Best VPN for BT broadband in 2025: Bypass throttling

BT is one of the biggest broadband providers but it can see what you do online. A VPN for BT Broadband will provide you with some additional privacy so that you can browse in peace.

BT broadband, like other UK internet service providers, is legally required to retain records of users’ browsing data if asked to do so. If you don’t like the sound of that – and you shouldn’t – we recommend using a VPN. The best VPN for BT broadband will not only hide your internet activity but also open up new avenues for online exploration.

A virtual private network (VPN) lets you connect to an intermediary server in the VPN provider’s network. This not only encrypts your internet traffic before entering the internet proper, but also spoofs your IP address to that of the chosen server. For example, if you connect to a server in the UK, your device will automatically assign a UK IP address. This gives you access to online services in the UK that would be otherwise restricted.  

We’ll explore why some VPN providers are better than others for BT broadband in more detail later. For now, here’s a summary of our top choices.  

Best VPNs for BT broadband:

1. NordVPN: Our top choice for BT broadband. Has 440+ RAM-only servers in the UK for the fastest BT broadband speeds. Works with all major streaming platforms and works in China. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for BT broadband. Subscriptions include unlimited device connections, access to static IP addresses, and a GUI for Linux users. Has 440+ RAM-only servers in the UK and thousands more worldwide. 
3. ExpressVPN: Secure service with plenty of speedy servers in the UK and 104+ other countries. Provides straightforward access to streaming platforms and has an app for routers. Users can sign up via a dedicated Onion site.
4. Proton VPN: Trusted provider with 733+ servers in the UK for the fastest BT broadband connections. Works great for both torrenting and streaming. Allows port forwarding and provides direct access to the Tor network.
5. IVPN: Resolutely transparent provider with open-source apps and robust security. Has four servers in the UK for fast connections using BT broadband. Provides access to MultiHop servers and allows port forwarding.
6. Mullvad VPN: Has 37+ servers in the UK for optimal BT broadband connections. Its Linux app has a full GUI, and subscribers have access to MultiHop servers and the Shadowsocks proxy. Mullvad VPN has an audited zero-logs policy.
7. IPVanish: Allows you to connect an unlimited number of simultaneous devices. 2,400+ servers in 140+ locations, including the UK. Strong security features, along with a 24/7 live chat service for any issues that may arise.

Summary Table

Trying to choose between the hundreds of available VPNs is never easy, which is why we use a specific list of criteria to compare the most promising candidates. These are summarized below and expanded upon later in the article.

• Servers in the UK
• Fast connection speeds
• Strong privacy and security features
• Ability to access streaming services
• Good value for money
• User-friendly apps
• Helpful customer support

To be included among our top three providers, we also require that VPNs have a RAM-only server network, independently audited software and infrastructure, effective obfuscation, and a location beyond the reach of cross-border spying alliances.

Best VPNs to use with BT broadband 

Now let’s take a more detailed look at the best VPNs for BT Broadband:

NordVPN is one of the UK’s most popular VPNs, with excellent access to a range of streaming services and plenty of security features to fend off would-be snoops. 

It has 440+ RAM-only servers in the UK and 8,200+ more in 126+ countries worldwide as part of a huge network. Speeds are fast enough to match those provided by BT broadband packages, delivering lag-free gaming and bufferless streaming. 

The provider works consistently well with the likes of Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Its SmartPlay feature helps devices like smart TVs and games consoles bypass geo-restrictions through DNS proxies.

Other features include an in-house connection protocol – NordLynx – that uses a double NAT system to prevent users’ true IP addresses from being stored. NordVPN offers servers optimized for easy access to the Tor network, as well as Double VPN servers that change users’ IP addresses twice for enhanced encryption. 

Apps are well-designed and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. They include a kill switch, split-tunneling, 256-bit encryption, built-in leak-protection, and an automatic ad, tracker, and malware-blocker. NordVPN’s obfuscation enables users to establish connections in restrictive countries, such as China.

Most VPNs rent the servers in their networks, but NordVPN is in the process of buying all of its servers outright and housing them in purpose-built data centers. This was prompted by an attack on a third-party data center in Finland in 2018. 

The company adheres to a no-logs policy that’s been independently verified by third-party audits of its software and infrastructure. You can connect up to 10 devices at once.

BEST VPN FOR BT BROADBAND: NordVPN is our top recommendation. It works well with all major streaming services and combines fast connection speeds with strong online security and effective obfuscation. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.  

Read our full NordVPN review.

