The Best VPNs for YouTube TV 2024

We recommend NordVPN as the best virtual private network (VPN) for YouTube TV based on our testing and research. With the help of an easy-to-use (and free) GPS-spoofing tool, Nord successfully allowed us to change our YouTube TV location and IP address to a region other than where we were physically located.

Surfshark and ExpressVPN were also successful, but we think Nord is the best option. Read on to learn why.

The best VPNs for YouTube TV

• NordVPN: Best overall
• Surfshark: Best for affordability
• ExpressVPN: Best for streaming

Top 3 VPN services for YouTube TV compared

VPN
Starting price	Starts at $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $6.25/mo (billed annually)
Unblocks YouTube TV
Number of servers	6,800+ servers in 111 countries	Unlisted in 91 countries	Unlisted in 105 countries
Also unblocks	Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, DAZN, and more	Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and more	Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and more
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

How we tested the best VPNs for YouTube TV

We tested NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark with YouTube TV. All of these VPNs have previously tested well for streaming, speed tests, and general features.

To test whether these VPNs work with YouTube TV, we made sure each service was updated. We then spoofed our geolocation with Location Guard and connected to each VPN individually. Finally, we opened YouTube TV in a Chrome browser on our MacBook Pro running macOS Monterey.

Using this method, we were able to successfully change our YouTube TV location with each of the VPNs we tested.

The following VPN features are important for streaming YouTube TV:

• A server network with plenty of options in the U.S. (since YouTube TV is only available)
• Streaming-optimized servers or obfuscated servers to hide your VPN usage
• Compatibility with smart devices like Apple TV and Fire TV
• Smart DNS to extend spoofing abilities to smart devices without VPN apps

NordVPN: Best overall

Who it’s best for

NordVPN is best for YouTube TV and beyond. With over 1,900 servers in 16 U.S. server locations, you have plenty of locations to choose from for unblocking regional streaming content.

We had no issues using NordVPN and Location Guard, an extension for hiding your geographic location, to switch our YouTube TV location to regions where we weren’t physically located.

What we liked

Nord is one of the best VPN services because it strikes a balance between affordability and reliability.

Starting at $2.99/mo (billed every two years), you’re not breaking the bank for a premium VPN service. But with great results for speed, DNS leak, and online privacy tests, you also aren’t skimping on quality.

From our personal testing, NordVPN provided high speeds while connected to different servers worldwide and has continuously proven itself as a reliable VPN provider. It also passed our DNS leak and WebRTC leak tests, which can help give peace of mind that your personal data will be kept private as you browse.

We especially like how it has optimized servers for obfuscated, double VPN, dedicated IP, and more, depending on your needs. It also comes with Threat Protection, which can protect your device from ads, trackers, and malicious downloads.

What we didn’t like

NordVPN has nine different plans to choose from, depending on the features you want and the subscription length. It can be a bit confusing, especially if you only want the VPN. A good rule of thumb is to choose a one-year or two-year plan over a monthly plan if you want to save money. You can also take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.

And while Nord is affordable (starting at $2.99/mo (billed every two years)), it’s not the least expensive VPN available. Two more affordable options are Surfshark (starting at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)) and Private Internet Access (starting at $2.03/mo (billed every two years)), which both offer unlimited simultaneous connections.

NordVPN specs

Price range	$2.99–$17.99/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Unblocks YouTube TV	Yes
Number of servers	6,800+ servers in 111 countries
Number of connected devices	10
Average speed	394.15 Mbps
DNS leak test	Pass
Kill switch test	Pass
VPN protocol	NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
No-logs policy	Yes
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review

Surfshark: Best for affordability

Who it’s best for

Surfshark makes sense if you want an affordable VPN that provides high speeds and unlimited simultaneous device connections. Starting at $1.99/mo (billed every two years), there aren’t many high-quality VPNs that are cheaper.

Using Surfshark and Location Guard, we were able to successfully switch our YouTube TV location to regions other than our physical location.

What we liked

You might expect an ultra-affordable VPN to lack in features or have a small server network, but that’s really not the case with Surfshark. It has thousands of servers and over 600 in the U.S. alone.

You can use Surfshark to watch Netflix with a VPN, as well as other popular streaming platforms. And having unlimited simultaneous connections means you and the whole family can benefit from using a VPN on as many devices as you want.

Another handy Surfshark feature is CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware. With CleanWeb 2.0, which is available with Surfshark's browser extension, you can even block ads on YouTube and streaming services. That way, you can stream YouTube TV with minimal interruptions.

What we didn’t like

Surfshark has a lot of servers to choose from, but you don’t have options for every major city in the U.S. For example, there aren’t servers in Philadelphia, Austin, or Portland. 

VPNs don’t always include all the big cities; it just means you could have issues watching local channels from certain regions using YouTube TV or another similar service. For instance, if you're trying to watch out-of-network NFL games and need servers far from your local network.

Surfshark specs

Price range	$1.99–$17.95/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Unblocks YouTube TV	Yes
Number of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries
Number of connected devices	Unlimited
Average speed	298.09 Mbps
DNS leak test	Pass
Kill switch test	Pass
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	Yes
Learn more	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review

ExpressVPN: Best for streaming

Who it’s best for

ExpressVPN makes sense if you want a VPN that works with loads of popular streaming sites, including Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

We were able to successfully use ExpressVPN and Location Guard to change our YouTube TV location to regions other than our actual physical location.

What we liked

We’ve tested ExpressVPN extensively and it has consistently ranked as one of the best streaming VPNs. Whether using different types of devices or traveling, we haven’t had issues accessing regional streaming content while using ExpressVPN.

