Channel 4 (formerly known as All 4) offers incredible British originals (The Inbetweeners and Peep Show), movies (Knives Out and Star Trek), and even live streams of TV channels like Channel 4, More 4, E4, Film 4, and 4 Seven - all for free! Unfortunately, the service is not available outside the UK. If you want to stream Channel 4 in the US, you need to get a UK IP address with a VPN.
Read on to find out how to watch Channel 4 in the US on all your devices and learn why you need a VPN to do so. We also cover the best VPN providers for Channel 4, the cost of a Channel 4+ subscription, how to pay for Channel 4 in the US, troubleshooting tips, content recommendations, answers to some FAQs, and much more.
To watch Channel 4 in the US, you need to obtain a UK IP address - which will trick Channel 4 into thinking you’re watching from within the country. The easiest way to get one is by connecting to a VPN server in the UK, as shown below:
You need a VPN to stream Channel 4 in the US because the service is only available in the United Kingdom. Even British residents can’t watch Channel 4 outside the UK due to rights agreements between the platform and TV/movie companies.
Channel 4 is an interesting case, as you can create an account even without a VPN. But when it’s time to actually watch anything, you get hit with this error message: “Not Available. Channel 4 is only available in the UK. You can find more details on our FAQs.”
Fortunately, you can watch All 4 in the US by using a VPN to get a British IP address. When you connect to a VPN, that changes your virtual location to the country of your choice (in this case, the UK). This lets you stream and browse Channel 4 as if you were an actual local.
Of course, not every VPN works on Channel 4. Since the company has to comply with their licensing agreements, that usually involves blocking VPN IP addresses. That's why your best bet is to use a premium provider like NordVPN. It has hundreds of servers in the UK, delivers lightning-fast speeds, and can easily unblock Channel 4 in the US.
The best VPN to stream Channel 4 in the US should be able to bypass the site’s VPN filter and unblock Channel 4 abroad. Look for VPNs with a sizable UK server network (and worldwide) so you can access Channel 4 and other platforms from around the world.
Fast speeds and great performance are must-haves for buffer-free streaming in HD and 4K. You’ll also need a kill switch and obfuscation to hide your IP address and VPN activity in any circumstance. Then, you’ll want a strict no-logs policy and all the latest protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard, with strong AES-256 encryption, to keep your data private and secure.
Your VPN should have easy-to-use apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and other platforms. Furthermore, it should provide sufficient simultaneous connections for various activities. 24/7 live chat is helpful in case of any issues, with a 30-day money-back guarantee just in case. Finally, make sure the subscription cost is affordable in the long term.
Based on the criteria above, these are the best VPNs to unblock Channel 4 in the USA:
NordVPN is the best VPN to watch Channel 4 in the US because it can seamlessly unblock Channel 4. This is thanks in part to its advanced SmartPlay feature. Basically, the VPN changes DNS servers when you can’t unblock the content you want. SmartPlay is available on its entire network of 6,000+ servers in 61 countries (including 440+ servers in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester).
While there are fewer regions total than in our other recommendations, NordVPN works reliably on a wide variety of streaming sites. The VPN offers top-class speeds and consistent performance whether you’re streaming Channel 4 from the US or elsewhere.
We like NordVPN’s extensive selection of specialized servers, including P2P, double VPN, Onion-over-VPN, and obfuscated, the latter of which lets you bypass pesky VPN blocks. There’s also a kill switch that you can set to disable specific apps (such as your browser) instead of your whole connection.
NordVPN’s no-logs claims have been extensively audited to ensure your data is never stored on its servers. Moreover, you get top-of-the-line protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx, along with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption to secure your browsing habits against hackers.
As expected, NordVPN is supported on most popular systems, whether you’re watching Channel 4 on your PC, tablet, smartphone, or on the big screen of your smart TV. The VPN provides 6 simultaneous connections to use as you see fit.
Naturally, NordVPN has 24/7 live chat to resolve any problems, and there’s a standard 30-day money-back guarantee in case you wish to explore other VPNs. You can get a subscription for only $3.99 a month when you sign up for their 2-year plan.
