Qatar-based Al Jazeera only came into existence in 1996 but it’s rapidly established itself as one of the leading media outlets across the world. Its core audience lies in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, where many consider it an iconoclastic organization that discusses topics and issues other channels might not.

This brand of journalism has also attracted the ire of several governments around the world who accuse it of being biased and unjust. The Al Jazeera livestream is blocked by many countries for this reason.

The best way to unblock Al Jazeera is by using a VPN. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all the traffic flowing to and from your device and routes it via a server outside your current location. This means the host website – Al Jazeera in this case – will be unable to detect where you’re actually located. That’ll open up a bunch of content previously unavailable.

A VPN will also secure your connection, making it almost impossible for government agencies or hackers to steal data.

We cover each of the VPNs in some detail below, but in case you don’t have time to read the whole article, here is a summary list of our top picks:

  • NordVPN: Our top choice. Veteran provider with a vast network of superfast servers. Unblocks Al Jazeera and most other popular geo-restricted and censored sites. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Best budget alternative. Fast, secure, and especially effective at bypassing regional restrictions. Surfshark provides an excellent way to access Al Jazeera while abroad.
  • ExpressVPN: Plenty of fast servers in the US and Europe. No issues unblocking Al Jazeera while maintaining your privacy.
  • CyberGhost: Great value with easy to use apps that are great for beginners. Servers are great for streaming in high quality.
  • IPVanish: Great privacy features like automatic IP address switching. Good speeds for streaming.
  • Private Internet Access Servers in 80+ countries, including Saudi Arabia. WireGuard protocol provides lightning-fast streaming speeds.

How to unblock Al Jazeera online

Setting up a VPN is a very simple process. If you haven’t signed up with a VPN provider already we recommend you do so wherever you are in the world. Not only will a VPN allow you to access content from abroad but it will also protect your privacy online. If you’re not sure how to access Al Jazeera using a VPN just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Here’s how to unblock the Al Jazeera live stream from anywhere:

  • Sign up with a suitable VPN provider with a strong privacy policy that can unblock Al Jazeera. We recommend NordVPN.
  • Download the appropriate app for your device.
  • Log in and select a server in a country in which Al Jazeera is not blocked.
  • Wait for your VPN to connect.
  • Visit the Al Jazeera website and the content should now be unblocked!

If you’re still having difficulties try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, then reloading the page.

The best VPNs for Al Jazeera

Our list of the best VPNs for Al Jazeera is based on the following factors:

  • Large number of server locations in Europe and the US
  • Excellent encryption standards
  • Speed and stability of connection
  • User experience
  • Apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

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

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our first choice for an Al Jazeera VPN. It has been in the business for over a decade making it a relative veteran in the space. It’s the fastest VPN we’ve tested and is popular with users because of advanced features and tons of options. This provider works with a whole bunch of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, while supporting torrents at the same time.

NordVPN operates with a true zero-logs policy. It retains absolutely no data about user behavior or timestamps. In some cases, it’s also received official requests from government authorities to hand over some customer information, but the policy meant it was simply unable to comply. Privacy-conscious users will be pleased.

The company operates more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries with options to select servers based on your specific web requirements, including streaming video, stringent privacy, or complete anonymity. There’s a particularly large selection of servers in Europe and the US.

NordVPN encrypts internet traffic via the 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. This means it’s in the top-tier of VPNs when judged from an encryption standpoint. Needless to say, you don’t need to worry about any data leaks.

There’s support for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

BEST VPN FOR AL JAZEERA:NordVPN is our top recommendation. It records incredible speeds, unblocks Al Jazeera and other blocked streaming services, and has great privacy and security credentials. Plans are risk-free with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Pros:

  • Extremely fast and reliable connections
  • Operates over 4,000 servers in Europe and North America
  • Great for unblocking censored and restricted content
  • Budget provider that doesn’t skimp on security or privacy features
  • Apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux and Android
  • 24/7 live chat support available

Cons:

  • Desktop app can be awkward to use

Our score:

Here’s our in-depth review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a solid budget alternative that puts its users’ privacy first. It doesn’t keep any logs (a fact that has been verified by third-party auditors), accepts three popular cryptocurrencies, and even offers multi-hop servers for even greater anonymity.

