5 Best VPNs for YouTube in 2023

Even though YouTube is one of the most popular video platforms in the world, many people still don’t have access to it. Also, some YouTube content is restricted in certain countries due to licensing agreements. So, it's no surprise that most of us have seen the "This video is not available in your country" message at least once. Fortunately, there is a solution to this. And the solution is to get a YouTube VPN.

Using a VPN for YouTube allows you to unblock every restricted video and use the app in countries where it is unavailable, like China, North Korea, Eritrea, South Sudan, Iran, Tajikistan, Sudan, and Turkmenistan. 

On top of that, VPNs can satisfy many different needs. For instance, the best VPN providers can offer full anonymity online. Also, with a powerful VPN for streaming, you can unblock any of the popular streaming services and stream your favorite movies and TV shows in 4K, wherever you are.

This article will show you how to use YouTube with a VPN. Also, the 5 most powerful YouTube VPN providers will be listed here, allowing you to choose the best option for your needs. 

But before you go ahead and buy a plan from the VPN of your choice, you first need to learn how to set it up. So, let’s get started!

How to Use YouTube with a VPN From Anywhere

To use YouTube with a VPN from anywhere, you need to connect to a server found in a country where the content you want to watch is available. Here's what you need to do:

1. Sign up for a YouTube VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device(s).
3. Open the VPN app and complete the initial set-up. 
4. Connect to a VPN server in a suitable country.
5. Now you can watch all the YouTube content you couldn't before. That’s it!

Best YouTube VPN

A few crucial factors need to be considered to find the best VPN for YouTube. The factors include: wide server network – you need a VPN that covers the countries where YouTube is available; connection speed – only the fastest VPNs allow you to watch YouTube content in HD and 4K with no buffering; content-unblocking capabilities – if you want to access YouTube from a country where it’s banned or restricted, you need a powerful VPN with strong unblocking capabilities.

These are the 5 best YouTube VPNs picked according to the criteria above:

1. ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated YouTube VPN
2. NordVPN – Best YouTube VPN for Beginners
3. CyberGhost VPN – YouTube VPN with a Vast Server Network
4. Surfshark – VPN With No Connection Limit
5. IPVanish – Secure VPN for HD Streaming 

1. ExpressVPN – Our #1-Rated YouTube VPN

ExpressVPN is the best YouTube VPN because it has a wide server network and fast connection speeds. It is the fastest VPN available on the market, according to our tests. With this provider, you can stream in HD and 4K with no buffering, even if you connect to a server in a country far away from you.

ExpressVPN's content-unblocking capabilities are superb. It can unblock virtually any site, app, platform, and streaming service. Even though YouTube has some anti-VPN measures in place, this provider can bypass them easily. ExpressVPN can unblock YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and more. 

With this VPN, you can choose from over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. So, if you want to watch certain content that is restricted in your country, you will certainly find a server that will allow you to do so. 

You can use ExpressVPN on up to 5 devices simultaneously, meaning that you'll be able to connect all your devices and enjoy your favorite content. The provider is compatible with mobile, desktop, and tablet devices.

What's best, all your devices will be protected, and your personal data will be safe with ExpressVPN's military-grade encryption, powerful security measures, and strict no-logs policy, preventing third parties from viewing your YouTube history.

Lastly, ExpressVPN offers excellent customer support round-the-clock, which you can reach via live chat at all hours. Also, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee and will provide you with a full refund - no questions asked. 

2. NordVPN – Best YouTube VPN for Beginners

NordVPN is a secure VPN with over 5,500 servers across around 60 countries. With NordVPN, you can gain access to YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and YouTube Music. Also, you can watch VEVO music videos by changing your location to a country where they are not restricted. 

So, with NordVPN, you can pick a server that is located in the country you prefer. Also, since the provider has thousands of servers, you can choose one in the city closest to you. That way, you will have optimal speed and performance.

Speaking of speed and performance, NordVPN offers good connection speeds across the board, which are fast enough for you to stream 4K content with little to no buffering. It is not as fast as ExpressVPN, though. However, it is fast enough to provide you with a seamless 4K streaming experience for YouTube.

What's best about NordVPN is that it is super beginner-friendly. It has a simple UI that is easy to navigate. Thus, even people with no technical skills can use it.

You can connect up to 6 devices to NordVPN at the same time. Also, you can contact the provider’s customer support agents via its 24/7 live chat if you have any questions or issues. 

Lastly, you can try out NordVPN for 30 days and get your money back if you end up not liking its services. So, it comes as a risk-free purchase.

3. CyberGhost VPN – YouTube VPN with a Vast Server Network

CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks on the market – 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries. Thus, it is an excellent solution for those who want to unblock YouTube from many different countries.

It is not as fast as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, but it can get the job done. You can expect medium connection speeds from this provider. 

However, those who are more tech-savvy can optimize their performance by making a few changes and tweaks in the settings. If you don't know how to do that, you shouldn't expect fast connection speeds from CyberGhost, especially on servers far away from you.

CyberGhost's connection speeds are slower because of the advanced security measures that the provider has in place. The measures slow the VPN down but keep you safe online and provide you with full anonymity. 

Also, the provider has a strict no-logs policy preventing YouTube and others from seeing what you're watching.

You can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously to CyberGhost and use it on your phone, computer, and tablet. Also, it can unblock different YouTube libraries, including YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and Vevo videos. 

