Is it illegal to use a VPN in the UK?

No. No law in the UK prohibits VPN usage. You should always use the VPN for legal purposes like browsing, streaming, gaming, or torrenting. However, you can easily get into trouble for engaging in illegal activities with a VPN, like sharing copyrighted content. This is bound to happen, especially if the VPN is not doing its part to safeguard your online privacy. That is why using a genuinely secure VPN is imperative to protect your connection. The VPN services above will do the job, and you will rest assured that your data won't leak.

Why do I need a VPN in the UK?

There are several reasons why using VPN in the UK is essential. Firstly, it will safeguard your privacy if you are concerned with government surveillance. Secondly, a VPN will enable you to access overseas content if you are in the UK. Moreover, a VPN will prevent your ISP from monitoring your activities and won’t block your connections or throttle your speeds.

Do ISPs block VPN connections?

Theoretically, your ISP can block your VPN usage. Most ISPs use various techniques, such as blocking known IP addresses, blocking known VPN IP addresses, and deep packet impaction (DPI). However, a quality VPN with features such as obfuscation, frequently recycled IP addresses, and switching ports will help you evade your ISP's blocking attempts.

Can I watch BBC iPlayer from abroad?

BBC iPlayer is exclusively available in the UK. So, if you are a British ex-pat living abroad, the only way you can access the service is with a VPN. Connecting to a UK server will enable you to bypass the geo-restrictions and access your favorite content from anywhere.

Are there VPNs I should avoid in the UK?

While we recommend you use a VPN, not all services are worth using. Some have inadequate security and privacy features, and you will risk exposing your activities to all sundry. Others like Hola VPN monitor and gather your activities and data to sell to third parties. So, be on the lookout when choosing a VPN.

How do I start using a VPN?

Getting started with a VPN is very quick and easy. All you have to do is to download and install the VPN app on your device. Thankfully, the VPNs we have listed above provide both desktop and mobile apps. Typically, you will have to pay the full amount upfront, even if the prices are quoted in their monthly cost. You can get started once you create an account and pay the subscription.

Will Netflix block my VPN connection?

Netflix is perhaps the biggest streaming service in the world. Due to licensing and copyright issues, it offers various libraries in different countries. The company uses robust anti-VPN technology and has a database of known VPN IP addresses to block VPN connections. However, premium services such as NordVPN recycle IP addresses frequently and use the latest technology to evade the restrictions.

Can I use a VPN based in the UK?

The UK is not privacy-friendly and is a member of the infamous 5-Eye Alliance. So, you should avoid VPN services based in the UK if you are concerned with your privacy. However, some UK-based providers like HideMyAss (HMA)observe a strict zero-logs policy. This means you will always remain anonymous even if the UK government forces the company to submit information.

What does a VPN hide?

A VPN serves as a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, encrypting all your internet traffic and concealing your online activities from prying eyes. Using a VPN, you can mask your real IP address, making it appear like you're accessing the internet from a different location. This can help you stay anonymous and protect your online privacy.

Is it difficult to set up a VPN client?

For most PC or smartphone users, using a VPN is a straightforward process involving downloading the client, logging in, selecting an endpoint country, and connecting. Even for less common scenarios, minimal technical knowledge is required. However, certain VPN providers may only support Linux through OpenVPN profiles, though they usually provide easy-to-follow instructions. The configuration of supported routers is also well-documented. It is essential to verify that the VPN service you are considering supports all the systems you intend to use it on before making a purchase.

While it's impossible to ensure complete security on the internet, we expect the VPNs we endorse to be responsive to any security incidents they experience. Some free VPNs for mobile devices have been discovered to have significant security issues, such as monitoring their users. It's crucial to remember that even with a trustworthy VPN provider, having an encrypted connection doesn't guarantee complete privacy. For instance, if you're logged into your Facebook or Google account, they'll still have records of your online activity, even if your internet service provider can't see it. Therefore, a VPN is a helpful service for online privacy, but there are more complete solutions.

What can a VPN service do?

VPN usage is primarily driven by the need for enhanced privacy and security by encrypting data traffic to and from a device or network. VPNs can also enable region-shifting to access geo-blocked websites or evade network or country-level blocking of certain domains or IP addresses. Moreover, various organizations operate their VPNs, allowing employees to connect securely to the company network from any location. It's even possible to set up personal OpenVPN or WireGuard servers to establish VPN endpoints.

