Best VPNs for Virgin Media: Tried and tested in 2024 (2024)

A VPNwill allow the user to stream Virgin TV Go from anywhere, avoiding potential geo-restrictions in the process. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Virgin Media streams are likely unavailable if you’re hoping to access content from outside of the UK. This is true even if you have an existing Virgin account. However, a VPN is an easy way to bypass any online restrictions while traveling abroad.

Packaged with traditional cable,Virgin TV Goallows users to catch up with content on the move. It’s free for all Virgin TV customers, and it’s available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

However, the service isonly accessible to users in the United Kingdom, so you’ll be unable to watch streams from abroad.

A VPN works to change your IP address, tricking sites, and services into giving the user access to blocked content. In other words, you can use a UK VPN server to watch Virgin TV Go as normal from anywhere in the world.

You’ll also benefit from improved online privacy: yourreal IP addresswill be changed and your data will be encrypted in the process.

BestVPNs for Virgin Media:

1. NordVPN: Our number one recommendation for streaming Virgin Media.Top-of-the-range speeds, unblocks various UK services, custom NordLynx protocol, lots of features, and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Feature-packed budget provider. Servers in 100+ countries, unlimited device connections, unblocks UK apps and services, and speedy servers for HD streaming.
3. ExpressVPN: Lots of UK servers, unparalleled streaming support, and works with Virgin Media and most popular platforms. Various unique features, including a GUI app for Linux, custom Lightway protocol, and capable router apps.
4. CyberGhost: Large network with 790+ servers in the UK alone, includes streaming optimized servers, affordable subscriptions, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
5. IPVanish: Connect unlimited devices, has servers in England and Scotland, fast speeds, and a verified no-logs policy.
6. PrivateVPN: Reliable apps and decent speeds, allows for torrenting, and accesseslots of British TV.

Summary Table

No value	TEST WINNER	No value	No value	No value	No value	No value
No value	NordVPNwww.nordvpn.com	Surfsharkwww.surfshark.com	ExpressVPNwww.expressvpn.com	CyberGhostwww.cyberghost.com	IPVanishwww.ipvanish.com	PrivateVPNwww.privatevpn.com
Ranking	1	2	3	4	5	6
Streaming Services	Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV Hub	Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV Hub	Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV Hub	Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, ITV Hub	Netflix, HBO Max	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer
Simultaneous Connections	6	Unlimited	5	7	Unlimited	10
Devices Supported	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers	Windows, MacOS, Linux (command line), iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android Amazon Fire TV	Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android Amazon Fire TV
Avg Speed (UK)	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	57 Mbps
Best deal (per month)	$3.09 SAVE 63% + FREE months	$2.19 86% off 2yr starter plan	$6.67 Save 49%	$2.03 SAVE 84%	$2.50 SAVE 77%	$2.00 SAVE 85% on 3yr plan

Various VPNs have a UK server location or two that can access Virgin streams. That won’t be enough to cut it, as we’ve been able to significantly narrow the field with our inclusion criteria. Here are some of the non-negotiable characteristics we looked for when picking the best VPN providers for Virgin TV Go:

• Capable UK servers are a must in this instance. The VPN has to be able to access Virgin TV Go
• Fast speeds and reliable performance, whether it’s servers found in Britain or elsewhere
• Top-of-the-line privacy and security features, no leaks, and a simple no-logs policy
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN provider must operate a 100% diskless server network
• Similarly, the VPN provider must have had its infrastructure and/or logging policy audited by a reputable third party to feature in our top three VPNs

For more information about the specific criteria we used for Virgin TV Go, check out thetesting methodologysection found later in this article.

Best VPN for Virgin Media in 2023

Here’s a rundown with detailed information about each of the VPNs that have made it onto this list.

NordVPN is the optimal choice for Virgin Media, accessing British streams from abroad with minimal fuss. There are currently 590 high-speed UK servers to pick from, split between Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Manchester. Servers from England’s capital city averaged 174 Mbps during testing. That’s likely due to the proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is acustom fork of WireGuard.

If you’d prefer, you’ll also be able to get adedicated IP addressfrom London. When you connect to a normal VPN server, you share the IP address with any other users that are also connected. A dedicated IP will exclusively belong to you, and it’s ideal for streaming, or accessing private servers securely. (You will have to pay an additional fee for adedicated UK IP address.)

Nord is based in Panama, which is great from a privacy perspective. It comes with a strict no-logs policy, although it is worth mentioning that it does collect some device-level identifiers. Nonetheless, its policies and infrastructure have been independently audited on two separate occasions.

Features include split tunneling, as well as obfuscationand MultiHop. The latter helps to improve privacy as the user can bounce their data through more than one VPN server in a process called "VPN chaining". (However, this will slow your connection speeds, and isn’t a smart idea while streaming.)

Also, NordVPN's Meshnet private tunnel feature for Windows, macOS, and Linux is now free for everyone, even users who do not have a subscription to NordVPN.

