Best VPNs for YouTube TV in 2024: Watch From Anywhere
Reading time: 19 min
Updated on June 10, 2024
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![Sayb Saad]()
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![Amar Cemanovic]()
Fact-Checked by Amar Cemanovic Cybersecurity Expert
YouTube TV is only available in the US due to distribution rights, so unless you’re in the US, you won’t be able to stream it. If you attempt to access it, you’ll see an error message, “It looks like you’re outside of the United States. YouTube TV is only available in the US.”
A VPN can technically provide you with a US IP address, so you can access Youtube TV from anywhere. Additionally, if you are already in the US, you can use a VPN to watch YouTube TV securely, especially on unsafe public networks.
Unfortunately, most VPNs reduce speeds significantly and affect streaming. After testing 25 top VPNs, my team and I recommend ExpressVPN for YouTube TV due to its high-speed servers. You can try it confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Stream lag-free with ExpressVPN
Editor’s note: All the recommended VPNs have strict zero-logs policies so they can’t keep track or see your online activities, so it’s up to you to use your VPN responsibly and follow all rules and regulations. My team and I don’t condone copyright infringement or breaking YouTube TV’s terms of service.
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for YouTube TV in 2024
- ExpressVPN — #1 VPN to watch YouTube TV. Its Lightway protocol gives blazing-fast speeds for buffer-free UHD streaming.
- CyberGhost — Streaming-optimized servers ensure uninterrupted streaming on YouTube TV, but its browser extensions don’t have full VPN functionality.
- Private Internet Access — Has servers in all 50 US states to provide flexibility, but it lacks obfuscated servers.
- NordVPN — SmartPlay combines a VPN with smart DNS for hassle-free streaming on YouTube TV, but it doesn’t have streaming servers.
- Surfshark — Camouflage Mode lets you stream YouTube TV on restricted networks, but its performance can take a dip on distant servers.
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
3 Easy Steps to Watch YouTube TV With a VPN in 2024
- Get a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because its Lightway protocol provides fast speeds and many servers in the US.
- Connect to a server. Pick a local server in the US, or let the VPN find one for you automatically. The nearer the server, the faster it’ll be.
- That’s it! Log in to your YouTube TV account and start streaming.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
The Best VPNs for YouTube TV (Tested in 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN to Watch YouTube TV
Key Features:
- 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, with 20+ locations in the US
- Offers post-quantum protection, military-grade encryption, TrustedServer technology, and built-in leak protection
- Supports 8 simultaneous connections on a single subscription
- Provides quick customer support via 24/7 live chat, email, and an online knowledge base
- Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for watching YouTube TV because it has many servers in the US that work with the platform. They also include obfuscation so you can watch YouTube TV on restricted networks that block VPN traffic. Furthermore, ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol is one of the fastest I’ve tested for buffer-free UHD streaming, and its US servers didn’t affect my speeds by more than 6%, despite the 7,000-mile distance. Compared to other protocols, its proprietary Lightway has a smaller codebase and transfers data more efficiently. As a result, ExpressVPN ensures near-baseline speeds for lag-free YouTube TV streaming. 
With 20+ US locations, you can choose an ExpressVPN server closest to your city. My colleague streamed YouTube TV effortlessly using a local server in New York and tested 10 other US locations. She reported no server congestion or bandwidth problems that occur when too many people are using the same server.
Its browser extension works like a remote control for the main app, so you can use ExpressVPN to stream YouTube TV without leaving the browser. This excludes ExpressVPN’s 8-device limit. If that’s not enough, you can configure ExpressVPN on your router to secure all your devices.
The only small downside of ExpressVPN is its premium price tag. However, it offers great value for the price. You’ll get the fastest VPN in the industry that allows lagless UHD streaming on YouTube TV. It also provides a high-performing network of servers across the US.
You can get ExpressVPN for % off with its 2-year + 4 months free plan. It even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to try it confidently. I asked for my refund via live chat and got it in 3 days. The support agent didn’t persuade me to stay or waste my time.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Get ExpressVPN's Black Friday Deal! You can subscribe to ExpressVPN for as low as per month + get extra 4 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to %)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Streaming Servers Ensure Uninterrupted YouTube TV Playback
Key Features:
- Has 11,670+ servers in 100 countries and 1,200+ in 11 US locations
- Includes military-grade encryption, a kill switch, IP leak protection, and NoSpy servers
- Works on 7 devices simultaneously
- Customer support options include live chat, email, and online guides
- Try it risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee
CyberGhost has streaming servers for many platforms, including YouTube TV, to ensure buffer-free streaming. My colleague in the US used it to watch multiple episodes of South Park and The Simpsons with her YouTube TV account. During her 6-hour binge session, the series didn’t buffer or pixelate even once.
On average, CyberGhost’s YouTube TV streaming servers were 9% faster than the 30 regular US servers tested. The difference increased with distance, with nearby locations having the same near-baseline speeds. My colleagues tested the Los Angeles, Miami, and New York servers, and could log into their YouTube TV accounts with all of them.
