Keeping up with your favorite STARZ shows outside the US means you need a VPN. But not every VPN can access STARZ content – whether on the STARZ website, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or another streaming site hosting the cable channel’s TV shows and movies.
You need a VPN that’s fast enough for streaming in HD, reliable enough that it won’t cut out halfway through an American Gods binge session, and nimble enough to guarantee access to US streaming sites from anywhere in the world.
Most VPNs fail to deliver on every front – but I’ve tested them all, so you don’t have to. In the end, I found the eight best VPNs for STARZ:
- NordVPN - The #1 VPN for STARZ. Super-fast connections, unrestricted access to content, industry-leading security features, and it’s easy to use. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark - The best budget VPN. Install on unlimited devices and enjoy fast speeds, better privacy, and access to STARZ from anywhere in the world.
- ExpressVPN - Works with every streaming site and has some of the most impressive security and privacy standards on this list.
- CyberGhost VPN - An excellent user-friendly option that's easy to set up and great for beginners.
- PrivateVPN - A smaller VPN that packs a lot of value. It works with most US streaming sites, and provides reliable connections.
I settled on these eight VPNs for STARZ based on some strict criteria. Most VPNs failed, but the ones I included share the following features:
- Large network of US servers
- Work with US streaming and video platforms
- Fast, reliable connection speeds
- Allow multiple devices on a single plan
- Strong security, including encryption and leak protection
- Easy to use
- Good value
Throughout this guide, I’ll go into much more detail about each VPN and how they met these criteria. You can also scroll to the end and read more about our testing methodology.
Disclaimer: We do not condone or encourage using a VPN to stream or download content illegally. Research the terms of use for specific streaming sites and platforms before using a VPN to access their content, and check your country’s laws regarding copyright, downloading, and the use of VPNs.
How to use a VPN for Starz outside the US
Once you’ve decided on a VPN from this list, you’ll have access to STARZ in minutes. Trust me, despite how complicated VPNs can seem, they’re incredibly easy to use.
Here are 5 simple steps to watching STARZ with a VPN:
- Sign up to your VPN and download it to your device. We recommend NordVPN if you’re trying to access STARZ.
- Connect to a server in the US.
- Go to the STARZ website, or another streaming site that hosts its content.
- Log in to your account and decide what to watch.
- That’s it! Done.
If you’ve followed these steps and still can't access STARZ, clear your browser cache and cookies, reconnect to the VPN, and reload the page.
Best VPNs for STARZ in 2024
Now that you know how we picked the VPNs on this list, let’s take a closer look at each one. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know exactly which VPN is best for you, based on how well they can access STARZ content, the security they provide, and a host of other features.
NordVPN is not just the best VPN for STARZ – it’s by far the best VPN in the world, consistently outranking its competitors on every metric: speed, privacy, security, and unrestricted internet access. NordVPN has over 1,900 servers in the US alone. I tested a bunch of them, located in cities across the country. Each one delivered lightning-fast access to STARZ, Hulu, Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and just about every other website that restricts content based on location. Even when I turned on HD, there was almost zero impact on my streaming speeds. But streaming isn’t the only reason NordVPN is #1 on this list. Its security is also second-to-none. NordVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption and 2,048-bit DH keys to hide your location, private data, and browsing activity, alongside a host of other security tools. These include an instant kill-switch that automatically blocks your internet connection in case of any disruption, DNS and IP leak protection, and much more. NordVPN is based in Panama, one of the most privacy-friendly countries on the planet. It also adheres to a strict “no logs policy" – it never records your browsing activity, and can’t be forced to share it with anyone (like your government). You can install NordVPN on up to six devices simultaneously, and every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. BEST VPN FOR STARZ: NordVPN is the #1 VPN in the world. With over 1,900 secure servers in the US alone, you’ll never lose access to your favorite STARZ content, and benefit from a more secure, private internet anywhere in the world. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark is the best-value VPN on this list. But just because it's low-cost doesn’t mean it's low-quality. You’ll get fast, unrestricted access to STARZ and every other streaming site in the US. Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in 100+ countries optimized for speed, privacy, and unrestricted internet. Its US servers work with every streaming site that hosts STARZ content, including Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. They’re fast enough that you can stream in HD, and reliable enough that you happily binge a whole season of Outlander without losing your connection. I’m seriously impressed by Surfshark’s suite of privacy and security tools, too. Alongside industry standards like military-grade encryption, leak protections, and kill-switches, it has a whole set of unique, customizable tools for a “cleaner” and more private internet experience. These include built-in malware protection, ad blockers, and anti-tracking tools (often missing from many more expensive VPNs). Surfshark’s dedication to privacy extends to a strict no-logs policy and use of RAM-only servers – which are automatically wiped on a regular basis to protect your data. Surfshark allows unlimited device connections on a single plan. BEST BUDGET VPN FOR STARZ: Surfshark is the absolute best low-cost VPN. It even outshines many bigger competitors in its ability to access US streaming sites, privacy features, and connection speeds – and doesn’t limit your devices. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN is a powerful VPN that delivers high speeds, incredible security, and access to every US streaming site, including STARZ, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. ExpressVPN's servers are optimized to provide seamless, fast connections anywhere in the world – and they deliver every time. I thoroughly tested ExpressVPN by bouncing between servers across the globe, streaming content in HD, and downloading large video files onto numerous devices. Every time, I enjoyed fast, reliable connections, streaming, and downloads – even when using a server thousands of miles away. ExpressVPN boasts some of the most impressive security standards on this list. It combines military-grade encryption and DNS/IP leak protection with instant kill-switches, RAM-only servers, and much more. It also has a suite of patented security tools that boost security without sacrificing performance, including its TrustedServer technology and lightweight Lightway VPN protocol. You can also sign up to ExpressVPN on its .onion TOR website and pay via crypto if you want an extra few layers of privacy. ExpressVPN comes with a premium price tag that might be outside some peoples’ budgets. While I think it's worth the investment, you also have plenty of excellent options on this list that cost a little less. FAST, SUPER-SECURE VPN: ExpressVPN can access STARZ, and every other US streaming site from anywhere in the world. It delivers super-fast, secure, and reliable connections and exceptional privacy. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. CyberGhost is the most beginner-friendly option if you’ve never used a VPN before. Its apps are simple to set up and come with excellent pre-configured settings that will satisfy most VPN users. When I downloaded CyberGhost onto my Android phone, I connected to a US server and logged into STARZ in minutes. Once I’d tested it out and saved some settings and favorite servers, I downloaded it onto my computer, logged in, and CyberGhost automatically updated everything from the Android app. This saved me so much time, as I already had everything I needed to get going, without setting up the VPN from scratch on each new device. Also, CyberGhost’s simplicity doesn’t mean it's sacrificed security or performance. Its servers are fast and secure, protected by 256-AES encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, numerous VPN protocols, kill-switches, and much more. I tested many of these features out, and they passed every time. You can install CyberGhost on up to seven devices, and it has apps for just about everything: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, smart TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, Xbox and Playstation, WiFi routers, and much more. BEST VPN FOR BEGINNERS: CyberGhost is easy to use and delivers excellent performance. You’ll get access to STARZ anywhere in the world, courtesy of a vast network of secure, fast servers. Includes a 45-day money-back guarantee. PrivateVPN was initially created for P2P and torrenting, so it's fast and privacy-focused. But this also makes it an excellent choice for streaming. While it’s much smaller than most VPNs on this list, PrivateVPN can still access STARZ from outside the US and delivers reliable, fast connections. PrivateVPN’s servers are equipped with the same robust security features you get from bigger VPNs on this list: military-grade encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, kill-switches, and much more. So just because it’s smaller, doesn’t mean it's less safe to use. I tested its features out, and they worked every time. I also tested PrivateVPN against every streaming site that hosts STARZ content. On numerous servers, I could access the STARZ website, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu – alongside a bunch of other sites that restrict access based on location. Each time, my connection was reliable enough to stream in HD and continue myOutlander binge interruption-free. PrivateVPN is also excellent value and you can connect up to 10 devices on a single plan. Customer service is a bit slow (especially compared to bigger rivals), but I eventually got answers to every question. FAST AND RELIABLE: PrivateVPN was built for torrenting, but also works wonders for streaming STARZ. Its servers are fast, secure, and can access every US streaming site. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. IPVanish delivers consistently fast connections from over 2,000 global servers – including over 1,300 in North America alone. With unlimited device connections, and a host of other cool features, IPVanish is an excellent option for families who want to stream content and boost security at the same time. Using IPVanish’s US servers, I could stream STARZ directly from its website. There was only a slight impact on my internet connection, and I never had to deal with buffering or video lag. IPVanish could also access Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Now – but not Netflix US or Hulu. If you need access to either of these streaming sites, you may be better off with a top provider like NordVPN or Surfshark. IPVanish boasts impressive security credentials, including 256-bit AES encryption, a DHE-RSA 2,048-bit key exchange, and SHA512 authentication – all of which add multiple layers of protection and cloaking to your data, location, and browsing activity. It also follows a strict no-logs policy and undergoes regular independent audits. However, IPVanish is based in the US, which is part of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance. While we trust their policies, plenty of excellent VPNs on this list are based in more privacy-friendly locations. UNLIMITED DEVICES: IPVanish is excellent value for families, with no limit to your device connections. It works with most streaming sites, and delivers reliable speeds. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access (PIA) has over 15,500 servers in the US alone – that’s more than every other VPN on this list combined! It’s lightweight, fast, and works with every streaming site that hosts STARZ shows and movies. I tested PIA out by connecting to various servers around the US and opening up STARZ, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix US, and a few other streaming sites. Each time, I got fast, uninterrupted access to HD content. Even when I connected to servers in countries spread across the globe (including Japan and France), PIA consistently delivered reliable, fast connections with little impact on load times. PIA is also incredibly popular for P2P and torrenting, due to its focus on privacy and support for P2P apps. It's highly customizable, and you can configure everything depending on your needs and preferences (i.e., privacy vs. speed). For example, you can choose between VPN protocols: OpenVPN, Wireguard, and IKEv2. Advanced users will definitely appreciate all the options available. All this customization can make PIA a bit overwhelming to new users, but you can also stick to the defaults while you get used to it. EXCELLENT FOR DOWNLOADS: Private Internet Access is lightweight, versatile, and highly customizable. It’s excellent for streaming and downloading, with over 29,000 secure servers across the globe. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Atlas VPN is a reliable provider that works with every US streaming site: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, STARZ, and many others. You get unlimited devices on a single Atlas VPN subscription, and provided consistently fast, reliable connections throughout my tests. Atlas VPN is much smaller than every other provider on this list – it only has a little over 750 servers in 30+ countries. But it’s only been around for a few years, and it's growing quickly. Millions of people are already using it to access restricted content around the world, boost their privacy, and so on. Having tested Atlas VPN thoroughly, I can see why – I was constantly impressed by how powerful it is, especially given its size. I really like how much added value Atlas VPN packs into its VPN subscription. Alongside industry-standard security and privacy features, you also get access to several crucial cybersecurity tools many VPNs leave out: malware protection, a built-in ad blocker, anti-tracking tools, and much more. All of these add a significant layer of privacy and security to your internet experience, beyond just hiding your location, data, and browsing activity. SMALL BUT POWERFUL: Atlas VPN is fast, works with every US streaming site, and covers unlimited device connections. It’s an excellent, low-cost choice for streaming STARZ anywhere in the world. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. 1. NordVPN
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Methodology: how I tested the best VPNs for Starz
While testing the best VPNs for STARZ, I focused on the features that would give you the best access to its content while also providing an overall better online experience.
Most VPNs failed my tests outright. The ones that passed did so based on the following:
- Large server network: I’ve only recommended VPNs with lots of servers in the US, as part of a wider network of secure servers spread across the globe.
- Access any content from anywhere: The VPNs I’ve chosen gave me access to every streaming site around the world, and other websites that restrict access due to your location, including banks and personal tax portals.
- Fast connection speeds: Because you’ll be streaming lots of HD content, I only included VPNs that have minimal impact on your connection speed and can deliver consistent connections anywhere in the world.
- Excellent security: The VPNs on this list provide state-of-the-art security to stay hidden and safe online, including 256-bit AES encryption, IP leak protections, automatic kill-switches, and much more. I tested these features thoroughly for each VPN.
- Easy to use: The sophisticated tech that powers VPNs doesn’t mean they have to be complicated tools. The opposite, actually. I’ve only included VPNs with simple, user-friendly apps and easy configuration. Anything annoying to use didn’t make it.
- Good value: The best thing about VPNs is how cheap they are – you’ll never have to spend more than a few dollars a month. We also test each VPN’s money-back guarantee, refund policies, and customer support before recommending them, so you’re never at risk of being ripped off.
I tested every VPN against this list of requirements, bouncing around between servers, grilling their customer support, bingeing a few seasons of Outlander (yes, really! I know…), and checking for leaks in my location and data.
To learn more about the whole process, check out my quick testing methodology breakdown.
Can I use a free VPN with Starz?
You could try to use a free VPN with Starz, but it probably won’t work. Free VPNs are incredibly limited and definitely not suited for streaming US content outside the country.
Streaming sites invest heavily in blocking VPNs from accessing their content – especially big sites like STARZ, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu (which also host STARZ content). Most free VPNs we’ve tested are incapable of accessing content on these streamers from outside the US.
