Freeview has evolved a lot in the past few years. Today, if you want to watch Freeview TV online, you’ll need to download each of the UK’s streaming services.
However, the Freeview app itself is little more than a live TV guide, but it does help you find shows to watch quickly and easily.
The problem is you’ll be blocked from all of these apps outside of the UK. Fortunately, it’s a problem we’ve been able to solve. Here’s how you can watch Freeview TV online from any country in the world:
- Get a VPN subscription. Our VPN experts have tested and recommend NordVPN to unblock Freeview TV from any location.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to change your IP address.
- Download the Freeview app to your mobile streaming device.
- Find a show and click on the stream.
- Download the relevant apps for My5, All 4, ITVX, or BBC iPlayer.
Simply make sure you grab NordVPN before heading on vacation or trying to access Freeview online from overseas. Act now, and you can get a huge discount on your subscription!
Below, you’ll find more advice on how to watch Freeview online from overseas, the best VPN to choose, and our recommendations of what to watch right now!
Freeview has been a hugely popular free TV service in the UK for years. It has extended the number of channels available to UK viewers outside of regular, terrestrial TV. But in the digital age, things have changed. If you want to watch Freeview TV online, you’ll need a host of apps.
Like Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and all the other streaming providers, channel broadcasters in the UK have waded into the fray. Content is streamed by BBC iPlayer, My5, All 4, and ITVX (formerly ITV Hub) – and Freeview is your link to all of them. The problem? All of these apps are blocked if you’re not in the UK.
But our VPN experts have found a solution that’ll let you watch Freeview from overseas. Just download NordVPN by using its fantastic discount for new subscribers, and you’ll be able to unblock every UK streaming service and watch any UK shows!
How to Watch Freeview Play TV From Anywhere Using a VPN
The Freeview online service is now little more than a TV guide. It shows all the programs airing on each of the major UK streaming platforms. Choosing a show will redirect you to that platform – BBC iPlayer, My5, All 4, or ITVX. You can even watch live TV if you want to.
In other words, we recommend downloading every app if you want to watch live or on-demand UK shows without obstacles. Freeview Play doesn’t let you stream in a web browser, so an iOS or Android phone or tablet is your best choice.
Here’s how to get started with Freeview streaming outside the UK:
- Get a VPN. We recommend NordVPN to unblock Freeview. Our VPN experts have tested and approved this provider for unblocking every major streaming service connected to Freeview Play in the United Kingdom.
NordVPNOur choiceDeal Save big with 69% off a two-year subscription + three months free!From$ 2.999.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
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- Download and install NordVPN on your streaming device. Freeview Play works best on mobile phones or tablets in our opinion, but you can also use a smart TV.
- Connect to a VPN server in the United Kingdom.
- Download Freeview Play and create an account. You’ll need a UK postcode – you can borrow any postcode from Google.
- Find a program you want to watch and click on the icon in your Freeview mobile app.
- Follow the redirect to download or open the streaming app you need: BBC iPlayer, My5, All 4, or ITVX.
- Enjoy your favorite TV shows from anywhere in the world!
Now, you’re all set up to watch Freeview online and its corresponding apps from anywhere! Remember to stay connected to your VPN until you’re done, otherwise it won’t work.
Our tests with NordVPN suggest that this is your best bet for uninterrupted, high-quality live TV streaming. Download the software with the below link and we’ll give you 69% off your monthly price! Also, you can use NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee in the form of a free trial!
Do I need a TV license for Freeview?
In the UK, you need a TV license to watch or record programs shown live. There’s no way to buy one outside of the UK – but equally, the BBC have no way to enforce licenses for people who watch online TV with a VPN. Still, it’s against the terms of service to watch UK TV outside of the country. We recommend reading those terms and making your own decision on whether you want to watch UK TV with a VPN.
The Best VPNs to Watch Freeview TV Online
Since Freeview combines all the UK’s streaming-on-demand services, we need a top VPN service. That’s why our VPN experts have painstakingly tested tens of VPNs with the likes of BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and My5.
Here are our recommendations for unblocking Freeview channels.
