VPNs or ‘Virtual Private Networks have been available since the mid-1990s, but they witnessed a tremendous rise in demand last year when the Coronavirus outbreak caused many to begin working remotely.
According to Google Trends data, even before the development of COVID-19, search interest in VPN has been growing significantly over the previous 10 years.
Whether it’s for unblocking the geo-restricted libraries of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime in other countries, providing an added layer of protection against cyber thieves, or preserving our privacy online – more of us are finding reasons to join up for a VPN service.
With an extensive and developing market, there are a lot of items to select from – each with distinct specs, benefits, and downsides.
Shopping for a VPN product may be challenging, particularly if you’re looking to get the most outstanding value for your money – that’s why we’ve produced a list of what we believe are the best VPNs for 2021.
The Hydra tunneling technique used by Hotspot Shield is one of the finest for offering fast connection speeds. It’s especially effective on less-reliable connections
CyberGhost’s prices are relatively affordable, with plans beginning at $2.25 per month and include a 45-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
ExpressVPN provides access to over 3,000 servers in 90 countries, ensuring that you’ll always have a choice. it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to try it out first.
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7 Best VPNs For The UK 2023
We tried several VPNs for the UK while preparing this guide before settling on our favorites.
The following are the ones we suggest.
1. Nordlayer:
Our preferred VPN provider in the United Kingdom is, without a doubt, NordVPN.
It has a slew of advanced security features, including military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, a configurable kill switch, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC breaches.
Additionally, it maintains a no-logs policy, ensuring that your data remains private.
If you’re a lover of UK material, you’ll be glad to learn that NordVPN can easily bypass BBC iPlayer’s geographic restrictions (as well as Channel 4, Sky, and ITV Hub).
Additionally, you should be able to access all primary streaming services’ libraries of UK content, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Netflix.
More broadly, NordVPN is an excellent option for streaming any entertainment, owing to its lightning-fast and dependable speeds.
NordVPN achieved an average speed of 249 Mbps throughout our tests.
This is because NordLynx, a modified version of the WireGuard protocol, is used.
NordVPN has a whopping 5,400 servers spread across 59 countries.
Additionally, unlike many of its rivals, it has SmartDNS (SmartPlay), allowing it to be used on devices that do not support VPN connections.
NordVPN costs $3.29 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Hotspot Shield VPN:
If you’re looking for a primary, straightforward VPN option for usage in the United Kingdom, Hotspot Shield may be the answer.
Its applications are simple and clear, and it has a slew of advanced security safeguards to safeguard your online information.
Additionally, if you choose to utilize it to access UK material, Hotspot Shield will assist you in bypassing BBC iPlayer’s region restrictions.
Further, it may get you access to Netflix. However, unblocking other streaming services might be hit or miss.
Nonetheless, it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to evaluate if it will clear the material you want to view.
The Hydra tunneling technique used by Hotspot Shield is one of the finest for offering fast connection speeds.
It’s especially effective on less-reliable connections.
The service operates over 1,800 servers in more than 80 countries.
However, it’s worth mentioning that Hotspot Shield is situated in the United States, which is not known for its privacy protection.
It’s also somewhat pricey, beginning at $6.99 per month, but a limited free version is available.
3. CyberGhost VPN:
If you’re looking for a VPN that combines exceptional security with extensive worldwide coverage, CyberGhost may be the right choice.
It protects your online information from fraudsters and other third parties with military-grade 256-bit encryption.
Additionally, it adheres to a stringent no-logs policy.
Additionally, CyberGhost unblocks material on all of the UK streaming services on which we tested it, including the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and Channel 4.
Additionally, you may use it to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus’s various content libraries.
Even better, the program will inform you of which servers unblock which streaming services.
If you’re planning on doing a lot of binge-watching, you’ll also like the fact that CyberGhost utilizes WireGuard to ensure lightning-fast download rates.
However, one of our favorite features of CyberGhost is its global nature, with over 7,000 servers in 91 countries.
