YouTube TV: Best VPN to Stay Safe and Access Any Type of Content

Since its purchase by Google in 2006, YouTube has become one of the most popular content-sharing and streaming platforms in the world. YouTube is available in over 90 countries and 80 different languages.

However, YouTube does have geo-restrictions on some of its content. YouTube uses your IP address to determine your geo-location and restrict the available content to comply with different regional legislation.

This is the main reason for using a VPN with YouTube. A good VPN will also work with other content-sharing platforms besides YouTube, such as Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ESPN, and many more. With so many VPNs sporting different features in the market, choosing the right one is not simple.

Take a look at our list of the five best VPNs to use with YouTube.

The Best VPNs for YouTube TV in 2021

• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• Perfect-Privacy
• Hide Me
• ProtonVPN

Detailed Overview of the Best YouTube VPNs

1. ExpressVPN, the best fast VPN for YouTube

Choosing a VPN, one of the main things to consider is the VPN’s speed. This is because VPNs have different performances, and you most likely want to get the fastest one.

After intensive research, we found that ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN for YouTube. Here are some of the advantages that come with ExpressVPN, besides fast speeds:

The pros

• Location spoofing

Most VPNs enhance your privacy by simply hiding your IP address. This way, no one can find out who you are. However, other VPNs do not hide your physical location, making it possible for a hacker to know where you are.

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs since it can spoof your location and make sure that your physical location is concealed. When using ExpressVPN, you are thus incognito, and you can watch all content on YouTube without worries.

• Stylish interface

Your VPN of choice should have a usable, aesthetically appealing user interface. ExpressVPN has gone out of its way to make sure that the interface is stylish and easy to use, without being crowded with controls.

• Split Tunneling

Split tunneling makes it possible for you to divide your traffic into two, with one part using the secure VPN tunnel to access the internet and the other part going directly to your internet service provider simultaneously. A split tunnel is very important for gaming, streaming, or other use scenarios where fast speeds are required and you don’t necessarily need a VPN.

The cons

• It does not have an ad blocker

It has become standard for a VPN to include ad-blocking. It came as a surprise to us when we found out that ExpressVPN does not have an ad blocker feature, as YouTube ads can be a bit irritating. Of course, you can get a separate ad blocker, though it will introduce additional costs. A better option would be a VPN that can do both, and suit your specific needs.

• Premium price

If you want to get ExpressVPN, you will have three options when it comes to payment. You can either pay 12.95 USD every month, 59.94 USD every six months, making it 9.99 USD a month, or 80.04 USD every year. Regardless of the option you choose, it seems a bit expensive compared to other VPNs, especially because it does not come with an ad blocker.

• Security could be a bit better

We do not mean that ExpressVPN is unsafe, far from it. However, it should be noted that ExpressVPN does not provide a Tor anonymization network.

Tor bounces off your traffic through several servers before finally settling on the final destination. This makes it virtually impossible to trace you, and thus you will have a lot more privacy.

2. NordVPN, a reliable VPN for YouTube

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs in the world right now, so you have probably heard of it. This is because it offers some of the best services and features in the market, and the users get good value for money.

Profile

NordVPN is a subsidiary of Tefincom S.A., which is based in Panama. This essentially means that NordVPN operates under Panama law and jurisdiction. Panama is not part of any signal-sharing alliance, like the 14-eyes alliance, so you can rest assured that your data cannot be shared or extradited if you are using NordVPN.

The pros of using NordVPN

• It has a strict no-logging policy

NordVPN makes sure that its safety and security features are at the very top among numerous VPN offerings. This approach benefits the end users. Their privacy policy states a strict no-logging policy.

What this means essentially, is that they do not store any data concerning your online activities. Even if they were asked to present data on you and your online whereabouts or what videos you have watched on YouTube, they would not have anything to present.

Their no-logging policy was backed up when an independent logging audit was conducted, in November 2018, by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

• The Server options that it offers

NordVPN has a server network of over 5200 servers located in 60 countries all over the world. You will be able to access videos and online content from almost anywhere in the world, and you will never have to worry about YouTube’s geo-restrictions.

• CyberSec feature

When you access YouTube via a browser, you will be doing so via an HTTPS-encrypted site. There is a common misconception that sites that have an HTTPS connection are safe. The truth is, using HTTPS will not stop a serious hacker.

NordVPN has a feature called CyberSec, which will prevent you from accessing any website that may prove to be harmful to you and your device. The feature also acts as an ad blocker and protects you against unwanted connections or DNS leaks.

• Compatibility

NordVPN can be used with every major operating system: macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, or Linux. This is all made possible by OpenVPN. All you have to do is download the app and sync all your apps, including YouTube, through it, and you will be good to go.

The cons

• It is a bit expensive

When we compared the costs of premium VPNs, we found NordVPN a bit pricey. The premium monthly plan will cost you 14.95 USD, or 101.85 USD with the annual option.

• It does not have a free version

Since NordVPN does not have a free version, you will have to pay for the services through a subscription-based service. That being said, we found the quality of services and its rich features included are worth it and we do in fact, consider it one of the best VPNs in the world to use with YouTube.

