Twitch is a popular, Amazon-owned livestreaming service where you’ll find niche content like video game streams, esports and music broadcasts, among other things. Unfortunately, Twitch can be inaccessible to you for several reasons. An easy solution is to use a VPN (virtual private network), and in this guide, we’ll talk about the best VPN for Twitch streaming.

Key Takeaways:

• If you aren’t able to unblock Twitch, you can use a VPN service.
• There are many VPN services out there, but ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Twitch since it offers lightning-fast speeds and excellent security.
• Other VPN services like NordVPN and Surfshark are good ExpressVPN alternatives if you’re looking for a low-cost VPN service.

Before we talk about VPN services, it’s important to identify why you’re unable to access Twitch. If you’re in a country like China or Russia, you can’t access Twitch because of censorship or geoblocks.

Twitch also started implementing IP bans in 2020 to stop the increasing incidents of bullying and harassment. IP bans disallow users from accessing Twitch or creating new accounts from specific IPs.

Using a VPN service can help you get past these roadblocks by concealing your true IP address and assigning you a different one. In some cases, using a VPN with Twitch can also improve streaming performance if your ISP has been throttling your bandwidth.

The thing is, not all VPNs are capable of bypassing censorship or geoblocks or offer unlimited bandwidth. To help you narrow it down, we’ve selected the best Twitch VPNs below, but ExpressVPN is our favorite.

Top VPNs for Twitch

What Makes the Best VPN for Twitch Streaming

The ability to bypass geoblocks is a key feature you should look for in a Twitch VPN. Even though all VPNs can assign you a new IP address, not all can effectively bypass geoblocks or get past government censorship. Based on this and a number of other factors, we find the following VPN services to be the best for Twitch users:

1. ExpressVPN — Fastest VPN service
2. NordVPN — Pocket-friendly VPN with a massive network of servers
3. Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections
4. Windscribe — Free VPN for Twitch
5. CyberGhost — User-friendly VPN with automation features

The VPNs listed above will bypass almost all geoblocks. However, there’s more to selecting a Twitch VPN than the ability to get past geoblocks. You should also look at security features like a kill switch that will keep your IP address from getting exposed should the VPN connection drop abruptly.

It’s also important for your VPN to have a no-logs policy. VPNs that don’t log user activity are better for your online privacy because it makes tracing the activity back to you impossible. Once you disconnect from the VPN, the service forgets you were ever there, making it impossible for governments to track you down.

Sometimes, you might need help with your VPN. You might need help setting it up on a new device or maybe you’re unable to connect using the VPN at all. In such cases, you’ll need customer support. How fast and easy does help come when you need it? A VPN with good customer support gives you peace of mind that you’ll always have assistance when you most need it.

An estimated 35% of Twitch views come from mobile users. If you’re hoping to use Twitch on mobile, you should choose a VPN that has an app for Android and iPhone. Another key consideration is the VPN’s speed. Fast speeds improve the streaming experience, and a slow VPN will result in frequent buffering. Now that you know what to look for, let’s talk about the best Twitch VPNs.

The 5 Best VPNs for Twitch

We tested over a dozen virtual private networks, gauged them based on the parameters discussed in the previous paragraph and found five VPNs that performed the best. We discuss each of them individually below.

1. ExpressVPN

More details about ExpressVPN:

• Pricing: $6.66 per month
• Provider website: expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is the best among all VPN services out there because it has everything you need for streaming on Twitch, and more. It’s our most secure VPN and comes with security essentials like a kill switch (network lock), so you don’t need to worry about Twitch identifying you even if your VPN connection drops suddenly.

Combine the security features with its strict no-logs policy and you’ve got a VPN that offers top-notch online security and privacy.

You’ll be able to use ExpressVPN on almost any device you can think of — up to eight devices simultaneously. Of course, ExpressVPN offers a lot more as we discuss in our ExpressVPN review.

With ExpressVPN, you get unlimited bandwidth and fast connection speeds, which makes it one of the best VPNs for Twitch. ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN out there.

The Fastest VPN

ExpressVPN claims the top spot as our fastest VPN. It’s not just fast, it’s consistently fast. When you connect ExpressVPN, it will automatically pick a protocol that will work best for your network.

