In terms of uses for a quality VPN, using one for the specific purpose of being a YouTube VPN might not be your first thought. However, if you use YouTube often, you should absolutely choose your VPN around it.
Your YouTube account is tied to your Google account and Gmail, meaning that your YouTube searches are tracked and will influence the ads you see while browsing - and that's just a small example of how interlinked everything is. If you want to feel a bit more secure and keep your privacy, opt for one of our chosen YouTube VPNs.
The best YouTube VPNs at a glance:
• Best overall YouTube VPN: ExpressVPN - View now on ExpressVPN.com
• Best YouTube VPN for streaming: NordVPN - View now on NordVPN.com
• Best YouTube VPN for multitasking: Private Internet Access - View now on PrivateInternetAccess.com
Whether you're planning to download videos to watch on the go, just want to stream in comfort at home, or want a way to get past geoblocking, there's a VPN out there tailored to meet your preferences. Of course, it can be somewhat tricky to figure out at a glance.
That's why we're here, breaking down our favourite YouTube VPNs and examining their strength and weaknesses. We've looked at their average speeds, encryption security, and more.
Best overall YouTube VPN
go.expressvpn.com
ExpressVPN is easily one of the most reliable YouTube VPNs out there. Although it's not the fastest VPN, it doesn't cause much noticeable difference. However, where it shines is that it rarely ever dips to low speeds. Most VPNs will occasionally become quite slow, but ExpressVPN keeps a steady pace, making it a truly dependable pick.
Another strength is that it's a very user-friendly VPN. It's simple to understand, easy to use, and doesn't bog you down with a mountain of bloated features. This is a provider that makes being a powerful Netflix VPN look easier, so it's hard imagine it having any trouble with YouTube.
Pros
- Speed is consistent and rarely dips
- Easy to understand and use
Cons
- Not the best for downloads
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Servers | 3000+ |
| Average speeds | 560mbps |
| Simultaneous connections | 8 |
- Customer review: "Really great VPN service, tons of location choices, all of them worked well. Some locations are significantly faster than others. But that is to be expected. Price is fair for its service. Amazing VPN."
Best value YouTube VPN
CyberGhostwww.cyberghostvpn.com
If you don't feel totally convinced about the benefits of using a YouTube VPN, then perhaps the budget-friendly value of CyberGhost will appeal to you. It's inexpensive, easy to use, and is able to maintain a solid connection at all times. The selection of servers is also quite good, and the encryption security is a great example of how VPNs can protect your data.
CyberGhost only really struggles in one department, and that's features. While we do love how simple it is to set up and use, it does come at the cost of lacking the more refined features that other VPNs have.
CyberGhost also offers a brilliant free version, which is a top choice for beginners. Using a free VPN before you start a paid subscription is always advised.
Pros
- Solid encryption
- Brilliant value
Cons
- Not as many advanced features as some other VPNs
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Servers | 9500+ |
| Average speeds | 548mbps |
| Simultaneous connections | 7 |
- Customer review: "It's simple and effective. It doesn't always work exactly like I hope, but that's not their fault. I do really like how easy it is to get up and running, that they offer to turn on when on a new network, and that they are always working to improve how it works. It's a good VPN, get it."
Best YouTube VPN for streaming
nordvpn.com
It's likely unsurprising to see NordVPN on a list of the best YouTube VPNs, seeing as they often sponsor numerous YouTubers. This suits them well, as NordVPN is a fantastic choice for streaming videos, especially on YouTube. When it reaches its top speeds, you won't notice a drop in internet speed whatsoever.
A lesser talked-about advantage that NordVPN has is its impressive customer service. Help is always available and swift to respond, so you shouldn't be stuck with an issue for too long.
Pros
- Great customer service
- Impressive top speeds
Cons
- Mobile app is a bit slow at times
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Servers | 5700+ |
| Average speeds | 820mbps |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 |
- Customer review: "Amazing customer service, rapid response time and super patient with an IT Idiot who didn't understand how to make it work… then with their help I made it work!"
Best YouTube VPN for multitasking
www.privateinternetaccess.com
Private Internet Access may not be as well-known as some of the other VPNs on our list, but it absolutely deserves to be considered. It sports a lot of impressive specs and features, including the ability to connect to 10 devices at once and having over 35,000 servers to connect to.
The main reason we recommend Private Internet Access is its ability to perform split tunnelling. Simply put, this allows you to run some apps and programs individually through the VPN while allowing others to go straight to your standard connection. This means you'll see much less slowdown, and is perfect for those who like to have YouTube running whilst they perform other tasks.
Pros
- Fantastic number of servers available
- Split tunnelling is a handy addition
Cons
- UI and UX aren't the best
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Servers | 35,000 |
| Average speeds | 510mbps |
| Simultaneous connections | 10 |
- Customer review: "My experience with Private Internet Access VPN has generally been a great one. On my desktop, it runs fine and there are no issues. On my iPhone, I initially had connectivity problems but after some research, I learned to change the Transport Protocol settings from default to one for my device, and the issue went away. This is an excellent product with a very budget-friendly price."
Best YouTube VPN for downloading
surfshark.com
If you prefer to download your YouTube videos, you can count on Surfshark to perform excellently. With its high average and top speeds, it's the absolute winner for downloading content in a flash. Better yet, since you can connect to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, you can download YouTube videos across a few devices at once and barely notice a drop in speed.
Although we do consider Surfshark to be user-friendly and a great entry point for VPNs, it can ironically take a bit of time to get all your preferences and ideal setup in place.
Pros
- Can connect to an unlimited number of devices at once
- Top speeds are very impressive
Cons
- Can take a bit to set to your preferences
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Servers | 3200+ |
| Average speeds | 950mbps |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
- Customer review: "An excellent VPN easy to use and very secure. Very knowledgeable and kind support. I recommend it to everybody."
FAQs
Glossary
VPN- Virtual Private Network
Geoblocking- Also known as geo-restriction. Limits what you can see on the Internet depending on your location
Simultaneous connections- The number of devices that can be connected to your VPN at one time
Why are some videos unavailable in my country?
You may find that, as you browse YouTube, some videos will be unavailable in your country. This is usually due to licensing issues, and it's not uncommon to see it happen with music videos and movie clips. It's the same principle as needing a BBC iPlayer VPN to access UK TV and movies. It can be pretty annoying to deal with, but using a YouTube VPN is an easy way to get around it. By simply setting your IP address to another country, you should be able to see the content without issue.
Does using a VPN affect your internet speed?
One of the few downsides of using a VPN is that they do slow your internet speed down a bit. It isn't noticeable in most cases, but it can hinder streaming and downloading. Luckily, the picks on our list are solid VPNs that manage to retain solid speeds, so you'll still find them to be very reliable for YouTube.
Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.
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