblocks and watch my favorite content from anywhere.

However, choosing the right VPN for streaming without interruptions can be tricky and time-consuming. To save you time, I tested 43 of the best VPNs to see which ones worked with BBC iPlayer in April 2021. Of the 3 that work best, I recommend ExpressVPN — during my tests, it unblocked BBC iPlayer every time and automatically found me the fastest servers for uninterrupted streaming in UltraHD. You can try ExpressVPN yourself without risking a penny as it offers a reliable 30 money-back guarantee that you can claim with “no questions asked.”

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN today!

Quick Guide: 3 Steps to Watch BBC iPlayer From Anywhere

  1. Get a VPN. ExpressVPN will choose the fastest streaming server for you. You can watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN risk-free with its money-back guarantee.
  2. Connect to a server in the UK. Register for a free BBC iPlayer account using the postcode SW1W 0NY, and click “Yes” when prompted about a license.
  3. Start watching. BBC iPlayer is always free, so once you are registered and past the TV license requirement, just click on your favorite show and start streaming.

Note: BBC iPlayer doesn’t require users to provide proof of their UK TV license. However, keep in mind that viewing content on BBC iPlayer without a license is a criminal offence, and could result in large fines.

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN

Why You Need a VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in 2021

BBC iPlayer is blocked outside of the UK due to copyright laws. A premium VPN like ExpressVPN can help you get past the geo-blocks and watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere. By connecting to a UK server with your VPN, you mask your true location with a UK-based IP address. This makes it look like you are connecting to BBC iPlayer from the UK.

However, BBC iPlayer uses sophisticated technology to detect and block VPN connections. That’s why I recommend that you use ExpressVPN — during my tests, it sneaked around BBC iPlayer’s geo-blocks every single time, and had me streaming in UltraHD without lags. You don’t have to take my word for it — you can try using ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer yourself risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN

3 Best VPNs to Watch BBC iPlayer in April 2021

1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-fast Servers to Stream BBC iPlayer With Zero Lags or Buffering

Key Features:

  • 3,000+ servers in over 105+ countries
  • Stream BBC iPlayer with top speeds from anywhere
  • Connect up to 5 devices at a time
  • 24/7 live support via email or chat
  • 30-day money-back guarantee lets you see it for yourself risk-free

I picked ExpressVPN because its speedy servers let me watch BBC iPlayer content in UltraHD and without buffering. I tested ExpressVPN’s UK servers from my location in Canada, and the results averaged 100Mbps. To see if distance affected speeds, I also tested ExpressVPN’s servers in Paris, New York, Frankfurt, and Melbourne, and these were still reliably fast with an average of 94Mpbs. These speeds were more than high enough to watch BBC iPlayer content without wasting a second on buffering.

BBC iPlayer uses advanced processes to detect and block VPN connections, so I was concerned that ExpressVPN wouldn’t unblock the site for me from my Canada location. Fortunately, ExpressVPN uses an obfuscation protocol to hide all traces of a VPN connection from streaming sites. My tests confirmed that I had nothing to worry about — each UK server location I tested gave me reliable access to BBC iPlayer content.

With its obfuscation technology, ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that work well in countries that restrict their citizens’ internet access. ExpressVPN can even bypass China’s censorship, making it a great option if you’re trying to stream BBC iPlayer content from that country. Although the Chinese government punishes unauthorized VPN with fines, don’t worry — your privacy is well protected with ExpressVPN’s proven no-logs policy.

If you’re not sure that ExpressVPN is the right choice for you, there’s good news: you can test all its features without risking your money. The VPN comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can test ExpressVPN yourself risk-free and see how well it works with BBC iPlayer for 30 days. I tested this by asking the 24/7 live chat agent for my refund after testing it with BBC iPlayer for 3 weeks. The agent was polite and helpful and processed my request within just a few lines of chat. She told me to expect the refund within 5-7 business days, but I got the money back only 4 days later.

ExpressVPN also unblocks: Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, YouTubeTV, SlingTV, Vudu, and more.

ExpressVPN works on: Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, smart TVs, Chrome, Firefox, Playstation, Xbox, routers, and more.

