4 Best FREE VPNs for BBC iPlayer — Tested & Updated in 2023

It's challenging to find a free VPN that unblocks BBC iPlayer. Most free VPNs have severe limitations like data caps, small networks with few/no UK servers, poor unblocking abilities, and slow speeds. Even worse, they can risk your security by exposing you to malware or selling your data to third parties.

I tested 30+ apps to find the best free VPN for iPlayer to save you time and prevent the risk of encountering shady services. Of all the VPNs tested, I found a few reliable options, but most come with limitations.

ExpressVPN is my top recommendation for iPlayer because it's way more reliable than any completely free VPN. It has UK servers that bypass the BBC's geoblocks effortlessly, lightning-fast speeds to watch shows in Ultra HD, and no data caps. Its only limitation is that it's not 100% free. However, it comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer risk-free. You can claim a full refund within 30 days if you don't like it.

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Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today

4 Best Free VPNs for BBC iPlayer — Full Analysis (Updated 2023)

1. ExpressVPN — Superfast Speeds for Watching BBC iPlayer Without Lag

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested July 2023

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

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www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN's ultra-fast speeds are perfect for high-quality streaming on BBC iPlayer. During my tests, I was impressed to see an average of 54 Mbps from its UK locations — a dropoff of just 7% on my base speed. That's enough to stream in Ultra HD on 2 separate devices (UHD requires around 25 Mbps).

Speeds over distance were equally impressive — I got 53.6 Mbps when connecting to New York (over 3,000 miles away). I got no lag and minimal loading while watching 3 episodes of EastEnders, so you can stream in high quality (for as long as you want) no matter how far you are from the UK. With most free VPNs, I'd have hit my data limit within 2 episodes.

ExpressVPN gives you unlimited data so that you can stream as many shows as you like in UHD

With servers in 5 UK locations, it's easy to unblock iPlayer. If one location isn't the fastest, simply switch to another. I tested its London, East London, and Docklands servers — BBC iPlayer worked with all of them. I also found it helpful that you can save your favorite locations for quick access. For instance, I saved East London since it gave me the fastest speeds for iPlayer.

MediaStreamer lets you unblock iPlayer on devices that don't usually work with VPNs, like game consoles and smart TVs. After a short tutorial, I set up ExpressVPN on my PS4 in about 5 minutes — it was great to access iPlayer directly on my big screen. I was happy to have this capability since you can't do this with any free VPN I've tested.

The biggest drawback is that it's not 100% free. However, a 7-day free trial is available if you download ExpressVPN on your Android device, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You get unlimited data and speeds, 24/7 live support, and incredible unblocking abilities — so you can try ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer risk-free.

If you're not completely happy, you can easily get a full refund. I tried this out, and it was easy; I just sent my request via 24/7 live chat. The agent asked one question about why I wanted to cancel, then quickly processed my refund. The money landed back in my account 2 days later.

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2. CyberGhost — Specialty Servers to Access BBC iPlayer With Ease

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

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www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has a specialty server to ensure you can always access iPlayer. I found it easily in the app by clicking "For streaming" and entering "BBC". After connecting, iPlayer loaded in seconds. It has many specialty servers for other platforms like Netflix, ITV Hub, and All 4, and CyberGhost regularly maintains them to ensure they work. That's something most free VPNs simply don’t offer.

CyberGhost is fast enough so that you can watch shows in uninterrupted HD

All of its UK servers are lightning-fast. I tested 3 UK locations (London, Berkshire, and Manchester) and got average speeds of 44 Mbps — a dropoff of 24%, which is pretty average for a top VPN. That's 9x what you need for HD streaming (5 Mbps) and more than enough for UHD, and I watched the whole of series 2 of Fort Salem on iPlayer. A distant server in New York gave me only slightly slower speeds of 42.5 Mbps.

CyberGhost's app is easy to use and is consistent across platforms. Using my iPhone, I could connect to the UK with 2 taps and "favorite" the BBC server. On my Windows laptop, I used "Startup rules" to designate Chrome browser for iPlayer, and set iPlayer as my homepage. Now when I connect to CyberGhost, iPlayer is ready and waiting.

Unfortunately, CyberGhost's Smart DNS feature doesn't support iPlayer. Like ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer, Smart DNS allows you to unblock streaming apps on smart TVs and game consoles. That being said, it’s still a bonus that I could access other popular platforms on my PS4, like Netflix US and Hulu.

You can try CyberGhost free with its 45-day money-back guarantee, longer than the standard 30 days. That gives you plenty of time to try it out with iPlayer. I tested the refund policy, and it's reliable. All I had to do was request a refund via 24/7 live chat and answer some quick questions. I got my money back after 5 days.