1. NordVPN: Best VPN to unblock Freeview outside the United Kingdom
- 6000+ worldwide servers, including more than 440 in the United Kingdom
- Unblocks every streaming platform, including BBC iPlayer, My5, ITVX, and All 4
- Lightning-fast speeds that guarantee high-definition, lag-free streams
- A built-in kill switch and IP, WebRTC, and DNS leak protection ensure you won’t be blocked
- Reasonably priced subscriptions and a 30-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN is our number-one choice for unblocking Freeview TV. When you’re kicking back poolside, you can still get rapid connections with NordVPN. This is essential for high-quality streaming that doesn’t stutter and pause. When we tested NordVPN with Freeview, we had a seamless streaming experience.
NordVPN’s network of 6000+ servers includes over 400 VPN servers in the UK. With such a large spread of servers, we didn’t suffer lag from server overload when watching on-demand UK TV. We tested a Strictly Come Dancing stream with NordVPN’s powerful connection and there weren’t any quality issues or slowdowns.
We’re so confident in NordVPN’s abilities regarding Freeview streaming that we’re running a 69% discount on NordVPN! Grab it today and you’ll pay just $ 2.99 per month. And if you’re on a temporary vacation? Get a full refund within 30 days.
If you want to know why NordVPN continues to rank as our frontrunner, check out our comprehensive NordVPN review. It includes the results of our speed tests, which show NordVPN to be the fastest VPN yet!
2. Surfshark: Watch Freeview anywhere with cheap subscriptions
- Low-cost subscriptions that beat most premium providers
- Unblocks My5, All 4, ITVX, and BBC iPlayer with ease
- Protection from IP leaks and dropped connections
- 3200+ servers worldwide, with 4 server locations in the UK
- Powerful unblocking capabilities – use NoBorders in restrictive countries like China or Russia
- 30-day money-back guarantee to unblock Freeview for free over short periods
It can be difficult to choose between Surfshark and NordVPN when it comes to accessing Freeview TV online. Surfshark bundles almost comparable speeds, powerful unblocking, and a strong roster of 3200+ global servers. But for users looking to save a buck or two, Surfshark is a cheaper VPN than NordVPN.
If you’re a UK resident holidaying in the Far East or the Balkans, you’ll find yourself not being able to access Freeview online. Worse still, internet restrictions might make it hard to unblock Freeview with a VPN.
We recommend Surfshark to users located in areas with a high degree of internet censorship. Surfshark’s NoBorders mode made it easy to disguise our VPN traffic and smash geo-blocks in such areas.
Pricing starts from $ 1.99 per month when you take advantage of our 82% discount. You’ll still get the same 30-day money-back guarantee that you get with NordVPN. It’s a top choice if you’re on vacation and want temporary access to Freeview until you get back home to the UK.
Looking for a more detailed lowdown on Surfshark VPN? We put this provider through its paces in our Surfshark review, testing its speed, security, and other features.
3. CyberGhost: Dedicated streaming servers for optimal performance
- Super-fast dedicated streaming servers for optimized streaming
- Unblock every UK streaming service via Freeview’s app
- Leak protection and a built-in kill switch guard your spoofed digital location
- 11500+ VPN servers across 100 countries worldwide
- Lengthy 45-day money-back promise for a full refund
Despite the geo-blocks stopping us from accessing Freeview TV online in The Netherlands, CyberGhost could get us access to everything on our mobiles and smart TVs. We unblocked shows on BBC iPlayer, My5, All 4, and ITVX as soon as we changed our IP address to the UK.
CyberGhost’s super-speedy connections delivered perfect-quality streams. We also noted dedicated streaming servers tailored toward UK streaming platforms. These are optimized for intensive, data-heavy tasks like streaming. Choose one of those servers, and like us, you’ll be able to watch anything the UK has to offer in high definition.
Grab our 84% discount on CyberGhost, and you can start streaming Freeview online from just $ 2.03 per month! You also get a longer money-back guarantee with this provider – 45 days instead of 30.
Want more information on CyberGhost’s streaming features or the results of our intensive speed tests? Check out our in-depth CyberGhost review!
Why Do I Need a VPN for Freeview Streaming?
