How to watch Norwegian TV online abroad

Due to content licensing agreements, most streaming services are only available in one or two countries. Unfortunately, this means that by going abroad on vacation, you could easily lose access to services you pay for. Luckily, by connecting to a Norwegian VPN server, you can spoof your location and bypass the geographic restrictions to access Norwegian TV channels like NRK, Viafree, and TV2 Sumo, regardless of where you really are.

So how does this all work? Simply put, geo-restricted websites can tell your location by looking at your IP address. When you use a VPN, however, only your server’s IP address is visible. This means that if you use a Norwegian server, you’ll appear to be browsing the web from Norway. VPNs have plenty of other uses, for example, they encrypt your data, ensuring it can’t be read by snoopers like your employer, internet service provider, or government.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly how to use a VPN to access Norwegian TV shows while traveling abroad, and we’ll list the best VPNs for the job. We’ll go into more detail about each of the providers below, but in case you’re short on time, we’ll start with a quick summary.

Best VPNs for Norwegian TV:

1. NordVPN: Our top VPN for streaming Norwegian TV abroad. Able to unblock a huge range of services and has the security tools to ensure you can use them safely. Over 60 servers in Norway and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee is included.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Norwegian TV.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN service for watching TV from Norway. Offers both speed and security. Unblocks NRK and Viafree with ease. Allows an unlimited number of connections.
3. ExpressVPN: An extremely fast provider that offers unlimited bandwidth, fantastic unblocking ability, and a strong set of security features.
4. CyberGhost: A highly versatile VPN with excellent speeds and a wide range of security features. 30+ servers in Norway for unblocking Norwegian TV abroad.
5. IPVanish: With high-speed connections, unlimited bandwidth, and powerful privacy protections, this service lets you safely live stream Norwegian TV abroad.
6. PrivateVPN: A no-logs VPN that boasts extremely high speeds and a strong security focus. Works with all kinds of streaming services, including NRK and Netflix US.

How to live stream Norwegian TV with a VPN

Don’t worry if you’ve never used one before, VPNs are really quite simple to use. Below is our quick step-by-step guide to unblocking your favorite Norwegian TV channels in under a minute.

Here’s how to watch Norwegian TV shows online from anywhere:

1. First, sign up for one of our recommended VPNs (NordVPN is a particularly strong choice).
2. Now, download the VPN app onto any device you’d like to watch Norwegian TV on. Most providers allow at least five simultaneous connections.
3. Log in and connect to a Norwegian VPN server. Once you do, you’ll have a Norwegian IP address and will be able to access all kinds of geo-blocked services from Norway.
4. Visit your chosen streaming service and try playing a video. It should now play as normal1
5. If you’re encountering issues, try clearing your browser’s cookies and reloading the page. If you’re still having trouble, try a different Norwegian server or contact your VPN’s support team for more assistance.

How we selected the top VPNs for watching Norwegian TV

We know how daunting it can be to choose your first VPN; there are hundreds available and more arriving every day. But they don’t all provide the same level of service. To guarantee you get a VPN that can handle almost any situation, we based our recommendations on those that met the following criteria at a minimum:

• Offers access to at least one Norwegian server (but ideally more than that)
• Provides consistently high speeds and reliable connections
• Capable of unblocking a wide range of Norwegian streaming services
• Keeps your activities private with a selection of powerful security features
• Refuses to log any personally identifiable information
• Comes with apps for all major operating systems and devices

You can read more about what we look for in our VPNs in the methodology section below.

Best VPNs for Norwegian TV: 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 live streaming Norweigan TV.

Best VPNs for live streaming Norwegian TV

Here at Comparitech, we aim to bring you the best and most accurate VPN advice possible. To do this, we use and test every VPN before recommending them to you. The following reviews are based on those first-hand experiences.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Norwegian TV:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024

NordVPN is our first choice VPN for watching Norwegian TV from anywhere. It has over 60 Norwegian servers, more than 5,500 in total, spanning 60+ countries. What really sets this service apart is its incredible unblocking ability. You’ll be able to access not just NRK and Viafree, but also a wide range of international platforms, including Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. Further, with solid speeds and up to six connections permitted at once, this VPN makes it easy to stream Norwegian TV, even if you’re on the go.

