BBC iPlayer is a UK-based streaming service available only for UK residents and geo-blocked for the rest of the world. It employs strong geo-restriction mechanisms to prevent anyone outside the UK from streaming its content. This is because it has to comply with copyright and licensing agreements.
That said, all hope is not lost. The trick to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA is to use a VPN. Streaming services such as BBC iPlayer can determine your location based on your connection's metadata and IP address. That's exactly what a VPN helps you change by routing your traffic through UK-based servers. So, you'll get to stream BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK.
In this guide, you'll find detailed instructions on how to unblock BBC iPlayer in the USA, why you have to use a VPN, and which provider to go for. You'll also learn how to get iPlayer on various devices, the most popular shows and movies to watch, how to troubleshoot technical issues if BBC iPlayer is not working in the US with a VPN, and much more. Lastly, we'll answer some of the most common FAQs.
To watch BBC iPlayer in the USA, you must first connect to a UK-based VPN server. When you get your British IP, you can access iPlayer without restrictions. Follow these steps:
BBC iPlayer requires a UK TV license, which means that citizens of the UK already pay for the BBC (which covers iPlayer as well). Those who falsely declare that they have a TV license are subject to a penalty of £1,000. However, no one has ever been prosecuted for watching iPlayer without a license.
You need a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA as that's the only way to access the service outside the UK. iPlayer employs geo-restrictions to block anyone not located in the UK from streaming its content. This happens in order to comply with copyright, licensing, and distribution agreements made with content creators and studios.
If you visit iPlayer’s site, you’ll see that its content is freely available. However, you’ll encounter a problem before streaming any movie or TV show. If you try to watch BBC iPlayer abroad, the following error message will appear: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
BBC iPlayer will always see your location, so you need to trick the streaming service into thinking you’re somewhere else by changing your IP. Using a VPN and connecting to a UK server is the most reliable way to obtain a UK IP address. Once you get your UK IP, you'll unblock iPlayer without a single issue. This is also the only way you'll be able to download BBC iPlayer outside the UK.
However, keep in mind that not every VPN works with iPlayer because it can detect VPNs. You'll need a capable BBC iPlayer VPN to unblock the service and enjoy a better streaming experience overall. Our #1 recommendation is NordVPN as it has hundreds of UK servers, it easily unblocks BBC iPlayer, and it's very fast.
To pinpoint the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in the USA, you need to follow certain criteria. That said, the most important thing is to get a VPN that unblocks iPlayer and other streaming services. To make that happen, your chosen VPN needs a healthy number of servers in the UK, as well as a large network in many other countries.
Then, make sure it can deliver impressive performance and fast speeds, as you'll be using the VPN for streaming. It's also crucial to have access to obfuscated servers and a kill switch, helping you bypass BBC iPlayer's geo-blocks. And let's not forget about privacy and security features. Look for a no-logs policy, secure protocols (like OpenVPN and WireGuard), and strong encryption (AES-256).
Want to stream iPlayer from multiple devices? Having a sufficient number of simultaneous connections will do the trick, but also make sure your VPN covers all your devices. It should support computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. Lastly, a solid money-back guarantee will make your purchase risk-free - but 24/7 customer support should be your first go-to resource.
Based on the criteria explained above, these are the 4 best VPNs to unblock BBC iPlayer in the US:
NordVPN is the best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA because it can unblock BBC iPlayer from any corner of the world. This VPN bypasses any type of geo-blocks, which means other UK-based services are on offer as well (ITVX, Channel 4, and more). You'll gain access to 6,000+ servers in 61 countries, which includes 440+ UK servers in 3 locations: London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
Even though only some of NordVPN's servers are obfuscated, they all work with iPlayer just fine. This is also a very fast VPN service with consistent performance. Since you'll be connecting to UK-based servers from the US, you can count on reliable speeds with minimal throttling. During our tests, we also connected to more remote servers to test other streamers and got the same level of performance.
Aside from streaming support, this VPN has a different, equally powerful side: privacy and security. There's a no-logs policy, which has been audited many times in the past. Plus, it comes with a kill switch to prevent data leaks. Also, there are protocols such as OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx (based on WireGuard). And, of course, there's ultra-strong AES-256 encryption.
NordVPN gives you 6 simultaneous connections and works on practically any device, including smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and more. You can also install it on a router to protect devices that don't support VPN apps themselves, like game consoles and streaming sticks.
