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5 Best VPNs for CNN: Watch News and CNN Exclusives From Anywhere

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NordVPN boasts 1970+ server locations in the USA from where you can unblock CNN on the website, via the CNN Go app or other services that offer CNN as part of their channels.

PrivateVPN also comes close to NordVPN, even offering free dedicated IP addresses to continually access CNN like you’re always in a single physical location in the US.

After testing over 20+ VPNs to watch CNN live from outside the US, Surfshark completed the top 3 for its ability to consistently unblock CNN on unlimited devices under one subscription.

Rounding up the top 5 are IPVanish and PureVPN, presenting their own unique arguments.

That said, continue reading to discover why these VPNs excel at accessing CNN.

Top 3 VPNs to Unblock CNN (March, 2024)

FREE DEDICATED IP
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN devices

Avoid VPN traffic detection and watch CNN live with PrivateVPN’s free dedicated IP option. Get personalized access to CNN with the option to choose remote servers from 12 US cities.

4.6/5
Read More
BEST VALUE
NordVPN
nordvpndevices

Unblock CNN from 1970+ server locations in the US and stream all your news content in HD quality across these fast servers. NordVPN also unblocks Sling TV and cable alternatives to watch CNN without a cable subscription.

4.8/5
Get Discount
MOST AFFORDABLE
Surfshark
Surfshark Devices

Connect to any of 600 server locations across multiple US cities to unblock and watch CNN content on unlimited devices. Your bandwidth isn’t limited either, so you can watch your news in the best quality.

4.6/5
Read More

CNN might cover international news items, but the service isn’t available internationally. In fact, you can’t get the service in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, or Australia, which usually share the same content library as the USA.

Fortunately, the VPNs I tested and reviewed in this piece boast extensive server locations in the USA from which you can unblock CNN access.

If you have the CNN Go app, you can watch live content and scheduled programs with a US server location from these VPNs.

Likewise, these VPNs are fast enough to stream CNN content from the main app or any other online streaming platform (like Sling TV) that offers CNN.

So, if you’ve tried without success to stream CNN from outside the USA, continue reading to see how these VPNs make that possible.

Want to Keep Up With the Latest Tricky Dick Episodes or Watch the News on CNN? Try My Top VPNs Now!

streaming error cnn
CNN streaming error when you access the videos outside the US

Whether you’re a fan of CNN’s news reporting alone or follow its original series like Tricky Dick, watching this content outside the USA is almost impossible.

But not when you have any of my VPNs, tried and tested to work with CNN from anywhere. So, check them out:

  • NordVPN – Connect to any of its 1970+ servers across US cities to unblock access to the free news clips on the website or watch CNN via Sling TV and other supported apps.
  • PrivateVPN – Get a dedicated IP to stream CNN content from a single virtual location at all times, escaping VPN traffic detection and possible account blocks.
  • Surfshark – Watch all the CNN content you want on unlimited devices without paying extra for another VPN subscription. And you don’t have to sacrifice speed with its unlimited bandwidth promise either.
  • PureVPN – Get American IP addresses to stream CNN with over 1800+ USA servers optimized for security and fast streaming
  • IPVanish1106+ USA servers spread across 20 cities provides all you need to unblock CNN from anywhere like you’re in the US.

Extensive USA server locations are a core factor here, but that’s not enough.

Thus, these VPNs include extra features that improve your CNN streaming experience.

So, continue reading the mini-reviews below. I compare these VPNs for CNN, showcasing their strengths and weaknesses. That way, you can make an informed buying decision.

Comparisons and Reviews of the Top 5 VPNs for CNN

I tested 20+ VPNs for CNN and eliminated the bulk till I got to these five.

Still, each VPN has an advantage over the others, which could make a difference for your CNN streaming experience.

So, I present the facts here. Let’s discuss.

NordVPN – 1970+ US Server Locations to Stream CNN

streaming cnn with nordvpn

NordVPN’s 1970+ USA servers makes server congestion almost unheard of when streaming HD content on CNN.

The Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider is also constantly adding new servers, replacing blacklisted servers, and ensuring you never lose access to your cherished CNN content.

In fact, the only other top 5 VPN that comes close is PureVPN with 1800+ USA servers.

nordvpn us servers

Furthermore, I checked that NordVPN unblocks major streaming services like Hulu, DirecTV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV.

This is important for non-US residents or CNN viewers who don’t have a cable subscription and can’t stream via the CNN Go app.