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Surfshark is another excellent VPN for Channel 4 because it can effortlessly unblock Channel 4 in the US. Its Nexus IP rotation technology helps with this, but it's mainly due to its 212 UK servers in Glasgow, Manchester, London, and Edinburgh. Overall, there are 3,200+ servers in 100 countries around the world that can unblock any other streaming sites, too.
You'll enjoy lightning-fast speeds with Surfshark, and it delivers dependable performance on all its servers. It doesn't matter whether you connect to one close to you or further away—you'll get the same seamless 4K streaming on Channel 4.
Surfshark comes with obfuscation on all its servers, so you can bypass any VPN detection. It also employs a kill switch to cut your Internet connection if the VPN has an issue. Moreover, it follows a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited, so you know your privacy is protected.
When it comes to tunneling protocols, you'll be able to choose from WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2—all of which use either AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption standards. This will ensure no third parties can decipher your data.
You can use Surfshark on any popular streaming devices, like computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. Better yet, it allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can even share the subscription with a friend or family members if you want.
Surfshark's customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, so if you have any issues, just contact them. It also comes with a 30-day refund period, so you can thoroughly test its features. Lastly, you can get a 2-year subscription for just $1.99 per month, which is unbeatable.
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ExpressVPN is a great choice because it can unblock Channel 4 in the US, as well as other streamers. It has a massive obfuscated server network, so no streaming service will be able to detect your VPN usage. You get 3,000+ lightning-fast servers in 105 countries, which includes a sizable network in the UK (with locations in East London, Docklands, London, Wembley, and the Midlands).
This VPN offers reliable performance on both close and faraway servers. Naturally, ExpressVPN delivers high-speed connections on any platform you try it with. We were able to stream Channel 4 content in HD and 4K without any noticeable slowdowns.
You get a trusty kill switch to disable network access in case of disconnects. Suffice it to say, your IP won’t leak online under any circumstance. The provider also has a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited to guarantee full privacy.
Your data is secured using all the industry-standard protocols like Lightway (WolfSSL-enabled), as well as OpenVPN and IKEv2, which both use AES-256 encryption. To top things off, there’s also a Threat Manager feature to block intrusive trackers online.
ExpressVPN works on all popular platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, various smart TVs, and other gadgets. You can use it on up to 8 devices simultaneously, which is sufficient considering Channel 4’s 2-screen limit.
The provider has expert 24/7 live chat support available if you experience any technical issues. Even better, all ExpressVPN plans are backed by a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. The most cost-effective subscription is paying $6.67 per month for its 1-year plan.
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CyberGhost VPN is yet another suitable option to unblock Channel 4 in the US, especially with its extensive network of streaming-optimized servers. With over 11,000 servers in 100 countries (including 1,000+ UK servers in Berkshire, London, and Manchester), it allows you to watch 40+ streaming sites worldwide.
Best of all, performance remained stable throughout our tests, both on Channel 4 and other services supported by the provider. Its medium-fast speeds aren't as impressive as some providers, but it's not a big deal considering its more budget-friendly plans (you can pay just $2.19 a month for a 2-year plan). Besides that, it streams in 4K with no issues.
CyberGhost includes a working kill switch to keep your identity protected at all times. You can’t disable the feature, so there’s never any risk of IP leaks. Unfortunately, it does not have any obfuscated servers. Keep that in mind in case you want to watch Channel 4 on more restrictive networks.
Otherwise, CyberGhost offers outstanding security protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, along with strong AES-256 encryption. Plus, the provider’s no-logs policy has recently undergone a successful audit.
On another note, CyberGhost comes with 7 simultaneous connections, making it great for larger households or sharing with a friend. Moreover, its apps are supported on most operating systems, from Windows to smartphones and smart TVs.
As with any top provider, you get customer support via live chat that responds in a timely manner. The provider also has the longest money-back guarantee we’ve seen: 45 days on longer plans.
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A basic Channel 4 account is free, so you can stream anything as long as you don't mind watching it with ads. If you want to stream ad-free, a premium Channel 4+ subscription is £3.99/month (USD $5.07). You can also pay for it annually, in which case it costs £39.99/year (USD $50.86/year).
If you go with the Channel 4+ monthly plan, you'll get a 7-day free trial. On the other hand, the annual subscription gets you 12 months for the price of 10. Either way, you can enjoy streaming without annoying ads. Plus, you'll get early access to hit shows.
