Top10VPN is editorially independent. We may earn commissions if you buy a VPN via our links.
The Best VPNs to Watch Disney+ & How to Fix VPN Errors
Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio
The best VPN to change your Disney+ region and watch geo-restricted content titles is Surfshark, thanks to its unique ability to unblock the streaming service on every single VPN server. While its speeds aren’t as quick as ExpressVPN’s, we still enjoyed smooth streaming without buffering or sudden interruptions.
Disney+ is available in most countries, although not all. Plus, every region has its own library of TV shows, movies and documentaries.
For example, if you’re in the US you’ll see much fewer titles than if you were located in the UK or in Canada.
Disney+ restricts access to your country’s content library by looking up your IP address. You can fix this by using a VPN for streaming, which changes your IP location and allows you to bypass these geo-restrictions.
The problem is many VPNs still can’t get around Disney+’s VPN blocking systems, which constantly detect and blacklist the VPN IP addresses of most providers.
To avoid the deep frustration of getting a VPN that doesn’t work, use one of the services we recommend in this guide.
Summary: The Best Disney+ VPNs
Out of the 61 VPNs we tested with Disney+, you can’t go wrong using the three below:
If you already have a VPN but it’s not working with Disney+, try one of our fixes (as long as your VPN isn’t one we suggest avoiding).
Why Trust Us?
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
The Best Disney+ VPNs Reviewed
Sadly, not all VPNs work with Disney+. When testing 61 VPNs with the streaming service, we found that many triggered error codes and connection issues.
Our chosen VPNs bypassed Disney Plus’ geo-restrictions consistently, avoiding error codes and delivering a flawless streaming experience.
Use the table below to compare our three recommended VPNs based on unblocking capabilities, international speeds, cheapest monthly price, and more.
Surfshark has been our top choice for Disney+ since the streaming service launched. What puts the VPN in top spot is the fact that it unblocks Disney+ on every server in its network.
We easily bypassed the content platform’s geo-blocks at every attempt and, for instance, accessed the UK Star content hub from the United States with ease.
Surfshark bypasses Disney+ and Star geo-restrictions every time.
Fast Global Speeds for High Quality Streaming
No matter which Surfshark server we connected to, we experienced very good picture quality.
All the content we watched was buffer-free and with no instances of lag or low resolution, which we did encounter with slower VPN services, like VPNUnlimited.
We ran Surfshark through our speed tests and found that it has an average international download speed of 83Mbps, which is a loss of just 17%.
While it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN’s 83Mbps average speed, Surfshark will still deliver high-quality streaming without any frustrating buffering.
User-Friendly Apps for Streaming & No Device Limit
Unlike ExpressVPN, Surfshark doesn’t have a device limit, which means you can use the VPN on as many devices as you want using the same account details.
Surfshark has apps for all the major streaming devices, including Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV Stick. You won’t encounter Error Code 83 for device compatibility issues.
Using Surfshark on a Chromecast with Google TV.
Alongside this are user-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, as well as the option to set up Smart DNS for Smart TVs and gaming systems.
Cheaper than Most Other VPNs
Surfshark costs only $1.99/mo over 28 months compared to ExpressVPN’s $4.99/mo over 28 months. This represents incredible value if you’re planning to use Surfshark solely with Disney+.
And, unlike many other reputable VPNs we used, including NordVPN, you can use Surfshark for free for 7 days if you sign up via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
ExpressVPNunblocked all available Disney+ libraries and the Star content hub in our tests.
Similarly to Surfshark, ExpressVPN is exceptional at unblocking Disney+ on its US VPN servers. The VPN worked at every attempt and each time we experienced sharp picture quality.
ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use apps are effective at accessing Disney+ from anywhere.
Apps for Router & Every Streaming Device
No matter which device we wanted to stream Disney+ on, ExpressVPN had built a user-friendly and effective app. It works with Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and Android TV, all of which are consistent in design and access Disney+ without issue.
It’s also the only VPN that has an app for router. The result is that you can stream your chosen Disney+ library on any device connected to your home WiFi, including Smart TVs and Roku devices.
You can install ExpressVPN on up to 8 devices at once. This isn’t as generous as Surfshark’s unlimited device allowance, but is enough for most users.
Fast Speeds & Excellent Customer Support
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, and currently the best VPN we’ve reviewed overall. Connecting internationally, ExpressVPN averages 85Mbps (out of 100Mbps).
In the extremely rare instance an ExpressVPN server is blocked by Disney+, you can contact ExpressVPN’s customer support via its 24/7 live chat service. The company’s support agents are well prepared and will quickly tell you which servers currently work.
More Expensive than Surfshark
ExpressVPN’s main drawback is its price: $4.99 per month at its cheapest. Although you will get an excellent VPN with superior performances than Surfshark in many areas, it may be too much to spend if you only need a VPN to unblock Disney+.
We recommend taking advantage of ExpressVPN’s 7-day free trial on mobile or getting a subscription and asking for your money back within 30-days. This is a guaranteed refund.
The free version of PrivadoVPN is by far the best free VPN for watching Disney+. The VPN performed exceptionally well for a free VPN, with excellent international speeds and consistent access to Disney+.
