Since its launch in 1980, CNN has grown into one of the world’s leading cable news channels. While CNN covers politics and world affairs, its primary focus is the American landscape, meaning the channel isn’t available outside the US. So, you may be wondering how to watch CNN in the UK and other countries.
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution for watching CNN in the UK. By using a reliable VPN, you can mask your location and obtain a US IP address, allowing access to CNN without any issues.
In this article, I’ll show you how to watch CNN in the UK, explain the benefits of a VPN, and recommend top VPN providers to use. Let’s dive right in.
How to watch CNN from the UK with VPN
- Choose a trustworthy VPN service with US servers. My #1 choice is NordVPN, now 74% OFF
- Download and install your chosen VPN provider
- Create an account or log in
- Connect to a US server to access CNN
- Open the official CNN website and go to live TV
- That’s it – you can now sit back and relax while watching CNN from the UK
Why do you need a VPN to watch CNN?
CNN is available in the US, meaning if you try to access it from the UK, the service won’t recognise your IP address, and it will block your access. In fact, you’ll be required to pay a subscription to access live TV. Here’s what you’ll see on your screen when accessing CNN from the UK: “Distinctive, trusted journalism and live breaking news. Get full access to CNN Live on our website.”
Due to this, you need a VPN to watch CNN from the UK. Basically, the VPN will hide your actual location and grant you a US IP address. As a result, you’ll trick the website into thinking you’re within the supported region, and you won’t encounter any issues. In fact, as soon as you click on Live TV, the programme will start running.
However, VPNs come with many other benefits aside from bypassing geo-restrictions. One of the most significant perks is enhanced online privacy and security. Thanks to the robust security features, like AES-256 encryption, strong VPN protocols, and more, you’ll be able to stay safe at all times. Also, VPNs block ads that may compromise your online safety.
With the help of a VPN, you can even access other streaming services or change the library of your streaming service. This allows you to access more content and watch films or shows that aren’t available in the UK library of the streaming service.
Best VPN to watch CNN services in the UK
- NordVPN – the overall best VPN for watching CNN in the UK
- Surfshark – highly secure VPN that unblocks CNN in the UK
- PureVPN – VPN for bypassing CNN geo-restrictions with a free trial
Unfortunately, not all VPNs are capable of reliably bypassing geo-restrictions. That's why together with our research team, I tested different providers to find the best VPN to access CNN.
1. NordVPN – the best VPN to watch CNN in the UK in 2024
| Based in: | Panama |
| US servers: | 1970+ |
| Unblocks CNN: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Get 74% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free |
NordVPN is my top choice for streaming CNN in the UK. Thanks to its huge server range, robust security features, and stellar speeds, you won’t face an issue. In fact, you’ll access NordVPN in no time.
Number of servers. NordVPN comes with 6900+ servers in 111 countries. From them, more than 1,970 are located in the US, allowing you to connect and mask your actual location. On top of that, there are even obfuscated servers that hide that you’re using a VPN.
Security. NordVPN comes with ultra-secure privacy measures. It utilizes the industry-leading AES-256 encryption. Furthermore, it employs a customizable kill switch that cuts your VPN connection if the provider fails, as well as protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
Speed. In terms of speeds, NordVPN is one of the fastest providers you can go for. During our testing, NordVPN managed to retain 90% of the original speed on average, which is absolutely fantastic. You’ll be able to stream CNN without an issue.
Supported streaming services. NordVPN supports many streaming services. One of them is CNN, but you can also unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, and a lot more.
Price. Last but not least, NordVPN is also very budget-friendly. You can grab its 2-year plan for just £2.69/month, making it an affordable choice for accessing CNN and other global content with ease. Plus, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and get a full refund if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
2. Surfshark – VPN provider for watching CNN with top-notch security measures
| Based in: | The Netherlands |
| US servers: | 600+ |
| Unblocks CNN: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 4 months FREE |
NordVPN is my top choice for streaming CNN in the UK. Thanks to its huge server range, robust security features, and stellar speeds, you won’t face an issue. In fact, you’ll access NordVPN in no time.
Number of servers. NordVPN comes with 3200+ servers in 100 countries. From them, more than 1,970 are located in the US, allowing you to connect and mask your actual location. On top of that, there are even obfuscated servers that hide that you’re using a VPN.
Security. NordVPN comes with ultra-secure privacy measures. It utilizes the industry-leading AES-256 encryption. Furthermore, it employs a customizable kill switch that cuts your VPN connection if the provider fails, as well as protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
Speed. In terms of speeds, NordVPN is one of the fastest providers you can go for. During our testing, NordVPN managed to retain 86% of the original speed on average, which is absolutely fantastic. You’ll be able to stream CNN without an issue.
