Based on our years of experience using and testing VPNs, we have established the following list of factors to consider when choosing a VPN for streaming.
Streaming capability
Your VPN’s ability to access streaming content is, obviously, the main factor to consider in a VPN for streaming. If your VPN cannot access streaming content, then it is not suitable for this purpose. It is not just access to streaming content that is important to consider; it is also important to ensure that the VPN you choose works well for the streaming service you want to access. This is where free trial versions and money-back guarantees are really useful because not all VPNs work well for all streaming services. Think about the streaming services you want to watch — such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Hulu, Peacock, Crunchyroll, YouTube TV, Sling and others.
Speed
The speed of your VPN plays an important role in the overall quality of your streaming experience. You will need a fast VPN, especially if you are streaming in 4K or if you are accessing geographically blocked content from a region that is considerably far from your physical location. If your VPN is slowing down your connection too much, you may end up experiencing a lot of buffering issues or lower quality video playback.
Privacy
Regardless of what you are using your VPN for, privacy is a fundamental consideration for any VPN service. Your VPN should have privacy measures in place such as DNS leak protection, a kill switch and a no-logging policy (bonus points for a VPN that has been audited or tested in the real world). A VPN that provides the necessary privacy protections will ensure that your Internet traffic is never disclosed unencrypted, including which sites you are visiting and what content you are streaming.
Network
A good VPN for streaming should have a network of servers in scattered locations around the world. If you are looking to fully optimize your streaming and get access to the widest selection of streaming content, you will probably want to choose a VPN with servers located in as many countries as possible. If you are looking to access content from a specific region, you should check to ensure that the VPN you want to use has servers in the region(s) you need. You can check the VPN’s servers page on its website to see which countries it has servers in before purchasing a subscription.
Device compatibility
You will also want to make sure that the VPN you choose is compatible with the device you want to stream content on, whether it is a mobile device, a laptop, a smart TV or a streaming device. Most VPNs are compatible with a wide range of devices, but it is always a good idea to confirm that the service you are considering will work with the device you want to use.
