How to Watch BBC iPlayer From Anywhere in 2024

Kate Hawkins
Last Updated by Kate Hawkins on April 21, 2021

Just because you’re traveling outside the UK doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to watch the BBC iPlayer. Although the BBC makes it challenging to access all their content, with a proper VPN you can stream all your favorite shows as if you are home in the UK. While many VPNs claim to unblock BBC iPlayer, my tests proved otherwise — of the 25 VPNs I tested, only 3 work consistently!

Of these 3, ExpressVPN has the most reliable connections and the fastest speeds for watching BBC iPlayer in HD and without buffering.

Start watching BBC iPlayer today!

Quick Guide: 3 Simple Steps to Watch BBC iPlayer From Anywhere

  1. Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN since it has top speeds for watching BBC iPlayer with no buffering. You can also try ExpressVPN entirely risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Connect to a server in the UK. All 3 VPNs on the list can automatically find the fastest connection for you, so you’ll only have to select the right country.
  3. Log in to BBC iPlayer and start watching your favorite shows and movies!

How a VPN Unblocks BBC iPlayer From Anywhere

BBC iPlayer is blocked outside of the UK because it lacks the rights to broadcast elsewhere.

By connecting to a VPN server in the UK, your location and IP address are masked and replaced with information from the server. To BBC iPlayer, this makes it look like your device is in the same country as the VPN server. This way, you can stream content without the location restrictions! Keep in mind that while connecting through a VPN shouldn’t violate BBC iPlayer’s terms of use, you could be doing so by using a VPN to access the streaming site from outside the UK.

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer. It offers blazing-fast streaming speeds and reliable connections, so you can watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere!

Get ExpressVPN now!

3 Best VPNs for BBC iPlayer in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Amazing Speeds Ideal for Streaming

Screenshot of ExpressVPN connected to a UK server and unblocking the Graham Norton Show on BBC iPlayer

Key Features:

  • 4 server locations in the UK: Docklands, London, East London, and Wembley
  • Fast connection speeds
  • No buffering or throttling
  • 24/7 customer care
  • 30-day money back guarantee

ExpressVPN is a solid choice for BBC iPlayer thanks to its combination of super-fast UK servers, superb privacy features, and helpful customer care. The UK-based servers support OpenVPN (both TCP and UDP) and the strict zero logs policy makes this VPN one of the safest available on the market.

The connection speeds are lightning fast and allow you to stream your favorite shows without any buffering. If you find that BBC iPlayers detection tool has blocked the server you are on, the technical support team will hook you up to a new server that will fix the problem in next to no time.

With an excellent variety of UK-based servers and very fast speeds to match, this British Virgin Island-based VPN is possibly the most dedicated services for the best BBC iPlayer experience. Plus, it has a 30-day money back guarantee so you can try ExpressVPN out risk-free and see what I’m talking about.

Watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN today!

2. CyberGhost — Servers Optimized for Watching BBC iPlayer

Key Features:

  • Over 920 UK-based servers
  • Very attentive customer care
  • Dedicated profiles that unblock BBC iPlayer
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money back guarantee

CyberGhost has become a frontrunner among the VPNs that can unblock BBC iPlayer. As you can see in the image above, there are six different user profiles that you can choose from, to help find the ideal server.

If you select Unblock Streaming you will find the BBC iPlayer listed under All and Most Popular. Just click on the box and CyberGhost will connect to the best server, and open the BBC iPlayer in your browser.

You get access to more than 150 servers based in the UK, a strict no connection or usage logs stored policy, up to 5 simultaneous connections, and excellent live chat support. What sets this VPN apart is its simple-to-use, custom profiles. In just a few clicks, you can customize the client to unblock mode with settings specifically for BBC iPlayer.

Though it offers some of the cheapest subscriptions, you can watch BBC iPlayer content risk-free using CyberGhost and its 45-day money-back guarantee. If the service doesn’t meet your expectations, simply request a refund before your trial ends. A rep initialized my refund process after a couple of minutes, and I got my money back within 7 days.

Watch BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost today!

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — The Most Servers to Unblock BBC iPlayer From Anywhere

Key Features:

  • 35,000+ servers in over 70 countries for fast global connections
  • Dedicated streaming servers to quickly get best streaming quality
  • Supports up to 10 device connections at the same time
  • 24/7 customer service with live chat and email support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Private Internet Access (or PIA) has one of the biggest server networks that can effortlessly unblock BBC iPlayer. I tried 40 locations and noticed each one provided me with good download speeds and access to all titles on the restricted platform. Some servers got overcrowded as I carried out my tests, which made my streams a bit more pixelated. However, as the VPN has so many options to choose from, I could quickly reconnect to a less busy server and boost my speeds back up in only 10 seconds. This improved my picture quality, and I could finish watching an episode of Top Gear in HD until the end credits.

I liked that PIA lets you select from a variety of VPN protocols, letting you maximize speeds for watching BBC iPlayer content lag-free. You can choose 128-bit encryption to give your streams 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 issues with playback quality.

Though the VPN offers excellent features, you should test PIA yourself to check if it meets your requirements. The vendor comes with a legitimate money-back policy that lets you use its services to unblock BBC iPlayer risk-free for 30 days. There’s no small print (I checked!)— as long as you request a refund before the guarantee ends, the VPN will give you your money back without an issue.

PIA works with: Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, routers, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV.

PIA unblocks: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube TV, Sling TV, ESPN, fuboTV, and more.

Watch BBC iPlayer with PIA today!

What to Look for When Selecting a VPN for BBC iPlayer

When looking for the best VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer, there are a variety of features that need to be considered, all of which we took into account when making our recommendations above.

  • UK Servers

This is the most important feature to look for when considering VPNs to unblock BBC iPlayer – you need to know that the VPN has servers that are capable of doing so. Not all VPNs have the servers needed in the UK, which means they cannot offer the same capabilities and resources as the VPN services listed above.

  • Connection speeds

When using BBC iPlayer, you will want an HD stream that does not buffer when you are watching your favorite shows, making speed an essential feature. Our above recommendations are some of the fastest VPN services available that can also unblock BBC iPlayer.

  • Online privacy

While privacy when online may not be your biggest concern, the VPN you select should still provide a watertight privacy policy and a strict zero-logs policy to ensure that your data and identity is protected, and that no one will know that you have unblocked iPlayer.

  • Customer support

When BBC iPlayer discovers a VPN connection, it blocks it immediately. Having access to great 24/7 live customer support allows you to find a new server quickly and easily, so you can get right back to your shows.

Final Thoughts

Getting around the geo-blocks to watch your favorite shows on BBC iPlayer is not as easy as it used to be, but it is definitely still possible. Using a VPN is undoubtedly the most dependable and secure way to access your favorite shows on BBC iPlayer, and using one of the recommended VPNs on our list will help you get watching in no time.
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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