BritBox is a streaming service and joint venture of ITV and the BBC available in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and of course the UK.
If you're on holiday, or live outside of these countries and want to access BritBox as well as a whole host of other geo-restricted content, you're going to need a VPN to do so.
The Best BritBox VPN Services
A much more detailed analysis of the best VPN providers to use for BritBox can be found a bit further down in this article, but here's a quick summary to get you going:
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for watching BritBox. Superb speeds and top-of-the-range features, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value-for-money BritBox VPN. It unblocks everything and makes buffering a thing of the past, with your privacy in mind.
- Surfshark - An all-around VPN for BritBox. It's cheap, cheerful, and feature-rich, with speeds some pricier providers would envy.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure VPN for BritBox, with a vast number of servers in the United States and great features. Also, it's cheap!
- CyberGhost VPN - The most beginner-friendly VPN for BritBox. Slick apps with simple-to-follow set up tutorials, and great customer support.
The Best VPNs for BritBox: a closer look
Here's a more detailed analysis of the VPNs mentioned above:
ExpressVPN is the best BritBox VPN. It continually strikes the perfect balance between speed and security, ideal for BritBox. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN, to put it bluntly, is a streamer's dream. It has thousands of servers in 105 countries
worldwide, making it ideal not only for streaming BritBox abroad, but for accessing all sorts of content from across the globe. Naturally, this provider maintains a server presence in the US, UK, and Canada, so you can connect wherever and you'll have all your favorite shows at your fingertips. ExpressVPN is one of the most consistent out there when it comes to speed, so don't worry, there won't be any irritating buffering screens you'll be forced to sit through. Aside from its streaming capabilities, ExpressVPN is held in such high esteem by users thanks to its security features. They guarantee that no logs of your activity will be kept – in fact, they run all their servers on RAM to ensure this – and use the latest encryption methods to make sure no one can see your traffic. Throw in a kill-switch, private DNS server, and various other top-notch security features, and you've got yourself a super-safe, super-speedy VPN. What's more, ExpressVPN will give customers their money back within 30 days if they're not satisfied, so there's no excuse to take it out for a spin! NordVPN is the best buy BritBox VPN. Not only is it quick, but it's also got great privacy tools to keep your traffic protected. All that, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. Nord Demo NordVPN is based in Panama, but has an impressive network of servers worldwide and is well-known for its ability to unblock content from all four corners of the earth. What stands out about this provider, however, is the speed. NordVPN consistently tops our speed tests and is likely the quickest network on this list. It also offers a great number of servers in countries where BritBox is available, so you can catch your favorite British TV wherever you are. NordVPN has a number of innovative security features for its users to play around with, including a Double VPN tool that reroutes your traffic through two servers for maximal protection. It equips its customers with a CyberSec tool to flush out any malicious attacks on your device or traffic. NordVPN has created its own technology (NordLynx) that sits on top of popular but relatively new protocols like WireGuard, which are the speediest around but yet to be properly tested in terms of security. Like ExpressVPN, this provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so this is another provider you can simply road test and return if you aren't happy with it. Surfshark is a great all-around BritBox VPN. It's keeping up with the industry's top dogs, features and speed-wise, whilst remaining cheap. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is a very cheap yet very impressive VPN that does a lot of the same stuff as its much pricier competitors, yet for just a fraction of the price. For just a couple of dollars a month, you can stream BritBox from abroad, play games on your console typically only available in other countries, and reap all the rewards derived from a genuinely premium service. Surfshark has a slightly smaller server fleet than some of the other providers on this list – but it still offers thousands of servers across 100 countries
worldwide – and it provides super-fast connections to all its locations. Whether you're connecting in Manchester, UK, or Miami, Florida, Surfshark will ensure a speedy streaming experience, BritBox or otherwise. Surfshark also has the security features to compete with the big boys. Camoflague Mode is really useful because it means even your internet service provider can't see you're using a VPN. The provider's CleanWeb tool, on the other hand, will put your malware-related worries at ease. Surfshark is somewhat unique amongst the VPN elite because it has no upper limit on how many devices you can use one account on - so all your friends and family can stream simultaneously. That also means an unlimited amount of people can test it out before the provider's month-long money-back guarantee period ceases, so you can really 'focus group' your purchase. Private Internet Access (PIA) is the most secure BritBox VPN. It comes with a huge server fleet and a rich history of protecting user privacy. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) is a VPN provider based in the United States. It has tens of thousands of servers in over 84 countries
