Best VPNs for ITV Hub Player (ITVX) in 2024: Stream from anywhere

Yearning to catch up on your favorite ITV shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, or Love Island while abroad? Normally, ITVX (formerly known as ITV Hub) will display a popup saying, “Sorry, this show isn’t available right now.” if it detects you’re outside the UK. There is an easy workaround, though. Connecting to a British VPN server for ITVX will allow you to spoof your location and continue watching no matter where you are in the world.

Here’s the best part: Virtual Private Networks are a great way to enhance your online privacy! If you’re looking to keep your activities hidden while on public wifi or get around your hotel’s content restrictions, having a reliable VPN can help. The problem is that dozens of providers compete for your attention, and they all claim to be the best.

We know that most people don’t want to spend their valuable time researching privacy tools. To help, our experts have extensively tested some of the industry’s biggest names, evaluating how well each VPN works with ITVX and how suitable they are for day-to-day usage. We’ll go into more detail shortly, but for now, here’s a rundown of our top VPNs for ITV:

Best VPNs for ITVX:

1. NordVPN: Our first choice VPN for ITVX. Offers high speeds, an exceptional range of security features, and a proven no-logs policy. More than 400 British servers and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for ITV Hub.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for ITV Hub. Among the fastest providers we’ve tested, with no connection limit whatsoever. Great record on privacy and 24/7 support via live chat.
3. IPVanish: A novice-friendly VPN that’s fast enough for 4K streaming, video calling, or torrenting. Can protect every device you own and refuses to keep logs of your activities.
4. ExpressVPN: Well-respected provider that works almost anywhere. Suitable for ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and many other UK streaming platforms. Speedy, reliable, and highly versatile.
5. CyberGhost: Tells users exactly which servers work with ITV. Boasts impressive performance, a true no-logging policy, and a strong security toolkit, plus 24/7 support.
6. PrivateVPN: An easy-to-use service that puts your privacy first. Excels at accessing British streaming apps abroad and offers a stealth mode to help you watch in places like China.
7. ProtonVPN: Works great with ITV, STV, and BBC iPlayer, as well as other region-locked sites. Strong security, reliable performance, and affordable long-term plans.
8. PureVPN: Quick, versatile, and perfect for international travelers looking to watch TV from back home. Offers ultra-fast servers in three UK cities plus a verified no-logs policy.

Our criteria for identifying the best ITVX VPNs

Finding the perfect UK VPN can be tricky. After all, not every service works with ITVX, and some that technically do are too slow for live streaming (or not secure enough to keep you safe). Comparitech’s experts have more than a decade of combined experience testing consumer VPNs, though – we do the hard part so that you don’t have to.

This isn’t just a cursory glance at the best-known providers, either. Our team goes above and beyond to find the best VPNs for your requirements. This involves using first-hand testing over prolonged periods and developing an exhaustive testing methodology to record every potential pitfall (or advantage) properly. Here’s an abridged version of what we look for; if you want to learn more, go to the bottom of this post. 

• Streaming ability: Our first test is to ensure providers can provide a UK IP address and work with ITVX and STV Player. We then check to see if they can access other British platforms like BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and Netflix UK. VPNs that work with tricky services like these are unlikely to struggle with anything else. We also ask one of our resident expert reviewers to score providers based on their experience using them.
• Speed: ITVX only works in the UK, so we tested each VPN’s British servers to see how well they performed. We used a home broadband connection with an average speed of 48.18 Mbps. Then, we ran multiple speed tests at various times of day before averaging the results to get a single representative speed for each service.
• Security & privacy: A VPN that can’t keep your browsing habits private isn’t worth using. To that end, our team assigns a score for each provider based on 15 key security-related criteria. These include their supported protocols, encryption strength, and whether they ship with advanced features like a stealth mode.
• Ease of use: The perfect VPN would suit beginners and experts. Our team examines how user-friendly each VPN is, carefully considering its design, menu layouts, and overall ease of use and configuration.
• Value for money: Price is important. However, in addition to checking the lowest monthly cost for each provider, we also consider the availability of long-term discounts, cut-price subscriptions for students, and a money-back guarantee.
• Our expert reviewer’s professional rating: Our resident expert assigns every VPN a score of 10 based on their reflections and experiences using it. This unbiased score (along with those from each category above) is used to determine each provider’s overall rating.

