How To Watch BBC iPlayer In Australia
BBC iPlayer is based in Britain. The company bought the rights to air shows/content in certain countries. Unfortunately, in Australia, BBC iPlayer is region-locked and hence not available. If you try to access the service from that location, you will be blocked. A simple way to bypass this restriction is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Many VPNs claim they can access BBC iPlayer, but that’s not always the case. Not only does BBC iPlayer ban its content from audiences outside of the UK, but it also uses some difficult VPN identification tools that subpar VPN services will not get around.
In this article, we’ll explore the best VPNs that can access BBC iPlayer in Australia. But before we dive into that, let’s look at the steps to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN.
How To Watch BBC iPlayer In Australia with a VPN
A VPN encodes your internet connection to keep your messages, records, location, and other information private when online. By altering your IP address, instead of exposing your actual location, you will appear to be browsing from the location of your preference. The VPN provider will share your IP address with a remote VPN server’s IP address. The site you visit will see the remote VPN server’s IP address and not yours. This way, a degree of privacy that you may not otherwise obtain while on a public server is guaranteed.
So, to watch Australia’s BBC iPlayer, follow these five necessary steps:
- Choose a VPN service. For its fast speed and excellent bypassing capacity of geo-blocks, we recommend ExpressVPN.
- On your device, open the VPN app. It could be your laptop, computer, mobile, or even your smart TV.
- Pick a server to which to connect.
- Go to any site like bbc.co.uk/iplayer, enter your username and password for your account, and start watching Australia’s BBC iPlayer.
- Your actual IP address is concealed, and your privacy is secured, and with this knowledge, you can use the internet with trust!
Top 5 VPNs for Accessing BBC iPlayer In Australia
There are quite a number of providers available in the market today. Here are our top recommendations.
ExpressVPN
Features
- Number of servers: More than 3,000
- Speeds: Unlimited
- Server locations: 160 in 105 countries
- Maximum devices supported: 5
- 24 live chat: Yes
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
Pros/Cons
- Fastest VPN out there
- Strict no logs policy
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Few discounts
ExpressVPN efficiently streams any iPlayer content without limitations from anywhere in the world. It is a veteran provider with excellent credentials for protection.
It operates four UK server locations that allow you to watch BBC iPlayer without a hitch in Australia. It also provides a fantastic DNS service from Media Streamer, which you can configure for convenient streaming on many devices at the same time, using your router.
Thanks to its ultra-fast UK-based servers, striking privacy features, and helpful customer service, ExpressVPN is a perfect choice for watching BBC iPlayer in Australia. UK-based servers use the OpenVPN (both UDP and TCP) protocol, and the strict no-logs policy makes this VPN one of the most constant and secure choices available on the market.
The server speeds are lightning-fast and without any buffering, letting you stream your favorite BBC content without the slightest hitch. If the detection tool from BBC iPlayer detects and blocks the server you are on, you will be linked to a new server. ExpressVPN’s helpful technical support team will fix the problem in no time.
Some extraordinary security and privacy features such as kill switch (network lock), split tunneling, IP leak protection are available. You can subscribe to its 15-month plan for $6.67/month, which comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Servers in the UK are excellent for HD quality streaming. Best-in-class encryption offers robust protection and privacy – this keeps you safe. Live chat support teams are on the ball 24/7. ExpressVPN is the go-to VPN if you are interested in getting quality service at a relatively affordable price.
- Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $6.67
NordVPN
Features
- Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: 6
- Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
- Servers: 5342 in 58 countries
Pros/Cons
- Lots of pricing options
- Netflix support kept up to date
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Slow app
NordVPN is another top choice VPN to access BBC iPlayer from anywhere. Highly quick and safe, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee at no risk.
With plenty of UK servers to choose from, it is a reliable choice for viewing BBC iPlayer abroad. It runs almost 700 servers in the UK, with many optimized for streaming. To discover the servers and unblock BBC iPlayer content, search the official knowledge base of the NordVPN website. It is possible to contact the provider’s Live Chat Help 24/7.
NordVPN is one of the best services we checked, so you should not have any problems streaming in HD or even 4K. Thanks to good encryption, excellent security, and a strict zero-logs policy, you are ensured that your personal information (including your IP address) stays secret.
This provider has its headquarters in Panama, a very privacy-friendly location. In addition, it assures users that it maintains a reliable no-log policy. This has been tested and confirmed by audit firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC).
NordVPN allows a single subscription for up to six concurrent connections, making it a perfect choice for a small household or office. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.
- Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $3.71
Surfshark
Features
- Free trial? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
- Ad blocking? Yes
- Servers: 1000+ in 61 countries
Pros/Cons
- No footprints
- Allows torrenting
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Not the fastest
This ultra-fast VPN unblocks various streaming services, including the BBC iPlayer. It has no limit on the number of connections you can hook up to one account.
In 60 countries, including the UK, Surfshark currently has over 3200 servers. It is fast enough to stream live HD content with no visible buffering and can reliably unblock essential services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, and Netflix US. Best of all, Surfshark does not have a link cap, meaning you can protect all your streaming devices simultaneously.
