YouTube TV offers a number of on-demand and live TV channels, making it one of the best cable-cutting solutions on the market. Unfortunately, it’s only available in the US. In order to access the service if you live in another country or while traveling, you must use a YouTube TV VPN to mask your location with a US IP address.
However, not all VPNs can unblock YouTube TV. Only the most powerful VPNs employ the security and privacy measures necessary to bypass the streamer’s geo-blocking mechanisms and unlock all its content.
Additionally, YouTube TV offers 4K channels, so you’ll need a VPN with high-speed servers to watch them without buffering issues. Thus, you must find the best VPN for streaming to avoid wasting your money and time.
In this article, we rank the best VPN providers that allow you to bypass YouTube TV location restrictions and access the service from anywhere in the world. We also explain some common reasons why YouTube TV might not be working properly with a VPN and answer some frequently asked questions about using a VPN with the streamer.
Read on to learn more.
How to Trick YouTube TV Location with a VPN
You can trick YouTube TV location restrictions by downloading a suitable VPN app and connecting to a server in the United States. Here’s what you need to do:
- Subscribe to a VPN that works with YouTube TV (we recommend ExpressVPN).
- Download and install the VPN app on your device(s).
- Launch the app and sign in with your VPN credentials.
- Connect to a US-based server and wait for the connection to be established.
- You can now access YouTube TV’s content from anywhere in the world!
If you’d like to learn more about how to watch YouTube TV outside the US or how to watch YouTube TV while traveling, you can read our two guides on the subjects.
Best YouTube TV VPN
The most important criterion for choosing the best YouTube TV VPN is that it offers a global network of servers to bypass YouTube TV location restrictions, with a heavy emphasis on US-based locations. You also need fast servers that can handle HD and 4K streaming along with an unlimited bandwidth policy to avoid any buffering or throttling issues. Also, the VPN must also have a zero-logs policy to keep your online activities private.
Following the criteria mentioned above, these are the 5 best VPN for YouTube TV:
- ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated YouTube TV VPN
- NordVPN – Best VPN to Bypass YouTube TV Location Restrictions
- CyberGhost VPN – VPN for YouTube TV with Most Global Servers
- Private Internet Access – Top VPN for Advanced Users
- Surfshark – Best VPN with Unlimited Connections
1. ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated YouTube TV VPN
ExpressVPN is the best YouTube TV VPN as it offers the strongest content-unblocking capabilities and the fastest speeds of all the VPNs we have tested so far. The number of security features as well as its speed and reliability easily give ExpressVPN an edge over the competition.
ExpressVPN operates servers in 94 countries, including the US, handling speeds up to 10 Gbps, making it an excellent option for streaming YouTube TV’s 4K channels.
Data consumption is often a limiting factor when it comes to streaming because HD content eats up a lot of bandwidth, so ExpressVPN’s unlimited data policy is crucial.
Among the protocols available (such as OpenVPN, IKEv2, LT2P/IPsec), ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol offers the fastest performance for streaming.
You can watch YouTube TV using ExpressVPN on your PC, Mac, Android smartphone, iPhone, and more. Moreover, you can install ExpressVPN on your router to watch the service on smart TVs and game consoles. The VPN also allows 5 simultaneous connections per subscription.
ExpressVPN operates on a zero-logs policy, which has been verified through external audits. They also offer a generous 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
PROS
- Fastest VPN for YouTube TV.
- Works on any device.
- VPN servers in 94 countries.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- Zero-logs policy.
CONS
- 5 simultaneous connections.
2. NordVPN – Best VPN to Bypass YouTube TV Location Restrictions
NordVPN does not disappoint when it comes to its ability to unblock YouTube TV. It operates more than 5,500+ servers worldwide in 60 countries, so you can connect to a server in the US and access YouTube TV from anywhere.
It doesn’t offer the same speed as ExpressVPN but manages to deliver a solid streaming experience. This is partly because of the number of servers available in each region.
