Best VPN services for streaming in Australia

Virtual private network (VPN) services are built to offer privacy and security while using the ’net, care of military-grade encryption. This is done by changing the typical public IP address of a device or network to one provided by a nearby or faraway VPN server.

Because the public IP address of a device changes whenever it’s connected to a VPN server, it also unlocks other VPN use cases, including sidestepping the protective measures of typically geoblocked streaming services. 

For Australians, it opens the doors to international services like HBO Max and BBC iPlayer. And for travelling Aussies, a VPN can help maintain access to services like Kayo Sports and Stan while abroad.

Best overall VPN for streaming: Windscribe

Windscribe VPN
RRP US$9/mth

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Windscribe VPN works with every popular streaming service with speedy results, plus it has great pricing (and a free version).

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• Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Fast streaming: 7 services
• Global locations: 112

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View on Windscribe

Whenever I’ve tested the streaming potential of Windscribe, at different times over multiple years, it has never disappointed. Windscribe is a user-friendly way to access US streaming services like the American Netflix library, HBO Max, Hulu and Peacock TV without having to jump around a lot between different VPN server locations. 

It’s also great at tackling BBC iPlayer’s geoblock as well as the notoriously strict one in place for Kayo Sports. Windscribe also offers fast streaming for Stan (including Stan Sports), which isn’t a massive achievement given how well this Australian streaming service tends to work with VPNs. 

Try the data-limited free version of Windscribe, which works with streaming, or take advantage of competitive monthly pricing for a fully unlocked streaming experience.

Runner up: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN
RRP US$12.95/mth

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ExpressVPN is incredibly easy to use and works with every one of our testing services, plus it has great support for curious tinkerers.

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• Simultaneous connections: 5
• Fast streaming: 6 services
• Global locations: 151

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View on ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN isn’t just one of the best VPNs for streaming, it’s one of the best VPNs across the board. While it’s held back by a restrictive five simultaneous connections and comparatively expensive pricing, ExpressVPN is an otherwise feature-rich service. On the streaming front, expect speedy streaming for almost every popular streaming service. 

Impressively, ExpressVPN works with tricky-to-bypass Kayo, even if buffering speeds weren’t as fast as Windscribe, PureVPN or Private Internet Access in our tests. Still, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for first-timers with a user-friendly interface across a wide range of supported platforms. Tinkering is also encouraged thanks to a library of support articles and helpful videos on the ExpressVPN website.

Best cheap streaming VPN: PureVPN

PureVPN
RRP US$10.95/mth

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PureVPN tackled all of the streaming services we threw at it all with bragging rights to best-in-class annual pricing and competitive multi-year subscription fees.

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• Simultaneous connections: 10
• Fast streaming: 5 services
• Global locations: 95

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View on PureVPN

No matter what you’re using PureVPN for, it’s a competitively-priced service. Compared to the other 16 VPNs I’ve tested, PureVPN sits in the top five for monthly, annual and multi-year pricing. For annual pricing, PureVPN is the best of the lot, with a US$39.95 asking price. There’s also a 31-day money-back guarantee to take advantage of if you want to try before committing for a year (or longer). 

Whichever price you pay, PureVPN was able to tackle all of the geoblocks for the tested streaming services. The only minor disclaimers for streaming are that PureVPN had moderate buffering speeds for the US Netflix library and BBC iPlayer.

Best VPN for streaming Netflix: NordVPN

NordVPN
$RRP US$12.99/mth

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NordVPN is a top-tier VPN all-rounder that’s easy to use and capable of effortlessly sidestepping the geoblocks of most popular streaming services.

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• Simultaneous connections: 6
• Fast streaming: 6 services
• Global locations: 83

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🔥Special Deal: up to 76% off🔥

NordVPN’s main disclaimers are uncompetitive pricing and only six simultaneous connections. Outside of those disclaimers, almost everything else about NordVPN is a glowing pro. Comparatively, the best value comes from a monthly or multi-year subscription; there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to use, too. 

NordVPN is great at tackling Netflix, which includes the Australian and US libraries, but also other Netflix libraries from around the world, including Germany, South Korea and the UK. While Kayo Sports successfully blocked NordVPN in our tests (a common hurdle for VPNs), this top-tier VPN offered speedy playback for all of the other popular test streaming services.

Best VPN for streaming HBO Max: Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN
RRP US$10.99/mth

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Atlas VPN is a competitively priced service with great inclusions and speedy streaming for every tested streaming service (except for Kayo).

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• Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Fast streaming: 6 services
• Global locations: 46

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View on Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN is a great place to start for any VPN newbie seeking an affordable service, with competitive pricing across monthly, annual and multi-year subscriptions. In terms of streaming, Atlas VPN offered speedy buffering results in my HBO Max tests. Additionally, you can expect speedy streaming from all of the other popular streaming services I tested, except for Kayo, which Atlas VPN was unable to bypass. 

Outside of streaming, Atlas VPN offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so one account can cover all of the compatible devices in your home. While the number of global locations is comparatively limited, Atlas VPN does offer a viable free version with 5GB of data per month for those who want to try before they buy.

