NordVPN is the top pick for streaming: the NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) delivers the fastest speeds in independent tests, and at $3.09/mo on the 2-year Basic plan it costs less than half what ExpressVPN charges. ExpressVPN is worth the premium if you need servers in countries NordVPN does not cover, but for the most common streaming use cases NordVPN wins on both price and throughput.
Our Top Pick
All Options Compared
| Feature | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No free tier | No free tier | Free available |
| Paid price | $3.09 USD/mo | $6.67 USD/mo | $4.99 USD/mo |
| Protocol | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP | — |
| Servers | 5,800+ | 3,000+ | — |
| Countries | 60 | 105 | — |
| Simultaneous Connections | 6 | 8 | — |
| Kill Switch | |||
| Split Tunneling | |||
| Ad Blocker | Plus tier only | VPN Plus+ | |
| Audited No Logs | — | ||
| Torrenting | — | ||
| Streaming Optimized | — | ||
| No Logs Policy | — | — | |
| Open source | — | — | |
| Tor Over V P N | — | — | VPN Plus+ |
| Streaming Support | — | — | VPN Plus+ |
| Dedicated I P | — | — | |
| Simultaneous Devices | — | — | 1 free / 10 paid |
| Server Count | — | — | 17200+ |
| Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 |
1. NordVPN — Best Overall for Streaming
NordVPN's NordLynx protocol consistently tops third-party speed benchmarks, which matters for streaming because buffer-free 4K video demands sustained throughput rather than just low latency. The Basic plan at $3.09/mo on a 2-year commitment gives you access to all 5,800+ servers across 60 countries. That includes optimized servers for Netflix, Disney+, and other major libraries.
The 2018 server breach is the most common objection raised against NordVPN. One server in Finland was compromised via a poorly secured management interface. No user traffic was exposed because of the no-logs policy, and PricewaterhouseCoopers audited and confirmed that policy in both 2020 and 2023. It is a known incident with a known resolution, not an ongoing concern.
Six simultaneous connections cover most households. The ad blocker (Threat Protection Pro) requires bumping to the Plus tier at $4.99/mo, so if that feature matters you will pay more. For pure streaming on the Basic plan, you do not need it.
2. ExpressVPN — Best for International Libraries
ExpressVPN operates servers in 105 countries, which is the widest country coverage of any major VPN. NordVPN covers 60. If you regularly need to access content in markets outside those 60, ExpressVPN is the more capable option. It explicitly supports Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Hotstar, and the Lightway protocol keeps speeds competitive with NordLynx on long-distance routes.
The cost is the friction point. At $6.67/mo on the annual plan, you are paying more than double what NordVPN charges on its 2-year plan. There is no ad blocker at any tier, and the server count (3,000+) is lower than NordVPN's despite the broader country coverage. TrustedServer, the RAM-only server infrastructure, means every reboot wipes all data and Kape Technologies' acquisition in 2021 prompted audits that have continued to verify no-logs compliance.
For most users streaming from a handful of countries, the extra cost is hard to justify. If BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, or a regional library in a country NordVPN does not cover is the priority, ExpressVPN earns its price.
3. Proton VPN — Best for Privacy-First Users
Proton VPN's streaming support is locked behind the VPN Plus plan at $4.99/mo billed annually. The free tier covers five countries and one device with no data cap, but it does not unblock streaming platforms. At the paid tier you get 17,200+ servers across 120+ countries and access to Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
The speed trade-off is real: Proton VPN trails NordVPN and ExpressVPN in independent benchmarks, particularly on long-distance server connections. For streaming from a nearby server it is usually fine, but you will notice it on transatlantic routes. The Switzerland jurisdiction and open-source clients are the genuine differentiators here. Proton has received legal orders from Swiss authorities and demonstrated it had no user IP data to hand over. That is a verified outcome, not a marketing claim.
If your primary concern is a streaming VPN and privacy is secondary, Proton is the third choice. If you want a VPN you can actually trust at the protocol level and streaming is occasional rather than daily, it is worth considering over ExpressVPN.
How We Ranked These
Speed and streaming reliability were the primary criteria: a VPN that drops connections or buffers through HD content fails the core use case. Price-per-month on a realistic billing cycle came second, which is why NordVPN's 2-year rate anchors the comparison rather than its expensive monthly plan. Country coverage was the tiebreaker, reflecting how many streaming libraries each VPN can actually unlock.