VPN for Streaming: How to Stream Using a Virtual Private Network

VPN is a virtual private network which connects two or more devices through a secured tunnel thus providing internet security and also hiding the activity on the internet. VPN for streaming is common these days and doesn’t require anything new other than finding a suitable VPN which works for you. VPN is a necessity, especially if you are using public Wi-Fi. Consider this example; on airports, we usually connect our devices to the free internet without a second thought. However, if we consider different things like who is watching our activity, what can our personal information be used for and the banking data information– it seems like a bad idea to connect to such internet without security. This is where VPN comes in handy and allows the user to surf the web without worrying about theft of data or privacy invasion attempts by the ISP, hackers, or the government. For those users who are just entering the world of VPN, there is a complete guide on VPNs and how they work.

Streaming and VPN

Imagine coming home from a long day of work, just wanting to watch movies or TV shows and suddenly realize that the streaming website you want to open is restricted by geo-blocking. In such a case, VPNs are lifesavers. Having a reliable VPN at your disposal just might be the best thing you need at that time. The copyrights vary from country to country. For example, one video on YouTube might be accessible in your country and banned in some other countries. Similarly, streaming movies and TV shows also have certain geo-blocking which restricts a user from accessing that particular movie or TV show.

With the help of a VPN, you can bypass that restriction while also securing your privacy on the internet. Most popular VPNs work very well in terms of being able to bypass the restricted access and also keeping the internet speed at a decent rate. Furthermore, VPNs can fulfill your need for entertainment even if you travel abroad to a country where your favorite movies, songs or TV shows are not accessible. Most popular streaming websites don’t like VPNs however; many popular VPNs can still bypass the restrictions. Some people believe that VPNs are making streaming speed slower but it depends on their ISP.

VPN Protocols

A good VPN automatically selects the most effective protocol for a smooth and secure connection. However, you can also choose any VPN protocol of your choice in order to enhance your streaming experience with a VPN. This guide explains different types of protocol and how they work, so you can make an educated decision on choosing the best VPN protocol for streaming.

• PPTP – Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol

PPTP connection offers a faster connection comparatively with open protocols. However, this protocol does not prioritize security and it has basic encryption. Even though it is user-friendly and easy to set up, we do not recommend this protocol due to concerns over security. You should only choose this protocol if security is not a concern.

• L2TP- Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol

L2TP is usually combined with IPSec for more security because L2TP lacks strong authentication. Even though this is not the strongest protocol and might face some issues with firewalls, it is still a better alternative to OpenVPN protocol. It can bypass restrictions of ISP and can be used on all modern platforms.

• SSTP- Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol

This protocol is owned by Microsoft. It can support Windows, FreeBSD, and Linux without being audited. This VPN protocol is currently one of the strongest one available which can easily bypass restrictions and firewalls.

• OpenVPN

OpenVPN protocol is used for open source VPN which creates Point-to-Point and Site-to-Site

connections. This protocol can run on any port and is highly configurable, which is why it is very secure.

• IKEv2- Internet Key Exchange

IKEv2 is the most recent and advanced protocol yet. It is based on the IPSec framework. Cisco and Microsoft developed this protocol which offers a much faster, stable and secure alternative for the older protocols. One drawback of this protocol is that it offers limited support for older platforms.

Common Practice of Throttling

Internet service providers throttle the speed of the internet by putting speed caps that limit the speed in which a user can stream. By using a VPN, you can bypass that throttle and enjoy streaming at a better speed. Let’s look into some of the reasons why ISP throttling is practiced.

Why is Throttling Practiced?

In terms of streaming online, the internet speed is very crucial as it determines the quality of steaming and whether you experience buffer problems or not. Throttling, as mentioned above, is the practice of limiting the internet speed by the user ISP. If you start streaming and the experience seems good – the ISP might not be throttling the internet speed. However, if you experience sudden internet speed drops, you are being throttled by your ISP. Another indication of this is the buffering problems that you might face while streaming. This practice can affect all your devices and it is targeted towards limiting the consumption by the user. There few reasons why your Internet service provider might decide to throttle your internet speed.

• Heavy Traffic Hour

If your internet is slower at different times in a day– you might be facing throttling because of heavy traffic and the ISP is trying to avoid any jams at the rush time.

• Bandwidth caps

Some ISPs also practice throttling in order to get users frustrated with the current plan so they opt for an upgrade which is going to cost them extra. Mostly, internet plans with medium to lower speeds have the data cap on them which means their speed is further limited and the interrupted streaming cause of throttling. By upgrading to a new plan, the user gets access to much higher speed with no or less throttling.

• Streaming Websites

ISPs start getting suspicious when they receive heavy traffic from a streaming website. This is when they start to throttle your internet connection so they can control the amount of traffic from that website. Netflix, a popular streaming website allows users to check whether their ISP is throttling their internet speed or not. After comparing your internet speed results with Speed Test and Netflix –, you can be sure (with evidence) that your ISP is throttling the internet speed.

