Best VPNs for France.tv - Unblock France TV outside of France

ExpressVPN Demo

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands (a country with excellent privacy laws) and is probably the best all-around VPN on the market at the moment. ExpressVPN allows up to 5 simultaneous connections and has an app for all the major mobile and PC operating systems, all of which work well and facilitate an easy user experience for customers. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is great news if you're an indecisive punter who wants to try before you permanently buy. 

Unblocking France.tv – and much more

ExpressVPN consistently unblocks all sorts of services from all over the web, and has servers located in Paris and several more in Strasbourg. It'll be easy for you to access France.tv without being served a message stating that 'this content is not available in your country. 

ExpressVPN isn't a one-trick-pony, however, and even if unblocking France.tv is your main priority, it's still great to have the option of browsing through content on other streaming services. To that end, ExpressVPN can unblock a variety of Netflix libraries and region-locked shows on Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer, thanks to servers in over 94 countries.

If privacy isn't your priority (more on ExpressVPN's security features below) then you'll enjoy ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer. It's a Smart DNS service that won't encrypt your data like a VPN, but will still aid you in spoofing your location and unblocking channels. Not all VPNs provide a Smart DNS service so getting two different pieces of tech for the price is a shrewd investment. 

Security to match

ExpressVPN is well-regarded as a very secure VPN, with a commitment to keeping no logs of user activity. The provider has been audited by PwC in recent years, uses AES-256 encryption, and equips every user with a kill-switch that will drop their internet connection and protect their original IP address if the VPN connection cuts out.

ExpressVPN's obfuscated (stealth) servers are another vital privacy feature, and hide your VPN activity, something that comes in especially handy for folks living in countries where VPNs are illegal/only state-managed VPNs are permitted. 

Worth the money?

It's not easy to find a downside to ExpressVPN's service, but one complaint we hear pretty regularly is that subscription prices are hardly cheap. Admittedly, there are more cost-effective choices out there, but you're unlikely to find a provider that can unblock the same amount of sites and offer the same robust security measures for a fraction of the price.

Nord Demo

NordVPN is based in Panama (excellent for privacy) and, similar to ExpressVPN, is one of the most recognizable and reputable names on the circuit. The provider has been around for over eight years now, and has earned its spot on this list thanks to a dogged dedication to constantly improving and upgrading its network in order to provide the best possible user experience.

The speeds you need for streaming

When it comes to streaming, some VPNs just don't cut the mustard. They're either too slow and or can't unblock the websites they claim to. NordVPN is quite different, however, and always performs well on our daily speed tests, regularly besting other providers or coming in at a close second NordVPN also has over 5,300 servers in 65 countries, which is enough to unblock all sorts of content. 

NordVPN has servers in two locations in France, so you'll be able to unblock France.tv pretty easily, and NordVPN's superior connection and download speeds will mean latency and buffering will be virtually non-existent. 

Loads of security features 

NordVPN, as VPNs go, has arguably some of the most interesting and useful security features available. All the standard ones are included – a kill-switch, AES-256 encryption, obfuscated (stealth) servers and a private DNS service – but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Double VPN, for instance, will reroute your connection through two VPN servers rather than one. And Onion-over-VPN will link you up to the Onion Network for extra protection. 

NordVPN packs a powerful ad and malware blocker called CyberSec, and even has its very own protocol, called NordLynx. NordLynx is a speedier, more secure version of the already quite impressive WireGuard protocol, and could be something to check out if you're a regular streamer. Plus, these security features will all come in handy if you're watching France.tv from a country governed by an authoritarian regime. 

NordVPN: worth the price?

NordVPN is one of the cheaper VPNs on the market but certainly packs a punch. The provider permits up to 6 simultaneous connections through the same account, which isn't as many as some of the providers further down this list but is a pretty decent allowance, and I quite like NordVPN's friendly user interface (it's a big map, so it's easy to see what servers are closest to you). NordVPN is, like all the best VPNs, offering a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get to grips with the software without having to pay a permanent fee. Just contact their customer support team within a month and you'll have your cash back! 

PIA Demo

Private Internet Access has 147 servers in France, which makes unblocking France.tv a simple process. The fact that the VPN is based in the US, which is admittedly a privacy red flag, may deter some prospective users, but as I'll go on to explain, PIA is a VPN provider you can trust. 

If you'd like to try the software out for yourself, PIA, like the VPNs above it in this list, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to put you at ease and ensure you're really sold on its benefits before you take the financial plunge. 

