The best UK VPNs will link you to a UK VPN server and give you a UK IP address, encrypting your web traffic and allowing you to watch British TV from anywhere in the world.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, 72 percent of VPN users choose to use a free VPN over a commercial one, the majority of which are unsafe. Free VPN services frequently collect and sell your data, and they aren't always very effective at unblocking UK television from abroad.
We've identified three safe and absolutely free VPNs that operate reliably to get a UK IP address after thousands of hours of testing.
These free VPNs are the finest we've tested and rated if you want a free UK IP address.
However, if you're seeking for the best UK VPN in general, we recommend paying for a premium VPN service to get faster connections and more streaming options.
Free VPNs invariably come with drawbacks like data quotas, slower speeds, server restrictions, and inconsistent streaming access. However, the ones we propose are completely risk-free.
The Best Free VPNs for the UK
Check below the best free VPNs for UK and see how best they are.
1. Windscribe: The Best Free VPN for UK
Two UK servers, a 10GB data allowance, and consistent access to British streaming services are all included.
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Windscribe is without a doubt the greatest free VPN for the United Kingdom. It has the most free UK servers, the quickest speed connecting to the UK from outside the country, and it unblocks the most British streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, and UK Netflix.
It's ad-free and has a hefty monthly data cap of 10GB. Although limited in comparison to paid VPN services, Windscribe Free is the safest free VPN for the UK with more data and features.
Very good for streaming UK TV & movies
Windscribe is the only free VPN that allows you to watch UK Netflix from anywhere in the world. Despite VPN restrictions imposed by British broadcasters, it also unblocks all major British streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub, from anywhere in the world.
Expats and fans in other countries will be able to watch shows like The Great British Bake-Off, Peaky Blinders, and Strictly Comes Dancing without having to deal with annoying pop-up commercials.
Windscribe Free unblocks nine more Netflix libraries even without the WindFlix servers, which are only available to paying clients. If you're in the United States and want to watch Star on Disney Plus in the United Kingdom, you can also utilize Windscribe Free.
Check Out: What is Netflix and How do we create an Account?
A 10GB monthly data allowance
The primary disadvantage of Windscribe Free is that it restricts your data usage to 10GB per month. This means you'll have to limit how much you stream and download.
This is one of the more substantial data allocations you'll get from a free service. Other popular free VPNs, such as TunnelBear and Avira Phantom, have data caps of only 500MB per month, thus Windscribe will keep you safe for much longer.
The fastest free VPN for the UK
Windscribe offers two free servers in the United Kingdom. Both are classified as 'Crumpets' and 'Custard' in London. This is more than double the number of free UK servers of any other free VPN.
Windscribe, as the leading provider of UK servers, distributes user load to avoid congestion, allowing you to obtain a UK IP address while avoiding CAPTCHAs and slowness.
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For a free VPN service, these are exceptionally fast speeds (we tested them using a 100Mbps dedicated connection). On a UK server, you won't have any problems streaming or doing other online activities.
Windscribe now allows you to connect to VPN servers in nine additional places. These are the following:
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Romania
- Switzerland
- USA
You can always select ‘Best Location’ to connect to an optimal server.
No payment details are required
For Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, Windscribe offers a free browser extension. This is useful for casual online browsing. There is no need to register. It may be installed without requiring an account, and it comes with one free UK server that is limited to 2GB per month.
Windscribe is without a doubt the greatest free VPN for the United Kingdom. It's secure and allows you to watch British television. Torrenting is allowed, encryption is done with the AES-256 algorithm, and logging is kept to a minimum.
It's very simple to sign up – all you have to do is go to the website and make an account. There are no payment information required.
2. ZoogVPN: Safest Free VPN for UK
ZoogVPN offers a free version that includes a free UK server and 10GB of monthly usage. It's quite simple to set up and use, making it ideal for individuals seeking for a UK IP address.
Unblocking UK streaming sites is a breeze with ZoogVPN Free. It functioned to access BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub in our most recent tests. However, it isn't nearly as good as Windscribe because it doesn't unblock UK Netflix. It's also slower for long-distance connections into the United Kingdom.
Free UK VPN server
If you want a UK IP address, all you have to do is download ZoogVPN Free and connect to its free UK server. There is no cumbersome signup process, and no financial information is required.
Despite the fact that ZoogVPN claims its UK server location as London, we ran IP checks and discovered that our false location was in Lancashire, Northern England. It also always reconnected us to the same IP address, indicating that it does not provide multiple UK cities. Only Windscribe is capable of doing so.
A single IP address runs the risk of server congestion, as well as UK streaming blocks. If many ZoogVPN free users are connecting to the same IP, performance will be affected, and streaming sites can more easily identify and blacklist that IP address.
