Many websites and services have geo-restrictions in place due to licensing issues, such as the Virgin Media streaming service. However, it’s worth knowing that you can download TV shows and movies on Virgin Media while in the UK, allowing you to watch them offline. So if you’re currently in the UK and due to go abroad, this may be an option worth considering. Your second option is finding the best VPN for Virgin Media.

In order to watch Virgin Media anywhere, you’ll need a UK IP address. You can get this by connecting to a UK server with a VPN. A VPN is a “virtual private network”. It works by routing your internet traffic to another server (in this case one in the UK). This hides your IP address which, combined with additional security features such as encryption, enhances your online privacy.

Unfortunately Virgin Media blocks many VPNs. We’ve rounded up the best that still work.

VPNs working with Virgin Media

Note that in order to be able to watch Virgin Media, you’ll need to be a Virgin customer. This means signing up for Virgin TV, Virgin Broadband or both if you haven’t already.

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.

Best VPNs for Virgin Media – 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 Virgin Media.

Many streaming sites have implemented anti-VPN measures, which means only the best-paid VPNs are able to bypass geo-restrictions. We’ve tested a lot of VPNs in order to determine the best VPN for Virgin Media so you can watch it online, outside the UK. Our ranking methodology of the best VPNs for Virgin Media is based on many factors which we have discussed under the following reviews.

Best VPN for Virgin Media

Here is our list of the best Virgin Media VPNs:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

unblocks Virgin MediaTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

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

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

You can use NordVPN on up to six devices simultaneously, allowing you to secure everything from your computer and smartphone to your router. NordVPN is one of the few VPNs to offer browser extensions, which does make using the VPN quicker and easier. The apps are also very easy to navigate. NordVPN offers excellent security features including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch. If you’re seeking even greater security, you can choose double VPN and onion over VPN servers. Last but not least, NordVPN has a strict no logs policy, protecting your private data.

NordVPN apps can be downloaded for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Linux. There’s also an app for Android TV as well as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

BEST VPN FOR VIRGIN MEDIA:NordVPN is our #1 choice. It has a huge network of servers, offers fast speeds and even includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • A huge network of servers worldwide
  • Works with many popular streaming services
  • The fastest service we’ve tested
  • The option of specialty servers
  • A strict no logs policy

Cons:

  • No app for routers

Our score:

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

unblocks virgin MediaTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

This service comes with several powerful security features including a kill switch (in all versions), protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, and 256-bit AES encryption. There’s also a NoBorders feature that lets you access the internet freely from countries with strict online censorship. Surfshark follows a strict no-logs policy and as such, your activities cannot be traced back to you. There is the option to pay in cryptocurrency for another layer of protection, though. Live chat-based support is available 24/7 in case of any issues.

Surfshark has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and MacOS devices. It can be manually installed on supported internet routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark has exceptional unblocking ability and allows as many connections as you need, but it remains affordable and even offer powerful security and privacy features. As if that wasn’t enough, this service includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Securely access plenty of region-locked services

  • Strong on security

  • No connection limit

  • Keeps no logs and accepts three kinds of cryptocurrency

  • 24/7 live chat support

  • Customer support could be improved

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN can securely access Virgin Media online as well as many other popular streaming sites including Netflix. We’ve found ExpressVPN’s performance to be among the very best thanks to the unlimited bandwidth on offer. Aside from offering very fast speeds, this is a reliable VPN, promising 99.9% uptime. ExpressVPN has more servers than most VPNs with 3,000 servers in 94 countries.

Your VPN should not only unblock Virgin Media outside the UK but also keep you safe. ExpressVPN keeps no traffic logs. When you combine this with the 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, split tunneling and a kill switch feature, ExpressVPN is undoubtedly one of the most secure VPNs on the market. We tested the 24/7 live chat support offered by ExpressVPN and received a reply within seconds, which was impressive.

PRIVACY-FIRST SERVICE:ExpressVPN is security-conscious and offers access to lots of high speed servers, 24/7 live chat support and a high level of security. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Plenty of servers in the UK and around the world

  • Fast speeds make this VPN ideal for streaming

  • 24/7 live chat support

  • Lots of security features

  • A little more expensive than others in this list

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost has over 700 servers in the UK, most of which are located in the cities of London and Manchester. In total, CyberGhost’s network consists of more than 6,800 servers in 89 countries, which makes this VPN ideal for unblocking content worldwide. This is a VPN that offers unlimited bandwidth and traffic and is known to offer particularly fast speeds. This makes it ideal for streaming Virgin Media. Our testing of CyberGhost was very positive with no annoying buffering or lag to speak of.

We like the CyberGhost apps, which are easy to use and very responsive, making them suitable if you’re new to using a VPN. CyberGhost offers particularly good value since it allows simultaneous connections on up to 7 devices, which is great for families. This is one of the safer VPNs you can use since it has a wide range of security features. These include DNS and IP leak protection, a kill switch, a no logs policy and of course, 256-bit AES encryption.

