Article Summary
- Best overall for YouTube TV: NordVPN, the widest US server network with SmartDNS enhancement for streaming
- Best Android location spoofing: Surfshark, the only listed VPN with a built-in Android GPS override feature to spoof US location
- Smart TV pick: Proton VPN, offers native Fire TV and Apple TV apps with the Stealth protocol to bypass blocks
- The catch to know: YouTube TV cross-checks your US IP against your device’s own location signals, from browser geolocation to mobile GPS and your registered home zip, so an IP swap alone will not always keep you streaming
- What we tested: 30 VPN US server speeds, traffic obfuscation features, and streaming-friendly benefits applicable to YouTube TV
YouTube TV streaming service is geographically restricted to the US and is unavailable anywhere else. If you try to access it outside of the United States, you will see the following error message.
YouTube TV is also especially strict against VPN users. It doesn’t only inspect the IP address location. It checks smartphone, tablet, and smart TV geolocation data. In browsers, it requests access to the geolocation APIs and blocks content if it differs from the IP address information.
We tested 30 VPN streaming capabilities and picked the best ones for the US. Creating a YouTube TV account outside the US is extremely hard, but these VPNs will maintain access if you are traveling outside the region.
How YouTube TV Detects Your Location and Blocks VPNs
YouTube TV and streaming services like Netflix check the IP address source and location. If it’s not in the US, access is denied. Most VPNs source their IP address from data centers and cloud service providers. They are easily identified and also blocked.
On desktop and laptop browsers, YouTube TV requests browser geolocation settings. Some of these settings are retrieved from the operating system, outside of the VPN scope. IP address and operating system location mismatch restricts access to this streaming service.
YouTube TV also inspects the browser fingerprint. It includes timezone data, which gives away your location. However, we found that the NordVPN browser extension aligns the timezone to the IP address, so VPNs solve some of these issues.
On smartphones and tablets, location data is obtained via GPS coordinates. Only one VPN on this list, Surfshark, offers a built-in GPS spoofer in its Android app. For devices without GPS chips, Google scans Wi-Fi connections, so this streaming service is especially hard to unblock.
Lastly, YouTube TV asks for your home area (zip code) upon registration. You must log in at least once every 3 months from there to continue viewing local streaming content. You can change this area no more than twice a year. More information is on the YouTube TV support page.
| Device | Signals YouTube TV can read | What VPNs fix | Best way to stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop and laptop browser | IP address, browser fingerprint, operating system settings, DNS queries | IP address, DNS, and timezone spoofing, prevents WebRTC leaks | Browser + VPN extension |
| Android phone and tablet (app) | IP address, hardware GPS, Wi-Fi location, cell tower triangulation | IP address, GPS spoofing if available | Surfshark’s GPS override, stream on your chosen app |
| iPhone and iPad | IP address, hardware GPS, Wi-Fi location | Only IP address | VPN + browser (deny sharing location) |
| Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV | IP address, account history, mobile verification handoff | Only IP address |
With a VPN app from the TV store (phone verification handled while connected to the same VPN location)
|
| Roku / consoles / Samsung & LG TVs | IP address, network DNS queries, mobile verification handoff | The IP address and DNS via router setup | Setting up a VPN on a router (phone verification handled connected to the same VPN location) |
For more guides, visit our Hulu VPN and HBO VPN guides.
Best VPNs for YouTube TV Compared
| VPN | Connection speed US-East (Mbps) | Connection speed US-West (Mbps) | Speed loss (East / West) | US servers | Smart DNS | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 230 | 205 | 8% / 18% | 2500+ | Yes | 10 |
| Surfshark | 223 | 192 | 11% / 23% | 600+ | No | Unlimited |
| Proton VPN | 224 | 208 | 10% / 17% | 780+ | No | 10 |
| ExpressVPN | 214 | 198 | 14% / 20% | Undisclosed (covers all 50 states) | Yes (MediaStreamer) | 14 |
| IPVanish | 202 | 205 | 19% / 18% | 1500+ | No | Unlimited |
1. NordVPN: Fastest US Server Network
NordVPN
Best Overall VPN
#1 of 30 VPNs
A full security suite: VPN, malware blocking and dark web monitoring
Pros & Cons
- Fast servers (9,000+)
- Torrenting/P2P allowed
- Works with Netflix
- Strict no logs policy
- Easy-to-use VPN apps
- Double data encryption
- No IP/DNS leaks found
- Great VPN for gaming
- Discounts for longer subscriptions only
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
NordVPN manages 9,000 servers in 225 locations, with 2500+ being in the US. Our speed tests showed it’s the fastest of the 5 selected, with only an 8% speed drop on the eastern New York server.
