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Paramount+ has all the shows and channels that were on CBS All Access, including the Smithsonian Channel, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and more. But is Paramount Plus available in NZ? Well, it's available in over 25 countries, but not in New Zealand due to an exclusive deal between Paramount and Sky. This means some Paramount+ titles are only available through certain Sky and Neon plans.
Even if you have a Paramount Plus account, you won't be able to use it while traveling in NZ. The content also varies by country, with the full library only available in the US. To access the complete US version of Paramount+, you’ll need to use a VPN to get a US IP address.
In this article, we’ll show you how to access Paramount+ in NZ, recommend the best VPNs, and discuss why you need one. We’ll also cover pricing, step-by-step instructions for alternative payment methods, and suggest shows and movies to watch. Lastly, we’ll provide guides for streaming Paramount+ on any device and answer some FAQs.
You need an American IP address to sign up and stream US Paramount Plus in NZ. The easiest way to get one is by using a premium VPN (note that you still need a valid US payment method to subscribe, though). Here’s a closer look at how it works:
What do you do if you don’t have a US credit/debit card or PayPal account? No worries! Later in this guide, we'll provide alternative payment methods like a Paramount Plus gift card, an Apple or Google Play gift card, or a virtual credit card.
Yes, you need a VPN to watch Paramount Plus in New Zealand because the service isn’t available there (unless you want to watch a limited selection of Paramount+ content on Sky or Neon, which isn’t ideal).
The full content library with Showtime is US exclusive, but the standalone service also operates in Australia, the UK and several other European countries, Canada, Mexico, and 10+ South American countries.
If you’ve tried accessing their site outside a supported area, then you’re already familiar with this geo-block error: “Unique stories. Iconic stars. A mountain of entertainment. Paramount+, home to the world’s favourite stars, stories and brands, is coming soon. Get ready to experience stellar originals, exclusive premieres, hit movies and the very best must-see TV.”
On top of that, even US subscribers can’t watch the paid content if they travel to unsupported regions. Instead, they see this error message when they try to access their account: “Sorry, Paramount+ is not yet available in this country.”
To avoid these issues, you must connect to a US VPN server in order to get a US IP address. By doing so, you’re going to browse the Internet as if you were physically located in the United States. This will mask your real location and let you create an account on the standalone US Paramount+ service.
Of course, streaming companies are well aware that people use VPNs to bypass their geo-restrictions and regularly block VPN IP addresses. As a result, not every VPN works properly on Paramount+. Only the best VPNs for Paramount Plus can get the job done.
Our #1 choice is NordVPN because it's fast, reliable, and excellent at unblocking Paramount+ from anywhere, including New Zealand.
Your chosen VPN should offer an easy way to unblock the US version of Paramount+, giving you access to countless movies and TV shows. It should also work well with other streaming apps. To that end, it needs an extensive US and worldwide server network to stream with zero buffering.
Naturally, you’ll want amazing performance and high speeds that are suitable for HD and 4K streaming. To avoid leaking your identity, you’ll need obfuscated servers and a reliable kill switch. Privacy-wise, the VPN should keep no user logs. Moreover, the apps should include strong VPN encryption and robust protocols to maintain your security.
The best VPN for streaming must also work on various platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, smartphones, smart TVs, and more) and let you connect multiple devices simultaneously. Make sure to get a good VPN deal that has reasonable pricing, too. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to get a provider with 24/7 live chat and a trustworthy money-back guarantee just in case.
Based on the criteria above, here are the 4 best VPNs to unblock Paramount Plus in NZ in 2025:
NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming Paramount+ in NZ because it unblocks Paramount Plus and other streaming platforms without a fuss. It also offers a SmartPlay feature, which can change DNS servers in real time to get past any pesky geo-blocks. Moreover, its network has 7,400+ servers in 118 countries (including 1,970+ servers in 16 US locations).