Surfshark is rich in features but relatively low in price – a combination that has won many subscribers. 

The company has 440+ RAM-only servers in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Manchester – all of which provide speedy connections for BT broadband users. 3,200+ servers are also available in 99+ other countries, ranging from Armenia to Vietnam. 

Features include unlimited device connections, automatic connection for P2P clients, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker. Surfshark’s Nexus technology allows users to specify the entry and exit servers in MultiHop connections, as well as rotating their IP addresses in-session for additional privacy.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. These come with built-in leak protection, a full GUI, and 256-bit encryption. Static IP addresses are available in the UK and five other countries, and a Camouflage mode enables connections in China. 

Surfshark works well with all of the most popular streaming platforms. Its smart DNS service helps VPN-incompatible devices get connected. 

In 2022, Surfshark announced a merger with Nord Security – NordVPN’s parent company. Although no longer independent, Surfshark says that it will continue to work autonomously. Following the merger, Surfshark has had its no-logs policy verified through an independent audit of its server network.

GREAT VALUE: Surfshark has 440+ RAM-only servers in the UK and thousands more worldwide. It can rotate users’ IP addresses in-session and obfuscate traffic. Plans include unlimited device connections and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN has a reputation for providing a consistently secure service. It’s popular among those who are willing to pay above-average subscription fees for a reputable and reliable service. 

The company has RAM-only servers in the UK and 104+ other countries. These provide fast connections suitable for anyone using BT broadband. Network security is maintained by reinstalling the operating systems of each server on a weekly basis. 

ExpressVPN works with a range of content libraries from streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Its MediaStreamer tool spoofs the DNS addresses of devices that don’t natively support VPN apps, allowing them to access geo-restricted content.

The company has its own connection protocol that helps ensure speeds fast enough for watching video in 4K. Other features include a dedicated Onion site on the Tor network and obfuscation that works in China and other similarly restrictive countries. 

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. ExpressVPN makes an app especially for routers, letting users easily protect every device in their home networks. Apps all come with split tunneling, a kill-switch, and a built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker.

ExpressVPN was acquired by a cybersecurity company called Kape Technologies in 2021. The acquisition raised a few eyebrows, as Kape – under its former name of Crossrider – had specialized in the creation of software that injected adware into users’ browsers.

With regards to its purchase, ExpressVPN said that it would continue to operate independently as one of the several VPNs owned by Kape. It has since had several independent audits of its software and infrastructure. A one-time $100,000 reward is currently on offer for anyone able to compromise its systems.

TRUSTED SERVERS: ExpressVPN has RAM-only servers in the UK for fast and secure BT broadband connections. Users can sign up via an Onion site on the Tor network and obfuscate traffic for access to China. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Proton VPN has made a name for itself among grassroots activists and those who want to ensure secure online communication.  

The company has 733+ servers in the UK and a further three that provide high-security connections by routing traffic through Proton VPN data centers in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden. Globally, it offers a massive network of 13,000+ servers in more than 120 countries.

BT broadband customers can use Proton VPN’s optimized servers to access a range of content from popular streaming platforms. Connections are fast enough to watch video in 4K, partially thanks to the company’s VPN Accelerator technology. This uses a modified version of OpenVPN to route network traffic more efficiently.

Other Proton VPN features include Tor-optimized servers, built-in leak protection, an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, as well as split-tunneling. The company allows port forwarding, which can help torrenters improve their download and upload speeds. 

Proton VPN apps are all open-source and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Linux. They protect subscribers’ data using 256-bit AES encryption for the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, as well as ChaCha20 for WireGuard.

Subscriptions permit up to 10 simultaneous device connections, though this can be increased by configuring a Proton VPN connection with a home router. The company has had independent audits of its software and infrastructure, which have verified its no-logs policy.

STRONG ON PRIVACY: Proton VPN provides safe and secure internet access for BT broadband customers. It’s a good option for both streaming region-locked content and torrenting files. Apps are open-source, and subscription plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

IVPN is a staunchly independent provider that is big on privacy, which is a definite plus when connecting in a country where mass surveillance is permitted. It has four servers in the UK and decent connection speeds – largely thanks to its adoption of the lightweight WireGuard connection protocol. 

The company is refreshingly transparent about who it employs, what its product can do, and what its aims are. All of its apps are open-source and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms. 

Features include automatic WireGuard key and IP address rotation, a kill switch, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker. IVPN additionally provides access to MultiHop servers, a SOCKS5 proxy, and Obfsproxy. 

