Best UK VPN for 2024: Online Privacy in the United Kingdom
If you’re worried about the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act impacting your privacy, you can use a VPN to protect your privacy and access geoblocked websites, provided you find a good VPN service. We help you find the best UK VPN in this guide.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated: 2024-09-30T17:02:57+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Best VPNs for the UK
- NordVPN — Best VPN for the U.K. NordVPN offers (for Black Friday) 74% (plus 3 months free) off on the first two years for new users.
- Surfshark — Unlimited simultaneous connections. Sign up now to get (for the Winter Deal) 64% (plus 4 months free) off the first two years.
- ExpressVPN — Great U.K. streaming VPN. ExpressVPN’s best deal is available at a (for Black Friday) 70% (plus 4 months free) discount.
- PrivadoVPN — Free UK VPN.
- CyberGhost — Excellent desktop app.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Why You Need a U.K. VPN
- The Investigatory Powers Act threatens the privacy of UK citizens, but a VPN (virtual private network) can help. VPNs can also help access websites that are geoblocked in the UK
- If you’re looking for a free VPN service for the UK, PrivadoVPN is your best option.
The UK’s Investigatory Powers Act allows the UK government to access and collect citizens’ data. If you’re using the internet in the UK, the government might be able to access your data if it so pleases. Using the best UK VPN can help protect your privacy, so that no one, including your internet service provider (ISP) and the government, can see what you’re doing online.
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection. Even if someone manages to get access to your data, they won’t be able to read it. We recommend NordVPN, because it offers top-notch security and fast connection speeds. Alternatively, you might select one of the other top VPNs on this list.
The best VPN services can unblock geoblocked websites and foreign content libraries on streaming services. For example, if you’re in the UK and you want to watch a Netflix US show, you’ll need to connect to a US-based VPN server.
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05/17/2023 Facts checked
We updated the article to reflect the changes in VPN services.
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10/24/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s expansion of server presence from 94 to 105 countries.
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07/15/2024 Facts checked
Updated the article, replacing Proton VPN with PrivadoVPN as the best free pick.
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10/01/2024 Facts checked
We updated the VPN list to incorporate the latest user feedback and expert evaluations.
The Top VPNs For The UK
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, JCB, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, X-Coin
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Average speedDownload Speed84 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 2
- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed89 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency103 ms - 3
- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, Giropay, Pixpay, Sepa Direct Debit
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Average speedDownload Speed90 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency6 ms - 4
- : PayPal, Credit card
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- 5
- : PayPal, Credit card, bitcoin, Amazon Pay
- : 7
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Average speedDownload Speed71 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency51 ms
What Makes the Best UK VPN?
The best UK VPNs offer fast connection speed, the latest security protocols and the ability to bypass geoblocks. We tested a number of top VPN providers and narrowed the list of the best UK VPNs down to five.
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Every one of the five services we recommend has UK servers, which means they can help you acquire a UK IP address. Whether you want to stay protected when streaming content on BBC iPlayer like Glastonbury or encrypt your connection when accessing a geoblocked online banking portal, UK servers can help.
Speeds are an important factor to consider when selecting a VPN. Imagine watching your favorite thriller series — you don’t want to have to deal with buffering right when you’re getting to the climax. All VPNs slow your connection slightly, but the best ones ensure this reduction is minimal. The VPN should also be able to effectively bypass geoblocks, including Netflix’s VPN ban.
You should also pay close attention to a VPN’s security features and privacy policy. A secure and reliable VPN service should use the best encryption protocols, like OpenVPN or WireGuard along with AES or ChaCha20 encryption. Moreover, the VPNs privacy policy should be transparent and commit to zero-logging.
The 5 Best VPNs for the UK
Below, we discuss the best VPN providers for the UK and break down their features and performance. If you don’t want to go through the entire list — we recommend trying NordVPN.
1. NordVPN — Best VPN for The U.K.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, according to our speed tests. It has a great ability to bypass geoblocks and its best deal costs considerably less than other premium VPNs like ExpressVPN.
The service has a massive server network, with over 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries, including the UK You can use NordVPN to acquire a UK IP address and access local websites securely, or connect to a foreign server to unblock websites only available in that region — NordVPN is great at bypassing geoblocked websites, according to our tests.
The app includes NordVPN’s proprietary protocol inspired by WireGuard, called NordLynx. NordLynx is faster and offers better security, but doesn’t work along with one of NordVPN’s specialty server types. NordVPN also has a kill switch, split tunneling and excellent DNS leak protection. Read more about NordVPN’s feature set in our NordVPN review.