Fortunately, NordVPN unblocks content fast across these streaming services, so you don’t have to pay for cable to get everything on CNN.

Moving on, NordVPN allows you to get News Room, Inside Politics, or any other preferred CNN program on major devices.

On top of that, the VPN provider allows for five simultaneous connections across mobile (Android and iOS) and PC (Windows and Mac).

Of course, that’s nowhere near the unlimited connections you get with Surfshark and IPVanish. But it’s nice to have at least 5 simultaneous connections.

Also, you can use NordVPN’s SmartDNS service to watch CNN on your smart TV and streaming devices (such as Roku) that don’t have native VPN app support. The best part is that this feature comes with your subscription rather than a paid add-on.

nordvpn smartdns service

On top of that, you can request a dedicated IP from NordVPN to continuously stream CNN from one virtual location. Thus, you don’t hop around servers and trigger any anti-VPN alerts that CNN may have running.

get your dedicated ip

However, NordVPN only offers its dedicated IPs as a paid add-on.

get dedicated ip

But thanks to the strong encryption and kill switch, you don’t have to worry about your actual IP/DNS data ever leaking to CNN.

nordvpn killswitch services

For all that, NordVPN remains one of the best value providers in the industry with affordable pricing plans.

NordVPN pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

Still, these NordVPN discounts help you save more on your first subscription.

Pros

Cons

PrivateVPN – Free Dedicated IPs for Easy CNN Access

streaming cnn privatevpn

While PrivateVPN doesn’t mention how many servers it has in the USA, I counted myself and found servers in 12 US cities. That should be enough to access CNN, but there’s more to this VPN provider.

So far, PrivateVPN is the only VPN to offer free dedicated IP addresses to stream CNN.

privatevpn dedicated ips

However, this isn’t a dedicated IP service that gives you an exclusive IP address. Instead, PrivateVPN always assigns you a fresh, unused IP in the supported online location whenever you connect.

Also, remember to choose the “OpenVPN (TUN + UDP + 1194)” protocol to use this unshared dedicated IP feature.

privatevpn openvpn connection type

Fortunately, PrivateVPN can also unblock access to Sling TV, Hulu, Youtube TV, and other third-party services offering the CNN channel.

In fact, there are in-app guides to unblocking content streams.

privatevpn in-app guides

Besides that, PrivateVPN is one of the faster VPNs, maintaining steady-enough speeds for HD streams of CNN’s shows and programs.

You can even see the ping values of all US servers to choose the fastest one to stream CNN outside the US.

privatevpn all servers

You can also use PrivateVPN to watch CNN across your mobile and desktop units with ten simultaneous connections on every subscription.

Sadly, you don’t get a smart DNS service with PrivateVPN.

That means you can’t use the service on your smart TV unless you install the VPN software on a supported router and broadcast to your smart TV.

That’s going to be an issue if you prefer watching AC360 or At This Hour on CNN via your TV. So, you might choose NordVPN instead for its SmartDNS since it also comes with a router app.

Still, PrivateVPN brings one of the most affordable one-month and multiple-month plans I saw in this review.

privatevpn pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

Luckily, you can save even more with our PrivateVPN deals and discounts.

Pros

Cons

Surfshark – SmartDNS for Watching CNN in 4K on Smart TVs

streaming cnn with surfshark

Surfshark’s US presence in 600+ cities means you won’t lack a preferred streaming server location to watch CNN live.

While that will work for PCs and mobile devices, Surfshark also provides comfort for units without native VPN apps in its bundled smart DNS feature.

surfshark smartdns service

So, you can enjoy your favorite CNN shows and content from any supported device with all of Surfshark’s premium unblocking features.

On top of that, you can use Surfshark on unlimited devices, giving you one of the best values on this list. You never have to pay for an extra Surfshark plan to stream CNN on another unit.

Furthermore, Surfshark offers shared static IPs in answer to dedicated IPs. These static IPs are free with your subscription and can also help you avoid CNN’s VPN traffic detection.

surfshark static ip

I tested these static IPs since some of them may be blacklisted already. Interestingly, I didn’t have any issues unblocking CNN Go from here.

streaming cnn with surfshark static ip
Surfshark's Static IPs unblocked CNN Go

Speaking of detection, your streaming sessions are protected by AES 256-bit encryption and an automatic kill switch, too, so you have nothing to worry about.

While Surfshark is a little behind NordVPN in speed, it’s fast, with servers boasting up to 10Gbps connection speedsSurfshark also maintains its slowest servers are optimized for 1Gbps, which is enough to stream CNN in 4K on your smart TVs and other supported devices.

