Raven Wu
Fact-checked by Eric Goldstein
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🥇 ExpressVPN
: It uses sophisticated obfuscation tools to reliably unblock YouTube on restricted networks and bypass government censorship via its vast server network in 105 countries. It maintains super-fast speeds for zero buffering and provides tons of extra value via extra features, like an ad blocker. Plus, new users get the benefit of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I always use a VPN when watching videos on YouTube. While it helps add extra privacy and security, I like how many VPNs include good ad blockers that block those annoying ads at the start of and in the middle of videos, without sacrificing buffer-free speeds.
A good VPN can also access YouTube on restrictive networks, such as workplace or school networks, unblock region-locked videos, and allow free access to YouTube no matter your location. When you connect to a VPN server, it assigns you an IP address that matches the server location, which can make it look like you’re accessing YouTube from an unrestricted area.
My favorite VPN for YouTube is ExpressVPN. It has blazing-fast speeds, works great on restrictive networks in restrictive countries, has an ad blocker that hides YouTube ads, and is really easy to use. The other VPNs on my list are solid alternatives, too.
Editor’s Note: Using a VPN to access region-locked YouTube content may violate the platform’s Terms of Service and, in some cases, copyright laws. If YouTube is restricted in your country, bypassing the ban with a VPN could also be illegal. We here at SafetyDetectives don’t endorse using VPNs for unlawful purposes and recommend familiarizing yourself with local laws before attempting to access YouTube with a VPN.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for YouTube
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for YouTube
Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN is my top VPN for YouTube in 2025 thanks to fast speeds, its wide range of available apps, its reliable ad blocker, and a large server network spanning 105 countries around the world.
It’s also the #1 VPN for watching YouTube in restrictive countries, like Russia and Iran. It works consistently in these countries thanks to its excellent obfuscation tool, which disguises VPN traffic as regular internet traffic to bypass VPN blocks. Obfuscation also helps you bypass restrictive networks, such as those at school or work. Additionally, I like how obfuscation is available on all of its servers, and the feature turns on automatically when using the recommended Automatic protocol, so you don’t even have to change any settings.
This VPN is compatible with all major platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV, so you can watch YouTube on any device. It’s also the only VPN on this list with a dedicated router app, and it comes with a smart DNS tool (MediaStreamer) with locations in the US and the UK. These features make it easy to get ExpressVPN working on a device without native VPN support.
In terms of extra features, ExpressVPN has a great ad, tracker, and malware blocker, called Advanced Protection, that does a great job of stopping ads on YouTube from interrupting your viewing experience. Subscriptions also include a good password manager (ExpressVPN Keys) that can help secure your YouTube password and auto-fill your login details.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at £3.86 / month, and new subscriptions are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for YouTube in 2025. It has super-fast speeds and a large server network. It’s also really good for unblocking YouTube in restrictive countries, like Russia and Iran, and on restrictive networks. Plus, it can be set up easily on any streaming device and comes with lots of useful extra features, like an ad blocker and password manager. New users also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Excellent Ad Blocker + Lots of US Servers
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a particularly good VPN for watching YouTube in the US because it has servers in all 50 states, so you can always find a nearby server to connect to for the fastest possible speeds.
It also has servers in 91 countries and offers obfuscation via Shadowsocks, so it can access YouTube in restrictive countries, like China, Russia, and Iran, as well as on school and work networks that block the platform.
I’m a big fan of its ad blocker (MACE), too. It’s our favorite VPN ad blocker — I tested it by watching several YouTube videos and never encountered a single ad.
PIA is compatible with all major platforms, including Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV. It also has a smart DNS tool with locations in 5 countries (the US, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan).
That said, it doesn’t have a dedicated router app, like ExpressVPN, so if you want to set it up on your gaming console or a smart TV without VPN support, you’ll have to perform a manual configuration. Fortunately, its official website comes with easy-to-follow guides for popular router models. Following its tutorial, I was able to configure PIA on my router in under 15 minutes.
Private Internet Access’s plans start at an affordable £1.69 / month, and all of its subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is great for watching YouTube in the US because it has servers in every single state. It also has a great obfuscation tool and works well in restrictive countries and on restrictive networks. Additionally, it has the top VPN ad blocker, MACE, which can remove all ads on YouTube, is compatible with all major streaming devices, and comes with a smart DNS tool. Its plans all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editors’ Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Streaming Servers + Automation
CyberGhost VPN has streaming-optimized servers for YouTube in the US, Germany, and Sweden. These servers are all tested frequently by CyberGhost staff to ensure that they work as intended. I also like that they’re organized in a separate tab, so they’re easy to find and connect to.
This VPN has a set of great automation tools called Smart Rules that can streamline VPN use with YouTube. Using Smart Rules, you can set it up so that the VPN automatically connects to a server when it detects that you’re on an unsecured Wi-Fi network (like the internet at a cafe, hotel, or airport) so you can watch YouTube videos more securely. You can also have it automatically connect to a VPN server when you launch your browser, so you never forget to turn your VPN on before visiting YouTube.
CyberGhost also has apps for Android TV, Fire TV, as well as a smart DNS tool with locations in the US and the UK.
One downside of CyberGhost, though, is that it doesn’t have an obfuscation tool. This means it won’t work reliably on restrictive networks or in countries where YouTube is blocked. Consider getting ExpressVPN instead if this is an important feature to you.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at a low £1.92 / month, and all subscriptions come with a money-back guarantee (up to 45 days for long-term plans).
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated servers for streaming on YouTube in the US, Germany, and Sweden, as well as dedicated servers for streaming on YouTube TV. It also has convenient automation tools to ensure that your YouTube traffic is always protected. But it doesn’t offer obfuscation. CyberGhost’s plans all come with a money-back guarantee (14 days for short-term plans and 45 days for long-term plans).
