It’s perfectly legal to use a VPN service while streaming in most countries, including the United States and other Western nations. VPNs can spoof your location and give you access to content in any country. However, there are some things to keep in mind while streaming with a VPN:
- Using VPNs is illegal in some countries, such as China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the UAE.
- Different VPN providers may have different rules and policies about streaming.
- Illegal downloading is not allowed, even with a VPN.
- Most major streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu, block VPN usage as part of their terms of service.
Are you looking for a good VPN for streaming? Among the 70+ VPN services we’ve tested over the years, NordVPN stands out thanks to its reliable unblocking abilities, fast speeds, and top-notch security features. With this VPN, you’ll be able to stream pretty much anything you want without lag or errors.
Want to know more about VPN blocking, secure streaming, and what is and isn’t allowed with a VPN? Read our full article below.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) change your virtual location and help you access geo-restricted content, including shows and movies on streaming platforms that aren’t available everywhere. However, many popular streaming services, like Netflix and Disney Plus, do their best to block VPN users. Why do they do this? Can you get in trouble if you’re caught streaming with a VPN? Is streaming with a VPN legal?
This article will answer all your questions about using a VPN service to stream movies and shows. We can ease your mind from the start: in most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal, and even recommended. Not all VPNs will work well with streaming, but if you use a good one, you’ll be able to stream to your heart’s content. After testing dozens of VPNs, we found that NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming.
Is it Legal to Use a VPN for Streaming?
Yes, you can legally use a VPN to stream on most streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney Plus. There are some other reasons why you might not want to stream with a VPN, however.
- Some streaming platforms state in their user agreement that users aren’t allowed to use VPNs. Some, like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus, even actively track and block VPN use. Make sure to read their terms of use for complete information before deciding if you want to stream their content with a VPN.
- Illegal activities remain illegal when using a VPN service. All online activities that are against the law when not using a VPN are still illegal when using a VPN. This includes downloading copyrighted content (which is considered unlawful in many countries) and watching shows on unofficial free streaming sites. A VPN hides your internet activities, so you’re safer and have more online privacy, but it never legalizes unlawful activities.
However, in most countries, you’re not breaking the law if you use a VPN to unblock streaming services.
Where is streaming with a VPN legal?
It’s legal to stream with a VPN in most parts of the world, including Europe and North America. So whether you’re in the US or the UK, you should be able to stream on legitimate platforms with a VPN without worrying about the law. At our last count, only about 14 out of the world’s 190 countries have banned or heavily regulated VPN use.
As you can see in the map above, VPN usage is banned or highly restricted by the government in countries such as China, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Belarus, and Turkey. This ban also includes using a VPN for streaming.
Countries that prohibit VPNs tend to have strict authoritarian governments that want to prevent citizens from bypassing censorship and surveillance. Therefore, we advise you to be very careful if you’re considering using a VPN in one of these countries. Always check your local laws! If you use a VPN to stream content in any of these places, you could face serious penalties such as fines or prison sentences.
Are VPNs safe to use?
Yes, a good VPN is completely safe to use, especially when you use one of the top VPN providers. Such VPNs operate with a strict no-logs policy: whether you’re scrolling through movie lists or streaming, they won’t log or share any sensitive information about you. In other words: they keep your data private.
VPNs even ensure that others won’t be able to see what you do online as easily. Most VPNs encrypt user traffic with the state-of-the-art AES encryption cipher. This makes it difficult for anyone, including your internet service provider and hackers, to track and make sense of your traffic.
However, not all VPNs are created equal. Some can actively harm you. Free VPNs often collect and sell your data to advertisers. Luckily, there are a few free VPNs that do respect your privacy. Looking for a tried and tested free alternative? Choose PrivadoVPN, the best free VPN on the market. It doesn’t log personal data, offers 10 free server locations, and unblocks many of the major streaming services, including Netflix US.
Is it Legal to Use a VPN to Watch Geo-Blocked Content?
Yes, using a VPN to stream geo-blocked content is legal. Many people do it because it’s an easy way to watch more movies and series online.
A VPN can help you access different content libraries and streaming platforms, regardless of your location. Let’s say you want to access Netflix US while in the UK, which contains different shows. When you connect to a VPN server in the US, it will give you a US IP address, giving you access to Netflix’s US library. Doing this does not break any law.
Some streaming services work only in specific countries. For instance, BBC iPlayer only works in the UK, so you’ll need a UK IP address to access it.