Additionally, it is straightforward to use, making it an excellent alternative for novices.
Additionally, it supports up to seven concurrent connections.
CyberGhost’s prices are relatively affordable, with plans beginning at $2.25 per month and include a 45-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
4. Windscribe:
If you’re looking for a cheap VPN for the United Kingdom, you should check out Windscribe.
It’s cost-effective, with programs to fit every budget. It’s loaded with features, including military-grade encryption, a kill button, and an integrated firewall to prevent data breaches.
Windscribe will unblock almost any UK material you choose, including BBC iPlayer, Sky TV, and Channel 4.
Additionally, it will circumvent all primary international streaming services’ area limitations, allowing you to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.
On the other hand, with an average speed of 84 Mbps, it is slower than some other alternatives on our list.
This should, however, be adequate for streaming material.
Another trade-off for this pricing is fewer servers since Windscribe only offers more than 480 servers across 63 countries.
However, the servers we tested functioned well, so this should not be a significant disadvantage.
One of the most delicate features of Windscribe is that some plans have unlimited simultaneous connections, which means that the whole family may utilize it.
Windscribe is an excellent value for money program.
It also offers a free version with a 10GB monthly data restriction. And monthly fees for a single server start at only $1.
Quick Links:
5. ExpressVPN:
While ExpressVPN is by far the most costly VPN on our list, it is still an excellent choice.
For starters, it’s very secure, including DNS, WebRTC, IPv6 leak prevention, and 256-bit encryption to keep your online information safe from internet snoopers.
Additionally, it is an excellent alternative for viewing UK material since it can bypass region restrictions on BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Sky TV, and Channel 4.
Additionally, you should use it to access the UK versions of primary international streaming services like Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
However, one of the primary reasons ExpressVPN differentiates itself from rivals is its unique Lightway protocol.
This enables it to give incredibly fast, seamless streaming at a rate of up to 226mbps.
ExpressVPN provides access to over 3,000 servers in 90 countries, ensuring that you’ll always have a choice.
Additionally, you receive up to five simultaneous connections, allowing you and a few pals to utilize them concurrently.
Despite this, ExpressVPN is much more expensive than its rivals, with plans beginning at $8.32 per month.
However, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to try it out first.
6. VyprVPN:
VyprVPN is another good option if you’re looking for a secure VPN that’s also affordable.
You won’t have to worry about anybody monitoring your online activities using VyprVPN since it has military-grade AES-256 encryption.
Additionally, it has a kill switch for enhanced security.
Furthermore, unlike many other services, VyprVPN utilizes the Chameleon 2.0 tunneling technique, which masks VPN data as ordinary traffic.
As a result, you may use it to access UK websites from countries such as China that prohibit the use of VPNs.
It can bypass geo-restrictions on UK streaming sites and unblock various content libraries like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and YouTube.
If you plan to use VyprVPN to stream many videos, you’ll be delighted to learn that it uses the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol to ensure fast and dependable rates.
One disadvantage of VyprVPN is that it only offers slightly more than 700 servers in more than 70 countries.
However, the servers we tested performed well.
Additionally, it supports up to five concurrent connections, which is rather generous at this price.
VyprVPN subscriptions begin at $8.33 per month and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
7. Surfshark:
If you’re looking for a low-cost VPN that works flawlessly in the UK, you won’t find a better alternative than Surfshark.
It adheres to a strict no-logs policy and uses 256-bit encryption, DNS leak prevention, and a kill button.
This ensures that your internet behavior remains entirely secret regardless of where you are on the globe.
Surfshark can help you catch up on all the excellent UK material available if you’re not in the UK.
It can circumvent geo-restrictions on the BBC iPlayer, Sky, Channel 4, and ITV.
Additionally, it should provide you access to the UK-based versions of Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video.
Surfshark achieves breakneck speeds by using WireGuard, a cutting-edge new tunneling technique.
In our tests, we discovered that it averaged 263 Mbps.
