How to Watch TVNow Outside Germany in 2023 (Easy Guide)

Due to licensing restrictions, I can’t watch my favorite shows on TVNow (now RTL+) when I’m outside Germany. This is really frustrating, especially since I travel a lot for work. I really want to keep up with the TVNow shows I love no matter where I might be, so I had to find a solution.

After trying a few methods, I found that connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the easiest way to watch TVNow outside Germany. A VPN redirects your internet traffic to a server in Germany, giving you access to the platform from anywhere.

I tested 30+ VPNs and shortlisted the top 5 that work consistently with TVNow. My top pick is ExpressVPN because of its unbeatable speed and streaming performance. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Watch TVNow with ExpressVPN

 Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch TVNow Outside Germany

Unblock TVNow with ExpressVPN

 The Best VPNs to Watch TVNow in 2023

1. ExpressVPN — Fastest Speeds for Consistently Lag-Free TVNow Streaming Outside Germany

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN has lightning-fast connection speeds. I ran multiple rounds of speed tests on various ExpressVPN servers and consistently got rates of around 300 Mbps. Since you only need 5 Mbps to stream HD shows, you can stream your favorite TVNow (RTL+) series without any buffering or quality drops.

Connecting to an ExpressVPN server protects all your internet activities with AES 256-bit encryption, the same standard used by the US government to secure classified data. It also concealed my actual location by changing my IP address. I ran DNS leak tests on various German servers and found that ExpressVPN’s secure tunnels successfully protected my IP address every single time.

You can get ExpressVPN on a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Android TVs. I like how easy it is to tap ExpressVPN on your device, connect to a server in Germany, and start streaming. It’s also one of the best VPNs to access global Netflix libraries, including US, UK, and DE, and other streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and more.

When you purchase an ExpressVPN plan, you’ll also get 8 simultaneous device connections, so watching TVNow on all your favorite devices is easy. If you like to stream shows while you travel, you can connect your mobile device on the go, then continue watching the same show on a Windows laptop or Android TV when you arrive at your destination.

All these features come for a price: ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than other premium VPNs. The good news is you can save a lot if you go for a long-term plan. Purchasing ExpressVPN’s 1-year + 3 months plan means that you can save up to 49% compared to shorter-term plans.

Best of all, its 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to get ExpressVPN with TVNow totally risk-free. If it’s not the right service for you, it’s easy to claim a refund through live chat. To test its customer support and guarantee policy, I claimed a refund via live chat 27 days into my subscription plan. A support agent approved my request in a matter of minutes and the refund was back in my account within 5 days — I appreciate how fast and hassle-free the entire process was.

Access TVNow with ExpressVPN

2. CyberGhost — 1600+ Servers in Germany Provide Reliable Access to TVNow

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	9,600+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost offers a vast network of 9,600 servers in 91 countries, including over 1600 in Germany. There are more than enough server options to choose from, so my team quickly found servers that work with TVNow (RTL+). In the unlikely event one doesn’t work, simply switch to another.

CyberGhost also has streaming-optimized servers designed to access German platforms such as TVNow DE, Netflix DE, ZDF, and 7TV, making it a great option for subscribers who often travel abroad.

On multiple servers, CyberGhost showed great connection speeds — around 200-250 Mbps. This is slightly slower than ExpressVPN’s 300 Mbps average but still well above TVNow’s recommended 6 Mbps for streaming. I streamed episode after episode without interruptions. CyberGhost’s speeds are fast enough to ensure you won’t experience any playback errors in the middle of an episode.

One CyberGhost subscription allows 7 simultaneous device connections at the same time, making it a good choice for a household VPN. It’s compatible with all the devices and operating systems TVNow works with, and then some — you can even use CyberGhost on devices commonly incompatible with VPNs (including Playstation, Wii, Apple TV, and more) via the My Smart DNS feature.

Its short-term plans can be quite pricey but, CyberGhost’s longer-term plans make it one of the cheapest monthly VPNs on the market: at $2.11/month, you will be saving up to 84% if you purchase the 2-year + 3 months plan, making it an excellent long-term VPN option.

Using its generous 45-day money-back guarantee, you can try CyberGhost out in confidence. If you decide that you don’t like it, you’re eligible for a refund. I tested CyberGhost’s money-back guarantee by asking for a refund (via live chat) 15 days after purchase, and my request was approved within minutes. The refund was credited back to my account in 4 days.

Unblock TVNow with CyberGhost

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — “Small Packets” Option for High-Speed, Reliable Access to TVNow

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Private Internet Access’s (PIA) “small packets” option boosts your speeds for streaming TVNow (RTL+) while using the WireGuard protocol. During testing, the default OpenVPN protocol setting yielded speeds of around 60-70 Mbps; switching to WireGuard and enabling “small packets” gave me speeds of around 80 Mbps. This is a good go-to option if you’re connected to a slightly-slower WiFi connection, as you’ll still be able to stream without any irritating lag.