IVPN allows port forwarding, which helps boost download and upload speeds by enabling users to connect to more peers in a torrent swarm. It’s not a good option for streaming – look to one of our other recommended providers if that’s important to you.   

The company has a clear no-logs policy and conducts yearly independent audits of its software and infrastructure. Users can sign up for the service without needing an email address and can pay for subscriptions using cash or cryptocurrency.

TRANSPARENT: IVPN provides decent connection speeds and several UK servers. It undertakes annual independent audits and provides access to MultiHop servers. All apps are open-source, and plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Mullvad VPN is a staunchly independent Swedish provider with user privacy as its central tenet. The company has a clearly expressed privacy policy and has had its infrastructure and software independently audited. 

Mullvad VPN has over 37 servers in the UK, providing fast speeds for BT broadband connections. It has servers in 48+ other countries, many of which are owned outright rather than rented. This makes it easier to control who has access to them.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. They all have a full GUI and include access to MultiHop servers, split tunneling, a kill switch, automatic WireGuard key rotation, and obfuscation. Users who are unable to install the apps can download configuration files to use with the official OpenVPN or WireGuard.

Mullvad VPN subscriptions have remained unchanged in price since the company's inception in 2009, with a flat monthly fee. Users can sign up without an email address and pay for subscriptions in cash. Alternatively, they can get a 10% discount by paying in cryptocurrency.

Mullvad VPN isn’t the best option for streaming; consider one of our other recommended providers if this is your priority. 

PRIVATE AND SECURE: Mullvad VPN has 37+ servers in the UK that are ideal for BT broadband. It has an audited no-logs policy and apps with a full GUI. MultiHop servers are available for additional privacy. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of Mullvad.

IPVanish is a great choice for large families or users with multiple devices, as you can connect as many devices simultaneously as you like. It has a decent network of 2,400+ servers in 140+ locations around the world, including the UK.

Not only does it reliably unblock major UK streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4, but it also provides fast speeds. This makes it a popular choice for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, and is particularly well-liked among the Kodi community.

Security features include 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, obfuscation, and a kill switch. There is also a strict no-logs policy to ensure no activity logs are kept; this means your online activities can't be traced back to you. This is an important consideration for users who are worried by the fact that it's based in the US.

IPVanish is easy to use and ideal for beginners, but if you encounter any issues, you can contact its 24/7 customer support team via live chat. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Fire TV/Fire Stick. Manual installation is required for both Linux and routers. The apps include advanced tools like split tunneling and auto-connect that are especially useful for torrenting.

UNLIMITED SIMULTANEOUS CONNECTIONS: IPVanish allows you to connect all of your devices at once. Fast speeds make it a popular choice for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Decent security features, a strict no-logs policy, and a 24/7 live chat service should you experience any issues. Has servers in the UK and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Testing methodology for choosing the best BT broadband VPNs 

Although virtually all VPNs will work with BT broadband, relatively few have the range of features we require before recommending them. To best identify these providers, we objectively compare likely candidates using the criteria discussed below, as outlined in our testing methodology process.

• Servers in the UK: BT is a UK ISP that provides approximately one-quarter of all the country’s broadband connections. Users who wish to protect their traffic from exposure to BT, but who want to retain the fastest possible speeds, should connect to a server in the UK. All of our recommended providers have multiple UK servers and can also provide spoofed IP addresses in other countries as necessary.
• Fast connection speeds: BT fiber broadband provides users with average speeds of up to 80 Mbps. As this is relatively fast, it’s important to choose an equally fast VPN provider. We regularly test the top VPN services to ensure that we only recommend those that can provide fast connection speeds. 
• Strong privacy and security features: Keeping customer data safe is essential for any VPN service – particularly when its customers are located in a country known for sophisticated surveillance. As such, we require VPN providers to offer 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. They should ideally also provide access to MultiHop servers, obfuscation, split tunneling, and port forwarding.
• Ability to access streaming services: The majority of people with a BT broadband connection will use it to stream content from a range of platforms. Subscribing to a VPN will expand the options to include content from foreign libraries – though only if you choose the right provider. Few VPNs are able to bypass the blocks imposed by the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which is why we regularly test VPN services to find out which work, and which don’t. 
• Good value for money: VPN subscriptions vary in both price and quality. We check to ensure that those that are more expensive offer a suitably higher level of service. Those that can’t justify their prices are excluded from consideration.
• User-friendly apps: The best VPN apps enable users to establish a secure connection without having to read any supporting documentation. We value those with a clean GUI and consistency across platforms.
• Helpful customer support: When choosing whether to sign up for a long-term subscription, it’s worth considering the level of customer support on offer. The better VPN companies provide 24/7 live chat, email support, and an up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge base.

