March 4, 2022
Best Student Streaming App Deals & Why You Should Use a VPN
I’m not afraid to admit that binge-watching TV shows and movies is one of my favorite pastimes. I [...]
WHAT’S IN THIS REVIEW?
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Premium VPNs are commonly used to protect users’ online privacy, but did you know they can also help you save money on streaming services? The average household subscribes to 4 streaming services. So, the costs of subscribing to multiple can quickly add up close to a basic cable TV plan. Using a VPN for streaming can unlock a bountiful amount of TV shows and movies—helping you save money and access more content available across the world.
If you live in the US and subscribe to Netflix, you only have access to the Netflix US library. And the same goes when one subscribes to Netflix UK, Netflix Canada, and so on. This is all due to licensing agreements and geo-restrictions, which block users from getting more bang for their buck. A VPN can help unblock Netflix and bypass geo-restrictions, providing access to other streaming libraries available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, etc.
NOTE: Streaming services use IP inspection software to identify IP addresses. Use a streaming VPN to properly bypass geo-restrictions and prevent your streaming service from blocking you.
How to Save Money on Streaming Services
Streaming services restrict their content based on where TV shows and movies originate. A premium VPN allows you to connect to servers from different countries so you can access more content with one subscription.
Since VPNs hide your actual location by encrypting your IP address, you will be able to connect to your favorite streaming services from almost any country you desire.
1
Check the cost of streaming subscriptions in your country.
This is important to understand the base cost of what you would be spending on streaming in your country.
2
Sign up with a premium VPN.
We highly recommend choosing a premium VPN for streaming—like NordVPN, CyberGhost, or Surfshark— because many free VPNs providers are blocked by popular streaming services.
3
Download the VPN app and sign in to your account.
Take your device and download the VPN app compatible with it. Open your account and navigate to your VPN’s server network.
4
Connect to VPN servers outside of your country and shop around.
For this step, let’s take Netflix as an example. Use this Netflix World Library Guide to see what servers you can connect to and shop around for cheaper subscriptions. You’ll see there are dozens of countries Netflix is available in and their library sizes. Use your VPN to connect to a variety of servers in countries like Argentina, Brazil, India, or Mexico and compare their Netflix prices to find the cheapest option. Keep in mind that you may have to clear your browser cache and cookies to prevent any sort of location tracking and successfully view subscription prices outside of your country.
5
Purchase a cheaper subscription and save money.
Once you find the best streaming plan to subscribe to, purchase it and you’re ready to stream and save more money. You may need a payment method registered in your country of choice, but we found you can use a gift card code to purchase.
Other Ways to Cut Your Streaming Costs
With the saturated market continuously hyping up new releases, it’s easy to pull out your credit card and sign up for streaming services. It only takes a handful of clicks and you’re ready to stream endlessly from popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Paramount +, HBONow, Apple TV +, and Disney+. No wonder more and more people have opted out of cable plans as entertainment.
Yes, a VPN can be the answer to cutting down your streaming costs. But there are also other ways you can save money if you’re not ready to sign up with a VPN.
Sign up for freemium or basic subscriptions
Compared to premium streaming subscriptions, freemium and basic plans come at no cost or can save you a significant amount of dollars over time. Yes, they typically come with non-skippable ads and non-HD streaming. But for the sake of saving extra money, opting in for commercial breaks and lower resolution while binge-watching your favorite shows is well worth it.
Cancel subscriptions you sporadically use
If you’ve watched everything you wanted on your streaming services, then there’s no reason to continue paying for them. Cancel or pause subscriptions you’re not using on the regular. You can even plan your sessions of binge-watching and resubscribe or reactivate when the entirety of new seasons are released for your favorite shows.
Bundle up
Many entertainment networks want a piece of the pie, so bundling multiple streaming libraries is becoming more common. For example, Disney+ offers a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+—giving you a wide variety of entertainment for everyone in one household. Hulu even offers up multiple premium add-ons like HBO Max, SHOWTIME, Cinemax, and STARZ.
Phone carriers are jumping on this trend too and offering free or discounted streaming bundles. To name a couple, AT&T offers Unlimited Elite users an HBO Max subscription and T-Mobile Magenta users get Netflix, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ at no extra cost.
Share with family & friends
Some streaming services have rules against password sharing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some compromise with your family and friends. Propose you pay for Netflix (Premium) and your parents pay for a Hulu (No Ads) & ESPN+ bundle. At the time this piece is written, these two plans come out at a similar monthly cost.
FAQs
1. What are the best VPNs for streaming?
There are hundreds of VPNs to choose from, so we narrowed your choices down to the best VPNs for streaming. You can rely on each of these providers to enhance your streaming experience with an extensive server network, zero location tracking, and optimal connection speeds.
2. Is it legal to stream with a VPN?
It’s true, there are countries that ban VPNs. With that said, it’s completely legal to use a VPN when streaming and connected to the internet for most. Be sure to do your research before signing up with a streaming service and VPN. Read each of their terms and conditions to understand how they work when paired together, so you can access content with no worries.
3. Can a streaming service ban my account for using a VPN?
While some streaming services will attempt to block your connection when you use a VPN to stream, it’s highly unlikely that your account will be banned for it. Contrary to popular belief, platforms like Netflix don’t ban VPN usage because they’re greedy. They do this because oftentimes they don’t have the rights to air certain content in many countries.
Key Takeaways
Downloading a VPN is a sure-fire way to access a more extensive content library at lower costs and higher speeds. Instead of downloading multiple streaming services, you can download one with a VPN to view more content for less than half the cost. All you need to do is choose the best VPN for streaming for your needs to access your favorite content from around the world.