Of course, the main purpose of a VPN is to secure your traffic, and NordVPN does this extremely well. There’s 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, automatic ad-blocking, and malware scanning, plus WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leak protection. Additionally, users can access special obfuscated servers for an even higher level of privacy. NordVPN is a zero-logs provider, meaning it can’t share details of your activities even if asked to. Should you need any help, you can reach support, day or night, via live chat or email.

NordVPN has apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. This service can be manually configured for use with select network routers too.

BEST VPN FOR NORWEGIAN TV:NordVPN is our first choice. Offers the ability to unblock and stream Norwegian TV shows from abroad, without compromising on security. Better still, it keeps no logs and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Why not check out our full NordVPN review?

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a great value VPN with more than 3,200 servers in around 100 countries. This makes it an excellent way to watch Norwegian TV while traveling abroad, plus with solid speeds, there’s no need to worry about long buffering times. Unlike most other services on the market, Surfshark has no connection limit, which means you can stream safely across all of your devices at once.

There are plenty of advanced security features built in too. For instance, Surfshark prevents IPv6 and DNS leaks, hides your activities using 256-bit encryption, and uses a kill switch to ensure that you never browse unprotected. It also includes an ad-blocker, a malware scanner, and a NoBorders mode which lets you bypass country-wide internet restrictions. Surfshark does not log any personally identifiable data. Users can contact support 24/7 via email and live chat.

Surfshark apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you’d prefer, you could always manually install it directly on a supported network router.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a low-cost option that lets you connect as many devices as you like, unblock some of the most popular streaming services from abroad, and remain anonymous while you watch. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included.

Take a look at our in-depth Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a strong choice for anyone who wants to watch their favorite shows from outside Norway. It has more than 3,000 servers spread across 100+ countries, is fast enough to stream live video with no noticeable buffering, and can even access tricky platforms like Netflix US and Amazon Prime Video. Users can protect up to five devices simultaneously.

This VPN puts major emphasis on user security, with 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch, all enabled by default. Most importantly, ExpressVPN doesn’t log any information that could identify you. This means that once connected, your activities are, and will always be, private. For another layer of anonymity, it’s possible to pay with Bitcoin. Having problems? Support is on hand 24/7 over email and live chat.

ExpressVPN offers Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux apps. There’s also custom firmware for supported routers that makes it easier to secure all of your devices at once.

FASTEST VPN AROUND:ExpressVPN is an easy-to-use, high-speed service that easily unblocks major Norwegian streaming platforms like NRK and TVNorge abroad. It comes with powerful security and privacy protections, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

We take an even closer look at this VPN in our complete ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers access to more than 30+ very fast Norwegian servers, plus another 10,000 in 100+ other countries. With exceptional unblocking ability and novice-friendly apps, you shouldn’t have any trouble watching Norwegian TV channels like NRK from abroad. As a bonus, this service allows you to secure up to seven devices simultaneously.

This VPN includes a comprehensive suite of security features, all of which come pre-configured. These include protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, 256-bit encryption, an always-on kill switch (that stops sending traffic as soon as your connection drops), and automatic malware scanning. CyberGhost doesn’t store any personally identifiable information, which means that you can browse the internet almost completely anonymously. Customer support is always available via email or live chat.

CyberGhost users can install apps for their Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, or Linux devices. If you’re looking for complete protection, you can manually install it on your home router.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:CyberGhost has high speeds, excellent unblocking ability, and powerful security features, making it a natural choice for anyone looking to watch Norwegian TV from outside Norway. Best of all, this service includes a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Still have questions? Find out more in our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

IPVanish has roughly 2,000 servers in 60+ countries, around half a dozen of which are in Norway. This service provides consistently high speeds, which means you’ll be able to live stream Norwegian TV shows in the highest possible quality without interruption. As a bonus, this VPN has no connection limit; it lets you protect all of your devices simultaneously.