You’ll find user-friendly apps for every major OS, as well as browser versions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

THE BEST VPN FOR VIRGIN MEDIA:NordVPN can bypass blocks on Virgin Media streams. It offers fast connection speeds, 550+ UK servers, a custom protocol, various additional features, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Readour fullNordVPN review.

Surfshark should be on your radar if you’re looking for an affordable VPN for Virgin, with a range of low-cost deals. There are plenty of servers in the UK, located in Scotland and England. A total of 3,200+ in 100+ countries is hard to beat when it comes to worldwide coverage.

The provider allows for unlimited device connections with a sole account, and it’s one of the cheapest if you’re looking at longer subscriptions. It works with a wide selection of streaming services, and servers in London came in at just under 200 Mbps during testing. If you’re interested in US TV, Surfshark also comes with a free Smart DNS service for any device that doesn’t have a VPN app.

Features include split tunneling, MultiHop connections, and obfuscated servers, which can be used to hide VPN usage from your ISP. CleanWeb will automatically block malware, trackers, and ads, while NoBorders mode is designed to bypass censorship in restricted regions. It offers great value for money, and matches up to NordVPN in most respects.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, this is a drawback considering it’s part of theNine Eyessurveillance agreement along with the US, the UK, and others. It lacks port forwarding, and it doesn’t offer dedicated IPs in the UK or elsewhere.

BEST BUDGET OPTION FOR VIRGIN MEDIA:Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN provider that puts many premium services to shame. Speedy connections for Virgin streams, unlimited devices, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofSurfshark.

ExpressVPN is capable of bypassing blocks on lots of content in the US and the UK. It’s a suitable option for streaming Virgin Media, as well as Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, Channel 4, and Channel 5. It even works with Now TV, so it’s great if you have multiple British TV subscriptions. The same goes for international content such as Sling TV and Netflix US.

ExpressVPN has an extensive server network locatedin 105+ countries, with UK locations found in London and the Midlands. These are some of the fastest on the market due to the proprietary Lightway protocol, which recorded speeds of 142 Mbps during testing.

As with Surfshark, Express also offers a free Smart DNS service, predominantly focusing on US streaming services. Device compatibility is second to none, including a custom router app.

Infrastructure and apps are fully audited, and ExpressVPN has implemented RAM-only diskless servers. It’s also packed with advanced features, including split tunneling and obfuscation.

EXPERTS AT UNBLOCKING:ExpressVPN will access pretty much any service you can throw at it. Custom Lightway protocol, high speeds, Smart DNS, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofExpressVPN.

CyberGhost has thousands of high-speed servers worldwide, and streaming support for UK platforms. It will be able to handle your needs if you’re on the lookout for an affordable VPN to access Virgin Media.

CyberGhost has 790+ servers spread across England, found in Berkshire, London, and Manchester. That’s more than some of the other providers have in total. The Romania-based provider is a suitable pick for Virgin, and works with a variety of international streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, NBC, ITV Hub, Channel 4, and BBC iPlayer.

It’s not the biggest deal if you plan to use the VPN solely for streaming Virgin TV andCyberGhost is lacking if you’re hoping for some of the advanced features seen elsewhere on this list. There’s a lack of obfuscationand an inability to disable the kill switch on Android, Mac, and iOS.

The Romania-based provider has been independently audited by Deloitte Romania, but it does collect some "non-personal" data when the VPN is in use. It’s worth noting that CyberGhost doesn’t collect any information about the user’s VPN activity.

THOUSANDS OF SERVERS:CyberGhost might not be packed with features, but it offers a massive network ofservers that are ideal for streaming Virgin Media and much more. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our fullreview ofCyberGhost.

IPVanish is one of the more experienced providers on the market, with fast connections that make it a viable choice for streaming, torrenting, or gaming.

UK servers recorded maximum speeds of 316 Mbps, which is quicker than much of the competition. It also allows for unlimited device connections, so you won’t have to worry about logging out.

Officially, IPVanish doesn’t work with any British TV platforms. In practice, the London and Manchester servers worked with on-demand content via BBC iPlayer, ITV X, and Channel 4 during testing, although it did struggle with Sky Go. It will access Virgin Media, with further UK locations in Birmingham and Glasgow.

IPVanish is based in the United States, so it’s not the best choice if you’re aiming to steer clear of Five Eyes countries that lack Federal privacy protections.

Another drawback is that it lacks some of the advanced features seen elsewhere. For example, there’s no Smart DNS or MultiHop. It’s still a great choice if you just want to stream content with the best speeds possible. You’ll find apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and FireTV.

SOLID VIRGIN MEDIA STREAMING:IPVanish is speedy and reliable. Great for Virgin and more, simple apps, unlimited bandwidth, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

PrivateVPN was founded inSweden, and predominantly focuses on improving online privacy. However, it does tick all of the boxes for accessing popular sites and services in countries like the US and the UK as you can easily obtain a US IP address or a UK IP.

If you’re interested in free UK TV, PrivateVPN can unblock platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and Channel 4. Of course, it also works with Virgin TV Go, where you’ll find the majority of British channels.

