ITVX is home to a growing library of popular British shows, films, and live channels, but access is limited to viewers in the UK. If you're traveling or living abroad, you won't be able to watch ITVX content without running into geo-restrictions. That's where a VPN comes in.
The best VPNs let you connect to a server in the UK, so you can access the platform and all its content, even if you're travelling for work or on vacation. NordVPN is our top pick, as it offers fast, reliable download speeds and support for every app.
5 best travel VPNs: a quick overview
The best ITVX VPNs in 2026
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Best ITVX VPN overall
NordVPN regularly receives first place in our VPN lists as it consistently receives top marks for reliability, speed, and security in our extensive VPN tests. It takes the top spot for ITVX VPNs because, in addition to fantastic all-around performance, we were able to access ITVX first time.
NordVPN came out on top not just for ITVX but across all major streaming platforms. With its expansive UK server network and industry-leading speeds, NordVPN is undoubtedly one of the best streaming VPNs on the market today.
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Streaming
NordVPN is a seriously impressive pick when it comes to streaming. With more than 7,400 VPN servers in 118 countries, you'll have no problem finding a nearby connection point. Plus, when it comes to the UK, NordVPN has super-speedy options in London, Glasgow, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
We accessed ITVX without any hiccups via all four of the UK locations – no extra setup required. Our connection remained stable throughout our extended viewing sessions, with no unexpected disconnections or dips in picture quality. Plus, even when we tuned in during peak hours, NordVPN kept up with HD streams.
This is thanks to NordVPN's awesome overall performance. We used a 1 Gbps testing rig to determine its speeds, and NordVPN consistently came in at over 950 Mbps, putting it right near the top of speed rankings. Needless to say, it more than proved itself as a reliable VPN for streaming ITVX (and more).
We achieved these results using NordLynx, which is NordVPN’s implementation of WireGuard. However, if you’re relying on OpenVPN, then NordVPN is less impressive. We clocked maximum speeds of 173 Mbps, which is enough for streaming 4K content, but it’s a serious downgrade compared to NordLynx.
Privacy & Security
NordVPN's security tools are some of our favorites overall. The Threat Protection suite does a great job of blocking malicious websites and ads, for example, reducing the load time of pages you land on and even potentially improving the streaming experience. And, if you live in a country with strict internet censorship and VPN restrictions, you'll be glad to learn that the obfuscated servers can disguise your traffic as regular internet traffic, effectively bypassing bans and blocks.
NordVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, meaning your viewing habits remain private. This policy isn't just marketing, either: NordVPN has undergone multiple independent audits, most recently by Deloitte in December 2024.
During our testing, we encountered no compatibility issues with Windows Defender or other security software. NordVPN's kill switch worked flawlessly, immediately cutting the internet connection whenever the VPN dropped, preventing any potential IP leaks that could reveal your true location to the internet services you’re using.
The fastest ITVX VPN
Surfshark's prices are absolutely miniscule – but it's a totally capable VPN for ITVX, too. We had no trouble accessing the platform when connected to a Surfshark server, and other UK-based platforms worked like a charm, too. Surfshark also doesn’t cap how many simultaneous VPN connections you have, making it the perfect choice if you’ve got a household full of streaming enthusiasts who all want to watch their own content.
Surfshark just about misses out on the top spot as NordVPN is a better overall VPN, but it now outranks ExpressVPN based solely on the amount of value Surfshark brings to the table for its price.
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Streaming
We’re pretty impressed with Surfshark’s streaming capabilities. Like NordVPN, Surfshark maintains servers in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester, giving you access to low-latency local servers no matter where you are in the UK. As for actual streaming performance, Surfshark gave us access to ITVX instantly and didn’t stumble once while we performed our streaming tests. No buffering, no lag, no problem.
Surfshark currently reigns supreme at the top of our fastest VPN rankings. While testing on our 1 Gbps connection, Surfshark reached over 950 Mbps, demonstrating both seriously low bandwidth overheads and the ability to handle high-speed connections easily.
We usually see significantly lower OpenVPN speeds across even our top VPN providers, but Surfshark posted pretty impressive speeds here too, at a top average of 460 Mbps. We’d still recommend you connect with WireGuard, but whichever protocol you choose, Surfshark will be more than capable of handling 4K streams on ITVX.
Privacy & Security
Surfshark isn’t just a streaming VPN, it’s also a comprehensive security tool. Surfshark’s Nexus servers constantly change your IP address while you’re connected to the service, making it more difficult for advertising agencies to track your activity across the internet.
Nexus also powers its MultiHop feature, which lets you pick any two servers to route your connection through. It’s ideal if you want to pick a foreign server for privacy, but still want your final stop to be in the UK, so you can still watch ITVx. Like the other providers on our list, Surfshark offers an ad-blocker in CleanWeb, which also keeps you from connecting to malicious websites that host malware.
