During the lockdown, I got bored with many of the streaming services I usually use, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. In a search for alternatives, I found the Criterion Channel, which has a wealth of great movies perfect for cinema buffs.
I'm from the UK, and the Criterion Channel is only available in the US and Canada – so I had to use a VPN. Here, I'll show you how to do the same.
The best Criterion Channel VPN services
We list the best Criterion Channel VPN services below. For more information, check out our in-depth summaries.
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for the Criterion Channel. Excellent security features, impressive speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best mid-range VPN for the Criterion Channel. Plenty of servers, great speeds, and premium features at an affordable price.
- Surfshark - The best value VPN for watching the Criterion Channel. Budget-friendly, lots of features, and unlimited connections for all your OS.
- Private Internet Access - The best secure VPN for streaming the Criterion Channel, thanks to its impressive server network and a strict zero-logs policy.
- CyberGhost VPN - The best user-friendly VPN for the Criterion Channel. Offers slick cross-platform apps and works with all major streaming platforms.
Why are these the best VPNs for the Criterion Channel?
There's a whole load of VPN features discussed further down in this article, and if you have other streaming services or sites you'd like to access, then there will be a number of different factors to consider before making your purchase. For the Criterion Channel, however, ensure your chosen VPN has:
- A large network of US/Canada servers
- Excellent privacy tools and security features
- Fast connection and download speeds
- A good track record of accessing US services
- Apps for all the devices you usually use
The US VPN servers are the most important part – but luckily, all the VPNs discussed in this article have servers in multiple locations in the USA. I just quickly tested them too to be 100% sure – and they all got past the geo-block just fine.
In-depth analysis of the best VPNs for the Criterion Channel
All of the services listed in our article unblock the Criterion Channel, however, they do differ. To find out more information about these services, read through the summaries below, or, check out our detailed VPN reviews.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming the Criterion Channel. With reliable speeds, excellent security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee! ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN is the best overall choice for the Criterion Channel, as it's one of the only VPNs that can consistently unblock streaming services from all over the world. ExpressVPN has over 10 server locations in the United States in places like LA, New Jersey, and San Francisco, so you'll always have a good spread of servers to choose from, which makes for a quick connection. Express also consistently places in our top 10 for fastest VPN service using our own internal speed test metrics. Not only is ExpressVPN great for the task at hand, but it's known for being able to consistently unblock numerous Netflix libraries and sites like BBC iPlayer. The provider's new custom protocol, Lightway, has improved speeds even further by cutting down on connection times – great when you're in a hurry. ExpressVPN isn't just about speed and streaming – it's also about security too. If you live in a country where some of the content you're watching is banned, blocked, or frowned upon and you're worried about your connection dropping, don't be – ExpressVPN has a kill-switch, which will automatically cut your internet connection if your VPN disconnects. ExpressVPN was also one of the first VPNs to run all their servers on RAM, which means nothing is ever written to hard drives. The no-logs claim has also been audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, one of the biggest auditing firms in the world, so you can rest assured that none of your connection logs will ever end up in the hands of the authorities. ExpressVPN gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee, too, so if you're unsure, why not try it out and reclaim your money if you're not happy! NordVPN is the best mid-range VPN for streaming the Criterion Channel. Super speedy and secure, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Nord Demo NordVPN is one of my favorite VPNs purely because if of its speed. On our daily speed tests – which we run for over twenty major VPN providers – NordVPN is almost always head and shoulders in front of the rest of the pack. This makes it an incredible choice for streaming things in other countries; especially seeing as the provider has servers worldwide spread across 60 countries
(including the USA). No matter if you want to watch something from the Criterion collection or regional Netflix content (or even local broadcasts), NordVPN has you covered thanks to a combination of geo-located servers as well as a SmartDNS feature. SmartDNS routes your DNS requests to ensure that streaming services don't filter you out based on where they come from. Very handy if you're routing your connection through your TV! NordVPN isn't just about speed, however, and also excels when it comes to providing innovative privacy tools other VPNs tend to omit. The Double VPN function, for example, reroutes your traffic through two private servers instead of one for an extra layer of protection, whereas the CyberSec malware and ad-blocker is one of the best on the VPN market. They've also developed their own protocol called NordLynx, which is based on WireGuard but even quicker and safer to maintain your peace of mind while you're streaming. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee for you to take advantage of. Surfshark is the best value VPN for the Criterion Channel. Unlimited simultaneous connections and speedy servers, and a 30-day money-back guarantee! Surfshark Demo Surfshark, bar NordVPN, is the quickest VPN on this list and also the cheapest. For just a couple of dollars a month, you'll have access to 100
different server locations in the USA (as well as servers in 100 countries
), so streaming your favorite Criterion Channel movies will be a breeze. Like all the other services on our list, SurfShark maintains up-to-date security practices and supports the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. Surfshark will let you use one account on as many devices as they want, so you'll never have to worry about signing in or signing out, and your friends can use it too without paying. With an ever-growing number of devices in the modern home, even the most generous device limit can quickly cap out, but this will never be a problem with Surfshark. It's a lot newer than most of the VPNs on this list, but Surfshark actually won our Newcomer Award in 2019, a testament to the quality service at affordable prices the provider gives to customers. Surfshark has some useful security features, which will come in handy if you live in a region controlled by a government that doesn't take too kindly to VPN usage. Camouflage Mode, for instance, disguises your traffic as normal traffic so even your internet service provider can't see you're using one – great if you don't want your ISP knowing you're endlessly binging weepy romances on a Saturday night. The provider has also recently switched to completely diskless servers, which is a lot safer and more secure as it reduces the footprint your streaming leaves behind on their servers. Surfshark, like the other providers, will also give you 30 days to make a decision before your payment becomes non-refundable. Private Internet Access is the best secure VPN for the Criterion Channel. With a proven no-logs claim and huge server network. Also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee! PIA Demo Private Internet Access is a great VPN for accessing the Criterion Channel because it has so many servers to choose from in the US, so it can ensure you get a good connection for streaming the Criterion Channel. These US servers constitute just one section of its enormous worldwide fleet, so if you'll also be able to access a number of other geo-restricted streaming services with PIA. Private Internet Access also has great security features, too, equipping their customers with a kill-switch, AES-256 bit encryption, and both OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols. PIA also implements their own DNS service which not only takes advantage of Smart DNS to unblock geo-restricted content, but also comes bundled with MACE to keep you safe. This DNS service blocks requests to known spammers, ad sites, malware distributors, and blacklisted sites that seek to subvert your computer. PIA will also let you use the same account on up to Unlimited
, so if you've got family and friends who also want to unblock sites like the Criterion Channel, then this might be the VPN for you. PIA also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out and see how it feels before committing to a long-term purchase. CyberGhost is the most user-friendly VPN for the Criterion Channel. Superb customer support and cross-platform apps, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost is great for streaming – I've used it many times to access and unblock content from various locations around the world, connecting through one of their servers in 91 countries
(including the USA and Canada ). It has really easy-to-use apps for Android, iPhone, and various other operating systems, which makes it an excellent piece of software for beginners who are still getting to grips with the VPN world. CyberGhost also has an excellent customer support team, so if you have any problems unblocking the Criterion Channel, they'll be able to help you get back on track and streaming in no time at all. In terms of security, CyberGhost is at an advantage being based in privacy-conscious Romania, which has no mandatory data retention directives. This is where their NoSpy servers are managed and maintained by CyberGhost staff end-to-end, ensuring no third-parties have access to any of the content or user data running through their servers. Of course, CyberGhost wouldn't have been in the game for so long without doing the essential bits well – which is why they use AES-256 bit encryption and provide their users with a kill-switch. CyberGhost also support all the up-to-date protocols we expect: OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. Not only will you be streaming in style, but also safe in the knowledge you're protected by the most current encryption out there. CyberGhost actually affords its customers 45 days to decide if they want their money back too, longer than any of the other providers in this article, which is great if you think it'll take you a while to make up your mind.
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How to set up a VPN for the Criterion Channel:
- Sign up for one of the VPN services discussed on this page.
- Download and run the software on your chosen device.
- Connect to a server in the USA or Canada.
- Head over to the Criterion Channel's webpage.
- Create an account and log in!
That should be everything you need to get your VPN for the Criterion Channel up and running.
Why do I need a VPN for the Criterion Channel?
Every device connected to the internet has something called an IP address. IP addresses are essential to making sure the data that is requested gets sent to the right place – just like house addresses are essential to ensuring we all get the right letters.
Every website you visit will know – or have processed – your IP address, or else it wouldn't have loaded. But the problem is, not all websites are available in every region of the world – a site like Criterion Channel is likely to only have the rights to show the movies it has in its library in the USA and Canada, for example. So, to ensure the Criterion Channel is only accessible to people in North America, like many other sites, geo-restrictions are enforced and determined by your IP address.
This is where a VPN comes in. VPNs tunnel all your traffic through a private server before it reaches the internet. This means websites you visit won't see your true IP address. Instead, only the IP address of the server you're connecting through will be visible. So as long as you connect through a server in the USA, the Criterion Channel will think you're from the US, and you can enjoy watching free of restrictions!
How much does the Criterion Channel cost?
A monthly Criterion Channel subscription costs $10.99, but you can get a year's subscription for $99.99. You can choose exactly when you pay your subscription – and if you haven't yet got one, you can still check out the movies they have available on their website without an account.
The Criterion Channel also offers a 14-day free trial, so you could always test it out for a week or two and decide whether you'd like to extend your access at the end of that period.
What is on the Criterion Channel?
The Criterion Channel is definitely for cinema obsessives and boasts an unrivaled collection of both unusual and seminal films from around the world, with some titles that date back to the 1960s and 70s.
By applying the filter on their site, you can search films by director, decade, or the country they're from. The 'All Time Favourites' section currently houses:
- Black Narcissus
- Paris
- Texas
- Eraserhead
Whereas the 'Hollywood Classics' collection includes titles like:
- The Razor's Edge
- Crossfire
- The Palm Beach Story
They have a lot of other content too, including commentaries you can watch along to at home, music-based classics like Quadrophenia, and interviews with actors.
Can I use a free VPN for the Criterion Channel?
I personally wouldn't recommend it – and I don't think many of the other writers here at ProPrivacy would either. We recommend that, in general, you should stay away from free VPN services, simply because so many of them have associated risks you're unlikely to experience with a free service.
That's not to say there aren't any good, free VPNs out there. Some of the most popular free VPNs available on the App/Google Play Stores have been found to:
- Sell data to advertising companies for profit
- Allow malware to infect the devices of users
- Keep extensive activity logs of customer traffic
- Have regular DNS and WebRTC leaks
- Not even be a VPN at all, but a proxy service
- Have overly invasive app permissions
Sometimes, free services even admit to these misdemeanors – particularly relating to advertising and activity logs – in their privacy policies. The problem with free services is that they just don't have the capital to keep up with the premium providers, and won't invest as readily in things like security. There's also less of an incentive to retain customers as they're not paying anything.
To reiterate, there are good ones out there – it's just they're so few and far between, and so many trusted VPNs have such a cheap subscription price that it's really not worth it.
Can I use a VPN to access other streaming services?
Yes! VPNs have a long list of use cases. This is why they're so popular – they come in handy for so many things. Hundreds of thousands of people use VPNs every day to bypass authoritarian governments with stringent censorship laws, access other geo-blocked streaming services, and even find cheaper airline tickets and video games before release.
Final thoughts
The Criterion Channel has movies on it you won't find anywhere else, and with a VPN it doesn't matter where you live – you can watch them. Here's a reminder of our top providers for the job:
From $6.67/month
The best VPN for the Criterion Channel. Excellent security features, impressive speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 10 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 5
- Free trial
- No
- Server locations
- 160
From $3.69/month
The best mid-range VPN for the Criterion Channel. Plenty of servers, great speeds, and premium features at an affordable price.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.9 out of 10
- Free trial
- No
- Simultaneous connections
- 6
- Server locations
- 60
From $2.30/month
The best value VPN for watching the Criterion Channel. Budget-friendly, lots of features, and unlimited connections for all your OS.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.8 out of 10
- Server locations
- 100
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
- Free trial
- Yes
From $2.11/month
The best secure VPN for streaming the Criterion Channel, thanks to its impressive server network and a strict zero-logs policy.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.7 out of 10
- Server locations
- 84
- Free trial
- No
- Simultaneous connections
- Unlimited
From $2.11/month
The best user-friendly VPN for the Criterion Channel. Offers slick cross-platform apps and works with all major streaming platforms.
- ProPrivacy TrustScore:
- 9.6 out of 10
- Simultaneous connections
- 7
- Server locations
- 117
- Free trial
- Yes
The best VPNs for Criterion Channel – FAQs