How to Watch RTL+ Abroad (outside Germany) with a VPN

RTL+ (formerly TVNow) content is region-locked, a common theme among popular streaming platforms due to rights and licensing restrictions. This means that if you move abroad or travel outside Germany, you won’t be able to watch your favorite TV shows on RTL+. Fortunately, there’s an easy way around this. You can watch RTL+ outside Germany by using a VPN to gain a German IP address.

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that encrypts your device’s internet connection, protecting your privacy in the process. When you connect to a server in Germany, you’ll be able to unblock RTL+ as if you were actually in Germany. As a bonus, VPNs also prevent others – hackers, government agencies, or your ISP – from snooping on your online activities, and they keep you safe while using public wifi.

We’ll discuss the best VPNs for the job in more detail further on in this article, but in case you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary:

Best VPNs for watching RTL+ abroad from anywhere:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 Choice for RTL+. Over 240 servers in Germany for watching RTL+ abroad. Allows up to 10 connections. Beginner-friendly apps. 24/7 live support, a strict no-logs policy, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for RTL+.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN option. Unlimited simultaneous connections. German servers. Unblocks most sites, including RTL+. Beginner-friendly apps, 24/7 support, and packed with security features.
3. IPVanish: Allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices. Dozens of servers in Frankfurt for watching RTL+ outside Germany. No-logs VPN service with live chat support.
4. ExpressVPN: Works with RTL+, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. Fast and very easy to use. Offers 24/7 support and is highly secure with encryption. Connect up to five devices.
5. CyberGhost: Over 1,600 German servers. Works with RTL+ and Netflix US. Very fast speeds for streaming. Seven simultaneous connections. Strict no-logs policy.
6. PrivateVPN: High-speed servers for streaming RTL+ and Netflix. Beginner-friendly apps, live support, and no-logs policy. Connect up to ten devices.

How to watch RTL+ outside Germany

Even if you’ve never used a VPN before, you could be watching RTL+ from abroad in a matter of minutes! Just follow these simple steps.

How to use a VPN to watch RTL+ abroad, outside Germany:

1. Sign up with a VPN with German servers – we particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Download the appropriate app for your operating system (you may also have the option of downloading a browser extension).
3. Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server in Germany; this will give you the German IP address you need to bypass RTL+ restrictions.
4. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to ensure RTL+ forgets your current IP address and location (and accepts the IP address of the VPN).
5. Go to the RTL+ website or to an RTL+ app and select your preferred content. It should now be unblocked, and you can watch your chosen content.

How we selected the best VPNs to watch RTL+ outside Germany

There are many VPN providers on the market, but they don’t all provide the same level of service. In order to find the best VPNs for watching RTL+ abroad, we looked for those that met the following criteria:

• Fast servers in Germany for streaming RTL+ abroad
• Also works with popular streaming services, including Netflix
• Strong security with encryption and a strict no-logs policy
• Customer support via live chat and email
• Desktop and mobile apps that are easy to use
• Offers a risk-free money-back guarantee

You can read more about how we test and rank the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below. For now, let’s take a look at the ones that made the cut. 

Best VPNs for RTL+ 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 RTL+.

The best VPNs to watch RTL+ outside Germany

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching RTL+ from anywhere:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for RTL+. It’s one of the largest VPNs on the market, with a global network of some 6,000+ servers. Over 240 of these servers are located in Germany at present, making it easy to watch RTL+ abroad. Speeds are fast enough for flawless browsing and a seamless streaming experience, plus you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

One of the best things about NordVPN is that it works with many popular websites and services, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Further, Panama-based NordVPN is a highly secure service with specialized servers for double VPN and Tor over VPN connections. NordVPN protects your data with 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. It also has a strict no-logs policy and offers excellent live chat support 24/7, should you need it.

NordVPN apps are available for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Android TV. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox. Compatible routers can be configured manually.

BEST VPN FOR RTL+:NordVPN is our #1 choice it has over 240 servers in Germany and 6,000+ worldwide. It works with everything from RTL+ to Netflix. Lets you connect up to 10 devices and has 24/7 live chat support. No-logs VPN with encryption and specialty servers for extra security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review here, or check out our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN provider that doesn’t compromise on quality. With around 3,200 servers in over 100 countries, Germany included, it’s well-equipped to access any content you require. The global and German servers are fast and consistent and work well with the likes of RTL+, Netflix, and Hulu. However, arguably the best Surfshark feature is the unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to share this VPN with the whole family. It’s also worth mentioning that Surfshark has excellent 24/7 live chat support.

If you’re looking for an extra layer of security, Surfshark offers MultiHop functionality, effectively letting you use two VPN servers at once. There are plenty of other features, including split-tunneling, so you can choose which websites and apps can bypass the VPN. Surfshark’s security features include 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. The strict no-logs policy means this VPN doesn’t collect connection or activity logs, allowing you near-total online anonymity.

Surfshark can be accessed via Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV/Fire Stick apps. You can also download Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. Linux and routers require manual configuration.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN that lets you connect as many devices as you want simultaneously. Works with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and RTL+. 24/7 support and beginner-friendly apps and browser extensions. No-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review here, or ceckout the video review below.

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3. IPVanish

unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

IPVanish lets you watch RTL+ outside Germany with its servers in Frankfurt. This VPN has a network of over 2,000 servers worldwide with more than 40,000 IPs available. Fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth allow you to stream and torrent without any slowdown, lag, or buffering. This VPN is known to be particularly easy to use with Kodi and Amazon Fire Stick TV. Moreover, it lets you connect as many devices as you want, which is ideal for families.