Freeview is a great way to catch free TV broadcasts in the United Kingdom. But due to broadcasting rights, it’s blocked everywhere else. We tried to watch Freeview online from The Netherlands, and we couldn’t access any of the TV shows it offers.
Since Freeview connects you with every UK streaming service, you need a VPN internet connection to get past the geographical restrictions used by each website. However, a VPN service that works with one provider might not work with another.
That’s why we recommend sticking to our recommendations – our VPN experts have tried and tested NordVPN with every streaming service connected to Freeview and were successful at accessing the content they wanted every time.
Freeview Not Working With a VPN?
Provided you choose one of our recommended VPNs, you shouldn’t have any problems unblocking Freeview Play. If you do find yourself blocked despite using our VPNs, try one of the following:
- Start a private browsing session. If you’re signed into an online service like Google, location services can give your true location away. Make sure you open a private or incognito browsing session and try unblocking Freeview again.
- Change to a different VPN server. Occasionally, specific VPN servers can be flagged by broadcasters and added to a blacklist. Try connecting to another VPN server in the same location – this might resolve the issue.
- Contact your VPN customer support. If you’ve tried our two steps above and you still have issues, get in touch with customer support. NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost all have excellent customer service in our experience.
The Best Series on Freeview TV
The great thing about Freeview is that it connects you to every UK streaming service. We were shocked by just how much content is available if you get a UK IP address! Here are our top recommendations from our time testing Freeview VPNs:
| Platform | Program | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BBC iPlayer | The Capture | We were huge fans of The Capture when it was released. This thriller series dives into a near-future London, where facial recognition technology is abused by higher powers to carry out a hidden agenda. |
| ITVX | Sanditon | Sanditon is based on an unfinished manuscript by legendary author Jane Austen. The romantic storyline follows a woman who relocates to a bustling beach resort for a fresh start. |
| All 4 (Channel 4) | The Inbetweeners | While now quite an old program, The Inbetweeners has a huge cult following in the UK. Follow four school-age kids as they navigate the difficulties associated with growing up in 2000s England. A hilarious must-watch for any comedy fan, in our opinion! |
| My5 (Channel 5) | Anne Boleyn | Fans of The Crown and other historical English dramas might want to check out Anne Boleyn. This show brings Henry VIII’s wife to life on TV, following the final months of her life. |
Watch Freeview TV Online From Anywhere With NordVPN
By now, you might be a fan of international streaming. You know that a VPN can get you exclusive access to hidden TV on demand that includes Netflix catalogs, or unblock international TV shows in Europe, Asia, and the US.
NordVPN is our top provider for unblocking Freeview Play, which links you to all the English streaming content you can find online right now. It’s simple to get started:
- Grab NordVPN for 69% off.
- Connect to a VPN server in the United Kingdom.
- Download the Freeview app on your mobile streaming device and enjoy Freeview digital UK programming!
With NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, you can watch Freeview TV online for 30 days risk-free. And if you are not satisfied, you can get a full refund!
Interested in reading more about streaming UK content or accessing shows from other regions? Check out our related guides!
- How to Watch ITVX Online For Free From Anywhere
- How to Watch Paramount Plus in the UK, US, or Anywhere
- How to Watch BBC iPlayer From Outside the UK
Still got questions about watching Freeview from outside the UK? Check out our frequently asked questions.
Yes, you can watch Freeview with a VPN connected to a UK VPN server. You can’t stream in a browser, but you can download the mobile or smart TV applications for each connected streaming service. Freeview links you to all the UK streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, All 4, My5, and ITVX.
Yes, you can unblock Freeview overseas by connecting to a VPN server in the UK. This means you don’t have to lose access to your favorite shows while you’re on vacation! Here’s how:
- Get NordVPN, our best VPN for streaming in the UK.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to get a UK IP address.
- Download the Freeview app to get started and find something you want to watch!
It’s possible to watch Freeview online but not via a web browser. The Freeview app functions as an online TV guide and redirects you to one of the UK streaming services below:
- BBC iPlayer
- All 4
- My5
- ITVX
Download all of these apps, and you’ll be able to watch any show in the UK by connecting to a UK VPN server.