While I couldn’t find exactly how many servers it has in Germany, PIA has the largest global VPN network of 35,000+ servers in 84 countries. You can choose between servers in two German cities: Frankfurt and Berlin. Each test my team and I conducted proved that its servers have reliable connections, and I never experienced any sudden drops in connection.

PIA has a kill switch feature that disconnects your device from the internet when the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP address from leaking. Its “Advanced Kill Switch” option stops your device from automatically connecting to the internet before you launch the PIA app. This is perfect if you’re traveling through public WiFi hotspots.

However, keep in mind that PIA is headquartered in the US and is a part of the 5 Eyes Alliance. This means that if authorities request your data, PIA is expected to hand it over. To reassure its users, PIA has made it clear that they do not store any user information and have proven that claim in court when called to testify against customers.

Although the VPN is already wallet-friendly, you can save 82% off your subscription with its latest deal. Plans start from just $2.11/month.

Try PIA out yourself: it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. When I asked for a refund via PIA’s live chat feature, the representative asked me for a reason (I explained that I didn’t need a VPN anymore). They then promptly approved my request. The full refund was in my account within a week.

Watch TVNow with PIA

4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	5,700+
📱Devices	6
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly.

I was particularly impressed with the high performance of every server I tested. Just because a VPN has thousands of servers doesn’t mean they all work. Servers can still struggle to work — and some can even fail to connect completely. However, NordVPN’s servers work with Netflix for smooth, buffer-free streaming.

I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it mostly worked with Netflix, it sometimes had issues and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:

• AES 256-bit encryption
• kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenly
• built-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blocker
• fully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN

In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server.

With plans that cost as little as $2.99 per month, it’s easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested this to ensure that you’ll really get your money back. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days.

Get NordVPN today

5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	3,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out.

I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality.

When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:

• AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android users
• Wireguard VPN protocol enabled by default
• diskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)
• kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)
• IP and DNS leak protection

Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account.

While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet.

You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.21. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!).

Get Surfshark today

6. PrivateVPN — HQN Servers for Guaranteed Bufferless Access to TVNow

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	200+
📱Devices	10
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PrivateVPN’s smaller network of 200+ server options in 63 countries use high-quality bandwidth (also known as HQN), resulting in consistently stable connections. I got speeds of around 45-60 Mbps while connected to servers in Germany, and I never experienced drops in connections or interruptions.

It uses bandwidth purchased directly from IP transit providers (not hosting companies) to offer higher-speed connections to their users, so you’ll get to enjoy TVNow (RTL+) shows on PrivateVPN’s German servers without any issues.

The Stealth VPN function employs obfuscation techniques to disguise your internet traffic as regular, non-VPN data. This enables you to access TVNow without detection. While this feature may lead to a slight reduction in speed, its primary purpose is to provide you with immediate access to geo-restricted platforms and prevent bothersome warning messages from appearing on your screen.

I’m situated in Sweden, and like PIA, this situation gives rise to privacy considerations. Sweden is associated with the 14 Eyes alliance, encompassing the member states of the 5 Eyes alliance and specific EU nations. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to emphasize that PrivateVPN strictly adheres to a no-logs policy, explicitly stating that no user data is kept. Consequently, even if under surveillance, no individual data would be attainable to any surveillance entity.

You can even try PrivateVPN for free by taking advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. Watch all of your favorite TVNow shows, and if you’re unsatisfied, you can claim a refund via email. I tried it, and the entire process took around 24 hours. After confirming my cancellation, I was fully refunded in 5 days.

Access TVNow with PrivateVPN

7. IPVanish — Stream TVNow on All Your Devices Simultaneously

Good Choice

Good Choice

📍Servers	2,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

IPVanish’s unlimited simultaneous device connections let your entire household enjoy TVNow (RTL+) shows at the same time. You’ll be able to stream all your favorite TVNow series on holiday while your household members at home connect and protect their devices using the same IPVanish account. IPVanish is a solid choice if you’re looking to share the costs of a VPN.

I have found a VPN that stands out in terms of speed when it comes to using TVNow. In my experience, I achieved impressive speeds ranging between 60-70 Mbps, ensuring a seamless streaming experience without any buffering. With this VPN, you can enjoy uninterrupted and high-quality streaming, allowing you to binge-watch an entire season of your favorite show without any disruptions or compromises in visual or audio quality.