Its browser extension has a timezone spoofing feature, which is beneficial for bypassing YouTube TV’s strict VPN block. NordVPN also offers the SmartDNS feature. It is a workaround that attempts to bypass blocks without changing the original IP address. Devices without native VPN support (PlayStation, Roku, LG Smart TV, etc.) use this technology to access restricted content.
NordVPN pricing starts at $2.99/month. You can get a dedicated IP for an additional price, as YouTube TV is suspicious of regular IP changes. We also recommend keeping the 30-day money-back guarantee close.
As noted, this streaming service is especially hard to unblock outside the US. However, NordVPN successfully unblocks many other streaming libraries, like US, UK, and German Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and HBO.
Visit our full NordVPN review to learn more.
2. Surfshark: Best for Streaming on Android
Surfshark
Best for Families
#2 of 30 VPNs
Unlimited devices on one plan, at the best long-term price in the category
Pros & Cons
- Strict no-logs policy
- Unlimited devices
- Unblocks Netflix
- Torrenting allowed
- Simple to use
- Very affordable
- Safe and secure
- Discounts for longer subscriptions only
On Android, Surfshark offers an ‘Override GPS location’ feature. It matches your smartphone’s GPS location to the VPN IP address location. It is especially beneficial for unblocking YouTube TV, which uses GPS data to determine where the viewers actually come from.
It has 600+ servers in the US. The western Los Angeles server had the biggest speed drop of 23%, but overall, all VPNs had very similar speed test results. On Android, it had a stable 30 Mbps connection speed, which was reasonable using mobile data instead of an Ethernet cable.
Surfshark also performed perfectly during our global streaming test, unblocking all services we tried. Surfshark is moderately priced, starting at $2.39/month. You can use it on unlimited devices and get a 30-day money-back guarantee if you encounter issues.
You can read more about what Surfshark offers in our full Surfshark review.
3. Proton VPN: Best for Smart TVs
ProtonVPN
Best for Privacy
#3 of 30 VPNs
Swiss jurisdiction and open-source apps, with a no-logs policy audited every year
Pros & Cons
- Highest security standards
- Audited no-logs policy
- Fast speeds
- Works with Netflix
- Offers free version
- Strong killswitch
- Advanced features
- No RAM-only servers
- Free plan limitations
Proton VPN has dedicated apps for a wide range of devices. You can download it on Android TV, Google TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. It also runs the largest server network of 20,500 servers, with 780+ in the US.
The speed test results were very good. It also unblocked all streaming services we tested globally, putting it in the top 3 streaming VPNs on this list. There are 8 protocols to choose from, based on speed, security, and VPN block evasion. If one doesn’t work with YouTube TV, you can try Proton Stealth or OpenVPN TCP for another shot.
Proton VPN offers a free version with no data caps. Its price starts at $2.49/month for up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Our full Proton VPN review covers all its features.
4. ExpressVPN: Best for Router Setup
ExpressVPN
Best for Simplicity
#4 of 30 VPNs
The easiest VPN to use, with RAM-only servers that store nothing
Pros & Cons
- Fast download speed
- No-logs policy
- Located in the British Virgin Islands
- Torrenting allowed
- Unblocks Netflix USA
- Secure encryption and VPN protocols
- Easy-to-use app
- High cost for month-to-month users
ExpressVPN offers a MediaStreamer (SmartDNS) feature and distributes Fortify GL-MT6000 routers with a built-in ExpressVPN interface. That makes it one of the best choices for router setups, especially if you buy both products.
This setup extends ExpressVPN streaming capabilities to devices that don’t support VPN apps. That includes Samsung, LG, Roku, and Vizio Smart TVs, as well as PlayStation, Microsoft, and Nintendo gaming consoles. For unblocking YouTube TV, we recommend trying its browser extension. It blocks WebRTC leaks and spoofs the location settings your browser gives away, increasing your streaming chances.
The speed results were good, at around 200 Mbps download for US East and West. The price starts at $2.99/month to use it on 14 devices simultaneously.