Best VPN for streaming Hulu: Proton VPN

Proton VPN
RRP US$9.99/mth

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Proton VPN offers speedy streaming results for popular US services, including Hulu, HBO Max and the American Netflix library.

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• Simultaneous connections: 10
• Fast streaming: 5 services
• Global locations: 90

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🔥Deal: up to 70% off🔥

A lot of what’s on Hulu is available in the Disney Plus Star, but if you’d rather go to the source, Proton VPN is worth considering. Start with a competitively priced monthly subscription to enjoy speedy buffering of Hulu content which, if you don’t mind the investment, can be expanded to include Showtime, HBO Max, Cinemax, Starz, plus a range of live TV add-ons. 

Proton VPN should cover most (if not all) of your home devices with 10 simultaneous connections, even if its country, location and server counts aren’t as plentiful as competitors. There’s also a free version of Proton VPN with three countries and no speed limits (for a single device) if you want to take it for a spin first.

Best VPN for streaming Peacock TV: PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN
RRP US$10.99/mth

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PrivadoVPN has a free version with 10GB of data and boasts speedy streaming results for most popular services.

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• Simultaneous connections: 10
• Fast streaming: 5 services
• Global locations: 59

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View on PrivadoVPN

Your PrivadoVPN journey can start with a very usable free version, which comes with 10GB of data and 12 global locations to choose from, including the US. Whether you’re using the free or premium version of PrivadoVPN, you’ll want to connect to a US server for speedy streaming of Peacock TV content. 

While connected to a US server, you should also be able to enjoy fast streaming for HBO Max and Hulu. PrivadoVPN doesn’t work with Kayo Sports, and it had varying results for Netflix, but it’s an otherwise speedy bypasser of geoblocks for streaming services. It may not have the most location choices, but PrivadoVPN does have some great advanced features, including a Smart DNS, anti-malware and split tunnelling.

Best VPN for streaming BBC iPlayer: CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN
$RRP AU$18.79/mth

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CyberGhost VPN is a feature-rich VPN with a great money-back guarantee and fast streaming results for key services.

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• Simultaneous connections: 7
• Fast streaming: 4 services
• Global locations: 116

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View on CyberGhost

BBC iPlayer is a great free streaming service for accessing beloved content like the Doctor Who rebirth, but it’s typically only accessible to UK IP addresses. CyberGhost can help bypass that restriction by connecting to a UK server. There’s even a specialty server option for BBC iPlayer, which is a trend with CyberGhost that continues for other global streaming services. 

Admittedly, outside of BBC iPlayer, I did have to jump between servers for consistent fast streaming for Netflix US, Peacock TV and Stan. But because CyberGhost has a network of thousands of global servers, you shouldn’t have to worry about uptime. It also has some great advanced features like Smart DNS and anti-malware.

CyberGhost Black Friday Deal: Save 84%. Get the two-year plan from AU$3.27/mth and four months free. View on CyberGhost. Offer ends November 27 2023. 

Best VPN for streaming Kayo Sports: Private Internet Access VPN

Private Internet Access VPN
RRP AU$15.99/mth

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Private Internet Access has competitive annual and multi-year pricing for an all-rounder VPN service that handles most streaming services.

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• Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
• Fast streaming: 5 services
• Global locations: 146

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View on Private Internet Access

Kayo Sports is particularly adept at sniffing out VPNs, which can make it difficult to access while connected to an Australian VPN server. In fact, of the 17 VPNs I’ve tested, only Windscribe, PureVPN, Private Internet Access and Mullvad were reliably able to buffer Kayo content in a speedy way. A couple of years ago, Private Internet Access was a middling VPN. 

Fast-forward to more recent times, and it’s a contender for one of the best around, with competitive annual and multi-year pricing, plus a massive server network of global locations to choose from. In terms of other streaming services, Private Internet Access also offers speedy streaming for Netflix US, Hulu, Peacock and BBC iPlayer.

Best VPN for streaming Stan: Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield VPN
RRP AU$19.99/mth

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Hotspot Shield offers a rare family subscription and Australian pricing for a speedy VPN that tackles most streaming-service geoblocks.

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• Simultaneous connections: 5
• Fast streaming: 3 services
• Global locations: 112

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View on Hotspot Shield

From a VPN perspective, the great thing about Stan is it’s an easy win for speedy bypassing, which is great news for travelling Aussies keen to catch up on Stan shows or watch Stan Sport. Admittedly, Hotspot Shield is a pricey VPN but it’s renowned for excellent global speeds, which makes it great for streaming. 

You can try the free version of Hotspot Shield before you buy, but note that it’s restricted to a single US server that doesn’t support streaming. The savviest way to try the feature-rich full version of Hotspot Shield is with a Dashlane Premium or Dashlane Friends & Family subscription, which bundles Hotspot Shield as part of the password-manager price.

Nathan Lawrence

Freelance Contributor

Nathan Lawrence is a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience. He has contributed to publications including WhistleOut Australia, Review.org/au, IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull, and AusGamers. Nathan specialises in researching, writing, and editing content around technology, telecommunications, and gaming.

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