Watch UK TV on 10GB of data
ZoogVPN's UK IP addresses have yet to be blacklisted by British broadcasters, despite the fact that it unblocks all major streaming sites except UK Netflix. On the free UK server, we were able to access BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub. Disney+ is also available in the United Kingdom, allowing users in the United States to access Star content.
The issue with ZoogVPN is the same as it is with Windscribe: it has a 10GB bandwidth cap. It's a generous data allocation, but it doesn't allow for unrestricted streaming.
We like that the app's home screen has a progress indicator so you can keep track of how much data you've used. Novice users should not be thrown off by the app's functionality and overall ease of use.
A trustworthy, no logs VPN service
On this list, ZoogVPN has the best privacy policy. It only has access to your total downloaded and uploaded data. It's incredibly private and secure, and it keeps you safe from mass surveillance. There's also a warrant canary, which notifies users of any legal requests for data.
While the WireGuard protocol isn't supported, OpenVPN is, and the remainder of its security features are industry-standard. A kill switch, DNS leak protection, and obfuscation technology called 'ZoogVPN Shadowing' are all included.
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Underperforming speeds
This is the slowest free VPN for connecting to the UK on this list. However, it’s still capable of providing lag-free streaming and smooth browsing. If speed is your top priority, choose Windscribe Free.
3. TunnelBear: Best Free UK VPN for Beginners
TunnelBear may not be as good as Windscribe or ZoogVPN, but its user-friendly interface and design may be enough to convince you. You can get a UK IP address in minutes with a free VPN server in London and a quick setup process.
TunnelBear's free edition is limited to 500MB of data per month. Because of this, TunnelBear Free is only recommended for individuals who want to do some light web browsing. Despite the fact that TunnelBear unblocks British streaming sites, we don't suggest it as a VPN for British TV because you won't be able to stream for long before hitting your data limit.
Same as premium version, except for data cap
TunnelBear Free is nearly identical to TunnelBear Premium in almost every regard, including 41 server locations across the world, first-party DNS servers, and the 'GhostBear' obfuscation tool for circumventing censorship.
TunnelBear is a trustworthy VPN that is free of scandals, has a secure logging policy, and commissions independent audits to achieve user trust.
The data cap is the only significant difference between the paid and free versions. TunnelBear Free has a draconian data constraint of 500MB per month, which is quite restrictive. As a result, we can only suggest TunnelBear's free version for light casual use, such as viewing UK websites or safeguarding yourself when using public WiFi.
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On the positive side, unlike some other free VPNs that erase your unused data at the end of each month, TunnelBear allows you to carry over your data to the next month. You can also get an extra 1GB of data by tweeting about TunnelBear.
TunnelBear Free can be used on up to five devices, however the data limit is shared across one account.
Accesses major UK streaming sites
TunnelBear Free unblocks all major British streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, All 4, and ITV Hub, according to our most current tests.
However, we don't recommend TunnelBear for streaming British TV episodes and movies unless you have months of free internet. Because of the 500MB data limit, you'll only be able to watch a single episode before hitting the limit.
Good US to UK speeds
Your usual Internet speeds will drop by about 50% when using TunnelBear to connect into the UK from overseas. This is based on an average New York to London connection speed, which you can see the results of here:
- Download: 48Mbps
- Upload: 14Mbps
- Ping time: 142ms
While a 50% reduction in speed may seem drastic, when you consider the physical distance, it's not so bad. Still, it's another reason why we only use TunnelBear Free if you need to do fast online searches in a secure manner, such as browsing a UK website or using airport WiFi while traveling.
The Best Paid VPNs for the UK
Check below the best paid VPNs for Uk and exploit their benefits.
1. NordVPN: Best Paid VPN for the UK
Hundreds of UK servers that provide reliable access to all the major British streaming services.
NordVPN has more UK servers than any other VPN on our list. This lets its users avoid server congestion, and experience optimal speeds when connecting from outside the UK. It’s ideal for effortless, lag-free streaming of British TV.
Currently, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for UK streaming. It unblocks the UK version of Netflix alongside all local channels, like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4 (Channel 4).
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Largest quantity of UK servers
In London, NordVPN has 440 safe servers. That's a lot of information. Only CyberGhost has more UK servers, but we don't suggest it because it's significantly slower and less dependable for streaming than NordVPN.
NordVPN's servers are entirely bare-metal, despite the fact that it does not yet own all of them. Virtual servers are used by the majority of other VPNs. As a result, NordVPN's servers are physically located in the United Kingdom, and its architecture is far safer.
It has also transitioned to a completely diskless RAM server network, ensuring that user data is never compromised. On top of that, infrastructure audits are ordered on a regular basis.
