How to watch American TV abroad online with a VPN

Key takeaways:

• Most US streaming apps, live TV networks, and cable providers block foreign IP addresses due to content licensing limits.
• To watch American TV online while abroad, connect to a US server using a VPN to get a US IP address and access content that's only available in the United States.
• Based on my tests, NordVPN is the best VPN for watching American TV abroad. Surfshark is an affordable alternative, while Proton VPN may appeal to privacy-first users.

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American TV providers and streaming platforms block access to their services from abroad using geo-restrictions that determine your device’s IP address. These restrictions are imposed to guard the networks’ exclusive broadcasting rights and licensing deals.

While there are several workarounds to US TV geo-restrictions, the most reliable one is to use a VPN. In this article, I’ll show you how to use a VPN to access American TV channels from abroad and which services are best for this, based on my experience.

Note: Using a VPN to stream US TV while abroad is legal in many jurisdictions, but laws vary by country. Before using a VPN, check both your local laws and the streaming service's terms of use. This article is intended to explain how VPNs work for travelers and to help readers make informed, lawful choices - not to encourage bypassing geographic restrictions where doing so would violate applicable laws or a service's terms.

Best VPNs to watch US TV abroad

Why you can’t watch American TV abroad without a VPN

American TV channels use geo-restrictions to block attempts to access content from outside the US. These restrictions are imposed to shield complex licensing agreements, distribution rights, and commercial contracts between media companies and content creators. All of these agreements are limited by a specific region, or in this case, the US.

When you travel or live abroad, streaming sites can detect that your IP address is not in the US. Once identified as such, the streaming platforms immediately block your access to their content.

In the table below, I’ve outlined the exact international availability, specific blocking rules, and access restrictions for popular US TV services and streaming platforms:

Using a VPN is the easiest way to watch American TV abroad, as it can mask your actual IP address and make it appear as though you're accessing US TV from within the United States. To achieve this seamlessly and securely, I recommend choosing a trustworthy VPN with a large number of US servers and connecting to one of them to obtain a US IP address and unblock American streaming services.

Best VPNs to watch American TV abroad

Before compiling my list of best VPNs to stream US shows online from abroad, I tested over 20 available providers. I reviewed their server fleets, looked for those with the most US servers, checked their connection speeds and geo-unblocking capabilities, and took a deeper look at their security features. Based on my tests, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN are the best VPNs for watching American TV abroad; read my detailed descriptions of these providers below.

Top 1. NordVPN - best overall VPN to watch American TV overseas

NordVPN is the best VPN to watch US TV abroad due to its fast connection speeds, 3,015+ servers in 55 US cities, and consistent ability to bypass strict geo-blocks. During my tests, NordVPN delivered a 100% success rate across all the platforms I tested, unblocking sites like Hulu, Netflix US library, Fubo, ESPN+, Disney+, and others, with servers in Ashburn, Miami, Portland, and New York.

NordVPN operates around 3,015 servers in 55 different US locations, which is perfect for watching American TV abroad. During my testing, NordVPN showed an average connection speed of 317Mbps with an incredible 84% initial speed retention rate. Because of these excellent speeds, I was able to stream Hulu from the UK without any lag or buffering.

During testing, NordVPN kept my connection secure, with no IP or DNS leaks, while the kill switch worked as expected when I deliberately terminated the VPN connection. For US TV streaming abroad, I used NordLynx protocol as it offered the best balance of speed and security. I also tested obfuscated servers and NordWhisper protocol, which can disguise VPN traffic and are worth trying if your attempts at accessing American TV get blocked.

I found NordVPN very easy to use, and it took me only a couple of clicks to get connected to a server in the US. I liked that the service supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, smart TVs, and various streaming devices, which allowed me to stream on any device I liked. However, gaming consoles require a router or shared VPN connection, which is less convenient. Overall, I recommend using NordVPN on a computer and streaming through a browser, as this was the simplest and most reliable setup in my tests.

Get started with NordVPN for US TV streaming

NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming American TV abroad, and you can get it for $3.49/month, with a 3-day free trial on Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The service easily unblocks such platforms as Hulu, ESPN+, and Peacock from the UK, providing a smooth streaming experience thanks to its fast connection speeds.

For more information, read our in-depth NordVPN review.

Top 2. Surfshark - affordable US TV VPN for travelers

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN for watching American TV abroad. It offers 600+ servers in 24 US cities, the WireGuard protocol for consistently fast streaming speeds, and it costs only $2.49/month. Despite its fairly low price, Surfshark reached 100% success rate, unblocking ESPN+, YouTube TV, Hulu, and Disney+ from the UK when I used servers in Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago.