Security is another area where IPVanish excels. It keeps you safe using a combination of 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks. There’s also the ability to obfuscate your traffic (OpenVPN connections only) which allows you to hide the telltale signs that you’re using a VPN in the first place. IPVanish follows a strict no-logs policy, so your privacy is in good hands. Customers can get help 24/7 over live chat or email.

IPVanish has apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. However, it can be manually installed on Linux systems and select internet routers.

NO LOGS PROVIDER:IPVanish ensures you can live stream Norwegian TV safely thanks to its powerful encryption and strict zero-logging policy. That’s not all, though: this VPN also offers high-speed connections, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and round-the-clock support.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

6. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has roughly 200 servers throughout 60+ countries (Norway included). This is quite a small network, but it helps make up for it by providing much higher speeds than many of its competitors. What’s more, this VPN is capable of accessing a list of popular sites, including Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and Viafree. Up to ten devices can be connected at once.

This VPN comes packed with advanced security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. There’s also a stealth mode that lets you get around some of the strictest online blocking. PrivateVPN doesn’t keep any logs at all, meaning that once connected, you’re effectively untraceable. Support is available 22 hours per day over live chat and email.

PrivateVPN offers Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux apps. Additionally, it can be manually configured for use with supported wireless routers.

UNBLOCK ALMOST ANYTHING:PrivateVPN is a speedy, security-conscious provider that lets you access all kinds of region-locked content from outside of Norway. What’s more, this VPN follows a strict no-logs policy, and all of its plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more details, check out our complete PrivateVPN review.

The best VPNs for watching Norwegian TV abroad: Methodology

Every VPN is different, and while this means that there’s a service for every situation, it also makes it tricky for people to decide which one to use. That’s where we come in: we carefully considered the most important things a VPN should offer for users wanting to watch Norwegian TV abroad. Below are some of the criteria we looked for: 

• Servers in Norway: All of the VPNs listed in this post have servers in Norway because this is essential for gaining a Norwegian IP address. However, we also look for these VPN services to have servers in dozens of countries, such as the US, UK, and Australia. This allows you to access even more online content while traveling abroad.
• Speed: Unfortunately, some VPNs are far too slow for streaming and torrenting. Our speed tests helped us identify the fastest VPNs, all of which include unlimited bandwidth to allow you to watch live TV lag and buffer-free.
• Unblocking: We’ve found VPNs with strong unblocking abilities. In fact, we’ve tested them with popular Norwegian Channels like NRK, Viafree, and TV2 Sumo, as well as streaming services such as HBO Nordic, Netflix, and TV channels.
• Security: At a minimum, we look for a VPN to secure your data with 256-bit AES encryption (effectively impossible for hackers to crack). There should also be protection from DNS leaks as well as a kill switch.
• Privacy: If you’re concerned about online surveillance, it’s important not only that your internet traffic is encrypted but that you use a no-logs VPN. To find the best for your online anonymity, we’ve looked at more than 140 VPN logging policies.
• Devices: We look for providers that support all major operating systems like Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS at a minimum. But we also like them to work with other platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and Wi-Fi routers, and if possible, offer browser extensions too.
• Ease of use: Having tested many different VPN apps, we’ve identified those that offer a quick and easy-to-use experience. Better still, all of the best VPNs for getting a Norwegian IP address include knowledgeable customer support, most of them with 24/7 live chat.
• Value for money: There are so many VPN services competing for your attention, and as such, it’s not hard to find some great deals. The best are those listed in this post because we offer VPN discount coupons for each. Better still, all of the VPNs chosen include a risk-free money-back guarantee of at least 30 days.

Want to know more? Check out our full guide on our scientific VPN testing process.

Watching Norwegian TV with a VPN: FAQs