NordVPN, on the other hand, does not allow you to choose from different UK cities, regions, or countries. You're out of luck if you want an IP address in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
Best VPN for BBC iPlayer
NordVPN's UK IP addresses are updated on a regular basis to evade British streaming restrictions, and it is currently the best VPN for reliable BBC iPlayer access. It's also compatible with Netflix, All 4, ITV Hub, and Disney Plus UK in the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, NordVPN's Smart DNS solution is only designed to access US streaming sites, so it won't help you watch British television.
If you wish to stream UK content from your big screen device, instead utilize the NordVPN Fire TV Stick app. To use the UK streaming apps, you must first create an Amazon account in the United Kingdom.
Excellent long-distance speeds
When connecting to London from New York with NordVPN, you can expect average download speeds of 83Mbps.
This is a few megabits slower than ExpressVPN, but still quite fast. When connecting to the UK, there won't be much buffering or loading time.
NordVPN has an inexpensive price tag of $3.71 per month. On mobile devices, there's a seven-day free trial, and you can get your money back within 30-days of signing up, thus giving you a month's worth of VPN service for free.
2. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for the UK
Because of its outstanding US to UK speeds, ExpressVPN comes in second. In our tests, the average download speed from New York to London was 85Mbps. You can't ask for much more for such a long-distance connection.
It's also a trustworthy option to UK streaming services. ExpressVPN has a shaky track record when it comes to unblocking BBC iPlayer, but it presently works with all other UK streaming services, including All 4, UK Netflix, and UK Disney+, to give you access to Star.
Exceptional New York to London speeds
ExpressVPN isn’t transparent about how many UK servers and IP addresses it has as part of its server network, but we know they’re all based in London, listed as ‘London’, ‘Docklands’, and ‘East London’.
If you live outside of London, this may be a limitation, however ExpressVPN's fast performance does not reflect this. With average download speeds of 85Mbps, it is now the best VPN for connecting into the UK from outside.
We might extrapolate from this that ExpressVPN has a significant number of UK servers. We've never had any server congestion difficulties, such as bothersome CAPTCHAs or connection problems.
Unknown number of UK servers, but extremely safe
When compared to NordVPN, ExpressVPN still uses a lot of virtual servers, but all of its UK servers are physically situated in England.
ExpressVPN uses zero-knowledge DNS servers, which means that when you connect to a UK website, ExpressVPN will process and encrypt your DNS request directly, rather than relying on a third party.
It also contains TrustedServer technology, which prevents your data from being written to hard drives and wipes data stored on RAM-only servers on a regular basis. For UK connections, ExpressVPN is a highly secure solution.
ExpressVPN has never had a DNS or IP address leak, and its kill switch is 100 percent dependable, making it excellent for sensitive web searches and preventing British broadcasters from seeing your true IP address.
Unblocks British Streaming services
ExpressVPN hasn't always unlocked BBC iPlayer, so it's not on our list of the top VPNs for BBC iPlayer, but it's now up and running, and we'll keep an eye on it.
Even if you're in the United States, you can use ExpressVPN to unblock Star (the UK's version of Hulu) and other British on-demand channels like ITV and Channel 4, guaranteeing you never miss an episode of your favorite shows.
You may fool BBC iPlayer into believing you're in the UK without using a VPN by using ExpressVPN's clever DNS tool MediaStreamer. If you want to watch BBC material on your smart TV or Apple TV, this is an excellent tool.
The disadvantage is that ExpressVPN costs more than NordVPN. ExpressVPN offers a seven-day free trial for mobile devices, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked.
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3. Surfshark: Budget VPN for the UK
Although Surfshark is significantly less expensive than ExpressVPN and NordVPN, it nevertheless provides a reliable service if you need a UK IP address. It has 200 UK servers spread across three British locations and allows you to access all of the major UK streaming services from anywhere in the world.
Its UK server technology isn't as advanced as NordVPN or ExpressVPN's, and it's slower on long-distance connections than both, but it makes up for it with its private logging policy and inexpensive price.
Over 200 servers across England and Scotland
Surfshark allows you to connect from Glasgow, Scotland, to Manchester, England, and London, England. All of them are physical servers.
Although Surfshark does not disclose the actual number of UK servers it operates, it did tell us:
"We can't say how much it costs." "However, it's in excess of 200."
If this is right, that is a sizable sum. It's not as high as NordVPN or CyberGhost, but it's more than enough to connect to the United Kingdom.
Fast speeds for smooth UK streaming
When connecting from the United States to the United Kingdom, Surfshark records average download speeds of 77Mbps. This isn't as fast as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it's more than adequate for watching British TV in Full HD.
