How to watch SBS On Demand outside Australia with a VPN

If you’re trying to watch SBS On Demand from overseas, then a VPN will come in handy. Here’s everything you need to know about the best VPNs for SBS On Demand.

Australians traveling abroad who want to stream SBS On Demand will likely encounter the following error message:

“SBS On Demand content is only available to stream within Australia due to publishing rights.”

Broadcasting restrictions are to blame, but there is a way to access streaming services from abroad with a VPN.

VPNs route your traffic through a server in a different location, masking your IP address in the process. The user is assigned with a temporary IP address that matches the server location, allowing access to any blocked sites and services from overseas. 

Performance will differ wildly depending on the VPN you’ve chosen for SBS On Demand. Most are too slow for smooth streaming, and some providers struggle to access any geo-restricted content. 

We’ve taken the time to put together a detailed list of the best VPNs for the job. We’ve also included a brief roundup of each provider below.

The best VPNs for SBS On Demand outside of Australia:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for watching SBS On Demand from abroad. Hundreds of Australian servers to choose from, great streaming support, fast speeds, strong security, and unique features. Offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 
2. Surfshark: Our top budget VPN for watching SBS On Demand. Servers in multiple Australian cities, streaming access, audited no-logs policy, and unlimited simultaneous device connections. 
3. ExpressVPN: Server locations in six Australian cities, beginner-friendly apps for all devices, and great for accessing geo-restricted content. 
4. CyberGhost: Streaming optimized servers, simple apps, strong security, and affordable deals. 
5. Proton VPN: Advanced features include Secure Core servers and port forwarding, and free locations can’t be used for streaming SBS On Demand.
6. IPVanish: Speedy connections, works with SBS, no device limits, 24/7 support, an a strict no-logs policy. 
7. PrivateVPN: Decent connection speeds, works to access SBS On Demand, solid no-logs policy, and reliable AES encryption.

Summary Table

If you’re in need of a VPN for SBS On Demand, it can be difficult to identify the best provider for the job. Some VPNs only work with a few Australian streaming services, and others won’t be able to access any platforms whatsoever.

We’ve narrowed the field with our inclusion criteria. Here are some of the non-negotiable characteristics we looked for when picking out the best providers for SBS On Demand:

• Servers in Australia are necessary for watching TV from the region while overseas, whether it’s via SBS On Demand or another platform. 
• Connection speeds will dictate how efficiently the user is able to perform any online task, and are especially important for streaming content. 
• Streaming access, as well as allowing the user to bypass SBS On Demand restrictions, ensures the provider works with other Australian sites and services from abroad. 
• Privacy and security, including everything from notable features to available protocols.
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network and must have had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party.

For more information about the specific criteria we used for picking the best VPNs for SBS On Demand, check out the testing methodology section found later in this article.

Best VPNs for watching SBS On Demand abroad

In this section, we review each VPN in more detail, so you can make an informed decision about which provider suits your needs the best.

NordVPN can access a long list of Australian streaming services, and it’s our top recommendation for watching content via SBS On Demand. The provider makes it easy to bypass any geo-restrictions. You’ll find Australian server locations to pick from in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. 

Along with SBS On Demand, Netflix, Stan, and more Aussie services, NordVPN also works with international platforms like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Prime Video. Average server speeds amount to roughly 200 Mbps, so it’s not going to struggle when accessing HD streams, even from abroad. 

In terms of the basics, it has watertight 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a system-wide kill switch. NordVPN supports torrenting and the provider has been fully audited. 

You’re spoiled for choice in terms of advanced features, including Double VPN and Onion Over VPN. SmartPlay is Nord’s take on Smart DNS, while Meshnet allows the user to create private, encrypted tunnels between trusted devices, even without a subscription. Dedicated servers are helpful if you’d like an Australian IP address that isn’t being used by anyone else. 

NordVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Fire devices. It allows for six simultaneous connections.

THE BEST VPN FOR SBS ON DEMAND: NordVPN is a powerful all-rounder that makes it easy to stream Australian content from abroad. Access to SBS On Demand, and unique features like Meshnet, SmartPlay, and an audited no-logs policy. Comes with a simple risk-free 30-day money back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

Surfshark users can watch SBS content from abroad with no hassle. You’ll find servers in 100+ countries, including Australian locations in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth.

As our top budget pick, Surfshark matches up to more expensive VPNs in most respects, whether it’s access to streaming sites or notable features.

Along with SBS On Demand and Netflix Australia, it works with the likes of Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. It comes with an audited no logs policy, a kill switch, split tunneling, MultiHop, and obfuscation. The Cleanweb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malware. 

The ability to connect to Surfshark with an unlimited number of devices at the same time is a major perk, allowing the user to share with others without having to worry about any restrictions. 

