This post goes into detail on each of the VPNs that made our list, but here is a quick summary in case you are short of time.
- NordVPN: The best VPN for Twitch. Huge server network. Superfast, reliable, and secure connections. Great at unblocking. 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark: Best budget provider. Decent speeds and super unblocker. Strong security and unlimited connections.
- ExpressVPN: Vast network of servers to choose from. Secure, reliable connections and military-grade encryption.
- CyberGhost: Great for beginners wanting to stream Twitch. Easy-to-use apps, low price and fast speeds.
- IPVanish: Built its reputation on fast download speeds, a favorite with Kodi users, torrenters, and P2P downloaders.
- PrivateVPN: Newest VPN to make this list with a small yet growing, speedy server network. Secure and able to unblock most popular sites and services including Twitch.
The best VPNs for streaming Twitch
The one problem with VPNs is trying to select the right one. There are so many to choose from but they don’t all offer a comparable service. We’ve narrowed down the choice for you and have selected the best VPNs for Twitch by ensuring they meet the following criteria:
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.
- Has a large selection of servers.
- Provides a fast and reliable service
- Uses strong encryption
- Maintains no logs of user activity
- Offers excellent customer support
This is just an overview but you can read more on our VPN testing methodology below.
Best VPNs for Twitch – 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 Twitch.
Here is our list of the best VPNs for Twitch in 2023:
1. NordVPN
Jan 2023
Unblocks TwitchTested 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 a Twitch VPN. It provides access to a huge network of more than 5,000 servers in around 60 countries. Its speeds are the best we’ve seen, making streaming and gaming a breeze. It even has servers optimized for viewing video content.
Your online security is a priority for NordVPN and it offers 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. You can rest assured none of your details are recorded, as it adheres to a strict no-logs policy.
A basic plan enables you to connect up to six devices at a time, which is ideal for families or those who like to switch between devices. Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
BEST VPN FOR TWITCH:NordVPN is our #1 choice. Blazing speeds and works reliably with Twitch and most popular streaming sites. Connects up to 6 devices simultaneously. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Superfast and reliable servers for HD streaming
- Operates over 5,000 servers in 60 countries
- Excellent security features and encryption standards
- Unblocks most popular geo-locked streaming services
- Keeps no usage logs
- 24/7 live chat support
Cons:
- Desktop app can be awkward to use
Our score:
Read our full review NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
Unblocks TwitchTested Jan 2023
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Surfshark.com
Surfshark is a low-cost VPN that’s highly adept at providing access to all sorts of content, including Twitch. Speeds are fast enough for HD streaming and you get access to a growing network of more than 3,200 servers in over 95 countries.
Surfshark doesn’t keep and logs and secures your data with strong encryption, protection against IP leaks, and a kill switch in all apps. You also get automatic wifi protection, a split tunneling feature, and a double VPN option.
Surfshark offers easy-to-use apps for Linux, Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, and can be set up on select routers. You never have to worry about going over your device limit because there isn’t one, Surfshark offers unlimited connections.
BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a stellar budget alternative. It unblocks restricted content and is highly secure. Doesn’t log user data. No connection limit. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Unblocks Twitch as well as a ton of streaming sites
Great value for money
Unlimited connections.
Zero-logs provider
Around-the-clock support
Some features require Surfshark One, an optional paid addon
Read our full review of Surfshark.
3. ExpressVPN
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Security-conscious users will be more than happy with ExpressVPN’s military-grade encryption that’s coupled with SHA256 authentication and perfect forward secrecy. The built-in kill switch and protection against DNS leaks help ensure data is always locked inside the encrypted tunnel. No user activity is ever tracked and minimal logs are kept.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and ExpressVPN can be configured with some routers. A basic plan allows up to five simultaneous connections.
VERSATILE VPN:ExpressVPN is a reliable choice. Great at unblocking all major geo-restricted streaming services. Top privacy and online security features and keeps no logs. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Operates over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, great for unblocking Twitch from almost anywhere
Plenty of servers are optimized for high-speed connections
Military-grade encryption, and great security features
No internet usage logs are retained
24/7 live chat support staff are on the ball
Power-users may find the advanced options limited
More expensive that others on our list
Read our in-depth review of ExpressVPN.
4. CyberGhost
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
Your privacy and online security are top priorities for CyberGhost. The service uses 256-bit encryption which is considered pretty much as good as it gets. This comes with SHA256 authentication and perfect forward secrecy. There’s a built-in kill switch, DNS and IP leaks protection, and automatic wifi protection for unfamiliar networks.
A basic plan gives you the ability to connect five devices simultaneously. Apps can be downloaded for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
BEGINNERS’ CHOICE:CyberGhost has a simple set up. Comes with streaming-optimized servers. Good on privacy. Streams HD video reliably. 45-day money-back guarantee.
Low-cost provider with plenty of streaming optimized servers
Operates a network of more than 9,000 servers in 90 countries
Good security and they don’t store user activity logs
Minimal configuration required means apps are easy to start using
Good for Twitch, but won’t unblock as many streaming sites as others on this list
No apps for routers
Read our in-depth review of CyberGhost.
5. IPVanish
Website: www.IPVanish.com
IPVanish is a very popular provider with torrenters and Kodi users, but it’s ideal for accessing the Twitch streaming platform too. It has more than 1,900 servers in over 75 locations worldwide, and it pegs some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen and can provide access to popular streaming sites.
On the security front, it uses 256-bit encryption along with SHA512 authentication and perfect forward secrecy. The kill switch and DNS (including IPv6) leak protection provide an additional layer of online protection and ensure your information stays safe. No logs are kept whatsoever.
IPVanish has apps available for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. You can connect every device you own devices simultaneously.
