How to watch French TV abroad with a VPN

Want to watch French TV on vacation? French TV platforms like Canal+, 6Play, TV5 Monde, and Arte are region-locked. We explain how to stream French TV networks abroad with a VPN.

French TV networks use region locks to prevent people from streaming shows from abroad. They do this to comply with licensing agreements that limit where content can be broadcast. If you travel outside of France, you will need a VPN to access your home streaming services.

A VPN is an online privacy tool that allows you to encrypt your internet connection. This stops local WiFi networks, ISPs, government agencies, and hackers from tracking your web habits. It also allows you to conceal your location from the websites you visit and get a French IP address from anywhere in the world.

Not all VPNs have fast servers in France that work to watch French TV platforms like Canal+. You have to pick a provider carefully to enjoy streaming French TV on vacation in Spain, Greece, Italy, or elsewhere. To help you, we’ve explained the entire process and recommended VPNs ideal for French holidaymakers, expats, and even foreign students who want to watch French TV abroad.

How to watch French TV abroad using a VPN

Using a VPN to watch French TV platforms like Canal+, 6Play, TV5 Monde, TF1, and ARTE TV from abroad is very straightforward. As long as you stick to one of the VPNs recommended for French TV, then you will be able to enjoy “Le Zapping” no matter where you travel in the world.

Remember that not all VPNs work to watch French TV abroad. French broadcasters track visitors carefully and will block anybody trying to stream from an IP address that belongs to a VPN. Most VPNs have already been blocked by leading French TV providers.

Thankfully, a few VPNs invest in French servers and protocols that can circumvent French TV provider blocks. You can use the step-by-step guide below to start watching French TV in the US, the UK, Canada, or anywhere else in the world.

How to watch French TV abroad:

1. Start by signing up for a VPN service that has servers in France. We suggest NordVPN due to its exceptional speed, reliability, and strong security features. We can also recommend Surfshark, a cheap alternative, or ExpressVPN, a slightly expensive all-rounder. Our links apply automatic coupon codes that will get you the VPNs at the lowest possible cost.
2. Once you have subscribed to your preferred VPN for French TV, you can download and install the VPN app. Our recommendations have dedicated apps for various devices, ensuring compatibility with smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and more.
3. Open the VPN application and connect to a server in France. As soon as the VPN connects, you can log in to any French TV platform to start streaming. Later in this guide, we list French TV services that you can enjoy with a VPN. 

If you have any trouble logging into a French TV channel’s website while connected to your VPN, then we recommend that you clear your cookies and cache. Trackers left in your browser during previous browsing sessions can conflict with your VPN. Failing that, contact your VPN’s customer service.

What are the best VPNs to watch French TV?

Below, we have included a list of the best VPNs to watch French TV abroad. Our recommendations were selected because they reliably access French TV from abroad. They are also fantastic all-rounders that can be trusted to give you online privacy.

The best VPNs to watch French TV overseas:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN to stream French TV. Has more than 230 servers in France. Fast WireGuard protocol is ideal for streaming. Strong no-logs policy and a kill switch. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: An excellent budget-friendly VPN for French TV. Allows unlimited device connections. Fast speeds for watching French TV abroad, at work, or on campus. 24/7 live chat support and a no-logs policy.
3. ExpressVPN: Offers fast, reliable servers in France and a global network of over 3,000 servers in 94+ countries. Boasts excellent apps, 24/7 support, and high-end encryption for a seamless experience.
4. CyberGhost VPN: Easy for beginners to use. Features 850+ servers in France and over 9,000 globally, ensuring high speeds and unlimited bandwidth for streaming. Robust security and includes a strict no-logs policy.
5. AtlasVPN: Unlimited connection limit for streaming French TV on any number of devices simultaneously. Servers in 44+ countries, including France. Includes 24/7 support and secures your data with high-end encryption.

Summary Table

Best VPNs for French TV – testing methodology

Choosing a VPN to enjoy French TV while abroad can be challenging, especially for newcomers. Most VPNs have already been blocked by French TV platforms. 

Complicating matters further, many VPNs face critical issues such as DNS leaks, insufficient encryption, or vulnerabilities that jeopardize online security and privacy. These drawbacks make the majority of VPNs unfit for purpose. 

At BleepingComputer, we exclusively recommend VPN services that provide all the fundamentals required to gain watertight online privacy at home, at work, or when using public WiFi. We test for leaks, analyze the privacy policy, and check the encryption.

Our recommended VPNs have undergone testing to ensure seamless access to French TV content from any location. Below, we've highlighted the key criteria we used to pick the best VPNs for watching French TV. For more information about our process, please refer to our methodology article.

• Boasts servers optimized for streaming French TV from abroad.
• Ensures fast connection speeds for HD streaming of French TV content without buffering.
• Employs robust security and privacy features, guaranteeing secure internet access from any location.
• Compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and more.
• Offers a money-back guarantee, allowing you to test the VPN on your own devices.
• Provides a diverse selection of servers for accessing other popular international services like Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, etc.
• Delivers platform-specific apps that prioritize robust encryption for your data.
• Adheres to a strict no-logging policy, ensuring the VPN never retains records of your online activities.
• Offers reliable customer support for any assistance you may need.
• Undergoes thorough testing for DNS and IP leaks to ensure the security of your connection.
• Implements strong AES-256 or Chacha20 encryption to safeguard your data within a secure tunnel, protecting it from potential eavesdroppers.