Setting up and using IPVanish is very simple. You can search for servers by country as well as by latency. Alternatively, there’s a quick connect option for connecting to the best available server. This VPN offers 24/7 live chat support and has a strict no-logs policy. IPVanish is headquartered in the US and uses 256-bit AES encryption to keep your data secure. There’s also protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks and an automatic kill switch.

IPVanish apps are offered for desktop (Windows and Mac), mobile (Android and iOS), and Amazon Fire TV/Fire Stick. Linux and routers require manual installation.

GOOD FOR FAMILIES:IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections which is ideal for sharing with family. Dozens of servers in Germany for watching RTL+ abroad. Live chat support and secure with a no-logs policy and encryption. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review here, or check out our video review below.

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4. ExpressVPN

unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN lets you unblock websites and services in 100+ countries, including Germany. Aside from RTL+, you can use this VPN to watch anything from Netflix to BBC iPlayer. Its servers in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, and Nuremberg are fast and reliable, with ExpressVPN promising 99.9% uptime. The unlimited bandwidth offered makes you unlikely to encounter any buffering or lag when streaming your favorite German TV content.

The user-friendly ExpressVPN apps make it easy to secure your devices, and browser extensions make everything even more straightforward. However, this service offers 24/7 live chat and email support just in case you have any questions.

When you use ExpressVPN, your data is secured with 256-bit AES encryption, while there’s also protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. This VPN service is based in the British Virgin Islands and doesn’t keep any identifying logs of its users. Further security features include a kill switch and the option of anonymous payment in Bitcoin (provided you use a Bitcoin mixing service beforehand).

You can use ExpressVPN via the apps which are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available.

GOOD ALL-ROUNDER:ExpressVPN is another good option Offers a seamless streaming experience. Accesses RTL+ outside Germany via fast and reliable servers. Allows up to 8 simultaneous connections and offers 24/7 support. Secure with encryption and a kill switch. You can try it risk-free thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

CyberGhost has more German servers than most VPNs on the market, with the current number at over 1,600 spread across 4 cities, allowing you to access RTL+ with ease. Conveniently, this VPN also works with Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. Streaming with CyberGhost is stress-free thanks to the high speeds and unlimited bandwidth. Another advantage is that you can use this VPN service to have up to seven simultaneous connections.

You can try CyberGhost risk-free as it has a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee. It’s straightforward to use, with a simple interface and quick, one-click connections. Just as important, this is a highly secure VPN with a strict no-logs policy. It’s headquartered in Romania, outside the jurisdiction of the 5 Eyes and 14 Eyes alliances. You can expect 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.

Download CyberGhost apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire Stick TV. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox. Manual installation is required for Linux and routers.

STRONG SECURITY:CyberGhost is fast, reliable, and has some 1,600 servers in Germany. Works well with RTL+ and Netflix. Very strong security in the form of a strict no-logs policy and encryption. Up to 7 simultaneous connections and 24/7 live chat support. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PrivateVPN

unblocks RTL+Tested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN is a particularly good VPN for streaming RTL+ overseas because it has some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen. It’s unlimited bandwidth and speed make for uninterrupted browsing, streaming, and torrenting. This VPN has servers in 60 countries, including Germany (in Frankfurt and Nuremberg). Furthermore, it works with most geo-blocked websites and services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Go.

You can use PrivateVPN to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. The desktop and mobile apps are extremely easy to use — even for beginners. Regardless, this VPN offers live chat support and remote assistance should you need it. PrivateVPN is headquartered in Sweden and has a no-logs policy. Your data is secured with 256-bit AES encryption while there’s also a kill switch and DNS and IPv6 leak protection.

PrivateVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Linux and routers require you to follow manual setup instructions.

HIGH SPEED SERVERS:PrivateVPN is a very fast VPN for streaming and torrenting. Works with RTL+, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more. Desktop and mobile apps are easy to use for beginners. Connect up to ten devices. No-logs VPN with live chat support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for RTL+

There are so many VPNs on the market that it can be difficult to know where to start. And testing them out yourself is a time-consuming and expensive process. So we’ve done the hard work for you. We thoroughly test every VPN we recommend to make sure it’s up to our standards and can meet your needs. Below are some of the criteria we looked for in the best VPN for RTL+:

• German servers: Without these, you simply won’t be able to access RTL+ abroad. We also consider the number of available servers, their locations, and how consistent they are since all of these can affect your experience.
• Speed: For a seamless streaming experience, you need the fastest speeds and a stable connection. We run hundreds of speed tests every year and can say with confidence that all of the VPNs above are quick enough for this task.
• Versatility: We prefer VPNs that work with lots of popular streaming platforms. To see which are the most reliable choices for streaming, we test candidates with popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN.
• Security and privacy: To make sure you’re able to stream securely, we require our top VPNs to offer 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. Additionally, they must not log any personally identifiable data.
• Usability: We strongly prefer user-friendly services with apps for all major platforms. Bonus points for any extra quality-of-life features such as unlimited connections, 24/7 customer support, and clearly-labeled servers for streaming.

Want to know more? Read our in-depth testing methodology post.

Watching RTL+ abroad with a VPN: FAQs