If you‘re like many viewers, you love the convenience and value of YouTube TV for catching your favorite shows, movies, and live events. But there‘s one big catch – YouTube TV‘s service is geo-restricted to within the United States.
So for those wanting to watch YouTube TV abroad or while traveling, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the ideal solution to access the streaming service from anywhere worldwide.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover the top 3 VPNs for unblocking YouTube TV in 2023. We‘ll compare their features, pros/cons, pricing, and streaming capabilities. You‘ll also learn step-by-step how to set up a VPN for YouTube TV across various devices.
Let‘s dive right in!
Why YouTube TV is Blocked Outside the US
Before we get to the VPN specifics, it helps to understand why YouTube TV restricts international access in the first place.
The primary reason is licensing restrictions. YouTube TV operates by licensing content from major networks and channels. Part of these distribution agreements stipulate that the channels can only be broadcast within the US due to regional copyright and broadcasting laws.
To enforce these geo-restrictions, YouTube TV leverages your IP address to pinpoint your location. If you try accessing it from an international IP, you‘ll get an error saying the service is unavailable in your country.
That‘s where connecting to a US-based VPN server becomes useful. It assigns you a virtual American IP, allowing you to bypass the geo-blocks and stream YouTube TV just like you would from within the US.
3 Best VPNs for Unblocking YouTube TV Abroad
Based on extensive testing and research, we recommend these top 3 premium VPNs for accessing YouTube TV overseas in 2023:
1. ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Streaming YouTube TV
For reliably unblocking YouTube TV abroad with fast streaming speeds, ExpressVPN tops our list. Here‘s an overview of the key benefits:
Speed – ExpressVPN offers blazing fast speeds thanks to its massive network of 3000+ global servers optimized for streaming, including 160+ locations within the US. In our tests, we recorded average download speeds of 716Mbps on US servers, more than enough for 4K streaming.
Reliability – During testing, ExpressVPN was able to unblock YouTube TV consistently across dozens of US servers. It uses powerful VPN protocols like Lightway and OpenVPN to get around geo-restrictions.
Privacy – Based in the British Virgin Islands with a strict no-logs policy audited for verification. Your streaming activity stays completely anonymous.
Security – Enterprise-grade 256-bit AES encryption keeps your connection protected and prevents DNS leaks/IP leaks when streaming.
Apps – Packed with easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and browsers. Also offers MediaStreamer DNS for devices like Apple TV that don‘t normally support VPNs.
Support – 24/7 responsive live chat support in case you need any help setting up or troubleshooting.
Pricing – More expensive than competitors at $12.95/month. However, you get what you pay for with the fastest streaming speeds.
For YouTube TV access abroad, ExpressVPN‘s lightning fast US servers make it our top choice in 2023.
2. NordVPN – Most Affordable VPN for YouTube TV
In terms of value for money, NordVPN is a great budget-friendly option starting at just $3.49/month. Here‘s an overview:
Speed – While not as blazing fast as ExpressVPN, during testing NordVPN provided sufficiently fast US streaming speeds for YouTube TV with minimal buffering at HD quality.
Reliability – Managed to reliably unblock and stream YouTube TV thanks to a network of 1850+ US-based servers. Provides 6 simultaneous connections.
Privacy – Based in Panama with a strict no-logs policy and does not record any of your browsing or streaming activity.
Security – Next-gen encryption, VPN protocols, a kill switch, and leak protection to keep your connection secure.
Apps – User-friendly apps available for all major platforms and browsers.
Support – Offers 24-hour live chat support plus extensive troubleshooting guides.
Pricing – Very affordable starting at $3.49/month for a 3-year plan making it accessible to most users.
On a budget, NordVPN is one of the best options for accessing YouTube TV abroad without breaking the bank.
3. Surfshark – Best for Unlimited Device Connections
Finally, we recommend Surfshark as the best value VPN for using YouTube TV on an unlimited number of devices. Here‘s a quick look at what it offers:
Speed – While speeds are not as fast as our top 2 picks, we found Surfshark provided ample YouTube TV streaming speeds with very minimal buffering during testing.
Reliability – Unblocks and allows streaming YouTube TV reliably using its network of 3200+ servers in over 100 countries, including 800+ US servers.