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3. TunnelBear — GhostBear Feature Unblocks BBC iPlayer Without Hassle

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome More

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www.tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear is a free VPN that gives you reliable access to BBC iPlayer with GhostBear. This security feature makes it harder to detect you're using a VPN and can help get past blocks put in place by streaming platforms. During my tests, I enabled GhostBear with one click in the app's settings and had no problem accessing BBC iPlayer. You might not need it unless you run into issues though, because I was also able to unblock iPlayer without GhostBear.

GhostBear obfuscates your data to ensure you’re VPN-use goes undetected on iPlayer

It's also fast, so you can watch your favorite shows in high quality. I tested its UK location and got 34 Mbps — a dropoff of around 40% — comfortable enough for UHD. When connected to the US, I got just 17.5 Mbps. That won’t support UHD, but it’s still plenty enough for HD. While this wasn't nearly as fast as ExpressVPN, it still let me load an episode of What We Do In The Shadows within seconds. However, if you have a slower starting speed, you may encounter some lag.

Its user-friendly app makes it quick and easy to unblock BBC iPlayer. You can navigate locations using an animated world map, which is quirky and fun. To test this, I clicked the "tunnel" icon in the UK, which automatically connected me. You can also select locations from the dropdown menu at the top of the app. It has way more server locations than most free VPNs, with over 47.

Regrettably, TunnelBear restricts your data usage to a mere 500 MB per month, providing approximately 30-40 minutes of HD streaming. Nevertheless, you can effortlessly obtain an additional 1 GB of data by tweeting the company from your Twitter account. Simply select the "1GB Twitter Promo" option in the app's settings. I personally tried this and received the extra data within an hour.

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4. Hotspot Shield — Effortlessly Unblock iPlayer With a Free Trial

Available on:

Windows Mac Android iOS

Chrome Router Smart TV More

Try Hotspot Shield >

www.HotspotShield.com

Hotspot Shield offers a 7-day free trial of its premium service that easily unblocks iPlayer. It also has a 100% free version, but sadly it doesn't work with iPlayer. When I downloaded the free app, I was immediately offered a 7-day trial of the premium version, which I recommend. Its UK streaming server unblocked iPlayer in seconds, and I watched Series 1 of The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk in flawless HD using the superfast Hydra protocol.

With Hotspot Shield, you can access BBC iPlayer no matter how far away from the UK you are

I got great speeds of 46 Mbps when connected to the Coventry server on macOS during my tests — a dropoff of 20%. Speeds over distance were also impressive, I got 45.5 Mbps when connected to New York — making Hotspot Shield a good choice if you're far from the UK. Speeds on the mobile apps weren't nearly as quick, and I got under 50% of my base speed on iPhone and Android.

A drawback of Hotspot Shield is that its free trial period is relatively short, lasting only 7 days. Furthermore, it requires you to enter your payment information to initiate the trial. If you fail to cancel before the trial concludes, you will be billed at the monthly rate until you end your subscription.

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Warning: Risks of Free VPNs

It's nearly impossible to find a free VPN that can actually bypass BBC iPlayer's tough geoblocks — plus, many of them come with legitimate safety risks. The safest way to access BBC iPlayer for free is to use a premium VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee. It's best to stick to the VPNs in this list because we made sure they are safe to use. These are some of the risks associated with free VPNs:

• Some free VPNs collect and sell your data. The data collected is often shared with various third parties, which may put your safety at risk. Before downloading a free VPN for BBC iPlayer, make sure you carefully read its privacy policy. There have been many cases when a free VPN sold its user data for profit.
• Free VPNs often have poor security features. Usually, these free services are offered at the expense of your online safety. Meaning, they don't provide critical security features such as leak protection and a kill switch to ensure you have safe and reliable access to BBC iPlayer.
• Some free services come with viruses and malware. Even if not, most free VPNs are ad-supported, so they won’t block ads or pop-ups from bombarding you when you watch BBC iPlayer. Popups are not only annoying but can also contain malware.

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Tips on Choosing the Best Free VPN for BBC iPlayer

I examined all the VPNs on my list based on these essential features. Here's an outline of what you should be seeking, enabling you to make a well-informed choice when selecting the ideal free VPN for BBC iPlayer:

• Unblocks BBC iPlayer consistently. A large selection of UK servers will allow you to access BBC iPlayer more reliably. It will also ensure that you have plenty of additional servers in case you run into lag or overcrowding.
• Really free. I ensured that the VPNs on my list are 100% free or come with a reliable money-back guarantee. There wasn't any misleading information involving payment or hidden fees.
• Fast speeds. The faster the speeds, the faster content will load and play back. For HD streaming on BBC iPlayer, 5 Mbps is required. I used a free online tool to test each VPN in this list to make sure it meets this requirement.
• Easy to set up and use. All of the VPNs on this list are compatible with the most popular devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and more. I also made sure the apps are easy to use for unblocking BBC iPlayer.
• Strong security and privacy features. Some free VPNs don't use strong encryption and leak your personal IP. If your IP is leaking, then chances are you won't be able to bypass BBC iPlayer's geoblocks since your true location will be revealed. I only selected free VPNs that have military-grade encryption and leak protection (and all of them passed my leak tests).
• Reliable customer support. I checked that the VPNs in this list offer dependable customer support, whether that's by email, contact form, or a 24/7 live chat. This will help you deal with any issues that may arise in a timely manner.