• The interface is somewhat cramped

Even though it is aesthetically pleasing, the interface has many features cramped into one place. This isn’t a big issue, but it can be problematic for some users.

3. Perfect-Privacy, the best VPN for Families

Many times, you need a VPN to cover a myriad of devices. Almost all VPNs have a limited number of devices with which you can use the VPN simultaneously. VPNs that do not have this limitation tend to be a bit slower.

Searching for a suitable VPN for families, we tried to find one with high speeds and support for an unlimited number of devices. Perfect-Privacy meets all of the criteria, and then some.

The pros

• Encryption protocols

Perfect-Privacy supports a plethora of encryption protocols that rank it on par with the most secure VPNs in the world. The main protocol that it uses, which is somewhat of the industry standard, is OpenVPN, a military-grade protocol.

Perfect-Privacy also has SSH and IPSEC protocols and SOCKS5 and PPTP proxies to the OpenVPN protocol.

• Simultaneous connections

Perhaps the main reason why Perfect-Privacy is so loved is because of the unlimited number of simultaneous connections it offers its clients. With this feature, it puts almost all of its competitors to shame.

This means that no matter big your family is, you will be able to provide data and online traffic security to each member with only one account.

• One of the fastest VPNs around

As mentioned earlier, VPNs that offer an unlimited number of simultaneous connections tend to have slower speeds. Perfect-Privacy is the exception to this rule. It has fast upload and download speeds, with a short packet round trip time. It is perfect for those used to streaming, as is the case with YouTube.

The cons

• It is expensive

The monthly subscription will cost you 12.99 USD, a one-year plan costs 119.99 USD, and a two-year plan is priced at 214,95 USD.

This makes Perfect-Privacy one of the most expensive VPNs around, but you can use an unlimited number of devices.

• A limited number of server locations

The number of server locations a VPN offers showcases the options you have when it comes to spoofing. It is important to consider the number of servers a VPN provider offers before going for it.

Perfect-Privacy has a smaller server network compared to its competitors. With just over 50 servers in 23 countries, this is not on par with some of the other VPN offerings.

• Average customer service

We found that Perfect-Privacy’s customer service and support system were average. One of the main drawbacks is the lack of a live chat, so you have to resort to other forms of contact such as email, which isn’t the fastest.

4. Hide.me, the best free VPN for YouTube

The best things in life are free. Hide.me is one of the few VPNs with a free version that can hold its own amongst serious competitors.

The pros

• Location and jurisdiction

eVentures Limited is Hide.me’s parent company, and it is based in Malaysia. It was founded in 2012. The Malaysian government passed the Personal Data Protection Act in 2010. The act states that companies in Malaysia are not required to transfer personal information to entities outside Malaysia unless ordered by the Minister. In addition to this, Malaysia also does not require companies to log their clientele data, which is a huge bonus for you regarding the security and safety of your data.

• Encryption

Encryption protocols are essential for VPNs, and Hide.me has a myriad of them and automatically switches between them to make sure that you are safe at all times. These protocols include L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, SoftEther, IKEv2, OpenVPN with AES, and PPTP.

• Its free version

Hide.me’s free edition comes with 10GB of data transfer, access to 5 worldwide locations from which you can pick, in addition to one simultaneous connection. Though it may not seem like much, it has proved helpful when you want to access content in another country without having to pay for the services of a VPN.

• It has cheap subscriptions

In addition to its free version, Hide.me also has subscription-based plans, like the 9.95 USD monthly plan or the 34.95 six-month plan. These subscription plans unlock features like unlimited data transfer, 10 simultaneous connections, and 77 worldwide locations.

The cons

• It has a small server network

Hide.me has about 1400 servers in 46 different counties. Compared to other VPNs, these numbers are modest, and it means that you will not have many options to spoof.

• It doesn’t have a connection to China

Most of the VPNs in this list, and in general, have servers in China. On the other hand, Hide.me does not. This is not a big deal unless you want to route to China.

• It has average speeds

Many factors affect the speeds a VPN offers; server processors, the location of the servers, your location, the age of the hardware, and even the number of people using the servers at the time.
When we tested Hide.me to determine its speeds, we found that they weren’t on par with other competing VPNs.

5. ProtonVPN, the best Mobile VPN for YouTube

One of YouTube’s great features is that you can watch it on the go using different mobile devices. If you have it on your phone, you will be able to access content wherever you are. This mobility also means that you have to look for a VPN that will work with your phone to give you the security you need.
Most VPNs have a mobile phone version, but that version is simply a PC version that has been tweaked a bit to meet the demands of these different hardware platforms. ProtonVPN stands out here, as it has created a mobile phone VPN app that we have tested to be the best in the business.

The pros

• It has an intuitive user interface

ProtonVPN’s interface is one of the most attractive you will find but besides the good looks, the functionality is great. The interface is not only aesthetically appealing but it has also been designed with usability in mind. It is extremely user-friendly and very intuitive.

• Kill Switch feature

ProtonVPN has a kill switch feature that automatically disconnects you from your internet service provider if you lose connection with the VPN server. This feature ensures that you will not be unsafe or liable to online attacks or DNS leaks if your VPN connection drops.

