Streaming services often use geo-restriction measures to prevent you from watching when outside of their broadcast region. SVT Play is no exception; trying to stream live video from outside of Sweden results in the following error: “Programmet kan bara ses i Sverige”. This translates to “The program can only be seen in Sweden”.

Obviously, this is a huge problem for travelers looking to stay up to date on their favorite shows while on vacation. Luckily, there’s a workaround: by connecting to one of your VPN’s Swedish servers, you can trick the website into believing you’re actually located in Sweden. Additionally, as VPNs encrypt your traffic, it can’t be monitored by internet service providers, network administrators, or malicious third parties.

In a hurry? Just take a look below for a short guide to our recommended VPNs.

Best VPNs for SVT Play:

  • NordVPN: Our #1 choice for streaming SVT Play. Security-focused, with a no-logs policy and very high speeds. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: A fantastic low-cost provider that boasts powerful privacy features and great unblocking ability. Connect as many devices as you like.
  • ExpressVPN: This VPN is extremely fast and excels at unblocking stubborn streaming services abroad.
  • CyberGhost: A strong choice for novices. Provides very high speeds, one-click protection, and streaming-optimized servers.
  • IPVanish: Speedy, secure, and easy to use. Makes it easy to watch SVT abroad and allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices.
  • PrivateVPN: A zero-logs VPN boasting an impressive security toolkit and consistently high speeds.
  • Hotspot Shield: Great unblocking abilities, strong security features, and fast, reliable connections make this a great choice for streaming SVT Play abroad.

Best VPNs for SVT Play

It’s important to choose the right VPN for a given task. There are a large number of providers out there, but they differ in terms of speed, security, customer service, and other important areas. To find the best VPNs for SVT Play, we looked for those that met the criteria below:

  • Operates a large network with multiple Swedish servers
  • Provides stable connections, fast enough for live streaming
  • Capable of unblocking SVT Play and similar services
  • Uses powerful encryption and offers additional security features
  • Logs no personally identifiable information, or better, nothing at all

Below, we’ve listed the best VPNs for streaming SVT Play abroad:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023                    

Unblocks SVT PlayTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

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

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

If you’re looking to create an advanced security setup, NordVPN would be an excellent choice. With 256-bit encryption, an application-specific kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, you can stream safely at all times. You can also use multi-hop servers, access Tor over VPN, and scan for malware automatically. This VPN accepts cryptocurrency payments and doesn’t log any information that could identify you, meaning you can browse the internet as anonymously as possible.

NordVPN apps are available for MacOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Android. Select network routers are also supported but must be configured manually.

BEST VPN FOR SVT:NordVPN is our first choice. Blends security, speed, and unblocking ability to become a fantastic day-to-day service. Works great with SVT Play. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

Pros:

  • Excellent security and encryption standards
  • Easily unblocks a wide range of geo-locked sites
  • Speeds are fast enough for HD streaming
  • No-logs policy
  • Offers 24/7 live chat

Cons:

  • Can’t specify a city you want to connect to

Our score:

Read our full review of NordVPN.

2. Surfshark

Unblocks SVT PlayTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is an extremely versatile service with more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries, Sweden included. Unlike most of its rivals, this VPN has no connection limit, meaning you’re free to stream SVT on any device you like. Further, with steady, reliable speeds, you won’t even have to worry about lag or buffering.

It’s no slouch as far as security is concerned, either. There’s 256-bit AES encryption built-in, plus a kill switch, protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and an automatic malware-scanner. Users can also choose to enable the stealth mode to bypass especially strict online blocking. Surfshark follows a true no-logs policy and offers around the clock support via live chat.

Surfshark has apps for MacOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Manual installation is required for supported routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a low-cost provider with plenty to offer. Fast speeds, excellent unblocking ability, and an impressive security toolkit. Still not convinced? There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee included.