Lastly, you get a 30-day money-back policy, regardless of your chosen plan. And if any issues arise, you can turn to NordVPN's 24/7 live chat customer support.
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You can't go wrong by choosing Surfshark because it easily unblocks BBC iPlayer in the US (and from anywhere else). It also works well for unblocking any other streaming platforms you might want to watch. This is thanks to its 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including 212 UK servers in 4 locations (London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester).
On top of that, Surfshark's network is fully obfuscated, so you'll be able to bypass even the toughest VPN blocks. You'll also enjoy lightning-fast speeds and dependable performance on all its servers, regardless of how far away they are from you. 4K streaming will be seamless.
When it comes to privacy, Surfshark doesn't disappoint. It has a reliable kill switch and an audited no-logs policy, so you can rest assured your data will remain hidden. As for security, you'll be protected by secure protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. The first 2 are paired with AES-256 encryption, and the third uses ChaCha20.
Surfshark can be installed on any of your devices running Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more. It also supports smart TVs and devices that don't accept VPN apps. Overall, it allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which is fantastic for large families or splitting with a few friends.
You'll get a month to test Surfshark thanks to its 30-day refund period. Plus, you can reach out to its 24/7 customer support via chat if you need any help or want to get your money back.
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ExpressVPN is another excellent choice because it unblocks iPlayer with ease, as well as other streaming services. It comes with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. You'll find hundreds of UK servers in 5 locations: Docklands, East London, London, Midlands, and Wembley. All its UK servers are optimized for streaming, so you won't any roadblocks there. On top of that, its entire global server network is obfuscated.
Then, let's not forget that ExpressVPN delivers blazing-fast speeds and reliable performance, according to our own tests. It doesn't matter whether you connect to a server nearby or further away because its speeds remain consistent. You can enjoy 4K streaming without any annoying buffering on any international platforms.
ExpressVPN also delivers in terms of privacy and security. It has an audited no-logs policy and a powerful kill switch to ensure your data remains private. Plus, you can choose from a set of strong VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Lightway. The first two are paired with high-end AES-256 encryption, while Lightway (our top choice for streaming) uses the WolfSSL encryption library.
This provider can be installed on any popular streaming devices, including computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and more. Uniquely, ExpressVPN has a dedicated router app, making it easy to protect devices that don't support VPNs natively. You'll also get up to 8 simultaneous connections.
In case of any technical issues, know that ExpressVPN has 24/7 customer support available via live chat, in addition to a 30-day money-back policy. You can test it and get a refund if it's not a fit.
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CyberGhost VPN supports dozens of streaming services. So, it's no wonder that it unblocks iPlayer every single time. Unlike most other VPNs, this one has specialized servers for streaming, so bypassing geo-blocks will never be an issue. Speaking of its server network, there are 11,000+ servers in 100 countries. More than 1,100 servers are in 3 UK locations: London, Manchester, and Berkshire.
Sadly, CyberGhost doesn't support obfuscation on its servers, so its functionality isn't great in overly restrictive countries. We luckily had no trouble accessing BBC iPlayer, though. This VPN has medium-fast speeds and stable performance, so it should let you stream iPlayer with no throttling. However, having a fast Web connection will certainly help.
When it comes to its privacy and security, you'll see that CyberGhost truly delivers. It has a freshly audited no-logs policy, plus an always-on kill switch to prevent data leaks if the VPN connection is interrupted. Moreover, it uses OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard for its protocols with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption (protocol dependent).
CyberGhost supports all popular devices like computers, smartphones, smart TVs, and many more. You also get 7 simultaneous connections, which seems quite generous because it's one of the cheaper options.
What's also generous is CyberGhost's 45-day money-back policy, which applies to its long-term plans. Finally, there's also round-the-clock customer support, as you can expect from any reputable VPN these days.
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To get BBC iPlayer on your devices, you'll first need to subscribe to a VPN that can unblock the streaming service. Then, you can connect to a UK server. To make things easy for you, we created guides for various popular platforms, so check them out below.
There are two ways to stream BBC iPlayer in the US on your Windows or macOS computer. The easiest way is to use iPlayer’s website, which you can do in the following way:
Android users are in luck because they can install the BBC iPlayer app manually without involving the Google Play Store. So, here are the steps to take to get BBC iPlayer in the USA on Android:
If you don’t wish to use the iPlayer app, you can always use Chrome or any other Web browser. Luckily, iPlayer’s website works on smartphones just fine, but you’ll still need a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer outside the United Kingdom.
