How to Watch Adult Swim Abroad (outside the US) with a VPN

Adult Swim has some great shows, such as Rick & Morty, American Dad, and Robot Chicken. However, if you want to watch all your favorite shows from back home, you will need the help of a VPN. Most Adult Swim content is free to stream if you log in with a US IP address. Otherwise, you’ll be greeted with the following error message:

“This video is not available in your region.”

To unblock Adult Swim shows from virtually anywhere in the world, you’ll have to connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) first. This software will route your device’s traffic through an encrypted tunnel to your chosen server. When you connect to a VPN server in the US, you are assigned a local IP address. Adult Swim and other sites like Netflix will operate under the assumption that you’re physically in the United States. As a bonus, the encryption factor of VPNs means it’s impossible for hackers and snoopers to determine what you’re doing on the web.

In a rush? Here’s a quick look at each of our top VPNs for Adult Swim. If any stand out to you, scroll down for a more detailed review.

Best VPNs to stream Adult Swim anywhere: 

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Adult Swim. Boasts an expansive server network with lots of options in the US. Reliable, fast, and secure. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best value VPN for accessing Adult Swim. Quality provider that’s well-suited for privacy and streaming. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
3. ExpressVPN: A superior VPN to access Adult Swim. It’s fast and reliable and can securely access many streaming sites, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
4. CyberGhost: Suited for beginner users as it ships with well-designed apps. Fast speeds and solid privacy are included. Vast global server network.
5. IPVanish: Unlimited simultaneous connections coupled with incredible privacy-evading tech. Lots of servers in the US. Popular with Kodi users.
6. PrivateVPN: Intuitive apps and a clean user interface. Excels at securely accessing streaming sites like Adult Swim and Netflix.

TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Adult Swim.

How to watch Adult Swim outside the US with a VPN

VPNs can initially seem intimidating, but they’re quite easy to use. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be streaming Adult Swim shows abroad in no time:

1. Register with one of the VPNs we’ve recommended. Our top choice is NordVPN.
2. Once the payment formalities are out of the way, download and install the relevant VPN apps for your device.
3. Restart your device.
4. Once rebooted, connect to a server in the US. This will give you the US IP address you need to bypass geographic restrictions.
5. Proceed to the Adult Swim page. You should now be able to stream all the content you want.
6. If it doesn’t work immediately, don’t panic. Just clear your browser’s cache and cookies to remove old location identifiers and try again. Failing that, try a different US server or contact your VPN’s support team for advice.

How we chose the best VPNs for Adult Swim

There are, quite literally, hundreds of VPNs to choose from, but they don’t all exhibit the same qualities. As such, we’ve based our recommendation of the top VPNs to unblock Adult Swim on the following criteria:

Criteria for selecting the best VPNs for Adult Swim

• Unblocks geo-restricted sites
• Offers a fast and stable connection
• Incorporates a large number of servers in the US
• Supports HD streaming with minimal buffering
• Offers strong privacy and encryption features so your location is hidden
• Has friendly customer support
• Allows multiple simultaneous connections

This is just an overview, but you can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below.

Best VPNs to Stream Adult Swim outside the US

At Comparitech, we test every VPN personally before deciding which ones to recommend to you. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences of using these providers.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs you can use to watch your favorite Adult Swim shows from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

NordVPN is the best VPN for Adult Swim, but it also works with services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. There are around 5,500 servers globally, with roughly 2,000 in the US alone. Best of all, this provider offers exceptionally high speeds, which means you shouldn’t encounter lag or buffering unless you’re on an especially slow base connection.

This VPN follows a no-logs policy, meaning your activities can’t be divulged under any circumstances. Additionally, it includes a wealth of security and privacy features. There’s 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and an internet kill switch, for instance, plus a newer tool that lets you periodically switch IP addresses. Customer support is available 24/7 over live chat, making it as easy as possible to get help.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can manually install this service on a wide range of routers too.

BEST VPN FOR ADULT SWIM:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Fast, efficient, and secure. It can securely access Adult Swim and most other international streaming sites. Try it risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

Surfshark is our top budget option for streaming Adult Swim. It has more than 3,200 servers in around 100 countries, including the United States. Further, this VPN stands out from the crowd by allowing unlimited connections and providing far higher speeds than many of its rivals. In fact, in our tests, it averaged over 320 Mbps on a gigabit connection.

All user traffic is protected with 256-bit AES encryption in conjunction with 2,048-bit DHE-RSA keys. There’s also an internet kill switch and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. Surfshark boasts a stealth mode capable of bypassing extremely strict online censorship and doesn’t keep any logs at all. Need help? Get in touch at any time using the free live chat service.

Apps are available for all major platforms — iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and MacOS. Alternatively, you can manually configure this VPN to work with select routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is our top low-cost option. It’ll help you stream Adult Swim and keep you secure on the internet in the process. Allows unlimited connections. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. ExpressVPN

unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN is a great choice for streaming Adult Swim outside the US. The service has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries, including options in America. We tested four US server locations, and all of them granted access to Adult Swim. That’s not all: we’ve seen this VPN work with many streaming services, including Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ESPN+, and more.

This provider is fast, uses powerful encryption protocols, and offers customer support around the clock (via both live chat and email). All web traffic is secured with 256-bit AES encryption. It also includes DNS and IPv6 leak protection, an internet kill switch, and split tunneling. It doesn’t store any logs that could potentially identify a user.

A single account allows for five connections at one time. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and select routers.