Best VPNs for ITV Hub (ITVX) – Our hands-on review

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for ITV Hub.

Best VPNs for watching ITVX outside the UK

Enough preamble. Let’s get to the interesting bit: seeing what each of the best VPNs for ITVX offers, where they excel, and any shortcomings they might have.

1. NordVPN

Sep 2024 works with ITVTested Sep 2024

NordVPN is the best VPN for ITVX. In fact, with 6,300+ servers worldwide (some 400 of which are in the UK), it’s a fantastic option for streaming content from all kinds of platforms while traveling. We’ve had success accessing tricky services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video while connected, and best of all, it rarely takes more than one try to find a server that works.

This provider boasts a fairly simple design, with everything you need to stream ITV on the location selection. Users can either click on the UK via the map or use the search bar to find servers in a specific British city like London or Manchester. There are many advanced tools to play with in the settings menu, but these are grouped into various tabs, making the one you need easier to find. Unlike other VPNs with tiered pricing, NordVPN avoids cluttering its sidebar with premium-only features, which is great.

In our professional opinion, this is one of the most security-conscious VPNs. It uses unbreakable encryption, leak protection, and an independently verified no-logs policy to ensure that your activities remain hidden. Further, NordVPN offers obfuscated servers that work in high-censorship countries and a new Meshnet feature capable of protecting devices that don’t support full VPN apps. Want to stream STV on your games console or Smart TV? No problem: with Meshnet, it’s easy.

Lots of people worry that a VPN will slow down their connection. This is fair; there is always a bit of a speed reduction, but it’s nowhere near as bad as expected. For instance, on a home broadband connection that averaged 48.18 Mbps, our average speeds when NordVPN was active were 43.8 Mbps. That’s barely any impact, and we could still stream live and 4K video without any noticeable buffering, stuttering, or lag.

NordVPN offers three subscription lengths: one month, one year, and two years. Additionally, it has two more expensive tiers (Plus and Ultimate). These are optional but include benefits like a password manager, encrypted cloud storage, a data breach scanner, and insurance that’ll help you recoup losses if you’re a victim of cyber fraud. Standard monthly plans are a little pricey, but it’s possible to save around 70 percent by choosing a longer subscription, cutting the average cost to just a few dollars per month (though you will have to pay upfront).

This VPN has its own iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux apps. Alternatively, if ten devices aren’t enough, you can manually install it on most routers, which secures every device on your network. Support staff are on hand 24/7 via live chat if you need help doing this.

BEST VPN FOR ITVX:NordVPN is our top choice. It’s quick, reliable, and highly-secure, plus it won’t be stopped by most digital restrictions. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Read our in-depth review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

works with itvTested Sep 2024

Surfshark is the best budget VPN provider for watching ITV abroad. It has recently expanded its network and now offers access to 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including Scotland and England. We could unblock both STV Player and ITVX on our first attempt, and the VPN worked equally well with other British platforms like BBC iPlayer and Now TV.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the interface is a little busy. Still, novices should only need a few minutes to get used to it – most of the sidebar is devoted to Surfshark One features (more on these later), so the average user will never have to touch anything except the gear icon (which takes you to the settings menu). Server selection is done on the main screen, and you can even favorite specific locations to have them appear at the top of the list.

Having tested numerous similar products, we can safely say that Surfshark offers far more exciting security features than many of its rivals. There are all of the usual things you’d expect (uncrackable encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection), a censorship-beating NoBorders mode, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and a tool that changes your IP address periodically while keeping your location the same. Further, Surfshark has been audited to prove that it doesn’t log any data that could identify you.

