Are you traveling outside the UK and don’t want to miss out on your favorite British show? Fret not, there are many top-tier VPN providers that will help you unlock all the streaming content in the UK. Not solely for streaming content but maybe you are the one who wants to protect your internet activity from hackers and snoopers. So, for all those cases VPN works best for it.
As per the order of the British government in 2016, the Investigatory Power Act legalized mass surveillance with little oversight. This means that government agencies can easily track the online activity of citizens and will be subjected to scrutiny by the agencies. To enhance privacy by sending your data through an encrypted server, you can protect your online privacy. Let’s delve deeper into the best VPNs for UK.
Summary of 5 Best VPNs for UK
- NordVPN: Best VPN for the United Kingdom with excellent download speed. Highest level of security and a large fleet of servers in the UK shows optimal performance for Netflix and other streaming sites.
- Surfshark: Budget-friendly VPN option in UK that works for all the British streaming sites. Fully audited with a strict no-log policy and offers unlimited simultaneous connection for ease of users.
- Atlas VPN: A private VPN that saves no log information. Can access a bunch of geo-restricted streaming platforms that include Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and various Netflix libraries.
- ExpressVPN: Premium VPN that offers high speed, strong connection along with robust encryption. Shows peak level performance with no buffering for ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, Netflix and other UK streaming sites.
- CyberGhost: A large fleet of servers in UK that offers high speed for streaming.Military-grade encryption of AES 256-bit for full-fledge online privacy and reasonable long-term subscription plans.
Charting the best VPNs for UK
| Best VPNs for UK | Best Monthly Price | Security | Speed | Streaming | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | £2.99/month | Excellent | Very fast | Yes | Excellent |
| Surfshark | £2.49/month | Very good | Fast | Yes | Good |
| Atlas VPN | Free (limited) or £1.99/month | Good | Fast | Yes | Good |
| ExpressVPN | £5.95/month | Excellent | Very fast | Yes | Excellent |
| CyberGhost | £2.69/month | Very good | Fast | Yes | Good |
How to choose the best VPNs for UK ?
The choice of the best VPN for UK totally depends upon the needs and preferences of users. Some people are more concerned for online privacy while others are interested in unblocking streaming sites. So for every particular use case, you can select from the best VPNs for UK. Here’s the criteria to choose a viable UK VPN:
| Privacy Feature | Independently audited, zero log policy |
| Security Feature | Threat protection, Kill switch |
| Efficient tunneling protocols | WireGuard, OpenGuard |
| Servers | Obfuscated , RAM-only servers |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Unblock | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV and HBO Max |
- Advanced Security features– A VPN should essentially have a kill switch that prevents complete data leaks in case of connection drops. Plus, a feature that keeps you secure includes threat protection for high-level security.
- No log policy- A VPN should have a privacy-focused approach with no logs, so it does not collect your data and offers you complete anonymity and privacy. The best VPNs for UK have a clear no log policy to protect your data.
- Great Speed – A VPN potentially slows down your internet connection a little bit . So it’s always a good idea to choose VPN that shows optimal performance in all use cases.
- Servers in UK – Having a large fleet of servers is a cherry on top that helps to maintain a strong connection. Thus connecting to servers in London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh for obtaining UK IP addresses for optimal performance is a must.
- Streaming Capabilities– The best VPNs for UK will help you unblock Hulu, Netflix libraries, HBO Max , Disney+, and other streaming giants, no matter where you are living.
- Good value for money – It’s always a good idea to select a VPN with a reasonable price. This will help you to leverage all the benefits in long term.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN being the well-known VPN gained the top spot among the best VPNs for UK due to its excellent performance and security. With 400 servers across London, it effortlessly unblocks the biggest streaming platforms. This VPN does not keep any logs of user activity, timestamps, and bandwidth used. NordVPN has a functional kill switch that prevents the leaking of data. Apart from that the threat protection feature serves as a blockade for malware and intrusive ads.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great speed and connection with NordLynx tunneling protocol | No free version is available |
| No log policy | |
| Secure access to various streaming platforms | |
| Smart DNS and threat protection | |
| Affordable price range |
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is a security and privacy concerned VPN that guarantees anonymity while you browse on the web. It is regarded as an inexpensive VPN for UK citizens and travelers. In a minimal price range of $2.30 per month, you can reap all the benefits of the top tier in UK. With this viable option among the best VPNs for UK you get to choose servers from 4 different prime UK locations that include London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Like NordVPN it also uses the Smart DNS technology and provides reliable connection on devices that do not fully support VPN.
| Pros | Cons |
| Unblock streaming giants like Hulu and BBC iPlayer | Fewer servers than its competitors |
| Good speed without noticeable slowdown | Not so good on Apple devices |
| Split tunneling to customize VPN connection | |
| Block ads, trackers and other malicious attacks | |
| Risk-free 30 days trial |
3. Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN is the top-tier VPN for all those who prioritized privacy and security. Although the service provider does not disclose the number of servers in the UK, they do have mentioned London as their key location. With kill switch of Atlas VPN, you can keep all your information private even if your VPN disconnects.
On top of that, you get SafeBrowse feature that blocks all the malicious sites to secure your data. With this great VPN option among the best VPNs for UK, you can easily access all the top streaming platforms including Netflix libraries, Hulu , BBC iPlayer, and YouTube TV. The only drawback is that you won’t be able to set up this VPN on router and smart devices.
| Pros | Cons |
| A complete no-log policy | Comparatively small server fleet |
| Able to access major streaming platforms | No Smart DNS feature |
| Advanced Safe browse feature | |
| Offers unlimited simultaneous connections |
4. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a trusted VPN technology that does not store any browsing information. This VPN provider offers 5 server locations in UK and is more focused on ultra-fast connection and a customer-first approach. ExpressVPN works best for all those traveling outside UK and want a VPN with minimal downtime and a large fleet of servers. This VPN is included in the list of best VPNs for UK as it uses the proprietary version of the best-in-class tunneling protocol, WireGuard. Apart from bypassing geo-restrictions for streaming sites it is a preferable choice for sports fans who want to access channels like BT Sports, Sky and Channel 4.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great speed with Lightway protocol | On the pricier side |
| Bypass geo-restrictions for major streaming platforms | Unavailability of kill switch for iOs devices |
| Compatible with range of browsers and devices | |
| Connect 5 devices at once | |
| Proven 30-day money-back guarantee |
5. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a perfect blend of the highest-level security and great global server coverage. The VPN operates with a strict no-logs policy with servers in 3 locations that include London, Berkshire, and Manchester. CyberGhost has optimized servers for all your online streaming needs. This VPN provider also includes an ad blocker to prevent malicious content from infecting your device. It’s comparatively easy to set up and will automatically connect to the fastest servers. With the availability of a kill switch, it has secure noSpy servers for optimal performance.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good security that saves no logs | Unintuitive Linux client |
| Impressive streaming video speed | Less reliable in countries like UAE |
| IP addresses across 90 different countries | Apple applications have fewer features |
| Minimal configuration hence easy to use | |
| Risk-free trial for 45 days |
Can I use free VPN for UK?
There is always the option for setting up for less costly VPN if you are looking for a quick fix. But the premium and best VPNs for UK are the viable option that guarantees safe browsing and streaming experience for the individuals. The free VPNs have weak encryption and the connection will not be optimized for security and privacy. While on the other hand the best VPNs for UK offer military-level encryption along with other advanced security tools to avoid the risk of malware infection.