As one of the most popular online streaming services around, BBC America needs no introduction. However, the website and its live streams are locked outside the US, so you might need a VPN to disguise your location. But what happens if your current VPN stops working? Find out what to do if your VPN is not working with BBC America.
At GadgetMouse, our experts have done the tedious work for you, comparing popular VPNs to see which ones work with BBC America in May 2023. The best VPNs for BBC America users are easy to set up (even if you’re a newbie), plus they offer bonus features like live chat support and malware-blocking technology.
In this article:
At a glance: VPNs that work with BBC America (May 2023)
Bad VPNs might not work with BBC America as they fail to hide your location while you’re outside the US. But don’t worry, because the VPNs listed below are recommended for TV fans who fancy watching content that is only accessible in certain parts of the world.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read our full article, go ahead and sign up for one of these VPNs – all of them are compatible with BBC America as of May 2023.
Note: all of the BBC America VPNs below offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee.
Why is my VPN not working with BBC America?
You might have landed on this article because your current VPN is not playing nicely with BBC America, or other streaming sites. If you’re attempting to view TV shows and movies from a restricted territory, your connection could be blocked. However, a reliable VPN can help you access them from anywhere in the world.
Your current VPN isn’t working on BBC America and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN could well be blacklisted. By swapping to a better VPN, you’ll be able to watch content without being interrupted.
Try these fixes:
Update your VPN – head into your settings menu and make sure you’re using the latest version of your VPN.
Delete your browser cookies – cookies stored on your device help BBC America understand where you’re based. Clear your cookies so that the service will no longer recognise your previous IP address.
Try connecting to a different VPN server – brilliant VPNs offer lots of different servers per country. If the server you’re trying to use isn’t working with BBC America, disconnect from that one and try another one.
Contact a support team through your VPN – lots of VPNs provide their customers with a support service to handle technical issues linked to BBC streams. In fact, ExpressVPN, Ivacy, NordVPN, Atlas VPN and PureVPN all offer 24/7 support.
Uninstall and reinstall your VPN software – sometimes, starting fresh is the way to go. Head into your computer settings and delete your current VPN entirely. Restart your device, download that same VPN and see if the problem disappears when you visit BBC America.

How does my VPN get detected on BBC America?
If your current VPN isn’t hiding your real location while you’re outside the US, BBC America will interfere with the server you’re using. Bad VPNs take a long time to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to region-locked TV shows and movies.
The best VPNs you can download for BBC America do a really good job of replacing a blacklisted server. That means that, even if the website has disabled a VPN server, a replacement will be up sooner rather than later.
Free VPNs for BBC America
If your current VPN isn’t working with BBC America, you might be thinking about a free VPN to save money. However, we recommend that you stay away from free VPNs for these key reasons:
⚠️ Some free VPNs aren’t safe. Free VPNs for BBC shows might sell your personal data for profit since they do not charge a regular, monthly fee.
⚠️ Free VPNs can be slow. Connecting to a server might take a long time and your connection could unexpectedly drop.
⚠️You might not get many servers. Top-rated VPNs have servers distributed worldwide, allowing you to immediately access websites and apps. On the other hand, free VPNs provide coverage for only a limited number of countries.
The best VPNs for BBC America in 2023
ExpressVPN
- 1-month subscription: £10.63 per month
- 6-month subscription: £8.20 per month (23% off)
- 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.47 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 160 in 94 countries |
📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
📱 Number of devices supported at once | 5 |
To stream TV shows and movies from BBC America, use ExpressVPN today. It’s user-friendly, fast and effective for accessing region-restricted content. With ExpressVPN, all you need to do is connect to a server in the US and you can easily watch BBC America content from anywhere.
ExpressVPN conceals your actual IP address, making it impossible for websites to see that you’re enjoying content from outside America. With servers available in more than 90 countries, every ExpressVPN user can benefit from global coverage. ExpressVPN is compatible with various devices including Mac, Android, and iOS smartphones.
Our Verdict: our team recognises ExpressVPN as one of the best VPNs for BBC America after conducting various performance tests.
Try ExpressVPN with our discountIvacy
- 1-month subscription: £8.22 per month
- 1-year subscription: £2.91 per month (65% off)
- 5-year subscription + 2TB cloud storage + password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,700 in 100+ locations |
📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
Ivacy is an excellent choice if you want a VPN that works with BBC America. The service employs 256-bit encryption to ward off cybercriminals, also featuring public wi-fi security to safeguard your devices from malware when connected to hotspots in public areas.
With Ivacy, you can easily access TV shows and movies abroad without anyone being the wiser. This is due to Ivacy’s stringent no-logs policy, which prevents your sensitive personal information from being sold to nefarious third parties.
Ivacy is among the most popular VPNs proven to work on BBC America. By trying it out today, you can gain immediate access to over 3,000 VPN servers worldwide. A single Ivacy subscription provides coverage for up to 10 devices at once, making it ideal for a family of streamers.
Our verdict: We highly recommend this well-equipped VPN for BBC shows. It allows you to access region-locked content with ease, no matter where you are in the world.
Try Ivacy with our discountNordVPN
- 1-month subscription: £10.89 per month
- 1-year subscription + 3 months extra: £3.79 per month (44% off)
- 2-year subscription + 3 months extra: £3.39 per month (50% off)

🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,200+ in 59 countries |
📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
📱 Number of devices supported at once | 6 |
NordVPN is another exceptional VPN that enables you to view region-locked BBC America content abroad. It has servers distributed worldwide, safeguarded by military-grade encryption. Furthermore, NordVPN’s advanced encryption technology allows you to stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks without compromising speed.
The servers on offer are highly secure, and you can connect without divulging your personal information. NordVPN doesn’t spy on you, either. Moreover, you can explore the CyberSec feature, which effectively blocks dubious websites and reduces the likelihood of your device being infected with data-stealing malware.
With NordVPN, you can stream BBC TV shows and movies outside the US within minutes. Simply connect to a VPN server and go from there. Plus, NordVPN offers a 24/7 live chat service to assist you whenever necessary.
Our verdict: Setting up NordVPN with BBC America is a piece of cake. In our own speed tests, we were able to load up the software, log in and connect to a suitable server within a few minutes.
Try NordVPN with our discountAtlas VPN
- 1-month subscription: £9.83 per month
- 1-year subscription: £2.69 per month (73% off with code BIGDEAL)
- 2-year subscription: £1.68 per month (83% off with code BIGDEAL)

🌎 Number of servers worldwide | |
📈 Bandwidth allowance | |
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | |
📱 Number of devices supported at once |
Atlas VPN can act as your shield against online threats and provide access to shows on BBC America abroad. It features a tracker blocker that combats ads, suspicious websites, and phishing links.
This popular VPN also offers additional features such as a data breach monitor that notifies you if your personal details have been exposed online. Atlas VPN also boasts a no-logs policy and a network kill switch that automatically stops the service if your connection becomes unstable.
With over 700 servers around the globe, Atlas VPN offers a wide range of options to connect to a server in a supported country. You’ll have no trouble enjoying your favourite BBC America shows on your device.
Our verdict: If you’re a BBC America fan, Atlas VPN offers effortless access to foreign servers and lets you unblock geo-restricted websites.
Try Atlas VPN with our discountPureVPN
- 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month
- 1-year subscription: $3.24 per month (70% off)
- 2-year subscription + 3 months FREE: $2.08 per month (81% off)

🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 6,500+ in over 78 countries |
📈 Bandwidth allowance | Does not limit bandwidth per user |
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
PureVPN is one of our top recommendations for streaming BBC America shows outside the US. With optimised servers designed to reduce load times, it’s easy to use and provides a great streaming experience.
One of the best features of PureVPN is the encryption of data, which ensures complete anonymity while streaming. Additionally, there’s a 24-hour support team available to answer any questions you might have. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country, PureVPN makes it easy to bypass geo-locked apps.
With over 6,500 servers in more than 75 countries worldwide, PureVPN provides ample opportunities for unlocking content on BBC America. Plus, if you’re not completely satisfied after trying it out, the brand offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.
Our verdict: PureVPN provides over 6,500 servers in more than 75 countries around the world. If your current VPN is not working with BBC America, this could be a perfect fit.
Try PureVPN with our discountHow to use a VPN with BBC America: step-by-step guide
- Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
- Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
- From your device, download and open the ExpressVPN app and select a server in a country that officially supports BBC AMerica – the USA, for example.
- Once you’re connected, head to the BBC America website.
- Log in to your BBC account and enjoy.
In summary: try these VPNs if you want to watch BBC America anywhere
- ExpressVPN – Our top pick for VPNs that work well on BBC America. The snappy smartphone app boasts clearly-labelled menus and toggles.
- Ivacy – Unlock region-locked websites from your PC without revealing your true location.
- NordVPN – Get up and running with this newbie-friendly VPN in just a couple of minutes.
- Atlas VPN – Connect to foreign servers and unlock geo-restricted websites from your computer.
- PureVPN – With thousands of servers from around the world, this tried and trusted VPN is just what you need to unlock geo-restricted websites.