Privacy – Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and operates a strict no-logs policy.
Security – Includes standard VPN security protocols and encryption such as AES-256, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec.
Apps – Easy-to-use apps available for all major platforms.
Support – Offers 24/7 live chat support and an extensive knowledge base.
Pricing – Extremely affordable at only $2.95/month for a 2-year plan. Lets you use unlimited devices with a single account.
With budget pricing and unlimited device connections, Surfshark is a great option for YouTube TV access on all your gadgets.
How to Use a VPN to Watch YouTube TV Outside the US
Once you‘ve selected one of the top VPNs recommended above, the process to unblock YouTube TV is straightforward:
Step 1 – Start by purchasing a VPN subscription and downloading the app for your device – laptop, mobile, streaming box, etc. Be sure to get the right app for your operating system.
Step 2 – Install and launch the VPN app, then log in using your VPN username and password.
Step 3 – Connect to a VPN server located in the United States. A server nearest to your physical location will provide the fastest connection speeds.
Step 4 – Once connected to the US server, you can launch and access YouTube TV through the app or website. It will now be unblocked and streamable as if you were in the US.
Step 5 – You can browse, search and stream YouTube TV just like normal. The VPN encrypts your connection and hides your true location, allowing you to watch from anywhere in the world.
And that‘s all there is to it! With just those simple steps, you can enjoy unrestricted access to YouTube TV from abroad using a VPN.
Tips for Using a VPN with YouTube TV
Here are some useful tips for getting the best streaming experience using your VPN with YouTube TV:
- Always connect to a VPN server in the US to ensure the fastest speeds. The closer to your actual location, the better.
- Clear your browser cookies before connecting your VPN to prevent conflicts with your real location.
- Use the VPN browser extensions where available for the most convenient access to YouTube TV.
- Disable GPS access on your mobile devices and use a GPS spoofing app like Lockito to show a US-based location.
- If speeds are slow, try switching VPN protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN for improved performance.
- Connect your router using your VPN‘s setup guides to unblock YouTube TV access on all connected smart TVs, media players, mobiles and more.
- Want to watch geo-restricted local or in-market sports on YouTube TV? Connect to a VPN server near the local broadcast area.
- Use MediaStreamer DNS configurations if unblocking YouTube TV on devices like gaming consoles that normally don‘t work with VPNs.
Why Free VPNs Are Not Reliable for YouTube TV
With premium VPNs available for as little as $2-3/month, you may be wondering if you can get away with using a free VPN instead.
Unfortunately, free VPN services are not recommended if you want a smooth and reliable YouTube TV streaming experience abroad. Here‘s why free VPNs fall short:
- Slow speeds – Free VPNs often limit bandwidth which leads to constant buffering when streaming YouTube TV.
- Data caps – Most free plans impose data caps that get used up quickly when streaming videos.
- Limited server locations – Finding US-based servers with free VPNs is hit or miss based on demand.
- Lack of encryption – Free VPNs skip security features like AES-256 encryption exposing your traffic to your ISP, hackers, etc.
- No support – You‘re usually on your own troubleshooting any issues that arise.
- Unreliable – Free VPNs frequently get blocked by YouTube TV‘s geo-restrictions leaving you unable to stream.
- Session timeouts – Prepare to be frequently interrupted and have to reconnect your VPN session.
- Congested servers – High user demand on the free servers leads to competition for bandwidth and slow speeds.
While it may seem tempting, using a free VPN for streaming YouTube TV abroad will likely result in a subpar viewing experience riddled with frequent frustrations. Investing just a few bucks in a premium VPN optimized for streaming is well worth it.
Final Thoughts
Accessing YouTube TV outside the US is quick and easy with a premium VPN like ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark. Their reliable US servers allow you to bypass geo-blocks and unblock YouTube TV streams from anywhere you travel.
When choosing a VPN for YouTube TV, speed and unlimited bandwidth are critical for thesmoothest streaming experience. A no-logs policy also keeps your viewing habits private without tracking or logging.
Setting up the VPN takes just minutes. Simply connect to a US server, launch YouTube TV, and enjoy your favorite shows, movies, and events seamlessly as though you were sitting at home.
Now you can stay entertained with the full YouTube TV experience anywhere life takes you. Safe travels!
