DocPlay is home to many carefully curated documentaries, allowing viewers to watch thought-provoking series and standalone documentaries from around the globe. The only caveat is that DocPlay is region-locked to Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. You need a VPN to watch DocPlay abroad.
If you are a DocPlay subscriber, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in Australia, New Zealand, or The United Kingdom to watch DocPlay while traveling. A VPN lets you get an Australian IP address from anywhere, which makes it easy to log in and stream your DocPlay account on vacation. You can also use a VPN to subscribe to DocPlay while living overseas.
The encryption provided by a reliable VPN also gives you robust online privacy, which means you can use the best VPNs to bypass streaming blocks at work or on campus. This is useful if your workplace in Australia is blocking streaming platforms like DocPlay, Foxtel Now, 10 Play, 7Plus, Stan, Kayo, or any other Australian streaming service.
Not all VPNs have fast servers in the locations that work to watch DocPlay. You must pick your VPN provider carefully. Keep reading to learn how to unblock DocPlay from anywhere and to learn about our recommended VPNs for DocPlay.
How to watch DocPlay with a VPN
The guide below outlines all the steps to watch DocPlay or any other Australian TV service. Use the steps below to start streaming DocPlay.
- Start by picking a reliable VPN for DocPlay. We recommend NordVPN for its high-speed servers in Australia that work for watching DocPlay. If budget is a concern, Surfshark offers a cheap way to unblock DocPlay. Alternatively, ExpressVPN is a versatile VPN that offers impressive speeds and a large server network, including servers down under.
- Click one of our links to subscribe to the VPN. Our link automatically applies a coupon code, ensuring you get the best price for a DocPlay-compatible VPN.
- Download the VPN app. Our recommended VPNs for DocPlay support various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. This allows you to stream documentaries on any device, whether at home, at work, on campus, or using a mobile device on the go.
- Install and launch the VPN software on your streaming device.
- Select a VPN server in Australia, NZ, or The UK. Click connect and wait for the app to confirm the connection. Our recommended VPNs offer servers in each of these locations, making it easy to log in and stream your DocPlay account on vacation.
- Navigate to the DocPlay website, log in, and start streaming. If you don’t have an account yet, you can subscribe to DocPlay using your VPN.
You’re ready! Once your VPN connects, you have a valid IP address in Australia that works to log in and stream DocPlay. If you have any problems watching DocPlay while connected to your VPN, we recommend clearing your cookies and cache.
Trackers left in your browser during previous browsing sessions can cause a conflict with your VPN. Once removed, you can log in and steam DocPlay without errors.
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What is the best VPN to watch DocPlay?
A reliable VPN for watching DocPlay must give you secure access to servers in Australia or New Zealand that have been optimized for streaming. Not all VPNs offer fast enough speeds for watching DocPlay content.
Note that each VPN has unique features, so you should consider each summary to find the VPN that best suits your needs. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a basic VPN that is easier to use, a large family needing a VPN with unlimited connections, or an advanced user who wants a VPN with extra features – we’ve included options suitable for everyone.
Here are the best VPNs to watch DocPlay:
- NordVPN: Best VPN to watch DocPlay. NordVPN offers secure streaming with servers in 111 countries for accessing Australian and international content. It features high-speed NordLynx connections, strong encryption, and a strict no-logs policy. Compatible with Netflix US and other international services. 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark: Budget-friendly VPN for DocPlay. Reliable security and fast speeds, with server options in over 100 countries. Has a strict no-logs policy, and strong encryption. Works to watch Australian TV platforms like DocPlay, Stan, and Kayo.
- ExpressVPN: Secure and reliable. ExpressVPN offers fast, secure connections in over 100 countries, perfect for streaming DocPlay and other Australian platforms abroad or at work. It includes a kill switch, ad blocking, and native obfuscation for OpenVPN. A touch more expensive than our top picks.
- CyberGhost VPN: Great for beginners. CyberGhost labels its streaming-optimized servers. It works to access many popular platforms from around the globe, including DocPlay. Strong encryption to watch DocPlay at work. Works with Netflix.
- PureVPN: Perfect for people who want a cheap VPN. PureVPN has servers in 65+ countries, including Australia to watch DocPlay. Fast WireGuard protocol works to watch DocPlay in HD without buffering and strong encryption to unblock DocPlay at work or on campus.
- ProtonVPN: Based in Switzerland. Fully audited no logs policy. Port forwarding and play tunneling make it perfect for torrenting. Servers in 85 countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Fast for streaming in HD. Includes ad blocking, multi-hop, stealth, Tor over VPN, and other advanced settings.
How do we pick the best VPNs for DocPlay?
The online VPN market is packed with dozens of competing services. Many of those VPNs fall short by offering subpar apps, slow servers unsuitable for streaming, and a lack of vital security and privacy features that are important for watching DocPlay at work without being tracked (as well as preventing online tracking and using your VPN to protect against hackers on public wifi).
Many VPNs compromise on crucial things like strong encryption and fast server speeds to save costs. This makes it extremely easy to end up with an inferior VPN that fails to protect you and causes constant frustration when watching popular HD platforms like DocPlay, Foxtel Now, Kayo. Stan, Binge. ABC iView, etc.
We understand these concerns, so our experienced VPN review team uses a carefully crafted VPN testing methodology developed over many years. Our method lets us check under the hood to identify the best VPNs. Every VPN recommended in this guide has undergone rigorous testing to ensure optimal performance for accessing DocPlay abroad or on restricted networks. To give you as much info as possible, we have included a list of the main criteria we used below:
- A large server network, including servers in Australia, The UK, and New Zealand, to watch DocPlay.
- Fast server speeds optimized for streaming in HD, playing games, making video calls, and torrenting.
