Excited to watch Blue Planet 2 but live outside the UK? Your best bet is to use BBC iPlayer to find out what Sir David Attenborough got up to in the popular second season of Blue Planet. However, BBC iPlayer is unavailable in the US or Canada. So if you want to watch Blue Planet 2 you’ll need the help of a VPN.

If you’ve tried to watch Blue Planet 2 from the US, Canada, Australia or other countries outside the UK, you may have encountered this message: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”

This means that you need a VPN with servers in the UK. By connecting to a server in the UK, you’ll be assigned a UK IP address. Your device’s traffic will be encrypted and routed through one of the VPN’s servers, making it seem like you’re browsing from the UK. Not only does this help you unblock geo-restricted content such as Blue Planet 2 on BBC iPlayer, it can also improve your online privacy in the process.

How to watch Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada with a VPN

In order to watch Blue Planet 2 abroad, you’ll need a VPN with servers in the UK. Don’t worry, the process is quick and easy, even if you’ve never used a VPN before.

Note that you’ll also need a BBC iPlayer account – it’s free to register but does require you to enter a UK postcode (any will work). You’ll also need a UK TV license, although the iPlayer doesn’t actually verify this.

Here’s how to watch Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada with a VPN:

  • Register with one of the VPN services listed below – we particularly recommend ExpressVPN.
  • Download the VPN software for your operating system. You’ll likely have a choice between apps for desktop and mobile or perhaps even a browser extension.
  • Open the VPN app or browser extension and connect to a server in the UK.
  • Clear your browser’s cache and cookies before reloading BBC iPlayer. This ensures that your previous IP address and location is forgotten.
  • Open BBC iPlayer and select a Blue Planet 2 video which should now be unblocked.

Choosing the best VPNs for streaming Blue Planet 2 abroad

Choosing a VPN takes time, particularly when you consider that not all VPNs work with BBC iPlayer. We’ve explored the options and narrowed it down to 5 VPNs that meet the following criteria:

In case you don’t have time to read the reviews, here’s a quick summary of the best VPNs for watching Blue Planet 2 on BBC iPlayer:

Criteria for selecting the best VPNs

  • Able to unblock BBC iPlayer
  • Fast servers in the UK for streaming Blue Planet 2
  • High level of security with encryption and no-logs policy
  • Easy to use service with user-friendly apps
  • Customer support with a live chat feature
  • Includes a risk-free money-back guarantee

Best VPNs to watch Blue Planet 2 online

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada:

Best VPNs to watch Blue Planet 2 on BBC iPlayer

1. ExpressVPN

                    Jan 2023

unblocks bbciplayerTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

Where ExpressVPN stands out is in its well designed apps which are very quick and easy to navigate. You should have no problems connecting to a server or adjusting the settings but there is 24/7 live chat customer support if you need it. The customer service provided by ExpressVPN is fast, friendly and arguably the best of any VPN service.

This VPN service is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands where it isn’t subject to any data retention laws. Regardless, ExpressVPN states that it doesn’t keep any logs that could identify its users. Aside from this, ExpressVPN secures your data with 256-bit AES encryption, split tunneling functionality,  a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, making ExpressVPN one of the safest VPNs available today.

ExpressVPN apps are available for desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux), mobile, (Android and iOS) and for routers. Chrome and Firefox browser extensions are also available.

Pros:

Cons:

  • Somewhat pricier than the other VPNs on this list

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

2. NordVPN

unblocks bbciplayerTested Jan 2023

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

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Connecting to a NordVPN server is easy thanks to the availability of both user-friendly apps and browser extensions. NordVPN also offers an impressive commitment to your online security. Based in Panama, this VPN has the advantage of being in a country with no mandatory data retention laws. It protects your privacy with its strict no-logs policy and advanced security features including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a customizable kill switch.

You can use NordVPN via the apps which are available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and Android TV. There’s also the option of browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. However, routers require manual configuration.