By creating an encrypted tunnel between the endpoint server and your device, a VPN provides you with a new IP address, which can even be from a different country if desired. This ensures your internet traffic is inaccessible to your ISP or local network administrator, safeguarding your online privacy.

10 Best VPNs for the UK in 2023 (Which One to Avoid)

Sneak peek at using UK VPNs

While the UK is not a part of the 14-Eyes alliance, it still employs rigid surveillance policies for the citizens. Also, they implement strict copyright policies and restrict content availability outside the country for licensing issues. Despite the region having friendly user-privacy laws, these measures conflict with users’ true internet freedom. Therefore, using a robust UK VPN is essential to protect your online privacy in and outside the UK. Also, the best UK VPNs let you enjoy local TV shows and movies abroad without hassle. That’s all we’ll talk about in this guide.

A virtual private network (VPN) is an essential tool in the UK today. If you have traveled abroad, it will enable you to access geo-blocked in other countries, such as Netflix US, and local sites like BBC iPlayer. The VPN will also protect your data and activities from third parties such as the government, your ISP, and hackers.

In 2016, the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) came into effect, which legalized the surveillance of UK citizens. It allowed the government to snoop on your messages, phone calls, emails, and even online activities.

On top of that, there are strict laws that prohibit copyright infringement. You risk up to ten years in jail if you are caught downloading or sharing copyrighted material. That is why we insist that using a VPN in the UK is necessary.

This guide has compiled the best VPNs for the UK, the benefits of using a VPN, factors to consider when choosing a UK VPN, and much more.

A quick summary of the top 5 UK VPNs

ExpressVPN – Offers good speeds, robust security, and privacy, unblock geo-blocked content and services.
NordVPN – Our number one recommended VPN for the UK. Fastest VPN servers, advanced security and privacy features, and impressive unblocking capability.
Private Internet Access (PIA) – Multiple servers in the UK, allows up to ten connections simultaneously, effective ad-blocker.
Surfshark – Budget-friendly, emphasis on privacy, fast speed servers, 30-day money-back guarantee.
PrivateVPN – User-friendly apps, incredible download speeds, operates several UK servers, robust security.

Easy steps to get a UK IP address

Get a well-established VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN as it boasts many UK servers, robust security, and impressive unblocking capabilities.
Download and install the VPN on your device or router.
Launch the VPN app.
Connect to UK servers and access the content, apps, or services you want.

Best VPNs for the United Kingdom

Due to the huge number of VPNs on the market, choosing the best service is a bit hard. We tested over 40 providers to determine which works well in the UK.

Below is our list of the ten best VPNs you can use in the UK today:

1. ExpressVPN

Well-known for its security features, ExpressVPN also excels at offering a diversified server network, that also includes many UK locations.

Visit ExpressVPN

3,000 servers in 94 countries

AES-256-bit encryption

DNS/IPv6 leak protection

Supports P2P sharing

Network Lock feature

TrustedServer technology

Tor compatibility

Split tunneling

Up to 5 simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Stealth privacy features
Strong security
Does not store logs

Cons

A bit expensive plans

ExpressVPN is an all-around ideal VPN for the UK. It offers feature-filled apps for all devices, unblocks streaming services, and is excellent at torrenting and gaming.

The VPN operates a network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. It has several servers in 4 UK locations, including London, Wembley, East London, and Docklands. With this expansive server network, you will likely get a server closer to your location for better speeds.

Does ExpressVPN bypass geo-blocks? Yes, and it is one of the best VPNs to unblock geo-blocked content and services. The VPN has several servers in the US, which is great if you would like to access Netflix US. It also unblocks other popular streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Videos, Disney+, and more. You will be able to stream in HD as the servers are pretty fast.

Since ExpressVPN offers fast speeds, your gameplay will be remarkable. It will manage to maintain data-intensive games like Fortnite without any buffering or lags while gaming. You will be able to play in high definition and keep up with your fellow teammates.

The best part is that it allows P2P sharing across its entire server network. Since it does not cap its bandwidth and data, you can torrent completely unrestricted.

Using the Smart Location feature connects you to the fastest server available. We tested it, and our normal speeds dropped by only 3%, which is impressive. The speeds will remain steady even if you connect to international servers like the US.

ExpressVPN uses top-tier AES 256-bit encryption to maintain your security by encrypting the internet traffic. What does this mean? One key is used to encrypt and decrypt your data, making it almost impossible to break. Just like NordVPN, it braces the encryption with SHA-512 HMAC authentication and a 4096-bit RSA key.