Surfshark is a good streaming VPN because it bypasses restrictions on BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4, and it's our top pick for Disney+. It's worth considering Surfshark if you want to access Disney+ in the UK for Star content that you can get on Hulu in the US for a fee.
Only $2.30 per month
If ExpressVPN and NordVPN are too costly, consider Surfshark, which is one of the most affordable VPNs available. On its cheapest deal, it costs $2.30, which is fantastic value for money.
Surfshark also offers one of the best real VPN free trials, allowing you to try it out for free. If you decide to join to Surfshark, you'll get a free month owing to a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Get a UK IP Address with a VPN
Getting a UK IP address is very simple when using one of our top-rated free or paid UK VPNs.
Here’s how to get a UK IP Address:
- Download a VPN with UK IP addresses. Make sure it’s safe and comes with any additional features you need, such as British TV streaming support. We recommend NordVPN.
- Run the installer and install the VPN software onto your chosen device.
- Open the VPN application and sign in with your account details.
- Once logged in, select a UK server via its server list and connect to it.
- With a connection established, you can now confirm that your IP address really has changed using our IP address checker tool.
How We Test Free and Paid VPNs for the UK
You'll need a secure VPN to access British streaming services like Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and All 4 if you want a UK IP address.
We put 70 VPNs to the test by connecting to the UK and analyzing them in five categories, giving each one a score out of ten. The five category ratings are then added together to produce an overall 'VPN for UK' rating.
To find the best UK VPN, we test for:
- VPN servers located in the UK.
- Fast long-distance connection speeds connecting into the UK.
- Works with UK Netflix, BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub and more.
- An absolutely 100% free VPN service.
- A generous or unlimited data allowance.
- AES-256 cipher, OpenVPN encryption, and no data leaks.
Read the methodology below to learn more about the science behind our rating system. You'll learn about each subcategory of testing and how it affects the overall UK rating.
1. Number of UK Servers: 30%
A VPN must have servers located in the United Kingdom in order to unblock UK streaming services and deliver the fastest UK speeds.
We examine each VPN's server network and count the number of UK-based servers available to both free and paying subscribers. The finest VPNs for the United Kingdom will provide you with a selection of British server locations.
2. UK Streaming Services: 30%
Many VPN users want to unblock streaming content that is restricted in their location.
For UK VPNs, we regularly test each VPN’s ability to watch British streaming libraries from overseas. The platforms we test are:
- All 4
- BBC iPlayer
- ITV Hub
- UK Disney+ (Star)
- UK Netflix
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The higher we grade a VPN, the more UK streaming services it unblocks from outside the UK and the more stable its streaming access is.
3. International Speeds (US to UK): 20%
We connect to a UK VPN server from New York to assess each VPN's speed in the UK.
The average speed reduction when compared to our internet connection without a VPN is then calculated. The lower the speed loss, the better the VPN's international speeds are rated.
Many premium VPN services are slower than the greatest VPNs, which give speeds of over 60Mbps.
4. Logging Policy: 20%
Many VPNs fall short of the basic requirement for online privacy, leaking data, monitoring your activities, or selling your information to advertisers.
VPNs that are both safe and private are the only ones we endorse. Every VPN provider's privacy policy is scrutinized in depth. We're looking for policies with as few logs as possible. That means no activity logs will be kept.
We also look at the firm that is responsible for each free VPN. They need to be open and trustworthy.
Are Free UK VPNs Safe?
People download free VPNs under the mistaken belief that they are safe to use. Unfortunately, many free VPNs are built to gather, store, and sell your personal information. Some of them even have malware.
The three free VPNs we suggest are completely secure. We've done extensive research into their efficacy and performance. Respected privacy firms produced Windscribe, ZoogVPN, and TunnelBear.
Hotspot Shield, ProtonVPN, and Avira Phantom Free are some additional trustworthy free VPNs. However, due to severe data limits and a lack of UK servers, we are unable to recommend them for use in the United Kingdom.
How To Watch British TV Using a VPN
One of the most common reasons for obtaining a UK IP address is to watch British television. If you try to visit BBC iPlayer from outside the UK without using a VPN, you'll see the following error message:
BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.
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A VPN gets around this by masking your true location. It allows you to use the internet as if you’re in the UK and stream BBC iPlayer, UK Netflix, All 4 (Channel 4), ITV Hub, and UK Disney+ (Star).
To watch UK TV online:
- Download a VPN with a UK IP address that hasn’t been blocked by your streaming service.
- Connect to a UK server. If there are any optimized servers for UK TV, select that.
- Visit the streaming website or open up the app.
- Start streaming your chosen show.
EXPERT TIP: Clear your web browser's cookies and cache before you start streaming. Read our list of the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer to find out which VPNs work the best with iPlayer.