How to Watch BBC iPlayer Online With a VPN in 2024 by Penka Hristovska

Penka Hristovska

Updated on: December 26, 2023

The best way to securely watch BBC iPlayer content is with a VPN. VPNs encrypt your traffic, making it unreadable to third parties, so nobody, not even your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will be able to see what you’re watching on the BBC iPlayer site and app.

VPNs change your IP address, too. This means that you can, in theory, watch BBC iPlayer from outside of the UK, but keep in mind that this may be regarded as copyright infringement, and it’s not something we at SafetyDetectives condone.

If you want a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer content, I’ve found the best ones on the market — I asked my colleagues in the UK to test them, and they all worked just fine with BBC iPlayer. ExpressVPN is the best one due to its blazing-fast HD and 4K streaming speeds and very intuitive apps.

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🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer Content

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming on BBC iPlayer — my colleagues in the UK confirmed it works with BBC iPlayer 24/7, and it also provides blazing-fast streaming speeds and has excellent security (it’s also ranked #1 on our list of the top 10 VPNs in 2024).

I love how the VPN has servers in 5 UK locations, including London, East London, Dockland, Midlands, and Wembley. This way, you can always connect to the server that is closest to you to ensure you get the fastest speeds.

ExpressVPN is incredibly fast — in my speed tests, HD and 4K videos instantly loaded and played smoothly without buffering.

I really like that ExpressVPN has strong streaming support — in addition to BBC iPlayer, it also works with 100+ streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, and more (I was able to watch my local Netflix and Disney+ libraries at all times)

ExpressVPN’s apps are also very easy to use — it has native apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, routers, and even Kindle Fire. Each app only takes 1–2 minutes to install, and its interface is very intuitive. Another cool feature is ExpressVPN’s shortcut tool, which allows you to add 1-click shortcuts to your favorite apps when you connect to the VPN (you can add the BBC iPlayer app or website).

There’s also MediaStreamer, a smart DNS tool that is good for using the VPN on devices that don’t support VPN apps — and I was very impressed with ExpressVPN’s step-by-step guides on how to set up MediaStreamer on practically any device.

ExpressVPN also provides strong security since it has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and verified. It has RAM-only servers (no data is kept on the hard drive and all data is deleted at every reboot) and perfect forward secrecy, which frequently changes the encryption key used by the VPN to prevent future and past keys from getting hacked.

ExpressVPN offers several pricing plans that start at $6.67 / month. While the price is a bit more expensive than other top VPNs, I still think it’s well worth the value you receive in exchange. All ExpressVPN plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Streaming BBC iPlayer on Mobile Devices

Private Internet Access (PIA) has feature-rich and customizable Android and iOS apps for watching BBC iPlayer content — and it also has some pretty good apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, and smart TVs.

The mobile apps have a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest available server in your current location. PIA also allows unlimited connections, so your whole family can use it to watch their favorite shows on BBC iPlayer.

Plus, PIA comes with servers in 3 UK cities. You can connect to servers in Manchester, London, and Southampton. It’s fewer locations than ExpressVPN but still offers a good variety of options.

The apps also let you customize many of your preferences — for example, I switched to 128-bit AES encryption from 256-bit AES to get slightly faster speeds.

While ExpressVPN is still the fastest VPN on this list, PIA still provides fast speeds — in my speed tests, content in HD loaded in 3–4 seconds and never buffered.

PIA has a robust list of security features — it has a strict no-logs policy that has been proven in court documents, and it also issues transparency reports that detail all data requests it receives. Private Internet Access also has RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, and its apps are open-source, meaning anyone can read through the code to check for holes in security.

Private Internet Access has flexible plans starting at just $2.11 / month and backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review

🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Offers a Dedicated Streaming Server for BBC iPlayer

CyberGhost VPN has a dedicated server just for BBC iPlayer — there are also an additional 100+ dedicated streaming servers for 50+ streaming platforms in 20+ countries.

The BBC iPlayer server is optimized to always work with the streaming service — my colleague in the UK tested the BBC iPlayer server multiple times, and it always worked with the service.

All of CyberGhost VPN’s servers provide pretty smooth and fast streaming speeds. However, CyberGhost is a little slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (HD content loaded in about 4–5 seconds and played with very minimal buffering).

