You can get these iPlayer VPNs for free
- ExpressVPN
- CyberGhost VPN
- Surfshark
- PrivateVPN
- VyprVPN
BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK, which means that if you are outside of Britain, you are going to need to bypass its geo-restrictions. The good news is that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you pretend to be in the UK so that you can stream iPlayer from anywhere on earth. And, the best part is that some VPNs provide free trials and money-back guarantees, meaning that you can unblock iPlayer for free for up to 45 days.
The best free (trial) VPNs for BBC iPlayer, a quick rundown
Here's our quick rundown of the best VPNs that unblock BBC iPlayer (and some even come with a 45-day money-back guarantee!).
- ExpressVPN - The best BBC iPlayer VPN. It offers numerous lightning-fast servers in the UK and up to a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- CyberGhost VPN - A beginner friendly BBC iPlayer VPN that offers an unprecedented 45-day guarantee and easy-to-use apps for all your devices.
- Surfshark - The VPN with most simultaneous connections for BBC iPlayer and a 30-day money-back guarantee – unlimited devices and sleek apps.
- PrivateVPN - The cheapest VPN for BBC iPlayer after the 30-day grace period expires. Very secure and perfect for all streaming services.
- VyprVPN - A great all-around BBC iPlayer VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Independently audited and fast, owning its infrastructure.
The best free (trial) VPNs for BBC iPlayer, in more detail
The following are the VPNs we recommend if you're looking for a service to unblock BBC iPlayer, with premium features, and up to a 45-days money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer with trial grace period. Unblock BBC iPlayer for free for up to 30 days, with robust encryption and super fast servers across the UK. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is a world-renowned VPN that is ideal for both privacy and unblocking content from around the world - including iPlayer. With ExpressVPN, all users are permitted to trial the VPN for up to 30 days. This VPN provider is extremely trustworthy and while you will need to pay for a subscription to trial the VPN - ExpressVPN always honors its 30-day money-back guarantee. As a result, you have absolutely no reason not to Express risk-free. And, this VPN is perfect for unblocking not only the BBC but Netflix US too! CyberGhost offers the largest money-back guarantee – a whopping 45-days. During this period you can unblock BBC iPlayer in a few clicks, with easy-to-use apps for all your devices. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost VPN is another excellent option if you want to stream iPlayer completely free. Admittedly, you do have to pay for a subscription to this VPN initially (as is the case with all the VPNs in this article). However, CyberGhost is massively generous because it lets you claim a refund for a whole 45 days. On the other hand, you will need to subscribe for a longer period of time in order to avail of this money-back guarantee. If you decide to pay for a month only, then the money-back guarantee lasts for just 14 days. Either way, this is a useful service for anybody who wants to watch iPlayer free by taking advantage of a money-back guarantee. Surfshark is a great BBC iPlayer VPN. It's a super fast provider that unblocks iPlayer, Disney+, Netflix US, and more. It's jam-packed with features and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark Demo Comparatively speaking, Surfshark is a new kid on the block. The VPN has only been around for a few years, but in that time it has shot up to be one of the best services in the world. The VPN has 4.3 stars out of 5 on Trust Pilot and it is a VPN that suffers very, very few complaints. With servers in over 60 countries, this VPN can help you unblock anything. Its servers in the UK can access BBC iPlayer, Channel 4OD, and ITV Hub. Surfshark really does live up to its name, because it unblocks many Netflix catalogs including Canada, the UK, and the US. The VPN also has a zero logs policy and strong encryption to ensure that your data always remains private. When it comes to features and accessibility this VPN is extremely hard to beat, letting you use the VPN on an unlimited number of devices. PrivateVPN is the cheapest BBC iPlayer VPN. It unblocks streaming sites in a blink of an eye, with superb OpenVPN encryption, advanced privacy features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. PrivateVPN Demo PrivateVPN is a Swedish provider that is extremely popular when it comes to downloading. That is because PrivateVPN is one of the services that can access BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix US (and a massive selection of Netflix catalogs around the world). This is great because not only is PrivateVPN extremely good value for money, but it also provides an excellent 30-day money-back guarantee. As a result, you can test this VPN on any device for a whole month - allowing you to stream iPlayer completely free no matter where you are. VyprVPN is a great all-around VPN for BBC iPlayer with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Unblocks iPlayer and Netflix US, with proprietary servers in 70+ countries – very fast and secure. VYPR Demo VyprVPN is a provider based in Switzerland that is well known for being a fantastic all-rounder. The VPN can unblock iPlayer and most other geo-restricted services around the globe. It can be used to access not just iPlayer, but Netflix, ITV Hub and much more. Where privacy is concerned, VyprVPN is extremely strong thanks to its no logs policy. And because it is based in Switzerland it is out of reach of invasive jurisdictions such as the UK and the US. With VyprVPN you get excellent apps for all platforms that have strong features such as OpenVPN encryption, a killswitch, DNS leak protection and obfuscated servers. We think VyprVPN is a good option for beginners who want a multi-purpose VPN - and you can test it risk free thanks to its 30-day money back guarantee. 1. ExpressVPN
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5. VyprVPN
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How does ProPrivacy review VPNs?