Here is a simple pricing breakdown:
To pay for Channel 4 in the US, you have 3 options: with a UK credit card, a Google Play gift card, or an iTunes gift card. Regardless of the method you choose, you'll need to connect to a UK server using a VPN first.
We created handy step-by-step guides for each method below.
The easiest way to get Channel 4 in the US is to ask a family member or friend who lives in the UK if they'd be willing to let you use their UK credit card. You’ll still need a VPN to connect to a server in the UK, though. Here’s exactly what to do:
Paying for Channel 4 with a Google Play gift card is pretty simple. But first, you have to create a new Google account with a UK address. Follow these steps to make it easy:
Paying for Channel 4 with an iTunes gift card is similar to the Google Play Store method. First, create a new Apple ID using a UK address. You can follow these simple steps:
To watch Channel 4 in the US on any device, it’s important to get a reliable VPN. Some devices (like Roku and certain smart TVs) don’t support such apps, in which case you’ll need to set up a VPN on your router.
Here are some guides on how to get Channel 4 working in the US on the most popular devices and platforms:
Streaming Channel 4 on Windows or macOS is as easy as using a VPN to change your location to the UK. Then you can start watching Channel 4 in your browser, as shown below:
To watch Channel 4 on Android in the US, you’ll need a UK-based Google account and a VPN to change your location to the UK. Here’s what you need to do:
The process to watch Channel 4 on iOS in the US is fairly similar to the one for Android devices. Just create a UK Apple ID, get a VPN, and connect to the UK to start watching. Here’s how:
Depending on your smart TV model, VPN apps may not be supported. In this case, to watch Channel 4, you’ll need to install it on your router instead. Do the following:
Roku doesn’t support VPNs, so you’ll have to install one on a compatible router. During the setup process, you need to set your location to the UK. More details below.
Channel 4 is home to famous sitcoms, movies, originals, sports programming, and live TV on 5 different channels. Some of the best movies on Channel 4 include Knives Out, The Lobster, and Star Trek, although the selection is more limited when compared to some services.
What you’re really looking for is their Channel 4 originals, such as the hilarious Taskmaster, Peep Show or The IT Crowd. Among the best on-demand Channel 4 shows, you can find classics like Frasier, 3rd Rock from the Sun, or Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (both the UK and US versions).
Finally, you don’t want to miss live programming on Channel 4, More 4, E4, Film 4, and 4 Seven. You'll also find comprehensive international football coverage and rugby matches, MMA, Formula 1, and highlights from various sporting events.
Here’s an easy-to-follow guide on what you can watch on Channel 4 in the US:
Got a Channel 4 VPN, but it’s not working in the US? Well, the issue could be any number of things, such as the VPN server’s IP or protocol being blocked. You should also check that your browser cookies don't reveal your location by accident. Here are some troubleshooting steps:
Yes, you can use a free VPN to watch Channel 4 in the US. However, we don’t recommend doing so for a few specific reasons. First things first: Channel 4 and other streaming sites typically block free VPN IPs en masse.
Let’s say you find one that works. Well, you still have to deal with things like slow speeds, few servers (that may lead to congestion), or monthly data caps that make it difficult to get an episode in. Furthermore, free VPNs tend to make their money by selling user data.
If that sounds like a hassle and a half, you’re not alone. That's why we recommend getting a VPN free trial of one of the best VPN services. They won’t log your data, nor will they impose any restrictions that make streaming a chore. Our top suggestion is NordVPN's free trial.
Channel 4 provides a host of free movies, TV shows, sports, and more. Unfortunately, it's not available outside the UK in countries like the US. However, there is a way around this. You’ll need a VPN to change your virtual location if you want to watch Channel 4 in the US or anywhere else.
We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN to stream Channel 4 in the USA. Not only does it have tons of obfuscated servers (so no one can see you’re using a VPN), but you get 440+ lightning-fast servers in the UK, giving you access to Channel 4. It can also easily unblock any other platforms and allow you to enjoy buffer-free streaming in 4K on all of them.
That’s all you need to know about how to watch Channel 4 in the US. If you run into any issues, let us know in the comments, and we’ll be glad to help. Thanks for reading!