  • Steady speeds and unlimited bandwidth

  • No connection limit

  • Unblocks many major streaming platforms

  • Strong security and privacy credentials

  • Zero-logs provider

  • Customer support could be improved

Read the full Surfshark review for more info.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers across the globe, and is fast enough to stream live HD video with no noticeable buffering. Further, in addition to letting you watch SVT Play, it can unblock several services many other VPNs can’t, like Netflix and Hulu. With five simultaneous connections permitted, ExpressVPN allows you to stream safely at home or on-the-go.

This VPN protects your privacy using a combination of 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (in the desktop apps), perfect forward secrecy, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Further, as this service doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, your activities can’t be traced back to you. If you need help, you can contact support via live chat, 24/7.

ExpressVPN offers intuitive, easy-to-use apps for Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android devices. It must be manually installed on wireless routers, although with its custom router firmware, this only takes a few minutes.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:ExpressVPN is the fastest service around. Offers unlimited bandwidth, a no-logs policy, and the ability to unblock SVT and Netflix from anywhere in the world. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Extremely fast download/streaming speeds

  • Hard to beat on privacy and security

  • Great at unblocking most popular streaming sites from almost anywhere

  • Pay anonymously with Bitcoin

  • A little more expensive than some rivals

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost is a great service for beginners, in part because it makes it so easy to get started. It has 6,400 servers worldwide (around 100 of which are in Sweden), and some are even designed with faster streaming in mind. With the ability to unblock SVT Play, Netflix, and more, CyberGhost lets you access whatever you want, whenever you want.

256-bit encryption is enabled by default, and this VPN automatically protects against DNS and IPv6 leaks. There’s also an always-on kill switch which stops data transferal if your connection drops. CyberGhost doesn’t log any session or activity data, and as such, can’t share details of your browsing habits even if asked to. If you’re having problems, you can reach customer support 24/7 via live chat.

This service has apps for Windows, Linux, Android, MacOS, and iOS. CyberGhost requires manual configuration in order to work on supported routers.

QUICK AND RELIABLE:CyberGhost is ideal for beginners. Find a fast Swedish server in seconds. Protects your privacy and lets you stream SVT Play while traveling. This VPN offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Testing revealed impressive speeds for streaming

  • Happily unblocks a host of geo-restricted content

  • Solid privacy and security features enabled by default

  • 24/7 live chat support

  • May be less suitable for power users

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish offers very high speeds and access to more than 1,600 servers worldwide, around 30 of which are in Sweden. While many of its rivals allow just a handful of simultaneous connections, IPVanish has no connection limits whatsoever. Better yet, it boasts lightweight apps and excellent multi-platform support, so you can stream SVT Play safely from any one of your devices.

As well as a kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection, this service offers a few more advanced security features. These include LAN traffic blocking and the ability to obfuscate OpenVPN traffic. Further, as this VPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, your browsing habits and personal information remain protected at all times. Live chat-based support is available 24/7.

IPVanish comes with apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. You can also manually configure it for use with Linux systems and internet routers.

NO CONNECTION LIMIT:IPVanish lets you stream SVT across all of your devices. Boasts high-speed Swedish servers, a great security toolkit, and 24/7 support. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Good speeds for streaming

  • Top notch security and privacy considerations

  • Permits any number of connections

  • Customer support is not outsourced, a good privacy consideration

  • Struggles to unblock some major streaming services

Read our full review of IPVanish.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN may not have as many servers as its rivals (roughly 150 worldwide, and three in Sweden), but it does offer very high speeds. In fact, it’s more than fast enough to stream SVT Play live with no interruptions. Best of all, this VPN can bypass even the most stubborn geo-restrictions, allowing you to access services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer from abroad.

This service uses its strict no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks to keep you safe online. Just as important, it refuses to keep any logs that could identify you. PrivateVPN accepts Bitcoin payments and provides customer support over live chat for 22 hours per day.

This VPN has Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, and Android apps. PrivateVPN even works with select routers via manual installation.

NO-LOGS VPN:PrivateVPN is a zero-logs provider, meaning it lets you stream and browse securely, wherever you go. What’s more, it offers extremely high speeds, great unblocking abilities, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Above average streaming speeds in testing

  • Gaining a reputation for unblocking popular streaming sites

  • Privacy and security are top notch

  • Accepts Bitcoin

  • Doesn’t have 24/7 live chat

  • Small number of servers to choose from

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

7. Hotspot Shield

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company. 

