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YouTube TV allows access to dozens of high-quality channels from the USA. However, many users rely on the best VPN for YouTube TV because of its geo-restrictions. The first example is the variety of channels you get, which depends on your city and state.
Another example is YouTube TV’s region-locked status, which means the platform works only in the USA. Even if you’re a US resident and have a subscription to it, once you venture abroad, you’ll find the platform completely inaccessible. What a joke! How can a VPN help?
Well, VPNs can change your online location and let you appear as if you’re somewhere else. By manipulating your location, you can also change your YouTube TV region and access more channels and content. In the same fashion, you can unblock it overseas.
If you’re in Europe and you snatch a US IP with a VPN, the service will work flawlessly! Be aware that VERY few providers will work reliably. Our team tested dozens and as you’ll see, only three made the cut as the most reliable and amazing VPNs for YouTube TV.
Best VPN for YouTube TV in 2024
As you can guess, this list will contain three premium picks. We noticed that they’re far more reliable, on top of which, they have multiple US-based VPN locations. For this scenario, you need ample American servers, great speeds, and unblocking prowess, all of which can be found in our recommended picks.
1. NordVPN
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Pros
Fast US servers for streaming
Unlimited bandwidth in all plans
Impeccable 256-bit encryption
Smart DNS support
P2P servers for torrenting anonymously
Double VPN connections
Cons
Not all servers work with YouTube TV
Monthly plans aren’t discounted
Visit NordVPN
Having tested this VPN for YouTube TV many times, we noticed just how reliable it is. For one, the service has no bandwidth limits, and two, it offers over 1,900 servers in many American states. We used it to change our YouTube TV location in seconds and access more content promptly.
However, keep in mind that not all servers will work, and in our tests, we could unblock the platform using these:
Los Angeles: #9283, #9284, #9431, #9433
Dallas: #8133, #8134, #9898, #9899
Phoenix: #8709, #8710, #9555, #9556
Charlotte: #8496, #8497, #10029, #10030
Miami: #9104, #9105, #9372, #9373
At the time of writing, these servers work perfectly and offer access to many US TV channels with movies, series, and sports. If you encounter issues with NordVPN, it’s good to know you can always contact its support and in one minute, get advice on which server to use to change your YouTube TV location or access it outside the USA.
Other than that, NordVPN is pretty awesome in other aspects. We’d like to mention its ability to unblock Netflix, fully-optimized P2P servers, and even support for Onion Over VPN connections. NordVPN’s apps also have Double VPN servers to enhance your encryption.
This is coupled with nifty little features like a kill switch, IPv6 leak prevention, and Threat Protection to block ads, trackers, and malware. NordVPN keeps zero logs of your digital footprints, making it ideal to stay safe and avoid ISP monitoring in the USA or abroad.
Simultaneously, this is the fastest VPN for YouTube TV with speeds that go over 300 Mbps with its NordLynx protocol. The provider has applications for all devices, and with 10 simultaneous connections, you can access YouTube TV even on your iPhone or Android device. Try it risk-free and snag a juicy discount on any of its 2-year deals.
2. ExpressVPN
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Pros
Intuitive applications on all devices
Servers in more than 22 US locations
Kill Switch protects against data leaks
Servers based on RAM
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
It’s on the pricier side
No malware protection
Visit ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN ended up in the second place on our list. After testing it, we found that it works fairly reliably with YouTube TV, letting us change your location no matter which US server we use. You could say it’s a bit easier to use than NordVPN but the downside is a higher cost.
In fact, its cheapest deal is roughly 2 times more expensive per month than NordVPN, despite the 49% discount and 3 free months. If you don’t mind that, you’ll be getting a fast YouTube TV VPN with servers in 22+ states, no bandwidth limits, and a fast Lightway protocol.
Another perk is ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS. It’s also called MediaStreamer. You can use it to watch YouTube TV or unblock Netflix on any platform. The VPN is very reliable for streaming overall and doesn’t need any “special” servers for that. Security-wise, ExpressVPN is excellent.
Features like the Network Lock kill switch, split tunneling, and RAM-only servers are there. With over 18 security audits, ExpressVPN is one of the key figures in the VPN world. Its no-log policy is impeccable and the company doesn’t keep tabs on your browsing history.
ExpressVPN’s ease of use is surely among the best on the market. Its apps are intuitive and allow access to FOX TV, MTV, TBD, My9, and other channels on YouTube TV. You’ll find its 8 simultaneous connections likely enough if you don’t have a heap of devices you use daily.
