How to Watch BBC iPlayer in the USA [Easy Guide 2022]

Is BBC iPlayer available in USA? No, as of July 2022, BBC iPlayer is not available in the USA because of copyrights and content distribution policies. However, you can watch BBC iPlayer in the USA with a simple trick – by using a VPN.

Even though BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK, viewers can still access the streaming service with the help of the best BBC iPlayer VPNs like ExpressVPN and watch all the popular shows like Peaky Blinders, Fleabag, and Killing Eve.

BBC iPlayer is a British streaming service that is stirring a lot of anticipation among fans because of its ongoing 2022 catalog featuring some of the biggest shows that are returning with new seasons.

Whether you are in the mood for time travel adventures with Doctor Who or want to run the streets with the Shelbys, here is a quick guide on how you can watch BBC iPlayer in the US with a VPN.

Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in the USA?

BBC iPlayer is a geo-restricted streaming platform that is only available in the UK. Therefore, to watch its content library in the US, you would need the assistance of a VPN.

The platform can easily detect your location and the fact that you’re not in the UK just by analyzing your IP address. IP addresses are associated with particular locations or countries, so if you connect to a VPN and change your IP to a British IP address, you can easily bypass the geo-restrictions. This way, BBC iPlayer won’t know that you’re watching from another country and allow you access to its content.

Otherwise, if you try to watch BBC iPlayer from the US without a VPN, you will get the following geo-restriction error message:

“BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”

BBC iPlayer restricts its services to users in the UK only due to licensing restrictions.

Therefore, if you are in the US, use a VPN like ExpressVPN to change your location to the UK and unblock BBC iPlayer. A VPN will mask your original IP address and provide you with the one acceptable by the streaming platform.

Best VPNs to Watch BBC iPlayer in the USA – In-depth Analysis (Updated 2022)

We tested 40+ VPNs based on their fast speeds and unblocking capabilities and came across these 5 VPNs that lived up to our testing criteria. Following are the 5 best VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer in the US:

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for BBC iPlayer in the USA

ExpressVPN is the best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in the US, offering fast-speed servers and unmatched streaming performance, with everything you need in a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer.

ExpressVPN offers a network of 3000+ servers in 94 countries, including multiple servers located in London, Docklands, East London, and Wembley. 

With these servers, you will have no trouble watching BBC iPlayer in the US. During testing, we connected to ExpressVPNs Docklands server and could easily access BBC iPlayer and watch The Night Manager without any issues.

We used the ExpressVPNs Docklands server, and it allowed us to watch BBC iPlayer without any issues.

Due to its high-speed servers, ExpressVPN supports HD quality streaming with zero lags and no buffering. To prove its claims, we decided to run some speed tests on its UK servers and were impressed by the results.

On a 100 Mbps base connection, the ExpressVPN speed test showed a fast download speed of 87.18 Mbps and an upload speed of 52.13 Mbps.

ExpressVPN speed results on a 100 Mbps base connection.

ExpressVPN also works with other popular streaming services that are geo-restricted such as iTV and DStv in USA. SonyLiv in USA.

Apart from servers and speed, we were really impressed with ExpressVPN’s device compatibility and apps. It supports 5 simultaneous connections, and aside from mainstream devices like Samsung TVs, Roku, and FireStick, there is a MediaStreamer Smart DNS feature available for devices that don’t have native VPN support, like Apple TV and gaming consoles. The VPN also offers apps for various operating systems like Windows, Linux, iOS, and more.

Besides, ExpressVPN also offers incredible security features that keep you secure while streaming. These include AES 256-bit encryption, TrustedServer technology, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and more. ExpressVPN’s kill switch ensures that your data remains protected during temporary VPN connection drops.

ExpressVPN is available for $6.67/mo (Save 49% and get 3 extra months FREE with 12-month plan). There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee during which you can test the service. There’s a 7-day free trial too for mobile subscribers.

Overall, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming, with a feature-packed app for unblocking platforms like BBC iPlayer. For details, don’t hesitate to check out our ExpressVPN review.

Here’s a video tutorial for watching BBC iPlayer in the USA with ExpressVPN:

2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer in USA

Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN for BBC iPlayer in the USA and your best choice if you are on a tight budget. It is available for just $2.30/mo (Save 81% on 2 Years + 2 Months Free Plan with Surfshark Antivirus).

It offers 3200+ servers in 95 countries and more than 3+ server locations in UK. These servers are located in London, Manchester, and Glasgow.

With Surfshark, you can easily change your IP address to the UK and watch BBC iPlayer in the US. After connecting to its London server, we were easily able to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch Peaky Blinders in ultra HD video quality.

We could easily watch Peaky Blinders on BBC iPlayer with Surfshark.

Apart from BBC iPlayer, Surfshark also works with other British streaming services like Channel 4, BFI Player, Sky TV, Sky Sports, and BT Sport in USA.

During Surfshark speed testing, it managed to offer us a download speed of 81.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps which was great, considering our base connection of 100 Mbps.

Surfshark speed test result on a 100 Mbps connection.