Specialty Servers
NordVPN’s specialty servers make your connection even more secure. The service includes four types of specialty servers: double VPN, Onion Over VPN, P2P and obfuscated. These servers protect you against any existing or future invasive policies the government implements in the UK.
All of these specialty server types secure your VPN connection even further, but they each do it in different ways. For example, double VPN routes your internet traffic via two VPN servers.
NordVPN’s best value plan (the two-year plan) costs $2.99 per month. Alternatively, you can opt for one of the shorter-term plans. The annual plan costs $4.59 per month, while the monthly plan costs $12.99. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk-free.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
2. Surfshark — Best UK VPN for Multiple Users
Very Fast
Very Fast
Good
Surfshark is another vpn that is great for streaming UK channels. It hasn’t been around for as long as other premium services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but don’t let that fool you — this is one powerful VPN. It has a well-spread server network with servers in 100 countries, including the UK.
The VPN service is already very low-cost, but you can reduce the per-user cost even further by taking advantage of Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections. You can share your account with a friend or colleague — and you won’t have to worry about any negative impact on the performance, since Surfshark also offers unlimited bandwidth.
Surfshark offers great security, too. The VPN secures your connection using protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. It has a transparent no-logging policy, so rest assured, your data is safe with Surfshark. Learn more about Surfshark in our Surfshark review.
Additional Features
Surfshark has an extensive toolbox that includes features you won’t find on many premium VPNs. For example, Surfshark’s powerful malware and ad blocker CleanWeb 2.0 blocks ads not just in your browser, but across all apps on your device.
The app also includes an IP rotation feature, which allows you to automatically change your IP address every few minutes while keeping your virtual location unchanged. There is also a double VPN feature — referred to as MultiHop servers in the Surfshark app.
Surfshark is a pocket-friendly service, with its best deal (the two-year plan) costing $1.99 per month. The annual plan costs $2.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $15.45. Like other premium VPNs, you can use Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee to try the VPN out and request a refund if you’re not fully satisfied.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Plans renew: $59.76 for one year, $59.76 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Plans renew: $79 for one year & $79 per year for the two-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN— Fast VPN to Watch UK TV
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
ExpressVPN is the another great VPN for the UK thanks to its unbeatable combination of speed and security. The VPN lets you switch between multiple security protocols, including OpenVPN and Lightway — ExpressVPN’s proprietary protocol.
Within the app, you get security features like a kill switch (which terminates internet access if the VPN connection drops) and split tunneling (which allows you to route traffic via two tunnels — encrypted and unencrypted). ExpressVPN also offers excellent DNS leak protection and has a strict no-logs policy.
The premium VPN has a well-spread server network, with servers in 105 countries (including the UK) — Surfshark is the only VPN on this list with servers in more countries. You can acquire a UK IP address using ExpressVPN by connecting to a UK server, or you can access geoblocked websites like Netflix US. Learn more about ExpressVPN in our in-depth ExpressVPN review.
Best VPN for Streaming
ExpressVPN is great for UK streaming, thanks to fast connection speeds and its unmatched ability to unblock streaming websites like Netflix, Max and Hulu. To further improve your streaming experience, ExpressVPN has a feature called MediaStreamer.
The MediaStreamer feature allows you to stream geo-restricted content without encrypting your connection. When you’re streaming, you don’t need top security, and the lack of encryption improves performance.
ExpressVPN’s superior performance and feature set make it a premium VPN, and this reflects in its pricing. The best deal (the annual plan) costs $6.25 per month. Shorter-term plans are also available. The six-month plan costs $9.99 per month, while the monthly plan costs $12.95. If you’re not feeling confident about ExpressVPN, you can try it out risk-free using the 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
4. PrivadoVPN — Best Free VPN UK
PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for the UK, thanks to its generous free plan, great security and fast connection speeds. We typically don’t recommend free VPNs because most are insecure and slow. PrivadoVPN is one of the few exceptions. It’s secure, fast and reliable.
As a free user, you’ll have access to servers in 10 countries, including the U.K., the U.S., the Netherlands, Canada, Germany and France. This means that you can obtain a U.K. IP address to unblock platforms exclusive to Britain, such as BBC iPlayer.