It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve used, providing only a few or no issues with bandwidth, buffering, or connection speeds. One reason for that is the Lightway protocol, which was created by ExpressVPN. It was made to ensure faster, more reliable, and more secure VPN connections. 

ExpressVPN also has some of the most extensive compatibility for its VPN apps. Beyond the standard operating systems, you can install ExpressVPN on your routers, smart TVs, and even on Amazon Fire TV Stick. It even has its own proprietary router, Aircove, which covers 1,600 square feet on one device. 

What we didn’t like

A starting cost of $6.25/mo (billed annually) isn’t the end of the world, but it’s much higher compared to NordVPN (starting at $2.99/mo (billed every two years)) and Surfshark (starting at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)). It also offers the lowest device count among all the services discussed, with only an allowance for eight simultaneous connections.

However, you typically get what you pay for with ExpressVPN. And what you’re paying for is a wide selection of servers, high speeds, and plenty of streaming reliability. If you want to save money on ExpressVPN, check for promotions and deals around different holidays.

ExpressVPN specs

Price range	$4.99–$12.95/mo
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days
Unblocks YouTube TV	Yes
Number of servers	Unlisted in 105 countries
Number of connected devices	8
Average speed	181.06 Mbps
DNS leak test	Pass
Kill switch test	Pass
VPN protocol	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	Yes
Learn more	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Honorable mentions

IPVanish, Private Internet Access, and Proton VPN didn’t make our top three list for best VPNs for YouTube TV, but they still deserve a mention.

• IPVanish: IPVanish is an affordable VPN with thousands of servers available worldwide. With statistics on ping and server load listed next to each server, you'll easily be able to selct the best server for steraming YouTube TV without buffering or lag.
  
  Get IPVanish | Read Our IPVanish Review
• Private Internet Access: PIA is an extremely affordable VPN (starting at $2.03/mo (billed every two years)) that provides premium features, including fast speeds and security. It’s also very easy to use and allows for unlimited VPN connections.
  
  Get Private Internet Access | Read Our Private Internet Access Review
• Proton VPN: Proton VPN offers one of the best free VPNs, but it's paid plan is worth splurging on for streaming. You'll get streaming-optimized servers, an ad and tracker blocker, and the VPN Accelerator to maximize your speeds. 
  
  Get Proton VPN | Read Our Proton VPN Review

Speed tests

We test all our VPNs to determine how much they affect our internet speed. First, we record our internet speed without the VPN connection (also known as the baseline internet speed). Then, we connect the VPNs to various server locations and conduct speed tests to determine the impact. 

	VPN speed to US server	Normal speed	Speed loss
NordVPN	430.75 Mbps	297.64 Mbps	45% increase
Surfshark	333.43 Mbps	345.75 Mbps	4% decrease
ExpressVPN	177.30 Mbps	171.08 Mbps	4% increase

Of our three best VPNs for YouTube TV, NordVPN was the fastest by far. It increased our speed with the U.S. server along with every server we tested. ExpressVPN also increased our speed slightly while Surfshark decreased our speed but not by much. 

Speed is an important factor to consider when choosing a VPN. You can typically expect your VPN to slow down your internet because it will securing your internet traffic. 

However, you won't want your VPN to slow your speeds to the point where you're dealing with nothing but lag and buffering. That's why you can't go wrong with NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN.

Why do you need a VPN for YouTube TV?

The YouTube TV app has geo-restrictions and YouTube TV streaming is available only in the U.S. Also, the available lineup of channels depends on your location in the U.S.

For example, local channels in New York, Los Angeles, and other areas are typically different from each other. But your in-country location shouldn’t affect your ability to access national channels, including Fox, AMC, CBS, and USA.

If you want to watch YouTube TV outside the U.S. or if you want to access a different lineup of live TV channels while in the U.S., you need a VPN and a GPS-spoofing tool to go along with your YouTube TV subscription. That will help you bypass YouTube TV geo-restrictions.

How to use a VPN to bypass your YouTube TV location

These are the steps we used to successfully change our YouTube TV location:

1. Install a VPN with U.S. servers located in the city where you want to watch TV. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the Location Guard Chrome browser extension.
3. Open Location Guard’s options and choose “Use fixed location” under “Default level.”
4. In the menu on the left of your screen, select “Fixed Location” and set Location Guard to a fixed location by placing the location pin on the city where you want to watch TV. You may need to use the zoom in and out buttons to move the world map.
5. Choose a VPN server that matches your fixed location and connect.
6. Once your VPN is connected, go to YouTube TV and open your Settings menu.
7. Choose Area. The next screen may show your previous home location, a blank space for your current playback area, or it may say your location is unknown. Choose Update.
8. On the next screen, click Update Location.
9. YouTube TV should now show your VPN server location and Location Guard’s fixed location. Click Update to set this as your playback area.

Learn more about how to change your YouTube TV location with a VPN.

Best VPNs for YouTube TV FAQs

Bottom line: The best VPNs for YouTube TV

NordVPN is the best VPN for YouTube TV according to our testing, experience, and research. With high speeds, loads of servers, and an affordable price, it checks all the boxes.

We also tested Surfshark and ExpressVPN, which are our runners-up. We recommend Surfshark if you want a low-cost alternative, and ExpressVPN if you want compatibility with loads of streaming services.

If you find YouTube ads annoying (like we do), check out our list of the best YouTube ad blockers.

3 best YouTube TV VPNs 2024

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
NordVPN	Starts at $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	Best overall	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review
Surfshark	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Best for affordability	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review
ExpressVPN	Starts at $6.25/mo (billed annually)	Best for streaming	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review