worldwide, thousands of which in the US alone. As we already know, BritBox is available in the States, so you'll have a wealth of connection points to choose from which greatly improves your chances of finding a smooth, consistent stream. When PIA says they don't keep any logs of their users' server activity, they really mean it. PIA is one of the only providers to have been demanded to hand over user data by government authorities – and it was the US government for that matter. Thanks to PIA practicing what they preach, they were unable to hand anything over. That's precisely the sort of ethos you want from a VPN company if security is amongst your priorities. With up to 10 devices able to run the same account, PIA ensures you're you – and anyone else using your account – are really getting their money's worth. So, why not try it out? You'll have a month of freedom before you incur any real, permanent cost with PIA's money-back guarantee. CyberGhost is an easy-to-use BritBox VPN, with great apps, suitable even for complete newbies. It comes with the longest money-back guarantee – 45 days in total. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost is, most importantly, a VPN that can get you onto BritBox from all over the world. The provider's server count is outstanding across 100 countries
worldwide, and it has excellent coverage across Northern America and the United Kingdom. With CyberGhost, you can log into the same account on seven devices at once, meaning you won't have to log out and in again just to switch from your phone to your iPad. CyberGhost is a household name in the world of VPNs and the company has amassed around fifteen years of experience in the sector, making them one of the longest-serving and most trustworthy providers out there. It's therefore unsurprising to see them improving on their own software with the release of Cyberghost 8, the latest iteration of their VPN. New features include the WireGuard protocol that was mentioned previously, as well as the utilization of DNS blocklists to provide services such as ad and malware blocking. Cyberghost actually adds an extra 15 days on top of the standard 30-day money-back guarantee period, bringing it up to a huge month-and-a-half for the least decisive customers. 1. ExpressVPN
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How does ProPrivacy review VPNs?
With hundreds of VPNs available for purchase these days, it can be hard to distinguish between the reliable ones and those that are just a waste of your time and money. But the ProPrivacy team can help you with this. We've been putting VPNs to the test for almost a decade now – and while we won't tell you which VPN to choose (that depends on your own needs), we can tell you where to look.
Bear in mind that these are also the VPNs that we use in our day-to-day lives (to bypass censorship and protect our online privacy), so all of our claims come from honest first-hand experience.
If you're interested in learning in more about our in-depth reviewing process, you can check out the details here. But, for now, I'd like to share that each of the above-mentioned providers had to satisfy the following key criteria:
- Robust security - All the VPNs we recommend come with strong, well-implemented encryption, along with a choice of advanced protocols, such as OpenVPN, Lightway, WireGuard, or similar.
- Great server network - Although you'll need only a couple of strong servers in the UK or the US to access BritBox, your usage of a VPN shouldn't be limited to these locations. The best services come with thousands of fast servers worldwide.
- Lightning-fast speeds - We only recommend the VPNs that enable you to stream in HD and support all your other data-intensive activities, for example, gaming, torrenting, and VoIP calls.
- Cross-platform compatibility - The times when you had to pay for a VPN subscription per device are long gone. Most of the top-tier providers nowadays offer great apps for all your devices – and you shouldn't settle for less.
- Value for money - The best VPNs aren't the cheapest or the most expensive ones, but the ones that offer great apps and features, multiple simultaneous connections, and superb speeds at a reasonable price.
Why do I need a BritBox VPN?
Ever clicked on a website to watch a film or a new site to check out an article, only to be greeted by a message informing you that 'this content is not available in your country? It's frustrating to say the least, especially when you're on holiday and none of your favorite sites seem to work as they should.
With a VPN, however, these messages are a thing of the past. VPN providers reroute all of your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to private servers before it reaches the internet, which means your original IP address stays hidden. All the best VPN companies will have servers in a number of different countries around the world, and you'll be able to choose which country, and which server, to reroute your traffic through. Then, BritBox (and other sites you visit) will see the VPN server's IP address rather than your true IP.
Long story short, a good VPN will allow you to pretend to be in whatever country you like, and grant you access to a whole new world of streaming options.
How much does BritBox cost?
BritBox is £5.99/month in the UK and just $6.99/month in the US, making it competitive with Netflix subscriptions. It's also available in Canada for only $8.99/month. On the current exchange rate, that means the US is the cheapest, but they're all pretty reasonably priced if you can't get enough of Britain's best TV shows.