For example, there are 1,970+ servers in the United States, which is handy for streaming during peak traffic hours. NordVPN also offers an unlimited bandwidth policy across all its subscription plans, so you can unlock to watch YouTube TV with ease.
This VPN features the proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is built for speed, so NordVPN will offer its best streaming experience with NordLynx.
There is support for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS via a dedicated VPN app. Setting up NordVPN on a compatible router allows you to connect any smart TV or game console and stream YouTube TV. The VPN provider supports up to 6 simultaneous connections.
With your NordVPN subscription, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can reach out to NordVPN’s 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
PROS
- 5,500+ servers.
- Ultra-fast NordLynx protocol.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- Zero-logs policy.
- 24/7 live chat support.
CONS
- Streaming servers aren’t labeled.
3. CyberGhost VPN – VPN for YouTube TV with Most Global Servers
CyberGhost has a sizable network that spans over 91 countries and includes more than 9,000+ servers that will prove useful if you want to trick YouTube TV location restrictions. Add in 10 Gbps speeds and an unlimited bandwidth policy, and you get an uninterrupted streaming experience.
This YouTube TV VPN supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. The app offers a visually pleasing UI with streaming servers clearly labeled for easy access. For expanded compatibility, CyberGhost can be configured on a router, allowing you to connect your TV and streaming devices like Roku. Moreover, you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously.
The VPN provider includes advanced features such as the ability to switch between multiple VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec. It also supports Wireguard, which is the fastest VPN protocol of the bunch, especially for streaming.
When it comes to privacy, you can rest easy knowing that CyberGhost follows a zero-logs policy and has been independently audited.
Subscribing to CyberGhost comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee on all plans but the 1-month option, and they offer 24/7 customer support via live chat and email.
PROS
- Large server network.
- Dedicated streaming servers.
- Zero-logs policy.
- 45-day money-back guarantee.
- 24/7 live chat support.
CONS
- Advanced features cost extra.
4. Private Internet Access – Top VPN for Advanced Users
Private Internet Access has servers that span 84 countries worldwide and can deliver speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Their unlimited bandwidth policy will ensure that your streaming experience remains uninterrupted.
With years of experience in the VPN industry comes reliability that few competitors can match. PIA follows a zero-logs policy and offers open-source apps. However, the provider is based in the US, so we can’t be too confident in its ability to keep your data safe.
Under the hood, you will find a few advanced features such as Multi-Hop, which lets you use SOCKS5 or Shadowsocks proxy servers to bypass strict firewalls. Supported VPN protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and Wireguard.
Despite that, PIA made our list because it fully supports streaming and allows you to watch YouTube TV from anywhere in the world on supported platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
You can also set up PIA on your router to connect your smart TV, game console, or other streaming devices. In fact, you can probably use all your devices at once for streaming because PIA allows up to 10 simultaneous connections.
When you subscribe to this VPN for YouTube TV, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee to protect your purchase. PIA’s customer support is available 24/7 via live chat and email.
PROS
- Servers in 84 countries.
- Zero-logs policy.
- 10 simultaneous connections.
- Highly customizable.
- Very fast, if optimized.
CONS
- US jurisdiction.
- Suited for advanced users.
5. Surfshark – Best VPN with Unlimited Connections
Surfshark boasts more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries worldwide. With support for streaming and unlimited bandwidth, this VPN can unblock YouTube TV on devices running Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. It can also be configured on a router, which will let you connect from virtually any device.
Surfshark joins the ranks of YouTube TV VPNs that have upgraded their infrastructure to support speeds up to 10 Gbps. You will find support for Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 VPN protocols in the VPN app. We recommend using Wireguard for the fastest performance.
Surfshark’s biggest selling point is that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can stream YouTube TV on all your screens. Moreover, they follow a zero-logs policy that has been audited externally, so the VPN provider can be trusted to protect your privacy.
On top of that, Surfshark is an ultra-capable VPN for streaming in general. It works with YouTube TV without a hitch - but also unblocks any other popular streaming service. That includes Netflix US, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and countless others.
