One doesn’t have to advertise Apple TV+ too much to iPhone owners. It’s almost their default option, especially if they also happen to use other Apple products. Heck, the Cupertino-based giant bundles its streaming service with its other offerings, making it that much easier to sign-up for it (if signing-up is required in the first place, that is).
Alas, Apple TV+ is not available all across the world and even in places where it is available – you may not get the biggest library of content. That privilege goes to Apple’s customers in the United States.
At least that’s the case if you’re not using a VPN, which can trick Apple’s servers that you are on U.S. soil – so you can get the best Apple TV+ has to offer.
Beyond accessing any streaming service, a good VPN will also protect your privacy online and protect you while connecting to public Wi-Fi hotspots. With that in mind, here are the best options for Apple TV+ that will also have your back in other situations:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
In addition, NordVPN will have you covered in all other scenarios. Whether you want to keep a low profile on the web, bypass ridiculous content bans and censorship, download and upload files via BitTorrent — this is a VPN that you can rely on. And we love it for that. Highly recommended.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
Add other ExpressVPN features to the mix and you get a service that is hard to beat and is, therefore, one of our favorites. You won't regret buying it.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
In addition, you can also rely on Hotspot Shield for torrenting, where too you can expect fast download and upload speeds; and the same goes for mobile users — its apps are super easy to use and work out of the box.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
The situation can be different with BBC iPlayer and we've had a hard time finding the server we can reliably use. In the end, we did found a server that works but it took as some time. After that, we've got a buffer-free experience every single time.
IPVanish is best used for torrenting and streaming with Kodi. Also, the service doesn't keep any logs, which is always a plus in our book.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming (we've tested it with all popular services), with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Apple TV+ 101
Apple TV+ is the iPhone maker’s subscription video on-demand streaming service that was announced during the March 2019 Apple Special Event held at Steve Jobs Theater. At that time, celebrities involved with Apple TV+ projects appeared on-stage, including Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Jason Momoa. The service was then launched on November 1, 2019.
Among Apple’s originals are Helpsters, the first series from Sesame Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street, and Oprah Winfrey’s first projects for Apple TV+ — including a documentary under the working title Toxic Labor about workplace sexual harassment, as well as a revival of Oprah’s Book Club as a standalone television series.
Apple TV+ content is (obviously) viewable through Apple’s website and through Apple’s TV app, which has gradually become available for many Apple devices and major competing streaming devices — with some key exceptions — including large television manufacturers’ smart TV models and certain video game consoles.
Subscribers without a television-connected supported device can view Apple TV+ content on a TV set using various workarounds.
At its debut, Apple TV+ was accessible in around 100 countries, but the hyper-plans for growth haven’t materialized just yet. And so, in mid-2020 – Apple began efforts to license older TV and film content from other content holders for the service, attempting to stay competitive with other streaming services. As part of those plans as well as to increase viewership, Apple TV+ subscription comes included in the Apple One subscription bundle.
COVID-19 pandemic
In March 2020, Apple suspended all active filming on Apple TV+ shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all production on series was postponed for an undetermined period of time. In that sense, Apple’s decision to license large swaths of existing older content for the Apple TV+ service was viewed, in part, as buying time for its original content production during the pandemic difficulties — by keeping users engaged and in a habit of visiting the service regularly.
In addition, the service endeavored to gain new high-profile content, taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of theatrical film releases. Among these acquisitions were the 2020 feature film Greyhound starring Tom Hanks; Emancipation, a slavery-based action-thriller starring Will Smith and directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Apple also reportedly considered a $350 to $400 million offer for the rights to stream the James Bond film “No Time to Die” but that plan hasn’t materialized.
You need a VPN for Apple TV+ AND everything else
Aside from watching Apple TV+ from all corners of the globe, a good VPN will let you unlock all other streaming services, as well. And that’s just a small part of what a VPN can do for you — cause it will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:
