These days, many television lovers schedule their lives around their favourite series, with the premiere of a new batch of episodes being a significant event. Major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney+ have already revealed their impressive summer line-ups, filled with both new and returning shows.
June saw the return of popular series such as Clarkson’s Farm, The Bear and Squid Game, with more on the way including Dexter: Resurrection (Paramount+, July 11) and Alien: Earth (Disney+, August 13). However, while everyone enjoys a summer getaway, travelling to exotic locations often means having to wait to catch up on the latest episodes until returning.
This is due to some content on streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ only being accessible in the UK. However, there is a way to watch from abroad using a VPN, ensuring Brits don’t miss out on the latest TV series when they travel this summer, reports The Mirror.
Please note that streaming platforms may consider the use of a VPN to watch content from another territory as a violation of its terms of service and potentially copyright infringement. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure the use of a VPN is legal and the Express does not endorse any illegal use of a VPN.
Brits planning a holiday abroad this summer can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access websites and services typically only available in the UK. This enables users to stream platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ from overseas just as they would at home.
A VPN operates by altering a device’s IP address – the unique identifier of an internet-connected device – to any location globally. There are numerous VPN providers available, with Surfshark being a top pick that offers more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries including the US, Australia, Europe and Asia.
Surfshark is compatible with devices operating on Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, and FireTV. The company is currently offering its services at a discounted rate of £1.49 per month for its 24-month Surfshark Starter plan, which now includes an additional three months at the reduced rate.
This package costs a total of £40.23 over the 27-month term, a hefty 88% saving compared to the usual £331.83. With this, users receive a secure VPN that allows them to watch their favourite shows from outside the UK, with ad and cookie pop-up blockers, a constantly changing IP address and the ability to use Surfshark on unlimited devices simultaneously.
There’s also round-the-clock customer support via live chat or email and a 30-day money back guarantee. However, Surfshark members on the Starter plan won’t receive antivirus protection, a feature included in the £1.89 Surfshark One plan.
This package boasts a suite of security features, including 27 months of VPN, antivirus, alert, search, and alternative ID services. It mirrors the Surfshark Starter benefits but also scans for viruses and malware in real-time, blocks ad companies and bots from tracking online activity, and sends alerts if an email address is compromised.
NordVPN competes with Surfshark, offering over twice as many servers, but it comes at a higher price of £2.69 per month for its Basic plan. Elsewhere, ExpressVPN is touted as more user-friendly than its competitors, yet it carries a heftier price tag of £4.04 on its 24-month plan.
Tech writer Chris Hall conducted a comparison of Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN, concluding that Surfshark delivers ‘great value for money’. He said: “Surfshark offers great value for money and that’s one of the big attractions.
“It’s actually owned by the people behind NordVPN, but this is their budget offering – not that the features are lacking. There are apps for a wide range of devices, but Surfshark doesn’t put a limit on the number of devices on the same contract, so you can sign-in across all your devices, making sure your whole family is protected.”
However, Chris also noted a potential drawback, saying: “Surfshark has fewer servers than some of its rivals and can sometimes be a little slower, but unless you’re moving huge amounts of data around, that’s unlikely to be a problem.”
Surfshark has also garnered a 4.5-star average rating on Trustpilot, with numerous users praising its customer support. One satisfied user said: “So nice to talk to a human when tech issues arise.”
Another said: “I’m really happy with how easy it is to use on the app and TV, and also for how reliable the service is.”
However, a mixed review highlighted some concerns, saying: “It has trouble connecting on my iPhone 12. Ok on iPad but seems to slow everything down.”
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