How to watch DIRECTV STREAM outside the US with a VPN

Want to watch DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV Now) outside the US? If so, you’ll need to use a VPN. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN is an online privacy tool that encrypts your device’s internet traffic and routes it to a server in a remote location. To set up a VPN for DIRECTV STREAM, you need to download a VPN client, choose a server in America, and connect.

This will give you a US IP address, allowing you to watch DIRECTV STREAM and other streaming services abroad. This versatility makes a VPN an incredibly useful tool, ensuring your freedom of access to a wide range of services while you’re traveling abroad.

Short on time? Here’s a rapid rundown of the top VPNs for DIRECTV STREAM, ready to provide you with immediate access outside the USA.

Best VPNs for DIRECTV STREAM:

1. NordVPN: Our #1 choice for DirecTV STREAM and DirectTV Now. Over 7,400 servers in the US. Works with AT&T TV Now, Netflix, and more streaming sites. Highly secure with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for DirecTV Stream.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for DirecTV. Unlimited simultaneous connections. Great access to geo-restricted services on any streaming device. User-friendly service with 24/7 chat and strict no-logs policy.
3. IPVanish: US-based VPN service with servers in 20+ US cities to stream DirecTV and other sites like Amazon and Netflix. Uses encryption to protect your data. Unlimited devices supported.
4. ExpressVPN: Secure VPN service that’s great for streaming your favorite content. Works with DirectTV Now and other platforms. Consistent data connections and an impressive selection of apps.
5. CyberGhost: Vast network of servers. Fast speeds for streaming sites like DirecTV. Secure up to seven devices simultaneously. Easy-to-use apps and safe with encryption and a no-logs policy.
6. PrivateVPN: Solid VPN service for securely accessing DirecTV Stream as well as Netflix. Beginner-friendly apps, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and a high level of security.
7. Hotspot Shield: Servers in 27 US cities for watching geo-restricted services like DirecTV abroad. Easy-to-use apps and 24/7 live chat support. Secures your device with encryption.

How to watch DIRECTV STREAM outside the US with a VPN

Setting up a VPN is simple, even if you’ve never used one. Follow this step-by-step guide to watch DirecTV outside the USA with a VPN.

Here’s how to watch DIRECTV STREAM online from anywhere using a VPN:

1. Sign up for a VPN service with United States servers – we recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the appropriate VPN app for your device. All of the best VPNs offer apps for desktop and mobile devices.
3. Clear your browser cache and cookies. This ensures that DirecTV forgets your location and accepts the US IP address provided by the VPN.
4. Open your VPN app or browser extension and connect to a US server to obtain a US IP address to unblock DirecTV Stream.
5. Sign in to DirecTV and select your preferred on-demand content, which should now be unblocked.

If you’re having trouble watching DirecTV Stream outside the US, even when connected to a VPN, we have a few suggestions. First, be sure to clear your cookies each time you connect to a new server before trying DirecTV again. Trying more than one server is another potential fix in case the IP address you’re using has been blacklisted. Last but not least, it may be worth contacting your VPN’s customer support for further help.

Criteria for DIRECTV STREAM VPNs

So, how are you supposed to choose a VPN to unblock DirectTV abroad? We know that there are many VPNs to choose from. That’s why we’ve only selected VPNs that performed well in the following area:

• Speed: All VPNs slow your connection to some extent. However, those that slow it too much make streaming impossible. To find the fastest providers, we connected to each VPN’s US servers and carried out multiple speed tests.
• Streaming ability: As DirecTV Stream is region-locked to the US, we scored providers on how many US server locations they had. For more general streaming, we looked at the overall number of server locations, the existence of obfuscation and providers’ ability to unblock a range of premium platforms.
• Security and privacy: If you’re connecting to servers in the US it pays to make sure your online activities aren’t being monitored. To find the VPNs best able to keep you safe online we evaluated them against 16 different security and privacy criteria
• Value for money: While nobody wants to spend more than they need to on a VPN, it can be a mistake simply to choose the cheapest. We attempt to measure each provider’s true worth by using eight different value-for-money metrics.
• Ease of use: If you don’t have much previous VPN experience, it’s a good idea to choose a user-friendly provider. To simplify the choice, we ranked VPNs according to 10 individual ease-of-use metrics.