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN

2024 Update! ExpressVPN has dropped prices for a limited time to a crazy $6.67 per month for the 1-year plan + 3 months free (you can save up to 49%)! This is a limited offer so be sure to grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized UK Servers Guaranteed to Unblock BBC iPlayer

Key Features:

  • 9,780+ servers in over 100+ countries
  • High speeds for streaming BBC iPlayer without buffering
  • Connect up to 7 devices at a time
  • 24/7 live support via email or chat
  • 45-day money back guarantee lets you see it for yourself risk-free

CyberGhost has a selection of servers optimized for streaming, and these reliably unblock the most popular streaming platforms and offer top speeds for quality video playback. CyberGhost’s BBC iPlayer made it easy to bypass the site’s proxy error message, giving me average speeds of 86Mbps. Better yet, I didn’t have to waste time looking for this optimized server — all I had to do was type in “BBC iPlayer” into the app’s search field, and CyberGhost found it instantly.

I was happy to learn that CyberGhost’s other streaming-optimized servers, such as ‘Netflix UK,’ also unblocked BBC iPlayer with top speeds for bufferless streaming. This was useful, as I could easily switch to this server on the rare occasions when the BBC iPlayer server became overcrowded and slow during peak times.

To see if the service is worth your money, you can try using CyberGhost yourself risk-free for 45 days. After testing the VPN for 4 weeks, I decided to see if its money-back guarantee actually works. Getting a refund was super-easy using CyberGhost’s 24/7 live support chat. When I asked for my money back, the agent offered to troubleshoot any issues. I told her I simply changed my mind, and they processed my request right away. My money was back in my bank account in only 5 business days.

CyberGhost also unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Vudu, DAZN, ESPN Sports, YLE Arena, Abema TV, YouTubeTV, Disney+, and more

CyberGhost works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Blackberry, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation4, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Nintendo, and more

Watch BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Selection of VPN Protocols to Maximize Speeds on BBC iPlayer

Key Features:

  • 12,507+ servers in 74+ countries
  • High-speed servers to watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere lag-free
  • Watch on up to 10 devices at once
  • Live chat and email support 24/7
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers a variety of VPN protocols, letting you maximize speeds for lag-free TV and movies on BBC iPlayer. You can choose 128-bit encryption to give your streams on BBC iPlayer an extra boost for buffer-free HD video. Even though 128-bit encryption isn’t the highest level, it’s plenty for low-risk online activities like streaming. While it’s still powerful enough to hide your data and keep your activities private, you’ll have less lag and fewer quality reductions.

A small con to PIA is that a lot of its servers in the UK can’t get past BBC iPlayer’s location and proxy errors. However, this wasn’t a big deal as PIA’s UK London Streaming Server consistently unblocked BBC iPlayer instantly. I watched Top Gear in HD with only a few seconds of buffering at the beginning of the video, and it never stopped to load or gave me annoying quality drops.

With an included ad and malware blocker, PIA also prevents malicious software or marketing trackers from slowing down your streams on BBC iPlayer. These can run in the background and cause lag, so by preventing ads automatically I got reliable TV and movies on BBC iPlayer even in high quality.

If you want to see how it handles HD video on BBC iPlayer, you can try PIA for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee. As long as you cancel before the 30 days are up, you can get a full refund by contacting customer service.

PIA also unblocks: Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Vudu, DAZN, ESPN Sports, YLE Arena, Abema TV, YouTubeTV, and more

PIA also works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Blackberry, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation4, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and more

Watch BBC iPlayer with PIA

Start Watching BBC iPlayer From Anywhere Today!

To watch BBC iPlayer, you need a UK TV license — but you still won’t be able to watch your favorite shows and movies from outside the UK. That’s why you need a VPN that can bypass BBC iPlayer’s advanced location blocks.

I tested 43 providers and ExpressVPN had the fastest, most reliable servers in the UK for watching BBC iPlayer from anywhere. Try streaming your favorite BBC shows with ExpressVPN — even in HD, I was never interrupted by lag or a lost connection. If you aren’t happy with the service, getting a refund is easy. I asked for one via ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat, and they processed it immediately with no questions asked. The money was back in my account in just a few days.

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN

Top Ranked Top Choice
ExpressVPN
$6.67 / month Save 49%
CyberGhost VPN
$2.03 / month Save 84%
Private Internet Access
$2.03 / month Save 83%

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