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where to watch riverdale

How & Where to Watch Riverdale for Free in 2024

Season seven of Riverdale is coming on March 29. It’s the final season of the popular teen drama and the gang is back in the 1950s. If you’re wondering how to stream the show online, this guide shares how and where to watch Riverdale season seven and previous seasons.

Sandra PattisonSapphire Fox

Written by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)

Reviewed by Sapphire Fox (Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-10-11T18:49:10+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways: Stream Riverdale Free

  1. Grab a subscription at a 73% discount from NordVPN’s website.
  2. Install the app, open it and connect to a U.K. server.
  3. Go to Netflix and start watching Riverdale.

Best VPN for Streaming Riverdale:

  1. NordVPN — Top-tier VPN with uncompromising performance. NordVPN is available at a 73% discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Surfshark — Wallet-friendly VPN without compromises. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 86% discount.
  3. ExpressVPN — Easy-to-use VPN that doesn’t skimp on quality. ExpressVPN offers 49% off on the first year for new users.

What to Know About Riverdale:

  • For those in the U.S., Riverdale season seven starts on March 29 on The CW. If you don’t have a valid TV provider, you can watch it for free the next day.
  • Season seven will also be available on Netflix U.K. from March 30. It won’t be available on Netflix U.S. until after the season finale.
  • If you’re outside the U.S. or the U.K., you can use a VPN to access either service. We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN, but Surfshark is also a good VPN alternative.
Best VPN for Streaming Riverdale

It’s been a while since the sixth season of teen drama Riverdale concluded, and season seven is set to air on March 29. If you’re wondering “where can I watch Riverdale,” then this guide is for you. We’ll go through how to watch Riverdale online, including where to watch Riverdale for free.

New episodes of Riverdale will continue from where we last saw Betty, Archie, Jughead and Veronica — back in the 1950s. With Jughead being the only one who remembers everything, it’ll be interesting to see if he can get the others to believe him and work out a way to get back to the present.

If you don’t have cable, where you can watch the latest season of Riverdale online depends on where you’re located. That’s because of geoblocks, but you can bypass such blocks by using a good VPN like NordVPN. We explain everything you need to know in this guide.

Not available in your country?

Watch Riverdale now on Netflix

Status checked 2024/10/27:

  • 08/24/2021

    Fact checked where you can currently find Riverdale online and added step-by-step instructions on how to find the show.

  • 03/28/2023

    Rewrote the article to include season seven of Riverdale and how to watch it for free.

  • 10/01/2024

    We enhanced the setup instructions and revised the VPN positions after thorough review.

Where to Watch Riverdale New Episodes

There are a couple of platforms where you can watch Riverdale, but as we already mentioned, it’ll depend on where you are in the world because of geoblocks. Geoblocks, or regional restrictions, are in place with most streaming services to ensure that they abide by licensing agreements.

One streaming service might have the rights to air a show in, say, the U.S., but another service might have the rights to air it in France. This means that services have to block users from other countries from accessing particular content.

The way around these blocks is to use a virtual private network (VPN). With that, you can connect to a server in a country that has the content you want and fool the service into thinking you’re actually there.

Which Streaming Services Have Riverdale?

For U.S. viewers, season seven of Riverdale will air on The CW at 9 p.m. ET on March 29. If you want to watch it online, you can stream it on The CW website or app. To watch it on the day it airs, you’ll need a TV provider login, but if you don’t mind waiting until the next day, you can watch it there for free without an account.

riverdale the cw
Riverdale returns with a final season on March 29 on The CW.

You can also watch The CW with certain streaming subscriptions, such as Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV. However, the CW is only available in the U.S., so if you’re outside the country, you’ll need to use a VPN to watch it.

Is Riverdale on Netflix?

There is another option, though — Netflix. Although the seventh season of Riverdale won’t be available on Netflix U.S. until after the season finale in August, you can watch it on Netflix U.K. The first episode of Riverdale season seven will begin on Netflix U.K. on March 30. All you need to do is hop on a U.K. VPN server and log in to Netflix as usual.

netflix uk riverdale
Season seven of Riverdale will start on Netflix U.K. on March 30.

Previous seasons of Riverdale are available to stream on Netflix, including season six, if you need a refresher. You can also purchase seasons and episodes on Apple TV and Google Play.

How to Watch Riverdale for Free

Unfortunately, there’s no Netflix free trial, so you need to know how to watch Riverdale without Netflix for free. Since The CW is free and doesn’t require you to make an account, this is the best way to watch Riverdale for free. However, you’ll need to watch it the next day after it airs and use a VPN if you’re not located in the U.S.

If you decide to use a streaming platform like YouTube TV to watch Riverdale, you might be able to get a free trial, but it won’t last for the duration of the show.

How to Watch Riverdale With a VPN

In this section, we’ll show you how to watch Riverdale on Netflix U.K. using a VPN. You can use the same steps for watching it on The CW too, you just need to connect to a U.S. server instead.

  1. Sign Up for a VPN Service

    Subscribe to a VPN servicewe recommend NordVPN. Its two-year plan offers the best value and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can use as a free trial.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Install the VPN on Your Device

    Download and install the VPN app on your chosen device. Then, open the app and log in to your VPN account.

    nordvpn step 2
  3. Connect to a Server in the U.K.

    Use NordVPN’s interactive map or the server list to find a U.K. server and click on it to connect. If it doesn’t connect automatically, click on the “connect” button.

    nordvpn uk servers
  4. Log in to Netflix

    Go to Netflix and log in as usual.

    netflix-sign-in
  5. Start Watching Riverdale

    Search for Riverdale and press play to start streaming

    stream riverdale netflix uk

The Best VPNs for Watching Riverdale

Streaming services have tough barriers in place that many VPNs find too hard to break through, especially Netflix. For that reason, you need a VPN that can easily bypass such blocks. We’ve got three recommendations for you. Let’s get started with our top choice, NordVPN.