Easy to use:CyberGhost has over 700 servers in the UK, offers fast streaming speeds and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Plenty of UK based servers

  • Unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds

  • Apps are easy to use

  • Encryption and a no logs policy

  • Doesn’t work in China or the UAE

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is one of the best value VPNs on the market. What we really like about this VPN is that you can have any number of connections at once. Aside from this, IPVanish has a good network of servers with 1,300 worldwide in 60+ countries. With around 100 servers in the UK (London, Manchester, Glasgow and Nottingham), you won’t be short of options when it comes to unblocking Virgin Media. This is a fast and stable VPN so you’re unlikely to have any performance problems.

SECURE ALL DEVICES:Use a single IPVanish account to secure as many devices as you like. Offers user-friendly apps, high speeds, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Doesn’t work reliably with Netflix
  • No app for Linux

Read our full IPVanish review.

6. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN has several servers in the UK (London and Manchester) and approximately 200 worldwide in 60+ countries. While it’s not a particularly big server network, it’s the quality of servers that counts with PrivateVPN. This is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tried thanks to the unlimited bandwidth and speed on offer. You’ll be able to stream Virgin Media anywhere, in high definition, with no problem. What’s more, you can use one PrivateVPN account to secure up to 6 devices simultaneously.

This is an easy VPN that is particularly user-friendly. The apps are simple to use and responsive which makes connecting to a server very quick. A stealth VPN option disguises your VPN’s traffic as regular web traffic, allowing you to bypass deep packet inspection and unblock even more content. 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection and a kill switch are some of the security features. PrivateVPN states that it has a zero data logging policy and doesn’t even know what its users are doing online.

PrivateVPN apps can be downloaded for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS while Linux can be set up manually.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN offers very fast speeds and can be used on up to 6 devices simultaneously. Has a zero data logging policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Very fast speeds for streaming

  • Use on up to 6 devices at once

  • Easy to use apps

  • Zero data logging policy

  • A smaller network of servers

  • No live chat option

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

7. AtlasVPN

Unblocks Virgin MediaTested Jan 2023

AtlasVPN is a reliable VPN that was only launched in 2019. Since that time it has quickly gained a reputation for being able to unblock a wide selection of content. This includes popular international streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Prime Video.

Servers are available in 44+ countries, and this includes servers in the UK that work to access Virgin Media, BT Sport, Sky TV, iPlayer, and ITV Hub. Plus, this VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. This means you can use it to stream on any platform.

In terms of security, this VPN provides solid AES encryption. It also has apps that come with DNS leak protection, ad blocking, split tunneling, malware filtering, and a kill switch. You can use it for torrenting, and it is super fast thanks to its solid WireGuard implementation.

FAST AND SECURE:AtlasVPN has everything you need to stay secure whether at home or on public wifi. Allows an unlimited number of connections with a single account. Great for sharing your account with friends and family. Works with most streaming services. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast servers in 44 countries

  • Works with Virgin Media and other British services

  • Works with Netflix US

  • Apps for all devices

  • Plenty of security features

  • Live chat is for subscribers only

  • Fewer server locations than some of our top choices.

Read our full AtlasVPN review.

How we found the best VPNs for Virgin Media: our methodology

Like many streaming services, Virgin Media works to block VPN use so this narrows down the possible options to an extent. However, there are various other factors to consider when choosing a VPN. These include server speed and strength of security. Below, we outline our methodology and the things we look for in our testing of VPNs.

We test each VPN in order to find out what it does (and doesn’t) offer. Our VPN testing methodology sees us analyze areas including speed, security, and unblocking. That way, we can be confident that the VPN’s we’re recommending are indeed the very best for Virgin Media.

How to watch Virgin Media online abroad with a VPN

Here’s how to watch Virgin Media online abroad using a VPN:

  • Sign up for one of the suggested VPNs – we particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Download and install the appropriate VPN software for your operating system.
  • Select one of the VPN’s UK servers (this is the only country in which Virgin Media is available) in order to get a UK IP address.
  • Open Virgin Media and watch the content that should now be unblocked. You may need to clear your cookies for changes to take effect. If it doesn’t work, be sure to try another server.
  • Enjoy the unrestricted access to Virgin Media live and on-demand content!

A good quality VPN should be able to unblock services like Virgin Media. However, VPNs should also provide you with improved online privacy. Unfortunately, this is not the case with many free VPNs, which spam users with inappropriate and annoying ads and infect devices with malware. What’s more, some free VPNs actually log your data and activity and sell it to third parties. Poor performance and poor privacy are the reasons why free VPNs simply aren’t worth it.

  • Terrestrial TV (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5)
  • Sky One and Sky Two
  • ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4
  • Dave
  • Comedy Central
  • MTV
  • Syfy
  • Universal
  • Fox
  • Paramount

You can also use Virgin Media to watch the following titles on demand:

  • The Walking Dead
  • Supergirl
  • The Late Late Show With James Corden
  • Grey’s Anatomy
  • Atlanta
  • Wolf Creek
  • Ash Vs Evil Dead
  • S.W.A.T.
  • Prime Suspect
  • Criminal Minds