Hotspot Shield offers access to 1,800 servers in 80+ countries including Sweden. This provider excels at unblocking stubborn streaming services, and even works with platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. Better still, thanks to its consistently high speeds, you’ll be able to watch free from interruptions. Up to five devices can be connected at any one time.

This service uses 256-bit encryption to keep your activities hidden at all times. It also protects against IPv6 and DNS leaks, and offers a kill switch to make sure you never accidentally browse unprotected. Hotspot Shield doesn’t store any data that could be used to identify you and offers around the clock support over email and live chat.

Hotspot Shield apps are available for Linux, MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Additionally, it has guides on how to manually configure the service for supported routers.

STRONG ALL-ROUNDER:Hotspot Shield is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to browse safely or watch SVT Play on vacation. It’s fast, security-conscious, and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast, reliable speeds

  • Excellent unblocking potential

  • Good range of security settings

  • Some past privacy concerns

  • Users can’t sign up anonymously

Read the full Hotspot Shield review.

How to stream SVT Play while traveling abroad

New to VPNs? It’s actually pretty easy to unblock geo-locked sites and services; just follow the steps below and you’ll be able to stream SVT Play from anywhere in the world.

Here’s how to watch SVT Play online from anywhere:

  • Register with one of the VPNs listed above (we recommend NordVPN).
  • Install the VPN software. There will be a few different versions, so be sure to get the right one for your operating system.
  • Connect to one of your VPN’s Swedish servers. If you’d like to unblock a service based in a different country, use a server in the appropriate location instead. For instance, you’d use a Swedish server to unblock SVT Play or a British server to unblock ITV Hub.
  • There’s no signup required for this service so you can simply try loading a video on SVT Play. You should find that it loads straight away, however you may have to refresh the page before you see any changes.

If there’s a specific show you’d like to watch live, we recommend running through the steps above before it actually begins. Doing this in advance ensures that you’ll have time to contact your VPN’s customer support team if you encounter any issues.

Can I watch SVT Play with a free VPN?

Free VPNs can be an attractive prospect, but we advise against using one for several reasons. Firstly, they’re usually pretty terrible for streaming; free VPNs have colossal user bases and often too few servers to provide decent speeds to everyone. In practice, this means you’ll encounter long loading times and choppy video: two major disadvantages for anyone looking to watch live TV online. You might even find yourself disconnected from the VPN and accidentally browsing the internet unprotected.

Like any business, free VPNs exist to make money. However, as they don’t charge their users upfront, they have to use other methods to generate income. You might find that your free VPN inserts ads into the pages you visit, but some go even further. By storing tracking cookies on your device, they can build a highly-detailed consumer profile which can be sold to the highest bidder without your knowledge. We use VPNs to protect our privacy, but with these shady money-making tactics, free VPN services go against the entire principle of the technology.

With VPN usage on the rise, hackers are taking advantage of people’s desire to stay safe online. In fact, one 2016 study showed that more than 38% of surveyed “free VPN” apps contained some form of malware. Of those that didn’t, 18% didn’t actually encrypt any user traffic. Your safety isn’t guaranteed with a well-known service, either, as we’ve seen one sell its users’ idle bandwidth to be used in a botnet. You can’t be too careful when it comes to online security: that’s why we recommend using a reputable VPN service with a customer-first privacy policy.

What can I watch on SVT Play?

SVT Play allows users to watch hundreds of shows on-demand, but you can also stream five channels live (SVT1, SVT2, SVT24, Kunskaps Kanalen, and Barn Kanalen). Below, you’ll find a handful of the platform’s most well-known titles:

  • Atlantic Crossing
  • Tunna blå linjen
  • Svenska nyheter
  • Trevlig Helg
  • Carina Bergfeldt
  • Uppdrag granskning
  • Sportnytt
  • Vinterstudion
  • Greta Gris
  • Klassen