Our experience says you’re in good hands with the automatic option, but you might be able to get better speeds using the Lightway protocol. Either way, you’ll never need to worry about buffering with ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is a top-of-line service and is priced as such. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind spending a little extra to get the best service, ExpressVPN is an excellent choice. Plus, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try ExpressVPN for a month. If you’re not satisfied, you can claim a full refund.

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 8
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

2. NordVPN

More details about NordVPN:

• Pricing: $3.48 per month
• Provider website: nordvpn.com

NordVPN’s capabilities closely match ExpressVPN’s. For instance, it’s almost as fast as ExpressVPN and offers a similar set of security features.

The security features you’ll find most useful while streaming on Twitch are the kill switch and split tunneling. The kill switch protects you against drops in VPN connection, while split tunneling lets you use the VPN only for specific apps.

NordVPN has an app for all major devices and allows six simultaneous connections compared to ExpressVPN’s eight, but if you’re maxed out, you can always install NordVPN on your router. Learn more about what NordVPN has to offer in our comprehensive NordVPN review.

Massive Server Network

NordVPN has one of the largest networks of servers with over 5,400 servers in 60 countries. Since Twitch bans IP addresses rather than devices, having more servers is an obvious benefit. The large server network also works in your favor when you’re trying to access content that’s unavailable outside certain countries.

NordVPN’s is one of the most pocket-friendly VPNs out there, but you can still take it for a spin risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

30-days money-back guarantee

Basic

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.74/month

$68.85 billed every year

Save 55%

2-year plan

$3.48/month

$83.43 billed every 2 years

Save 73%

Plus

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$13.99/month

1-year plan

$6.86/month

$82.35 billed every year

Save 50%

2-year plan + 3 months

$3.99/month

$107.73 billed every 2 years

Save 71%

Complete

• *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.99/month

1-year plan

$9.36/month

$112.35 billed every year

Save 41%

2-year plan + 3 months

$5.99/month

$161.73 billed every 2 years

Save 62%

3. Surfshark

More details about Surfshark:

• Pricing: $2.29 per month
• Provider website: surfshark.com

Surfshark is a relatively new service, but has quickly grown its server network to over 3,200 in 65 countries. Surfshark comes with a kill switch, and our tests revealed no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks.

Additionally, you also get split tunneling (bypasser) — a feature that many major VPNs lack. Learn more about Surfshark’s security and privacy in our detailed Surfshark review.

We found Surfshark’s connection speeds excellent for streaming even on distant and Multihop servers — Surfshark’s double VPN feature, which adds an extra layer of security to your connection.

You can install Surfshark on pretty much any device including your router. However, you won’t need to install Surfshark on your router only for the sake of using it on multiple devices.

Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Unlike most other VPNs, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections. If you want to access the Twitch website for hours with your friends, Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections and bandwidth will make sure you can all access Twitch together. 

Surfshark is a cheaper NordVPN alternative: If you choose the two-year plan, it will cost you less than NordVPN at $2.49 per month. That’s a fairly attractive price for a major VPN, but you can always use the 30-day money-back guarantee to try the service risk-free. If you don’t like the service after you’ve subscribed, you can get all your money back.

30-days money-back guarantee

Surfshark Starter

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $185.40 for one year, $370.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan + 2 months

1-month plan

$15.45/month

1-year plan + 2 months

$3.22/month

$41.86 billed every year

Save 79%

2-year plan + 2 months

$2.29/month

$59.54 billed every 2 years

Save 85%

Surfshark One

• Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $191.40 for one year, $380.80 for two years.
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$15.95/month

1-year plan

$4.09/month

$49.08 billed every year

Save 74%

2-year plan

$3.19/month

$76.56 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

Surfshark One+

• Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $215.40 for one year, $430.80 for two years
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$17.95/month

1-year plan

$6.49/month

$77.88 billed every year

Save 63%

2-year plan

$4.97/month

$119.28 billed every 2 years

Save 72%

4. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free plan; $5.75 per month per server
• Provider website: windscribe.com

Windscribe is the best free VPN available on the internet. Most free VPNs have a questionable privacy policy and are insecure, but Windscribe isn’t one of them. It’s a reliable VPN with a transparent no-logs policy, excellent security and an easy-to-use interface.

Windscribe also offers split tunneling, so you can use the VPN connection only for the browser you’re using to access streaming services like Twitch, and use your regular connection for other apps. It’s slower than other services on the list, but we didn’t experience any significant buffering on Twitch streams. 