No logs claim proven in court

Private Internet Access' zero-logs claim has been proven in court on more than one occasion. In fact, PIA has appeared in two court cases over the past three years or so, and on both occasions has had no data to hand over to authorities, which is a clear indication that its no-logs policy does exactly what it says on the tin. 

This is a really good sign if you're shopping for a VPN to watch content your government disapproves of on France.tv, because you can be sure there's no way they'll be able to find out what TV shows or movies you're watching. PIA is also an all-rounder when it comes to security, using the latest encryption protocols and obfuscation technology to ensure user safety. 

The best VPN for Linux

Private Internet Access, in my opinion, is the best top-tier VPN for Linux simply because it provides a fully-featured client for the OS and not just a command-line client like many of the other VPNs on this list. If you're a Linux user, I'd definitely check out ProPrivacy's articles on the best VPNs for Linux, but you'll be hard pushed to find one better than PIA. 

Simultaneous connections galore

PIA allows up to 10 simultaneous connections through a single account, so if you've got family and friends who would like to unblock shows on France.tv, or indeed any other channel, then PIA might be a really good choice. 

Surfshark Demo

Surfshark is a VPN based in the British Virgin Islands – making it yet another VPN based in a privacy-conscious country – and has gone from strength to strength since entering the market in 2018. 

Now, Surfshark has apps for lots of different platforms and helps thousands of people protect their privacy every day across all of their devices. If privacy isn't your priority though, and you just want to unblock different shows and movies, then Surfshark has a great Smart DNS for you to use (spoofs your location like a VPN, but doesn't encrypt your traffic). 

Unlimited connections

Surfshark's major USP is that it allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections through the same account, making it an excellent choice for groups of friends or even families who either want more private browsing experience or the chance to watch shows from around the world. 

Speeds and servers

Surfshark is pretty nippy – maybe not as lightning quick as Nord or Express – but it certainly does the job when it comes to streaming. Surfshark has over 3,200 servers worldwide, and if you want to unblock France.tv from outside of the country, you can connect to one of its servers in Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux.

Surfshark has a well-maintained server network spanning 63 countries around the world, so you won't be stuck with just French or European TV - the possibilities are virtually endless. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and iPlayer can all be accessed with the power of Surfshark. 

Security to match 

Surfshark, in my eyes at least, has a very similar privacy and security profile to NordVPN. It has a Multi-hop feature that works like NordVPN's Double VPN, Camoflauge mode to hide even the fact you're using a VPN at all, and a malware and ad-blocking tool called CleanWeb. Surfshark, of course, uses AES-256 bit encryption to secure user traffic and has a kill-switch (although there are some reports of kill-switch issues with some of Surfshark's apps – so be careful). The provider also affords customers 30-days to claim a full refund if they're not happy with the service. 

CyberGhost Demo

CyberGhost is a Romania-based VPN with millions upon millions of subscribers worldwide, making it one of the most popular providers in the world. It's definitely a great VPN for beginners and takes a no-frills approach to security and privacy tools, but one you can trust to do what it says on the tin. 

Great streaming servers 

CyberGhost has a huge number of servers across the globe – over 7,000 in more than 91 countries, which means you'll have a whole lot more to unblock than just France.tv. There are, however, 655 CyberGhost servers in France, so the chances of connecting to a congested one are pretty slim. 

One thing I like about CyberGhost is that not only does it tell you where the servers are, but it even tells you which servers are optimized to unblock which services. This can save you a hell of a lot of time, avoiding the hassle of connecting through lots of different servers to find the right one. 

Some downsides

If you're trying to access France.tv from somewhere where VPNs are banned or frowned upon, I'd choose another provider. CyberGhost doesn't have obfuscation (cloaking) technology yet, so although they can encrypt your activity when you're using a VPN, they can't stop someone watching from seeing that you are using one.

CyberGhost does have the baseline security features it needs for us to recommend it, such as a kill-switch, but I personally think they could offer customers a bit more, as they're currently being outpaced by other providers in terms of features. If you want an easy-to-use, no-frills VPN, however CyberGhost is a great option. 

A long time to decide

Unlike the other providers on this list, CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee rather than the customary 30 days, giving you a whole two weeks longer to make up your mind about its product. So for the indecisive amongst you: look no further than CyberGhost! If you're a VPN newbie and you'd like a simple app and an extended period to make up your mind, this provider is the perfect match.