Our full ExpressVPN review covers the whole set of features.
5. IPVanish: Best Budget VPN for US
IPVanish
Reliable Alternative
#6 of 30 VPNs
Unlimited connections on a network it owns end to end
Pros & Cons
- Good download speed
- Torrenting allowed
- No logging
- Advanced kill switch
- Strong encryption
- Some servers work with Netflix
- US-based
- Inconsistent streaming performance
- No monthly plan refunds
IPVanish is a simple VPN that runs 1500 servers in 18 US States. We recommend it only as a budget choice, which you can use on unlimited devices. During our worldwide streaming tests, IPVanish unblocked HBO and Disney+ in the US, but Netflix remained blocked.
The speed drop was also the biggest of all 5, but remained above the 200 Mbps line, which is a good result. Overall, IPVanish does not overload users with features, unlike the highly customizable Proton VPN app.
On another note, its cheapest plan offers 3GB of eSIM data. If you’re traveling for a short time, it will come in handy. The higher tiers also include an antivirus, but so does Surfshark.
IPVanish starts at $2.39/month. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, but it doesn’t apply to monthly plans.
Read the full IPVanish review for more information.
How to Set Up a VPN for YouTube TV on Any Device
To increase YouTube TV unblock chances, you should take some additional measures. Firstly, your YouTube TV account must be linked to a location in the US, which will be your home address. You have to create it using a US IP address and a US payment method. If you don’t have it, you can try a workaround by purchasing Google Play or Apple gift cards with a non-US card, and then using them to obtain a YouTube TV subscription.
From a technical side, here are a few tips for different devices that can increase your chances.
- Desktop or laptop: Use VPN browser extensions with additional location spoofing features, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. You can also try spoofing your location manually with browser developer tools. This NordVPN blog post has clear step-by-step instructions.
- Android phone or tablet: You must prevent YouTube VPN from obtaining your Android’s GPS location data. Surfshark is the only one on our list that does that. Enable its GPS override feature and follow Surfshark’s step-by-step guide to activate it in your smartphone’s settings.
- iPhone or iPad: Do not use an iOS YouTube TV app because it reads the GPS data. First, connect your Apple device to a US VPN server and try accessing the streaming service through the Safari browser.
- Roku, gaming consoles, Samsung and LG TVs: These devices do not support native VPN apps, so run the VPN on your router. Our VPN for Smart TV guide walks through the router options.
Fixing ISP Throttling and Buffering With a VPN
Even if you’re streaming from your home location, you may notice your stream stuttering during peak times. Some ISP inspect users’ online traffic to identify high-bandwidth activities. Then, they may limit the connection speed to save their resources, at the expense of your quality. Our ISP throttling article has more details on how it works.
VPNs prevent that. They encrypt your traffic before it leaves your device, so the ISP cannot peek at what you’re doing. They only see that you are connected to the VPN server. Even if you’re downloading and streaming in HD simultaneously, your connection speed remains the same. All VPNs introduce some overhead due to encryption and data rerouting. However, if your VPN stops throttling, your connection quality can increase.
Our tested VPN speeds are more than enough to sustain YouTube TV streaming. On our 251 Mbps baseline, they remained close to or well above the 200 Mbps line. YouTube TV’s own recommendations are 3 Mbps for SD, 7 Mbps for a single HD stream, 13 Mbps for HD on several devices, and 25 Mbps for 4K.
What to Do When YouTube TV Detects Your VPN
Unfortunately, this may occur much more often than with other streaming services. Google is one of the fiercest fighters against VPN users, which is a bad practice for a company known for harvesting user data. Here are a few tips if YouTube TV detects your VPN:
- Your VPN’s IP is flagged: VPN IPs typically come from data centers and cloud service providers. Connect to a different US server and try again. If multiple attempts fail, you may want to consider switching VPN providers.
- Your device’s location doesn’t match your IP: YouTube TV additionally inspects device location data. Use a GPS override feature on smartphones. On browsers, use VPN extensions with location spoofing or change it manually with developer tools.
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Insufficient protocol obfuscation: Although WireGuard offers the best connection speed, it is also easily identifiable. Try a different VPN protocol that is optimized to bypass online restrictions.
- Stale location history: YouTube TV remembers where you last connected from. Clear the cache in your browser or app, sign out of your Google account and back in, reconnect, then reopen YouTube TV again.