Windscribe Has a Powerful Browser Extension

Unlike with several other VPN services, Windscribe’s browser extension doesn’t work as a remote control for the desktop app.

It’s packed with privacy features that you won’t find on the desktop app and works alongside R.O.B.E.R.T, Windscribe’s domain and IP blocking tool. The browser extension lets you block Twitch ads, sync the browser’s time with the server location and set custom rules for blocking websites and other things through R.O.B.E.R.T.

Windscribe’s free plan is terrific, but you’ll need to get a paid plan to access more server locations. The build-a-plan option lets you add a server location for $1.

The minimum checkout value is $2, so you’ll either need to choose at least two server locations, or select a server location and spend another dollar on unlimited data plus access to R.O.B.E.R.T. The three-day money-back guarantee is short, but it’s reasonable given there’s already a free plan.

3-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

FREE

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan

1-month plan

$9/month

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

Save 36%

5. CyberGhost

More details about CyberGhost:

• Pricing: $2.37 per month
• Provider website: cyberghost.com

CyberGhost has one of the most user-friendly desktop apps of any VPN and a mind-boggling network of 7,900 servers. Few (if any) CyberGhost alternatives can match that server count.  

It offers a level of security that you’d expect from any reliable VPN. By default, CyberGhost uses the IKEv2 protocol with AES-256 encryption, which isn’t bad, but we recommend switching to OpenVPN or the recently added WireGuard if you’re using a desktop. You also get an automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection and split tunneling on CyberGhost. 

CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs, so you won’t need to worry about any buffering. You can use CyberGhost on almost any device including computers, phones, TVs and gaming consoles.

CyberGhost Lets You Set “Smart Rules”

“Smart rules” in CyberGhost let you do a bunch of cool things. For instance, you can set CyberGhost to launch automatically when you launch the desktop client for Twitch. You can also do the reverse — you can set CyberGhost to connect to a specific VPN server location when you launch it and also trigger the launch of another app (in this case, Twitch) alongside.

You can get CyberGhost at an attractive price provided you subscribe to the three-year (plus three free months) plan — its best value — for $2.29 per month. CyberGhost offers a longer 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and get a refund if you’re not completely satisfied with the service.

CyberGhost Plans

• *The $56.94 price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
• Unlimited GB
• 7
• Yes

45-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan, 6-months plan

1-month plan

$12.99/month

6-months plan

$6.99/month

$41.94 billed every 6 month

Save 46%

2-year plan

$2.37/month

$56.94 billed every 2 years

Save 81%

Should I Use a VPN While Streaming on Twitch?

Using a Twitch VPN might be more of a necessity in some cases, like if your school’s network has banned Twitch or if you’re in a country like China where Twitch isn’t accessible. Twitch might also block users, but since the platform bans IP and not devices, a Twitch VPN can help you get past them by assigning you a different IP address than the one it banned.

Can You Use a Free VPN for Streaming Twitch?

Yes, you can use a free VPN like Windscribe since it’s one of the best VPNs for Twitch. However, you should steer clear of other free VPNs because most of them are insecure, unreliable, and have a questionable privacy policy, especially the ones you’ll find on our worst free VPNs list.

Final Thoughts

A Twitch VPN can help you unblock Twitch, get past its IP bans or even tackle ISP throttling. If you’re in a country like China where the government restricts access to streaming services like Twitch, you’ll need a VPN to create a Twitch account and enjoy video game livestreams.

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming on Twitch, but you may consider NordVPN as a more pocket-friendly alternative. If you’re into fantasy sports or online gambling, these are the best FanDuel VPN services, and gambling sites in general.

If you want to learn more about Twitch, check out our guide on Twitch statistics.

Have you used a VPN for streaming on Twitch before? If yes, which one, and were you able to unblock it? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.

FAQ

• Should Twitch Streamers Use VPN?

  Using a VPN for Twitch can help you unblock it on networks that block access. A VPN can also help you bypass government censorship or deal with ISP throttling which can restrict your bandwidth and negatively impact your streaming experience. We recommend ExpressVPN as the best Twitch VPN.

• Can You Stream on Twitch With a VPN?

  Yes, you can. In fact, in some cases, using a VPN is the only way you’ll be able to stream on Twitch. For instance, if you’re in China, you can’t access Twitch unless you use a VPN. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming Twitch, or try Windscribe if you’re looking for a free service and don’t mind slower connection speeds.