While it lacks Double VPN support from NordVPN and is slightly slower, we think it’s reliable enough for this cause. Besides, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee to try it risk-free and see how it pans out. If it’s expensive or insufficiently good for you, NordVPN is there.
3. Private Internet Access
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Pros
The cheapest VPN that works with YouTube TV
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Servers in all American states
No-logging policy
OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols
Cons
It doesn’t work natively on Firestick
Not as fast as NordVPN or ExpressVPN
A bit janky Windows app
Visit Private Internet Access
We respect Private Internet Access because it’s modest but only in terms of pricing. This VPN for YouTube TV costs just around $2.2 monthly for its 2-year plan with FOUR free months. However, this price brings you servers in ALL American states, making it pretty much ideal to unblock YouTube TV content or access it overseas.
Its speeds are slower than NordVPN but hey, you can’t complain about 200+ Mbps speeds either. As indicated by our tests, Private Internet Access works well for this scenario, and because of thousands of US servers, you can experiment and see what suits you best.
Streaming is PIA’s key benefit, thanks to uncapped bandwidth and things like an ad blocker (MACE) and Smart DNS. But if you want more from it, you’ll be interested in its security. It’s top-level. Users can connect using WireGuard and have both speeds AND safety.
What about logging? Well, despite being in the USA, PIA’s logging practices are minimal and have been proven in court a dozen times. It’s clear as day that PIA keeps your activities private, ensuring that watching YouTube TV with a VPN is pure joy. The best thing about PIA is its lack of simultaneous connections cap.
In other words, you can protect unlimited devices with one account. This is perfect if you have a family who watches YouTube TV daily because each member can use the location he/she wants and unblock specific channels. Be mindful of its lack of a Firestick app, though.
For that benefit, you’ll have to use NordVPN instead. Overall, Private Internet Access is a great pick to bypass YouTube TV location and unblock more content. Don’t forget about its 7-day free trial as well, which allows you to test it risk-free and not pay a single dollar.
How to Change Location on YouTube TV?
Now that you have three excellent VPNs to latch onto, let’s see how to use them to change your YouTube TV location. As explained, the platform displays different content based on your state, and if you’re abroad, it’s inaccessible, as seen in the screenshot below:
© YouTube TV
The only thing you can do at this point is get a VPN, connect to a US server, and unblock it. If you’re unsure how to do it, we’ll guide you through the steps.
Setting Up a VPN (Recommended: NordVPN)
First, we have to set up a VPN. The button below lets you directly subscribe to NordVPN, the #1-rated option on our list. You can use it to claim a large discount and pay for it roughly $3.5 a month. After you pick the plan on its site, be sure to enter your email and pay using one of many payment methods.
Subscribe to NordVPN
From here, follow the steps from NordVPN to complete the subscription process. By this point, you’ll have your password created, which you can use, along with your email, to sign in to the app. Remember that you can download NordVPN from its site on ANY device.
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We opted for its Windows app for convenience but you can use any (perhaps a macOS VPN app instead). Either way, once the app opens, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server based on the YouTube location you want to get. Go back and see which servers work above.
If you don’t know how to search for a specific server, do this by clicking on “More Connection Options” first. Then, use the search bar to type in the name of the country plus “#” and then the server number. Here’s an example:
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Once you find the desired server, click or tap once on it and you’ll be connected promptly.
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Changing Location on YouTube TV
We used a server in Los Angeles but you can pick any other that works well. Now, all that’s left to do is go to YouTube TV and sign in or sign up. If you already have an account, it’s easy to sign in and watch anything you want. If not, you can sign up or use its free trial.
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Additionally, there’s a 20-minute preview if a free trial isn’t an option for you. Remember that, when signing up, YouTube TV might first ask you for your location and you’ll need a ZIP code. If this happens, get a random ZIP code online from the area you’re using in a VPN.
For example, we’re using Los Angeles, so we’d have to use a ZIP code from this area. After that, you can go ahead, purchase the subscription, and enjoy watching NFL live streams, shows, entertainment programs, movies, and anything else.
YouTube TV VPN Proxy Detected: What to Do?
Unlike “casual” TV channels, this platform is capable of detecting VPNs in the same fashion as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others. If you get the “VPN proxy detected” error, chances are you’re detected using a VPN or proxy. You don’t have to be desperate in this case because the problem is usually solved in a few steps – here they are:
Using another server. This is the most persistent issue by far. The platform can efficiently detect VPNs and blacklist their IPs. It’s crucial to pick the right server and try as many times as you can to access YouTube TV. NordVPN has specific servers that work and can be used reliably. Try these servers and you’ll likely have no issues.
