Virtual private networks, commonly known as VPNs, are frequently utilized to circumvent geographical limitations on streaming services. For instance, if you happen to be in the U.S. and wish to view the latest episode of Love Island before it is released on Hulu, you can connect to a VPN server located in the UK, where ITVX possesses the streaming rights. This allows you to obtain a British IP address, enabling you to bypass the geographical restrictions.
While it seems simple, success hinges on having a VPN capable of handling this function. Streaming platforms are becoming increasingly skilled at identifying VPN usage to uphold content licensing regulations, and certain VPNs may struggle to overcome these barriers.
In my capacity as Mashable’s VPN authority, I underscore that accessing worldwide streaming services serves as a secondary function of VPNs. The primary goal revolves around boosting online privacy, ensuring that your ISP, advertisers, and others cannot track your online behavior. A VPN ought to follow stringent privacy policies and maintain a clean reputation. If a VPN manages to unblock shows but mishandles your data, it is not a viable option.
The sole VPN I advocate for streaming, which is also reliable and trustworthy, is Proton VPN.
Why Proton VPN?
This is not sponsored content but the product of Mashable’s thorough VPN assessment procedure, honed by research and expert consultations. While privacy remains the central concern, we also evaluate VPNs for their capability to unblock streaming services, which is crucial for a considerable number of users.
I favor Proton VPN for streaming because it excels in ensuring user security with a no-logs policy, independent audits, open-source applications, transparency reports, and sophisticated features like multi-hop servers. It also efficiently circumvents streaming geographical restrictions, which is an added benefit.
Proton VPN markets itself as streaming-oriented, providing access guides for nearly 100 streaming services worldwide. It successfully enabled me to view Love Island on ITVX from Chicago using a London server. It offers a load percentage meter for each server, assisting users in avoiding slow speed by selecting less occupied servers.
As of June 2025, Proton VPN boasts over 13,600 servers across more than 120 nations, presenting the largest and most varied server network I’ve encountered. Locating a fast server in a region with your preferred content should be effortless. During testing, my connection speed experienced only a 13% decrease when using a British server, which is remarkable considering the distance.
Proton VPN also features a proprietary Stealth protocol designed to outmaneuver VPN blocking techniques, making it undetectable to streaming platforms, and this is particularly beneficial in countries with stringent VPN laws.
With support for up to 10 simultaneous connections and compatibility with various devices, such as Android TV, Apple TV, and Firestick, Proton VPN enables streaming on multiple devices.
However, a Proton VPN subscription is necessary for complete server access, unrestricted speeds, live chat assistance, and multi-device functionality. Its free version does not provide enough for these features. The Plus plan represents good value for what it delivers. Check out my comprehensive Proton VPN review for additional insights.
Disclaimer: Proton VPN and Mashable do not endorse violations of copyright laws.