For more information on how we tested VPNs, check out our VPN testing methodology later in the article. This section also contains the results of our tests.

A comparison of our recommended VPNs

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

Best VPNs for watching DIRECTV STREAM outside the US

Here’s our list of the best VPNs to watch DIRECTV STREAM (formerly known as AT&T TV Now and AT&T Watch) from outside the US:

1. NordVPN

Mar 2025 works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

NordVPN is the best option if you want a VPN to stream DirecTV Stream outside the US. The reason for this is that NordVPN has around 1,900 servers in the United States.

Indeed, it has one of the largest networks of servers of any VPN, with more than 7,400 servers in 117 countries. This means you can securely access all streaming services, including Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

Better still, NordVPN offers great value. It lets you connect up to 10 supported devices simultaneously and provides enviable connection speeds. In our tests, it averaged 205.52 Mbps, some 78 Mbps faster than the combined average speeds of the other tested providers.

As you might expect, you can watch DirecTV Stream content in 4K without issue.

Having tested the NordVPN apps for ourselves, we can say this service is great for beginners. We particularly like that NordVPN offers specialty servers for even stronger security. There are servers designed for accessing Tor over VPN, getting a dedicated IP address, and browsing from countries with strict censorship. NordVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption, provides protection from DNS leaks, and has a kill switch. What’s more, this service has a strict zero-logs policy.

NordVPN apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also offered. Manual setup is required for routers.

BEST VPN FOR DIRECTV STREAM:NordVPN has over 1,900 servers in the US and more than 7,400 worldwide. Works with DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV Now), Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Features 24/7 support and allows up to 10 connections. Protects your privacy with encryption and no logs policy. The 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

Surfshark has servers in at least 24 US cities, far more than most VPNs. This makes it easy to find a fast, reliable server for streaming DirecTV from anywhere worldwide. Indeed, this VPN also works with Netflix, Disney+, and HBO, among other popular streaming content services.

One of the standout features of Surfshark is that it lets you connect an unlimited number of compatible devices simultaneously which is perfect for sharing with family.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark is extremely quick. Tested speeds while connected to its US servers averaged 200.71 Mbps. 

This makes it a great option for relatively demanding activities like gaming, VoIP calls, and streaming in high resolution.

If you’re new to using a VPN, you’ll appreciate Surfshark’s beginner-friendly apps and browser extensions. There are plenty of interesting features available including double VPN servers for improved privacy and an ad and malware blocker.

Surfshark uses 256-bit AES encryption to safeguard your data. There’s also a kill switch and protection from DNS leaks. This is a no-logs VPN service that allows you to pay in cryptocurrency to protect your anonymity.

You can use Surfshark to watch DirecTV Stream via the apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also download Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. Manual configuration is required for Linux and routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark lets you secure as many devices as you want simultaneously. It has servers across 24 US cities and works reliably with DirecTV and Netflix. Very easy-to-use apps, a low price, and 24/7 live chat support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

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3. IPVanish

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

IPVanish is a US-based VPN service that is able to unblock DirecTV abroad. It offers over 2,400 servers, with a good selection in the United States. The US-based servers of IPVanish are spread across some 20 US cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York.

IPVanish states that it offers unlimited access and this is apparent in the fast speeds you’ll experience when browsing and streaming. It achieved an average speed of 174.42 Mbps in our tests, which is a superb result.

To put this into context, IPVanish was more than 42 Mbps faster than the combined average speeds of the other tested providers.

This VPN is known to be particularly easy to use with Kodi and Amazon Fire Stick / Fire TV.

Best of all, IPVanish allows you to connect as many devices as you like (most VPNs allow 3-6). Its apps are simple enough to use though live chat support is offered should you need it.

