BEST VPN SERVICES
In a hurry?
The best VPN for UK in 2023, as found in our independent testing, is NordVPN!
The United Kingdom is known for many wonderful things.
However, it is also infamous for the long history of mass surveillance operations conducted illegally by the government against its citizens.
Introduced in 2016, the Investigatory Powers Act (also known as the Snoopers Charter) has given the UK government complete legal authority to monitor a wide range of communications, including telephone calls and Web activity.
So, if you live in the UK, work there, or are just visiting for a vacation, addressing your privacy concerns by using the best UK VPN is not only clever – it’s essential.
Besides, a VPN can also help unblock content that is restricted in the United Kingdom, for example, Hulu and DAZN.
Such a VPN is also likely to make a UK IP address available and help you access BBC iPlayer and other British TV channels even if you are away on a vacation or an ex-pat working elsewhere.
If the usefulness of VPNs has piqued your interest, and you look forward to enhanced online protection with the best VPN, you are spoiled for choices.
Best VPN for UK in 2023
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is, in our opinion, the best VPN for UK, with a great focus on users’ online security. Since it is based in Panama, most data retention laws do not apply to it.
Therefore, providing much relief to its users, it keeps no records of user sessions, traffic, bandwidth usage, or timestamps.
Featuring the 256-bit AES encryption (by default), protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, an application-specific kill switch, and the Double VPN functionality for an additional layer of encryption, NordVPN is packed with all kinds of sophisticated security tools.
Shielding users by keeping away the annoying ads and malware, CyberSec has also earned NordVPN a lot of points.
NordVPN also uses highly reliable obfuscation technology to slip past any VPN tracker.
- NordVPN is the industry leader (by a long way)
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Superfast speeds
- 5,442+ servers in 60+ countries
- Strict no-logs policy
- Next-generation military-grade encryption
- DoubleVPN, double privacy
- 6 simultaneous device connections
- Great for: Safety, security, anonymity & peace of mind
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad & iOS, Linux, routers, Apple TV, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
It is an outstanding VPN in terms of performance too. With a staggering 5400 servers in its network spread over 60+ countries, NordVPN has more than 600 servers in the UK alone.
This gives it an unbelievable power to unblock various geo-restricted British content.
Even if you are thousands of miles away from home, you can access your favorite British streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Netflix UK, Sky Go, etc., with merely a few clicks.
Benefiting from such a large and widespread network, anyone residing in the UK and enthusiastic about American or other international content can also access Netflix US, Plex or other streaming sites for watching the desired TV shows and movies.
When the unique Nordlynx protocol is used, NordVPN’s speeds are observed to be amongst the fastest – ideal for gaming, torrenting, streaming, and any other online activity.
Also, all of its servers are tuned for HD streaming, which means there should be no buffering or stuttering when watching any video content.
It even has a SmartDNS feature that enables seamless streaming from around the world on devices that otherwise do not support a VPN.
With dedicated apps for almost all major platforms, NordVPN supports up to six devices at once. This implies that you can secure almost all devices at home at a very affordable rate.
2. Surfshark
In the United Kingdom, there are numerous reasons for using a VPN. Perhaps you’re a frequent traveler who wants to restore access to your favorite streaming services like Hulu and ESPN.
Sometimes, you may want to shield your online activities from hackers, internet service providers, or the government’s intrusive laws.
However, if you are a budget-conscious user, Surfshark is undeniably a VPN to consider.
- Surfshark is the best budget VPN
- 30-day risk-free trial
- Strict no-logs policy
- 3200+ servers in 95 countries
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: private browsing on a budget
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone & iOS, Linux, FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and more
Surfshark has more than 3000 servers in its network, located across 65 different countries.
However, a significant chunk of its network is based in the UK, too, with approximately 117 servers operated in three cities of the UK (London, Manchester, and Glasgow).
This justifies Surfshark’s sales pitch being centered around its unblocking capabilities. Being committed to ensuring that people have access to any desired online content, Surfshark unblocks all popular British streaming sites.
If you are British but would rather watch other international content, Surfshark’s strong streaming power can make that happen too.
