ITV is a leading television network in the UK and one of the UK's oldest networks. It's home to some of the UK's biggest shows, such as Love Island and Britain's Got Talent. You can watch numerous dramas, reality TV, and live events with ITV’s packages.
ITV's relatively new streaming service, ITVX, allows ITV customers to access a wide array of content online. However, this is only possible within the UK. As a result, viewers in Australia face challenges when trying to access ITV’s popular content, since the platform limits availability to users within the UK.
Fortunately, this guide provides a solution to that. In this article, you'll find out how to use a VPN to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.
How to watch ITV from Australia with a VPN
- Choose a high-quality VPN with UK servers. I recommend NordVPN, now 70% OFF
- Download the VPN from its official website or your app store
- Install the app on your device
- Connect to a UK server
- Sign in or sign up to ITV
- Start streaming ITV from Australia
Why do you need a VPN to watch ITV in Australia?
If you want to watch ITV content via ITVX from Australia (or any other non-UK area), you'll encounter geo-blocking restrictions put in place by ITV. This happens because the website detects your non-UK IP (Internet Protocol) address.
You may be able to sign up, but it won't let you stream anything with an Australian IP. If you managed to sign up to ITV from Australia, you would see an error message when trying to watch a show or film.
VPN software can reroute your internet connection through a country-specific IP, and websites don't know the difference. So, if you connect to a UK VPN server, the site begins to stream free content for you.
Besides unlocking geo-restricted regions, VPNs also keep your internet connection much safer and more private and reduce your digital trail.
Best VPN to watch ITV in Australia
- NordVPN – the most reliable VPN for ITV
- Surfshark – an affordable VPN
- IPVanish – a sophisticated alternative VPN
Below, you'll find my top VPNs that are perfect for watching ITV from Australia. I've narrowed down the list to the best three providers because few VPNs can reliably and safely mimic a UK IP address so that the ITV platform can let you in.
1. NordVPN – smoothest VPN for ITV
| Number of AU servers: | 190+ |
| Speed: | Very fast |
| Supported streaming devices: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Unblocks ITV: | Yes |
As stated in our NordVPN review, the VPN has over 190 servers in Australia in 5 locations. This is important when you want to refresh or switch servers due to issues or server crowding.
Servers and streaming. NordVPN has 7800+ servers globally, and its Australian servers are no exception when it comes to streaming speed and reliability.
Speed. NordVPN delivered excellent speeds via its NordLynx protocol, even from Australia. It consistently streamed UK content in HD without buffering and consumed only 10% of the baseline speed.
Unblocking ability. NordVPN unblocked the ITV sign-up and streaming process without issues.
2. Surfshark – affordable VPN with good features
| Number of AU servers: | 40+ |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Supported streaming devices: | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Unblocks ITV: | Yes |
Surfshark has Australian servers in key locations like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. It also has a solid suite of privacy and security features.
Servers and streaming. As stated in our Surfshark review, the VPN offers 3200+ global servers, ensuring you can always reliably connect to services like ITV from Australia.
Speed. Our VPN tests showed that Surfshark only consumed 14% of baseline speed on Australian servers, which means your streaming will be smooth when connected to a UK server.
Unblocking ability. I had no issues unblocking ITV services with a Surfshark VPN server.
3. IPVanish – transparent VPN with WireGuard
| Number of AU servers: | 50+ |
| Speed: | Medium |
| Supported streaming devices: | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
| Unblocks ITV: | Yes |
IPVanish is a US-based VPN with a long history that offers great privacy features while operating its own server infrastructure in Australia.
Servers and streaming. 2400+ servers in 140 countries with proprietary infrastructure and the WireGuard protocol are good news for Australian streamers.
Speed. As discussed in our IPVanish review, the provider’s speeds are adequate across great distances, consuming about 20% of the baseline speed when using far-away servers like those in the UK.
Unblocking ability. With a good server presence in the UK, I found that IPVanish reliably unblocked ITV from Australia via a UK server.
Comparison of the best VPNs to watch ITV
Below, you can find a side-by-side comparison of the top three providers. I compare their prices, number of servers, speeds, and overall rating.
| Provider | Rating | Price | Number of servers | Number of servers in Australia | Speed retention (%) |
| NordVPN | AU$5.09/month | 7800 | 190+ | 90% | |
| Surfshark | AU$3.19/month | 3200 | 40+ | 86% | |
| IPVanish | AU$2.92/month | 2400 | 50+ | 80% |
VPN not working when trying to watch ITV in Australia
Sometimes, you may run into some common issues even with a top VPN. Thankfully, these issues are not difficult to resolve. Take a look at why ITV isn't working with a VPN:
- Connection drops frequently. If the VPN protocol is unstable, this can happen. Ensure your VPN is set to automatically detect and change protocols according to the situation.
- Poor streaming quality. This can depend on both the website itself and the VPN server. Most often, it's enough to refresh your server by clicking on the country icon.
- VPN app crashes. This can happen due to insufficient storage on your device or the fact that you need to update your system and apps.
- Can't connect to VPN. Your device must be configured to allow the VPN application through the firewall. Most modern devices have no issue with this.
What can you watch on ITV?
ITVX streams a very wide selection of films, TV series, and shows that cater to every taste. From blockbusters to iconic British dramas, there's something for everyone.
Movies and TV shows
On ITVX, you can stream Hollywood hits like Baywatch, Magic Mike, and Protection, and family favorites like Shrek and Matilda.
Furthermore, you can catch classics like James Bond films, Jurassic World, and comedies like Austin Powers.
Documentaries
On ITVX, you can catch top-rated documentaries like The Disappearance of Gabby Petito, Murder in The Family, Litvinenko: The Mayfair Poisoning, Instagram's Worst Con Artist, and many more.
Sports
Sports lovers can watch a variety of sports content, including live events and on-demand action.
For instance, you can catch UEFA, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, the Six Nations Championship, MotoGP, the British Touring Car Championship, and even horse racing events.
Final thoughts
ITV (via the ITVX streaming platform) offers existing and new UK subscribers practically the entire ITV catalog of domestic and international content. However, this is restricted to viewers and subscribers in the UK.
This guide has shown you how our top streaming VPNs for Australia, such as NordVPN, help you bypass ITV geo-restrictions. A VPN allows you to both sign up for ITVX and stream it freely. Whether it's spicy Love Island action or glamorous Britain's Got Talent content, VPNs are worth it because they let you access this content in full quality, all the way from Australia.
FAQ
Does ITV stream free content?
Yes, ITVX streams a lot of free content. However, if you subscribe to ITVX Premium with a high-quality VPN, such as NordVPN, you get a lot more content, downloads, and an ad-free experience. You also get exclusive content.
How can I watch ITV outside of the UK?
You need a VPN to watch ITV outside of the UK. You can subscribe via a UK server from anywhere, but you will only get the free tier. If you want more than that, you can purchase the Premium plan with a UK-linked bank account or card.
What is the best streaming service for British shows in Australia?
Most users claim that BritBox is the best streaming service for British shows in Australia. BritBox has a vast collection of British TV and films. It's a joint venture between BBC and ITV.