Best VPN for Pandora in 2024 and how to listen abroad

Pandora is the world’s most famous internet radio service. But there’s a drawback. If you want to listen to Pandora radio online outside of the USA, you will need to use a VPN for Pandora to gain a US IP address. If you try to listen to Pandora outside of the US, you will encounter an error message that says ‘Pandora isn’t available in this country’.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) will encrypt your traffic through a server in the location of your choice. This not only changes your IP address and unblocks geo-restricted content like Pandora, but it also provides extra security as you browse.

This guide will explain the very best VPNs for listening to Pandora from anywhere and explain how to use them. We’ll go into more detail about each of the providers below, but in case you’re in a rush, here’s a quick summary of our top picks:

The best VPNs for Pandora:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 VPN for Pandora! Operates over 5,500 super-fast servers all over the globe and almost 2,000 in the US. Strong security and encryption. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Pandora.
2. Surfshark: Best budget provider that unblocks Pandora and a range of other streaming services for a low cost. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
3. IPVanish: Fast servers, great for streaming. Secure apps that allow unlimited simultaneous connections.
4. ExpressVPN: Fast servers in over 90 countries. Unblocks Pandora and most other online streaming sites. Knowledgeable 24/7 customer service.
5. CyberGhost: Easy-to-use apps, strong security, and plenty of fast servers, over 9,000 globally and almost 1,500 in the US to unblock Pandora.
6. Private Internet Access: Performed well in our tests with unblocking Pandora and popular streaming sites. Wide server network. No connection limits.

Best VPNs for Pandora: at a glance

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

Criteria for the best Pandora VPNs

Plenty of VPNs are on the market, but they don’t all provide the same level or quality of service. We’ve narrowed down our list of the best VPNs for playing Pandora radio based on the following criteria:

• Reliable servers in the USA to provide a US IP address
• Apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
• Speeds suitable for uninterrupted streaming
• Successfully bypasses Pandora’s VPN blocking technology
• Easy to use with knowledgeable customer support
• Strong security and privacy protocols and a no-logs policy
• Fair pricing with a money-back guarantee

In our methodology section below, you can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend. For now, let’s examine the ones that made the cut. 

The best VPNs for Pandora

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for accessing Pandora from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Nov 2024 Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

NordVPN is our top pick for a Pandora radio VPN. It’s incredibly fast and operates a huge network of more than 1,900 servers in the US alone. NordVPN works with just about every streaming service we’ve tested, from Pandora radio to BBC iPlayer and Hulu. It was even capable of accessing the British and American Netflix libraries, among many others.

It maintains the highest privacy standards and features a “Smart Play” DNS tool that lets you access  Pandora anywhere, even on devices that don’t support native VPN apps.NordVPN uses effectively-uncrackable encryption and protects against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. It also boasts a customizable kill switch that lets you decide which apps get cut off in the event of a disconnection.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Certain servers are optimized for better security and faster speeds. You can connect up to six simultaneous devices on a single account, making it a great value.

BEST PANDORA VPN:NordVPN is our #1 pick. It is extremely fast and has plenty of servers for unblocking Pandora. It reliably unblocks other popular streaming sites, connects up to 6 devices at one time, and provides live chat support. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free option.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

Surfshark is a budget-friendly option that unblocks pretty much any region-locked streaming service you can throw at it, including Pandora. It allows an unlimited number of devices to connect on a single plan and offers apps for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android, along with browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Speeds are decent and reliable.

Surfshark supports every major operating system and offers free 24/7 support over live chat. We’ve tested it with dozens of streaming services and never had any problems. On that note, any server will work with Netflix, with any from unsupported regions simply redirecting you to the US version.

Surfshark uses strong encryption and keeps no logs of your activity or identifying information. Live chat support is available 24/7 should you encounter any issues.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Unblock Pandora and other streaming services on as many devices as you want with Surfshark. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

IPVanish owns and operates its own huge network of servers around the globe. That includes the US. With easy-to-use apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS, IPV will have you listening to Pandora within minutes of signing up, no matter where you are in the world.

You’ll also enjoy the peace of mind of military-grade encryption and a strict no-logs policy. IPVanish is a good choice for families as you can connect as many devices as you like and therefore have unlimited active users with one account.

IPVanish is popular with torrenters as users can torrent as much as they like without fear of throttling. This VPN also works with multiple streaming platforms including BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Netflix US as well as online games, so it’s a great choice for people who like to do a bit of everything.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish is great for families, easy to set up and has good security, it comes with live chat and phone support. You can try it out with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

4. ExpressVPN

Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

ExpressVPN offers well-designed and simple apps combined with top-tier security and a server network spanning 3,000+ servers in 160 locations operating in 94 countries. That includes multiple cities in the US. The servers are always reliable and fast, so you should have no problems with smooth playback.

ExpressVPN protects your privacy with 256-bit encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. It also boasts its own Lightway protocol, which can keep your data secure even while switching from wifi to mobile data. These security tools are available in every version of the app, as well as in ExpressVPN’s custom router firmware.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Linux (command line). 24/7 live chat support is available 365 days per year if you need any assistance.

GREAT UNBLOCKER:ExpressVPN is great at accessing geo-restricted content. It has fast streaming speeds, easy-to-use apps for all devices, and strong security and privacy. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

CyberGhost makes it easy to unblock Pandora with its simple and intuitive apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS. Whether Pandora isn’t available in your country or your school or workplace is blocking it, connecting to a CyberGhost server in the US will give you access. It works with both the Pandora app and the website.