CyberGhost also has intuitive native apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and smart TVs. It comes with a very user-friendly quick-connect tool and also makes it easy to manually find a server with its well-organized server list (and there’s a search bar).

I really like CyberGhost VPN’s Smart Rules feature that is available on Windows and macOS — it lets you customize your connection settings. For example, you can choose an app (like BBC iPlayer) to automatically open when you connect to the VPN, and you can automatically connect to a specific UK server when you open BBC iPlayer.

CyberGhost VPN has flexible plans that start at $2.03 / month and backs all yearly plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee (the monthly plan has a 14-day risk-free window).

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

4. NordVPN — Secure VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer

NordVPN provides secure streaming on BBC iPlayer. The VPN has Threat Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites — so it can protect you from shady BBC iPlayer clones. What’s more, the feature also protects you from malware-infected downloads.

Also, there’s a dark web monitoring tool that alerts you if your NordVPN account login credentials have been leaked on the dark web. This feature might be helpful if you use the same login details for your BBC iPlayer account.

On top of that, the provider has advanced security features, including RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection. Also, its no-logs policy has been independently audited several times.

The VPN is pretty fast, though it’s still slower than ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and CyberGhost VPN. In my speed tests, most HD videos loaded in 2 seconds and didn’t buffer, while 4K videos took 4 seconds to load and there was minor buffering at the start.

NordVPN’s plans start at $3.39 / month, and the provider backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review

5. Surfshark — Very Affordable VPN for BBC iPlayer

Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. So it’s a pretty good pick if you need a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer and are also on a tight budget. My colleague in the UK confirmed that they could watch BBC iPlayer while connected to a Surfshark server with no issues.

The provider’s apps are very intuitive. The interface is simple to navigate, it only takes 4 seconds to find and connect to Surfshark’s UK servers (there are 4 different locations), and all settings and features come with helpful explanations. What’s more, the provider also allows unlimited connections.

You get decent speeds with Surfshark. In my speed tests, HD videos took only 3 seconds to load and there was just minor buffering at the start, and 4K videos loaded in 5 seconds and there were no quality drops while skipping through them. Still, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access provided me with much faster speeds.

The VPN is also pretty secure, as it comes with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy. It also has IP Rotator, which regularly changes your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN server.

Surfshark’s plans start as low as $1.99 / month. Also, the provider backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review

Comparison of the Best VPNs for Watching BBC iPlayer in 2024

How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer in 2024

• Look for a VPN that works with BBC iPlayer. My top choice for watching content on BBC iPlayer when in the UK is ExpressVPN because it has blazing-fast streaming speeds and great security features.
• Pick a VPN with excellent streaming support. The VPN should also support other top streaming sites. Each VPN on this list works with top streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
• Ensure the VPN has fast streaming speeds. All VPNs slightly slow down your speeds because of the time required to encrypt your data, but top VPNs are able to maintain fast speeds. All the VPNs on this list provided me with fast streaming speeds (I had the fastest speeds with ExpressVPN).
• Choose a VPN that’s easy to use. All of the VPNs on this list support all of the major devices, are easy to install, easy to use, and make it simple to connect to a UK server to watch BBC iPlayer.
• Look for a VPN with strong security. I only recommend VPNs that protect user data with industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption (the same encryption used by banks and governments), a no-logs policy, protection against DNS, webRTC, or IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch that will disconnect you from the internet if your connection to the VPN server drops.
• Ensure the VPN provides good value. The best VPNs for watching BBC iPlayer include extra features like split-tunneling, allow multiple simultaneous connections (Private Internet Access and Surfshark support unlimited connections), offer affordable plans, and come with a money-back guarantee.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Content on Any Device

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Content on Your PC or Mac Device

1. Choose a good VPN that works with BBC iPlayer. I recommend ExpressVPN as it consistently works with BBC iPlayer, has fast speeds, and provides easy-to-use apps for Windows and macOS.
2. Download and install the VPN. This process should only take 1–2 minutes. Just follow the installation wizard’s instructions.
3. Connect to a nearby server and log into your BBC iPlayer account. You can now securely watch BBC iPlayer content.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Content on Your Smartphone or Tablet