Another thing I liked about IPVanish is the interface: the list view displays information such as ping rate and server load to help you choose the best server. IPVanish has 55+ servers in Frankfurt, so this comes in handy — you can find the one with the lowest ping rate and server load to ensure optimal streaming speeds.

Regrettably, IPVanish doesn’t provide access to numerous platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Go, or various German streaming platforms including ARD, ZDF, DAZN, and Pro Sieben. Nevertheless, if your requirement is limited to accessing TVNow, IPVanish remains a viable choice. For consistent access to a wider range of streaming platforms, opting for ExpressVPN would be more advisable.

Prices start at $2.99 per month for the 2-year plan. Considering its unlimited device connection feature, you can split costs with as many people as you’d like — IPVanish’s rates provide excellent value for money.

Plus, it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try IPVanish with your TVNow subscription, then claim a refund if you’re unsatisfied. Requesting the refund can be done quickly via your account dashboard. It only took a couple of clicks to reset my account status, and I was fully refunded after a few hours.

Watch TVNow With IPVanish

 How a VPN Helps You Watch TVNow Outside Germany

Due to broadcasting rights, TVNow (RTL+) restricts the viewing of its shows to specific locations within Germany. If you travel a lot, expect to see this message whenever you try to play a geoblocked video:

Moreover, your internet service provider (ISP) or even TVNow themselves can accidentally block your IP address while you’re in Germany. To regain your viewing rights in the event of an ISP block, you’ll need a high-quality VPN.

A VPN redirects your connection through encrypted servers located in your chosen country, giving you an IP address from that location. Your new fully-encrypted German IP address unblocks TVNow and secures your internet data, so you can make the most of the TVNow streaming plan you’ve already paid for.

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for TVNow (and regularly tops other best VPNs lists, too) for good reason: it allows me to enjoy all of my favorite TVNow shows in stunning HD.

Best of all, you can try ExpressVPN with TVNow completely risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and if you decide that it’s not for you, you can easily claim a refund. I tested the process myself and received a full refund in just 6 days.

Try ExpressVPN with TVNow

 How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching TVNow

There are hundreds of VPNs that have servers in Germany, but not all of them offer high-speed access to TVNow (now RTL+). I made sure that all of the VPNs recommended above come with:

• Multiple servers in Germany — The top VPNs have German servers that reliably work with TVNow.
• Superfast server speeds — The recommended VPNs have fast speeds so you can enjoy bufferless streaming in HD.
• Advanced security features — All of the listed servers come with top security and privacy to protect your data at all times.
• Reliable customer support — In the unlikely event you run into a problem, customer support is easy to contact and helpful.
• Money-back guarantee — All of the top VPNs give you enough time to test how well the VPN works with TVNow and offer a full refund if you’re unhappy.

The top choice for TVNow is ExpressVPN because of its blazing-fast speeds and reliable German servers. Plus, you can test ExpressVPN with TVNow at no risk to you. Thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can claim a refund if you’re not satisfied with its performance.

Get ExpressVPN to watch TVNow

 How to Securely Sign up for TVNow

You can sign up for TVNow (now RTL+) via prepaid card, credit card/direct debit, or Paypal. Remember that you need to sign up for TVNow before you travel because signing up for TVNow outside the EU while using a VPN could breach its terms and conditions.

Prepaid Card Method

Credit Card/Direct Debit Method

Paypal

Watch TVNow with ExpressVPN

 How to Watch TVNow on Different Devices

There are multiple ways to watch your favorite shows on TVNow (RTL+) online, as it works on various devices, including desktops/laptops, smartphones, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android TV, and more.

Unblock TVNow with ExpressVPN

 FAQs on Watching TVNow With a VPN

Access TVNow with ExpressVPN

 Don’t Miss Your Favorite Shows on TVNow While Abroad

TVNow (now RTL+) is home to many amazing shows (that you won’t be able to find anywhere else), so it would be a shame to not have access to it just because you’re traveling. A VPN will allow you to make the most of the streaming subscription you’ve already paid for and let you access TVNow from anywhere.

After rounds of extensive testing, I found that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching TVNow outside Germany. Not only does it offer the fastest speeds for streaming, but it’s also compatible with most major operating systems. Its state-of-the-art security features keep you protected when connecting to WiFi hotspots in airports and hotels. Try ExpressVPN with TVNow totally risk-free. It comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, so if you decide it’s not for you, you can simply claim a full refund. When I tried it, I had my money back in 5 days.

Watch TVNow with ExpressVPN

Summary — These Are the Best VPNs to Watch TVNow in 2023

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Choice

1.

9.8

         

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

         

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$2.11 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

         

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$2.11 / month Save 82%

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4.

9.4

         

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$2.99 / month Save 77%

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5.

9.4

         

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$2.21 / month Save 45%

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