Smart WiFi protection auto-connects to a CyberGhost server when your device detects a network. It’s quite convenient if you forget to enable the VPN manually before launching YouTube TV, especially if streaming while commuting. Having this feature on the Android TV and Amazon Fire Stick apps is also useful to get right into watching your favorite shows.
Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s browser extensions are proxies and don’t encrypt data. However, they’re free to use even for non-subscribers, so it’s understandable. Plus, I prefer using the main app anyway, as extensions only protect browser traffic, not your entire device. Logging in and connecting to a CyberGhost server takes 3 seconds, so it’s not a big deal.
CyberGhost’s 2-year + 2 months plan provides a % discount. It’s one of the top-ranked VPNs in 2024, and you can try it risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. I got my refund in 5 working days via live chat support without providing a reason for leaving.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
2024 Update! You can subscribe to CyberGhost for as low as per month + get an extra 2 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to %)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
3. Private Internet Access — Servers in All US States Let You Pick the Nearest One
Key Features:
- Extensive network of 35,000+ servers in 91 countries and all 50 US states
- Has built-in leak protection, MACE ad blocker, split tunneling, and a kill switch
- Supports unlimited simultaneous connections to protect all your devices
- Troubleshoot via live chat, email, or consult its FAQ guides for answers
- Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free purchase
PIA has servers in all 50 US states so you can pick one that’s nearest to stream YouTube TV. Since the servers are spread throughout the US, it prevents users from overcrowding any one of them at a time. I tested 15 locations, including Denver, Seattle, and DC at different times of the day and none of them were sluggish.
The 15 US servers I tested averaged 83Mbps. This dip from my baseline was insignificant compared to the 60%+ drops I saw with sub-par VPNs that didn’t make this list. If your internet is slow, you can also try the WireGuard protocol to boost the speeds. 
Within PIA’s network in the US are its streaming servers with IPs that worked reliably. These servers are not specifically for YouTube TV and they work with other platforms as well. My colleague preferred the ‘US East’ and ‘US West’ streaming servers as they worked 15 out of 15 times during tests.
Since it lacks obfuscated servers, PIA is sometimes blocked by anti-VPN firewalls. As an alternative, you can use PIA’s SOCKS5 proxy servers and Shadowsocks to make it seem like you’re not using a VPN. It’s a bit tedious to set up, but the online guides are detailed.
To get a % discount, subscribe to PIA’s 2-year + 2 months plan. It has a 30-day refund policy to give you a risk-free trial. I got my money back in 5 days and had to provide my invoice details to the live chat support agent to request approval.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
2024 Update! You can subscribe to PIA for as low as per month + get an extra 2 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to %)! This is a limited offer, so grab it now before it's gone! See more information on this offer here!
4. NordVPN — SmartPlay Guarantees Hassle-Free YouTube TV Streaming
Key Features:
- Over 1,900 servers in the US and 6,300+ in 111 countries
- Ensures safe streaming with LAN Invisibility, split tunneling, an ad and malware blocker, and dark web monitoring
- Watch YouTube TV on multiple devices with its 10 simultaneous connections
- Provides support through live chat, email, in-app ticketing, and online resources
- Lets you try risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN’s SmartPlay technology combines VPN benefits with smart DNS. It works with many streaming services, including YouTube TV. Unlike regular smart DNS, SmartPlay activates automatically and doesn’t require tedious manual configuration. My colleague used the servers in Texas, Arizona, and Florida and could log in to her YouTube TV account.
Its proprietary NordLynx protocol is built around WireGuard, so it’s faster than others like OpenVPN for streaming YouTube TV. While testing 5 NordVPN US servers, I averaged 81Mbps. I didn’t see a significant difference in speeds between the US cities, since I’m generally too far. But you can select a NordVPN server closest to your city to watch YouTube TV without lags.
The 20 US servers I tested remained stable and uncongested. About 20% of NordVPN’s network uses 10Gbps servers, including locations in Atlanta and Seattle. These upgraded servers can handle massive streaming traffic. NordVPN is also a great option to set up a VPN on your smart TV and stream YouTube TV on a big screen.
For all the specialized connections NordVPN offers, it doesn’t have streaming servers. However, all the US servers my colleague tested with her YouTube TV account worked great and were fast enough to watch YouTube TV and live-stream sports on ESPN. NordVPN’s 2-year + 3 months plan offers a 74% discount. It’s backed by a 30-day refund policy, which I tested firsthand and got reimbursed in a week. The live chat support asked for my subscription details and email address to approve the refund request. I got my money back in 5 days.
5. Surfshark — NoBorders Mode Lets You Stream YouTube TV on Restricted Networks
Key Features:
- A global IP address pool in 3,200+ servers in 100 countries
- Offers LAN Invisibility, IP address rotation, MultiHop connections, and RAM-only servers
- Stream YouTube TV on multiple devices as it supports unlimited simultaneous connections
- Includes online guides and provides support through live chat and email
- Provides a 30-day window to try risk-free
Surfshark lets you watch YouTube TV on restricted networks. Its Camouflage Mode removes all traces of VPN traffic to avoid detection on school and workplace networks that often block VPNs. The Camouflage Mode activates automatically with the OpenVPN protocol.