That’s not the only problem. Even if you can access STARZ or any streaming site, free VPNs are notoriously slow, unreliable, and only cover limited bandwidth. You'll probably lose your VPN connection before you’re halfway through an episode of American Gods – leaving your data and location totally exposed, not to mention losing access to the content.
Finally, because you’re not paying for a free VPN, they need to generate revenue from you indirectly. We’ve seen many free VPNs use incredibly (and cheap) premium VPNs.
How to use a VPN with Starz on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and more
STARZ is also compatible with numerous smart devices in your home, including:
- Apple TV
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV
- Amazon Fire Stick
- Xbox One
- Playstation
- Some LG smart TVs
Some VPNs have native apps for smart devices on this list. You can download the VPN app to your device, log in, and connect to a US server from there. For example, NordVPN and CyberGhost work on every device listed above, and you can install them on numerous devices simultaneously.
However, if your VPN doesn’t support these devices, you have a couple of other options.
You can use a virtual router on any PC with a WiFi card that can transmit WiFi signals to different devices (such as your smart TV). Just install a VPN on your PC before setting up the WiFi. The same basic setup works for hotspotting WiFi from your smartphone. As long as your VPN is turned on, it will also cover any devices connected via WiFi.
If you’re at home, you can also install a VPN directly onto your home router. Some VPNs, including NordVPN and CyberGhost, have native apps to install directly on your router. Others need a little technical know-how to set up on a router.
VPN for Starz FAQs
Is STARZ available outside the US?
STARZ is not available outside the US without using a VPN.
STARZ does not produce its own content. It directly licenses its shows and movies from US companies that produce them – for example, Warner Bros., Marvel Studios, and Nickelodeon. Due to copyright and licensing laws, STARZ can only show this content to US residents.
As a result, if you want to access STARZ content from outside the US, you need to change your IP address to one within the country. Your IP address shows everyone on the internet where you’re physically located while you’re online. Streaming sites like STARZ and Netflix use it to give you access (or not) to geographically restricted content.
A VPN allows you to change your location by connecting to secure, private servers with unique IP addresses located in countries across the globe. So, for example, if you want to access STARZ outside the US, you need a VPN with servers in the country.
If that all sounds very complicated, don’t worry – it’s not. The best VPNs are incredibly simple to use. It only takes a couple of minutes to set up and connect to a server. You’ll also benefit from a host of other cool features, including better data encryption, military-grade security, and much more.
How can I get STARZ for free?
You can only get STARZ for free on seven-day trials offered by streaming websites that host its content – including STARZ itself. There are no free plans for STARZ available anywhere online.
If you want to watch STARZ for free, you can sign up for a seven-day trial on the following websites and devices:
- STARZ
- Amazon Prime Video
- Disney Plus
- DIRECTV Stream
- HULU
- YouTube Entertainment Plus
- fubuTV
- Apple TV
Is Starz free with Amazon Prime?
STARZ is not free with your Amazon Prime membership. If you want to watch STARZ on Amazon Prime Video, it’s available as a paid monthly add-on. However, there is a free seven-day trial if you want to try STARZ out on your Amazon Prime membership without paying upfront.
Is Starz free with Netflix?
STARZ is not currently available with Netflix, either on a free or paid plan.
While STARZ and Netflix show some of the same content, they are completely independent and considered rivals in the streaming industry. If you want to watch STARZ and Netflix content at the same time, you’ll need to pay for two separate subscriptions.
What’s the difference between STARZ, STARZPLAY, and Lionsgate+?
STARZ has managed to confuse everyone by rebranding and relaunching numerous very similar services with very similar names: STARZ, STARZPLAY, and now, Lionsgate+.
Let’s break it down finally:
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STARZ is a premium US cable and satellite television network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment. "STARZ” is also the name of the company’s streaming service in the US.
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STARZPLAY was the name of the company's streaming service when it launched. It was switched to just STARZ in the US, but remained as STARZPLAY outside the US until 2022.
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Lionsgate+ is a rebranded version of STARZPLAY that was launched outside the US in 2022.
Does a VPN work with STARZ?
Only some premium VPNs will work with STARZ, including NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. These VPNs are fast enough to guarantee reliable streaming – even in HD – and they’re powerful enough to bypass even the most effective detection tools used by sites like STARZ to block VPNs from their content.
Free VPNs, on the other hand, won’t be fast enough to reliably stream content on the site – especially if you’re streaming in HD. And they most likely won’t get around STARZ’s VPN detection tools, blocking you from its entire content library.
If you’re using a VPN with STARZ, skip the free ones altogether and make a small investment in a VPN provider – you’ll save yourself a lot of time and frustration.