Fortunately, Surfshark is a great unblocking VPN. So, it gets you CNN on Sling TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, DirecTV, or other third-party streaming platforms showing the channel.

Since you already know that Surfshark allows unlimited connections, you’ll expect it to be one of the costlier VPNs. But it’s not.

Screenshot MS 1 1
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

Plus, you can save more on this affordable VPN with our HUGE discount offers.

Pros

Cons

PureVPN – 1800+ USA Servers to Bypass CNN Geo-Blocks

streaming cnn with purevpn

Whether you’re in a country that doesn’t have access to CNN or you want to stream the CNN channel securely from the US, one of PureVPN’s 1800+ US servers holds the answer.

The majority of these VPN servers are Quantum Resistant, over which PureVPN claims your internet traffic can’t be decrypted by quantum computers.

purevpn quantum resistance

This is a first in the industry, putting the VPN provider above NordVPN, PrivateVPN, and Surfshark.

If you’re streaming securely from the USA, you can choose from 13 cities to have servers closest to you for the fastest speeds.

purevpn us servers

For those watching CNN Films, NewsDay, or any other sub-channel from anywhere else, the USA servers are characteristically low ping for faster streaming.

I also like that PureVPN brings optimized streaming servers to give you a balance of security features and buttery-smooth streaming speeds for CNN.

purevpn dedicated streaming servers

Luckily, you can use a single PureVPN subscription across 10 devices simultaneouslyThis allows multiple users to stream varying CNN shows/channels under the same subscription across mobile devices, PCs, smart units, and streaming devices.

Unfortunately, PureVPN only offers dedicated IPs as a paid add-on and doesn’t have a proper Smart DNS feature setup.

You should know that PureVPN’s dedicated IP is more affordable than NordVPN’s offering if you choose its 24-month plan.

purevpn dedicated ip pricing

However, that doesn’t mean you’re without support for your smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other streaming devices that can’t download a VPN app.

You get a downloadable list of proxy servers that PureVPN asks you to modify your proxy settings with.

Unlike NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN, though, you don’t have to register your IP address to use PureVPN’s Smart DNS feature.

Still, you’ll need to be a paying customer to get this feature.

customer chat purevpn

But aside from that, PureVPN offers everything else at an impressive price point you can’t almost resist.

purevpn pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

On top of that, we have these HUGE discounts on PureVPN to get you started.

Pros

Cons

IPVanish – Super-Fast VPN for 4K and HD CNN Access

streaming cnn with ipvanish

IPVanish doesn’t just have 1200+ servers in the USA (yes, I added it myself). It’s also fast enough to give you 4K content access on CNN from anywhere.

I also like seeing all cities where IPVanish has US servers and the average server pings in these locations. You can even choose a specific server within a preferred US city.

ipvanish server pings

Unfortunately, you don’t get a smart DNS feature here like NordVPN and Surfshark. So, you’ll have to stream your 4K CNN content on your mobile phones (Android or iOS) or PC (Windows or Mac).

However, that doesn’t affect IPVanish’s ability to unblock free clips on CNN’s website, the CNN Go app if you’re using cable, or third-party services like Sling TV and Hulu.

Even though you don’t get Smart DNS, you can set up IPVanish on a router and broadcast the connection to every other streaming device without a native VPN app.

Speaking of, you can use IPVanish on unlimited devices, matching Surfshark’s offering and beating all other providers on this list.

Note that you get the same blazing-fast speeds across all the connected devices, no bandwidth throttling, and a seamless CNN streaming experience.

Before you get too excited about IPVanish, it doesn’t offer dedicated IPs.

ipvanish ip services

The reasoning here is that a dedicated IP can be associated with you and used to deanonymize you on the internet. However, I’ve not had any such issue with NordVPN, so the argument falls flat.

For what it’s worth, though, IPVanish is one of the most affordable VPN providers.

Don’t forget to grab these fantastic discounts for better value on IPVanish.

Pros

Cons

How to Choose the Best VPN for CNN?

watch cnn live tv

I narrowed the 20+ VPN providers I started with to these top five based on the following criteria. If you’re also choosing a VPN for CNN, you’ll find the factors to consider below.

Let’s get started.

Premium Unblocking Ability

Any VPN for CNN should reliably unblock the service from anywhere outside the USA.

One of the first things to consider here is a USA server location, which is where you get all of CNN’s content.