YouTube TV uses your IP address and GPS location to determine where you’re logging in from. Surfshark’s GPS Override feature for Android devices can change the GPS location if your device signals the wrong coordinates to YouTube TV. This will allow you to watch all the local YouTube TV channels you’re entitled to, like NBC news and more.
Compared to ExpressVPN, Surfshark is considerably slower on distant servers. Thankfully, Surfshark’s network is well-distributed across 20+ US cities, so you’ll always find a nearby server. With local connections, Surfshark averaged a decent 89Mbps in my tests.
In addition to being one of the most affordable monthly VPNs, Surfshark also offers good deals on it’s long-term plans. For instance, its 2-year + 4 months plan costs $1.99 a month. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to try risk-free. I asked for my refund via live chat and had to tell why I was leaving. But otherwise, the agent approved my request, and I got my money back in 7 days.
Comparison Table: 2024’s Best VPNs for YouTube TV
| Lowest price | Servers in the US | Maximum speed drop | Simultaneous devices | Money-back guarantee | |
| ExpressVPN | /month | 20+ US locations | 6% | 8 | 30 days |
| CyberGhost | /month | 2,500+ servers in 11 US locations | 15% | 7 | 45 days |
| PIA | /month | Servers in all 50 US states | 17% | Unlimited | 30 days |
| NordVPN | $2.99/month | 1,900+ servers in 16 US locations | 19% | 10 | 30 days |
| Surfshark | $1.99/month | 600+ servers in 25 US locations | 24% | Unlimited | 30 days |
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for YouTube TV
To search for the best VPNs for YouTube TV, I tested each contender and compared performances across the following aspects:
- Servers in the US — provide plenty of local IP addresses so that you can watch content on YouTube TV in the US.
- Fast speeds — ensure lag-free streaming on YouTube TV. The VPNs on my list minimize speed losses, even in distant locations.
- Security and privacy — lets you stream YouTube TV on public WiFi securely. I picked VPNs with military-grade encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, and RAM-only servers.
- Device compatibility — covers VPN accessibility on all popular platforms. The VPNs on my list also work with smart TVs and routers.
- Money-back guarantee — gives you a window to try the VPN risk-free. I selected VPNs with at least a 30-day refund policy.
FAQs: VPNs and YouTube TV
Is it legal to use a VPN to stream YouTube TV?
Why should I use a VPN with YouTube TV?
- Reliable streaming — restricted networks at schools and offices often block streaming sites like YouTube TV and even VPNs. A good VPN with an obfuscation feature can help get past such restrictions by hiding your IP address and VPN traffic.
- Security and privacy — features like military-grade encryption, RAM-only servers, and leak protection let you stream YouTube TV securely, even on unsafe public WiFi.
Can I watch YouTube TV for free?
How can I change my YouTube TV home area and location permissions?
- Log in to your account — open YouTube TV on your browser, enter your credentials to log in and click on your profile picture on the top right.
- Navigate to Location — click ‘Location’ and then the ‘Update’ button next to ‘Home Area.’ Choose a specific zip code or let the browser’s location auto-fill the field.
- Confirm location update — select your preferred option and confirm the update. Note that you can only change your home area twice per year.
What to do if I can’t access YouTube TV with a VPN?
- Switch servers — a particular VPN server might be down or congested. Connect to another local server and try logging into your YouTube TV account.
- Clear cookies and cache — your browser’s cookies and cache can store information about your location. Make sure to clear these before watching YouTube TV with a VPN.
- Check for IP or DNS leaks — a VPN could be leaking your real IP address or DNS requests. If it is, YouTube TV might detect that you’re using a VPN.
- Update the VPN app — an outdated app might be using IP addresses blacklisted by YouTube TV. Updating your VPN could resolve the issue.
- Try a different protocol — old protocols like PPTP are easily identified to be associated with a VPN. Switching to a modern protocol like WireGuard or OpenVPN could help.
- Use a dedicated IP — some VPNs let you use a dedicated IP address, which is less likely to be flagged by YouTube’s anti-VPN filters.
Does YouTube TV detect and block VPNs?
Can I use a free VPN to stream on YouTube TV?
Many free VPNs sell your data to third parties or can even infect your device. There are some free VPNs that are safe to use, but they come with constraints like data caps, limited servers, and congested networks.
Get a VPN (That Works) to Stream on YouTube TV
Even if a VPN has local servers, that doesn’t mean you can use it to watch content on YouTube TV in the US. YouTube TV detects and blocks VPN-based IP addresses to prevent its content from being streamed outside the US due to licensing restrictions. My team and I tested several top names in the industry to find the best ones for accessing the service. ExpressVPN is my #1 choice to stream YouTube TV. Its Lightway protocol is the fastest across the industry, plus it has several high-performing obfuscated servers in the US. What’s best, you can try ExpressVPN with YouTube TV confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Summary — Here are the Best VPNs for YouTube TV in 2024
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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