Bonus points

To secure one of the top three positions in our list, VPN companies must additionally offer the following features:

• Access to China: China has sophisticated VPN-blocking capabilities that it uses to prevent its citizens from freely accessing the internet. All but a select few VPN providers fail to bypass the Great Firewall. In addition to China, these providers are valuable to anyone trying to establish a connection in countries like Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, and Russia.
• Diskless servers: Many of the leading VPN providers only use RAM-only servers in their networks. Unlike servers that use a magnetic disk drive or a solid-state drive, those running on volatile memory are wiped clean on every reboot. They ensure that user data cannot be intentionally – or inadvertently – permanently stored. This provides enhanced security and can also improve network efficiency.
• Incorporation outside the reach of intelligence alliances: Countries that are part of international intelligence alliances, like the Five/ Nine/ Fourteen Eyes, engage in mass surveillance of the citizens of other member countries. To avoid becoming entangled in such practices, the better VPN providers choose to incorporate their companies in countries such as Panama and the British Virgin Islands that are beyond the jurisdiction of known intelligence alliances.
• Audited software and infrastructure: Many VPNs claim not to keep user data logs. However, some of these have subsequently been able to provide personally identifiable data to law enforcement authorities when asked to do so. To restore consumer confidence, the best VPN providers engage external auditors to check that their software and servers cannot be used for collecting customer data. These audits also serve to identify any potential exploits or vulnerabilities. 

How to use a VPN with BT broadband

Follow these simple steps to use a VPN with BT broadband:

1. Choose a VPN with fast connection speeds and robust security. We recommend NordVPN. This is because it offers servers in the UK, boasts excellent security features, and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Sign up for a subscription. Note that longer terms are almost always better value. 
3. Download and install the relevant app for your device. Surfshark and IPVanish both offer unlimited simultaneous connections.
4. Restart the device once installation is complete. 
5. Open the newly installed app and choose a country from the list of available servers. Servers in the UK will provide the fastest speeds. 
6. Click the “connect” button. Wait until the app tells you that a connection has been established.
7. Use the internet as normal, but with a private and secure connection.

If this doesn't work, try clearing your cache and cookies, then reload the page. If you continue to experience issues, please contact your VPN provider's customer support team.

Can I use a free VPN for BT broadband?

You can, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Free VPNs have a poor track record regarding privacy and security. Most compile logs of user data, which they may sell on to third-party advertisers or data brokers. Many require unnecessary permissions, and some fail to even encrypt traffic. 

In use, free VPNs tend to be slow. They have a limited number of servers that can easily become congested. Some providers resort to queuing systems to manage peak traffic. Free VPNs also have servers in far fewer countries than their paid-for counterparts.   

Best VPN for BT broadband – FAQs

Do you need a VPN for BT broadband?

A VPN lets you do more with your BT broadband connection. For example, you’ll be able to access the foreign content libraries of your favorite streaming platforms or use online services in your home country while traveling abroad.

Most importantly of all though, a VPN will prevent BT from being able to see which websites you visit. This is important, as the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) enables the government to demand secret access to ISPs’ customer communications as well as enabling it to force ISPs to fit surveillance equipment to monitor communications in transit.

Is it illegal to use a VPN with BT broadband?

It is not illegal to use a VPN in the UK, so you should have no qualms about using one with BT broadband. In fact, we recommend that you do so. What we don’t recommend is using a VPN to mask illegal activity.

We are not lawyers and nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice. 

Will a VPN slow my BT broadband connection?

Because your internet traffic is being routed via a VPN server there is always some drop in speed when connected to a VPN. However, the top providers are so fast that this drop is negligible. Provided you have a fast base connection speed, you’ll be able to game without lag and stream without buffering. 

Is BT broadband blocking VPNs?

It’s very unlikely that BT broadband is blocking VPN traffic. Doing so would breach net neutrality regulations adopted when the UK was still a part of the EU in 2016. These regulations became part of domestic UK law in 2020. The regulations aim to ensure “non-discriminatory treatment of traffic in the provision of internet access services”. 

Blocking VPN traffic would be considered “discriminatory” under Article 3(3) of the Regulation, which states that ISPs shall “treat all traffic equally, when providing internet access services, without discrimination, restriction or interference, and irrespective of the sender and receiver, the content accessed or distributed, the applications or services used or provided, or the terminal equipment used”.