Speeds won’t let you down when streaming SBS On Demand content, with Surfshark averaging 190 Mbps during testing. As well as apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Fire devices, there’s further support for Linux and routers. 

THE BEST BUDGET VPN FOR SBS ON DEMAND: Surfshark is a viable solution for anyone who wants an affordable VPN for streaming SBS On Demand from abroad. Unlimited devices, servers in 100+ countries, WireGuard, and streaming support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is one of the best providers for streaming, allowing the user to watch content on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world. Servers in 105+ countries include extensive coverage in Australia, and you’ll be able to pick from locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.

The proprietary Lightway protocol is a lightweight alternative to OpenVPN. Speeds averaged 175 Mbps in our tests, meaning it’s quick enough to stream 4K video with ease. 

To that end, it works with 24+ Netflix catalogs, including Australia's. There’s further support for Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Sky TV, YouTube, and more, including Smart DNS support.

Customer service is available 24/7 via live chat. ExpressVPN makes apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and Fire TV. Custom router firmware lets you install the VPN on compatible models, and browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave. You’ll be able to use a single account with up to eight devices at the same time when you sign up to a longer subscription. 

RELIABLE SBS ON DEMAND VPN: ExpressVPN is a tried and tested provider with an uncanny ability to access most geo-blocked streaming services from abroad. Reliable speeds, Smart DNS, and custom protocol. Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

CyberGhost openly advertises the ability to stream Australian TV shows and movies with SBS On Demand. It works with a long list of services in the region, including 9Now, 10 Play, and Netflix Australia from abroad.

More than 200 servers reside in Australia alone, which means you’ll never need to worry about a location being overloaded. In total, CyberGhost hosts 10,000+ servers in 100+ countries. As for speeds, it’s quick enough (296 Mbps) to stream content in 4K with ease. 

The provider is on the more affordable end of the pricing scale, so it’s easier to forgive a few missing features such as obfuscation. 

CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are fully owned, operated, and controlled by the provider. It comes with ad blocking and malware filtering, as well as strong encryption, a kill switch, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection.

You’ll find CyberGhost apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire devices. 

AFFORDABLE SBS ON DEMAND VPN: CyberGhost is one of the more popular providers on the market, offering fast speeds and affordable subscriptions. Streaming-optimized servers make it easy for new users. Hundreds of Australian servers to choose from. Comes with an extended 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

Proton VPN offers a strong combination of privacy features and streaming access. Australian servers are found in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide, and they can be used to access a wide range of geo-restricted services from abroad. 

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use Proton VPN’s free servers for watching SBS On Demand. Free locations are limited to the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan, while the fastest speeds (320 Mbps) and streaming access are reserved for paid users. 

There are numerous premium features, including port forwarding, split tunneling, and Secure Core servers. You’ll find support for Tor over VPN, while NetShield works to block malware, ads, and trackers. It comes with a watertight no logs policy, ensuring peace of mind when it comes to your personal data. 

You’ll find Proton VPN apps for all popular platforms, and you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time. 

ADVANCED SBS ON DEMAND VPN: Proton VPN can be slightly daunting for new users, but there are lots of advanced features that have helped it to earn a reputation as one of the best in the business. Port forwarding, streaming support, free servers, blistering speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

IPVanish is a capable Australia VPN with 2,200+ servers to pick from in 75+ locations worldwide. These include Perth, Sydney, Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

It offers 256-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, and leak protection. You’ll also find split tunneling and obfuscation, but it’s missing Smart DNS, Tor over VPN, and ad-blocking. 

IPVanish’s average speeds exceed 250 Mbps, so it’s still worth considering if you’re in need of some of the fastest connections on the market. It comes with a no logs policy, but it is worth mentioning that the provider is based in the US. 

You’ll find a selection of IPVanish apps available for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices. 

UNLIMITED VPN CONNECTIONS: IPVanish ticks every box if you’re in need of a streaming solution for SBS On Demand. Impressive speeds, no logs, unlimited device connections, 24/7 support, strong security features, and a simple 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

PrivateVPN is another great option for streaming via SBS On Demand from abroad. You’ll find Aussie locations in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. The provider doesn’t have the most servers (200+) compared to the alternatives listed above, but it's still ideal for numerous Australian streaming platforms. 

You’ll find locations in 63+ countries, working to access popular international services like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. 

PrivateVPN has great support options, with developers who are happy to get to the bottom of any issues via live chat. Features include port forwarding, DNS leak protection, StealthVPN, 256-bit AES encryption, and a kill switch.

Average speeds of roughly 40 Mbps are slightly disappointing, but it’s still fast enough to avoid any slowdown while streaming. 

There are PrivateVPN apps for all major operating systems and it allows for 10 simultaneous connections. 

