Best VPN for streaming – ExpressVPN

Ever tried watching your favorite Netflix series while traveling, only to see the dreaded message: ‘This content is not available in your region‘? Or perhaps you’ve had enough of your ISP throttling your streaming speeds right in the middle of a big game or season finale.

We are all in this. That’s exactly why millions are turning to VPNs like ExpressVPN to stream freely and securely, no matter where life takes them.

Main points

Is ExpressVPN good for streaming?

I recently put ExpressVPN to the test for streaming my favorite shows and movies. My goal was to see if it truly deserves the title “best VPN for streaming”.

I will guide you through the process of setting up ExpressVPN on various devices, using it to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video, among others.

Throughout this journey, I will also evaluate its speed and performance. My focus will be exclusively on ExpressVPN, so you will receive a first-hand understanding of why it may be the best choice for streaming.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to use ExpressVPN for streaming and what to expect from the right VPN. 

Who should use ExpressVPN for streaming?

ExpressVPN isn’t just for techies; it’s a real solution for:

Streaming performance & Speed

When streaming, speed and stability are everything, and even with my ~60 Mbps connection in Bucharest, ExpressVPN delivered.

I connected to a U.S. server (New York) while watching Disney+, and not only did playback run smoothly in HD, but my VPN speed test showed virtually no loss in download speed, even from Europe to the U.S.

With over 60 Mbps retained and zero buffering, ExpressVPN proved it can handle streaming with ease, even across continents

I rarely saw buffering or lag, even in HD. I didn’t notice any significant slowdown at all during long binge sessions.

🎯 Analysis

Speed retention – Compared to my baseline (60.00 Mbps), I had a slight increase in download speed (likely just measurement variation):

Ping consideration

Streaming experience – If playback was smooth and in HD/4K with no buffering, it confirms that:

In my test, ExpressVPN retained virtually all of my baseline speed, and then some. While connected to a U.S. server from Bucharest and streaming Disney+, my download speed was slightly higher than my regular connection, clocking in at 61.25 Mbps versus 60.00 Mbps without VPN.

This meant I could stream comfortably in HD and even 4K, without a single buffering issue.

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol and server optimization showed their strength here: despite the long-distance connection, video playback started instantly and ran smoothly throughout.

Importantly, ExpressVPN never throttles your bandwidth. In my tests, speeds were consistently high for both downloads and uploads, and I could stream back-to-back episodes for hours.

ExpressVPN’s Smart Location feature also picked the fastest nearby server automatically, which helped get the best speeds without manual hunting. Overall, for streaming, I found ExpressVPN to be impressively fast and stable, ensuring HD and even 4K content played smoothly.

Supported streaming platforms

ExpressVPN effortlessly unblocked all the major streaming platforms I tried. In my hands-on tests:

It worked like a charm every time! I switched to different country servers, and Netflix instantly updated with the local shows. Even when one server got blocked, hopping over to another one did the trick (ExpressVPN is pretty good at keeping its server options fresh to outsmart Netflix). I was streaming Netflix in 4K without any hiccups.

Unblocked and speedy. Using a U.S. Disney+ account, ExpressVPN (via a U.S. server) loaded Disney’s library instantly. I streamed 4K HDR titles (Marvel and Star Wars shows) smoothly, thanks to the high speeds of Lightway.

I connected to a UK server and logged into BBC iPlayer – playback was smooth at 1080p.

While streaming HBO Max through ExpressVPN’s U.S. server, my download speed clocked in higher than my original baseline, reaching 63.38 Mbps versus 60 Mbps unconnected.

Despite a ping of 349 ms (which is expected when tunneling across continents), video playback was buttery smooth.

HD and even 4K content loaded quickly and ran without any buffering, confirming once again that ExpressVPN handles heavy streaming platforms like HBO Max with ease.

The consistent speed retention and stability make it ideal for binge-watching high-quality shows, regardless of where you’re located.

Device compatibility

Streaming often involves multiple gadgets – phones, tablets, smart TVs, etc. It has native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, so I was up and running on laptops and phones in minutes.

For streaming on my TV or game console, I tried a couple of methods. I either set up ExpressVPN on my router, which protects my whole network, or I use its Smart DNS feature (MediaStreamer) on devices like Apple TV or Roku that don’t have a VPN app.

Both ways made it super easy to watch content that’s only available with a VPN after a quick setup.

I tried ExpressVPN’s browser extensions for streaming and found them very useful. They reroute browser traffic through the VPN, making it easy to use.

You simply select a server and hit “Connect.” The Smart Location feature automatically picks the fastest server, giving great results without manual selection.

With one subscription, you can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously.

ExpressVPN is easy to set up and user-friendly, making it great for beginners. Advanced users will appreciate features like split-tunneling and the default kill-switch (Network Lock) to prevent leaks.

For assistance, their 24/7 support chat is very helpful.

Protocols & Security

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol offers unmatched speed and security. Designed for streaming, it connects instantly and maintains high speeds while switching networks.

In fact, in 2024, ExpressVPN even re-implemented Lightway in Rust for even better performance and safety.

On the security side, ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption, the industry gold standard. For a streamer, this means your viewing habits aren’t logged or sold. Plus, ExpressVPN’s Network Lock (kill-switch) ensured that if the VPN ever dropped, my device wouldn’t accidentally fall back to my real IP.

ExpressVPN pricing & plans

Final Verdict

Being in Romania, I quickly realized that several major streaming platforms were completely out of reach or offered limited versions. But with ExpressVPN, I gained instant access to content I couldn’t watch otherwise. Here’s what became available:

ExpressVPN didn’t just unblock these; it gave me full streaming freedom with high-quality playback across all of them.

ExpressVPN’s combination of fast Lightway servers (in 105 countries), unlimited bandwidth, and strong security makes it a no-brainer choice for the streaming enthusiast. The interface is friendly, and it works on all my devices.

Yes, it’s a premium-priced service, but considering the result – smooth, buffer-free streaming and the ability to access global libraries – it’s worth it for the serious streamer.

And with the 30-day guarantee, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free.

While traveling in Italy, I wanted to continue watching a Romanian Netflix series, but it was missing. I switched to a Romanian VPN server using ExpressVPN and picked up right where I left off. No restrictions, no complications. It just worked.