- Strong encryption and privacy tools are designed to let you unblock DocPlay or any other website privately at work or on campus.
- A strict no-logs policy and robust encryption to prevent all tracking and online surveillance.
- Compatible with popular international platforms like Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer,
- Apps for all devices to let you watch DocPlay on smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, smart TVs, consoles, and other devices.
- World-class support with live chat agents.
- Value for money and versatility.
Why is DocPlay restricted outside of Australia and New Zealand?
If you try to watch DocPlay outside of Australia or New Zealand, you will encounter the following error message: “DocPlay hasn’t launched in your part of the world yet.“
This location error is caused by licensing agreements. When DocPlay licenses documentaries for its platform, it only acquires the broadcasting rights for Australia and New Zealand. DocPlay blocks access for visitors living elsewhere.
To comply with licensing contracts, DocPlay monitors each visitor’s IP address. If the viewer’s IP address is outside the official region, it will serve the error message above. Unfortunately, these blocks also apply to subscribers on vacation, which can lead to frustration if you want to watch a documentary while relaxing in your hotel room.
You can use a VPN to switch your IP address. Connecting to a VPN server in Australia (or New Zealand) instantly makes you appear to be back home. This allows you to log in and watch DocPlay from anywhere.
Can I use a free VPN to watch DocPlay?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Streaming services know that netizens use VPNs to bypass region locks and block as many VPNs as possible, resulting in few VPNs that work to unblock popular streaming services like DocPlay.
Free VPNs have limited servers, making them easy for streaming platforms to spot and block. As a result, free VPNs are always the first to be blocked.
Besides failing to unblock popular streaming platforms, free VPNs suffer from slow speeds due to network congestion. They are often oversubscribed, with hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.
In addition to these performance issues, free VPNs cause many privacy and security concerns. Studies have shown that many free VPNs lack proper encryption, have vulnerabilities in their apps and servers, suffer from leaks, and even contain spyware. This makes using free VPNs dangerous. Free VPNs also have invasive privacy policies that allow them to collect user data and sell it to third parties.
Be extremely careful when picking a free VPN. Very few free VPNs can be trusted, so be sure to research before putting your trust in any free VPNs being advertised in app stores. Even customer reviews on Google Play should be treated with skepticism because many people often fail to realize they are using a VPN that suffers from leaks, lacks encryption, or has other serious problems.
How to watch DocPlay FAQs
Will DocPlay become available in the US and elsewhere?
DocPlay is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, and The United Kingdom. If you’re located outside these regions, you must use a VPN to access shows.
The location error message on DocPlay says: “Enter your email and we’ll let you know when DocPlay becomes available.” This implies that DocPlay is planning to extend its service to other countries.
Unfortunately, DocPlay has not published a roadmap or information about when it might start offering its service overseas. We do not know when DocPlay might become available in the US, the EU, or other regions.
For now, using a VPN remains the easiest and best way to watch DocPlay from abroad while traveling.
Do I need a fast VPN to watch DocPlay?
Yes, a fast VPN is hugely important when it comes to streaming and performing other data-intensive tasks. The VPN market is crowded with competing services, and not all providers invest in high-speed servers and apps that come with speedy protocols like WireGuard.
The VPNs we recommend in this guide have fast servers and advanced protocols to let you watch DocPlay without buffering or quality issues. We tested all these VPNs and they will keep your internet running close to your usual speed without the VPN.
Remember that a VPN can only speed up your internet if your ISP is engaging in bandwidth throttling. You can test a VPN to see if it speeds up your internet, but for most people, even the fastest VPN will slow down your internet a little.
What can I watch on DocPlay?
DocPlay is an on-demand streaming platform designed for viewers who love documentaries. The network provides access to a large number of carefully curated documentaries on diverse subjects and topics. Some of the categories covered by DocPlay include Art & Culture, Music, Science & Nature and Sports. Below, we have included a list of some of the hundreds of popular documentaries that are currently available on DocPlay:
- Ferrari – 312B
- The Soviet Union
- Paper City
- The Thief Collector
- Murky Skies
- The Corridors of Power
- Whetu Marama
- Beyond Utopia
- Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
- Joan Baez: I Am A Noise​
Is DocPlay free?
No. DocPlay is a premium service that costs AU$7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. It offers a 14-day free trial. You can test it for half a month risk-free. You have to provide payment details to access the free trial, and you will be billed after 14 days unless you cancel.
Is it legal to watch DocPlay with a VPN?
Yes. Using a VPN to access Australian streaming services like DocPlay from abroad is legal, and there have been no known prosecutions for streaming DocPlay outside Australia.
However, many streaming services state in their Terms of Service that using a VPN to access their platform from outside the designated regions (such as Australia and New Zealand for DocPlay) is prohibited. Services like DocPlay actively work to block VPNs, resulting in fewer VPNs that work to watch DocPlay from abroad.
Can I watch DocPlay at work with a VPN?
Yes. Many Australian employers block streaming services like DocPlay. They do this to prevent distractions. The good news is that you can use a VPN to bypass network restrictions.
When you connect to a VPN server at work, on campus, or on any other restricted network, you appear to be outside of the restricted network. This lets you use the internet as if you were back at home. As a result, you can watch DocPlay, Netflix, Stan, or any other service blocked by your work. You can also use social media, play games, etc.
The best thing about a reliable VPN is that it also provides encryption. When you bypass blocks at work, your employer cannot find out. This privacy makes it safe to watch DocPlay at work, but we still advise caution.
Using a VPN on your own devices and during breaks such as lunch is better. This will stop your boss from walking up behind you and finding you streaming during work hours, which could get you in trouble. Use of a VPN is at your own risk, so be sensible!