Due to certain limitations of iOS, downloading the iPlayer app is a highly complex procedure if you're outside the UK. So, if you get BBC iPlayer on your iPhone, we recommend doing this:
If you wish to use iPlayer’s app for iOS, you’ll need an Apple account registered to an address in the United Kingdom. That’s definitely a more complex way to go, but if you have some time on your hands, it’s worth trying it out. Here's what to do:
Roku allows you to install BBC iPlayer as a channel. However, you'll need to have a UK Roku account. Plus, Roku doesn't support VPNs, so you'll have to install your VPN on your router first. Here are the steps to take to watch iPlayer in the USA on Roku:
If you don't want to download the iPlayer app, there’s an alternative: screen mirroring. You can install a VPN on your phone, tablet, or computer. Then, you can screen mirror your device to Roku, which supports Chromecast, SmartPlay, and AirPlay, 3 of the world’s most popular media casting technologies.
You need two things to get BBC iPlayer in the USA on a Firestick: a VPN app and a way to sideload iPlayer. This is done in the following way:
It's true that getting BBC iPlayer on your Firestick isn't the simplest procedure. That's because it involves sideloading the app on your streaming device. This might not be as smooth for some users, who may need to try various BBC iPlayer APK files. We recommend turning to this online forum, where a number of iPlayer APK files can be found that have been modified to remove various errors.
The easiest way to watch BBC iPlayer on Chromecast is to use the iPlayer app on your phone. So, no matter if you have an Android or iOS device, follow these steps:
You can also cast from a computer using the Chrome browser. This feature already comes built-in, so here's how to add the Cast button to the Chrome toolbar.
Smart TVs don't support VPN services, which means you'll need a workaround. The best option would be to install a VPN on a router. Do the following process:
The apps you see on the tvOS App Store are based on the region of your Apple account. So, to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA, you need to have a UK-based account. Here's how to do it:
Since Apple TV runs on a closed and restricted platform (tvOS), getting iPlayer to work can be tiresome. If you're after a simpler solution and you have an iPhone, you can mirror your phone’s screen to your Apple TV.
BBC iPlayer lets you watch a range of TV channels live, on-demand movies and TV shows, and plenty of sports content as well. And yes, all of that is available free of charge. Choose from beloved UK shows like Sherlock, Luther, and Doctor Who or movies like Mary Poppins and Vice.
In terms of the available live TV channels and live streams, you'll find practically all national and some regional BBC channels on iPlayer, including CBeebies, BBC News, and BBC Parliament. And when it comes to sports, you won't be disappointed. You can watch the BKL Kabaddi Tournament, World Boxing Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, and many more.
Then, there's a vast selection of TV shows, with new titles arriving all the time. These are some of the most popular (and currently available) TV shows on BBC iPlayer:
If BBC iPlayer is not working in the US with a VPN, there are plenty of troubleshooting options you can try. For example, you can use another server or protocol, or try clearing your cache. Here's more detailed information on how to make BBC iPlayer work with your VPN:
If you’re willing to try other possible solutions, here's our guide that explains why your VPN doesn't work - with plenty of actionable tips and tricks.
Yes, you can watch BBC iPlayer in the USA with a free VPN, but we don't recommend doing this. Free VPN services usually don't work with iPlayer or any other streaming platforms because they don't have sufficient technology to bypass geo-restrictions.
Free VPNs have various bandwidth and data limitations, making them unsuitable for streaming. Not to mention they're not very secure at all. They can even sell your data to advertisers to make a profit. Overall, you'll end up with a very frustrating streaming experience with the risk of compromising your sensitive information.
What you need is a free VPN trial from a premium provider, like one of the best VPN services we've reviewed. Premium VPNs have unlimited bandwidth, optimized performance, and various features designed to bypass geo-blocks. No free VPN that can promise the same. Our top choice is NordVPN's free trial, which it offers for 7 days on Android. (It has a 30-day money-back guarantee for other devices.)
BBC iPlayer brings a treasure trove of content, featuring a slate of blockbusters and hugely popular shows, among other things. Unfortunately, it's only available in the UK due to geo-restrictions. That said, you'll be glad to know that you can unblock BBC iPlayer in the USA using a VPN.
We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in the US. It comes with many UK-based servers, unblocks iPlayer every single time, and supports practically any device imaginable. Plus, its ultra-high-speed connections will let you stream in 4K without buffering.
That would be all on how to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA for free. If you have any questions, let us know via the comments section below. Thank you for reading!