Streaming & VPNs

The average American subscribes to four streaming video subscription services. An above-average American subscribes to a grand total of seven streaming services. The movies and shows you can access change drastically depending on what side of the world you’re on. If you love to travel but don’t love missing out on your favorite content, make use of these tips.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Most streaming services restrict their content according to location, which means that a show or movie you can watch in one country may not be available in another. Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are a great way to mask where you are when you’re navigating your favorite websites. VPNs aren’t just ideal for privacy; they help you explore streaming platforms without the sites knowing where you’re located. In many cases, you can specify which country you want to appear to be coming from, so if a show you like is available only to American audiences, for example, you can use your VPN to convince the streaming service that you’re in the US. This unlocks a huge variety of shows and movies that are location-locked and inaccessible on a non-VPN connection.

When choosing a VPN, look for features like speed and reliability. You don’t want to lose your connection mid-binge, or worse, have a viewing experience that’s made entirely of buffering and stalled screens. We recommend using a VPN anyway, since it will help protect you and your data on any network you use, but when trying to keep up with your current favorite series on the road, a VPN is a godsend. You can even use it to try out content in other countries and see shows you may never have considered watching.

Some of the top VPNs are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Norton and Surfshark. Plans start around $6 per month with discounts on subscriptions.

Streaming Services

  • Netflix generally available worldwide, Netflix's library can vary significantly by region. 

  • Hulu is only available in the United States. 

  • Sling TV International offers international channels and programming for US households. 

  • Amazon Prime Video also has region-specific content. 

  • Disney+ is available in many countries and regions but has some content availability restrictions. 

  • FuboTV, a live TV streaming service, offers a variety of channels, including international sports channels.