Surfshark, the ‘rising star’ of the VPN world, has streaming-optimized servers located in 3 separate UK cities. Surfshark is smaller than most VPNs and uses this advantage to travel under the radar and circumvent the world’s toughest geo-blocks.
The smaller size does not mean Surfshark slips behind its competitors in speed. This VPN guarantees you a secure, buffer-free BBC iPlayer link, even if you are more than 15,000 kilometers away from the UK.
By blocking them at the server level, Surfshark also gets rid of advertisements and trackers that spoil your viewing experience and consume your bandwidth. Additionally, with military-grade 256-bit encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and an automatic kill switch, it keeps your identity anonymous and data secure.
Surfshark can unblock Netflix, Hulu, CBS, ESPN, Prime Video from Amazon, among others.
It operates on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, and Linux. Surfshark is also pretty affordable.
- Pros: No footprints; Allows torrenting; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest Price: $2.49
CyberGhost
Features
- Connected devices at once: 7
- Automatic kill switch? Yes
- One click connect: Yes
- Servers: 5900 worldwide
Pros/Cons
- No logs policy
- 24/7 live chat
- Apps for mobile devices and routers
- No free option
CyberGhost fits well with other streaming platforms, including the BBC iPlayer. Simple to use, this provider makes it easier than most other VPNs to unblock geo-blocked content. CyberGhost applications allow you to select a server based on the video site you want to connect to instead of contacting customer service or guessing which server to connect to. When opening the app, clicking on the streaming option will pull up a long list of popular streaming sites, including BBC iPlayer.
CyberGhost also boasts a good pedigree in security and privacy. With perfect forward confidentiality, it holds no logs and uses reliable encryption. Leak security and a kill switch ensure none of your data ever leaves the encrypted tunnel. CyberGhost has reliable speeds that should be more than adequate for high-quality video streaming.
Netflix and other streaming services are readily available on servers designed for HD videos, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick’s new native software is a fantastic addition. CyberGhost is a top-rated VPN provider.
Up to seven simultaneous connections make up a single plan. There are Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android apps available, and you have a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Pros: No logs policy; 24/7 live chat; Apps for mobile devices and routers;
- Lowest price: €2
PrivateVPN
Features
- Killswitch Yes
- iOS App Yes
- Data logging No
Pros/Cons
- Servers in 63 countries
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 2048-bit Encryption With AES-256
- App can seem complicated
PrivateVPN is an excellent up-and-coming VPN that works well with BBC iPlayer and other streaming services. It has just over 200 servers in multiple locations. Thankfully, some of them are stationed in the United Kingdom. Connecting to any of them will give you a UK IP address, perfect for accessing BBC iPlayer, regardless of your location.
This provider is a zero-log VPN that completely encrypts your network, making sure you are protected from any form of cyberattack. It does short work on the VPN firewall of BBC iPlayer and deals with other streaming sites such as Netflix and Hulu. It has increasing credibility for unblocking popular streaming sites from anywhere.
Despite the relatively limited network of servers, this provider’s speed is excellent. Protection does not fall short, either. This provider boasts of 256-bit and 128-bit encryption options guarded with perfect forward secrecy. PrivateVPN does not save any user activity logs and will not record your IP address.
You can connect 6 devices to one PrivateVPN account. This provider has affordable subscription options. It even has a 7-day free trial period. Within this window, you can use the service without having to pay a dime. It also supports a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee window.
- Pros: Servers in 63 countries; 30-day money-back guarantee; 2048-bit Encryption With AES-256;
- Lowest price: €2.04
Things To Take Into Consideration When Selecting A Decent VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer in Australia
Generally, the factors you place a premium on will depend on what uses you have for the VPN. However, below are the specific factors you should pay attention to if you are looking to watch BBC iPlayer in Australia.
Location of Servers
Since you need a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, you should have your eyes on providers with servers in the United Kingdom. This is the only way you can guarantee that you will bypass the encryption blocks BBC iPlayer employs.
Support for Streaming
You will need to select a VPN that supports streaming if you are primarily looking to use a VPN to watch geo-blocked shows. Thus, before you select a VPN service for unblocking BBC iPlayer from Australia, confirm that the provider has servers that are optimized for streaming.
Security
Protection is an essential part of selecting your VPN and searching for L2TP/IPsec or OpenVPN providers. OpenVPN is the best security protocol out there, but most mobile devices do not support it. However, you can opt for L2TP/IP.
Costs
Do not select free programs. Nothing free will give you the performance you get when you pay for it. It would help if you always were skeptical about such a “free” service from a VPN provider. Using a paid provider with a clear commitment to protecting your privacy is the perfect option.
The providers we have discussed are all affordable. They have different subscription packages. You will surely find one that suits you. If not, we made a list of free VPNs for BBC iPlayer here.
Privacy Policies
One of the key reasons many individuals use VPNs is to avoid monitoring and tracking their online actions. Search for a VPN service that maintains a strict no-log policy. This ensures that the VPN provider does not retain any of your information at all. Even in the case of a security break or a government information request, it does not compromise your data.
Conclusion
Accessing BBC iPlayer from Australia is hard, but it is not impossible. There are several options to explore, but the safest means we recommend is using a VPN. Using one of our suggested VPNs on the above list will help you access BBC iPlayer content in next to no time.