Surfshark maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your viewing habits remain private. The provider commissioned Deloitte to audit its no-logs policy, demonstrating a commitment to proving its no-logs policy is legit. It’s not quite as impressive an audit schedule as, say, ExpressVPN, but you can be confident Surfshark is keeping your data safe. The service also employs RAM-only servers, which automatically wipe all data whenever they're rebooted.
The best Linux ITVX VPN
Private Internet Access is more of an expert-level VPN, with extensive customisation options that let you tune each aspect of the VPN client to your liking. It’s not as user-friendly as NordVPN or Surfshark, as a result, meaning that we’ve ranked it slightly lower in our list, but it still delivers reliable ITVX access with plenty of UK servers to choose from.
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Streaming
Although PIA underperformed in our speed tests compared to the rest of the providers on our list, we found that the actual streaming experience was pretty much flawless. PIA provides solid streaming performance with ITVX through its extensive UK server network that includes locations in Manchester, London, and Southampton, as well as a dedicated UK streaming server in case the other servers aren’t working.
In our testing, we connected to PIA's London servers and streamed several ITVX shows in HD without significant issues. While we occasionally experienced slightly longer initial buffering times compared to NordVPN and Surfshark, once streams began, they played smoothly without interruptions.
According to our most recent speed tests, PIA’s got a long way to go before it can match Surfshark or NordVPN. We recorded top speeds of 436 Mbps using our 1 Gbps testing line with PIA’s WireGuard implementation. That’s a respectable speed that will allow you to watch 4K content, but NordVPN and Surfshark posted speeds that are nearly double that.
Things are slightly better on OpenVPN, where we recorded top speeds of 257 Mbps. That’s better than any other provider on our list, barring Surfshark, and we’re sure with extensive experimentation with PIA’s OpenVPN settings, you could push this higher.
Privacy & Security
Private Internet Access’s MACE ad-blocker keeps advertising networks off your system and protects against malware and phishing sites, too. We’ve tested it ou,t and it’s not quite as powerful as NordVPN's Threat Protection when it comes to identifying new malware sites, but we found that it’s good enough for squashing most of the major ads you’ll encounter.
What sets PIA apart from other providers is the number of customization options it offers when it comes to encryption. This allows you to balance security and speed according to your needs. For example, when streaming, you might opt to use a lighter encryption protocol with less overhead compared to when you’re using banking apps or taking a voice call.
PIA maintains a strict no-logs policy that, in addition to several third-party audits, has been proven in court multiple times. The service also employs RAM-only servers that wipe all data when rebooted, ensuring your viewing activity isn't stored. All in all, it's a superb secure VPN.
The best beginner ITVX VPN
ExpressVPN is a fantastic VPN with best-in-class customer support, but you’re going to be paying a premium for it. If you’re willing to put up with a higher subscription fee compared to Surfshark and PIA, ExpressVPN gives you access to ITVX and any other streaming service in the UK you could name. It’s among the best VPNs out there, full stop, especially if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly VPN.
ExpressVPN used to be higher on our list, and the fact that it’s dropped a few places has nothing to do with the quality of the core service, which we feel is exceptional. However, NordVPN, Surfshark, and PIA all offer much better value for money through extra features or a lower price point.
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Streaming
ExpressVPN provides excellent streaming performance with ITVX through its strategically placed UK servers. During our testing, we connected to ExpressVPN's London servers and streamed various ITVX content in high definition without buffering or quality issues. The connections established quickly, and streams loaded promptly, with no noticeable lag or interruptions.
Even if you’re streaming on a device that doesn’t support a normal VPN client, ExpressVPN can still help you get access to streaming sites like ITVX. They have a SmartDNS feature called MediaStreamer, which optimises your DNS requests when you connect to the internet, meaning that you can guarantee access to streaming sites even on older Smart TVs that only allow you to change your DNS settings.
The results from our speed tests place ExpressVPN just slightly below NordVPN and Surfshark at 898Mbps on our 1 Gbps testing line. Frankly, the speed difference isn’t enough to justify recommending one provider over the other unless you’re maxing out your connection 24/7. For streaming 4K content, ExpressVPN is more than enough.
Privacy & Security
ExpressVPN's TrustedServer technology ensures all servers run on RAM only, meaning no data is ever written to hard drives and all information is wiped with each server reboot. Their kill switch immediately halts all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops, preventing potential IP leaks.
ExpressVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy that has been independently verified multiple times. To date, ExpressVPN has commissioned 22 separate audits covering both its no-logs policy and aspects of its technical security. They’ve also invested heavily in deploying post-quantum encryption by default, ensuring that your data is protected against future threats.