FAST AND RELIABLE:IPVanish has a large network of servers. Uncongested network with exceptional speeds. Strong privacy and security features. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Operates a network of more than 1,900 servers in over 75 locations worldwide
Keep no logs on user activities and have solid security settings
Good speeds for streaming
Works well with Kodi add-ons for remote control users
Apps don’t work in China
Claims 24/7 support on their website, but technical support tickets can take one or two days to resolve
Read our in-depth review of IPVanish.
6. PrivateVPN
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
PrivateVPN might only have around 200 servers globally but these are all completely self-owned and hosted for maximum privacy. Further, PrivateVPN’s speeds are fast enough for streaming, torrenting, or gaming without any issues. It excels at flying under the radar too, with the ability to securely acess Twitch, Netflix, and Hulu from anywhere.
Security comes in the form of 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption, depending on which protocol you decide to go with. You also have perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. PrivateVPN maintains a strict no-logging policy, holding true to its name.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. A basic plan enables you to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.
GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Unblocks Twitch. Also good for secure and private browsing and torrenting. Could do with having more servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Operates a network spanning around 63 countries
Strong security and privacy protection features
Use up to six devices simultaneously
A smaller number of servers to choose from than competing networks
Support staff are helpful, but only operate during Swedish business hours
Read our in-depth review of PrivateVPN.
Twitch VPN testing methodology
Comparitech reviewers do their best to produce the most accurate and useful VPN reviews and recommendations on the internet. To do that, we evaluate each VPN based on real-world experience, expert analysis, and a battery of tests. When it comes to Twitch VPNs, we specifically looked at:
- Speed: Bandwidth is hugely important to both streamers and their viewers. We measure and record connection speeds to VPN servers around the world to ensure your stream stays steady.
- Server network: If you’re trying to get around a Twitch ban, having a wide selection of servers and locations is valuable. Most of the VPNs we recommend have servers in 60+ countries.
- Security: Twitch streamers can be targets for hackers and scammers. The VPNs they use should be resistant to data and IP leaks and DDoS attacks. We test each VPN for a range of leaks and strong, up-to-date encryption.
- Device support: Most VPNs make native apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Some go above and beyond with browser extensions, Linux apps, Fire TV apps, and router support.
- Customer support: Our reviewers contact each VPNs customer support staff to measure response times and gauge the quality of responses.
- Streaming: VPNs are wildly popular for unblocking region-locked content from abroad. We use real-world tests to find out which VPNs are best at unblocking geo-restricted streaming sites and apps.
- Logging policy: We only recommend VPNs that don’t collect any personally identifiable information or online activity while using the VPN.
This is just a sample of our full methodology. For more info, check out our page on how we rate and review VPNs.
How to stream Twitch using a VPN
Streaming your favorite content on Twitch with a VPN is a simple process. Check out the steps below to get started.
Here’s how to stream Twitch using a VPN:
- Sign up for a VPN. Our top choice for Twitch is NordVPN.
- Download and install the app for your chosen device and log in with your account credentials.
- Select your nearest server from the list of locations or tap connect to be hooked up to your fastest server.
- Head over to Twitch via a web browser or the Twitch app and log into your account to start streaming.
- Clear your cookies and browser cache if you encounter any connection errors.
Can I use a free VPN with Twitch?
No doubt you’ll come across a ton of free VPN services while doing even the slightest bit of research. These are certainly tempting but are generally not recommended. On the practical side of things, a free VPN often means limited access to server locations, long wait times, and slow, unreliable connections.
Even though they’re offering a subpar service, it doesn’t really come without cost. Free VPN providers need to make money somehow. This often leads to shady business practices that jeopardize the privacy and security of users.
It’s not unusual for a free VPN provider to track user activity, inject ads, or sell user information to third parties. Others can be even more harmful and inject malware. We’ve even seen a case of a free VPN provider taking users’ bandwidth and using it in a massive botnet.
With so many potential issues, it’s worth the few bucks a month you pay for a top-quality provider.
How to sign up for a free Twitch account
Although Twitch is reportedly blocked in some locations, such as China and Russia, once you’re signed up to a VPN, you should be able to access it from anywhere. Simply connect through a server in a country where Twitch isn’t blocked, access the Twitch website, and you’re free to stream. Even without signing up for an account, you can access a limited number of features.
However, when you opt for a free account, you’ll be able to “interact with broadcasters and the community via chat, follow your favorite broadcasters to receive alerts when they go live, and, of course, broadcast your own games to the Twitch community.” Simply select Sign Up and connect through Facebook or provide a few details.
How to sign up for Twitch Prime
While logged into Twitch, select Try Prime in the navigation menu.
In the resulting screen, select connect your Twitch account, and in the next screen, select Confirm.
And that’s it, you have Twitch Prime.
- United States
- Mexico
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Austria
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- France
- Belgium
- Spain
- Italy
- Japan
- Singapore
Many Twitch users who try and sign up from abroad encounter this message:
“Sorry! Twitch Prime isn’t available in your country”
If you think you should be able to access Twitch and you’re seeing the above error, this guide released on the Twitch blog should be able to help you out.
You can change your IP address with a VPN. Just connect to a server when you make a new account. You’ll also have to stream while connected to the VPN so your old IP address isn’t exposed.
Twitch can ban you from broadcasting, watching videos, and chatting. Check out Twitch’s website for more info on appealing bans.
For instance, plenty of applications will display your IP address on screen. This is visible to anyone who joins a game session you’re hosting too. So why is this a problem? Well, it lets attackers see your approximate location and who your service provider is. Combined with information from elsewhere, this could lead to you being doxxed, SWATTED, or doorstepped.
A VPN reduces the likelihood of this by hiding your real IP address. In other words, anyone looking to find more info about you from the address alone would quickly run into a dead end.