This was the fastest VPN we saw, narrowly beating NordVPN with an average speed of 43.9 Mbps on a 48.18 Mbps connection. That was somewhat expected, given that Surfshark recently outperformed all its rivals on our industry-wide speed tests. Whether you’re hoping to live stream, play online games, or torrent, this service is up to the task. Best of all, it has no connection limit, allowing you to secure as many devices as you like with a single account.

Surfshark’s monthly subscriptions are some of the most expensive, even without upgrading to Surfshark One or One+. However, it also offers some of the steepest discounts, with around 80 percent off for customers who choose the annual or two-year plans. Surfshark One includes some significant additions, like an antivirus app, a private search engine, real-time data breach alerts, and a personal data removal service. It also recently added a personal detail generator to sign up without using your real info. To our knowledge, it’s the only major VPN with this feature.

This VPN has apps for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android. It can also be manually installed on most home routers. The website provides detailed instructions, or you can ask staff to walk you through the process via the 24/7 live chat feature.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark boasts great speeds, unlimited connections, and impeccable streaming ability. Not only that but it prioritizes user security and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more details, read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

works with itvTested Sep 2024

IPVanish owns and operates roughly 2,400 servers globally, with four locations across England and Scotland. It’s an excellent option for British expats or travelers hoping to access platforms like Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, or STV Player during a trip abroad. What’s more, this is one of the few services that allows you to connect as many devices as you like, making an already inexpensive VPN even better value.

This provider’s apps are nice and straightforward. The main screen offers map-based location selection, but a full server list is accessible from a tab on the left. The settings menu is divided into several headings, and there’s enough here to offer a good degree of flexibility without being overwhelming to new users. We also like that there’s a pop-out menu on the main page that shows your current connection info (and lets you toggle the kill switch on, just in case you forgot to).

So, how does this provider keep you safe? It follows a true no-logs policy (and has been audited to prove it). Further, its encryption would take thousands of years to break, so there’s no cause for concern. IPVanish also boasts automatic reconnection, a kill switch, leak protection, and automatic activation on unknown networks. Finally, it can scramble OpenVPN traffic and just recently added a Threat Protection tool that blocks ads and trackers without you having to lift a finger.

This VPN has made huge strides in usability lately. Not only is it one of the fastest providers around (averaging 43.9 Mbps on a 48 Mbps connection), but it now works with tons of geo-blocked platforms that previously gave it trouble. For instance, we could use ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video without issues. Here’s a closer look at the results of our speed testing using IPVanish’s UK servers:

Users will appreciate that while the monthly plan is a little pricey, there are steep discounts on yearly and two-year subscriptions. If you pay upfront, you can get this VPN for as little as $2.19 per month. This does rise to $3.74 monthly after your first two years are up, but there’ll almost certainly be another deal to take advantage of at that point.

IPVanish offers apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS. You can also manually configure it for use with Linux systems and most routers. Need help? No problem: live chat-based support is available 24/7, and in our experience, staff are friendly, helpful, and quick to respond.

COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION:IPVanish works with any number of connected devices. It’s quick, reliable, and great for streaming ITVX regardless of your location. Annual plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

works with itvTested Sep 2024

ExpressVPN is known for its expansive server network—it has five English locations to choose from, more than any other provider in this list. Better still, we could effortlessly access ITVX from abroad while connected to the London servers. Of course, you’re not limited to ITV; ExpressVPN can unblock major apps like Prime Video, Now TV, and My5.

Comparing this VPN to similar products, one thing stands out: ExpressVPN has a straightforward, novice-friendly design. The main screen was created to connect you as quickly as possible, though you can also open the server selection menu from here. There aren’t too many advanced features in the settings menu, and each has a short description of what it does, which is great. It could probably get rid of the Shortcuts tab at the very least, though – this just opens specific websites for you and isn’t all that useful for the space it takes up.