You can also secure your connection using security protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard combined with AES-256 or ChaCha20. The VPN’s privacy policy is transparent and commits to zero logging. Learn more in our comprehensive PrivadoVPN review.
Excellent Streaming Ability
While most free VPNs fail to bypass geoblocks effectively, PrivadoVPN gets into all blocked sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services. Our streams were also lag-free. The only issue is that PrivadoVPN offers only 10GB of data each month, which won’t be enough for binge-streaming.
If you want to unlock full access to PrivadoVPN, including servers in more countries, you’ll need the paid plan. The best value plan (the two-year plan) costs $1.11 per month (two-year plan + three months) per month. Shorter-term plans are even more expensive. The annual plan costs $1.33 per month (15-months plan) per month, while the monthly plan costs $10.99 per month (one-month plan). There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk-free.
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5. CyberGhost — UK VPN with Excellent Features
Fast
Very Fast
Fast
CyberGhost offers one of the largest server networks of any VPN on the market. It has over 9,000 servers spread across 116 server locations in 91 countries, including the UK.
The VPN app also offers excellent privacy and security. The desktop app offers four VPN protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 and L2TP. Mobile users can only use OpenVPN and WireGuard. That’s a little surprising given how mobile users can improve performance using IKEv2.
The service’s website claims to have streaming-optimized servers, but we couldn’t unblock Netflix or Amazon Prime Video using them. CyberGhost isn’t the fastest VPN either, so you might experience occasional buffering even when streaming local content on BBC iPlayer. For what it’s worth, the app does have an attractive desktop app.
Automation Features
CyberGhost lets you configure “smart rules,” which are essentially a way to automate repetitive VPN tasks. For example, you can create a rule that triggers CyberGhost to automatically connect to a server in a specific location when you launch the browser or when your device starts up.
CyberGhost is the cheapest service on this list. The best deal (the two-year plan) costs just $2.03 per month. If you want to opt for a short-term plan, the six-month plan costs $6.99 per month, and the monthly plan costs $12.99 per month.
If you want to try the service before committing, it offers a longer-than-average 45-day money-back guarantee, though the monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
Why Should You Use a UK VPN?
Yes, any UK internet user who wants to ensure complete privacy and anonymity online should use a UK VPN. When you encrypt your connection using a VPN, nobody, including the government or the ISP, can read your data. This allows you to surf the internet in the UK without worrying about invasion of privacy from bodies administrating the Investigatory Powers Act.
The Investigatory Powers Act (dubbed the “Snoopers’ Charter” because of its invasive nature) allows MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the police to hack into your computer with a warrant. It also mandates that internet and communication service providers retain a British user’s browsing information for 12 months.
In addition to protecting your privacy, a VPN helps you access websites that are geoblocked in the UK and foreign content libraries on streaming platforms like Netflix. For example, if you’re an anime fan, connecting to a Japan server will help you access your favorite anime shows on Netflix Japan.
Can You Use a Free VPN for the UK?
Yes, you can use a free VPN like PrivadoVPN for the U.K. Note that using any random VPN service you find on Google can be a bad idea. Many free VPNs are unsafe and slow, and some may even infect your computer with malware. It’s best to use a trustworthy VPN if you go the free route, like PrivadoVPN.
Final Thoughts
Using a VPN service helps protect your data from internet service providers and the UK government. However, not all VPNs offer great security and fast speeds. Many fail to bypass geo-restrictions, making them unsuitable for streaming.
All of the VPNs in this guide offer excellent security, and most offer fast connection speeds. NordVPN is the best UK VPN because it offers an extensive feature set and terrific performance. However, if you’re on a budget, you might consider a service like Surfshark. Take NordVPN for a test drive with peace of mind, knowing you can request a full refund within 30 days if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
Have you used a UK VPN before? Which one, and was the VPN able to bypass restrictions on websites like Netflix, Max and Disney Plus? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: Best VPN for UK
PrivadoVPN can help acquire a U.K. IP address for free. It’s fast, secure, reliable and unblock many streaming services, including Netflix. PrivadoVPN offers 10GB of free data, which isn’t exactly ideal if you stream frequently.
Yes, it’s worth getting a UK VPN to protect your privacy. VPNs encrypt your connection, making your internet activity completely anonymous. Even if the government manages to get their hands on your data, encryption will ensure that the data isn’t readable.
NordVPN is the best VPN to use in the UK because it offers fantastic performance and security. If you want something with a smaller price tag, consider other premium services like Surfshark and CyberGhost.