If you’re unsure whether CyberGhost is the right VPN for you, you can try it risk-free and get a refund if you don’t like it. The money-back periods the provider offers differ. Namely, if you get a monthly plan, the money-back period is 14 days, but if you get a 6-month plan (or greater), the money-back period will be 45 days. You can request a refund via CyberGhost’s 24/7 live chat support option.

4. Surfshark – VPN With No Connection Limit

If you want to unblock YouTube with a VPN on unlimited devices, Surfshark is a provider that can help. Namely, it allows users to connect their VPN to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, which is not something you often see in the VPN market.

Surfshark also comes with excellent security, including strong encryption and IPv6 leak protection. Thanks to those features, your identity and location will be hidden, allowing you to watch YouTube content from any country in the world.

Speaking of countries, Surfshark covers 100 countries worldwide with its 3,200+ servers. So, you can access content from 100 different countries. This capable YouTube VPN can unblock YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and Vevo music videos. 

What's best, it allows you to watch YouTube content in HD and even 4K with little to no buffering and fast connection speeds. That is because Surfshark is among the fastest VPNs in the world, coming close in speed to the best – ExpressVPN. So, you can expect a seamless streaming experience with this provider.

Surfshark also has excellent customer support, which you can reach at all times via live chat and a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, thanks to the money-back guarantee, you can try its services risk-free and see if they’re good enough for you. 

5. IPVanish – Secure VPN for HD Streaming

IPVanish is the second VPN provider on this list that allows you to use it on unlimited devices simultaneously. The provider is based in the United States, which means it is under the 5-Eyes jurisdiction. Thus, it doesn't provide full anonymity or as much privacy as the other VPNs on the list. 

However, it’s still a suitable YouTube VPN and has the ability to unblock restricted YouTube videos. With it, you can access YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, YouTube Music, and Vevo music videos. 

You can use IPVanish to connect to over 2,000 servers in over 75 locations. Also, no matter which server you choose, you will get a stable connection with decent connection speeds. It's not as fast as our other recommendations, but it's still a great choice for those looking for a fast VPN.

The provider offers all the industry-standard security measures, including military-grade encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and advanced protocols. So, your personal information will be safe and won't be sold to third parties. Also, your real IP address won't be leaked, and your real location will be hidden.

IPVanish users can contact customer support via the provider’s 24/7 live chat feature. Also, you can ask for a refund within 30 days of subscribing to the provider. 

Why Do I Need a VPN for YouTube?

You need a VPN for YouTube to access videos that are otherwise restricted in your country. Other reasons why you would need a YouTube VPN might include the following:

• Access videos that are blocked in your country – If you want to watch restricted YouTube videos, you need to change your location to a country where they are available. A VPN can help you do that.
• Protect your privacy – With a YouTube VPN, you can protect your identity and ensure that no one knows what you watch. A strong VPN will make sure that none of your personal or financial information gets leaked.
• Access YouTube at school – Many schools block platforms like YouTube. However, you can freely access YouTube using your school's Wi-Fi with a VPN.
• Unblock YouTube in certain countries – Countries like China, Iran, and Sudan have blocked YouTube. Fortunately, you can unblock it with a VPN. However, you will need a powerful VPN with strong content-unblocking capabilities to do so.
• Watch YouTube videos in 4K – With a suitable YouTube VPN, you can avoid ISP-induced throttling. A VPN will encrypt your connection, preventing your ISP from slowing you down based on what you're watching.

Where Is YouTube Blocked?

YouTube is blocked in the following countries:

• China
• North Korea
• Eritrea
• South Sudan
• Iran
• Tajikistan
• Sudan
• Turkmenistan

Also, YouTube is blocked in certain schools, universities, corporate offices, and government departments. However, with a VPN that works with YouTube, you can unblock all its content and watch it from everywhere.  

Does YouTube Ban You for Using a VPN?

No, YouTube won’t ban you if you use a VPN. It doesn't have any special blocks in place to detect or block VPN traffic.

However, if you want to unblock YouTube with a VPN, you need a powerful provider to do that for you. Keep in mind that if you engage in any malicious activities on YouTube, you will get banned even if you use a YouTube VPN.

Malicious activities that are forbidden on YouTube include uploading copyrighted content, clicking on your own ads, harassment, doxing, spamming, posting violent or dangerous content, etc.

Can I Use a Free VPN for YouTube?

Yes, you can use a free VPN for YouTube - but that’s not a good idea at all. 

Free VPNs impose data caps on their users. Those data caps are usually pretty strict and will limit the number of videos you can watch. This is especially unsuitable for platforms like YouTube since videos use more data than regular websites.

Another problem with free VPNs is their speed. Namely, they usually offer poor connection speeds, resulting in a lot of buffering and loading. Also, watching videos in HD, let alone 4K, is a highly unlikely occurrence with free VPNs.

You can always try using a free VPN for YouTube to see if it does the trick. However, it is likely that you'll only end up wasting your time.

Final Thoughts

Using a VPN for YouTube lets you access restricted content in your country. Also, you will get to change your virtual location and watch YouTube even in countries that block it nationwide.

Setting up a YouTube VPN is easy and doesn't require you to be tech-savvy or have prior VPN experience. What's best, the VPN will protect your privacy and make sure your identity is safe online. However, if you want to achieve any of this, you need to use a suitable VPN provider.

We recommend using ExpressVPN, as it is the best VPN for YouTube and overall. It can unblock videos in numerous countries, while providing complete anonymity and lightning-fast 4K streaming.

That’s all for our guide on the best YouTube VPN. Feel free to ask any questions you might have or share your opinion in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!