How to Watch BBC iPlayer for Free with the Best VPNs

Download Astro
Download Astro
May 25, 2022
BBC iPlayer is a popular streaming service that gives viewers access to the best British content available.  This includes popular television shows, movies and live sports.  Unfortunately, most of this content is only available on devices with a UK IP address.
 
 
So, how are you supposed to access this content if you live outside the UK? Luckily, there’s a solution.
 
 
 
VPNs Can Help You Access Content on BBC iPlayer
 
 
VPNs have servers located around the world in a number of different countries.  By using a VPN and logging into a UK server, you can trick BBC iPlayer into thinking that you’re located within the country.  Your IP address will appear to be from the UK, so all the content that was previously blocked will become available to you.
 
 
This used to work all the time but unfortunately the streaming service has started developing technology that detects VPNs.  BBC iPlayer has now become one of the hardest content providers to gain access to and as a result, most VPNs can no longer access it.
 
 
Luckily, there are still a few VPNs that have been proven to be able to unblock BBC iPlayer content.  As of 2019, the following VPNs can help you gain access to the popular streaming service.
 
 
 
 
 
When people think of the best VPNs they immediately think of NordVPN.  The company gives users access to a whopping 5092 servers in 63 countries, making it one of the largest networks available.  You can also connect six different devices to the VPN simultaneously, allowing you to take it with you everywhere you go.  Tests consistently show that NordVPN offers some of the fastest speeds available, making it an excellent choice for streaming.
 
 
The company operates 30 different servers in the UK, including one server that is designed to handle ultra-fast HD streaming.  If you visit NordVPN’s website, you’ll be able to see which servers are currently able to access BBC iPlayer.
 
 
 
 
 
ExpressVPN is known for their excellent user-friendly apps that are available across virtually all devices.  They also offer one of the largest lists of server locations.  With servers located in 94 countries, users have access to an endless stream of content from many different areas of the world.  Although not the fastest VPN, ExpressVPN is known for being the most consistently fastest and because its speeds are so constant, it’s a great VPN to use for streaming.
 
 
With servers in six different UK locations, ExpressVPN has lots of choices for those looking for a way to unblock BBC iPlayer content.   The company is notorious for staying one step ahead of streaming services in order to allow its users access to geo-blocked content.
 
 
 
 
 
Vypr is well-known around the VPN community for its fast speeds.  Some people have even reported that their download speeds increased when using the service, which is remarkable.  While their total server network of 700 is somewhat small compared to their competitors, they have servers located in 70 different countries.  This gives them access to more regions than most other VPNs.
 
 
Be aware that VyprVPN does keep some logs.  However, if you can live with that, the service is an excellent choice for watching BBC iPlayer content, due to their extremely fast speeds.
 
 
 
 
 
CyberGhost is a very user-friendly VPN that’s also extremely proficient at unblocking content from a number of different streaming sites, including BBC iPlayer.  This VPN has a number of benefits, including five simultaneous connections, excellent customer service, zero activity logs and a 45-day money back guarantee.  For all of these reasons, CyberGhost is one of the most popular VPNs available.
 
 
The company has one of the largest UK server networks with over 150 servers spread around the country.  It also features settings specifically for unblocking BBC iPlayer.
 
 
 
 
 
If you’re looking for the VPN with the most server locations, you’ve found it.  PureVPN operates servers in an astonishing 140 countries, giving it access to more content than pretty much any other VPN available.  Perhaps even better, is the fact that they give you ten simultaneous connections, which lets you use your account on a number of different devices and gives you the ability to share your VPN with family and friends.
 
 
PureVPN consistently unblocks BBC iPlayer and with its streaming-optimized servers and fast connection speeds, it’s a great choice for those looking to access British content. 
 
 
 
 
 
Private Internet Access could very well be the fastest VPN on this list.  Recent tests have placed them in the top five fastest VPNs out of the hundreds available.  When you combine that with their excellent service and affordable prices, it’s no wonder why they are one of the most popular VPNs in the world.  The only drawback is that they only have servers in 33 different locations, which is small compared to their other competitors.
 
 
The company has a great reputation for unblocking geo-restricted content, including BBC iPlayer.  They also have virtually no downtime, so you can be sure that there will be no interruptions while you’re trying to stream content. 
 
 
 
 
 
IPVanish has attracted a large following, mostly due to their fast server speeds and excellent apps.  You can use this VPN on five different devices at once and their server network is one of the best available.  IPVanish also has a firm no-logging policy so you know the company will take your privacy seriously.  The only downside is that their prices are a little higher than average.
 
 
Time and time again, IPVanish has proven to be one of the few VPNs that can unblock content on BBC iPlayer.  This, along with their excellent speeds, makes them one of the better VPNs for streaming British content.