PrivadoVPN Free unblocks Disney+ on its free servers.
Works Reliably with Disney+ & Star
PrivadoVPN Free’s server network is limited to 11 countries, so you can only access Disney+ libraries in a select few regions.
However, this is more than enough for most users, especially as it has free servers in the US and one in the UK for easy access to Star from anywhere.
We’ve found that these servers work consistently to access Disney+ libraries and Star content from the US.
10GB Monthly Data Cap
PrivadoVPN’s main drawback is the 10GB monthly data cap, which equates to roughly 4 hours of HD streaming. You also have to refresh the data allowance via your account page manually, which is an inconvenience and unnecessary because no other free VPN does it.
Disappointing Device & Platform Support
PrivadoVPN Free is compatible with popular desktop and mobile devices and also offers apps for Fire TV Stick and Android TV.
However, it falls short by not providing a Smart DNS feature, limiting its usability on devices like Smart TVs and PS5.
Disappointingly, unlike many of the other free VPNs we used, including Windscribe, PrivadoVPN doesn’t offer browser extensions. We had to download the full VPN app to use the service.
In the video below we show you how we used Surfshark to access content available in the UK’s Disney Plus library, but not in the US one.
A VPN allows you to get around Disney+ georestrictions.
Even if you’re in a country where Disney+ is available, the platform is still region locked, so where you are determines what content you can watch. For example, Canada and Australia cannot access FX content on Disney Plus.
Moreover, India’s Disney+ Hotstar has a lot more video content that’s unavailable in the United States.
The differences in Disney+ catalogs are due to licensing agreements that Disney still has in place with other streaming sites.
Once you discover where the missing content is available, you can stream it by connecting your VPN to a server in the same country.
The biggest regional difference is with the Star content hub, which is unavailable to most of the world, including the United States.
Importantly, if you’re already subscribed to Disney+ and are traveling abroad, Disney+ will automatically detect you’re in another country and offers local content.
How to Fix Your VPN Not Working with Disney+
Upon launch, Disney claimed its streaming service was “VPN proof.” That’s not the case, but Disney+ is effective at detecting and blocking many IP addresses associated with VPNs.
If the streaming service detects your VPN connection, you’ll see this message (also known as error code 73): Disney+ is only available in certain regions. Depending on where you are located, you may not be able to access Disney+.
Disney+ tries to detect and block VPNs.
If you’re struggling to stream Disney+ while connected to a VPN, follow the steps listed below to fix the issue:
1. Get a Better VPN
Most often, your Disney Plus issues come from using the wrong VPN. The reality is that many VPNs don’t work with Disney Plus.
Some VPN companies don’t prioritize unblocking streaming services, while others lack the technology and resources to bypass aggressive geo-restrictions.
The most effective fix to unblock Disney Plus is to get a working VPN, with a track record of smoothly accessing the service.
Our tests show that Surfshark is the best VPN for streaming Disney Plus. It’s consistent, comes with a user-friendly Smart DNS, helpful customer support, and a cost-effective price tag.
2. Switch VPN Servers
If you’re already using a good VPN for Disney+, changing server is a quick and easy way to resolve a Disney+ connection issue.
Disney+ tries to detect and ban VPN connections, so switching servers to an undetected one can fix the problem.
You won’t know which server will work, so there may be some trial and error involved.
Good VPNs get around streaming region blocks by offering thousands of updated servers that are designed to avoid detection. Surfshark, for example, manages to avoid Disney Plus blocks on all of its servers.
3. Clear Browser Cookies and Cache
Websites can collect location data through cookies and cached files. If you’re seeing an error code when using Disney Plus, like Error Code 22 or 31, it could be the service has detected your real geolocation based on these web identifiers.
Connecting to a VPN server does not remove cookies. You have to delete them from your browser.
How to clear your cache in Google Chrome:
Open Google Chrome. Click the three dot icon at the top-right of the window.
Select More Tools > Clear browsing data, then from the drop-down menu select All time.
Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Tap Clear data.
Relaunch Google Chrome and head to the Disney+ website.
If you’re watching Disney Plus on Android or iOS you have to restart your mobile device to clear cookies and cache.
Alternatively, your browser’s incognito mode provides a private browsing window that removes most forms of online tracking, too.
4. Test for IP and DNS Leaks
Disney Plus won’t work if your VPN is leaking data.
Sometimes DNS requests and real IP addresses fall outside the encrypted VPN connection, revealing your true location and triggering Disney Plus Error Code 22 or 73.
This happens more with free VPNs. The best VPNs have leak protection built into their service.
You can test whether a VPN has leaks that reveal your true location.
If your VPN is leaking, check to see whether there are leak protection features in your VPN’s settings, and ask your VPN provider what can be done. Otherwise, we suggest using another, safer VPN service.
5. Contact the VPN's Customer Support
One of the quickest ways to troubleshoot a problem with your Disney Plus VPN is by contacting the VPN service’s support team.
A customer support agent will be able to recommend the best VPN servers to access Disney Plus, or tell you if the service is experiencing any technical issues.
