Watching your favorite series while travelling, opening the US or Japan Netflix catalog, following a DAZN match that only airs in another country, or enjoying Disney+ and HBO Max without the platform detecting your connection: for all of that you need a streaming VPN that actually works. The problem is that most services actively block VPN IPs, so almost none manage to open foreign catalogs reliably. In this guide I compare the ones that do in 2026, with real speed and unblocking tests platform by platform.
If what you want is a general view of privacy and security (not just streaming), also read our best VPN of 2026 comparison. Here we focus on a single question: which one streams best.
| VPN | Netflix US/JP | Disney+ / HBO Max | DAZN / sports | 4K speed | Devices | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Yes, very stable | Yes / Yes | Yes | Excellent | 10 | ~€3.4/mo |
| Surfshark | Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes | Very good | Unlimited | ~€2.3/mo |
| CyberGhost | Yes (dedicated servers) | Yes / Yes | Yes | Good | 7 | ~€2.2/mo |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Yes / Yes | Yes | Excellent | 8 | ~€6.3/mo |
| ProtonVPN | Partial (plus) | Yes / Partial | Partial | Very good | 10 | ~€4.5/mo |
Indicative prices on 2-year plans as of June 2026; they vary with promotions. Unblocking tests were run from a 600 Mbps fiber line in Spain.
Not every VPN is fit for watching content. These are the criteria that really matter and that I measured on each one:
NordVPN is my main recommendation for streaming because it combines the three things that matter: it unblocks practically any catalog (US, Japan and UK Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video and DAZN), keeps very high speeds thanks to its NordLynx protocol (based on WireGuard) and has polished apps for Smart TV, Fire Stick and router. In my tests the proxy error did not appear a single time over a week of daily use.
Best for: those who want it to just work, hassle-free, with the best speed for 4K.
Pros: stable unblocking, top speed, 10 devices, 30-day guarantee.
Cons: not the cheapest outside promotions.
Surfshark is the perfect choice if you want to pay little and share the account: it offers unlimited devices, so you can equip the whole house with a single subscription. It unblocks Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and DAZN with no trouble and its WireGuard speed is very good for 4K. Its Smart DNS feature lets you use it even on TVs that do not support VPN apps.
Best for: families and shared flats that want to cover many screens cheaply.
Pros: unlimited devices, low price, Smart DNS for Smart TV.
Cons: speed drops a little on very distant servers.
CyberGhost has a unique asset for streaming: servers labelled by platform (one for US Netflix, another for Disney+, another for BBC iPlayer...). You pick the server already optimized for what you want to watch and you are done. It is the most convenient option for the less technical user, with one of the longest money-back guarantees on the market (45 days).
Best for: those who want to "press one button" for each platform without thinking.
Pros: dedicated servers per platform, 45-day guarantee, low price.
Cons: speed slightly below Nord and Express over long distances.
ExpressVPN is a benchmark for speed and reliability thanks to its own Lightway protocol. It unblocks practically everything and its Smart TV app is excellent, plus it includes MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) for consoles and TVs without an app. The downside is the price: it is clearly the most expensive on the list.
Best for: those who prioritise reliability and speed over price.
Pros: excellent speed, reliability, Smart DNS included.
Cons: high price, only 8 devices.
ProtonVPN is excellent at privacy (audited, based in Switzerland and with a serious free plan), but for streaming it sits a step below: it only reliably unblocks Netflix and Disney+ on its Plus plan, and with DAZN it is patchy. If your priority is privacy and streaming is a bonus, it fits; if you want to watch everything, there are better options above.
Best for: privacy-focused users who stream occasionally.
Pros: maximum privacy, Swiss base, free version.
Cons: less complete streaming unblocking, the free tier is not enough to watch.
Each service blocks VPNs differently. This is what has worked best for me platform by platform:
The streaming challenge is not the phone, it is the TV. You have three paths:
If you are going to use a Fire TV Stick, also check our recommendation for hardware and services for creators and the full VPN & security section.
If you want to make the most of your streaming setup and understand online privacy better, this is a good starting point:
"Privacy is Power" — Carissa Veliz
A clear and highly recommended essay on why protecting your data matters and how VPNs fit into a real privacy strategy.
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If you want to get it right without thinking, NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming in 2026 for unblocking and speed. If you are after paying little and covering many screens, Surfshark with unlimited devices is unbeatable on price. And if you prefer "one server for each platform", CyberGhost makes it easy. All three have a money-back guarantee, so you can test real unblocking with your platforms before committing.
NordVPN is the most balanced choice: it unblocks US Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and DAZN reliably and keeps high 4K speeds thanks to NordLynx. Surfshark is the best budget alternative with unlimited devices, ideal for sharing across the family.
Yes, but not all of them. Netflix and Disney+ block known VPN IP ranges, so only VPNs with optimized servers and frequent IP rotation (NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost) manage to open foreign catalogs without the proxy error.
Using a VPN is completely legal in Spain and most countries. Accessing a different Netflix catalog breaks their terms of service, but it is not a crime; the most that can happen is the platform blocking that specific connection.
Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for 4K and 5 Mbps for Full HD. A good VPN with WireGuard or NordLynx only reduces your speed by 5-15%, so with 100 Mbps fiber you will watch 4K without buffering.
It is not recommended. Free VPNs have few overcrowded servers, data caps and almost never unblock Netflix or Disney+. On top of that many sell your data. Better a paid one with a money-back guarantee.
Related: Best VPN 2026 (general comparison) · All VPN & security guides · Home