IPVanish ticks all of the boxes when it comes to security, protecting your data with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and zero-logs policy.

IPVanish provides apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. Manual setup is needed in the case of Linux and routers.

SERVERS IN 15 US CITIES:IPVanish has plenty of servers in the US in cities such as Los Angeles and New York. Unlimited bandwidth makes it easy to watch DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV Now). Allows any number of internet connections via a single account. Keeps you safe online with encryption and a kill switch. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

ExpressVPN is great for watching DirecTV outside the US. It has a relatively large network of over 3,000 servers in an impressive 105 countries. This includes the US, where it has servers in 24 locations.

When tested, ExpressVPN’s US servers provided us with an average speed of 133.48 Mbps. This makes them well-suited to streaming movies and TV shows in high definition.

We’ve also found that the VPN connection almost never drops. Indeed, ExpressVPN guarantees 99.9% uptime as well as notably consistent speeds.

What makes ExpressVPN stand out from many of its rivals is its impressive array of apps. Aside from offering user-friendly apps for desktop and mobile, it also has MediaStreamer, a smart DNS proxy service that allows you to use the VPN with select smart TVs and game consoles.

Another reason to choose ExpressVPN is its fast and efficient live chat support, which is available 24/7, allowing you to get help in a matter of seconds.

The best VPNs can unblock geo-restricted content, such as DirecTV while keeping you safe online. ExpressVPN is no exception. It secures your data with 256-bit AES encryption and provides DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection.

ExpressVPN offers a kill switch, split tunneling, and a no-logs policy, so your privacy is in good hands. It’s even possible to sign up for the service anonymously by using a throwaway email address and paying in Bitcoin.

ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox.

QUICK AND RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is a solid choice. for streaming DirecTV, with both speed and security. Over 3,000 servers in 105 countries. Wide range of user-friendly apps, 24/7 support, and excellent security with encryption. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

CyberGhost has a vast network of over 10,000 servers, over 1,100 of which are in the US. When you combine this with the high data speeds offered, CyberGhost is an excellent VPN for watching DirecTV abroad.

During our tests, CyberGhost’s speeds were notably consistent, with a difference of only 3.77 Mbps between the slowest and fastest results.

The provider’s average download speed of 153.18 Mbps was excellent, making it a solid option if you like watching DIRECTV STREAM content in 4K.

We also tested CyberGhost with a wide range of other platforms and found it offers high-quality performance with little to no downtime. We successfully used it with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, though it undoubtedly works with others.

You’ll find that CyberGhost offers a variety of user-friendly apps. These are easy to navigate and therefore, well-suited to those using a VPN for the first time. The CyberGhost apps include several features such as an ad-blocker and malware-scanner.

CyberGhost offers a high level of security with 256-bit AES encryption and DNS and IP leak protection. An automatic kill switch ensures your internet traffic is cut in the event of the VPN connection dropping. Last but not least, there’s a strict no-logs policy.

CyberGhost offers apps for Windows, Android, Mac, Linux, iOS, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV. There are also browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. Routers require manual configuration.

AMAZING VALUE:CyberGhost has fast and reliable connections for streaming DirecTV abroad. It has apps that are easy to use and allows up to 7 simultaneous connections. Security features include a kill switch and a no-logs policy. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PrivateVPN

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

PrivateVPN is a smaller VPN service with around 200 servers in around 63 countries. However, despite its small size, it’s great at unblocking stubborn platforms and comes with highly effective obfuscation.

Users keen to access DIRECTV STREAM can choose from server locations in 10 different US cities, including Las Vegas and New York. Speeds are relatively modest — we recorded an average download speed of 48.32 Mbps in our tests.

The DIRECTV STREAM site says that users need a speed of at least 8 Mbps per stream for optimal viewing. So, while PrivateVPN is fine if you’re streaming alone, you’d have trouble if there were any more than six devices streaming at the same time.

