Best VPNs to watch Australian TV in 2024

Want to watch Australian TV networks like 7 Play, Ten, and Foxtel at work or abroad? We explain how to unblock Aussie TV using a VPN. Find the best VPNs for Australian TV.

When you travel overseas on vacation or for work, you will find that Aussie TV networks and streaming services are region-locked. Streaming sites use your device’s IP address to check your location. The VPNs in this guide can all provide you with a valid IP address in Australia to watch Australian TV abroad.

The encryption provided by a VPN also means you can use one to bypass TV blocks at work or on campus within Australia. With a VPN, you can stream any of your accounts without being monitored. Plus, a VPN also lets you torrent securely and can protect you against hackers on public WiFi. This makes a VPN an essential all-around security tool.

Many VPNs have already been blocked by leading Australian TV providers, so you must pick carefully. In this guide, we explain how to watch Australian TV from abroad, and we recommend the best VPNs for Australian TV viewers.

Below, you can take a quick look at our top VPN picks tailored for Australian TV viewers. To find out more about each VPN, scroll down for in-depth summaries that will help you pick.

The best VPNs for Australian TV:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for Australian TV. Reliable encryption, many advanced privacy features, and fast servers for streaming. Wide server coverage to access Netflix US and services in 60+ countries. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Large server network across 100+ countries, including Australia. Apps for all platforms with strong encryption and a no-logs policy. Allows unlimited connections. Works with Netflix and Australian TV networks.
3. ExpressVPN: Expansive network covering 94+ countries, including Australia. Suitable for streaming Australian TV, US TV, and networks from many other countries. Reliable privacy and security features.
4. CyberGhost VPN: Affordable and user-friendly, offering secure connections for uninterrupted Australian TV streaming. Clearly labeled streaming-optimized servers make it extremely easy to use.
5. PrivateVPN: High-speed servers in 63+ countries, including Aussie servers for Australian TV. Works with more than a dozen Netflix regions. The port forwarding feature makes it a great choice for torrenting.
6. Atlas VPN: Fast Australian servers and the WireGuard protocol by default make it a cinch to access Australian channels like Ten Network, 7 Play, and Foxtel from abroad. Supports unlimited simultaneous connections.

Summary Table

Streaming Australian TV while abroad or at work requires a fast VPN with servers in Australia that haven’t been blocked by popular streaming platforms.

Streaming services like Foxtel and Kayo Sports are aware that people use VPNs to bypass region locks. This is why they spend a great deal of effort blocking VPN connections. Only a handful of VPNs reliably provide access to global streaming platforms.

In addition to streaming Australian TV from abroad, every VPN we recommend must meet all our privacy and security standards. You can find out more about how we test and recommend VPNs later in this guide. For now, here are some of the main criteria we used to pick the best Australian TV VPNs:

• Fast Australian servers that work to watch popular Australian TV services like Stan, Binge, Foxtel Now, SBS On Demand, Ten Play, and many others. 
• Fast speeds for streaming TV and on-demand videos in HD.
• Robust security and privacy features, ensuring secure access to the internet.
• Offers a money-back guarantee so you can try the VPN.
• A large global server network that gives you access to international platforms. 
• Apps for all platforms and devices.
• Trustworthy no-logging policy that means the VPN provider retains no records of your activities.
• Reliable customer support that can help you with setting up or using the VPN.
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network and have had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party.

Best Australian TV VPNs: Detailed reviews

All our recommendations prioritize data security and grant access to Australian TV and streaming services from abroad. They all differ slightly, so you should read our summaries to pick the service that best suits your needs. 

NordVPN is a world-class privacy service that hundreds of thousands of people rely on to bypass internet restrictions and prevent online snooping. It is a no-log VPN based in Panama, which means it never retains records of your activities.

The VPN has completed a full independent audit of its apps, policies, and network. It runs on diskless servers that can be erased remotely. The VPN has strong encryption, a kill switch, obfuscated servers, DNS leak protection, and Double VPN for added protection. It can block ads and trackers. You can trust it for torrenting privately or for bypassing online censorship and network restrictions. 