Likewise, the service should work without CNN Go for those who don’t have a US cable subscription. Thus, you should also look for VPN services that can unblock third-party streaming services with access to CNN, such as:

  • Sling TV
  • YouTube TV
  • Hulu
  • DirecTV

On top of that, your choice of VPN providers should offer robust encryption.

Thus, your data never leaks to CNN’s servers which might earn you a geo-restriction or account bans.

For comparison, this is how my chosen VPNs fare on US servers and encryption.

VPN Provider USA Servers Encryption
NordVPN 1900+ servers AES 256-bit
PrivateVPN 12 cities AES 256-bit
Surfshark 600+ servers AES 256-bit
PureVPN 1800+ servers AES 256-bit
IPVanish 1200+ servers AES 256-bit

Speed

CNN supports streaming in up to 4K quality, but you’ll need a VPN that’s optimized for speed to take advantage of this. Thus, your chosen VPN should maintain very fast speeds on every server, particularly its US servers.

Likewise, ensure you get the same fast speeds across all platforms and devices. Otherwise, you might not get a consistent experience across your streaming devices where you get CNN content.

For context, I tested my recommended VPNs’ speeds from the same US – New York server location, choosing the fastest protocol on each.

VPN Provider Protocol Ping (ms) Download speed (Mbps) Upload speed (Mbps)
NordVPN NordLynx 220 7.85 7.97
Surfshark WireGuard 228 4.53 8.84
PrivateVPN OpenVPN (UDP+443) 306 12.2 6.41
PureVPN WireGuard 228 10.2 7.35
IPVanish WireGuard 413 5.61 6.54

PureVPN’s optimized streaming servers beat NordVPN and played second only to PrivateVPN. Surfshark maintains at least 1Gbps on its servers, while IPVanish isn’t a slouch either.

Choose from these, and you won’t have any speed issues with CNN.

Multi-Platform Support

Most reliable VPN providers support mobile and PC platforms, which should be an essential requirement. That way, you can stream CNN on your Windows PC, Mac, Android, or iOS devices via the official CNN website, the CNN Go app, or other streaming platforms offering CNN.

On top of that, router support is vital to broadcast the secure US VPN connection to other devices that can’t download a native VPN app.

surfshark multiplatform support
An example of stellar multi-platform support from Surfshark

Preferably, get a VPN with SmartDNS bundled on top too.

You can get that with NordVPN and Surfshark, ensuring you can stream CNN on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices (like Roku) where you can’t download a native VPN app.

That is handy when you don’t have a compatible router to install the VPN on.

Dedicated IP Support

Server hopping can cause CNN to detect your VPN activity and block your access to the platform. Your IP could also get blacklisted, making it impossible to follow up on The Seventies, Vital Signs, or Race for the White House.

Using Dedicated IP makes it possible to continuously stream CNN content from one location, and the service thinks that’s your permanent location.

On my recommended list, NordVPN offers dedicated IPs as a paid add-on.

You can get static IPs for free with Surfshark, but beware that these are shared.

The preferred free solution is PrivateVPN, offering you an unused dedicated IP in your preferred location (though you’ll never get the same IP twice).

Will a Free VPN Unblock CNN?

Free VPNs don’t offer the level of encryption you need to unblock a premium service like CNN and will expose your real IP to its servers. Likewise, free VPNs may steal sensitive data such as your CNN account information and everything else you do on the web. This data is often sold to advertisers or the highest bidder.

Still, these free VPN providers are unreliable with hit-and-miss unblocking and slow servers that cause lags when streaming CNN.

Thus, it’s best to choose an affordable VPN like NordVPN, bundling a SmartDNS service with 1900+ US servers and ultra-fast speeds to watch CNN in 4K or HD.

How to Watch CNN Go Outside the USA With a VPN?

You can watch CNN Go outside the USA with a VPN, provided you have an active cable TV subscription from the US.

Follow the steps below to watch CNN Go from anywhere with a VPN.

  1. Install a preferred VPN. I recommend NordVPN for CNN Go.
  2. Connect to a US server location.
  3. Visit the CNN Go website.
  4. Click the settings icon and select login from the left menu bar.
cnn settings
  1. Choose your TV service provider from the list and log in with your details.
tv service provider
  1. Start streaming the CNN Go service live.

You can follow the same guide on mobile devices to the same results.

This ensures an improved streaming experience without manually testing the thousands of servers in the USA.

How to Watch CNN Go Without a Cable License?