Surfshark, on the other hand, has over 3,200 servers in over 60 locations and supports unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing everyone in the family to use it simultaneously.
Additionally, live chat help is accessible if anything goes wrong.
Surfshark is an incredible value for what you receive.
Prices begin at $2.21 per month and include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What Can I Do With A VPN?
VPNs are designed to assist you in making your identity and securing your data by their very nature.
They do, however, come with a slew of other redeeming qualities. Consider how they may be used –
1. Secure Internal Network Connections:
The usage of a VPN encrypts your connection regardless of the location to which you connect.
This characteristic makes it ideal for corporate use.
Anyone may readily and rapidly access information stored on business servers outside the workplace.
This procedure assists you in safeguarding the information you’re accessing, such as invoices, client information, and billing data.
2. Download Torrents Safely:
Torrenting has become a highly charged topic in today’s society.
The issue is not with the technology itself; instead, file sharing.
Copyright and intellectual property regulations, however, come into play.
As a result, several nations have enacted different laws against torrenting or file sharing.
At times, the situation might be somewhat hazy.
Using a VPN will help alleviate your concerns since it allows you to torrent securely – and no one will know from where you’re doing it.
3. Avoid Being Tracked:
Today’s Internet dilemma is that everyone wants a piece of you.
Data has become a highly sought-after kind of money, and businesses and hackers alike are after it.
While some monitoring is conducted more appropriately, the fact remains that they know who you are and what you do.
VPNs help prevent this, and for everyday users, it’s reassuring to know that no one can track your data path.
4. Bypass Internet Service Provider (ISP) censorship:
Not everyone lives in a free country. Specific regimes are repressive to a greater extent than others.
The more dictatorial among them may want to curtail digital liberty.
This is often accomplished by instructing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on which websites to restrict.
Because VPNs encrypt our data and route it via their servers, ISP-enforced restrictions often fail.
By using them, you may reclaim your digital liberty and acquire access to any websites that have been prohibited.
5. Stream Geo-Restricted Content:
Numerous online services limit access depending on the country from which you originate.
One significant offender is media streaming services such as Netflix.
Because we all pay the exact subscription costs to Netflix, why should we not have equal access?
By using a VPN, you can circumvent the geo-blocks that most of these services impose.
For instance, by connecting to a US server, a reputable VPN service would get you access to Netflix material available only in the United States.
What Qualifies As A Good VPN In The United Kingdom?
The five factors we use to determine the best VPN for UK readers are as follows:
1. Acceleration & Stability:
According to speedtest.net (as of August 2020), the average fixed-line internet speed in the United Kingdom is 72.36 Mbps – meaning that the majority of VPNs should have no difficulty meeting the demands of customers there.
With mobile connections averaging 33.84 Mbps, the primary problem with VPNs in the UK is almost definitely not speed.
2. Support for peer-to-peer:
Torrent sites seem to be one of the types of websites being blocked in the United Kingdom.
Again, there is another instance when a VPN would be beneficial.
Keep an eye out for VPNs that explicitly state their P2P traffic policies in their terms of service, such as Nordlayer.
3. Geolocation Forgery:
Typically, when we discuss geolocation spoofing, it is in the context of gaining access to alternative material from significant sources like Netflix US.
However, UK customers have a lot more to look forward to in terms of geolocation spoofing since they cannot access a plethora of websites.
4. Security:
The security pitch for VPNs is the same for UK-based customers as it is for those worldwide.
Only you, as a user, are aware of the optimal balance.
Do you want 256-bit encryption at the expense of decreased VPN speeds, or are you prepared to accept a lower bar in exchange for an enhanced rate?
It would be prudent for the UK market to maintain a high degree of encryption for two primary reasons.
One of the actors in the case at hand is the UK government, which will undoubtedly devote additional resources to cracking any encryption detected.
The second reason is that it is safe to retain encryption settings as high as feasible without jeopardizing your total maximum attainable speeds due to the country’s lower average internet speeds.