Choosing a VPN may seem an easy task until you realize that there are hundreds of providers on the market. Similar VPNs promote pretty much the same set of benefits, but some will keep secrets (like how much of your data they collect) – especially the free ones. What's more, you don't want to end up spending a fortune on a VPN that's only good at one task (for example, one that unblocks iPlayer, but not HBO Max). You want to unblock as much content as possible for a reasonable amount of money, or in this case, during your 30-day money-back grace period!
That's why, at ProPrivacy, we don't recommend free VPNs. These services come with too many hidden costs and limitations. Instead, we recommend only the VPNs that we've been using and testing daily – for almost a decade now!
We've hand-picked and thoroughly reviewed all the VPNs on this list. So, here you'll find only the services that offer robust encryption and advanced security features to ensure you enjoy BBC iPlayer in complete privacy. Besides, these are the VPNs we repeatedly use in our everyday lives – to circumvent censorship and stay safe when browsing the web.
But that's not all! Whilst creating this guide, I personally tested each of the providers to make sure they do exactly what they claim to do – without delays or data leaks. In this case, I double-checked that:
- Each provider offered reliable encryption
- There are no data leaks
- The VPN's listed features work flawlessly
- The VPN unblocks BBC iPlayer and similar streaming services
- Speeds are consistently quick, and that HD videos aren't constantly buffering
Will a Free VPN unblock iPlayer?
While there are some free VPNs on the market that you can trust, the unfortunate reality is that there are no completely free VPNs that unblock iPlayer. It is also true that in 2024, it is no longer possible to use proxy websites and extensions to access iPlayer. This is because the BBC spends a lot of time and effort blocking IP addresses that belong to proxies and VPNs, leaving just a few premium VPNs left with the ability to unblock iPlayer.
But, where there's a will, there's a way.
How does the Free VPN hack for BBC iPlayer work?
Put simply, to get unblock iPlayer for free, you should take advantage of a VPNs free trial period or money-back guarantee.
Thankfully, if you are short on cash, all the premium VPN providers that we recommend are able to access iPlayer and provide a money-back guarantee. This means that you can use those VPNs risk-free for between 30 and 45 days, without actually risking your hard-earned cash.
As a result, you can actually stream iPlayer for free; at least for a month. And, if you want to, you can try all 5 best VPNs for iPlayer one after the other, allowing you to watch iPlayer without paying a dime for a substantial period.
Try the free VPN BBC iPlayer hack
Gaining access to BBC iPlayer for free is easier than it sounds, all you need to do is:
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Subscribe to one of the 5 best VPNs for iPlayer.
To help, we have covered all our recommended VPNs to use for this hack and their free trial periods below.
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Download and install the VPN app onto your device.
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Connect to a VPN server in the UK.
Remember: Some providers have designated servers to access BBC iPlayer, meaning not all servers will work with the service.
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Log in to BBC iPlayer and watch live and on-demand content for free.
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Your free period will last as long as your provider's trial period or money-back guarantee.
Remember: Cancel the account and request your money back before it expires.
How to make the most out of a VPN free trial
Obviously time is of the essence when using this hack, so we have compiled a list of tips to help you make the most out of your time when activating the trial.
Don't forget to cancel
The important thing about a VPN money-back guarantee is to remember that you will need to ask for your money back. The services that we have recommended are all extremely reliable and trustworthy, and they will honor the money-back guarantee as long as you follow their guarantee to the letter.
It is always worth having a quick chat with your preferred VPN before subscribing. This will allow you to find out exactly how the VPN money-back guarantee works and who you need to contact to get a full refund. The good news is that the majority of VPNs in this guide offer live chat support on their website. So, if you want to know more, you can follow the links in this guide to visit the provider’s website and find out more.
Stream with a purpose
Make sure you know what you want to watch before you sign up for a free trial. This will help make sure you don't waste any time browsing titles.
See what else you can unblock
If a VPN can access iPlayer, there's a good chance it will also work with a number of other services, such as Netflix and Hulu. The services recommended on this page have all been thoroughly tested with a variety of popular streaming services. Check out our summaries above to see which streaming sites we had success with.
Free VPN hack for BBC iPlayer – FAQs