The Best VPNs for YouTube TV

YouTube TV is one of the great cable cord-cutting technologies, providing over 85 different channels including local networks, ESPN, TNT, and more. Of course, it’s only available in the U.S., and content is based on where you live. With a good VPN, however, you can open up a world of more possibilities, with access to the service from anywhere on the planet and the ability to tune into any region you choose. Below, we take you through the best VPNs out there to help you unlock all these YouTube TV options.

Our Criteria for the Best VPNs for YouTube TV

Find out how our top two VPNs performed in our NordVPN vs. ExpressVPN head-to-head comparison.

Methodology

We weigh a number of different factors when compiling a list like this one. In this particular case, VPNs first had to impress us with their ability to access Youtube TV. In addition, though, we carefully considered each VPN’s security, privacy policies, speed, available features, and, of course, pricing. No VPN is perfect, but having gone through this exhaustive process, we feel confident in saying that these are the very best products on the market for streaming Youtube TV.

Streaming Service Access

Not every VPN can provide access to every streaming service. Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, other streaming services, for example, actively work to block VPNs. But while some VPN companies have the IP addresses to work around these blocks, some do not. Obviously, our first concern in this case was whether or not a VPN could provide access to Youtube TV. However, we gave high marks to companies that could help us access other major streaming services as well.

Pricing

We carefully consider a VPN’s pricing and subscription plans, not just to see who offers the lowest price but also to consider what kind of value we’re getting for our money. Does a company offer monthly subscriptions, if that’s what we need? How much of a discount do we get for signing long-term contracts? And what exactly do we get for our money? In general, we look for plans that cost $10 a month or less. Naturally, we’re always intrigued by companies that offer completely free VPN options as well as VPNs with free trials, though usually these have limits on the number of connections, devices, etc. We also like VPNs that allow us to use seven or more simultaneous connections and devices under a single subscription.

Speed

Speed is a crucial ingredient of every good VPN, but that’s especially true when a VPN is being used for a streaming service like Youtube TV. Every VPN slows a device down to some extent; the real question is just how much. So, using a simple speed test developed by Ookla, we test upload, download, and latency speeds, comparing how each device performs while running the VPN to how it performs with the VPN turned off. Once we have the raw numbers, we calculate the difference in terms of a percentage, which allows us to say with certainty just how much the VPN will affect a device.

Security

When we talk about security, we’re really talking about whether or not a VPN is subject to leaks, vulnerabilities that would allow our information to be visible to hackers or government surveillance agencies. A WebRTC leak, for instance, can expose our IP addresses, so we test every VPN for such leaks using an ExpressVPN tool. In addition, a DNS leak can allow snoopers to see what websites we’re visiting, so to check for these leaks we use a program at DNSLeakTest.com. Every VPN on this list passed its leak tests with flying colors.

Privacy

Beyond security, we expect our VPN connection to be private. That should include protection from hackers, but it should also include protection from the spying tactics of government agencies. To check privacy, we start by going through every VPN’s privacy policy with a fine-tooth comb, looking for what they do and don’t log. All companies, for instance, log some information about us, even if it is just used to improve the quality of the service. We prefer VPNs, however, that log only the bare minimum like our email address and that don’t log our web traffic, our IP addresses, or any timestamps related to our activities.

Of course, privacy policies only go so far; the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. So we consider, for example, where a country is based since that can reveal whether it participates in Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance alliances.3 We also consider what tools it uses to protect us, looking carefully at its encryption methods, (AES-256 is best) whether or not it uses multi-hop technology, whether or not it utilizes some form of kill switch, and what kind of IP addresses it issues to users (we prefer dynamic over static). Finally, we research each company’s records to determine whether they have a history of cooperating with authorities or of any serious data breaches.

Features

The most important features for any VPN are those that help to ensure security and privacy (see above). Still, it’s nice to have additional perks as well. We like VPNs, for instance, that offer split tunneling and easy-to-use torrenting tools. We pay attention to the quality of the company’s apps, and we take into consideration what sort of response we get from customer service. Finally, we consider how well each VPN works with streaming services, particularly in this case, Youtube TV.