If you’re outside the US and have tried watching PBS or PBS Kids without a VPN, chances are you came across the following message:

A VPN allows you to connect to a server in another country (such as the US). In doing so, you will be assigned a different IP address, making it appear as though you’re browsing the web from another location. Your internet traffic is then encrypted and routed through the VPN server chosen, allowing you to unbock geo-restricted websites and services such as PBS.

Don’t have time to read the whole article? Don’t worry! Here’s a short summary of what you need to know.

The best VPNs to watch PBS outside the US:

How to watch PBS outside the US with a VPN

If you’re keen to get started and watch PBS outside the US, here’s what you need to do in a few simple steps:

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.

  • Sign up with a VPN service with servers in the US – we recommend NordVPN.
  • Download the VPN software, making sure to choose the correct version for your device.
  • Open the VPN app (or browser extension, if available) and select a server in the US to get an American IP address.
  • Hit the Connect button
  • Choose a PBS or PBS Kids show, which should now be unlocked!

While we’ve successfully unblocked PBS with all of the VPNs listed, your experience may differ. If the content is still restricted, try clearing your browser’s cookies or connecting to another server. If all else fails, you may want to contact your VPN’s customer support.

Best VPNs for watching PBS outside the US

As far as we can tell, PBS doesn’t use any anti-VPN firewalls, which means most VPNs with servers in the US should work with it. However, VPNs vary dramatically in quality. For this reason, we’ve narrowed down the list to VPNs that all meet the following criteria:

  • High-speed servers in the US
  • Unlocks PBS and other geo-restricted content
  • Easy to use with apps for desktop and mobile
  • Secure with encryption and a kill switch feature
  • A strict no logs policy that protects your privacy
  • Customer support available via live chat (preferably 24/7)

Here’s our list of the best VPNs to watch PBS abroad:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

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

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

One major selling point of NordVPN is that you can use it on up to six devices simultaneously. Furthermore, NordVPN’s apps are extremely responsive and easy to use. This is a VPN service that offers fast and efficient customer support, 24/7. We’ve tested this out for ourselves and found the customer care agents to be very knowledgeable. As for security, NordVPN uses 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. This plus a no-logs policy and the option to pay in cryptocurrencies makes NordVPN one of the safest VPNs.

You can use NordVPN on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available.

BEST VPN FOR PBS:NordVPN is our top choice it has a huge number of servers in the US and worldwide. It’s fast and unlocks PBS and Netflix. Live chat support and a no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

Cons:

  • Desktop app is a little cumbersome

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is an excellent choice for accessing PBS and other streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus from anywhere. It operates over 3200 servers in 90+ countries globally that provide fast and reliable connectivity regardless of where you’re connecting from.

Users who love to stream PBS and other services on multiple devices will benefit from Surfshark’s unlimited device connection limit and apps available for all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, ios, and Android.

Surfshark uses military-grade encryption to protect your connection from prying eyes, and its double obfuscation features help unblock sites in places with heavy internet censorship. All plans include a 30-day cooling-off period, allowing you to try the service and cancel within a month if you aren’t 100% satisfied.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR PBS:Surfshark is a low-cost provider that delivers a great service. It offers speed, security, and unlimited connections. It’s a fantastic choice for streaming PBS outside of the US and there’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast enough for uninterrupted streaming, torrenting, or browsing

  • Connect unlimited devices

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

  • Strong security and privacy credentials

  • No-logs policy

  • Some servers are slower than others

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

What makes ExpressVPN such a popular choice is its accessibility. It offers user-friendly apps for a wide range of operating systems while the browser extensions add to the overall ease of use. ExpressVPN provides excellent customer support, available 24/7 via live chat. If you have any doubts, you can rest assured that ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Aside from offering high-quality performance and excellent overall usability, ExpressVPN is secure. It uses 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data and also protects you from DNS leaks. Other key security features include split tunneling and a kill switch. Finally, ExpressVPN keeps no identifying logs, which means you can surf the web anonymously. Speaking of anonymity, ExpressVPN lets you pay for the service in Bitcoin.

ExpressVPN is available on desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux), mobile (Android, iOS) and routers. Browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox.

VERY RELIABLE VPN:ExpressVPN is a super fast VPN with a wide network of servers, many in the US. It works with PBS as well as Netflix. User-friendly apps and strong security. Try it risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • A little more expensive than most VPNs

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

3. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

We’ve tried out the various CyberGhost apps and found them to be easy to use. Various settings can be toggled on and off, including an ad-blocker and data compression. Looking to CyberGhost’s security offering, it uses 256-bit AES encryption and provides protection from DNS and IP leaks. There’s also a handy kill switch feature and a strict no-logs policy to protect your privacy.

