How to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain: stream your favorite shows in 2024

BBC iPlayer is a widely used British streaming service where you can watch your favorite shows, such as Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing. However, if you’re a fan of British TV shows and you want to stream BBC iPlayer in Spain, you might encounter some difficulties. BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to viewers in the UK only due to some international rights agreements.

If you want to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain, you can bypass geo-restrictions by using a reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network). Connecting to a VPN server in the UK will mask your IP address and keep your online activity private when streaming content online. This way, you will trick BBC iPlayer into thinking that you’re physically located in the UK, making it possible to watch your favorite shows.

In this article, I will guide you through the steps on how to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain so you won’t miss out on your favorite shows. Read on and find the best VPN to stream BBC iPlayer in Spain fast and hassle-free.

Top 5 best VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain

1. NordVPN

   The best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   VPN for BBC iPlayer in Spain with unlimited connections
   9.5
3. PrivateVPN

   Budget-friendly VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in Spain
   8.7
4. Proton VPN

   Freemium VPN for BBC iPlayer in Spain
   8.6
5. CyberGhost VPN

   Easy-to-use BBC iPlayer VPN
   8.9

Why do I need a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain?

BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK, so if you’re traveling in Spain, you will not be able to view your favorite content. BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to viewers in the UK only due to international rights agreements. You will receive an error message if BBC iPlayer detects you being outside of the UK.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) will help you access BBC iPlayer outside of the UK by masking your IP address. This way, BBC iPlayer will recognize your IP address as a UK one and allow access to BBC iPlayer’s content without any further issues.

Best VPN for BBC iPlayer in Spain: overview

1. NordVPN – the top VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain
2. Surfshark – fast BBC iPlayer VPN with limitless connections
3. PrivateVPN – affordable and secure VPN for BBC iPlayer in Spain
4. Proton VPN – freemium VPN for BBC iPlayer in Spain
5. CyberGhost – beginner-friendly BBC iPlayer VPN

To watch BBC iPlayer in Spain, you need a reliable VPN, as it is only available in the UK. Since there are many VPN services, it is important to choose wisely. I tested 25 VPN providers

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in Spain

NordVPN is the best BBC iPlayer VPN as it has 440+ UK servers to bypass geo-restrictions. There are also many security-focused features to keep your online activity private at all times.

NordVPN has 6900+ servers in 113+ countries, as well as specialty servers like Double VPN, P2P servers, and Dedicated IP, so you can find the best fit for you. I didn’t experience any connection issues, and it provided fast speeds thanks to the fast NordLynx protocol which enhanced my streaming experience. Apart from unlocking BBC iPlayer, I was able to access other UK streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ hassle-free.

NordVPN uses robust AES-256 encryption and has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring privacy at all times. NordVPN is easy to install and has a user-friendly interface that you can use on all major operating systems, smart TVs, and routers. You can connect up to 10 devices at once and enjoy BBC iPlayer while in Spain.

NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re ready to try it out, you can subscribe for $2.99/month.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – fast and affordable VPN for BBC iPlayer

Surfshark is a strong BBC iPlayer VPN with 200+ UK servers in 4 locations. It’s an affordable option with a wide selection of streaming features.

Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100 countries, including Dedicated IP, Static IP, and Multi-Hop servers that will definitely bypass BBC iPlayer geo-restrictions in Spain. With the fastest WireGuard protocol, I had no BBC buffering or slow speed issues, and I was able to watch content in high definition. Netflix UK and Amazon Prime Video UK worked with Surfshark as well.

Surfshark is a security-focused VPN that uses strong AES-256 encryption, has a trustworthy no-logs policy, and offers many additional features. You can stream BBC iPlayer on an unlimited number of devices, including desktop and mobile devices, smart TVs, and routers. Additionally, there’s a Smart DNS feature that will enhance your streaming experience on smart TVs.

A Surfshark subscription costs $2.19/month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to try it out first, Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on Android and iOS devices.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

3. PrivateVPN – secure VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain

PrivateVPN has reliable UK servers in London and Manchester, so you’ll be able to access BBC iPlayer in Spain. You will be able to stream content in total privacy as PrivateVPN is an easy-to-use but secure VPN.

PrivateVPN offers 200+ servers in 63 countries as well as reliable P2P servers, so you can use the VPN for various use cases. Additionally, PrivateVPN has the fast WireGuard protocol and HQN (High-Quality Network), which ensure a fast VPN connection. I had no issues accessing BBC iPlayer and other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and my speed stayed smooth the whole time.

Even though there are not many additional features, PrivateVPN is a no-logs VPN that uses AES-256 encryption for total security. It’s easy to install, and you can use it on up to 10 devices simultaneously, including all major operating systems, Linux, smart TVs, and routers.

Get PrivateVPN subscription for as little as $2.00/month and test it out. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

For a deeper investigation of PrivateVPN, read our PrivateVPN review.

4. Proton VPN - BBC iPlayer VPN with a free version

Proton VPN is the best option if you’re looking for a free VPN to stream BBC iPlayer in Spain. Proton has 36 UK servers in London and Manchester, so you will be able to stream your favorite shows while traveling in Spain.

Proton VPN offers 9200+ high-speed servers in 110 countries. It also has 110+ Secure Core servers that route traffic through privacy-focused servers for an extra layer of security. With Proton VPN’s high-speed servers and the WireGuard protocol, I was able to stream BBC iPlayer without any speed loss and watch UK content on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Proton VPN is a secure VPN that uses open-source AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption. Your online activity will stay private, as Proton VPN also has a strict no-logs policy. Proton VPN is very user-friendly. I pressed the “Quick connect” button, and I was ready to browse BBC iPlayer. You can use your subscription on up to 10 devices on all major operating systems, Linux, and smart TVs.