There is an easy fix for this problem – that is to use a VPN for streaming. A good VPN can easily access any blocked content for streaming websites and also provide internet security along the way. You can enjoy streaming videos while being content that your activities are not getting recorded by your ISP and that your financial data is also secure.

Our Recommended VPNs

The VPNs mentioned here are tested by our experts on all the above criteria in terms of better streaming and more security/privacy. VPN for Streaming guide recommends following VPNs for smooth and faster streaming.

Characteristics in a VPN for Streaming

Here we list down and explain all you need to know regarding a good streaming VPN and why our chosen VPNs are best in terms of smooth and secure streaming.

Number of good server locations

Any good VPN service contains different servers which have high speed and they are reliable. If one server doesn’t work, you can always opt for a different server which works the best for you. One of the most important things when considering good VPNs is to choose the ones which are originated in countries that do not contain any laws regarding retaining information. Such VPNs are most secure because they also go as far as to remove your activity log from their own server so that nothing can be traced back to you. This is very crucial when considering internet safety and privacy.

Usually, the servers located nearest to you are the best ones because their speed can be much stable and comparatively good. When you stream Netflix using a VPN, it will allow you to access the entertainment library from the chosen server country. For example, if you reside outside of the USA, you can choose the USA server and get access to unlimited titles for entertainment which is not available in other countries.

Many VPNs for streaming services provide more than 3000 servers which are located in more than 90 countries. These servers are supported by Windows, Mac, and Linux. Some VPNs focus on mobile departments where they provide Apps for multiple OS such as iOS and Android. Users can automatically connect to the best performing server which is essential while streaming. Although Netflix is trying very hard to ban all VPNs from bypassing the geo-restrictions, good VPNs for Netflix still manage to unblock Netflix. Along with servers, VPN with high-speed connections and unlimited bandwidth can easily access Netflix or any other streaming service.

Security is guaranteed

Security is the basic reason why using a VPN is a good idea these days. In earlier days when the internet was new, no one would even think about these concerns. However, in light of current events about identity and data theft, it is smart to opt for VPNs if you want to browse freely. Many streaming services do not allow viewers from other countries due to government policies, rules, and regulations. VPNs remove any obstacles in this regard and pave the way for faster streaming while keeping your identity hidden.

A good VPN service would invest heavily in keeping their users secure no matter what. This is why a kill switch is an important tool used by VPN to stop the data from leaking through unencrypted data. If a VPN does not have a kill switch, you can never be sure about your safety on the internet. Furthermore, there are options for manual or automatic selection for security protocols which include OpenVPN, L2TP – IPSEC, PPTP, and SSTP. 256-bit encryption, zero-knowledge DNS and zero-logging are also provided in any good VPN for streaming.

Guaranteed Anonymity

When searching for a good VPN, it is crucial to look for ones which do not log your activity on their servers, in short, check whether they follow “no-log” policy or not. In case if a VPN server is attacked by some hackers, they can get all the information for users if the VPN server does not follow the “no-log” policy. This is why it is crucial to make sure the VPN you use must have total security so you don’t have to take unnecessary risk. In order to make sure that the anonymity is being prioritized, look for the VPN with rotating IP address servers.

This practice is essential while making anonymity a primary goal in any VPN service. When a user streams blocked content online, it is crucial to ensure online anonymity as any weak DNS or IP address leakage can direct the company towards you. This may lead to a ban on the streaming website. For example, Netflix is at war with VPN services and users actually get banned from the website which means that they cannot access their account anymore. Therefore, investing in a good streaming VPN is important.

Stable Internet Speed

There is a misconception that VPNs make internet very slow. While it might be true for free VPNs, most paid VPNs invest heavily in servers that are of high speed so that users do not experience a big drop of internet speed after connecting to a VPN. In many cases VPN allows you to experience internet at a much faster rate because it basically removes throttling that is done by most ISPs. Before committing to a VPN, user must make sure that the internet speed is good and doesn’t result in loss of internet connection or a decline in the speed. Users can get the experience of any VPN service based on its free trial period option and decide which one works the best. In this guide, VPN for Streaming, we will list down our top picks for VPN, in terms of streaming.

Reasonable Price

The importance of price is extremely high because you get what you pay for. Like any other service or product, if you decide to opt for cheaper options – chances are it’s not going to be a safe bet. It also doesn’t mean that you should directly opt for the most expensive ones. However, it is essential that you must take your time in doing your research and then decide which VPN works best for you. It is important to take into consideration those VPNs which provide you with the option to customize your own plan based on your own needs, likes and dislikes. This way you can avoid paying extra for features you really don’t want and just pay for what you ask for. Quality service maybe slightly expensive – but it’s worth the price for being secure on the internet.

Final Words

Our recommended VPNs will provide you with the security and privacy that you want at an affordable price. A pain VPN is always better than a free one because every VPN service is in the market to make money. A free VPN might compromise your data and activity to interested parties. Always ensure that the security, privacy and internet speed provided by the VPN service is good because you don’t want your data compromised or receive a ban at streaming websites due to DNS leakage. Happy Streaming!