Using the famous Wireguard encryption protocol, Surfshark also ensures fast enough speeds for buffer-free streaming and an overall seamless online experience.
Surfshark protects your privacy by using robust encryption and adhering to a no-logs policy and its unblocking abilities.
Surfshark has gone above and beyond to assure online security and anonymity by including premium features like Double VPN and Cleanweb.
Best of all, there’s no limit to the number of connected devices you can have with Surfshark.
When you combine this with Surshark’s inexpensive long-term subscription plan, it’s clear that Surshark is the most cost-effective option available.
However, real value for money is hidden in how well it balances price and performance.
3. Atlas VPN
Launched in 2019, Atlas VPN is a new addition to the VPN family but is one that we couldn’t resist recommending. It has a tiny fleet of 750 servers covering only 38 countries.
However, its outclassing performance can restore your belief in quality instead of quantity. Although a smaller network compared to competitors, it has spectacular streaming power.
It has many servers in the UK, which can provide a UK IP address and unblock UK-based popular streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, Now TV, Sky TV, BT Sport, etc.
- Atlas VPN is the best free VPN
- Privacy Pro servers
- 750 servers in 40+ locations
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Great for: people seeking a freemium VPN
- Compatible with: Windows, MacOS, Android, iPhone & iOS, Android TV, Fire TV Stick
In the same way, its servers in the US and other countries can help you access geo-restricted international streaming sites while residing in the UK.
Using AtlasVPN while surfing the web can also help you safeguard your online privacy and obscure yourself from any snoopers in your tracks. It offers a top-tier security toolkit to make it happen.
AtlasVPN has all the features that any industry veteran offers essential online protection, including powerful data encryption, an unbending no-logs policy, and a customizable kill switch.
Other amazing features include SafeSwap, which enables IP address rotation, SafeBrowse, which automatically protects your devices from harmful websites, and the ability to automatically detect any hacks or data breaches.
AtlasVPN is particularly considered to be the a great service for those who are a fan of American content.
Why you ask? The simple answer is that it has a free version available, comprising all the mentioned features.
Interestingly, two are in America out of the free version’s three server locations, making it convenient to access American content from anywhere, including the UK.
Moreover, if you decide to purchase the highly affordable paid version, you can use that subscription to connect unlimited devices.
4. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another highly competitive option that can easily end your search.
Easily the best for gaming, streaming, and downloading, ExpressVPN is highly valued for its super-fast connection speeds.
Such exceptionally fast speeds are mainly attributed to its proprietary Lightway protocol, an advanced version of the popular Wireguard protocol.
Widely spread across 94 countries, ExpressVPN also has a big network of 3000+ servers, several of which are located in five UK cities.
Strengthening its abilities to overcome geo-blocks, this vast network enables users worldwide to access British content regardless of their actual location.
UK-based potential users who struggle to keep their online activities private will find ExpressVPN a winner in the security department.
ExpressVPN claims to have a zero-logs policy, assuring that no data of users’ online activity is being recorded.
Aside from that, it also uses solid military-grade encryption to secure users’ data away from any snoopers.
DNS leak protection, a Network Lock (aka kill switch), and obfuscated servers (to dodge any VPN trackers) are also some fantastic functions making up the security toolbar.
The MediaStreamer function makes ExpressVPN further addictive by unblocking all streaming websites without burdening the internet connection with data encryption.
ExpressVPN lets you balance security and speeds yourself by allowing you to choose from the various tunneling protocols available.
Knowing all this, it is evident that ExpressVPN is a premium service, but you must know that it is accompanied by a premium price too.
Although it has intuitive apps for all major platforms and lets up to five devices be connected simultaneously under a single subscription, some users may still find it rather expensive.
5. Private Internet Access
Although based in the US, PIA or Private Internet Access can prove to be a good VPN as well.
Out of the vast network of 35000+ servers in 84 different countries, 1878 working and reliable servers are located in three cities of the UK (namely, London, Manchester, & Southampton).
The British ex-pats can easily use these servers in other countries to dial back home and stream their favorite geo-restricted content from many popular platforms, including BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, Channel 4, BT Sport, etc.