1. Pick a VPN for BBC iPlayer for iOS and Android. My top pick is ExpressVPN for its easy-to-use mobile apps.
2. Download and install the VPN app. Find the app in your device’s app store and download it. Then, follow the instructions your app store provides to finish the setup.
3. Open the VPN app, connect to a local server, and open BBC iPlayer. Now you’re ready to binge your favorite BBC iPlayer content.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Content on Your Smart TV

1. Download a reputable VPN. I prefer ExpressVPN thanks to its very easy-to-install apps for smart TVs and routers.
2. For Android TVs. Download a VPN app from the device’s app store. ExpressVPN has an easy-to-install app for Android TVs.
3. For non-Android TVs. Download and set up the VPN on your router (ExpressVPN has a great router app and provides excellent step-by-step instructions on how to install it). Once your router is configured to use the VPN, all of the devices in your home that are connected to the router will be connected to the VPN.
4. Connect to a local server in the UK and open BBC iPlayer. That’s it. You can now start watching BBC iPlayer content on your Smart TV.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Content on Your Gaming Console

1. Get a BBC iPlayer VPN that’s compatible with your router. Setting up your VPN on your router lets you protect all devices on your network, including your PlayStation and Xbox. ExpressVPN is a great choice with fast speeds and a convenient router app.
2. Connect to a local VPN server in the UK. Connect your router’s VPN to a server that is located in the UK.
3. Activate your VPN, then go to the BBC iPlayer site through your console connected to the VPN-protected router to enjoy your favorite shows.

Tried Using a VPN for BBC iPlayer, But It’s Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Steps

Try a Different Server

The server you connected to might be under maintenance and not working. Simply try disconnecting and then reconnecting to a different UK server in your VPN app.

Check for Updates

Your VPN software may be outdated. VPNs regularly roll out updates to improve performance, add new features, and fix bugs, and if they’ve updated their servers, your outdated app may not be able to connect to them. Check your VPN app for any available updates in the app store, download and install them, and then try launching the BBC iPlayer site or app again. If you want to prevent this from happening again, just turn on the auto-download features in your app store.

Contact Customer Support

There might be a more complex issue at hand. If none of the above solutions work, reach out to your VPN provider’s customer service and explain the issue you’re having — they may have specific advice or solutions based on known issues or their specific service. They’ll also be able to confirm whether the VPN actually works with BBC iPlayer.

Best Streaming Service Alternatives to BBC iPlayer

If you want to explore other options, here are some top-tier streaming services that offer a vast selection of content:

1. Netflix is arguably the most popular streaming service that includes a broad and diverse library. The available content varies by country, with the most extensive selection being in the US. If you want to securely stream Netflix content, you should consider these top VPNs for Netflix.
2. Amazon Prime Video offers an array of content, including movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals. The service is available worldwide, but the content library varies by region.
3. Disney+ offers family-friendly content, including a vast range of Disney movies, TV shows, and exclusive material. Like Netflix, Disney+’s content varies by region.
4. Apple TV+ offers original content that’s available in 50+ countries. A VPN is a great choice for Apple TV+ if your ISP is throttling your speed or if you’re using public Wi-Fi to stream.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best VPN for streaming BBC iPlayer content?

ExpressVPN is my top choice for streaming BBC iPlayer — my colleagues in the UK confirmed it works with BBC iPlayer 100% of the time, it has some of the fastest streaming speeds on the market, it’s easy to use, and it also works with 100+ other streaming sites.

Can I use a free VPN to watch BBC iPlayer?

Yes, there are some decent free VPNs that work with BBC iPlayer like Windscribe. However, Windscribe only allows 10 GB of data per month, which is enough for about 5 hours of streaming in HD.

Generally, I don’t recommend that you use a free VPN because they typically don’t work with BBC iPlayer, lack important security features, have slow speeds, and set a limit on your data.

Honestly, it’s much better to purchase a low-cost premium VPN like ExpressVPN, which works with BBC iPlayer 24/7, includes unlimited data, maintains some of the fastest streaming speeds out there, and has high-end security features.

Do I still need a TV license to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN?

Yes, you must have a TV license to stream BBC iPlayer — even when using a VPN, you still need to have a valid BBC iPlayer account, which you can only get if you live in the UK and have a TV license.

Best VPNs for Watching BBC iPlayer Content in 2024 — Final Score: