Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Sky Go in 2023:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN: Consistently works with Sky Go UK, Germany, and Italy, comes with high-end security features, and maintains the fastest streaming speeds out there. It also has very user-friendly apps for all the platforms Sky Go works on, including a router app so that you can easily use it with Sky Go on an Apple TV. ExpressVPN has affordable plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
I tested the top VPNs on the market to find the best ones for Sky Go. If you have a Sky Go UK account and travel abroad, you might lose access to it — and a VPN is the only way you could access it while outside of the UK.
Unfortunately, I found that many VPNs aren’t able to access Sky Go. And out of the ones that are, many have slow speeds, limited cross-platform support, or are difficult to use.
But the VPNs on this list can all access Sky Go UK — and some even work with other versions, like Sky Go Germany and Italy. My top recommendations also provide really fast streaming speeds, have user-friendly apps for most of the platforms Sky Go is available on, and are very affordable (my top choice, ExpressVPN, also has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee).
Quick summary of the best VPNs for Sky Go in 2023:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Sky Go in 2023. Is able to consistently access Sky Go UK, Germany, and Italy. Also has the fastest streaming speeds on this list, comes with apps for all platforms (including a router app), and is very user-friendly.
- 2. 🥈CyberGhost VPN — Great for accessing Sky Go UK via a dedicated streaming server. Also provides good streaming speeds, helpful automation features, cross-platform compatible apps, and an intuitive design.
- 3. 🥉NordVPN — Good streaming support + strong security. Works with Sky Go via SmartPlay and a smart DNS, has really good security features, and is pretty fast.
- 4. Surfshark — Very affordable VPN for streaming Sky Go. Has some of the cheapest plans on the market, is really user-friendly, and also comes with decent streaming speeds.
- 5. PrivateVPN — Good VPN for accessing multiple Sky Go versions. Works with Sky Go UK, Italy, Germany, and New Zealand, has good speeds, and comes with easy-to-use apps.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs for Sky Go.
🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Sky Go in 2023
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Sky Go in 2023 — my colleagues confirmed it consistently works with Sky Go UK. Germany, and Italy.
When my colleagues tested this VPN, they had blazing-fast streaming speeds on Sky Go. All HD videos loaded instantly and live streams never buffered. This is not really surprising, as ExpressVPN is actually the fastest VPN on the market at the moment. Plus, I like that you get access to split-tunneling, a feature that lets you pick which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local network — so, you can send just Sky Go traffic through ExpressVPN to further increase your speeds.
ExpressVPN also has apps for nearly all the platforms Sky Go is available on, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Fire TV. If you’re using Sky Go on an Apple TV, you can’t install ExpressVPN on it because it doesn’t support VPN apps — but you can set ExpressVPN up on your router. ExpressVPN is one of the only VPNs on the market that comes with a router app, which is really easy to install and use. The provider has even gone an extra step and debuted its own router (Aircove), which comes equipped with VPN protections, fast speeds, and strong Wi-Fi connections.
In addition, I also love how user-friendly all its apps are. On average, it only took me about 1–2 minutes to download and install them. The apps have a very intuitive interface, so it’s really easy to navigate them (even if you’re a beginner). Plus, the Android, Windows, and macOS apps come with a Shortcuts feature, which lets you create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites — my colleague in the UK said he created shortcuts for the Sky Go app on his Android and Windows devices to get instant access to it.
ExpressVPN protects your Sky Go account data through excellent security features. It comes with a no-logs policy that has been audited and proven true, and advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers (every reset wipes all data), and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN connection to prevent hackers from compromising past or future encryption keys. You also get Threat Manager, which blocks connections to malicious sites — so it can protect you from fake Sky Go sites.
ExpressVPN has affordable plans that start at $6.67 / month— while it’s one of the more expensive VPNs out there, I think it’s worth it because it provides excellent value. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
ExpressVPN is the best Sky Go VPN on the market. It consistently works with Sky Go UK, Germany, and Italy. It also provides the fastest streaming speeds out there, has very user-friendly apps for all platforms Sky Go is on, and provides access to split-tunneling and high-end security features. ExpressVPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈 2. CyberGhost VPN — Great for Accessing Sky Go UK (With Useful Automation)
CyberGhost VPN provides consistent access to Sky Go UK via a dedicated streaming server. The server is optimized to work with Sky Go, meaning it’s configured to refresh IP addresses very often, so that the platform can’t detect it. Unfortunately, unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN doesn’t work with Sky Go Italy and Germany.
With this VPN, you get really good speeds for streaming. According to my colleague in the UK, HD videos usually loaded in 2–3 seconds and didn’t buffer when he used CyberGhost VPN with Sky Go. It’s also great that CyberGhost has split-tunneling so that you can increase your speeds — but it’s a shame that the feature is only available on Android (ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling works on Android, Windows, and macOS).
You also get VPN apps for the same platforms Sky Go works on. Plus, you can use CyberGhost VPN with Sky Go on your Apple TV if you manually set up the VPN on your router. While there are helpful tutorials that show you what you need to do, I think it’s much easier and convenient to use ExpressVPN on your router since it has a dedicated router app.
I really like how user-friendly CyberGhost VPN is — it only takes a few seconds to find the Sky Go UK server and connect to it, plus all settings come with helpful explanations. There’s also the Smart Rules feature, which allows you to create VPN connection preferences. For example, you can configure CyberGhost VPN to automatically launch and connect to the Sky Go streaming server when you open the Sky Go app.
This VPN provider also comes with strong security features — it has advanced security features like full leak protection and RAM-only servers, Identity Guard (warns you if your Sky Go credentials have been leaked online), and Content Blocker, which blocks connections to malicious websites.
CyberGhost VPN has several paid plans that start as low as $2.11 / month. It backs its longest plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee, and the shortest plan with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
CyberGhost VPN works with Sky Go UK via a dedicated streaming server that’s optimized for this streaming platform. It also has good speeds, split-tunneling, cross-platform compatible apps that are easy to use and provide useful automation features, and strong security features. CyberGhost VPN backs its long-term plans with a very generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
🥉 3. NordVPN — Good Streaming Support & Strong Security
NordVPN has really good streaming support since it works with Sky Go UK, Germany, New Zealand, and Italy. It has a smart DNS, which is a tool that lets you access streaming sites on devices that don’t support VPN apps — so you can use it to access Sky Go on your Apple TV.
Also, NordVPN has SmartPlay, which mixes VPN and smart DNS technology across all of the provider’s servers. This makes it much harder for streaming sites like Sky Go to detect and block your VPN connection.
NordVPN has a number of advanced security features, such as RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection. There’s also Threat Protection, which is one of the best VPN ad and tracker blockers (plus, it can also protect you from malware-infected downloads). And you also get a data breach monitoring tool that alerts you if your NordVPN account credentials are compromised — this is useful if you use the same credentials for your Sky Go account.
NordVPN also has great streaming speeds. In my tests, all websites loaded in 2 seconds, and HD videos didn’t take more than 4 seconds to load. That said, it’s still not as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN.
NordVPN has great apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Fire TV. The interface is intuitive and makes it easy to find and connect to a server — on average it took me around 4 seconds to do that. NordVPN’s Android app also has a Metered Connection feature, which helps you limit your data usage if you are streaming Sky Go on your phone using mobile data.
NordVPN has affordable plans starting from $4.99 / month. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
NordVPN is highly secure, comes with a ton of features, and maintains good speeds for all online activities. In addition to advanced security features like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, it also has an ad blocker and dark web monitor. It also works with all streaming services, supports torrenting on more than 4,500 servers, and is also an excellent choice for gaming. NordVPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. Surfshark — Affordable VPN for Streaming Sky Go
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, making it a great choice for anyone who loves watching Sky Go and is also on a tight budget.
The VPN has pretty good speeds. In my tests, HD videos took 3 seconds to load, while 4K videos loaded in around 5 seconds. I experienced minor buffering, but the provider’s split-tunneling feature helped boost speeds while streaming. Even so, I still had faster connections with ExpressVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN.
Surfshark has apps for many popular platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Fire TV. It also allows unlimited connections, so everyone in your house can use the VPN to watch Sky Go on their own devices at the same time.
You also get access to really user-friendly apps — the interface is intuitive, and it only takes 4–5 seconds to connect to a server. There are also short explanations for all settings and features, which is very helpful.
And the VPN provides strong security and privacy — it has perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and an audited no-logs policy. There’s also CleanWeb, which is a good ad and tracker blocker. I also like the IP Rotator feature, which changes your VPN IP address without disconnecting you from the server, making it harder for Sky Go to detect and block your VPN connection.
Surfshark is affordable with plans starting from only $2.30 / month. All purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
Surfshark is a good budget-friendly VPN. Its speeds are pretty good for streaming, and you can also improve them with its split-tunneling. It also comes with very intuitive apps and advanced security features. All of the provider’s plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Surfshark review
5. PrivateVPN — Good for Accessing Multiple Sky Go Versions
PrivateVPN works with Sky Go UK, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. When my colleagues and friends who are located in these countries tested it with Sky Go, they were all able to access their version of the platform and had no issues whatsoever while streaming content.
While PrivateVPN has good speeds, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN are faster — when my colleague in the UK used PrivateVPN, it usually took around 4–5 seconds for HD videos to load, and he noticed minor buffering at the start of the videos.
PrivateVPN has apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Fire TV, and you can also manually set it up on your router to use it with Sky Go on an Apple TV. That said, if you’re mainly interested in using the VPN on Apple TV, I recommend using ExpressVPN instead because it has a dedicated router app, which is more user-friendly than a manual setup.
I like that PrivateVPN’s apps are beginner-friendly, as they have a minimalistic design, so you won’t feel overwhelmed while using them. It doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a server to start watching Sky Go, or a few seconds to change some settings.
PrivateVPN has super cheap plans that start at $2.00 / month. It backs each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line
PrivateVPN can consistently access Sky Go UK, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. It provides pretty good streaming speeds, user-friendly apps for nearly all platforms Sky Go has apps for, and good security features. PrivateVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full PrivateVPN review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Sky Go in 2023
How to Choose the Best VPN for Sky Go in 2023
- Select a VPN that works with Sky Go. The VPN needs to consistently work with Sky Go UK, otherwise it’s no good. Some of my top picks (like ExpressVPN and NordVPN) even work with other Sky Go versions, like Sky Go Germany and Sky Go Italy.
- Find a VPN with strong security. All the VPNs I recommend come with essential VPN security features, such as 256-bit AES protection, a no-logs policy (to prevent the VPN from spying on your traffic, a kill switch disables internet traffic if the VPN disconnects to prevent data leaks), and protection against IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks to keep your Sky Go account data safe.
- Look for a VPN with fast streaming speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption-decryption process and the distance between you and the VPN server. But the best VPNs minimize the speed loss so that it doesn’t ruin your streaming experience. All the VPNs on my list provide really good speeds for watching Sky Go.
- Find a VPN that’s easy to use. The VPN should provide access to native apps that work on the same platforms as Sky Go’s apps (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, or Fire TV). In addition, the VPN’s app should be very easy to install and have an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate, so that you can quickly connect to a VPN server to start watching Sky Go.
- Look for a VPN that provides good value. I only recommend VPNs that support multiple simultaneous connections (Surfshark allows unlimited connections), provide access to extra features like split-tunneling or a malicious site blocker, and come with affordable plans and generous money-back guarantees.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Mullvad VPN. Mullvad VPN has strong security and privacy features, good speeds, easy-to-use apps, and affordable pricing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with Sky Go, or most popular streaming sites for that matter.
- CactusVPN. CactusVPN comes with a built-in smart DNS that is able to access 340+ sites from 10+ countries — but it’s only compatible with Sky News and Sky Store, not Sky Go. Its VPN service can’t access Sky Go either.
- IPVanish. IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections, is pretty fast, and comes with user-friendly apps. However, it’s not able to access Sky Go — in fact, it doesn’t work with most streaming platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best VPN for Sky Go?
ExpressVPN is the best Sky Go VPN in 2023 — it consistently works with Sky Go UK, Germany, and Italy, provides the fastest streaming speeds on the market, works on all the platforms Sky Go has apps for, and has user-friendly apps.
Can I use a free VPN to access Sky Go?
There are free VPNs out there, but most of them don’t work with Sky Go. In addition, free VPNs usually have very slow speeds, limit how much data you can use each day or month, and come with buggy apps.
It’s much better to just get an affordable premium VPN like ExpressVPN — it consistently works with Sky Go UK, Germany, and Italy, it has lightning-fast streaming speeds, it works on tons of platforms, and its apps are very user-friendly.
Will a VPN slow down your Sky Go speeds?
All VPNs will slow down your speeds due to the encryption process and how long it takes for data to travel between your device and the VPN server. But the best Sky Go VPNs limit the speed loss so that it’s not noticeable — ExpressVPN provides the best speeds, as HD videos always load instantly and don’t buffer with it.
If you experience slowdowns that are too distracting, here’s what you can do:
- Use a fast VPN protocol. WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec are both good options, as they’re very fast and also secure. If you’re using ExpressVPN, I recommend using its proprietary Lightway protocol, as it provides the fastest speeds on the market.
- Use split-tunneling (if available). This feature lets you choose which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local network. Use it to only route Sky Go traffic through the VPN — your speeds will be faster because the VPN will have less data to encrypt-decrypt and route.
- Disable background apps. Turn off web-connected background apps you’re not using (like a torrent or gaming client) because they can hog your bandwidth, slowing down your overall speeds.
- Use a wired connection. Wi-Fi connections are not as fast due to the Wi-Fi signal — if it’s too weak, your speeds will always be slow. I strongly recommend using a wired connection via an ethernet cable instead, as it’s always faster than Wi-Fi connections.
Is it legal to access Sky Go with a VPN?
Using a VPN with Sky Go is legal in most countries, but keep in mind it might go against Sky Go’s terms and conditions. That said, I haven’t seen any reports of users being banned for using a VPN, just reports of Sky Go blacklisting VPN IP addresses.
However, using a VPN might be illegal in restrictive countries. If you plan on traveling there, I strongly recommend researching the local laws to make sure it’s safe to use a VPN to access Sky Go — otherwise, you might face legal repercussions if you’re caught.
Can I use a Sky Go VPN for other streaming services?
As long as you use a premium VPN, sure — for example, all the VPNs on this list also work with other top streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime. If you need a VPN that unblocks tons of streaming services, I recommend picking ExpressVPN — it’s the best VPN for streaming in 2023, as it works with 100+ streaming platforms.