STRONG SECURITY:CyberGhost has a large network of servers and works with PBS. Use it on up to 7 devices. Secure with encryption and no logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Large network of servers, particularly in the US

  • Unblocks geo-restricted content including PBS

  • Simultaneous connections on up to 7 devices

  • Apps are easy for beginners to navigate

  • Has trouble unblocking some streaming sites

  • Advanced users might find a lack of configuration options

Read our full CyberGhost review.

4. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

A standout feature of IPVanish is the availability of up to 10 simultaneous connections. This is far more than most VPN providers allow and makes IPVanish a great option for families. Aside from easy-to-use apps, 24/7 live chat, and email support, IPVanish has all of the key security features expected of a quality VPN. That includes 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and a zero-logs policy.

IPVanish apps are available for the following: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Fire TV. Manual setup is needed for Linux and routers.

IDEAL FOR FAMILIES:IPVanish has plenty of servers in the US. Watch PBS and connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. Secured with encryption. 7-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers in fewer countries than some rival VPNs
  • US-based (the US is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance)

Read our full IPVanish review.

5. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

You can have up to 6 simultaneous connections via a single PrivateVPN account, allowing you to secure all of your devices. The PrivateVPN apps are really simple to use, though customer support is available should you need it. PrivateVPN states it doesn’t use freelance support reps – only the PrivateVPN developers themselves. We’ve found it to be a secure VPN service with a no-logs policy, 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

PrivateVPN offers user-friendly apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. Some manual setup is needed for both Linux and routers.

FAST SERVERS:PrivateVPN has very fast servers for streaming PBS and Netflix. It’s user-friendly and secure with encryption, kill switch, and no logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fewer servers than many paid VPNs
  • Live chat support isn’t available 24/7

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Methodology: How we select the best VPNs for PBS

Finding the best VPN to access the PBS and PBS Kids from outside the United States might appear simple at first, but due to the geo-restrictions set by the broadcaster, it means not every VPN is capable of unlocking the live TV channel from abroad. To ensure the VPNs on our list are up to the task at hand, we run through a series of tests which you can find below.

  • Server coverage: PBS and PBS Kids are channels available to residents of the US. If you want to access the channels from abroad, the VPN you’re using must have a decent number of servers, with servers located in the US. Having locations in various US cities acts as a failsafe. For example, if a server in Chicago doesn’t work with PBS, you could try a New York server instead.
  • Unblocking ability: Even if a VPN has servers in the US, that doesn’t mean it’ll automatically unlock PBS. We test VPNs to see if they can evade geo-restrictions set by the broadcaster, trying multiple servers to ensure you’re not tied down to relying on a single server that could be blocked in the future.
  • Privacy and security: To ensure you’re not followed around the web and tracked by your ISP, it’s vital that a VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, and if they have extra privacy tools like DNS leak protection, even better!
  • Device support: PBS is available on various devices, like iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. Selecting a provider that offers apps on all major platforms is beneficial to enjoy the protection of a VPN on these devices.
  • Logging policy: Chances are you’ll use your shiny new VPN for more than just accessing PBS. Without a VPN, activities like torrenting are logged by ISPs which could land you into trouble, so we only select VPNs that use a no-logs policy, meaning they don’t keep a record of your online browsing, downloads, or streaming activities.
  • Customer support: Everyone runs into problems with software at some point, so it’s advantageous to select a provider with many support options. We choose VPNs that offer 24/7 support like live chat or a ticketing system to give you help when you need it.
  • Value: Nobody wants to pay over the top for mediocre service. While these VPN providers vary in features, they offer excellent value with a reputable service. The VPNs on our list each include a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service for a month, and request a refund if you’re not 100% satisfied.

To learn more about how we select the best VPN providers, check out our full VPN testing process.

Free VPNs are often very limited in terms of features. This is particularly critical when it comes to security. After all, a VPN should not only unblock geo-restricted content but protect your online privacy. Unfortunately, many free VPNs don’t use encryption or offer a kill switch. What’s more, many free VPNs log your data and activity and sell it to the highest bidder. As we’re finding out with the likes of Facebook and Google, free is rarely ever free, particularly when it comes to our online privacy.

  • Downton Abbey

  • Frontline

  • Victoria

  • Finding Your Roots

  • Antiques Roadshow

  • Nova

  • The Great British Baking Show

  • American Experience

  • Independent Lens

  • Nature

  • Sesame Street

  • Arthur

  • The Cat in the Hat

  • Clifford the Big Red Dog

  • Caillou

  • Dinosaur Train

  • Sid the Science Kid

  • Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

  • Curious George

  • SciGirls