ALL ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is fast and secure, with all of the tools you’ll need to stream Adult Swim abroad safely. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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4. CyberGhost

unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, delivering average speeds of over 500 Mbps in our latest tests (on a 1 Gbps connection). It also boasts one of the largest networks of any provider, with 9,000+ servers in 91 countries and around 1,500 to choose from in the US. Streaming Adult Swim won’t be an issue since this VPN is able to access much more stubborn platforms like Netflix and Hulu securely.

User traffic and privacy are safeguarded with the use of 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, an internet kill switch, an anti-malware defense, and an ad-blocker. What’s more, this VPN is headquartered in Romania and doesn’t have to comply with any mandatory data retention laws. Naturally, it refuses to log any data that could identify you. Live chat-based support is available 24/7.

Apps are available for Linux, Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire Stick. Manual installation is required for supported routers. A single account allows for seven simultaneous connections.

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS:CyberGhost has a simple, intuitive user interface and offers around 1,500 servers in the United States. You can expect fast and consistent streaming of Adult Swim. Try it with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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5. IPVanish

unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

IPVanish has roughly 2,000 self-owned servers around the world, with around half of these being in the United States. This VPN offers extremely high speeds and should be able to handle multiple 4K streams without any issues (provided your base connection is up to the task). There’s no connection limit whatsoever, and IPVanish can securely access Netflix, Disney Plus, and more, not just Adult Swim.

This provider also refrains from logging any user data on its servers. It further enhances your privacy with 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, an internet kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Users can also choose to scramble their OpenVPN traffic or switch to the newer, more easily-audited WireGuard protocol.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS, and customer support is ready to help 24/7. You’ll have to install this VPN on Linux systems manually and supported routers.

EXTREMELY VERSATILE:IPVanish checks all the boxes for a modern, reliable VPN service. Streaming Adult Swim will be a hassle-free experience. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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6. PrivateVPN

unblocks adult swimTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN focuses on the quality of connections rather than tons of server options. It’s a proven performer for both speed and securely accessing streaming sites abroad. Its roster of servers is smaller than the other providers on this list — with about 200 options in 63 locations — but it gets the job done. As well as Adult Swim, PrivateVPN works with Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more.

Security features include 256-bit AES encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and an internet kill switch. It’s a ‘no-logs’ provider, so it refrains from storing any user data. PrivateVPN also offers a stealth mode that works in places like China, and it provides support live chat most (but not all) hours of the day. A single account allows 10 devices to connect simultaneously.

Support for all the major platforms — Android, Windows, iOS, and MacOS — is included. You’ll have to follow manual setup instructions to get it running on Linux systems or supported routers, though.

STREAMING VPN:PrivateVPN has proven to be a reliable performer with many popular streaming services. Prioritizes your privacy. Also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for Adult Swim

Not every VPN is a good choice for streaming. In fact, you’ll often find that a VPN that works with one service completely fails to access another. Then, there are security and performance implications to consider. When searching for the best VPNs for Adult Swim, we considered the following areas:

• US server presence: Adult Swim is geo-blocked, so you’ll need a US IP address to access it. We looked for VPNs with many US servers, ideally spread out across several cities so you can use whichever are closest.
• Speed and reliability: You’ll need a pretty fast connection to stream HD video without lag or buffering. We’ve speed-tested dozens of VPNs, and can safely say that all of those above are up to the task. In fact, you should even be able to watch 4K streams, assuming your base connection is up to scratch.
• Streaming potential: Eventually, you might want to watch something different. We prioritized VPNs that worked with many different streaming services so that you can watch your usual content on platforms like Sling TV, Disney Plus, and fuboTV as well as Adult Swim.
• Privacy and security: It’s not enough to be able to watch Adult Swim; you also have to be able to do this securely. That’s why our top picks all offer 256-bit encryption, a no-logging policy, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. This is just a starting point, though, and we strongly prefer those with more advanced tools built in.
• Value for money: A VPN that provides all of these features does not have to cost the earth, in fact, we rule out any providers that overcharge for their services. All the VPNs we recommend offer good value for money. They all have money-back guarantees so you can ensure you’re happy before you commit long-term, and if you make us of the deals included in this article, you can be sure you’re getting the best possible deal.

Interested in learning more? Read our full explainer to find out exactly how we test VPNs at Comparitech.

Using a free VPN to watch Adult Swim

Free VPNs are always tempting, but they aren’t all they’re made out to be. The fact of the matter is that these services have several disadvantages when compared to paid options. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Lack of server options

Free VPN providers don’t offer hundreds of servers the same way that paid providers do. You might be able to find servers housed in the US, but they won’t be optimized for speed or security. Expect frequent interruptions to your connection.

Bandwidth throttling and network congestion

Free VPN providers habitually take on far more users than their existing network capacity can support. This means you might have to endure wait times to connect to a server. Plus, speeds will be throttled as servers can’t keep up with all the requests. Paid providers, on the other hand, aren’t plagued by similar concerns.

Lack of data privacy and security

Lots of free VPNs mine user data and browsing habits to sell to third-party advertisers. Others have been known to piggyback on idle bandwidth to build botnet armies and attack rival sites. And that’s not all — a 2016 survey of free VPN apps found that over one-third contained malware.

Paid providers put user interests first and won’t sour your browsing experience or privacy needs. If you sign up with a free VPN, you should be aware of the inherent risks involved.

That’s why we maintain that unblocking Adult Swim from abroad is only a hassle-free experience if you choose to go with a paid VPN provider. Such services provide consistent speeds, high uptime, and robust customer support to troubleshoot your problems.

What’s more, all the ones we’ve recommended in this article have a money-back guarantee — this gives you the flexibility to try the service for a few weeks. If it doesn’t meet your requirements, you’ll get your money back. Alternatively, if you’re still concerned about cost, try a quality VPN with a free trial.

Streaming with a VPN: FAQs