GREAT FOR SECURE STREAMING: PrivateVPN has decent connection speeds and works well with restricted platforms like SBS On Demand. Australian servers in four cities, no logs, and simple apps for all devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for SBS On Demand

Rather than picking out providers at random, we’ve compiled a comprehensive VPN testing methodology. We test and compare the best VPNs in the business. 

Only providers dedicated to digital privacy, with excellent usability and optimal performance, can make it onto our list. Below, you can see the criteria we used to pick the best VPNs for SBS On Demand.

• Servers: Servers in Australia are necessary if you’d like to access streaming services like SBS On Demand securely with a VPN. As well as Australian locations for streaming, we’ve factored in the strength of the entire network. This helps if you’d like to access services in other countries too.
• Speeds and performance: No matter what you plan to use a VPN for, connection speeds will have an impact on almost any online task. Of course, speeds are always important when streaming, so the provider must offer reliable connections. 
• Privacy and security: How does the VPN perform in terms of security and privacy? We look at features, their implementation, and everything from leak protection to encryption and protocols. 
• Third-party audits: Trust is the foundation of the value that VPNs provide. You are essentially placing more faith in your VPN provider than you are in your ISP. Almost every provider says they are a no logs VPN. The only ways to test this claim are either through the courts or through audits. We will only consider providers for our top three positions if they have undergone infrastructure audits from a reputable third party. While this isn't foolproof, it's the closest the industry has to a verification process for logging policies. Independent audits are always important.
• Diskless infrastructure: Again, this is a prerequisite to be considered for one of the top three positions on BleepingComputer. While the data stored on a VPN server should be minimal, it could, theoretically, be accessed if the servers were seized or hacked. Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers and it is wiped on shutdown. It can also easily be wiped as a part of regular security procedures.

How to use a VPN to watch SBS On Demand 

It doesn’t take long to get started if you want to set up a provider to work with Australian TV platforms like SBS On Demand. We’ve put together a quick guide to take you through the necessary steps. 

Here’s how to set up a VPN to watch SBS On Demand:

1. Select a VPN provider that works with SBS On Demand. We’ve listed several recommendations above. 
2. Sign up with the provider, and make a note of your login details.
3. Download the relevant VPN app to your device.
4. Open the VPN app, and sign in. 
5. Connect to a server location in Australia.
6. Open the SBS On Demand app. You should now be able to watch your preferred content. 

That’s all it takes to get started, and you’ll be able to access a long list of blocked Australian sites and services while traveling abroad. If you’re having any trouble, try deleting your cookies to ensure that SBS On Demand doesn’t remember your real location. Alternatively, try another Australian VPN server, or get in contact with support staff for more help.

Watch SBS On Demand outside Australia: FAQs 

Can I use a free VPN to watch SBS On Demand? 

It’s inadvisable to use a free VPN if you’re aiming to watch SBS On Demand. The majority of free providers use IP addresses that have been blocked by the streaming platform, making the service inaccessible from abroad. 

Free VPNs tend to struggle when it comes to connection speeds, and bandwidth is often capped. Finally, free providers are often a privacy risk, and it’s not unheard of for free VPNs to sell user data or lack basic encryption.

What can I watch on SBS On Demand?

You’ll be able to catch up with a long list of TV shows and movies, as well as live stream channels including SBS, Viceland, and SBS World Movies. Here are some of the popular TV shows you can expect to watch with SBS On Demand:

• Tin Star 
• Sorry For Your Loss 
• Dark Winds
• The Pet Price 
• Narcos 
• The X-Files 
• Blackwater
• River 
• Change
• Letterkenny 
• Broadchurch 
• Taskmaster 
• Halt And Catch Fire 
• Borgen 
• Wellington Paranormal

Is it legal to watch SBS On Demand with a VPN?

It’s legal insofar as you won’t be breaking the law if you use a VPN to stream in most countries worldwide. VPNs are legal in regions like the US, the UK, and Europe, but there are some exceptions in the Middle East, Russia, and China. Make sure to check out the local laws before downloading a VPN app to your device.

Where can I watch SBS On Demand with a VPN?

You’ll be able to watch SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world with a VPN as long as it has Australian servers that can bypass restrictions. You can watch from the US, the UK, Europe, Asia, and more regions worldwide.

Will SBS ban the user if it detects a VPN?

SBS is unlikely to ban the user if it detects a VPN. Instead, broadcasters and streaming services tend to target VPN servers in a bid to stop users from accessing content from abroad. Of course, there is a slight chance that SBS could ban your account, even if it is improbable.

Will a VPN for SBS On Demand cause lag?

It’s unlikely that any of the premium providers we’ve mentioned above will cause the user to suffer from any noticeable slowdown while connected to servers in Australia.

There’s always a chance that you’ll see a minor loss of speed due to the VPN’s encryption and additional routing, but you’ll be able to stream via SBS On Demand in HD with no issues using our recommended providers. We noted the average connection speeds recorded during testing to give you a better idea of what to expect.