NordVPN has an expansive network of over 5,000 servers across 60+ countries, including almost 200 servers in Australia. It can stream Stan, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and other Australian TV platforms abroad. You can use the VPN on up to six simultaneous devices, so you and other family members can watch different networks on various devices – no need to compromise.

Apps are available for  Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, and iOS, which gives you plenty of options. Best of all, you can ask questions and get help 24/7 via its live chat. Try it yourself thanks to its risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST VPN FOR AUSSIE TV: NordVPN is the most reliable VPN for streaming Australian TV. It boasts lightning-fast speeds thanks to its NordLynx protocol and works to access not just Aussie services but popular platforms like Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, and many more. Strong encryption and a kill switch. Allows torrenting. Has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark has more than 3,000 servers in 100+ countries, which gives you a huge amount of options for bypassing online blocks and accessing regional services. These include servers in Australia that work to watch Stan, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, 7 Play, and other popular Australian streaming services.

The VPN is ideal for gaining online privacy and security thanks to its robust encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, DNS leak protection, ad and tracker blocking, and malware prevention. The VPN has a split tunneling feature and gives you a choice of protocols, including WireGuard for better speeds. 

In our tests, the VPN provided superb speeds for playing games and streaming in HD, and it worked to access Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and many other popular international services. It even throws in a free Smart DNS service that can help you unlock streaming services on devices that won’t let you install a VPN directly.

A no-logging policy ensures the VPN never keeps track of your activities, and the VPN runs on diskless servers that can be erased remotely in an emergency. You can get help at any time of day thanks to its 24/7 live chat and try the VPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

EXCELLENT CHEAPER VPN: Surfshark is a low-cost VPN with a major focus on security and privacy. User-friendly apps and speeds are fast enough for lag-free content streaming. Best of all, all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is a highly versatile and reliable VPN based in the British Virgin Islands. The service has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firestick and works to access IP addresses in 94+ different countries. These include Australia for smooth HD streaming of platforms like 10Play, 7Plus, and 9Now from abroad.

The VPN has a solid no-logging policy, completed a full third-party audit, and runs on a robust network of diskless servers that can be erased remotely in an emergency. Its security features include 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and protection against DNS leaks. You also get a kill switch that cuts your internet if the VPN drops out, and a free Smart DNS service as an extra.

ExpressVPN's no-logs policy, along with Bitcoin payment, ensures you can sign up anonymously using a burner email and get high levels of privacy and security online. The only real drawback is that this VPN is a touch expensive compared to our top recommendations. However, it is highly reliable and works to access tons of international services, including Netflix. 

STRONG ALL ROUND OPTION: ExpressVPN provides fast connections to IPs in Australia and 94+ other countries. It prioritizes privacy and includes everything you need to keep your data private and secure online. Fast Lightway protocol is perfect for gaming, torrenting, and streaming. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

CyberGhost VPN is a superb choice for beginners thanks to its user-friendly apps. The VPN might be easier to use, but it still provides strong encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. It has a solid no-logging policy and is based in Romania, which is fantastic in terms of privacy. You can rely on it to gain online privacy at home, at work, or on public WiFi, and it successfully prevents tracking by ISPs and the Australian government.

If you go on vacation, you can connect to suits servers in Australia to watch Stan, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and any other Aussie services that interest you. It also works to unblock streams at work. 

CyberGhost has a whopping 9,000+ servers across 90+ countries, and in our tests, those servers worked to access Netflix US, Disney Plus, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube TV. Servers are labeled for specific streaming services and use cases, such as torrenting, making it easy to find the server you need. It allows torrenting throughout its network. 

Apps are available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. You can use the VPN on up to seven devices at the same time. Live chat support is on hand to help you at all times, and you can test the VPN for 45 days. 

LOW COST: CyberGhost is a simple, cheap VPN that offers reliable privacy and accessibility. Has more than 9,000 servers worldwide and been tested with a wide range of international streaming platforms. Works to access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, etc. Solid no-logging policy and strong encryption. Has a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

PrivateVPN was launched with the backing of activists who support people's right to use the internet without being tracked. The VPN allows torrenting on all of its servers and permits port forwarding, making it a solid option for anybody who wants to bypass Australian torrent restrictions.