You can use PrivateVPN to protect up to ten compatible devices simultaneously via a single account. Offering easy-to-use apps for desktop and mobile, this VPN is very accessible.

PrivateVPN offers security in the form of 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6 leak protection, Stealth mode (for using the service in places where VPNs are usually blocked), and a kill switch. This VPN service is headquartered in Sweden and states that it operates a zero data-logging policy.

PrivateVPN offers desktop (Windows and Mac) and mobile (Android and iOS) apps. Manual setup is necessary for Linux and routers.

HIGH SPEED STREAMING:PrivateVPN is fast and ideal for DirecTV Stream as well as Netflix. Its apps are easy to use, and it allows you to connect up to 10 supported devices. It includes all of the essential security features including encryption, kill switch, and no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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7. Hotspot Shield

works with DirecTVTested Mar 2025

Hotspot Shield has a network of more than 1,800 servers. It has a strong US presence, with servers in 27 US cities, including Los Angeles and New York.

Usefully, there’s a dedicated US streaming server that works great with DirecTV abroad. In our tests it also worked with Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. The UK streaming server worked with BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Speeds — which averaged 49.90 Mbps in our tests — are fast enough for streaming DirecTV without buffering issues and lag.

However, as with PrivateVPN, you’ll need to restrict the number of devices streaming concurrently if you want the best results.

While this VPN service is beginner-friendly, it includes 24/7 live chat support which makes it easy to troubleshoot any potential problems. Security-wise, Hotspot Shield protects your privacy through its use of 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and features such as a kill switch.

It’s also worth knowing that it doesn’t keep any logs by which you can be identified such as IP addresses.

Hotspot Shield apps are available for iOS, Android, MacOS, Linux, and Windows. It can be manually configured for use with supported routers.

SERVERS IN 27 US CITIES:Hotspot Shield unblocks DirecTV and has lots of reliable servers in the US. Also works with Netflix. Includes 24/7 live chat support and uses encryption to keep your data secure. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Hotspot Shield review.

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Our DirecTV VPN Methodology

The online marketplace is saturated with VPNs that are competing for your business. There are more than 100 different consumer-facing VPNs available, but they were not all created equally. Many VPNs offer a substandard service while claiming to be the best for streaming or the best for speed. This makes it hard for consumers to pick a VPN that is suitable for their needs.

To find the most suitable provider for DIRECTV STREAM, we evaluated each VPN against a multitude of metrics specifically related to their speed, streaming ability, ease of use, security and privacy, and value for money.

Speed

As DIRECTV STREAM only works in the US, we carried out our speed tests while connected to each provider’s US servers. We used the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app for taking measurements.

We rate-limited our own connection speed to 250 Mbps, which is at the faster end of the speed users experience globally. As most people will have a much slower speed, we used a normalized score out of 10 to present the test results rather than the actual recorded speeds.

NordVPN’s perfect score shows that it was the fastest overall provider in our tests. Surfshark wasn’t far off, differing from NordVPN by just 4.81 Mbps. PrivateVPN and Hotspot Shield were slower by a factor of approximately four, which explains their relatively poor scores.

Streaming ability

Given that DIRECTV STREAM is based in the US, we started by scoring providers on the number of their US server locations. We then issued scores for their compatibility with a range of streaming platforms, and whether they had obfuscation for connecting from restrictive countries. These scores were combined to generate an overall score out of 10.

ExpressVPN scored highest thanks to a strong US (and global) presence. Surfshark came a close second. Both providers are notable for their outstanding unblocking abilities.

Ease of use

If you’re eager to regain access to DIRECTV STREAM, you’ll want a VPN service that works with the minimum of hassle. Having tested them against the criteria in the table below, we have a good idea of which these are.

To more easily compare providers, we scored each of the above criteria and combined these scores to generate an overall score out of 10.

The results suggest that NordVPN is the easiest to use provider overall, though IPVanish and ExpressVPN are close contenders. All three will provide you with a positive experience while using their services.