Average speeds of 41 Mbps aren’t the most impressive, but it’s still quick enough for HD streaming. It has a strong privacy policy, and while it needs to comply with legal requests in Europe, the VPN uses bare metal servers and holds onto no user information.

Port forwarding allows you to bypass NAT firewalls to host games or torrents. Obfuscation hides your VPN connection via PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN option. It’s affordable, but you’ll need to look elsewhere for features like split tunneling, ad and tracker blocking, or the fastest speeds on the market.

GREAT FOR UK TV:PrivateVPN is perfect for streaming UK TV. Bare metal servers, port forwarding for torrenting, Stealth VPN, 10 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for Virgin Media

There are hundreds of competing VPNs available on the market, so we like tohelp consumers by testing VPNs andobjectively evaluatingwhichare better for specific uses.

The testing methodology weuse allowsusto recommend the best VPN services for Virgin Media users, so you can make the right choice depending on your needs. Below, you can see how we picked the best VPNs for Virgin Media.

• UK servers: Servers in the UK will allow the user to get a British IP address to access Virgin Media content. We also factor in the strength of the entire network. After all, the VPN can be used to connect to servers in multiple countries, perfect for abroad travel.
• Speeds and performance: UK servers will need to be fast enough for streaming. Performance can suffer if you’re further away, so the VPN will need to pick up the slack. It must be able to stream high-definition content.
• Privacy and security: Strong privacy and security is a must. Along with the basics like a kill switch and solid encryption, we take any notable features into account.
• Third-party audits: Trust is the foundation of the value that VPNs provide. You are essentially placing more faith in your VPN provider than you are in your ISP. Almost every provider says they are a ‘no logs' VPN. The only ways to test this claim are either through the courts or through audits. We will only consider providers for our top three positions if they have undergone infrastructure audits from a reputable third party. While this isn't foolproof, it's the closest the industry has to a verification process for logging policies.
• Diskless infrastructure: Again, this is a prerequisite to be considered for one of the top three positions on Bleeping Computer. While the data stored on a VPN server should be minimal, it could, theoretically, be accessed if the servers were seized or hacked. Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers and it is wiped on shutdown. It can also easily be wiped as a part of regular security procedures.

How to watch Virgin Media online abroad with a VPN

Here’s how to watch Virgin Media online abroad using a VPN:

1. Sign up with one of the providers listed above. (NordVPN is our top pick for Virgin TV Go.)
2. Download the relevant app to your device.
3. Sign in to the VPN, and select a server in the UK. You’ll be assigned with a British IP address.
4. Open the Virgin TV Go app or desktop site, and sign in.
5. You should now be able to stream Virgin Media content from anywhere in the world.

If you’re running into any issues, try clearing your cookies, or switching to another server in the UK. The player did block me from using theBrave browserduring testing, although it was fine after switching to Chrome.

VPN for Virgin Media FAQs

Can I use a free VPN with Virgin Media?

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to find a free VPN that is able to access Virgin Media streams. Most freemium providers tend to ignore the UK, so it’ll be tough to find a server in the region free of charge.

If you do find a freemium UK VPN, it’s likely to be blocked by Virgin. If, against all odds, it can access Virgin TV Go, most free providers cap user speeds or bandwidth, making it impossible to stream content in the first place.

There are also risks in terms of privacy, whether it’s due to lacking encryption, or a freemium service that sells user data to third parties.

Will using a VPN slow down Virgin Media Player speeds?

There’s always a possibility that a VPN will cause some slowdown due to the encryption and routing process. However, the providers listed above are more than quick enough for streaming, and may even boost connection speeds if you’re being throttled by your ISP.

Why is my VPN not working with Virgin Media Player?

Virgin makes an effort to block the use of VPNs, even if the user already has an account. The service is obligated to do so, due to international broadcasting agreements.

The easiest way to block VPN usage is to ban VPN IP addresses. If all of the VPN IPs in a region have been blocked, the provider won’t work with the streaming service.

How do I stream Virgin Media?

Virgin TV Go is a dedicated app, and it can be accessed by all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost. There’s also a desktop version, which can be used to stream live TV. You’ll just need to make an account if you haven’t done so already, using the email address you originally signed up to Virgin with.

What can I watch with Virgin Media Player?

You’ll be able to watch a large selection of shows with Virgin’s Media Player. There are 80+ live TV channels, including BT Sport, Comedy Central, Sky Comedy, Sky Max, Sky Witness, Sky Sci-Fi, MTV, and UKTV channels. (It’ll also depend on your Virgin TV package.)

Can I sign up with Virgin Media from abroad?

It doesn’t make much sense to sign up with Virgin Media from abroad. Instead, a VPN is best served as a method to access your Virgin account while you’re not in the UK. In any case, you’ll need a UK address, and it’s not worth the hassle.

Can I download shows to watch offline?

Yes, you’ll be able to download selected shows to view at a later date.To do so, look out for the download icon next to the listing, tap the icon and it will download straight to your device.

You’ll also be able to download content from additional apps via Virgin, including Disney Plus.