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How to access BBC iPlayer from the U.S. for free

Use a VPN to bypass content restrictions and avoid being blocked.
By Joseph Green  on 
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SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking streaming sites like BBC iPlayer. A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £85.52 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time.


Watching the wide range of popular shows hosted by BBC iPlayer is super straightforward if you're connecting from the UK. Visit the site and you'll get immediate access to everything without hassle. The situation is not so simple if you're attempting to sign in from outside the UK.

You'll be quickly blocked if you try to access BBC iPlayer outside the UK. This is obviously frustrating, but you can get around this geo-restriction with a VPN. You might think that sounds complicated, but the process is actually really simple.

Can you watch BBC iPlayer in the U.S.?

Follow these simple steps to unblock BBC iPlayer from outside the UK:

  1. Sign up to a streaming-friendly VPN

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

  4. Log in to BBC iPlayer to watch movies and shows from this popular library

The process is quick and easy, and thanks to money-back guarantees, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without spending anything.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

There are plenty of VPNs that can unblock BBC iPlayer, but ExpressVPN is probably the best. Users get an intuitive app and interface, strong connection speeds, and up to five simultaneous connections. All subscribers also get access to a large and diverse network of servers, which really helps when you're streaming content from around the world.

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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £85.52 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This discounted plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You could even sign up to stream your favourite show on BBC iPlayer and then recover your investment with the money-back guarantee. This is sneaky, but this trick means you can watch BBC iPlayer for free from anywhere in the world.

Secure access to BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN.

Photo of Joseph Green
Joseph Green
Global Shopping Editor

Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming services, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.

Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.


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