While other VPNs might offer a greater selection of advanced features, ExpressVPN remains well worth using. For starters, it uses unbreakable encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch (which it calls Network Lock) to keep you safe. Further, this service has been audited multiple times, proving it doesn’t keep logs and that its apps lack major vulnerabilities. We appreciate its new ad, tracker, and malicious site-blocking tool, and its obfuscation automatically kicks in without any input from the user.

Let’s talk about performance. ExpressVPN’s custom Lightway protocol is very fast, even when using servers on the other side of the world. It keeps you safe even when switching networks, which is extremely impressive from a technical perspective. There was virtually no slowdown in our latest tests, either. This provider delivered average speeds of 41.5 Mbps on a 48 Mbps connection, which is more than enough for live streaming or any other day-to-day task.

There is an elephant in the room we should address at this point. ExpressVPN does cost a little more than its rivals. This is partially due to its lack of a multi-year plan (and the associated discount), but in fairness, even the annual plan is on the higher end than we’d expect. On the plus side is a six-month plan, which is relatively rare among consumer VPNs. Additionally, every subscription, even monthly, comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire Stick. This is the only major provider with its own router firmware. In other words, you can bypass the eight-connection limit and secure every device on your network without losing access to features like the kill switch or ad blocker.

STREAM ITV HUB ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN is a solid choice for streaming ITVX abroad. Provides impressive speeds and a strong set of security tools while prioritizing ease of use. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and works just about anywhere in the world. Take a look at our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

works with itvTested Sep 2024

CyberGhost has long been famous for its colossal network. It has thousands of servers spread across 100 countries, including England (though not Scotland, which is unfortunate for anyone hoping to use STV Player). Here’s the best part: many are optimized for streaming, and some were created to help you watch ITVX abroad. Other British TV platforms CyberGhost works with include BBC iPlayer, Eurosport, and Netflix UK. However, it’s worth mentioning that general-purpose servers can access many services, too – you just have to try them and see.

The apps do a decent job of keeping things simple despite the many advanced tools for experienced users to tinker with. Servers are split up by what they’re best used for, and you can quickly connect or change location from the main screen. From a user’s standpoint, finding a specific option at times can be tricky, but that’s a fairly small complaint. If the settings menus were streamlined a little, it’d go a long way.

We’re pleased to say that CyberGhost isn’t just good for streaming; it also takes your security seriously. In addition to the security tools you’d expect (kill switch, strong encryption, and leak protection), it boasts a built-in ad-blocker, automatic wifi protection, and random port connection. This won’t help you browse safely in China, but it might help you stay safe on networks that generally block VPN usage. Further, a smart rules section lets you decide when the VPN should activate on its own, which servers to use, and which apps to run when it does.

Key metrics indicate that CyberGhost is fast enough for whatever you have planned, whether watching live broadcasts, making video calls, or torrenting. Using its British servers, we recorded average speeds of around 43 Mbps on a 48 Mbps connection. That’s nothing to be sniffed at, and this VPN is placed firmly in the middle of the pack where speed is concerned. Here’s how well CyberGhost fared at different times of day:

This VPN has three subscription terms: one month, six months, and two years. Naturally, the longer you subscribe, the lower the overall monthly price. At the time of writing, the two-year plan costs just over $2 per month, which is a pretty generous discount. There are a couple of optional add-ons, too; if you’d like a dedicated IP address or an antivirus program for Windows, these cost a few dollars extra.

CyberGhost has iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux apps. The help section on its website offers detailed instructions for manually configuring this service for routers, just in case seven simultaneous connections aren’t enough. Live chat is available around the clock, too, so don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if you need it.

GREAT BEGINNER OPTION:CyberGhost is great for beginners. It’s quick, reliable, and capable of unblocking ITVX from outside the UK. It even offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee (14 days on monthly plans).

Check out our complete CyberGhost review.