You can still watch CNN Go without a cable license with streaming services that offer the CNN channel. The best service by price-to-offering comparison is Sling TV, but there are many more streaming services offering CNN.

However, some of these services are also US exclusive or not available in all regions, so you’ll still need a VPN to use them.

In this case, here’s what to do

  1. Download a reliable VPN provider. I recommend NordVPN.
  2. Connect to a US server location.
  3. Sign up for your preferred streaming service offering CNN (I’ve tabled major providers below).
  4. Login and start streaming CNN content.

In the following section, you’ll find the streaming service providers that offer CNN and what they cost.

What Streaming Services Offer CNN Content?

Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV all offer CNN content in some of their packages.

You get the cheapest plans with Sling’s Blue or Orange package, allowing you to stream CNN and other TV channels on up to 3 devices.

YouTube TV is almost twice the Sling TV price, but it’s the next most affordable, offering CNN with its base subscription.

DirecTV and Hulu offer CNN as an add-on to the basic package, driving up the price.

The table below gives you an overview of what services you can get CNN on and other considerations to help you get there fast.

Streaming Service Plans for CNN Price
Sling TV Blue or Orange package $35/month
DirecTV Entertainment package $69.99/month
Hulu Hulu Live TV $69.99/month
YouTube TV - $64.99/month

What Can You Watch on CNN?

CNN offers more than just news content. The channel also offers religious programs (such as Finding Jesus), movies (via CNN Films), exclusive titles (such as Tricky Dick), and political content.

cnn programs you can watch

On top of that, CNN has a dedicated comedy sub-channel, broadcasts in-depth documentaries, and promotes health content.

This makes the platform a well-rounded channel to catch up with important news worldwide while taking a break with other exciting content when you need it.

Interesting Reads:

Frequently Asked Questions

NordVPN is the best VPN service for CNN news, with 1900+ fast USA servers where you can watch CNN live worldwide without buffering.

NordVPN also offers dedicated IP add-ons for users who want to privately stream CNN from one location to never get found out by the platform and banned from the service.

Likewise, you can set up NordVPN to stream CNN on your mobile devices, PCs, smart TVs, and other streaming devices that offer CNN News.

You can watch CNN Go over a VPN without a TV provider by opting for cable alternatives like Sling TV.

Connecting to a reliable VPN server in the USA unblocks the CNN channel on supported streaming services, so you get the same live news, on-demand content, and other CNN exclusives present on the CNN Go app without paying for cable.

You can stream CNN Go for free inside the US but only for less than ten minutes before you’re required to log in. You can also enjoy free trials from streaming services like Sling TV, which offers CNN access to the same content on the CNN Go platform.

However, that free trial will soon end, and you’ll need to commit to a premium plan to keep streaming CNN Go.

You can watch CNN from another country by connecting to a US server location from a reliable provider like ExpressVPN. It’s also important to choose a fast VPN to stream CNN news, movies, and other programs in up to 4K quality.

If you don’t have a cable subscription from the US, you’ll have to use cable alternatives like SlingTV to get CNN’s content in your region.

Get a reliable unblocking VPN provider like NordVPN and connect to any of its ultra-fast US servers to watch CNN in 4K from Europe.

You can sign in to CNN Go with your TV provider’s login details or purchase a cable alternative (from the likes of SlingTV) to access all CNN’s content like you’re in the US.

You can watch CNN for free via the CNN Go app if you already have an active cable TV subscription from your TV provider.

Otherwise, you can watch some news clips on the CNN website or enjoy free trials of exclusive CNN content with cable alternative providers like Sling TV before paying for the service.

CNN doesn’t ban VPNs and doesn’t speak against them in its terms of service either. However, the news platform might have VPN traffic blocks in place, which may blacklist your IP address or block your access if it determines you’re using a VPN.

Thus, you need a reliable VPN like NordVPN to keep your IP address details private, and your internet activity secure from CNN’s possible prying eyes.

That way, you can keep streaming news and other content on CNN without losing your account access or setting off any VPN traffic alerts.

Access CNN News and Other Content

This guide shows how to choose the best VPN service for CNN, and I also went through how to use your chosen VPN to watch CNN live.

Save yourself the stress by choosing NordVPN. With its ultra-fast servers in the USA, combined with solid encryption and reliable unblocking, you can watch CNN with/without a cable subscription from anywhere.

In fact, you can sweeten the deal by grabbing this HUGE NordVPN discount while it lasts to start streaming CNN today.

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