Value for money

Free VPNs won’t work with DIRECTV STREAM, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay extortionate amounts for a VPN that does work. We’ve evaluated each provider’s relative value using a range of criteria that goes beyond just the base price. You can see what these are in the table below.

To make things clearer, each of the above criteria received a score. We combined these scores, and converted them to a score out of 10, before generating the chart below.

Competition was fierce, but Surfshark ultimately scored highest. This was followed by IPVanish, NordVPN and CyberGhost. In our opinion all four providers are worth the investment.

Security and privacy

We’d never recommend a VPN that wasn’t capable of protecting your connection. What we were interested in here were the subtler differences that made providers really stand out. You can see the metrics we used in the table below.

Each metric was given a score which, as before, we combined to create a score out of 10.

NordVPN and Surfshark were the outstanding providers this time, with equal scores of 9.5. ExpressVPN also scored highly, reflecting its ongoing commitment to customer privacy and security.

Can I use a free VPN to watch DIRECTV STREAM outside the US?

Free VPNs won’t work with DirecTV, this is because streaming platforms make every effort to block VPNs and free VPN providers don’t have the time or capital to stay one step ahead.

In addition, we don’t recommend free VPNs for many reasons. In particular, free VPNs are very slow because they have too many users and not enough servers. This results in high levels of server congestion. This makes streaming DirecTV frustrating due to buffering.

It’s not just performance issues that plague free VPNs, either. When it comes to security, free VPNs are rarely fit for purpose.  In many cases, your data is not secured with robust encryption. And the VPN apps lack important security features such as a kill switch. Additionally, some free VPNs knowingly breach your privacy by keeping logs and selling your data to third parties.

Why has AT&T TV Now changed its name?

In August of 2021, AT&T finalized a deal in which it spun off DIRECTV, U-Verse, and AT&T TV (including AT&T TV Now and AT&T TV Watch) into a separate entity. The deal involved selling a 30% stake of the business to the private equity firm TPG Capital. AT&T retains a 70% stake in the new standalone firm.

The new company, which is called DirecTV, has now taken over all of AT&T TV’s operations. As a result of the shake-up, the new corporation has decided to close down all its former TV streaming services. For this reason, the new business has rebranded its streaming platform with the name DIRECTV STREAM.

DirecTV Stream will now replace all the other iterations of AT&T’s online streaming TV services. It will be available in three different plans starting at $69.99 per month plus tax. The most expensive plan (the Ultimate Package) will cost $94.99 and will include 130+ channels including regional sports networks.

HBO Max is included with a DirecTV Stream Choice and Ultimate package for the first three months. Following that t must be bundled as an extra for an additional $10 per month.

Why am I getting a DirecTV location error?

One problem some users have when trying to watch DirecTV Stream abroad is that they’re asked to enable location data on their device. The problem is that this can override the VPN connection, providing your true location and blocking the content as a result. In this case, you may see a message that looks like this:

“We couldn’t figure out your location, which is required for streaming this program. Please try again.”

If this is happening to you, you may be out of luck. To bypass such restrictions, you’d need to find a way to spoof your location such as with a GPS spoofing app. It may simply be better to find a service without such strict geo-restrictions. If you do go ahead, exercise caution as GPS spoofing can have a negative impact on other apps.

Can I use a smart DNS proxy to watch DirecTV abroad?

Yes, some smart DNS proxy services will unblock DirecTV Stream, however VPNs are often more reliable. A smart DNS proxy monitors DNS requests sent from your device and sends the browser traffic for that request to an appropriate server (in this case a server in the US). One of the advantages of a smart DNS proxy is that it can be used on a wider range of devices than a VPN.

For example, DirecTV is available on devices such as Apple TV and Samsung Smart TV. Most VPNs don’t support such devices, which is where a smart DNS proxy stands out. On the other hand, setting up a smart DNS proxy can be more complicated. We recommend ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer, a smart DNS proxy service that lets you unblock geo-restricted content without encrypting your online traffic, minimizing speed loss.

DIRECTV STREAM FAQ