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6. PrivateVPN

works with itvTested Sep 2024

PrivateVPN isn’t like most other services. While others have scrambled to provide the highest number of servers possible, this VPN has focused on curating a smaller selection that it owns and operates entirely in-house. There are around 200 in 63 countries, with two locations in the UK (London and Manchester). While this does mean you won’t be able to use STV Player abroad. It also ensures that no other company can access your traffic, which is great for your privacy.

When you first open the app, PrivateVPN looks the same as any other provider. However, there’s also an advanced view that gives you greater control over your connection. You’ll notice that even in this mode, things are well-organized—there are only a few tabs, so finding specific settings is nice and easy. Plus, there’s a direct link to PrivateVPN’s support materials and live chat just in case you get stuck. Be aware, though, that support only operates during European business hours.

This VPN boasts adjustable encryption, meaning you can trade some security for slightly higher speeds. Additionally, it prevents DNS and IPv6 leaks, includes an app-specific kill switch, and doesn’t keep any logs at all. Crucially, there’s a stealth mode capable of beating the world’s strictest digital censorship. If you plan on visiting a high-censorship country like China or the UAE, this lets you access the wider internet safely and is a must-have feature. Unfortunately, while WireGuard is supported, these connections must be set up manually.

On a home broadband connection, PrivateVPN fared pretty well. Barring one poor result in the morning, its speeds were fast enough for HD live streaming, and overall, it averaged 42.1 Mbps. That’s on the lower end of the spectrum, but it’s important to remember that the level of competition is extremely high. Here are the full results of our speed tests on a London server:

PrivateVPN has three reasonably priced tiers. Its one-month plans are slightly less expensive than some of its rivals, but the real savings are reserved for users on the three-month and three-year plans. The longest of these cuts the monthly price down to just $2 (payable upfront). There are no optional extras, enhanced security offerings, or add-ons, though, so if you want an all-in-one security package, you may want to look elsewhere.

Apps are available for MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. To get PrivateVPN running on Linux or routers, you’ll have to follow manual setup instructions. We appreciate the ten simultaneous connection limit, though, since this should be plenty for most people.

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Offers decent performance, a high degree of security, and the ability to stream ITV from anywhere in the world. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our full PrivateVPN review.

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7. ProtonVPN

works with ITVTested Sep 2024

ProtonVPN has more than 6,000 servers worldwide, with over 300 located throughout London and Manchester. The vast majority of these are optimized for streaming and torrenting, so whether you’re hoping to watch ITVX abroad or download large files, you’re sorted. With up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted, this is a solid option for families too. Just be aware that you can’t stream or choose location without upgrading to a paid plan.

The good news is the apps might look a little different from what you’d expect, but they’re still very easy to get the hang of. The main screen features both map and list-based server selection, and offers quick access to the port forwarding toggle. You can even create different profiles that’ll connect you to a random server at the touch of a button. We would rather the kill switch was tucked away in the settings menu though, since it’s easy to imagine accidentally turning it off and not realizing.

As you might expect, ProtonVPN shields you from online surveillance using unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. Further, it boasts an independently-verified zero-logs policy so there’s no need to worry about anyone finding out what you got up to after the fact. There’s split tunneling and port forwarding functionality too, plus a unique VPN accelerator function that claims to boost your speeds by up to 400 percent. We didn’t see a boost of that size, but it did seem to enhance our performance a little.

ProtonVPN’s speeds were consistent, certainly more than enough for live streaming. While it’s not the fastest provider we tested, it’s definitely up there – in our industry-wide tests, it delivered average speeds of over 200 Mbps. Even on a 48 Mbps connection, it averaged 42.9 Mbps, which is no small feat. Here’s a breakdown of how well the British servers performed at different times of day:

Technically, you can use this VPN for free. However, you won’t be able to choose your server location unless you upgrade. There are monthly, annual, and biannual plans, with the lowest monthly cost hovering around the $5 mark. That’s slightly pricier than some of its rivals but definitely nothing out of the ordinary. It’s also possible to get Proton Unlimited for a little more, which includes encrypted mail and calendar apps, file storage, and a password manager.