However, as with many subscription channels, BritBox only accepts credit cards from the regions it formally services. This shouldn't be a problem if you're on holiday or you live abroad and have obtained a credit card from one of these countries.
What to look for in a VPN for BritBox?
Not all VPNs offer the same deals nor the same features, so if BritBox is your priority, you need to ensure you sign up for a service that has:
- Servers in the countries where BritBox is available
- Robust security features
- Fast connection and download speeds
- A proven track record of unblocking sought-after content
If you'd like to access even more channels and streaming services with your VPN (who doesn't want to have a browse through the US's huge Netflix catalog?) then make sure you choose one with server coverage in the countries that matter to you. For instance, if you also want to catch the latest round of Brazilian Série A fixtures, make sure you choose a provider with servers in Brazil – you can be sure streaming services there will broadcast it.
Can I use a free VPN for BritBox?
Free VPNs are a contentious issue, to say the least. The staff here at ProPrivacy recommends that you avoid the vast majority of free VPNs because serious issues relating to privacy and security keep coming up.
Perhaps the best illustration of this point is the fact that some free VPNs that call themselves VPNs aren't actually VPNs, and instead function more like a proxy server, for example.
But it doesn't end there. Many of the free VPNs we've looked at over the past few years have sold user data to third-party companies. Shady privacy policies mocked up by some of the most popular free services available on the Google Play and App Store, on the other hand, too often include an admission that activity logs are in fact retained for us to trust this section of the market.
The decision to go with a provider offering a free service in other sectors is often understandable, particularly when the paid-for product is incredibly expensive. But you can purchase a cheap VPN subscription for not much more than a cup of coffee a month – in other words, it's well worth the money.
Looking for a way to access a premium VPN for free?
Setting up your VPN for BritBox: a step-by-step guides
- Sign up to one of the VPN services discussed in this article.
- Create your account and download the software onto your device
- Log in to the VPN account you have created.
- Choose a server in a country where BritBox is accessible, such as the US.
- Navigate to the BritBox website.
- Createa BritBox account and pay the subscription fee.
- You're now watching BritBox abroad!
If your VPN isn't working...
If your VPN doesn't seem to be working, it might be because you have cookies present on your device that have stored information about your location (don't panic – cookies often do this!). Try clearing your browsing history and cookie cache and see where that gets you.
If it still doesn't work after that, try restarting the VPN, connecting to a different server, and remember that your best port of call will be your provider's customer service channels. All of the VPNs featured in this list have great customer service teams, so don't hesitate to get in contact!
Are VPNs just for streamers?
VPNs are so useful for unblocking geo-restricted content that many folks have come to believe that it's their sole purpose. In reality, VPNs have a multitude of uses.
There might be, for example, content censored by the government in the region you live in that you want to access, which is a common VPN use case in oppressive regimes. Other people use VPNs for all sorts of reasons. Some discover that the game they want to play is much cheaper in another country; others might want to take advantage of the fact you can sometimes find cheaper plane tickets with one.
Bandwidth throttling (when your ISP slows down the speed at which you can send and receive data if you're using up a lot) can also be mitigated with a VPN simply because your ISP won't know what websites you're visiting or games you're playing.
What can I watch on BritBox?
According to BritBox themselves, they actually have the largest collection of British TV shows out there - more than Netflix, Amazon Prime, and several other widely-used streaming services. The service now plays host to hundreds of UK titles.
This includes all the Doctor Who episodes from 1963 and 1989 – Brits will know how unusual it is to have all of these in the same place and easily accessible. There are plenty of other British favorites from eras young and old like Downton Abbey, Only Fools and Horses, Spitting Image, Broadchurch, and many many more.
Wrapping up
Now that you know exactly why VPNs are so useful for streamers – and are hopefully considering investing in one yourself – here's a quick reminder of the providers featured in this article:
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for watching BritBox. Superb speeds and top-of-the-range features, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value-for-money BritBox VPN. It unblocks everything and makes buffering a thing of the past, with your privacy in mind.
- Surfshark - An all-around VPN for BritBox. It's cheap, cheerful, and feature-rich, with speeds some pricier providers would envy.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure VPN for BritBox, with a vast number of servers in the United States and great features. Also, it's cheap!
- CyberGhost VPN - The most beginner-friendly VPN for BritBox. Slick apps with simple-to-follow set up tutorials, and great customer support.