Best VPN for Streaming TV Abroad (2026)

If you live or travel outside your home country, streaming platforms quickly become annoying: shows are missing, sports are blocked, and some services will not even load. A good VPN can often fix this, but not all VPNs are equal for streaming.

This guide focuses on two providers that are realistically usable for streaming in 2026: NordVPN and ProtonVPN. Others exist, but these two cover most real-world use cases.

What a VPN Can and Cannot Do for Streaming

• ✅ Change your apparent location so you can access your home region library.
• ✅ Encrypt traffic so your ISP cannot easily see what service you use.
• ❌ Cannot guarantee that every platform will work 100% of the time.
• ❌ Cannot fix slow home internet or overloaded Wi‑Fi.

Quick Comparison for 2026

1. NordVPN — Best Overall for Streaming

NordVPN is the pragmatic choice if your priority is access to streaming libraries in multiple countries. It has streaming‑optimized servers and tends to restore access relatively quickly when platforms blacklist IP ranges.

Where NordVPN Works Well (as of late 2025 / entering 2026)

• Netflix libraries in several countries (US, UK, EU).
• Many national broadcasters and on‑demand services.
• Sports streaming platforms that restrict by country.

Strengths

• Large server network, including many streaming‑optimized nodes.
• Fast and stable on typical European fiber connections.
• Apps are available on smart TVs, phones, laptops, and some routers.

Limitations

• No VPN can guarantee 100% streaming access forever; sometimes specific services break until NordVPN adjusts.
• Occasional need to switch servers when a streaming service blocks a specific IP range.

Get NordVPN for Streaming TV Abroad

2. ProtonVPN — Privacy‑First Option That Can Still Stream

ProtonVPN is built for privacy and security first, but it can still work fine for some streaming scenarios, especially in Europe. If you care more about jurisdiction and privacy than unblocking every single platform, it is a sensible choice.

Strengths

• Swiss jurisdiction and strong privacy posture.
• Good performance on many EU servers.
• Clear, transparent communication about limitations and capabilities.

Limitations

• Not as aggressive as NordVPN in chasing every streaming platform.
• You may need to experiment with different servers to find one that works for your platform.

View ProtonVPN Plans for Streaming

How to Use a VPN for Streaming Without Losing Your Mind

1. Choose a provider (NordVPN if streaming is your top priority; ProtonVPN if privacy comes first).
2. Install the app on the device you actually use for streaming.
3. Connect to a server in the country whose library you want (for example, US for US Netflix).
4. If a service does not work, switch to a different server in the same country and try again.
5. Accept that sometimes a platform will simply not work for a while until the provider finds a workaround.

FAQ

Will a VPN get my account banned?

Most streaming platforms discourage VPN usage in their terms, but bans for individual users are rare. The more common outcome is that a particular server simply stops working until the VPN provider adjusts.

Is a “free VPN” enough for streaming?

Usually not. Free VPNs tend to be too slow, unstable, or blocked outright. They also often come with questionable privacy practices.

Final Recommendation

• If you mainly care about watching TV from home while living abroad, choose NordVPN.
• If streaming is nice to have but you care more about jurisdiction and privacy, choose ProtonVPN.

Disclosure

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our evaluations.