The biggest perk of having Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections. With a single account, you can have as many device connections as you want and share the account with your friends and family.

Moreover, it is the best multi-device VPN with apps for all major operating systems like Windows, Android, iOS and popular devices like Firestick, and Smart TVs. For devices that don’t have native VPN support, like Apple TV and gaming consoles, there’s a Smart DNS feature as well.

As for security, Surfshark has pretty impressive features in its bucket, including Kill Switch and 256-bit AES encryption. It also offers a Camouflage Mode that hides users’ VPN traffic, making it look like regular internet traffic. Moreover, its DNS leak protection makes sure that your actual IP address isn’t exposed to anyone.

Despite its affordable plans, Surfshark also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial, so you can easily test it with BBC iPlayer.

To find out more about this service, explore our Surfshark review.

Here’s how to watch BBC in USA with Surfshark:

3. NordVPN – Safest VPN for BBC iPlayer in the USA

Known for its tight security and advanced encryption, NordVPN is the safest choice for viewers who want to watch BBC iPlayer in the US.

NordVPN offers 5500+ servers in 59 countries including 440+ servers in the United Kingdom. These servers are located in Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

During testing, we connected to its London server and were able to unblock BBC iPlayer in US and stream Luther without any issues.

With NordVPN, you’ll be able to watch your favorite content on BBC iPlayer in HD quality.

With NordVPN, you can also watch other popular streaming services with geo-restrictions like Netflix UK, Amazon Prime, Sky TV, and Channel 4 in USA.

NordVPN speed test results showed a fast speed of 83.82 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection along with 44.64 Mbps upload speed, which was more than enough for streaming in 4K.

NordVPN offers super-fast speed on its servers for Ultra-HD streaming.

NordVPN supports 6 simultaneous device connections on a single account, and there are intuitive apps for various operating systems like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, etc. It is also compatible with various devices like Amazon Firestick, Roku, gaming consoles and Smart TVs.

For security, NordVPN offers a DoubleVPN feature that routes user traffic through more than a single standard server preventing anyone from decrypting your connection. It also provides a Threat Protection feature, AES-256-bit encryption, a Dark web Monitor, and a kill switch that protects your data during temporary VPN outages.

It is available for $3.99/mo (Save 70% on 2 Years Plan + Extra Subscription). Just like other VPN services, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to its users in case you want to try it risk-free. For more information about this provider, read our in-depth NordVPN review.

Here’s a video tutorial on watching BBC iPlayer with NordVPN:

4. CyberGhost – User-friendly VPN for BBC iPlayer in USA

CyberGhost is the most user-friendly VPN for unblocking BBC iPlayer in the US. Its apps are easy to use even for beginners, and there are dedicated servers for streaming BBC iPlayer.

CyberGhost has a large network of 7700+ servers in 90 countries, including 700+ servers in the United Kingdom.

During testing, we connected to CyberGhost’s London – UK server, and it instantly unblocked the service, allowing us to watch I May Destroy You without any issues.

With CyberGhost’s BBC iPlayer optimized server, we could easily unblock the service and stream shows.

With its UK servers, you can also watch other geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix UK, Sky TV, Hotstar, and Sky Sports in USA.

We found CyberGhost great for streaming BBC iPlayer because of its dedicated streaming server and decent speed. It is not the fastest on the list, but you will not experience any issues or buffering while streaming BBC iPlayer in the US.

During CyberGhost speed testing, it gave us a download speed of 75.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 69.34 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection. There was a speed drop of around 25-30%, but it did not hamper our streaming, as we had a bufferless experience.

CyberGhost servers offer fast speed for streaming and browsing without any lag.

CyberGhost allows up to 7 device connections simultaneously, so you can share one account with your friends and family under one subscription. It also supports various operating systems such as Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and more. It is also compatible with devices like Apple TV, Firestick, gaming consoles and more.

For security-conscious streamers, CyberGhost offers AES-256-bit encryption, an automatic switch, and full-proof protection against IP & DNS Leaks. It is available for only $2.23/mo . Unlike other VPNs, it offers an extensive 45-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can test it for over a month and get your refund if you are not satisfied.

Find out more about this VPN in our in-depth CyberGhost review.

Here’s a video tutorial on watching BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost:

5. IPVanish – Reliable VPN for Streaming BBC iPlayer in USA

IPVanish is one of the most reliable VPNs with consistent speeds and top-notch video quality. It offers 2000+ servers in 75+ countries and 100+ servers in the UK. With so many server options at hand, you’ll never run out of British servers to watch BBC iPlayer in the US.

One of the reasons behind its reliability is its consistency! During testing, we tried multiple servers and found all of them working with BBC iPlayer. However, just to name one, IPVanish’s London server outperformed in our testing, giving us full access to BBC iPlayer content without any issues.

We had no trouble bypassing BBC iPlayer’s geo-restrictions with IPVanish.

Using IPVanish, you can also bypass geo-restrictions on other popular streaming platforms as well. We decided to test IPVanish with different services, and it easily unblocked Netflix libraries, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max.