In addition to the features mentioned above, our top three picks have also completed full third-party audits of their apps, networks, and policies. This means that you don't need to take the VPN's claims on faith because the VPN service has been verified by a trusted security auditing firm.

To ensure we only recommend the safest VPNs of all, our top three picks also have networks that run on diskless servers. These servers run in RAM, so they are in a state of content flux and can be erased remotely in case of an emergency.  

Watch French TV at work or on campus

Besides allowing you to access your favorite French language streaming services outside of France, a VPN also comes in handy for watching TV while in your home country. Whether you are at work, on campus, or trying to stream on public transport a VPN can help. 

Many employers, colleges, universities, and public hotspots in France block streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, Salto, MyCanal, Twitch, and many others. They often block game servers, social media sites, and anything else that could distract you when you are supposed to be working or studying.

You can use a VPN to bypass restrictions placed on a local network. By connecting to a server in France, you gain access to all the usual websites and services you use on an unrestricted network.

Thanks to the VPN’s encryption, you can access restricted websites at work or on campus.

VPN for French TV – FAQs

Can I use a free VPN to watch French TV?

A few free VPNs are safe, but it's crucial to be aware of their limitations. Most reputable VPN providers offer free plans to promote their premium plans. To ensure that users upgrade, the free version typically comes with restrictions on locations, speed, and downloads. They also block popular streaming services like Netflix, Canal+, Salto, and Hulu.

As of now, we know of no reliable free VPNs offering servers in France. Thus, you will not be able to use a secure free VPN to get an IP address in France while abroad. Beyond these limitations, the majority of free VPNs found in app stores raise concerns.

Many free VPNs have weak privacy policies that they exploit to track users for profiling purposes. In some cases, these free VPNs monetize user data by selling it to third parties, posing a significant risk to user privacy.

In addition, numerous free VPNs lack reliable encryption and have vulnerabilities in both their applications and servers, including IP and DNS leaks. Some even put spyware in their apps, exposing users' devices to additional tracking. Given these risks and limitations, we strongly encourage you to take extreme caution when considering using a free VPN.  

Can I watch French TV in Canada?

If you are a French Canadian then it is worth considering a VPN to access French TV broadcasts. You already have the advantage of understanding the French language, and there are literally dozens of French TV channels and streaming services available online.

By spoofing your IP address to France, you unlock all of that awesome French-language content. For example, you could use a VPN to watch Dix pour cent, Engrenages, Le Bureau des Légendes, General Directorate of External Security, Versailles, Les Revenants, or any other French TV show that is popular with French speakers in Canada.

What French TV channels and streaming services can I watch with a VPN?

When you connect to a VPN server in France, you can watch any of the streaming services that are region-locked. You can use a VPN to stream any of the platforms listed below:

• My Canal (Canal+)
• Salto
• Molotov
• France24
• BFM TV
• LCP
• TV5 Monde
• Arte
• Euronews
• Eurosport
• RTBF
• France TV (formerly Pluzz)
• TF1
• M6
• France2
• France3
• France4
• France5
• France Ô
• i-Télé
• Gulli
• Play TV

Why is French TV restricted abroad?

TV services and streaming platforms all around the globe (including those in France) are region-locked to comply with licensing agreements, regional broadcasting rights, and content distribution contracts. 

French television networks and streaming services acquire the rights to broadcast content within France only, which is why you will see an error message when traveling abroad. Luckily, anybody visiting or living outside of France can use a VPN to get an IP address back in France. 

A French IP makes you appear to be back home, which allows you to stream region-locked content. The only caveat is that most VPNs have been blocked by French TV platforms, so you must stick to a recommended VPN with French servers that have been tested and are fast enough for streaming without buffering. 

What French shows can I stream with a VPN?

When you connect to a VPN server in France, you can watch any French show. You are free to access any network and subscribe to any French streaming platform. There are hundreds of shows you could watch. Below, we have included a small list of popular French shows:

• Ci tout Commence
• Demain Nous Appartient
• Hunter X Hunter
• Les Invisibles
• Un Si Grand Soleil
• Obsession
• Et toi, c’est pour quand?
• Paris Police 1905
• La Guerre des Mondes
• Bloodlands

Can I watch French Netflix abroad?

Yes. As long as you stick to our top recommendations, you will be able to stream the French version of Netflix while connected to your VPN. Many VPNs have been blocked by Netflix, but our top three providers can consistently provide access to a wide choice of Netflix regions, including France.

Is it legal to watch French TV with a VPN?

Yes. Using a VPN in France is legal. A VPN is a legitimate security tool that anybody can use to gain online privacy, protection against surveillance capitalism, and security against hackers. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for watching French TV with a VPN, and there is no reason why you should encounter issues while streaming French TV abroad. 

The Terms of Service for many streaming services prohibit the use of VPNs. That is why many VPNs have already been blocked, by leading streaming providers.

Streaming services do not penalize users for VPN use. Instead, they focus on blocking VPN servers. They don’t want to lose customers by blocking individual accounts, after all, you are a paying subscriber and they want to hold onto you.

Regulations on VPN use vary around the globe. In some countries, using a VPN may be against the law for some purposes. For this reason, we recommend that you do your research. We are not lawyers and nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice. 

Can I watch Ligue 1 abroad with a VPN?

Yes. When you connect to a server in France you can stream La Ligue on Amazon Prime Video (the primary broadcaster), Canal+, BeIN Sports, Le Monde, or any other broadcaster that has the rights to the game. A VPN is an easy way to stream French football games while on vacation.