ProtonVPN has apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. Want to secure more than 10 devices? In that case, you’ll have to follow manual setup instructions to get it running on your router. Staff are happy to help, and you can contact them day or night via live chat.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN caters to tech-savvy users who want a versatile VPN. Boasts powerful security tools, steady speeds, and excellent streaming abilities on the paid plan. Subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our complete review of ProtonVPN.

8. PureVPN

works with ITVTested Sep 2024

PureVPN users can choose from 6,000+ servers in over 65 countries. Our experts have had great results using its British servers to access geo-blocked platforms like ITVX and BBC iPlayer abroad. However, it doesn’t have a presence in Scotland, so you won’t be able to stream STV Player during trips abroad. Still, you shouldn’t have any issues with most other platforms. As a bonus, this VPN can simultaneously protect up to 10 of your devices.

The interface is standard, with the ubiquitous quick-connect button front and center. There’s also a sidebar that provides access to the location selection and settings menus and features only available on the Plus and Max plans. Additionally, a scrollbar on the right serves the same function – it feels a bit much, but that’s a fairly minor complaint. On the plus side, the settings are separated into three tabs, which helps keep things neat.

This service hides your online activities from snoopers using powerful encryption and tracker-blocking. There’s also a kill switch and leak protection, plus PureVPN has been audited four times, proving that it doesn’t keep logs. Users can choose from three secure protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, or WireGuard) and set up split tunneling in case they’d like to watch ITV without losing access to services only available in their current location.

PureVPN was the quickest service overall when tested on a home broadband connection. Despite having middle-of-the-road speeds in the morning, it averaged out at 44.3 Mbps. For context, that’s quick enough to stream 4K video, torrent, and play online games with no noticeable slowdown or lag. When we used our ultra-fast test server, its performance was similarly impressive, averaging nearly 300 Mbps. Here’s a breakdown of PureVPN’s results:

The pricing structure is a little convoluted. There are monthly, annual, two-yearly, and five-yearly subscriptions, each with three tiers: standard, Plus, and Max. Naturally, monthly plans are the most expensive, with discounts increasing the longer you sign up for. For instance, the Max plan (which includes a password manager, data removal service, and a social privacy manager) costs $19.95 monthly or just $3.33 on the five-year plan.

PureVPN is one of the only providers that have a graphical app for Linux systems. Of course, it also supports Windows, iOS, Android, and MacOS, and can be manually configured to work with most home routers. Support is available 24/7 via live chat just in case you need assistance.

LOW COST:PureVPN is a reliable all-rounder that offers fast speeds and strong security. Very newcomer-friendly, with solid performance. Works great with ITVX and offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more with our full PureVPN review.

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How to unblock ITVX from anywhere with a VPN

If you’re concerned about how technical VPNs seem, you can relax. While the underlying technology is highly-sophisticated, the apps themselves tend to be very straightforward. Just follow these steps and you’ll be streaming ITV in a matter of minutes:

1. First off, decide which VPN provider you’d like to go with. We recommend NordVPN: our in-depth analysis found it to be the best overall VPN for watching ITV abroad thanks to its strong security, impressive performance, and proven no-logs policy.
2. Download and install the VPN app. Next, log in using the account credentials you created during registration.
3. Select a server in the UK (and specifically Scotland if you want to stream STV Player). Most VPNs have a button named “chosen server” or something similar on the main screen that’ll let you change location in a couple of clicks.
4. Wait a moment for the VPN to connect. You’ll either see the connection button turn green, the word “connected” appear, or some other visual indicator that things worked as expected. Now, all of your online activities are encrypted and hidden from hackers.
5. Open ITV or STV Player and try watching something. In most cases, your video will play immediately with no errors or performance issues. However, if you’re having problems, we’d recommend clearing your cache and cookies before trying again. Failing that, contact your VPN’s customer support team for additional assistance.

