Using a VPN For Streaming Can Save You Money. Here's How

Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus are convenient. I don’t have to trek down to my local video store -- which is nearly an hour away -- to enjoy a movie or TV show at home. But with shows and movies split across so many different streaming services, you don’t necessarily save money compared to cable. You’ll need Netflix to watch Bridgerton, Hulu for The Bear, Max to binge-watch Sopranos reruns, Paramount Plus to enjoy Evil… you get the picture. 

That’s where a VPN can save you money. A virtual private network makes it look like you’re in a different area -- even another country -- thus serving as a sort of key that unlocks videos otherwise unavailable on streaming platforms in your region. I’ve been using a VPN for streaming for over a decade, initially relying on a virtual private network to watch BBC’s Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, from the UK before it hit the US. Here’s how I use a VPN to keep my streaming service subscriptions under control. 

Here’s how I save money on streaming services by using a VPN

Recently, I enjoyed a stage production of Murder on the Orient Express, which inspired me to revisit the 2017 film adaptation, directed by Kenneth Branagh. To my dismay, Murder on the Orient Express wasn’t free to stream on any of the streaming services I subscribe to. (And I'm subscribed to a lot of services: Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Crunchyroll, to name a few.) I couldn’t even watch it on one of the several free ad-supported streaming platforms I regularly use, like Tubi. 

Just as I was about to shell out the $3.79 to rent it from Amazon Prime Video, I decided to see if it was streaming in a country outside of the US -- luckily, it was on Netflix in Egypt. I fired up Proton VPN, selected an Egyptian server, loaded Netflix and streamed the film from the comfort of my couch in the US. Because a VPN reroutes your internet traffic through servers elsewhere, it makes websites and apps -- like streaming services -- think you’re based in another geographic location. 

While I saved around $4 in this case, unblocking region-restricted content can keep your streaming bills lower when it comes to TV shows because there are more episodes to watch, meaning months or even a year of a streaming service subscription. Law & Order Special Victims Unit is a Peacock exclusive in the US, but you can access SVU on Netflix using a UK server. With a VPN, you can pay for one service -- Netflix -- and avoid having to plonk down the cash for yet another streaming subscription. 

A VPN unlocks region-restricted content on streaming services 

Usually, when you connect to an app or website, like a streaming service, that platform can tell which geographic area you’re connecting from. When you fire up Netflix from the US, it typically loads a US library. But a VPN encrypts your internet traffic by rerouting it through servers elsewhere. While connected to a VPN, streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video will view your traffic as coming from the server you’re on. So if you’re on a Canadian VPN server but sitting at home in the UK, apps and websites will think you’re in Canada.

Because streaming rights vary by region, you’ll notice different titles from the UK and US Netflix libraries. For instance, Star Trek The Next Generation is available on Paramount Plus but not Netflix in the States. However, since it’s on Netflix in the UK, you can access it from the US using a VPN set to a UK server without signing up for another subscription service.

Check the terms of service to make sure your streaming services allow VPNs

Note that not all streaming services allow you to use a VPN, so you’ll need to check the terms of service first. Netflix, for instance, lets you use a VPN for on-demand content but not for live events.

You have to know where different movies and shows are available to stream internationally

Before you can start streaming TV shows and films from other countries with a VPN, you’ll need to know where those videos are available. The quickest way to accomplish this is by enabling your VPN, setting it to a foreign country and opening a streaming app like Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video or Netflix.

I prefer to use JustWatch because I can search for specific films or shows and discover where they’re available. Simply look up a movie or TV show, then change your region in the Streaming in field. If you find that title on a streaming service in another country, set your VPN to that area and open that app.

Take Spider-Man: Far From Home. It’s streaming on Disney Plus in the US but Netflix in the UK. I determined this using Just Watch, then unblocked the Netflix UK library with Proton VPN to watch it on Netflix instead of Disney Plus. Or there’s the exceptional Predator prequel, Prey -- which is only available on Hulu in the US. (If you have Hulu and Disney Plus subscriptions, you can watch Prey in the Disney app, but you’ll need to pay for both services.) Because Prey is streaming on Disney Plus in the UK, a VPN will let you watch it on Disney Plus sans Hulu subscription.

You’ll need a solid VPN for streaming

To unblock movies or shows and save money on subscriptions, you’ll need one of the best VPNs for streaming: 

ExpressVPN is our Editors’ Choice as the best VPN overall thanks to its user-friendly design and snappy internet speeds, which are beneficial for streaming buffer-free movies or TV shows. It supports all major platforms, including the Apple TV. 

NordVPN is an excellent choice for streaming because of its solid content unblocking and blazing-fast internet speeds -- Nord was the fastest VPN of the ones we’ve tested, so it’s an excellent option for watching 4K videos. 

Surfshark is a great wallet-friendly VPN that doesn’t break the bank or compromise on performance. Its fast internet speeds allow buttery smooth 4K streaming.

Proton VPN unblocked dozens of international Netflix libraries in my testing. Because of its comprehensive device support -- including a Linux GUI app and a forthcoming Apple TV app -- it’s a fantastic VPN for streaming, even on the free plan. 

A streaming device that supports VPNs makes geo-unblocking a lot easier

While you can run a VPN on your computer, a streaming device makes watching videos on a TV or projector with a VPN a breeze. Amazon Fire TV devices, the Apple TV and Android TV boxes like the NVIDIA Shield all support VPN apps. Likewise, if your smart TV runs Android TV or Fire OS, you can download a VPN app directly on your television. I use an Nvidia Shield TV with Proton VPN, although I’ve also got a Fire TV stick hooked up to the TV in my home office. 

However, other smart TV operating systems, such as Samsung’s Tizen OS or LG’s WebOS, don’t support VPN apps. Similarly, you can’t install a VPN on Rokus or game consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. Instead, you’ll need to run a VPN on your router -- which may void your warranty. I recommend ExpressVPN’s Aircove or Aircove Go for a user-friendly whole-home router solution.

Go forth and start streaming

Once you’ve gotten your VPN set up on your smart TV or streaming device, you can start streaming from different platforms. For inspiration of what to fire up, check out the best new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Disney Plus, Max and more. Aside from using a VPN, you can also save money on streaming services by rotating your subscriptions, pausing services instead of canceling them and signing up for deals.