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FAQs on Free VPNs for BBC iPlayer

Can I watch BBC iPlayer in Australia or the US?

Yes, you can with a VPN. A VPN with UK servers and strong security features can help you unblock the site from anywhere. All of the VPNs in this list offer several UK IP addresses to ensure you'll always have a reliable connection. This will allow you to access your BBC iPlayer account while traveling abroad, whether to Australia, the US, or anywhere.

What if BBC iPlayer doesn’t work with my VPN?

The best way to get consistent access to iPlayer is with a VPN that has great unblocking ability, unlimited data, and military-grade security. The BBC uses advanced technology to block the use of VPNs, so if you run into any problems, here are a few easy things you can try.

1. Disconnect, then reconnect your VPN. It will likely connect you to a different IP address, which may help you access BBC iPlayer.
2. Change your browser. You could also try using the iPlayer app instead of the website, or vice versa. I recommend clearing your cache and history; some websites give you cookies that reveal your actual location. Using a private or incognito window may also help.
3. Go into your device's settings and disable GPS and IPv6. You should also turn off any Google location functionality.
4. Switch to a different UK location with your VPN. Sometimes, servers get identified as VPN and get blocked by iPlayer. Therefore, using a VPN with multiple UK locations is a significant advantage.
5. Use a VPN with robust security features like military-grade encryption and DNS/IP leak protection. A kill switch is also a bonus — it stops your real location from leaking if your VPN connection drops for any reason.
6. Contact live chat. The BBC actively blocks VPN servers, and VPNs have to find ways to bypass the blocks. Your VPN may already be working on a solution, or have a list of working servers on hand.

Will I be able to watch BBC iPlayer offline?

Yes — you can download titles to watch at a later time in the BBC iPlayer app. If you're outside of the UK, simply connect your VPN to a UK server to use the app. Then, find the content you wish to watch offline and click download (under the episode or movie). Your downloads won't expire for 30 days.

However, the app is only available for download in the UK — and you'll need a compatible iOS or Android device. To download the BBC iPlayer app from another location, your device's app store location must first be changed to the UK.

Can I use a free proxy for BBC iPlayer?

You can, but I would not recommend it. Proxies do not give you the same level of protection as VPNs — they lack encryption and other key security features needed to keep you safe. This can also make them unreliable for unblocking BBC iPlayer since it's easier to detect that you’re using a proxy. For reliable and safe access to BBC iPlayer, it's best to use a free VPN that’s highly secure and effectively masks your location.

Do I need a UK TV license to watch BBC iPlayer abroad?

Technically yes, but it's complicated. To watch BBC iPlayer from abroad, you'll just need a BBC iPlayer account. The easiest way to sign up is to use a reliable VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer and register your account. Before you play a title, BBC iPlayer will ask if you have a UK TV license. You only have to click "I have a TV license. Watch Now." to confirm, and you'll be able to access the site's content.

That being said, it does go against British law and BBC iPlayer's terms and conditions to confirm that you have a UK TV license if you don't. We don’t recommend breaking any laws, so please read up on the latest rules and regulations surrounding access to BBC iPlayer.

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Start Watching BBC iPlayer Today

BBC iPlayer uses tough geoblocks that most free VPNs cannot get past. Many free VPNs don't have locations in the UK, which you need to access iPlayer. On top of this, there are several risks associated with free VPNs. They can sell data to third parties, target you with ads, and expose your device to malware. Luckily, my team and I found a few free VPNs that work consistently with iPlayer.

My top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has lightning-fast speeds and tons of UK servers, so you'll always have a fast and reliable connection for streaming your favorite BBC content. While it's not 100% free, it does offer a trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee. This way, you can test ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer risk-free. If you're not 100% happy with it, it's easy to claim a refund.

Top VPNs You Can Try Risk-Free With Money-Back Guarantees...

Rank

Provider

Our Score

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1

9.8 /10

Save 49%!

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2

9.8 /10

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3

9.6 /10

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4

9.4 /10

Save 69%!

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5

9.2 /10

Save 82%!

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