1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Streaming

nordvpn uk server
NordVPN has the fastest speeds and can reliably unblock streaming services.
Best VPN for Streaming Riverdale

Pros

  • Affordable long-term plan
  • Fastest speeds
  • Interactive map interface

Cons

  • Mobile UI is awkward

Access your favorite shows from anywhere — try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days and save 73%.

Download
89 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
6 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 10/06/24 to 11/03/24
Data for region:

NordVPN is a top contender in the VPN market and our ongoing speed tests show it has the fastest VPN speeds. On top of that, it can easily unblock streaming services and has a huge network of servers across more than 100 countries. It’s easy to connect too, with the app having an interactive map. That said, the mobile version is a little fiddly.

Pricewise, NordVPN is affordable. However, you have to lock in for two years to see its best price. Our NordVPN review goes into more detail about the service and you can use NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.

Basic
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Plus
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Ultimate
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes

2. Surfshark — Best VPN for Streaming With Unlimited Connections

surfshark open uk
Surfshark is affordable, has lots of features and is a good choice for streaming.

Pros

  • Affordable plans
  • Accesses streaming services
  • Unlimited simultaneous devices

Cons

  • U.S. speeds vary

Stream without limits — join Surfshark now and get 86% off plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Download
90 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
103 ms
Good
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 10/06/24 to 11/03/24
Data for region:

Surfshark is another affordable VPN. It’s not quite as good as our top pick, but it’s secure and comes with plenty of extra features. It can access streaming services easily, and while its speeds can vary in the U.S., they’re good for the most part. You also get unlimited simultaneous connections, which is great if you have family or friends that want to connect too.

It has a large server network and its app is easy to use. Like NordVPN, you’ll need to sign up for two years to get the best price, but you can use Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind. Read more about the service in our Surfshark review.

Surfshark Starter
  • 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
Surfshark One
  • 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
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Plans renew: $269.25 for one year, $404.65 for two years
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best Beginner-Friendly VPN for Streaming

expressvpn app uk
ExpressVPN is a great choice for streaming as it can reliably unblock streaming services.

Pros

  • Unlocks all streaming services
  • Excellent speeds
  • Strong security

Cons

  • Pricey

Bypass content blocks and save 49% — subscribe to ExpressVPN’s best deal today.

Download
86 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 10/06/24 to 11/03/24
Data for region:

ExpressVPN can access any streaming service, has fast speeds and its large server network means you can access most content libraries. You’ll also be secure while connected and ExpressVPN’s app is easy to use on any device.

Its price is quite high, though, especially on the monthly plan. You can bring the cost down by opting for the annual plan, but it’s still pricier than other services. You can read our ExpressVPN review to understand why the service is so good, and you can use ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

Cast, Characters & Plot: Riverdale Season 7

Riverdale is based on the classic Archie comics and stars teens Archie, Betty, Jughead, Veronica and other friends. In the beginning, emotions are high in the town of Riverdale after a recent and mysterious death of a schoolboy. From there, the teens try to solve several mysteries lying underneath the facade of the town’s innocence.

At the end of season six, the teens pass their powers onto Cheryl, who uses them to destroy a comet that’s headed toward the town. In doing so, the whole town of Riverdale is transported back into 1955, but the only one who is aware of what happened is Jughead.

The series offers a mix of supernatural, horror, mystery and drama. For season seven, we’ll get to see if the gang is able to get back to the present and what else lies ahead before the series concludes. Here’s the main cast list.

  • KJ Apa — Archie Andrews
  • Lili Reinhart — Betty Cooper
  • Cole Sprouse — Jughead Jones
  • Camila Mendes — Veronica Lodge
  • Madelaine Petsch — Cheryl Blossom
  • Casey Cott — Kevin Keller
  • Vanessa Morgan — Toni Topaz
  • Charles Melton — Reggie Mantle
  • Drew Ray — Fangs Fogarty
  • Erinn Westbrook — Tabitha Tate
  • Madchen Amick — Alice Cooper
  • Nicholas Barasch — Julian Blossom
  • Karl Walcott — Clay Walker

Final Thoughts

Riverdale fans who want to stream the show online have a couple of choices. The CW will be the first platform to air the show, but if you don’t have a cable login, you can watch it the next day on demand for free. Alternatively, you can watch it from March 30 on Netflix U.K. If you’re watching Riverdale for the first time, you can stream the previous six seasons on Netflix.

If you need a VPN to access those services, we recommend using NordVPN. The 30-day money-back guarantee means you can make sure you like it too.

What platform will you stream Riverdale on? Will you need to use a VPN? If so, which VPN will you choose? What do you think the future holds for the town of Riverdale? Let us know in the comment section and, as always, thank you for reading.

FAQ: How to Watch Riverdale

  • You can watch all seven seasons of Riverdale on Netflix. However, while the first six seasons are available to watch in most Netflix regions, season seven won’t be available on Netflix U.S. until later in the year. That said, you can connect to a U.K. VPN server and watch the new season of Riverdale on Netflix U.K. from March 30.

  • Yes, you can stream Riverdale on Hulu, but you need the Hulu + Live TV subscription.

  • Yes, if you don’t mind waiting until the day after it first airs, you can stream it on The CW website or app for free. Note that The CW is only available in the U.S., so if you’re not in the country, you’ll need to use a VPN to access it.

  • Season seven of Riverdale will start on March 29 on The CW in the U.S. You can also watch it on Netflix U.K. from March 30. If you’re outside both of those countries, a VPN can help.

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