If you’re interested in a paid subscription, you can get it for $3.59/month. All paid subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For a deeper investigation of Proton VPN, read our Proton VPN review.

5. Cyberghost - user-friendly VPN to get BBC iPlayer from Spain

CyberGhost is an easy-to-use VPN for beginners with UK servers in 3 locations. Even if this is your first time using a VPN, you will have no issues accessing BBC iPlayer in Spain.

CyberGhost has 11700+ servers in 100 countries, including Dedicated IP and streaming-optimized servers which is an advantage for unblocking BBC iPlayer outside of the UK. Since it has the fast WireGuard protocol and 10 Gbps servers, I was able to stream BBC iPlayer in HD without any noticeable speed loss. Due to the previously mentioned streaming-optimized servers, I also accessed Channel 4, Sky, and Netflix UK without any issues.

CyberGhost uses all the necessary security measures by using AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption. As well as that, it has a strict no-logs policy and undergoes third-party audits. The installation process was very easy for me, and the interface was user-friendly, so you shouldn’t have any issues with it. You can use CyberGhost on all major operating systems, Linux, and smart TVs. Also, you can watch BBC iPlayer on 7 devices simultaneously with CyberGhost.

To test it out, you can get a subscription for $2.19/month. CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, so there’s nothing to lose.

For a deeper investigation of CyberGhost VPN, read our CyberGhost VPN review.

Best VPNs for BBC iPlayer compared

How I tested the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer in Spain

To find the best VPNs for streaming BBC iPlayer in Spain, I tested 25 VPN providers. It might be challenging to find the best fit, so I focused on a few main criteria that would enhance your BBC iPlayer streaming experience:

• UK servers. A VPN with plenty of UK servers is a must for streaming BBC iPlayer abroad. That’s why I only included VPNs that had UK servers in different locations.
• Speed. No one wants buffering or slow speed issues while watching content, so I only picked VPNs that had high-speed servers and the fast WireGuard protocol.
• Streaming Capabilities. If you’re interested in a VPN for streaming purposes, you should be able to stream other content as well. In this case, I chose VPNs that also unlocked other services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ UK.
• Security & Privacy. Security and privacy are the most important criteria, even if you’re looking for a streaming VPN only. Because of this, I ranked all the VPNs in terms of their encryption and user data logging policies.
• Compatibility. A good VPN should be able to secure different operating systems so that you can use it on all your devices. I included VPNs that are supported on various gadgets.

Can I use a free VPN to watch BBC iPlayer from Spain?

I wouldn’t recommend using a free VPN to watch BBC iPlayer from Spain. Even though some free VPNs provide UK servers, it is not guaranteed that it will be enough to bypass geo-restrictions. Additionally, using a free VPN might not be safe as it poses some security risks. Usually, free VPNs lack adequate encryption and are not transparent regarding their logging policies, meaning that your personal data might be exposed. I would recommend using NordVPN free trial as it’s a secure and reliable VPN that will keep your online activity private and bypass geo-restrictions on BBC iPlayer. Additionally, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Try NordVPN risk-free

Conclusion

BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular British streaming platforms. However, it is almost impossible to access it if you’re traveling outside of the UK. Using a VPN can easily solve the issue as it will change your IP address. There are many VPN providers available, but to stream BBC iPlayer in Spain, it is important to choose one that has an extensive list of UK servers and will guarantee you fast speed and privacy. Additionally, I would avoid using a free VPN as it comes with some security risks. Taking this into account, I recommend trying NordVPN as it proved to successfully bypass BBC iPlayer’s geo-restrictions, offered great speeds, and had a robust security toolkit.

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You may also like to read:
How to watch BBC iPlayer from anywhere in 2024
BBC iPlayer not working with a VPN? Here’s how to fix it
Best VPN for BBC iPlayer in 2024
How to watch UK TV online outside of the UK in 2024
Best VPN for Sky Go: how to watch Sky Go from abroad in 2024

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FAQ

Can I watch BBC iPlayer in Spain?

Yes, you can watch BBC iPlayer in Spain. Although BBC iPlayer has geo-restrictions, using a VPN with UK servers can easily solve this problem. A VPN will change your IP address to a UK one, and you will be able to enjoy shows on BBC iPlayer while in Spain.

How to play BBC iPlayer outside the UK?

To play BBC iPlayer outside the UK, you only need to connect to a VPN server in the UK. Once you’re connected, your IP address will be changed, and BBC iPlayer will think that you’re in the UK, bypassing geo-restrictions.

What is the best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer abroad?

The best VPN for watching BBC iPlayer abroad is NordVPN. It has a variety of fast UK servers that help maintain high-quality streaming. In addition, NordVPN is the top VPN because it’s a user-friendly service with many security and streaming-focused features.

Does BBC iPlayer work in Spain?

No, BBC iPlayer does not work in Spain as it is only available in the UK. However, if you’re located in Spain, using a VPN provider can help to access content on BBC iPlayer bypassing the geo-restrictions.

Why can’t I watch BBC iPlayer in Spain?

You can’t watch BBC iPlayer in Spain because it's only available in the UK due to geo-restrictions. If you’re located outside the UK, you can use a reliable streaming VPN to change your location and enjoy your favorite shows on BBC iPlayer while in Spain.