People all over the world use VPNs to unblock content this way. However, not all providers are capable of doing this, because streaming services have started to block VPNs, so a lot of them no longer work with their platforms.
The most reliable VPN to unblock any streaming service is NordVPN. We’ve used NordVPN to access many streaming services over the years, and it has never failed to give us access. We recommend giving it a try if you want to stream with a VPN yourself!
Why do streaming services like Netflix block VPN services?
Although it’s legal to stream with a VPN service, many streaming services actively oppose it to maintain the geographical barriers of their content. For certain movies and shows, a streaming service might only have broadcasting rights within specific countries. That’s why Netflix US offers more shows and movies than, for instance, the German Netflix library.
Streaming services use technology that can detect when you’re using a VPN or proxy. In the worst-case scenario, the streaming provider can suspend your account, citing a breach of their terms. However, this rarely happens. Usually, you’ll see an error message, as shown below.
The instant you turn off your VPN, you’ll have access again, but only to the content of the country where you’re currently located. This way, Netflix and other services make it difficult for viewers to access geo-blocked movies and shows. However, the right VPN service can help you bypass this issue and stream content from all over the world, as explained below.
How to Stream With a VPN
Note:
Be sure to check your user agreement and the local laws of your country before using a VPN with streaming.
Streaming with virtual private networks is very easy. Let’s say you want to use NordVPN to stream American Netflix. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to NordVPN’s website and purchase a subscription.
- Install NordVPN for your device, log in, and connect to a US server.
- Launch Netflix. You should now be able to see all Netflix US content, regardless of your location. Enjoy!
If you are unable to access the content after following the above steps, try the VPN troubleshooting tips below:
- Go to your VPN service and change servers. Opt for a specialized streaming server in the US if it’s available.
- Close the streaming platform, clear your cache, and go back to the streaming site.
- Contact your VPN’s customer support.
Check out our full article for more instructions for streaming Netflix with a VPN.
Are there other platforms you would like to watch with a VPN? No worries. A good VPN like NordVPN works with countless streaming services, whether you’re streaming BBC iPlayer or watching Disney Plus. Simply follow the steps above and choose a server in a location where your chosen streaming service works.
What Are the Best VPNs for Streaming?
In this section, we’ll reveal the three top VPNs for streaming based on our testing and research. Let’s start with NordVPN, the overall best VPN for streaming.
1. NordVPN: The most reliable and ultra-fast VPN for streaming
We have been using NordVPN to stream multiple Netflix libraries for years, and it works like a charm every time. It also easily unblocks all the major streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Hulu.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Why we chose it as the best VPN for streaming:
- With its 6000+ servers, you can unblock all major streaming providers, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.
- It’s a super fast VPN, enabling you to stream in HD or 4K without buffering.
- It offers smart DNS, which enables you to stream on devices that don’t usually support VPNs, like Amazon Fire Stick and smart TVs.
- It has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use as a free trial.
Learn more about NordVPN’s streaming ability and performance in our NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark: Fastest VPN to use on as many devices as you want
Surfshark is one of our personal favorites for unblocking streaming services. It has proven itself to be a consistent performer, and our experts have watched many an episode of The Office thanks to Surfshark. We barely ever need to switch servers, because all of Surfshark’s servers unblock streaming services exactly the way you want them to.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
Why we chose Surfshark as the second-best VPN for streaming:
- Choose from 3200+ servers in 100 countries, offering a wider range of geo-blocked content.
- It’s an exceptionally fast VPN, making it a good choice for HD and 4K movies.
- It easily unblocks all the major streaming services, no matter which server you choose.
- It offers unlimited simultaneous connections, which allows you to use one subscription on as many devices as you want.
- It has a 30-day money-back guarantee that can be used as a free trial.
Want to know more about Surfshark? There are more details to be found in our Surfshark review.
3. CyberGhost: Cheap and easy-to-use VPN for streaming global content
CyberGhost has specialized streaming servers that make streaming super easy. We could simply click on one called “Netflix US” and trust that it’d give us instant access. On top of that, you can use its Smart Rules feature to automatically connect you to the right server the moment you open your streaming app.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
Why we picked CyberGhost as the third-best VPN for streaming:
- It has over 100 dedicated servers optimized for streaming the likes of Netflix, Crunchyroll, ESPN, Paramount TV, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max.
- CyberGhost’s apps are easy to navigate while giving plenty of options: You can customize your experience without getting confused.
- Its cheap two-year plan is covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee, which you can easily use as a free trial!