Supported streaming services. NordVPN supports many streaming services. One of them is CNN, but you can also unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, and a lot more.
Price. Last but not least, NordVPN is also very budget-friendly. You can grab its 2-year plan for just £2.69/month, making it an affordable choice for accessing CNN and other global content with ease. Plus, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and get a full refund if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
3. PureVPN – user-friendly VPN that unblocks CNN services in the UK
| Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
| US servers: | 1800+ |
| Unblocks CNN: | Yes |
| Current deal: | Now 83% OFF PureVPN + 3 FREE months |
The last option on our list is PureVPN. With over 1,740 servers in the US, you’ll manage to access CNN in the blink of an eye. However, there are also many other perks to using this provider. So, let’s find out more!
Number of servers. PureVPN has 6000+ high-speed servers that are located across 65 countries in the world. What’s even better is that 1800+ of them are US-based ones, meaning you can bypass CNN’s geo-restrictions in no time.
Security. Moreover, PureVPN is also a relatively secure VPN service. It has everything a VPN needs to have, including a powerful kill switch, port forwarding, and industry-standard AES-256 encryption.
Speed. PureVPN is another speedy VPN on our list, maintaining impressive speeds above 67% of the original baseline. This makes it an excellent choice for unblocking CNN in the UK.
Supported streaming services. PureVPN also has a wide range of streaming services, allowing you to enjoy various content. You can access Netflix, Hulu, Max, BBC iPlayer, and, of course, CNN at any time.
Price. You can choose between PureVPN’s monthly, annual, 2-year, or 5-year plans. The most cost-efficient one is its 2-year plan, which stands at $2.14/month (around £1.70/month).
Comparison of best VPNs to watch CNN
If you’re having a hard time selecting the best VPN to watch CNN, our comparison table might clear things up. Here are the top 3 providers.
| VPN provider | Our rating | Price | Number of servers | Number of US servers | Speed retention |
| NordVPN | £2.69/month | 6900+ in 111 countries | 1970+ | 90% | |
| Surfshark | £1.49/month | 3200+ in 100 countries | 600+ | 86% | |
| PureVPN | ~£1.70/month | 6000+ in 65 countries | 1800+ | 67% |
VPN not working when trying to watch CNN in the UK
Unfortunately, your chosen VPN may not work when trying to watch CNN in the UK. There are numerous reasons for this, but here are the most common ones and a few tops on how to fix them:
- Your real IP address might be leaking. Weaker VPNs might leak your actual IP address. To avoid this, always ensure you’ve connected to the server before loading the website, and go for a reliable VPN with solid protection.
- Your VPN server might have been blocklisted. Services like CNN may detect VPN usage and keep a blocklist of VPN-associated IP addresses. In this case, you won’t be able to access CNN. So, it’s best to go for a robust VPN service that has strong security measures and obfuscates your VPN usage. Also, the more servers a VPN has, the better are your chances of avoiding blocklisting. So, choose a VPN with plenty of US servers.
- Your browser’s cookies and cache might be revealing your location. I recommend clearing the cache and cookies from your browser before you attempt to bypass geo-blocks. That is because they store information, such as your location, on your computer.
What can you watch on CNN?
As you know, CNN is a news channel. Therefore, don’t expect to find popular shows or films on the site. However, you can trust this news channel for breaking news, as well as a full range of international, political, business, entertainment, sports, health, science and weather coverage, and topical in-depth interviews.
Final thoughts
CNN is a viral news broadcast channel, but it’s only available in the US. That said, if you want to access CNN in the UK, all you need is a US IP address. The easiest way to attain one is by using a reliable VPN service.
I recommend NordVPN for watching CNN in the UK, as it has 1970+ US servers, stellar speeds, and top-notch security features.
FAQ
Can I watch CNN with a VPN?
Yes, a VPN lets you watch CNN from anywhere by bypassing geo-restrictions. Connect to a US server with a reliable VPN like NordVPN or Surfshark for secure and seamless access.
Is CNN content blocked due to location?
Yes, some CNN content is blocked in certain regions due to geo-restrictions. This often applies to live streams or on-demand videos, which may only be accessible in specific countries like the U.S. Using a VPN can help bypass these restrictions.
Can I watch CNN in the UK?
Yes, you can watch CNN in the UK. While some content may be restricted, you can access it using a VPN. By connecting to a US server, a VPN allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and stream CNN live or access its on-demand content easily.