Lastly, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee on all VPN plans and 24/7 customer support that can be reached via live chat and email.
PROS
- Servers in 100 countries.
- Easy-to-use.
- Unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Zero-logs policy.
- Unblocks many streaming apps.
CONS
- Slow to connect, at times.
Does YouTube TV Detect VPNs?
Yes, YouTube TV can detect when you are using a VPN.
Streaming platforms are obligated to make content accessible for the intended regions only. YouTube TV’s servers can detect your actual location in multiple ways, one of which is tied to the cookies stored in your browser.
It can also be due to a WebRTC leak in your Web browser. But premium VPNs don’t suffer from this problem. All the YouTube TV VPNs we have ranked in our article are built to avoid that detection with new IP addresses routinely being added.
If you want to ensure YouTube TV will not be able to detect you’re using a VPN, choose a provider that offers obfuscated servers, which are specialized to hide that a VPN is being used to reroute your traffic.
Why Do You Need a VPN for YouTube TV?
You need a VPN for YouTube TV because the service is only available in the United States.
If YouTube TV detects that you’re using a VPN or proxy, it will display the following error message: “To continue, turn off your VPN/proxy. This will allow YouTube TV to locate the best content.” So, it’s clear that YouTube VPN has advanced anti-VPN systems.
A VPN lets you change your IP address by connecting to a remote VPN server located in another region. The best YouTube TV VPN will allow you to spoof your IP address, so you can access streaming services by hiding that you are outside the United States.
However, not just any VPN will do - you need a VPN that is capable of unblocking YouTube TV, which employs detection mechanisms to see when you are using a VPN. We tested all the VPNs listed in this article and can recommend them for streaming YouTube TV if you are not located in the US.
YouTube TV Not Working with a VPN?
To determine why YouTube TV and your VPN aren’t working together correctly and attempt to fix the problem, follow these solutions:
- Clear Your Cookies – If you tried accessing YouTube TV before using a VPN, your access remains blocked because your cookies reveal your location. Open YouTube TV in a private/incognito browser window to temporarily disable cookies. If you can access the website, you’ll know clearing your cookies will resolve the problem.
- Switch VPN Servers – VPN providers have shared IP addresses, meaning one IP address serves multiple users. YouTube TV may have blacklisted the IP address of the VPN server you are connected to. Switch to another server in the US.
- Use a Premium VPN – Free or cheap VPN services don’t have the security and privacy protocols necessary to keep your identity hidden. If your IP is leaking, YouTube TV will remain inaccessible. This is why you should always rely on premium VPN services.
Can I Use a Free VPN for YouTube?
Yes, you can use a free VPN for YouTube TV, but it is not recommended. Streaming services are always upgrading their detection systems to identify and block users in regions where their service is unavailable.
Free VPNs are not built the same way as premium VPN services, so a free VPN might fail to unblock YouTube TV. They also lack features such as unlimited server switching, unlimited bandwidth, and simultaneous connections. You need to ensure that the VPN you pick checks all those boxes if you intend to have a flawless streaming experience.
A free VPN is also a privacy risk because selling your data to advertisers is how free VPN services make money. If you are serious about protecting your identity, a premium VPN with a zero-logs policy is the way to go.
Final Thoughts
YouTube TV is currently available in the US only. So, until the service expands, a YouTube TV VPN is the only way to access its live TV channels outside of the country.
A VPN for YouTube TV will allow you to bypass any geo-restrictions by masking your true location. All you need to do is to connect to a US-based VPN server, and your real IP address will be hidden from the streaming service.
ExpressVPN is our recommendation for the best YouTube TV VPN because it delivers the fastest streaming experience while also providing other crucial features like unlimited data and a zero-logs policy. It offers strong privacy and security measures that easily bypass YouTube TV’s geo-restrictions, every single time.
That’s it for our article on the best YouTube TV VPN providers! Let us know in the comments if this article helped you or if you have any further questions.