Admittedly, this VPN isn't the fastest on our list. However, in our tests, it worked to stream Australian TV networks without any buffering. PrivateVPN operates around 200+ servers across 63+ countries, which gives you plenty of options for accessing international services like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+. It can access over a dozen Netflix regions.

You can connect to PrivateVPN using apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Those apps come with a nice mix of features including a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, OpenVPN with 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch. This ensures you gain complete online privacy and can watch Australian TV networks at work if you so wish.

If you have any issues setting up or using the VPN, you can contact the live chat support. Test it for 30 days to see whether it suits your needs. 

SECURE AND RELIABLE: PrivateVPN is a cheap way to bypass restrictions and watch Australian TV abroad. Strong privacy levels. You can connect 10 devices at the same time. Includes a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and port forwarding. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Atlas VPN is a fast and reliable VPN that is particularly good for streaming. It has servers in 44+ countries, which is fewer than our top picks. Still, it offers fast connections to servers in Australia that work to watch popular streaming services like Stan, Binge, Foxtel Now, and Kayo Sports. It also works with international services like Netflix US, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.

Atlas VPN defaults to the WireGuard protocol, which supports high speeds for streaming and gaming. It has dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. Those apps provide strong encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, MultiHop servers, split tunneling, and ad blocking.

The VPN’s strict no-logs policy protects your privacy. It keeps no records of who you are or what you do while connected. You can connect on an unlimited number of devices, so you can share an account with friends and family. Try it for 30 days to watch Australian TV at work or abroad. 

FAST FOR STREAMING: Atlas VPN is a superb option for streaming, gaming, and making video calls privately. Works to access tons of popular services, including Netflix, Hulu, Stan, Foxtel, Kayo, and BBC iPlayer.  Unlimited simultaneous connections. Offers built-in malware filtering and ad blocking. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of AtlasVPN.

Australian TV VPN testing methodology

We understand that picking a VPN can be hard. There are dozens of competing services available on the market and they are not all created equally. Many VPNs exaggerate their attributes and privacy credentials, which makes it easy to end up with a VPN that is unfit for purpose.

At BleepingComputer we put privacy above all else. We only recommend VPNs that protect you against online surveillance, tracking, and data theft. We check the encryption, test the VPN for leaks, analyze the privacy policy, and assess the VPN's speed performance. You can find out more about how we test VPNs in our methodology guide.

For this article, all of our recommendations fulfilled all of our criteria and give users access to Australian TV streaming services from other countries.

Below, you can see some of the things we looked for when choosing VPNs for this guide.

• Strong security & privacy: We only recommend VPNs that prioritize robust security with strong encryption, advanced protocols, kill switches, and DNS leak protection.
• Privacy: All the VPNs in this guide are committed to user privacy. They have a no-logs policy which means they never share data or keep records of your home IP, the servers you connect to, or your online activities.
• High-speed streaming: For seamless viewing of Australian TV, we focus on VPNs with fast protocols like WireGuard. We test each VPN in various locations to recommend services that offer consistent access to services in Australia and other countries around the world. 
• Global network: The best VPNs offer extensive server networks for worldwide IP access, bypassing online restrictions in various countries and accessing region-locked services like Australian TV.
• Cross-platform compatibility: Our recommended VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Firesticks. They allow multiple device connections so you can watch TV on various devices and share your VPN with family.
• Customer support: If you are new to VPNs you may want to ask questions or get help with setting up and using the VPN. We only recommend VPNs that make themselves available to their users via live chat and email.

In addition to these criteria, our top three VPNs must have completed a third-party audit. Audits ensure the VPN hasn't missed any vulnerabilities in its services, and that the privacy promises made by the VPN are met.  

Our top three picks must also run their VPNs on diskless servers. A diskless VPN network exists only in RAM, which means no remnant data is ever left on a hard drive. This helps the VPN refrain from inadvertently storing any identifiable data.

How to watch Australian TV with a VPN

Using a VPN to watch Australian TV abroad or on restricted networks within Australia (such as at work or on campus) is easy as long as you pick the right VPN. Below is a quick guide that explains the process.