NordVPN takes the first place in our guide to the fastest VPNs, as it delivers consistent performance on both remote and nearby servers. We could stream Paramount+ and other services without any dips in quality or buffering, even on the highest quality 4K settings.
This VPN offers a double VPN and plenty of obfuscated servers, which allows you to bypass even the most stubborn VPN blocks to watch the content you want. There’s also a kill switch in place. NordVPN has an audited no-logs policy to guarantee full privacy, which has been recently audited as well.
What’s more, NordVPN protects your data using high-end protocols like NordLynx, NordWhisper, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN. Those are paired with AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers.
The VPN functions superbly on every system out there - from Windows to Linux, from smartphones to smart TVs. It can also be configured on routers to protect devices that don't support VPN installation. Moreover, you get 10 simultaneous connections for streaming, browsing security, and more.
NordVPN is also quite affordable, currently priced at $3.39 per month for 24 months. As usual, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also rely on its trusty 24/7 live chat for help with any issues.
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If you need a VPN that can give you access to Paramount+ in NZ, look no further than Surfshark. It has 600+ US servers in 22 cities as part of its worldwide network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. This allows it to unblock US Paramount Plus, along with other streaming platforms, with ease.
Surfshark delivers lightning-fast speeds and reliable performance at baseline. On top of that, Nexus technology makes use of its entire network to enhance the speed and stability of your connections even further. We were able to stream in 4K on both nearby and distant servers without any buffering issues. Plus, its network is fully obfuscated, which helps bypass geo-blocks.
When it comes to security features, Surfshark impressed us. It comes with a powerful kill switch to block the Internet if your device disconnects from the VPN. Moreover, its no-logs policy is independently audited to ensure your privacy. To protect your data, you can choose from protocols like WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN, which are paired with AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption. It recently patented a new encryption method to further reduce metadata exposure.
Surfshark can be installed on any popular streaming devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and more. Even better, it allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
If you're on a tight budget, you're in luck - Surfshark costs $2.19 per month for 24 months. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free. Lastly, you can contact its customer support team 24/7 if you need help with anything.
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ExpressVPN is a great choice for beginners and advanced users alike, as it can unblock Paramount Plus. Thanks to its network of an undisclosed number of servers in 105 countries (including 24 US server locations), Paramount+ will have no idea that you’re using a VPN to bypass their blocks. It also works well for unblocking other streaming services.
We were able to reliably stream HD and 4K shows and movies on Paramount+ and other websites with no noticeable slowdowns. What’s more, its powerful, network-wide, automatic obfuscation has virtually no effect on ExpressVPN’s outstanding performance and ultra-fast speeds.
To prevent your identity from leaking, ExpressVPN features a solid kill switch to turn off your Internet if the VPN disconnects for whatever reason. The provider also maintains a frequently audited zero-logs policy to ensure none of your activity is being stored on their servers.
Security buffs will be glad to know that ExpressVPN includes strong encryption (AES-256 and ChaCha20/Poly1305) and protocols like OpenVPN, Lightway, and IKEv2, some of which have recently received performance upgrades.
You can use this VPN on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, tablets, and several smart TVs and other gadgets. Plus, you can install its router app, so your whole household can enjoy VPN capabilities and protection. ExpressVPN offers 8 simultaneous connections, which is plenty since you can only stream the service on three screens at once.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is on the expensive side, priced at $4.99 per month for 24 months. Every subscription plan is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the provider has 24/7 customer support via live chat for troubleshooting.
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CyberGhost VPN is another solid option because it allows access to Paramount+ on a budget. For a relatively low price, you get an undisclosed number of servers in 100 countries (this includes plenty of servers in 11 US cities). Many of them are optimized for high-quality streaming on over 40 different platforms.
While it isn't the fastest VPN we reviewed, CyberGhost still achieves decent speeds and stable performance while streaming HD and 4K video. You may see small performance dips on remote servers, but nothing too jarring.
Unfortunately, there's no obfuscation, meaning the VPN may fail to work if you travel to more restrictive regions like China or the UAE. Otherwise, we had no trouble getting it to work on any of their 40+ supported platforms (as advertised).