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors’ Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Secure Smart DNS Feature for YouTube
NordVPN is great for watching YouTube securely on devices without native VPN support because of a feature called SmartPlay. Normally, smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic, which can leave your data vulnerable to third parties. SmartPlay fixes this by combining smart DNS with VPN encryption. This provides an extra layer of security for people who want to watch YouTube on an incompatible device, such as an LG TV or an Xbox or PlayStation console. I also think it’s convenient that SmartPlay works automatically.
NordVPN only has smart DNS locations in the US, though. This is pretty limited compared to Private Internet Access, which has smart DNS locations in 5 different countries.
This VPN has obfuscated servers, which can help you access YouTube on restricted networks, but it’s not very good at bypassing government censorship. I recommend using ExpressVPN if you’re in a censor-heavy nation.
NordVPN’s plans start at £2.62 / month, and it backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN’s SmartPlay feature lets you get all the benefits of a smart DNS tool while retaining the security of VPN encryption. This is great for watching YouTube securely on devices that don’t have native VPN support. Its obfuscated servers are also good for accessing YouTube on restricted networks but can’t reliably bypass government censorship. All NordVPN subscriptions are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Surfshark — Easily Unblocks YouTube on Restrictive Networks
Surfshark’s NoBorders tool is great for accessing YouTube on school or workplace networks that may have blocked the platform. When it detects that you’re on a restrictive network, it will automatically provide you with a list of servers that can bypass them.
If you’re worried about your ISP or network admins detecting your VPN use, Surfshark also has an obfuscation tool called Camouflage Mode. However, Surfshark’s obfuscation causes significant slowdowns, so I only recommend using it when absolutely needed. ExpressVPN’s obfuscated speeds are much better. Additionally, neither NoBorders nor Camouflage Mode is great for bypassing government censorship.
Surfhsark is compatible with all major platforms, including Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV, and has a smart DNS tool, but it only has locations in the US.
Surfshark’s plans start at £1.69 / month, and every Surfshark subscription is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark’s NoBorders tool automatically bypasses YouTube blocks on school or workplace networks. This VPN also has a good obfuscation tool to hide your VPN use and a smart DNS tool with locations in the US. All Surfshark purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors’ Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I conducted extensive research and testing on all of the top VPNs in 2025 following our proven testing methodology to create this list of the best VPNs for YouTube. For this article, I paid particular attention to each VPN’s speeds and whether or not they could access YouTube consistently from anywhere. But I also took into account other factors, such as their security, ease of use, and bonus features. Learn more about how I ranked and compared the VPNs on my list below:
- I prioritized VPNs that are good at unblocking YouTube. I gave extra points to VPNs that can bypass network restrictions and that work in countries where YouTube is blocked, such as China and Russia. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for unblocking YouTube.
- I looked for VPNs that provide fast speeds. Using a VPN reduces your speeds slightly because it takes some time to encrypt your data. So getting a fast VPN is essential for watching YouTube without any buffering.
- I picked VPNs with large server networks. This lets you find nearby servers to connect to for the fastest possible speeds on YouTube. It also gives you plenty of options for changing your location.
- I tested each VPN’s security. I only picked VPNs with industry-standard VPN security features. These include bank-grade 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy (meaning the VPN won’t log your watch history on YouTube), and a kill switch to prevent accidental data leaks.
- I chose VPNs that provide good overall value. The VPNs on my list all have affordable plans that allow multiple simultaneous connections and come with useful extra features, like split-tunneling and/or an ad blocker. Additionally, every VPN on my list comes with a money-back guarantee, so you can test them out risk-free.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- PrivateVPN. It’s good for unblocking YouTube in restrictive countries. That said, it lacks extra features, like an ad blocker and split-tunneling. Its server network is also relatively small.
- TunnelBear. It’s a cute and easy-to-use VPN for protecting your privacy on YouTube. However, it doesn’t work with routers or come with a money-back guarantee.
- IPVanish. It has a large server network and very fast speeds for YouTube. However, while it works on restrictive networks, it reduces your speeds significantly. It also lacks some advanced security features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a free VPN work with YouTube?
Yes, but there are some important caveats. Free VPNs often limit how much data you can use per day or month, and data is consumed very quickly when watching videos. They also tend to be quite slow, which can result in a frustrating viewing experience due to constant buffering. This is why I recommend getting an affordable paid VPN instead for YouTube.
Is it legal to use a VPN for YouTube?
Using a VPN for YouTube is legal in most countries, but there are important exceptions. Some governments ban VPN use or restrict access to YouTube, and bypassing these blocks could get you into legal trouble. Additionally, using a VPN to access region-locked content may violate YouTube’s Terms of Service.
All of the VPNs I recommend have strict no-logs policies, which means that they don’t track what you do online. This makes you solely responsible for what you do with a VPN. Neither I nor anyone else here at SafetyDetectives condones the use of a VPN for unlawful activities.
Which country has the cheapest prices for YouTube Premium?
Changing your location to a country like Nigeria or Ghana with a VPN could get you cheaper prices for YouTube Premium. However, not all VPNs have server locations in these countries, so make sure you pick a VPN with a large server network, like ExpressVPN, which has servers in 105 countries. Note that you may need a local payment method, and if YouTube notices the discrepancy, your subscription could be canceled or require re-verification.
What country should I connect to on my VPN to avoid YouTube ads?
Setting your country to Albania, Myanmar, or a similar location that advertisers don’t target as frequently by using a VPN can help you avoid YouTube ads. However, this solution is inconsistent, costs you speed, and may prevent you from watching region-locked videos. Top VPNs, like Private Internet Access, come with excellent built-in ad blockers that can improve your viewing experience without these downsides.