Speed, simplicity, and easy streaming
CyberGhost isn’t quite as polished as the other VPNs on our list, but it’s got some interesting specialist streaming features that mean it’s still worth checking out. The other providers on our list offer more value for money or better features, meaning that CyberGhost isn’t quite as enticing as providers like NordVPN. However, CyberGhost does offer the longest money-back guarantee on our list at 45 days.
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Streaming
CyberGhost has several dedicated streaming servers designed to provide you with high-speed connections to services like ITVX. We’re pretty impressed with CyberGhost’s actual speeds, and we’ve confirmed that you can connect to ITVX through its streaming servers in the UK. Through our testing process, we’ve found that CyberGhost’s streaming servers also work with a wide range of other UK-based streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, and Channel 4.
The specialized server we used unblocked ITVX on the first attempt, though we did notice slightly longer initial buffering times compared to NordVPN and Surfshark. That said, once we had a show loaded, we didn’t notice any further buffering.
According to our most recent speed tests, CyberGhost delivered speeds comparable to NordVPN and Surfshark. On our 1 Gbps testing line, we recorded maximum speeds of 950 Mbps. You’ll easily be able to stream 4K content with these speeds, even on a mediocre broadband connection.
CyberGhost's Smart Rules streamlines your streaming experience by allowing you to automatically launch certain apps whenever you connect to a server. It made our testing much easier, as we could immediately have a browser launch with ITVX’s tab open as soon as we connected to a streaming server.
Privacy & Security
CyberGhost VPN has IP leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy, ensuring your connection to ITVX remains secure and private. The service also includes an automatic kill switch that immediately blocks all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing potential IP leaks.
CyberGhost also offers NoSpy servers. These data centers operated by CyberGhost itself are located in Romania, which has particularly strong laws preventing law enforcement from freely accessing VPN logs. These servers give you better security guarantees, but you won’t be able to stream ITVX from them.
How to choose an ITVX VPN
There’s an increasing number of VPNs to choose from and not all are capable of unblocking ITVX. The ability to unblock popular streaming services like ITVX is a priority and requires plenty of UK servers. However, there are other factors to consider when choosing a VPN.
It does little good if a VPN unblocks ITVX but has speeds that are too slow for streaming. We look for VPNs that offer fast protocols such as WireGuard and test each VPN’s server speeds. The aim is to identify those VPNs that can stream content in high resolution without interrupting streaming with performance issues.
Strong security can’t be ignored either, particularly when browsing. We want to see high-end encryption (256-bit AES or ChaCha20) as well as protection from data leaks. This ensures that even if you stream using public wifi when traveling abroad, you’ll be able to do so with peace of mind.
How we test ITVX VPNs
The VPN market moves fast as evidenced by the constantly fluctuating server speeds and server counts of VPNs. We test VPNs on a regular basis to keep up with these changes. The aim is to separate VPNs of genuine quality from the many VPNs that ultimately fall short in key areas.
Key features: We start by looking at a VPN’s key features, such as the number of servers and server locations, VPN protocols, and encryption types. This information is usually a good indicator of how a VPN will fare in other areas, be it unblocking, speed, or security.
Security and privacy: From running DNS leak tests to studying the small print of a provider’s no-logs policy, we run a battery of tests to make sure a VPN is secure and protects your privacy. A quality VPN won’t keep identifying logs and will have undergone an independent security audit to prove it.
Connection speed: Using a variety of devices over a 1Gbps connection, we measure the connection speeds of VPNs countless times. For the most accurate results, we do so multiple times a day, and at different times of day. We also put a VPN’s servers to the test by carrying out bandwidth-intensive activities such as streaming.
Unblocking ability: Not all VPNs can unblock streaming platforms which makes testing each VPN against a variety of services all the more important. We not only tried each VPN with ITVX, but also BBC iPlayer, All 4, and a host of international platforms such as Netflix.
Customer support: Although we’ve chosen VPNs that are more user-friendly, issues may still arise. We expect, at minimum, live chat and email support. Ideally, this should be available 24/7 and provide knowledgeable, relevant replies.
FAQs
Is ITVX available in the USA?
No, ITVX is only licensed to stream content within the UK. If you're accessing from a non-UK IP address, the service will block your connection. You'll need a VPN that can assign you a UK IP to access ITVX from abroad.
How to watch ITVX with a VPN
You’ll be able to watch ITVX in the UK, even with a VPN, as long as you choose the right one. Premium VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN will keep your connection secured with military-grade encryption while still allowing you to access streaming sites, so you don’t have to choose between security and convenience. All you need to do is install the VPN and connect to a UK-based server, and you’ll be up and running on ITVX.
Can I use a free VPN with ITVX?
We strongly advise against using free VPNs with ITVX. Free VPNs typically have limited server networks and restricted speeds, making them unreliable for accessing ITVX. It’s also difficult to tell whether they’re adhering to a no-logs policy, if they have one at all. Usually, if you’re not paying for a VPN with a subscription, you’re paying with access to your data.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