• Always-On feature

The Always-on feature re-establishes the connection to the VPN server as fast as possible. It will automatically link you back to the server when the issue that caused the disconnection has been resolved.

The cons

• It has no live chat

We found the customer support section to be a bit lacking since it does not have a live chat. This is a bit odd because having a live chat in the customer support system is common these days.

• Server Network

ProtonVPN has just over 1900 servers located in 67 countries. Compared to other VPNs this is not a big network. The low number of servers leaves you with limited options in terms of the locations you can spoof to and thus the content you will be able to access on YouTube.

• The Paying users subsidize the free version of the VPN

ProtonVPN has a free version, and, as you’d expect, many people use it, even though it has limited features. ProtonVPN has stated that it has such a vibrant society of people who use the free version because it is the paying users that subsidize the free version. This begs the question, do you want to pay for a service so that another person can use it for free?

Why do you need a VPN for YouTube?

YouTube has placed geo-restrictions on millions of videos, which you will not be able to access if you don’t use a VPN. This is the main reason for using a VPN with YouTube. You also have to check if a VPN provider supports your specific device, for example, a smart tv, apple tv, Xbox, firestick, Roku, or similar.

Moreover, VPNs ensure that you can rest assured, knowing that no one will be able to access your online traffic or personal data. Like most VPN companies, all the VPNs that we have listed, have strict no-logging policies, so they will not store any of your data.

The methodology we used to come up with this list

To find and ascertain the list of the best VPNs, we had to create some criteria the candidates needed to meet. The main reason for this is that there are thousands of VPNs in the market today, and all of them claim to be the best. Some of the criteria we used were:

The location of the VPN companies

The jurisdiction under which a VPN falls, in short, the country where the VPN is located, was a major concern for us. This is because the laws of these countries and jurisdictions influence your privacy and security when it comes to personal data.

For a VPN to be shortlisted, it had to be based in a country with strict personal data and information laws. These countries are not supposed to be a member of any signal-sharing alliance, such as the 14-eyes alliance. A signal-sharing alliance makes it possible for a country to order a company based in another country to produce an individual’s data, and, since both counties are in a signal-sharing alliance, the company is forced to do so.

Speed

When it comes to the general speed that a VPN offers, we considered ping, download speed, and upload speed.

Ping, also known as latency, is bound to increase when a VPN tunnel is used. This is because the traffic is flowing through a secure tunnel, the VPN. Normally, your online traffic would just flow directly to and from your ISP (internet service provider). Using a VPN, there are extra routing points, passing through the VPN provider infrastructure.
Latency is measured in milliseconds. The lower the increase in latency, the faster the VPN is.

Upload and download speeds will decrease when you use a VPN because all your traffic flows through a network of servers, not directly to and from your internet service provider. The fastest VPNs introduce the lowest decrease in speed and are well-suited for streaming services.

We determined the speeds for the various VPNs by initially measuring the speed of the traffic without switching on the VPN. For upload speeds, we measure the speed of uploading data, while for downloading speeds, we measured the speed when downloading data.

Then we switched on the VPN, measured the upload and download speeds again, and repeated the process to determine latency. We compared the speeds and expressed the difference as a percentage.

User Experience

The best way to know if a VPN is good enough is through referrals and testimonials from people who have used it. This is why we had to take into account user experience when coming up with this list. For this, we used highly trustworthy sources such as the ratings and comments on Google Play Store and Apple Store. We also conducted a couple of physical surveys using people who frequently use VPNs.

Customer Support

User experience and customer ratings were the main criteria we used to rank the VPN’s customer support. Moreover, we also researched and collected some data on our own. This included checking if the VPNs had a live chat in the customer support section, how long they took to respond to the various forms of communication, and whether you could contact them through email.

Pricing

All VPNs have an official website, where they list the subscription fees. We determined the pricing of various VPNs and identified which VPNs had free versions through their official websites.

FAQ

What VPN is the best for YouTube TV?

After our research, we found that the best VPN to use with YouTube TV is ExpressVPN. It strikes an equilibrium between speed, advanced features, and pricing.

Does any VPN work with YouTube TV?

Low-end VPN services do not work with YouTube TV. Make sure to use a reliable VPN, like the ones we listed in this article.

Can I trick YouTube TV location?

Yes, you absolutely can. The main way YouTube TV identifies your location is through your IP address. If you have a good VPN your IP address will be hidden, and it will unblock YouTube TV.

Why is YouTube TV not working with VPN?

The main reason for this may be the fact that you have not turned the VPN on. Some VPNs have to be turned on manually, while others turn themselves on as soon as the device turns on.

If you are sure that the VPN is on and that you have paid your subscription, contact your VPN’s customer care section, and they will help you out.

How to watch YouTube TV with VPN?

Use a reliable VPN service and connect to your VPN’s US server. Once connected, try loading a video on Youtube TV.

How do I get YouTube TV in China?

You need to use a quality China VPN service since YouTube is blocked in China. We can recommend ExpressVPN.