Still curious about CyberGhost? Check out our CyberGhost review.
What If Streaming Services Detect VPN Use?
If a streaming provider discovers that you’re using a VPN, here’s what’s likely to happen:
- You won’t get access to streaming content. For instance, Netflix will show the notification “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”
- In the worst-case scenario, your account could be suspended or banned, although this is very rare.
Luckily, most streaming platforms will stick to showing errors that are easily solved by turning off your VPN or changing your chosen server. Just make sure you are legally allowed to use a VPN in your country by reading up on your local laws.
Is it Legal to Download Content With a VPN?
Like with streaming, it’s perfectly legal to download any content with a VPN if the content is copyright-free. However, if the owner or distributor of the content hasn’t allowed for downloading, it would be illegal to do so in many countries, even with a VPN.
Anything already illegal remains illegal, even if you do it with VPN protection. This applies to accessing and downloading all kinds of content, including movies, series, music, games, and software.
Copyright regulations and illegal torrenting
Various copyright regulations protect content, including:
- The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA): This law prohibits anyone from sharing copyrighted content. You’ll see lots of content removed from Google and YouTube search results because of the DMCA.
- The No Electronic Theft (NET) Act: This law stipulates fines for people who abuse various digital content, including music, video games, movies, and software.
- The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA): This law is targeted at preventing hacking and unauthorized access to devices.
Torrenting laws might differ depending on where you are. Want to know more about the local torrenting and downloading laws in your country? Check out our “Is Torrenting Illegal?” article.
Many jurisdictions tend to be vague about regulations for people who only download and stream copyrighted content. Still, it’s important to always check if the movie you want to stream or torrent is copyright-free or provided by a licensed platform, like Netflix or Hulu. You can use the US Copyright Office database to see if the content you want to access is copyright-protected.
Keep in mind that you can use a VPN to watch content that is available in other countries. If you have a Netflix subscription, but your local library doesn’t give you access to a show that is available on Netflix US, there’s no need to torrent it. Simply use NordVPN and unblock that show in seconds, completely legally!
Watch Movies and Series With a VPN Legally
It’s legal to stream movies and series with a virtual private network (VPN) in most countries, including the United States and other Western nations. As long as you follow your local laws, you can avoid fines and other legal consequences and stream to your heart’s desire.
A VPN allows you to stream more content, because you get to see the libraries of other countries, that tend to include more movies and series.
Keep in mind that many streaming services can detect this and might block your access until you turn off the VPN. That’s why it’s important to use a VPN that specializes in getting around these blocks. NordVPN is the perfect example: the best streaming VPN.
Check out some of our other articles on streaming with a VPN:
- How to Watch Netflix With a VPN: A Step-by-Step Guide
- This Video Is Unavailable: How to Unblock YouTube Videos
- Bypass the Netflix Password Sharing Ban: A Comprehensive Guide
Still have questions about streaming with a VPN? Simply click on one of our frequently asked questions below to read the answer.
Depending on your location, the answer is probably yes. In most countries, including the United States and other Western nations, streaming with a VPN is legal. However, there are some countries, such as China, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey where VPN use is prohibited.
With a VPN, you can access movies, series, and streaming services (such as Hulu and BBC iPlayer) that would otherwise be unavailable in your location.
However, if you want to use a paid streaming service, you still need a subscription, even if you already have a VPN. A VPN gives you more possibilities for streaming, but it doesn’t make paid services free of charge.
A VPN allows you to surf and download anonymously. However, this doesn’t mean that the illegal downloading of movies and shows, for example, is suddenly permitted. The VPN makes it more difficult for others to track what you’re doing online, but, depending on where you live, you could still risk a hefty download fine if you download illegally.
Yes, you can! If you get a good Netflix VPN, you’ll be able to watch American Netflix from anywhere in the world. Simply choose a US server from your VPN’s dashboard, connect, and visit Netflix as if you were in the USA yourself.
Usually, no! Streaming with a VPN is no problem and perfectly legal, as long as you’re using legitimate streaming platforms, like Netflix or Disney Plus. There are, however, a few aspects to consider here:
- If you’re in a country that doesn’t permit VPN services, such as China or Iraq, you can face fines and other legal proceedings.
- If you’re streaming illegal content, a VPN won’t make your activities legal. This means you could still face fines and other consequences if you’re caught.
- If you’re using a VPN to unblock content on a platform that doesn’t allow VPNs, you might find yourself blocked from the platform, until you turn off your VPN.