CyberGhost has a vast network of servers, with over 9,000 globally and around 1,500 in the US. It allows up to seven simultaneous connections and is great at unblocking a wide range of streaming services.

CyberGhost boasts a zero-logs policy and uses strong encryption to keep your privacy intact. Its apps are available for all major operating systems and include a wealth of security tools, including 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and the ability to connect via a random port (which might help you use networks that otherwise block VPN traffic).

GREAT FOR NOVICES:CyberGhost lets you unblock Pandora and tons of other streaming channels with ease. It comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. Private Internet Access

Unblocks PandoraTested Nov 2024

Private Internet Access is an excellent choice for unblocking Pandora Radio. It operates out of the United States with a global network of 10,000+ servers in over 80 locations. PIA makes short work of geo-restrictions, so you’ll also be able to enjoy services like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney Plus from abroad. PIA makes use of WireGuard, which is perfect for HD streaming and lets you enjoy your favorite shows without buffering.

To help ensure your connection remains private, PIA uses 256-bit encryption, which is the same standard of encryption used by the military. Speaking of encryption, if you’re an advanced user looking for expert settings, PIA lets you customize your level of encryption for a more bespoke connection experience. It also includes DNS leak protection and a kill switch.

All plans allow unlimited device connections, and with apps available on platforms like iOS, Android, and Windows, you can stream Pandora from multiple devices around the home or on the move. PIA gives users 30 days to change their minds, providing a full refund if canceled in the first month.

WIDE SERVER COVERAGE:PIA has over 10,000 servers in 80 countries worldwide to unblock Pandora Radio from outside the US. It employs advanced security features and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Private internet Access.

How to access Pandora Radio from anywhere with a VPN

Don’t worry if you’ve never used a VPN before, regaining access to Pandora as you travel is easier than you might think. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be listening in no time:

1. First, sign up for one of the VPNs above (we recommend NordVPN)
2. Install the VPN app onto whichever device you usually listen on. Note that most providers let you connect around five devices at a time.
3. Log in and select a server in the US, this will give you the US IP address you need to access Pandora Radio from abroad.
4. Now, simply use Pandora as you normally would.
5. If you’re still running into errors, clear your cookies (if using the web version) or data (if using the app) and try again. Failing that, your VPN’s customer support team should be able to help you further.

Our methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for Pandora

Choosing which VPN to use can be tricky, and the number of services available complicates things further. That’s why we set a strict list of criteria to ensure that only the best VPNs make our list. Here are the key things to consider when shopping for a Pandora VPN and what we expect, at a minimum, from the services we recommend:

• Server locations: Pandora is region-locked and can only be accessed in select countries. To unblock it while traveling, you’ll need a server in a support location, such as the US. Nearby servers usually provide the best performance, which is why we look for VPNs with networks covering many countries.
• Speed: We have to ensure that your VPN is fast enough for anything you throw at it, whether that’s listening to the radio, live streaming TV, torrenting, or watching videos on social media. We’ve speed-tested dozens of VPNs and will only ever recommend the best performers.
• Unblocking capabilities: Pandora might not be the only service from back home you’d like to access, which is why we look for VPNs that excel at beating regional blocking. For instance, we’ll test VPNs against platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max to see which can reliably access the most content.
• Security and privacy: VPNs are designed to protect your traffic from snoopers, and we won’t recommend any that fall short. At a minimum, we look for DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, a no-logs policy, and 256-bit encryption. Naturally, we prefer providers that go even further.
• Price: We test a lot of VPNs, so it’s immediately obvious when one tries to charge more than it’s worth. All of the services we recommend are fairly priced, and we’ll always inform you about any deals to reduce the amount you pay to the absolute minimum. We also take a close look at the T&Cs, including the money-back guarantee and any free trials available.
• User-friendliness: Staying safe online shouldn’t be a hassle. Our top VPNs all have novice-friendly apps. Further, they all allow you to get help over live chat in case of any issues.
• Devices: You can listen to Pandora on multiple devices, so your VPN must work across platforms, too. We test each VPN on mobile and desktop before recommending it to our readers. We expect to see native apps for Android and iOS devices and a generous simultaneous device limit.

Believe it or not, this is just the beginning of our testing. If you’re interested, we have an in-depth post outlining Comparitech’s testing methodology.

Listening to Pandora with a free VPN

While it’s always tempting to opt for something for free rather than paying for yet another subscription, we don’t recommend it when it comes to VPNs. Free VPNs are simply inferior to paid providers. They tend to have higher numbers of users and few servers leading to high traffic, data caps, network congestion, waiting times, and frustrating buffering and lag while streaming.

Additionally, such services aren’t free in the proper use of the term. They have to monetize somehow – after all, they’re companies that have overheads such as staff costs and server maintenance – with the most obvious product being yourself.

As a user, your browsing habits are a potential goldmine for pesky advertisers. Supposedly free VPN providers have been caught inserting tracking cookies in their users’ devices and mining that data to sell to the highest bidder. That’s completely unethical, and even if this doesn’t happen to you, you’re definitely going to get a ton of invasive migraine-inducing advertisements. Best to avoid the risk and opt for a quality VPN provider instead.

Pandora Radio limitations

Note that Pandora Internet Radio limits free users to a certain number of skips within a set period of time. This limit varies depending on whether you have a paid subscription and your listening device.

Pandora no longer limits users to 40 hours of listening per month. This restriction has been removed.

Users on free accounts must listen to advertisements that cannot be skipped.

Using Pandora with a VPN: FAQs