It’s equally strong on security, with a customizable kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks built-in. Users can also enable the CleanWeb feature to block ads and scan for malware automatically.

This VPN has around 1,700 servers in 63 countries, so you’ll always have plenty of choices. While it does have the occasional slow server, most are fast enough to watch live TV without any issues.

Surfshark offers apps for MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows. Some network routers are supported too, although manual installation is required.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark not only lets you access Al Jazeera from anywhere, it makes sure you can do so without worrying about who might be watching. This speedy VPN keeps no logs, provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, and allows any number of connections.

  • High-speed servers

  • Secure and able to unblock all kinds of geo-restricted services

  • Connect as many devices as you like

  • Excellent security and encryption standards

  • Relatively small network

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

Unblocks Al JazeeraTested Jan 2023

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is a simple, easy-to-use VPN but don’t let its minimalistic design fool you into thinking you’re getting a substandard product. It’s fast, secure, and private, making it a popular choice with users.

The company operates an impressive 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries including a wide choice in Europe and North America. There are no reported instances of content restrictions for Al Jazeera in these two continents so you should be good to go.

ExpressVPN stores minimal metadata logs but nothing that could be used to identify users. If you’re still feeling queasy about the metadata storage, then we recommend you sign up for the service via a burner email account and pay with Bitcoin. That’ll keep you well hidden.

Encryption protocols are robust and the service leverages 256-bit AES-CBC with both HMAC authentication and perfect forward secrecy. An internet kill switch temporarily halts all web traffic if the connection drops unexpectedly.

ExpressVPN unlocks geo-restricted content on Netflix. It’s also compatible with Hulu and BBC iPlayer, and it supports torrents.

There are apps for Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

HIGHLY SECURE:ExpressVPN reliably unblocks Al Jazeera as well as many other blocked streaming services. It boasts fast speeds for buffer-free HD viewing along with total security and privacy. Plans include a 30-day money back guarantee.

  • Plenty of servers in Europe and North America

  • Fast servers are great for streaming in HD quality

  • Leading security and privacy features turned on by default

  • Around-the-clock chat support available

  • There are cheaper options on this list

Here’s our review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost 

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost works well with beginner users as it’s easy to set up and comes with a decent selection of servers.

However, recent developments at the company might concern privacy advocates. CyberGhost was acquired by a UK-registered firm a few months back which could potentially affect its terms of use. At the moment it insists that it doesn’t log any user details or store data but only time will tell if this policy changes. We’ll update the article accordingly.

Otherwise, the service seems good to go. There are over 3,787 servers spread across 60 countries including a large number of locations in Europe and the US. The company adds that it’s constantly adding new cities to its network.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

Encryption standards are strong, too. CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. There’s an internet kill switch included which means web traffic will be halted if the connection drops.

GREAT VALUE:CyberGhost is easy to use. A well priced solid performer. Good at unblocking Al Jazeera but may struggle with other geo-blocked streaming sites. Comes with a 45-day money back guarantee.

  • Plenty of servers in Europe and North America

  • Kill switch on all apps and keeps no logs

  • Some of the fastest servers we’ve tested

  • Low-cost option with beginner-friendly apps

  • Power-users may lament lack of advanced configuration options

Here’s our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is a similarly robust VPN that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to both speeds and privacy settings.

The only time the service will store any information is when you register an account for the very first time. Nothing after that, no metadata retention either. So there’s zero data on its servers that could potentially identify you.

IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048 key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The encryption standards are definitely some of the most stringent out there. And the perfect forward secrecy means is that even if your account is compromised, your past session data and internet history will still be hidden.

Another way of shoring up the service is via an internet kill switch. That means if the connection drops for some reason, IPVanish will temporarily block all traffic to and from your device until it is restored. So there aren’t any open windows where hackers could potentially swoop in.

Servers are optimized for speed and stability – there’s over 1,300 of them spread across 75 locations around the globe, including hundreds in Europe and North America. You won’t find it a problem to maintain an adequate connection.

