Best VPN for Streaming in 2024
Proton VPN
If you want a VPN that is free and still lets you stream the US Netflix library, then Proton VPN is the ideal choice. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends, because it is secure, safe to use, and has no limits on speed or usage. Technically, Proton VPN’s free servers aren’t optimized for streaming, but we still got decent speeds and were able to stream Netflix content smoothly through the VPN’s free US servers.
With Proton VPN’s premium service, which includes servers in 100 countries (as opposed to five with the free plan), we were able to access content from several regional Netflix libraries, as well as content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus. The only downside we encountered was that we couldn’t stream Disney Plus on macOS via Proton’s US servers, though it worked fine on other platforms. Proton VPN’s paid plans cost $10 per month, $60 for the first year ($80 per year thereafter), or $108 total for the first two years ($80 per year thereafter).
Read our Proton VPN review.
Private Internet Access
The wallet-friendly Private Internet Accessor PIA, is an open-source VPN provider with a strong focus on privacy. PIA costs just $12 per month, $40 per year, or $79 for three years. Unlike many other VPN providers, PIA does not have price increases, so your subscription should renew at the same price as your original purchase. While PIA worked well enough for Netflix and Disney Plus, it struggled with Amazon Prime Video. PIA has apps for nearly every platform, including Windows, macOS, Linux (with a GUI), web browsers, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Android TV, and Apple TV.
Despite its affordability compared to many VPN rivals, PIA is hard to recommend for streaming due to its average speed performance. In our tests, we measured a disappointing 49% average loss in internet download speed. Those with fast (50 Mbps or higher) internet speeds should be fine, but slower or unreliable internet connections like satellite internet may not work as well. (For reference, Netflix recommends (minimum 15 Mbps download speed for a single 4K UHD video stream.) Ultimately, PIA is a fantastic VPN with strong privacy features, but its streaming shortcomings limit its appeal for VPN users looking to unblock a wide range of streaming content.
Read our PIA review.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a decent VPN for streaming if you’re new to VPNs and want a solution that’s easy to use and can help you watch content on a variety of streaming platforms. During our testing, we were able to access Netflix libraries from a handful of regions, along with content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus. While some VPNs can struggle to deliver across platforms, we were able to access every one of the streaming services we tested on every one of the devices we tested them on with IPVanish. The main area where IPVanish struggles is with speed. The inconsistent nature of IPVanish’s speeds – we measured a high average internet speed loss of 44% in our 2024 tests – can put a damper on your streaming experience, especially when watching 4K ultra-high-definition video.
With IPVanish, you have access to servers in 56 countries, which is a lot less than other options like NordVPN (111 countries), ExpressVPN (105 countries), Surfshark (100 countries), Proton VPN (100 countries), and PIA (91 countries). So if you want to stream content from a specific region, you’ll want to look at: IPVanish’s server page to check if the provider has servers in those locations before committing to a subscription. A monthly subscription to IPVanish costs $13 per month, which is comparable to many other VPNs, but the annual plan starts cheaper than both NordVPN and ExpressVPN at $33 for the first year. IPVanish offers a two-year plan that costs $52 for the first two years combined. Be aware, however, that the one- and two-year plans skyrocket to $90 after the initial one- or two-year term. Given the slow internet speeds, small server network, and mid-pack pricing, IPVanish isn’t ideal for streaming enthusiasts.
Read our IPVanish review.
Mullvad
Mullvad is a great choice for privacy-conscious VPN users. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we tested, with an impressive 13% overall speed loss. However, while it worked well with Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu, it struggled to stream Amazon Prime Video during our tests, and it doesn’t offer full, native support for smart TVs or streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV. That, combined with its relatively small network of servers in just 44 countries, makes Mullvad a tough sell for those looking to use the VPN for streaming purposes.
Mullvad doesn’t require any personal information to sign up — not even an email address — and costs a flat $5 per month, whether you use it for a month, a year, or five years. You can pay and add as many months to your account as you like, but Mullvad doesn’t have recurring subscriptions of any kind, as it strives to collect as little data as possible. If you’re not satisfied with the service, you can request a refund within the first 30 days of purchase.
Read our Mullvad review