Methodology: Choosing the best VPNs for ITVX and STV Player

VPNs are definitely a buyer’s market but the amount of choice available can feel a little paralyzing. Besides, just because a service is capable of unblocking ITVX doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. To make sure we only highlight the very best VPNs for the job, we evaluated each provider on multiple criteria; here’s an overview of what we looked for in each of our five main categories:

Streaming ability

ITV is only available in the UK, so if your VPN doesn’t have British servers, it’s an automatic fail. The more locations, the better, though. In addition to allowing users to reduce their latency by using whichever server is closest, we looked for those with a presence in Scotland as this hypothetically grants access to STV Player, the regional variant of ITVX with different content. Providers were given a score out of 10 based on how many locations they offered and how many of these were in the UK.

Naturally, VPNs that couldn’t provide consistent access to ITVX didn’t make the cut. That said, most people don’t limit themselves to a single streaming service so it’s important your provider works with other popular platforms too. We tested each VPN against services like STV Player, BBC iPlayer, and Channel 4, assigning each a score out of 10 based on how many platforms it worked with.

We then asked one of our resident experts to give each provider a rating based on their streaming experience.

These three scores were normalized and weighted, giving us a single representative overview of how suitable each VPN is for streaming.

As you can see, we have a two-way tie for first place. IPVanish and CyberGhost both scored 9.5 out of 10, while PureVPN and PrivateVPN tied in last place, at 8.1. The reason for this is simple: the first pair had a higher number of UK server locations while the second only offered a handful.

UK server speed

Here at Comparitech, we regularly perform performance tests to monitor and track how quick each VPN is at specific moments in time. However, while our ultra-fast test server makes it easy to see what each provider is theoretically capable of, they don’t reflect real-world performance. After all, most people aren’t browsing the internet on a 5 Gbps connection.

That’s why we also run a series of tests using a standard home broadband connection (averaging 48.18 Mbps). To remove as much variability as possible, we tested each VPN’s British server in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon before averaging the results. We also used the desktop version of Ookla’s speed test to ensure that our browser didn’t impact the test. Again, these results were normalized, resulting in a score out of 10 for each provider:

You’ll notice that our top providers all had similar average speeds, despite variable performance at different times of day. PureVPN delivered a perfect score, though, outpacing all of its rivals. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN delivered the lowest result (7.2) though it did arguably have the most consistent speeds throughout the course of a single day.

Security & privacy

VPNs are primarily designed to help keep you safe, shielding your online activities from the prying eyes of your ISP, the government, or hackers. As such, any service that fails to provide a high level of security is simply not worth using. Our team evaluates each service and assigns a score based on 15 separate criteria. Here’s a full rundown of what we look for:

NordVPN and Surfshark were actually tied for first place, with a score of 9.5 out of 10. They each offered a vast array of privacy features, proven no-logs policy, and good parity of functionality across different platforms, which definitely contributed,.Meanwhile, PrivateVPN had the lowest score, a still-respectable 8.6 out of 10. It lost out due to its lack of more advanced features and slightly weaker (though still secure) encryption keys, as well as the fact that it only had a single anonymous payment option. Take a look below to see how well each VPN fared:

Ease of use

We get it: very few people would choose to spend their free time comparing the pros and cons of VPNs when they could be doing literally anything else. That’s why we prioritize services that make day-to-day usage as straightforward as possible. Our experts researched and personally tested each candidate based on its interface,, ease of signup (and cancellation), and how consistently it worked with streaming platforms like ITVX, among other things, Below, you’ll find a complete list of our evaluation criteria:

Our highest-scorer in this category was NordVPN with 9.6 out of 10. PrivateVPN delivered another 8.6 rating – this was partially due to its lack of task-specific servers, slightly lower unblocking consistency, and lack of a student discount. It’s worth mentioning, though, that this service cost less than many of its rivals, and still managed to provide most functionality across a variety of platforms. Here’s a chart showing how each VPN fared against its rivals:

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