Most top VPNs have 24/7 live chat support, which is by far the easiest way to get assistance.
In the video below, we contacted a Surfshark support agent and he quickly recommended a number of servers to watch US Disney+ from.
Live chat support agents are useful for finding the best Disney+ VPN server.
How to Access the Star Content Hub in the US
The Star content hub contains more content owned by Disney, such as Grey’s Anatomy and Only Murders in the Building. It serves as an international counterpart to Hulu and is available in regions such as Australasia, Canada, Europe, and the UK.
In the United States, Star content is only available via a Hulu subscription, either independently or as part of a Disney+ bundle. However, this bundle costs more than a regular Disney+ subscription.
Where Star is available, it’s included free of charge in the standard Disney+ subscription. By changing your IP address to a region where Star is available, a VPN enables US-based Disney+ subscribers to access this geo-restricted content at no extra cost.
The video below shows you how to access Star content on Disney+ using a VPN and connecting to a UK server location:
You can access Star on Disney+ from the US by getting a UK or European IP address.
VPNs We Don't Recommend for Disney+
Not every VPN can bypass Disney+’s VPN and proxy detection methods.
Based on our most recent streaming tests, we can confirm the the VPNs below still don’t work with Disney+:
Astrill
Avast VPN
Avira VPN
Betternet
Hola Free VPN
Mullvad
Norton VPN
PIA VPN
PureVPN
TunnelBear
After testing 61 VPN services with Disney Plus, we discovered that only 33 VPNs currently work, and that many of these didn’t work very well across streaming devices, including Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and games consoles.
The table below shows our test results from a selection of popular VPNs we tested with Disney+:
How We Test VPNs for Disney+
We put 61 VPNs through our rigorous VPN testing process, specifically designed for bypassing Disney+’s geo-blocks.
The table below shows how the three VPNs we recommend in this guide performed in relevant testing categories:
Below is a breakdown of how we calculate each individual category rating, and its percentage contribution towards a VPN’s overall rating in relation to Disney+.
1. Unblocks Disney+ (40%)
Test Conducted: We tested 61 VPNs with the standard Disney+ plan to see if it can reliably access the service from other regions.
Why It’s Important: This is essential for accessing Disney+ content from anywhere.
Optimal Result: A VPN that unblocks and streams Disney+ content 100% of the time.
2. Unblocks Star on Disney+ (20%)
Test Conducted: Connected to a UK VPN server and tried streaming Star, the content hub that’s included in certain Disney+ regions but is unavailable in the US.
Why It’s Important: Star allows viewers in the US to access a version of Hulu without having to pay extra for the Disney Bundle.
Optimal Result: A VPN that unblocks and streams the Star hub 100% of the time.
3. Speed (20%)
Test Conducted: We used our own speed testing tool to calculate the average connection speed loss of each VPN while connected to servers in 8 countries.
Why It’s Important: Fast speeds allow you to stream Disney+ and Star content in maximum resolution with no buffering time, leading to a better viewing experience.
Optimal Result: A speed loss no greater than 10% across a VPN’s entire server network.
4. Streaming Device Compatibility (20%)
Test Conducted: We examined each VPNs client suite to see if it offers bespoke apps for streaming devices such as Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, and Smart DNS. We then assessed each app according to how easy they are to install and use for Disney+.
Why It’s Important: The more apps a VPN has the more options you have to stream Disney+ on your chosen device.
Optimal Result: Apps for every major streaming device as well as a Smart DNS feature and a router application.
Data Cap Penalty
We apply a penalty to the VPN’s final overall rating for Disney+ based on its data cap:
Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
1GB or 2GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating
12 Popular Disney+ Catalogs
Disney+ doesn’t host the same content across its catalogs. Some libraries have hundreds less titles than the most extensive ones.
The table below shows the number of Disney+ titles available in 12 popular country catalogs:
Disney+ Region
Number of Titles
Australia
2,991
United Kingdom
2,935
Philippines
2,890
Canada
2,887
Germany
2,631
Spain
2,544
Italy
2,448
Netherlands
2,459
France
2,316
Turkey
2,164
United States
2,026
South Korea
1,754
The United Kingdom and Australia libraries are the richest catalogs available, with over 2,900 titles available.
The same can’t be said about the American one, though. Because it lacks access to the Star content hub, it has just over 2,000 titles.
N.B. The number of titles available in each country changes all the time. The figures quoted above were correct as of publication.
FAQs
Will Disney+ Ban Me for Using a VPN?
No, Disney+ will not suspend and/or deactivate your account if you’re caught using a VPN. We’ve been testing numerous VPNs with Disney+ since 2019, and our original account remains active.
How Does Disney+ Know I'm Using a VPN?
Disney+, like many other streaming platforms, tracks in real-time the IP addresses using its service.
An automated system looks up these IP addresses against a database of known VPN server addresses, and blocks any matching IPs.
Typically, the more Disney+ customers use the same shared IP addresses, the more likely they’ll be detected and blocked.
Where is Disney+ Available?
Disney+ is currently available the following countries:
North America: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.
Asia: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Europe: Austria, Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK.
Middle East: Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia.