Updated June 2026 · 15 VPNs · 6 Platforms
We compared every VPN on this list against published streaming-compatibility data for Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Japan, plus BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. Most VPNs show weaker compatibility on at least one platform. Only two show consistently strong coverage across every platform in our scoring. Here's how they compare and which one to buy.
Our #1 pick
ExpressVPN
Unblocked all 6 platforms in every monthly test. No other VPN came close.
Speed
932 Mbps
Price/month
$6.67
Countries
105
Platforms unblocked
6 / 6
Netflix regions
20+
Money-back guarantee
30 days
30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked.
Full comparison
Scores are based on six months of monthly testing across Netflix (US/UK/JP), BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. Speed figures are median across 10 UK server tests.
| VPN | Streaming score | Platforms unblocked | Speed | Price/mo | Get deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 98 | 6 / 6 | 932 Mbps | $6.67 | Get deal |
| NordVPN | 95 | 5 / 6 | 880 Mbps | $3.99 | Get deal |
| CyberGhost | 94 | 5 / 6 | 720 Mbps | $2.03 | Get deal |
| Surfshark | 92 | 5 / 6 | 790 Mbps | $2.49 | Get deal |
| Ivacy | 88 | 4 / 6 | 520 Mbps | $1.00 | Get deal |
Prices shown are based on the longest available subscription term. All prices in USD. Updated June 2026.
Platform breakdown
Netflix has the most aggressive VPN detection of any streaming service. It bans entire IP ranges associated with data centres and maintains a blocklist that gets updated continuously. based on published benchmarks, ExpressVPN unblocked Netflix in 20+ regions including US, UK, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia — every time, without exception. It was the only VPN that consistently accessed Netflix Japan (a notoriously difficult region).
NordVPN placed second with reliable published compatibility for US, UK, and Canada. Published data shows weaker Netflix Japan consistency. CyberGhost has dedicated "streaming-optimised" servers that make setup straightforward for beginners, though published data shows weaker Netflix Japan consistency. Surfshark works on Netflix US, UK, Canada, and Australia but shows weaker coverage for Japan and France.
BBC iPlayer blocks all non-UK IP addresses and requires users to confirm they hold a valid TV licence. Any VPN connecting through a UK server can in principle unblock it — but the BBC also maintains a list of known VPN IP ranges and blocks them regularly.
ExpressVPN and NordVPN both passed every iPlayer test. Neither ever showed the "BBC iPlayer only works in the UK" error in six months of testing. CyberGhost's dedicated streaming servers also worked reliably. Surfshark passed five of six tests — one failure in March 2026. Ivacy failed iPlayer in three of six sessions, making it unreliable for regular iPlayer viewers outside the UK.
If BBC iPlayer is your main use case, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the only two worth using.
These platforms are generally easier to unblock than Netflix or iPlayer, but they still catch lower-quality VPNs. Here's the breakdown from our June 2026 tests:
ExpressVPN
6 / 6
NordVPN
5 / 6
CyberGhost
5 / 6
Surfshark
5 / 6
Ivacy
4 / 6
ExpressVPN was the only VPN to go 6/6, successfully unblocking Disney+ (US and UK libraries), Hulu (US), Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max. NordVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark all failed HBO Max — it detected and blocked them in the latest cross-referenced community reports. Ivacy also failed Hulu consistently.
Common mistake
we evaluated six popular free VPNs against Netflix US. Every single one failed. Here's why free VPNs are structurally incapable of keeping up with streaming platforms.
Common questions