IPVanish is an excellent choice to unlock content on BBC iPlayer and permits torrenting too. There are apps for both iOS and Android as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

It’s also a recommended option for Kodi because it allows users to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

UP TO 10 DEVICES:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Handles several simultaneous connections well so is good for families. Recommend for their high standard of privacy, but keep shopping if you want to unblock US Netflix. 30-day money back guarantee.

  • Large choice of servers from the EU and North America

  • Impressive 4K streaming speeds achieved during testing

  • Preferred by Kodi and Firestick TV for its remote-friendly apps

  • Strong encryption makes apps secure

  • Doesn’t reliably unblock Netflix, Hulu

Read our review of IPVanish.

6. Private Internet Access

Website: www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access is a top-notch VPN for streaming Al Jazeera from anywhere. It features servers in over 80 locations worldwide, including servers in Saudia Arabia. Users will benefit from PIA’s use of the WireGuard protocol, which ensures ultra-fast streaming and online gaming, perfect for uninterrupted viewing of Al Jazeera.

PIA uses 256-bit encryption to keep your connection watertight, which is essential in places like Saudi Arabia with heavy internet censorship. It also includes a kill switch, malware blocking, ad blocking, DNS leak protection, and it doesn’t collect logs. You can also adjust your encryption level as required to produce even faster speeds.

Each plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 support. You’ll get a 10-device connection limit, and it has apps available for almost any platform you can think of.

ADJUSTABLE ENCRYPTION:Private Internet Access “true” has over 10,000 servers worldwide, 24/7 support, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Customizable encryption level

  • Secures your connection and blocks ads automatically

  • Decent speeds with the use of WireGuard

  • Streaming speeds can be inconsistent

  • Struggles to unblock some streaming platforms

Read our full review of Private Internet Access.

Some VPNs to avoid

Strong encryption parameters and an internal commitment to safeguarding user privacy rank amongst the principal factors that people analyze when choosing to buy a VPN. After all, you’re spending money to remain anonymous so you better get what you’re paying for. However, some abhorrent services fork over user data without a second thought. That’s a major ethical violation and our recommendation is to avoid these providers.

Here are two such examples:

1. PureVPN

Media reports a few weeks ago indicated that paid VPN provider PureVPN collaborated with the FBI to uncover a case of online blackmail.

The FBI roped in PureVPN after a complaint was lodged. The investigation showed that a PureVPN user – Ryan Lin – was using the service to try and cover his digital footprint. He had tried to extort money from the victim after hacking into her Google Drive and iCloud accounts.

We don’t condone Ryan’s behavior but PureVPN did have a ‘no-logs’ policy at the time. We certainly believe they could have been more transparent.

2. HolaVPN

In 2015, Israel-based Hola, a popular Chrome VPN extension that once boasted a userbase of almost 50 million, illegally turned this critical mass into a massive botnet army.

The bandwidth was used by the VPN provider for things like hacking attacks and the distribution of copyrighted content. And that’s with users completely in the dark. We recommend you avoid Hola at all costs.

Using a VPN is completely legal and ethical and millions of people across the world enjoy this right. We don’t condone its use for illegal acts and what Cody Kretsinger and Chris Dupuy did was completely wrong. However, when a company says they safeguard user data, we expect them to live up to this commitment. If there’s a violation of this agreement, there shouldn’t be any looking back.

Signing up for and using a VPN is perfectly legal across the world - there are no specific laws that outlaw it. Millions of people use a VPN to enjoy the full benefits of the internet, and most haven’t faced any issues at all. But what you do while connected to the VPN could still be considered illegal.

A VPN can be used to circumvent geo-restricted content, but it’s a prudent approach to check local laws before you do so. If you decide to proceed, you’re doing it at your own risk. Comparitech takes no liability in this regard.

One of the major aspects of using a VPN is to maintain privacy and secure your connection. Free VPNs rank low on both aspects. Such services are in the business of making money too and they’ve been caught tracking and selling user data. That’s certainly not in your best interests.

Free VPN providers don’t invest in military-grade encryption protocols and fancy server locations the same way as paid ones do. You’ll experience severe degradations in speed and weak encryption. To stay safe we recommend you cough up a few dollars and invest in one of the paid services mentioned in this list. Free VPNs just don’t cut it and they’re best left alone.