Check for IP leaks. Is your provider leaking your IP address? Check for leaks using any tool you can find online. It’s simple and doesn’t require a load of effort. If you find leaks, consider another server, a different protocol, or enabling IP leak protection.
Delete your browser data. By this, we think of browser cache and cookies. They contain information about your original location, which can be divulged to YouTube TV and conflict with the IP from a VPN, which is another country. Clear them up, restart your browser, connect to a server, and try again.
Contact customer support. This is a crucial step if you can’t make it work. We contacted NordVPN and asked which servers work with this platform. They gave us a detailed list and solved our problem. NordVPN’s support responds in a minute, so you’ll have no trouble accessing YouTube TV with a VPN if you opt for this provider.
Can You Use YouTube TV in Different Locations?
You can. However, all viable locations are within the United States. You’ll notice that the platform works in all of them but at the cost of different content. In theory, you get access to over 130 channels in your subscription. However, their availability is determined by your location.
We noticed that even when changing VPN locations and trying to use this platform. Some regions will broadcast, let’s say, out-of-market NFL matches, while other locations will be met with an error message when trying to view them. If you’re abroad, the service won’t work, as indicated in one of the previous sections.
At the time of writing, it works exclusively in the USA and we don’t know if it’s going to spread its tentacles worldwide. Europeans, Asians, Africans, Canadians, and Australians must use a reputable VPN for YouTube and connect to a US server to access the service.
Do Free VPNs Work With YouTube TV?
Unfortunately for many, free providers aren’t the way to go. During our testing procedure, we also reviewed free providers and saw just how unreliable they were. For example, when using US servers, YouTube TV would still give us that “VPN proxy detected” error multiple times.
Even after wiping browser data and performing all kinds of trickery, we couldn’t make them work. This is enough to not bother with free providers and immediately opt for premium options. However, if you’re too stubborn and want to give them a shot, think about a few more things.
Free providers are way slower and more unstable, so the experience will be poor. In addition, most of them are limited in bandwidth, so even if you make them work, streaming won’t last for more than a few hours. Security and privacy are also questionable in free VPNs.
Most of them lack premium security features like obfuscation and MultiHop. Providers like Hola and Betternet even store logs and sell them to data brokers to make a profit. We won’t be dogmatic and spit on free providers because some of them are pretty great.
But if you want a proper VPN to change your YouTube TV region, they simply won’t cut it. Go ahead. Try a few of them and see what we’re talking about. If you find them insufficient – and you will – you can always test our top 3 providers for free and see the difference.
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How to Change Playback Area on YouTube TV?
The playback area is used to determine your current location, while the home area is your living location. If you’ve moved to another state or city, you can update your playback area to get personalized content based on the location you’re in. To do this:
Sign in to your account.
Click on the Profile icon.
Click on “Location.”
Under “Area“, you’ll find “Current Playback Area” with your location. Click “Update.”
Press “Update Location” if prompted and you’ll be able to do so through your phone.
You’ll be transferred to your phone where you’ll need to allow the site to discover your location.
© YouTube TV
Once this is done, your playback area will be changed. You can also do this with a VPN. Connect to a server somewhere else (on your phone) and then go through the steps we presented. In this case, the site will detect the VPN’s location and change your playback area to it.
How Much Is YouTube TV?
This is one of the most expensive streaming services in the USA, along with fuboTV and Hulu + Live TV. The current promotion is great because you get a 5-day free trial where you can test the service fully and not be charged right away. If you decide to get it, you’ll pay $64.99 a month for the base plan for 4 months.
The plan contains 137 channels, sharing with up to 5 family members, unlimited DVR, and watching up to 4 games at once with a multiview feature. When 4 months expire, the platform will charge you $72.99 a month. That’s roughly $875 a year – quite an investment.
Conclusion
You know how to bypass YouTube TV locations using our preferred VPN services. We think that’s all you need to navigate the platform’s geo-restrictions and squeeze the most out of it. With our trick, you can also access the streaming service in another country, which Americans on vacation will especially appreciate.
The key is to connect to a VPN server in the USA, sign in to YouTube TV, and watch anything you want. Bear in mind that different locations come with different content, so experiment a bit and find the region that benefits you the most. NordVPN‘s 1,900+ servers in the USA are extraordinary but other picks, like ExpressVPN and PIA, are no less awesome.
Go ahead and test our workaround to bypass the YouTube TV location. It’s super easy!