With around 600 US servers in 24 US cities, Surfshark makes it easier to connect to a US server location and access popular American streaming platforms while traveling overseas. Although it has fewer US servers than NordVPN, my testing showed that Surfshark delivered reliable performance, with no streaming errors encountered. During my speed tests, Surfshark showed an excellent average connection speed of 316Mbps with a 83% initial speed retention rate. So, if you want your streams to be smooth and high quality, Surfshark will meet your expectations.

I liked how many extra privacy tools Surfshark included without making them difficult to use. During testing, Rotating IP was particularly useful, as it periodically changed my IP without disconnecting me, while CleanWeb helped block ads and trackers. There’s also Dynamic MultiHop for routing traffic through two VPN servers, although I wouldn’t recommend it for US TV since the extra routing can reduce streaming speeds. For restricted networks, Surfshark offers Camouflage Mode with OpenVPN and NoBorders mode, giving me more options if a normal connection isn’t working.

I found Surfshark very easy to use, with its apps maintaining a clean and consistent design across the devices I tested. In my opinion, Surfshark would make a good choice even for first-time VPN users. It supports all major operating systems, smart TVs, streaming devices, and routers. Gaming consoles require a router or a shared connection rather than a native app, though that is how it typically works with VPNs. Probably the biggest advantage over NordVPN I found is unlimited simultaneous connections. I’d recommend it in particular for families or households that want to stream US TV on lots of devices without worrying about a connection limit.

Get started with Surfshark for US TV streaming

Surfshark is a fast and affordable VPN to stream American TV abroad, with subscriptions starting at $2.49/month, a 7-day free trial, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. I found this VPN very easy to use, and it unblocked sites like ESPN+, Hulu, and Paramount+ from abroad with ease.

For more information, read our in-depth Surfshark review.

Top 3. Proton VPN - free VPN to watch US TV abroad

Proton VPN is a great VPN to watch US TV, especially if you’re looking for a security-oriented service that also offers a completely free version. Because the free version offers a connection point in the US, you can also unblock some American streaming services with it.

Using the free version, I got only about 75% success rate, as the service only managed to unblock the US Netflix library, Apple TV, HBO Max, and a few others. The streaming speeds also weren’t that good, and I experienced some buffering. However, using the premium version turned things around significantly. Just as with my other top US TV VPNs, I got a 100% success rate in unblocking streaming platforms, although the speeds still did not match NordVPN and Surfshark.

Proton VPN operates around 6,015 servers in the US, making it easier to access US streaming platforms such as Hulu, Peacock, and Paramount+ while traveling outside the country.

Be as it may, when I conducted my speed test, I found the average connection speed to be around 280Mbps with around 818% initial speed retention rate. These WireGuard-powered speeds are great for streaming, but not as fast as with NordVPN and Surfshark. This means that if you’re on the other end of the world from the US and it’s a particularly faraway connection to the US server, you might experience some lag while streaming. If that’s the case, you can enhance the connection speed using Proton’s VPN Accelerator feature, available with the paid version, which can boost the speed up to 400%.

What stood out to me about Proton VPN is its strong focus on privacy. Its no-logs policy is independently audited every year, while during my own tests, I found no IP or DNS leaks, and the kill switch worked without issues. I also liked having NetShield to block ads and trackers, although Tor over VPN felt like overkill for streaming and can significantly reduce speeds. Compared to NordVPN and Surfshark, Proton VPN felt more privacy-oriented, but for watching US TV, I recommend using a regular nearby US server and a fast protocol like WireGuard; otherwise, your speeds may drop too low for comfortable streaming.

I was pleasantly surprised by how simple Proton VPN’s apps were, considering the number of advanced features available. I particularly liked the detailed connection information, although the interface can feel busier than Surfshark’s more minimalistic apps. Proton VPN supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, smart TVs, and other streaming devices, so I had no trouble finding a suitable setup for streaming US TV abroad. I could connect to a US server on my laptop, open a streaming service, and start watching without needing complicated manual configuration. The app also made it easy to switch servers if one was slower or unavailable for a particular platform.

Get started with Proton VPN for US TV streaming

Proton VPN is a privacy-first VPN to stream American TV abroad, with subscriptions starting at $2.99/month, a free version, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although the free version wasn’t as good for streaming due to fewer US servers and slower speeds, Proton VPN Premium worked with no issues with platforms like Hulu, Paramount+, and others.

For more information, read our Proton VPN review.

