BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted and can’t normally be accessed if you travel outside the UK. If you try, you’ll usually see one of two errors, either “This content is not available in your location” or “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues”. The reason for this is quite simple: the network only has the rights to show most of its content in the UK.

Normally, it’s fairly easy to get around this kind of regional blocking by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). However, as iPlayer is one of the UK’s most popular streaming platforms, the BBC has an extremely strong VPN-detection system. For this reason, many services (even well-known ones) simply won’t work. In fact, even if you’re able to watch live content, BBC iPlayer might still prevent you from streaming on-demand shows or downloading them for offline viewing.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at NordVPN and see if it’s up to the challenge of accessing BBC iPlayer from anywhere.

Does NordVPN work with iPlayer?

Yes, NordVPN works exceptionally well with BBC iPlayer and doesn’t have any noticeable issues accessing any of the platform’s content. NordVPN is our preferred VPN to use with iPlayer, but it’s not the only VPN we’d recommend, both Surfshark and CyberGhost work well with this service too.

Testing NordVPN with BBC iPlayer

NordVPN currently has more than 440 servers in the UK, so you’d expect it to work pretty well with popular British streaming services. However, in the past, we’ve seen VPNs successfully unblock a service on a desktop yet fail to do the same on mobile devices. Clearly, a thorough approach was required to really see what NordVPN was capable of.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

First, we tried accessing BBC iPlayer on a desktop device. We were able to use all aspects of the service with the first server we tried. In fact, NordVPN claims that any of its UK servers will work, which saves you some trial and error.

Next, we installed the BBC iPlayer app and ran the same tests on an Android phone. Again, there were no issues. Notably, although NordVPN’s support center says that you can only download content using specific servers, the one we used wasn’t on this list.

Finally, we tried using the iPlayer via our phone’s browsers (Firefox and Chrome). There is one slight difference here; the mobile version of the BBC iPlayer website doesn’t let you download content whether you’re using a VPN or not; instead, it tells you to use the app. Still, we were able to watch live and on-demand with no problems whatsoever.

It’s worth noting that NordVPN clocked very fast speeds during our testing, making it a great option for streaming, whether it’s BBC or other streaming services.

How to watch BBC iPlayer outside of the UK with NordVPN

Not quite sure how to get started? Just follow these steps to encrypt your internet traffic, hide your real location, and access BBC iPlayer securely from anywhere in the world.

Here’s how to watch BBC iPlayer with NordVPN:

  • First, visit the NordVPN website and sign up (remember, you can save over 70% using our exclusive NordVPN discount coupon).
  • Install the app onto any device you stream with regularly, then log in.
  • Connect to one of NordVPN’s UK servers this will give you the UK IP address required to bypass iPlayer’s geographic restrictions.
  • Clear your cookies and cache, then try playing a video on BBC iPlayer. It should load right away, but if not, switch servers and try again or check out our guide to fixing BBC iPlayer problems. Alternatively, you can contact NordVPN support staff over live chat, and they should be able to help you figure out what’s wrong.

Watching iPlayer with NordVPN: Frequently Asked Questions

  • BBC One
  • BBC Two
  • CBeebies
  • BBC Three
  • BBC Four
  • Radio One
  • BBC Scotland
  • BBC News
  • CBBC
  • BBC Parliament
  • BBC Alba
  • S4C

Now, plenty of VPNs claim to be privacy-conscious, but few have been able to back up their claims. That’s why NordVPN brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, a prestigious auditing firm, to prove that it really follows a no-logs policy. PwC confirmed this not once but twice, most recently in July 2020.