5. Confidentiality & Anonymity:
As you may have gathered by now, the UK is not the kind of location where you want to be browsing the web without using a VPN, whether you are a resident or a guest.
Due to the issues mentioned above and the severity of the penalties for breaching those restrictions, it’s a good idea to concentrate on the characteristics of privacy and anonymity that a VPN provides to users in the United Kingdom.
With both the government and private sector monitoring and controlling traffic in tandem and separately, a VPN must be able to assure that your data and activities remain precisely as they should be – private.
One of the best ways to achieve this is to keep a lookout for VPNs that adhere to stringent no-logging standards and operate from countries with laxer data retention regulations.
This categorically excludes nations within the authority of the five and fourteen eyes.
Quick Links:
- Browsec VPN Review
- PureVPN vs ExpressVPN Comparison: Which One Is Better?
- TunnelBear vs ExpressVPN Comparison: Which One Is The Best? Is TunnelBear Better Than ExpressVPN?
- Best VPN For Qatar: Updated Reviews
FAQs About Best VPNs For The UK 2023
Should I use a VPN situated in the United Kingdom?
Given that the United Kingdom has some of the most intrusive internet regulations globally – and is a member of the infamous Five Eyes alliance – real privacy enthusiasts are inclined to shun VPNs operating in the United Kingdom. While there aren't many, the most well-known VPN provider headquartered in the United Kingdom is HideMyAss. HMA does not often appear in our roundups of the best VPN services, but that is primarily due to the strength of the competition. While HMA is situated in the United Kingdom, it has a rather strict no-logging policy, which means that even if the UK government were to push its nose in and demand information, HMA would have nothing to give over. A no-logging policy is particularly critical for a VPN situated in a nation with more robust data protection regulations – the UK is one of them – and should be considered when making your choice.
How do VPNs in the United Kingdom unblock Netflix?
Netflix features separate libraries for each nation, and these libraries are solely available to residents of that country. This is inconvenient for vacationers, and many others want to watch programmes they are not 'allowed' to watch. A VPN may change your location to any nation you like, and the finest will do it in an undetected manner to the streaming service. After that, you may watch anything you want.
Is it possible to get a free UK VPN?
While free services might provide some of the features of a paid-for VPN, they are never the whole package. Among the finest is Hotspot Shield's free edition, which, as previously said, pales in comparison to the complete edition. While they're fine for infrequent usage, they're useless for streaming and torrenting, and you'll quickly find yourself on the lookout for the best UK VPN – even if it costs a few pounds a month.
Why do I need a VPN in the United Kingdom?
There are a few reasons you would wish to use a VPN in the United Kingdom. To begin, if you live in the United Kingdom, you are undoubtedly aware that our government is, to put it mildly, curious. A VPN is a necessary tool to keep your search history and online activities hidden. Other Britons may desire access to foreign streaming media. While we have iPlayer and the UK library on Netflix, a VPN may offer you access to the rest of the world's media, including overseas Netflix and services like Hulu if you have a membership. Finally, if you're travelling overseas, you may want to use iPlayer, but you will be unable to do so. Additionally, iPlayer employs some of the most stringent VPN filtering technology in the streaming market, ensuring that only the very finest can get you viewing overseas. Fortunately, each VPN on this list can perform this function for you. Now all that remains is for you to decide which one to choose.
Conclusion: Best VPNs For The UK 2023
There is, in my opinion, only one thing worse than living in a nation with oppressive Internet regulation: living in one that not only does so but also manipulates the law to promote its operations.
Surprisingly, the United Kingdom comes within the second group.
Although I would not advise you to immediately utilize a VPN service in the UK, I believe it is sensible to begin some exploratory actions.
Take the time to choose the best VPN for you (I hope this rating list is helpful) before it’s too late.
By too late, I mean that it is clear that the UK government is heading toward very draconian monitoring and control methods.
Living under such circumstances may be stressful, and a solid, dependable VPN service can help provide some measure of a piece of mind.
