Like many popular streaming platforms, ORF is region-locked. While select titles can be watched on-demand from anywhere, the vast majority can only be accessed in Austria. If you attempt to watch anything from Germany or anywhere else abroad, you’ll see the following error: “Nur in Österreich verfügbar” (Only available in Austria) unless you first connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

If you’re seeing this error, it’s because ORF has found out that your IP address isn’t from Austria. However, if you connect to an Austrian VPN server, you’ll be given a new, local IP address, and ORF won’t be able to tell that you’re in another country. As a bonus, the best VPNs encrypt your traffic, preventing snoopers like your Internet Service Provider (ISP), employer, or government from seeing what you get up to online. Plus, you’ll even be able to access other Austrian TV channels and streaming services while traveling abroad.

In this article, we’ll look in detail at the best VPNs to help you watch ORF outside Austria as well as how to use them, but in case you’re in a rush, here’s a quick summary.

Best VPNs for watching ORF from anywhere:

  • NordVPN: Our #1 choice for an ORF VPN. Over 30 high-speed Austrian servers, a no-logs policy, and excellent security features. It easily unblocks streaming services like ORF abroad. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: The best budget option for streaming ORF. No connection limit. Very high speeds and a fantastic security toolkit.
  • ExpressVPN: With very fast speeds, excellent unblocking ability, and strong privacy protections, ExpressVPN is ideal for watching ORF-TVthek from outside of Austria.
  • CyberGhost: This VPN offers pre-configured security, user-friendly apps, fast connections, and over 400 servers in Austria. Further, it unblocks a wide range of services, including ORF.
  • IPVanish: A lightweight, easy-to-use VPN with no connection limit, steady speeds, and a great set of security and privacy features.
  • PrivateVPN: This service is faster than most, includes strong security and privacy features, and boasts exceptional unblocking ability, allowing you to safely stream ORF from anywhere.
  • Hotspot Shield: A solid everyday service that works great with ORF. Impressive speeds. Takes your security seriously.

How to watch ORF outside Austria

With the right VPN, it’s simple to bypass regional restrictions and access streaming services like ORF in Germany or any other country. Just follow the steps below.

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.

Here’s how to live stream ORF outside Austria:

  • Start by signing up for a suitable VPN service. We recommend NordVPN.
  • Next, download and install the software. Most major services offer a variety of apps for different platforms, so make sure to get the right version for your devices.
  • Connect to one of your VPN’s Austrian servers.
  • Try loading one of ORF’s live streams. It should begin immediately, but if not, clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then refresh the page.
  • You should now be free to watch all your favorite content from anywhere, but if you’re still experiencing problems, contact your VPN’s customer service team for more advice.

Best VPNs for watching ORF outside Austria – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for watching ORF.

Best VPNs for watching ORF

The sheer number of different VPNs makes it difficult to decide which is best for any given task. This problem is compounded by the fact that not every VPN will help you watch ORF abroad. To ensure you choose a reliable service, we only recommend VPNs that meet the following criteria:

  • Must unblock ORF and similar streaming services abroad
  • Provides reliable, high-speed connections
  • Uses effectively uncrackable encryption and includes additional security features
  • Keeps minimal logs, or better still logs nothing at all
  • Offers apps for the most popular devices and operating systems

We reveal exactly how we test VPNs and our ranking criteria in our in-depth VPN analysis methodology. For now, let’s take a closer look at the ones that made the list.

Here are the best VPNs for streaming ORF outside Austria:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

UNBLOCKS ORFTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

This service places major emphasis on your security. It provides 256-bit encryption, a customizable kill switch, automatic ad-blocking, malware scanning, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, port forwarding, and IPv6 leaks. This provider also recently added its own WireGuard-based protocol, named NordLynx. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it can’t reveal details of your activities even if asked to. Live, chat-based customer support is available 24/7.

NordVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Manual installation is required for supported routers.

BEST VPN FOR ORF:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Has a wealth of advanced security features and keeps no logs whatsoever. Further, with high speeds and strong unblocking ability, it allows you to watch ORF live online wherever you are. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Pros:

  • Very high speeds
  • Excellent security and encryption standards
  • Excellent unblocking ability
  • Large network—over 5,400 servers across 60 countries
  • 24/7 support
  • Strict no-logs policy

Cons:

  • Desktop apps can take some getting used to

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

UNBLOCKS ORFTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark has decent speeds and offers access to 3,200 servers in around 100 countries. This makes it a natural choice for anyone looking to use platforms like Netflix and ORF abroad. What’s more, unlike many other providers, Surfshark has no connection limit. As such, it’s a fantastic choice for families or those with lots of devices to protect.

Users are well-protected by 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. That said, there’s also a strict zero-logs policy in place, as well as a feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malware automatically. Surfshark can even check to see if your password has been leaked online. Need help? 24/7 support is on-hand over live chat and email.

Surfshark apps are available for iOS, MacOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. It recently received full M1 chip support too, so Mac users should notice a performance increase. This VPN must be manually installed on supported routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is the best way to stream ORF on a budget. It’s quick, versatile, and security-conscious, with a true no-logs policy. Further, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and lets you secure every device you own.

  • Steady, reliable speeds

  • Great at accessing popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer

  • Strong security and privacy credentials

  • Keeps no logs

  • Allows unlimited devices

  • Customer support has room for improvement

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries, including Austria. This service is perfect for watching online video: it’s fast enough to stream live 1080p content without any issues. It can access not just ORF, but other major platforms like BBC iPlayer and Netflix US, from anywhere in the world, allowing you to watch your home libraries while traveling.

This VPN keeps your activities private at all times using 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch (in desktop apps), which stops all traffic if you lose connection suddenly. ExpressVPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, but you can pay with Bitcoin if you’d like additional anonymity. If you have any issues, you can contact customer support over live chat 24/7.

ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. There’s also custom firmware which simplifies the process of installing it on select home routers. This recently received an update, making it faster and more reliable.

FLAWLESS STREAMING:ExpressVPN is extremely fast and versatile, with a wide range of security and privacy features. This makes it ideal for streaming ORF abroad. Best of all, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast speeds for streaming and torrenting

  • Strong on security and privacy

  • Complete privacy—no logs of personal data kept

  • Great capabilities for unblocking geo-locked content

  • 24/7 live customer support

  • Slightly more expensive than other providers

  • Streaming servers aren’t labeled

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost has a vast network of over 9,000 servers spread across 90+ countries, including over 400 in Austria, making it super easy to access ORF from anywhere. Part of this VPN’s appeal is its ease of use: it offers high speeds, simple apps, and, best of all, servers clearly state which streaming service they’re designed to unblock. CyberGhost permits up to seven simultaneous connections, meaning you can stream ORF safely without worrying about leaving one of your other devices unprotected.

This VPN’s security features come pre-configured, so there’s no fuss. These include an always-on kill switch, 256-bit encryption, an ad-blocker, a malware scanner, automatic wi-fi protection, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. It also recently added a password manager and a feature that will inform you if your email address is breached. CyberGhost doesn’t log any data that could identify you. While this service is perfect for novice users, you can reach customer support 24/7 over live chat in case of any issues.

CyberGhost offers apps for macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. It works on select internet routers but must be configured manually.

PRIVACY GUARANTEED:CyberGhost is ideal for beginners. It’s fast enough to stream ORF without any buffering, it unblocks various platforms abroad, and its security features are all enabled by default. Further, this service comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Plenty of fast Austrian servers

  • Vast network of global servers

  • Minimal configuration required

  • Use up to seven devices simultaneously

  • Strong security and privacy features

  • Less suitable for power users

  • Doesn’t work reliably from China

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is a fantastic general-purpose VPN. It has around a dozen servers in Austria, with 2,000 or so spread across 75+ locations. This provider recently improved its network infrastructure to provide even faster speeds. Of course, it was already fast enough for live streaming, so you shouldn’t have any issues while watching ORF. As there’s no connection limit, users can protect all of their devices at the same time.

This provider uses 256-bit encryption, DNS and IPV6 leak protection, and a kill switch to keep you safe online. It also offers the ability to scramble your OpenVPN traffic and hopes to add WireGuard support in the near future. IPVanish is a zero-logs provider, meaning it can’t divulge details of your activities under any circumstances.

IPVanish has Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows apps. You’ll have to follow manual setup instructions to get it working on Linux systems or supported routers, though.

WATCH ON ANY DEVICE:IPVanish lets users secure every device they own, and works with popular platforms like ORF and Netflix. Further, it offers solid speeds, good multi-platform support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Good speeds for streaming

  • Decent unblocking capabilities

  • Strong on privacy and security

  • Permits any number of connections

  • Struggles to unblock larger streaming platforms

  • Based in the US

Read the full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN recently expanded its network to around 200 servers in over 60 countries, including Austria. This isn’t as large as some of its rivals, but PrivateVPN makes up for it with better-than-average speeds and excellent unblocking capability. It works effortlessly with major streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and of course, ORF. Plus, with ten simultaneous connections allowed, you’re free to stream at home and on the go.

This service uses 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (Windows only), and IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection to keep your traffic secure at all times. Although PrivateVPN doesn’t keep any logs, you can sign up almost completely anonymously by paying with Bitcoin and using a throwaway email address. If you have any problems, you can contact support via live chat most hours of the day.

PrivateVPN provides Android, Linux, iOS, Windows, and macOS apps. It has to be manually installed on wireless routers.

STREAM SAFELY ANYWHERE:PrivateVPN offers consistently high speeds, a no-logging policy, strong security features, and the ability to watch ORF live whenever and wherever you’d like. This VPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Faster than many other providers

  • Unblocks ORF from outside Austria

  • Strong security and privacy protection features

  • Doesn’t have 24/7 live chat

  • Small number of servers, newish provider still expanding their network

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. Hotspot Shield

Unblocks ORFTested Jan 2023

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

There’s strong security and privacy focus, too, with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks all built-in. Further, Hotspot Shield recently added support for IKEv2 connections, giving you more freedom in how you use the service. This provider doesn’t keep any logs that could be traced back to you and offers around-the-clock support over live chat.

Hotspot Shield has apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. It can also be manually installed on supported network routers.

SPEEDY AND SECURE:Hotspot Shield has plenty of admirable qualities: its above-average speeds, powerful security tools, and large network, for instance. Not only that, it works well with ORF and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast, reliable speeds

  • Unblocks major streaming services

  • Plenty of powerful security features built-in

  • Doesn’t support any anonymous payment options

  • Some past privacy concerns

Read the full Hotspot Shield review.

There’s also the security aspect to consider. In the past, we’ve seen major free VPNs like Hola abuse their users’ trust by selling their bandwidth to help run a botnet. Recent research suggests smaller services are just as dangerous, with nearly 40 percent of surveyed apps containing malware and 18 percent using no encryption at all.

Using a reputable VPN with a clear, customer-first privacy policy is the best way to stay safe online.

  • Guten Morgen Österreich
  • Formula 1 (all Grand Prix events)
  • Euro 2020
  • Aus der Haut
  • Euromillionen
  • Kabarett im Turm
  • Menschen & Mächte
  • Pflanzerei
  • Schmatzo
  • Silvia kocht

VPNs also allow you to torrent safely and download content from region-locked streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. Overall, VPNs provide many benefits beyond simply unblocking ORF.