While streaming BBC iPlayer with IPVanish, we did not experience any buffering or lag. The IPVanish speed test results recorded an average download speed of 75.12 Mbps and an upload speed of 39.48 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection.

In terms of connectivity, IPVanish supports unlimited simultaneous device connections per account. There are apps available for all popular operating systems such as Android, Windows, macOS, iOS, and various devices like gaming consoles. Routers, Amazon Firestick and more.

IPVanish also offers other advanced security features such as continuous file syncing, data sharing controls, AES-256-bit encryption, unmetered device connections, no data transfer caps and so much more.

IPVanish is quite affordable, available at a price of $3.99/mo on its annual plan, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you wish to cancel the subscription after an unsatisfactory experience.

To learn more about this service, you can always read our IPVanish Review.

Here’s a video tutorial on watching BBC iPlayer with IPVanish:

How to Sign Up for BBC iPlayer Account in USA?

Signing up for BBC iPlayer in the US is straightforward. Even though BBC iPlayer is free, you still need to sign up to watch its content.

Follow these steps to sign up for BBC iPlayer in USA:

How Much Does BBC iPlayer Account Cost?

A BBC account is absolutely free to sign up for. However, you must pay the TV license fee, which costs £147/year so that you can watch BBC iPlayer in the UK. The TV license fee is required to watch television legally in the UK, even if you don’t use iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming service, however, your mobile or internet operator may charge for the data you use on their network. You can contact your mobile/network provider to inquire about the data cost. It usually takes around 225 MB of data for an hour-long TV program.

So, if you have been wondering, I don’t have a UK TV license, how can I watch BBC iPlayer in the US? Well, you can simply connect to ExpressVPN and enjoy unlimited access to BBC iPlayer without paying a single penny.

How to Choose the Best VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in USA?

With so many VPN providers claiming to be the best at unblocking BBC iPlayer, it is hard to find a good VPN. For the sake of finding the best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer, we have tested various providers on a few important factors.

Here is a list of important criteria on which each VPN was tested while choosing the five best providers:

• Can consistently get around BBC iPlayer’s geo-restrictions and access other popular British TV services as well like All 4, and ITV Hub.
• Has a large network of servers in the UK to choose from.
• Uses robust encryption and security standards.
• Has a strict, authenticated no-log policy.
• Must have high-speed and consistent connections.
• Has intuitive user-friendly apps for mobile, desktop, and streaming devices.
• Compatible with popular devices like Roku, Firestick, Xbox, Apple TV and more.

Devices on which BBC iPlayer works

BBC iPlayer is available on a broad range of devices, including tablets, mobile phones, personal computers, and smart televisions. Check out the full list below:

• Windows
• Android
• macOS
• iOS (Phone and iPad)
• Apple TV
• Roku
• Browsers
• Chromecast
• Firestick
• PlayStation
• Xbox
• Smart TV (for specific brands and supported devices, check this list)

How Do I Download BBC iPlayer App on Devices?

You can easily get the BBC iPlayer app on your device and get started. However, to get the BBC iPlayer app in USA, you will need to use a VPN.

Downloading BBC iPlayer in USA with a VPN is very easy, but the installation process is different for all devices. Therefore, we are going to share easy steps on how to download and watch BBC iPlayer on popular devices.

How Do I Download BBC iPlayer on Android in USA?

Follow these steps to download and watch BBC iPlayer on your Android device:

How Do I get BBC iPlayer in the USA on iOS?

Follow these steps to download BBC iPlayer app in USA on your iOS device:

How to Get BBC iPlayer on Firestick?

You can watch BBC iPlayer on your Amazon Firestick. BBC iPlayer is available directly from Amazon, and you can easily add it to your Firestick.

However, if you are in the US, you will need to use a VPN for firestick to access BBC iPlayer. Follow these steps to install BBC iPlayer APK on Amazon Firestick:

What to Watch on BBC iPlayer in USA?

BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming services that offer multiple channels and dozens of award-winning British TV series and movies to watch for free.

What we love most about BBC iPlayer is that it keeps refreshing its content by displaying new seasons on the main page, so its viewers don’t miss out on new releases.

What are the Best Shows to Watch on BBC iPlayer?

From action to comedy and romance, here are the best shows to watch on BBC iPlayer (arranged by popularity):

What Films are Currently Available on BBC iPlayer?

Here are some of the best movies currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer:

BBC iPlayer USA – FAQs

Final Thoughts

That is everything you need to know about how to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA free of cost. Due to geo-restrictions, BBC iPlayer is only available inside the UK. To access your favorite shows on BBC iPlayer in the US, all you need is a reliable VPN.

Unfortunately, streaming services like BBC iPlayer are getting better at detecting and blocking VPNs. Luckily, there are trustworthy VPNs like ExpressVPN that are perfectly able to unblock BBC iPlayer and offer fast speed so you can enjoy high-quality videos.

So, grab a VPN, and enjoy all popular shows like Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who, and Killing Eve on BBC iPlayer for free.