GREAT VALUE VPN:NordVPN offers excellent value with some 660 servers in the UK. It lets you watch Blue Planet 2 by unblocking BBC iPlayer. Also unblocks Netflix. Use on up to 6 devices. 24/7 support, user-friendly apps, and excellent security with a no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Over 600 UK servers for watching Blue Planet 2 on BBC iPlayer

  • Unblock streaming services including Netflix and HBO Go

  • Plenty of security features including specialty servers

  • Use on up to 6 devices

  • Features 24/7 live chat support

  • Speed and consistency of servers can vary

Read our full NordVPN review.

3. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost is a fast and secure VPN that unblocks BBC iPlayer, allowing you to stream Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada. It has over 300 servers in the UK which offer fast and consistent connections for streaming without performance issues. At the time of writing, CyberGhost has more than 3,700 servers in a total of 59 countries, allowing you to unblock geo-restricted content worldwide. What’s more, you can use it to simultaneously secure up to 7 devices.

  • Unblocks BBC iPlayer for streaming Blue Planet 2

  • Fast servers with over 300 in the UK and 3,700 worldwide

  • Keeps you secure online with encryption and no-logs policy

  • Simultaneous connections on up to 7 devices

  • Includes a 45-day money-back guarantee

  • Inconsistent at unblocking some streaming services

Read our full CyberGhost review.

4. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

This VPN service is particularly suitable for beginners thanks to the user-friendly design of its apps. One available feature is the stealth VPN which disguises the VPN traffic as regular traffic, providing even greater privacy and allowing you to use the service on networks where VPNs are usually blocked. Headquartered in Sweden, PrivateVPN is a no-logs VPN service which uses 256-bit AES encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch to protect your data.

PrivateVPN is available via apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Linux and routers require manual setup.

IDEAL FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN has high speed servers in the UK for streaming Blue Planet 2. Unblocks most streaming services including BBC iPlayer and can be used on up to 6 devices simultaneously. Encryption and no-logs policy secures your data. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Small network of around 100 servers
  • No browser extensions on offer

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

5. Surfshark

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Another advantage of Surfshark is that it’s easy to use. Connecting to a server only takes a few seconds and there’s 24/7 live chat support in the unlikely event that you encounter any issues. Other features include an ad blocker and a whitelister for choosing which websites and apps can bypass the VPN. Surfshark is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. It uses 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and no-logs policy to ensure your data stays secure at all times.

  • Some servers have relatively slow speeds
  • Smaller server network than the likes of ExpressVPN and NordVPN

Read our full Surfshark review.

Can I use a free VPN to watch Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada?

Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to use a free VPN to watch Blue Planet 2 in the US or Canada. That’s because most free VPNs simply don’t work with BBC iPlayer. Even if you’re lucky enough to find a free VPN that works with BBC iPlayer, you’ll likely also find that the performance is very poor. This is down to free VPNs having too many users and too few servers, resulting in high server load, limited bandwidth and lots of lag and buffering!

Another area in which free VPNs fall far behind the best paid VPNs for Blue Planet 2 is security. Some free VPNs log your activity and sell the data to third parties. Even those that don’t do this still lack fundamental security features such as 256-bit encryption and a kill switch. In contrast, a quality paid VPN offers fast servers and strong security with a no-logs policy.

What else can I watch on BBC iPlayer?

BBC iPlayer is home to a wide range of BBC content which is available live, catch-up or on-demand. This includes content from the following TV and radio channels:

  • BBC One

  • BBC Two

  • Radio 1

  • BBC Three

  • BBC Four

  • CBBC

  • BBC Scotland

  • BBC News

  • CBeebies

  • BBC Parliament

  • BBC Alba

  • S4C

Using a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer allows you to watch Blue Planet 2 and many other TV programs, including the following:

  • Frozen Planet

  • Line of Duty

  • This Country

  • White Gold

  • Luther

  • EastEnders

  • The Missing

  • Bodies

  • Match of the Day

  • The Graham Norton Show