Here's how to watch Australian TV with a VPN:

1. Pick a reliable VPN for watching Australian TV. We recommend NordVPN because it is fast, reliable, and super secure. Alternatively, Surfshark is low-cost and has super Australian servers or ExpressVPN is a fantastic all-rounder. Our links apply an automatic coupon that ensures you get the largest discount possible.
2. Download the VPN apps and install them on your devices. Our recommendations have apps for all popular devices so you can watch Australian TV on laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, etc. If you want the app for iOS or Android download it from your usual app store.
3. Open the VPN app and log in using your credentials from sign up. 
4. Pick a VPN server in Australia from the list and click Connect.

Once the VPN has connected, you can watch Australian TV networks on your devices. If you have any issues, we recommend that you clear the cache and cookies in your browser. Trackers left in your browser can conflict with your VPN and prevent it from working. 

VPN for Australian TV FAQs

Can I use a free VPN to watch Australian TV?

A few trustworthy free VPNs exist but they only provide a limited free plan. Those services want you to upgrade to a paid plan, which is why the free plan has a limited number of servers, slower speeds, download limitations, and no access to streaming services like Netflix unless you pay. 

At the time of writing, we know of no reliable VPNs that offer a free server in Australia. Many free VPNs advertised online are not trustworthy. Free VPNs have invasive policies that allow them to harvest and sell user data for profit. This means that using free VPNs spreads your data even further, rather than giving you online privacy.

In addition, free VPNs lack encryption, suffer from leaks, and have serious app and server vulnerabilities. Free VPNs can give you a false sense of security while exposing you to additional dangers, and potentially even spyware.

Why is Australian TV blocked abroad?

TV networks and streaming services around the globe (including those in Australia) must adhere to the licensing agreements they sign. These obligations are negotiated between streaming services and copyright holders, limiting where each network is allowed to broadcast content.

Australian TV streaming platforms like Stan, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports are bound by these contracts, which is why they track each visitor’s IP address. If you go abroad, you’ll connect to the internet through a non-Australian IP address. In turn, you get an error message and are prevented from streaming.

When you connect to a VPN server in Australia, you bypass this problem. A VPN gives you a valid IP address in Australia, which allows you to watch Australian TV while on vacation. The caveat is that many VPNs are too slow or have already been blocked by streaming services. Stick to our recommended VPNs for Australian TV.

What can I watch with a VPN for Australian TV?

When you use the VPNs in this guide to get an Aussie IP address, you can watch any of the services listed below:

• Stan
• Netflix Australia
• Disney+
• Amazon Prime Video
• Binge
• Foxtel Now
• Kayo Sports
• ABC iview
• SBS On Demand
• 10 Play

Can I watch Australian TV at work or school with a VPN?

Yes. If your office or campus blocks streaming platforms, TV networks, YouTube, Twitch, game servers, or anything else on the internet, then you can use a VPN to regain access. Many schools and employers block access to popular websites and apps to stop employees from getting distracted. By using a VPN, you can bypass these blocks by first routing your connection through the VPN server. The VPN’s encryption ensures no one can see what you do online while connected.

Is it legal to use a VPN to watch Australian TV abroad?

Using a VPN is completely legal in the vast majority of countries. We know of no Australian who has faced legal prosecution for watching Australian TV with a VPN.

We are not lawyers, and nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice.

Why is my VPN not working to watch Australian TV?

There are dozens of VPNs available on the market, and the vast majority of those services have been blocked by streaming services. Australian TV networks and streaming platforms are aware that consumers use VPNs to bypass region blocks. For this reason, they try to block as many IP addresses known to be associated with VPNs.

Only a few VPNs still work to watch Australian TV. If your current VPN does not work, this probably means that it has already been blocked. For this reason, we recommend that you cancel your subscription and switch to one of the providers in this guide.

All our recommendations work to watch Australian TV, so if you are having issues, we recommend you clear the cookies and cache in your browser. If that does not work, contact the live chat support for advice. They will recommend steps like the ones listed below:

1. Try a different Australian server
2. Try using a different browser
3. Open your browser using incognito mode
4. Clear your cookies
5. Clear your cache
6. Use your streaming service without the app (in your browser)
7. Try a different protocol
8. Try reinstalling your VPN

Failing that, just give it some time. VPN servers are constantly being updated, so access might be restored soon.