With such a vast number of servers, overcrowding is seldom an issue. PIA is known to offer quite decent connection speeds due to the implementation of the Wireguard technology.
Not only are the server connections consistently fast but also stable enough to let you enjoy gaming, torrenting, and watching British TV overseas in HD without buffering or stuttering.
It also supports ten simultaneous connections, which is more than the average number of connections offered by its competitors.
While the fact that it is headquartered in the United States may deter some privacy-conscious users, it is worth mentioning that it has a strict no-logs policy that has been confirmed in court.
PIA is also one of the safest VPNs available. It has 256-bit AES encryption and various other device security features, such as IPv6 and DNS leak protection, a kill switch for the internet, and a Shadowsocks proxy for anyone who requires it.
It even has the highly admirable MACE feature that protects your device from malware and gives you an ad-free online experience.
There are dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and the VPN can be set up on a variety of VPN-compatible routers.
The apps offer several advanced settings making PIA one of the most customizable VPNs available.
However, this is only a plus point for the technology experts. VPN newbies would rather find it a drawback since it makes these apps challenging to use for novices.
How to Access BBC iPlayer from Outside the UK
If you’re residing outside the UK, here’s a quick breakdown of the steps you’ll need to take to get BBC iPlayer on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. This is functional for a PC as well as an Android device.
- Subscribe to a VPN with UK servers. You can easily choose one from the list provided in this article.
- Install your preferred VPN app on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
- Log in and choose a server located within the UK.
- Go to BBC iPlayer and log in. You should now be able to view BBC iPlayer content.
FAQs
How Is a VPN for the UK Helpful?
In the United Kingdom, a VPN is essential to battle recent plans for control and censorship, such as the Online Harms White Paper and the Snoopers’ Charter, which have put the country’s free speech under the government’s control.
VPNs improve your privacy by routing your traffic through an encrypted server, making it incredibly difficult for snoopers to figure out what you’re up to on the internet.
Apart from preserving your privacy and security, VPNs allow you to bypass content restrictions imposed by local networks, such as website banning and bandwidth throttling.
VPNs provide freedom and anonymity, but you are likely to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. If that’s the case, you’ll find this write-up quite helpful.
Can I Use a Free VPN in the UK?
While free VPN services can provide some of the benefits of a premium VPN, they never provide the complete package.
For instance, Atlas VPN has an excellent feature-packed “freemium” version, but it offers only three server locations with none in the UK.
Therefore, you may find them fine for occasional use, but they’ll prove useless for streaming and torrenting, soon urging you to start looking for the best VPN – even if it’ll set you back a few pounds a month.
Can a VPN UK Unblock Netflix?
A VPN will virtually transport you to whatever country you desire, and the best ones will do so in a way that the streaming service won’t notice.
After that, you’re free to view whatever you’d want.
Most countries worldwide have their own Netflix libraries, which are solely accessible to residents of that country.
This is a dilemma for people away on vacation and many others who simply want to watch shows that they aren’t ‘allowed’ to watch.
So, yes, a VPN can unblock your desired Netflix libraries for you.
In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;
| Rating | VPN Service | Get Offer |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Top Rated#1 | NordVPN - #1 VPN in the industry | FREE Trial |
| #2 Top Rated#2 | Surfshark - top budget VPN | Start Now |
| #3 Top Rated#3 | Atlas VPN - best free VPN | Start Now |
Conclusion
We know that not all VPNs are alike, but since all service providers claim to have the most incredible features, choosing the best one can be a daunting task.
In this guide, however, we have outlined some of the highly recommended VPNs in terms of privacy policies, security features, server selection, and affordability.
Also, since all of these are based outside the jurisdiction of UK authorities, there isn’t a single one of them that can prove to be a wrong choice.
You can even try them out yourself without any risks because they offer a money-back guarantee for at least one month.
However, why waste time and effort trying them all out when you can easily make an informed decision by going through the details provided above.
To make it easier for you, we recommend the most versatile NordVPN as the best VPN UK because it is a clear champion in all aspects, and there is no way it will disappoint you.
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Written by Trevor Cooke
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