CyberGhost includes an always-on kill switch to prevent IP leaks at all times, a strict no-logs policy, and all the industry-standard protocols - OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard, you name it. These are combined with AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, depending on the protocol you choose.
And as expected, CyberGhost works reliably on computers, smartphones, and smart TVs, among other devices. There are 7 simultaneous connections available, so the whole family can enjoy the benefits of a top-notch VPN.
You can get a CyberGhost subscription for a serious bargain: as low as $2.19 per month for 24 months. If you were planning on a longer subscription, know that you also get a 45-day money-back guarantee. Finally, the provider comes with live round-the-clock customer support.
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Paramount Plus starts at $7.99 (NZD 14.26) per month for the Paramount+ Essential plan, which features thousands of hours of content from various channels, NFL matches on CBS, live soccer matches, and 24/7 live news on CBS - all with limited ads.
Here's a handy table with both US and NZ pricing:
If you don't have a US credit or debit card, there are five other methods to pay for Paramount Plus in New Zealand. First, you can get a Paramount+ gift card, a Google Play Store gift card, or an Apple one. Besides those, you can set up a virtual credit card or borrow someone's US PayPal account. You'll find handy guides for each method below.
Online retailers like GameStop and MyGiftCardSupply sell virtual Paramount Plus gift cards. Use a VPN to connect to a US server, create an account, and then use the gift card at checkout. Follow the process below to make things easy:
You can use a Google Play Store gift card to pay for Paramount Plus, but you must create a Google account with a US billing address. First, though, you need to connect to a US VPN server. Follow the steps below:
You'll need to create a US Apple ID for this method to work properly. But first, get a VPN and connect to a US server. Here's exactly what to do:
If you're lucky enough to have family or friends in the States willing to let you use their PayPal account, you can get Paramount Plus that way. As usual, though, you have to get a VPN too. Here's what to do:
Getting a US virtual credit card is one of the easiest methods. However, you still need a VPN to bypass Paramount+ geo-restrictions. Follow these steps:
To get the most out of Paramount Plus in New Zealand, you’ll need to unblock the US version with a VPN. Sadly, consoles, smart TVs, and other smart devices don’t have VPN capabilities - in which case, you’ll need to set up a VPN on your router. Here are some step-by-step guides on how to watch Paramount+ on any device:
Paramount Plus features a sizable collection of television series, including plenty of classics like I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone. The same applies to movies, where you can expect films from Paramount Pictures and other content providers. Furthermore, this streaming platform also features exclusive original series across various genres.
There's also something for sports fans as well. Aside from giving you access to live coverage of events from numerous leagues, Paramount+ also comes with CBS Sports HQ. Additionally, news and live TV are also on board, as higher-end subscription tiers grant you access to live local CBS stations. Lastly, we would like to mention that Paramount Plus updates its content consistently, hence getting a subscription is always beneficial.
Here’s a curated list of what you can watch on Paramount+ in New Zealand:
While some of Paramount Plus’s content is available through other services in NZ (Sky Box and Neon), you can't access the standalone US Paramount+ service and its complete content library. That means you’ll have to sign up using a VPN to get Paramount+ in NZ to enjoy everything the platform has to offer.
Our top-recommended VPN is NordVPN for streaming Paramount Plus in New Zealand. You get tons of lightning-fast servers worldwide, with thousands located in the US. This allows you to stream in 4K without any buffering or interruptions. Plus, most of its servers have obfuscation to keep you off Paramount’s radar, and you can access plenty more streaming apps if needed.
Regarding our other suggestions, Surfshark is a user-centric VPN with reliable performance. ExpressVPN focuses on digital privacy but works equally well for streaming, while CyberGhost is a one-click VPN with servers optimized for individual streaming apps, Paramount Plus included.
That would be all on how to watch Paramount Plus in NZ. Feel free to drop a comment below if you need any extra info. Thanks for reading!