How to watch American TV abroad online: a detailed guide

Most American TV channels and streaming platforms are geo-locked to viewers inside the US. However, if you’re traveling abroad, you can still access the US shows by using a VPN to bypass the geo-restrictions. Here’s how to watch American TV abroad online by using a VPN:

Step 1. Get a reliable streaming VPN with servers in the US

Since most of the US channels and streaming platforms are restricted to the region, you must have a US IP address to access the content. The easiest way to change your IP address is by using a reliable streaming VPN. My top choice for this is NordVPN, as it offers over 3,015 high-speed US servers and is excellent for unblocking restricted streaming platforms.

Step 2. Download and install the VPN app

Download the VPN from its official website (www.nordvpn.com) or get the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. To install the VPN, simply follow the provider’s instructions. If you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact customer support.

Step 3. Connect to a VPN server in the US

To watch American TV online abroad, you need to connect to a server in the US to get a new IP address. Connecting to a VPN server is easy, and you can usually find the full server list on the main app window. Once connected, check for IP and DNS leaks to ensure your real IP address is not leaking.

Step 4. Head to your preferred streaming platform, sign in, and stream

Once you’re connected to a VPN server in the US, head to your preferred US streaming platform. Log in to your account or create a new one, purchase a subscription, and start streaming American TV anywhere.

Watch American TV with NordVPN

Troubleshooting: what to do if your VPN isn't unblocking US TV

US streaming services can detect and block IP addresses associated with VPNs. Your VPN may also fail to unblock US TV platforms if your real location is exposed through stored browser cookies and data, an IP leak, or issues like poor server choice or incompatible tunneling protocol. If your VPN isn’t unblocking US TV, you can try these easy fixes:

1. Switch to another US server. Reconnect to a server in a different US location to get a new IP address that may not be blocked.
2. Clear your browser cookies and cache. Stored browser data can sometimes expose your real location even if you use a VPN, so clear it before reconnecting and reloading the streaming site.
3. Try another VPN protocol. I recommend starting with WireGuard or NordLynx for streaming, but OpenVPN can sometimes be more effective on restrictive networks.
4. Check for IP and DNS leaks. Use a leak-testing site, such as ipleak.net or dnsleaktest.com, to confirm that the VPN is not leaking your data.
5. Disable device location permissions. Prevent the streaming website or app from accessing GPS or other device-level location information, which may override your VPN-assigned IP address.
6. Try a browser instead of the app. Streaming apps can use additional location information, so I generally find it easier to stream using a browser.
7. Update or reinstall the VPN app. An outdated app can cause connection and compatibility problems.
8. Contact your VPN's support team. Ask which US servers currently work with the streaming platform you’re trying to access, or for any additional help.

Conclusion

Almost all American TV channels and streaming sites are geo-restricted and are available only if you are located within the US. Streaming platforms use these blocks to protect their streaming rights and agreements, detecting and blocking any non-US IP addresses. This means that if you try to access an American TV channel from abroad, you’ll only see a location error message instead of the show you wanted to watch.

Fortunately, you can use a reliable VPN to access American TV abroad. With a VPN, you can change your virtual location to the US, which will allow you to access US streaming platforms as though you were actually there. From my experience, I can recommend NordVPN as the best VPN to watch American TV abroad, as it offers thousands of fast and secure US servers, and unblocks all US streaming platforms, no matter where you are.

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FAQ

Can I watch American TV outside the US?

No, you can not stream American TV outside the US, as the networks are geo-locked to the region. However, you can bypass these restrictions by using a reliable VPN, such as NordVPN, connecting to a server in the US, and accessing the platforms with your new IP address, as if you were located in the US.

How to watch US TV overseas?

To watch US TV overseas, you may have to use a VPN to change your virtual location. As US TV channels are geo-restricted and unavailable overseas, a VPN can help by changing your virtual location. First, choose a reliable VPN, such as NordVPN, connect to a server in the US, clear your browser cookies and cache, and access your preferred US TV channel from any location.

How to watch American TV in the UK?

To watch American TV in the UK, you will have to use a reliable VPN with plenty of US servers. Start by choosing a streaming-compatible VPN service, such as NordVPN, and installing the app. Then, connect to a server in the US, head to your preferred US streaming site, and access it from the UK without restrictions.

What is the best VPN to access US TV from abroad?

Based on my tests, the best VPN to access US TV from abroad is NordVPN. The provider offers around 2000 high-speed US servers, perfect for a smooth streaming experience. Additionally, the service is great at bypassing geo-restrictions and securing your networking connections while you watch American TV online abroad.

Can I use a free VPN to watch American TV abroad?

Yes, you can try to use a free VPN to watch American TV abroad, but remember that not all free VPNs are compatible with streaming. The only free VPN I can recommend is Proton VPN, as it offers servers in the US, fair connection speeds, good security, and has no data or bandwidth limits. However, it may still not always unblock US streaming platforms, and your streams can be a bit laggy. That said, I tested that it can work.