5 Best VPNs for Pandora Radio: Unleash Unlimited Music

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If you want to listen to Pandora Radio in a region where it’s restricted, you need a VPN. The best VPN for Pandora is Surfshark VPN.

But if Surfshark doesn’t meet your needs, there are four other options that made the cut after I tested a dozen VPNs with Pandora Radio. 

I’ll review each of them in detail in a moment. For the tests, I focused on 4 key areas:

  • The ability to bypass geo-restrictions outside the US.
  • Connection speeds for streaming without buffering.
  • Protection from phishing, hacking, or your real IP being discovered.
  • The number of US servers for better connections without overcrowding.
  • A dedicated IP for better streaming.

With streaming music becoming the go-to option for many people, finding a good service like Pandora Radio can make a huge difference.

So read this review to the end to find out more about the best VPNs for Pandora Radio.

With all the key points in mind, this will be a detailed look at the five best VPNs for Pandora Radio. 

I’ll explore the features that make each stand out as well as the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Here Are the 5 Best VPNs for Streaming Music on Pandora Radio

For those with time constraints, here are the five best VPNs for Pandora Radio at a glance:

  • Surfshark – Fastest Streaming Speeds + Most Affordable
  • PureVPN – Seamless Navigation + Support for Multiple Devices
  • NordVPN – Great Security + Highest Number of US Servers
  • Private Internet Access – Advanced Kill Switch + Highest Number of Global Servers
  • Atlas VPN – Good for Beginners + Reliable Privacy

The base internet speed used for the tests was 5Mbps.

The 5 Best VPNs for Pandora Radio

Surfshark - Fastest Streaming Speeds + Most Affordable

Surfshark excels on so many aspects, so it’s no surprise it’s top of the list.

It’s the only VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections. 

Besides that, it has affordable price plans.

This is one reason it’s the best VPN for streaming all your favorite songs on Pandora Radio.

Here’s how it performed in the tests.

Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

SurfShark - Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

Accessing Pandora Radio using the desktop app, mobile app, and web version was a breeze once I connected to a US server through Surfshark.

You’ll have access to over 600 servers in the US.

Now, as much as this doesn’t measure up to the 1,700+ that NordVPN has, I had a good time listening to all my favorite jams from Ruth B without skipping a beat (I love Ruth B!).

I tried using 5 random servers, and although the connection speeds fluctuated with some, there was no buffering at all.

Once you find a server that gives you smooth and uninterrupted streaming on Pandora, favorite it for the next time you want to groove some more.

Music Streaming Speeds

SurfShark - Music Streaming Speeds

Streaming on this Pandora VPN was seamlessI experienced the fastest connection speeds when using it.

This allowed me to play high-resolution music without buffering or interruptions.

Even that momentary loading when you forward a song or skip to the next wasn’t there at all!

You should, however, expect some slight variations in connection speeds, which is normal even without a VPN.

The good news is that you won’t even notice the changeThe music never stopped playing, and that was a plus for me.

Security & Privacy

SurfShark - Security & Privacy

Just like Apple Music, Spotify, and other music streaming platforms, Pandora Radio is a premium service.

This means it has a lot of security features that keep out online threats. But with Surfshark in the picture, how do security and privacy play out?

The main concern here is to keep Pandora Radio from figuring out that you’re accessing the platform outside the US using a VPN.

On that end, Surfshark does a stellar job of keeping your music streaming activities under the radar.

You have a Camouflage Mode that makes your connection look like regular internet.

It removes any signs and traces of VPN activity from your connection. With this, Pandora Radio will assume you’re a regular music lover somewhere in the US.

But, in reality, you could be in the Maasai Mara chasing a zebra to a Charlie Puth playlist.

This shields your Pandora account from being flagged or banned for using a VPN. That’s not all.

VPN connections drop all the time, and without that protection, it’s easy for Pandora Radio or anyone else tracking you to see what you’re up to.

This is where Surfshark’s kill switch kicks in.

It automatically disables the internet, shutting down any snooping when the VPN veil comes down.

Even your ISP will have trouble knowing what you’re up to.

Dedicated IP

SurfShark - Dedicated IP

Surfshark doesn’t offer a Dedicated IP address, but you get Static IP servers.

You still share the IP address with others, but you get to use the same server for all your needs every time you launch Surfshark.

How does a Static IP help with streaming Pandora?

You get to use one IP address exclusively for Pandora Radio every time you use the VPN.

Jumping around from one server to another all the time amounts to suspicious activity.

Starting a Drake album in New York and switching to Wyoming by the third song is bound to ring alarm bells.

The last thing you want is a curious Pandora admin on your back.

Screenshot MS 1 1
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As far as pricing is concerned, Surfshark is one of the cheapest options around.

Considering the many amazing features it has, this is a bargain for streaming services.

You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The good news is, you can click here for an amazing discount!

Pros

Cons

PureVPN - Seamless Navigation + Support for Multiple Devices

PureVPN website

PureVPN was founded in 2007 and is based in the British Virgin Islands.

It’s compatible with different devices, making it a good alternative for Pandora Radio.

PureVPN performed well in the tests and came second.

This is how it fared.

Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

PureVPN - Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

PureVPN unblocked Pandora Radio right away, thanks to its 1,424 US servers in 13 statesThat’s more than Surfshark and almost the same as NordVPN.

So, the chances of finding a good and fast server suited for streaming music shouldn’t be hard.

The server list is very comprehensive, too, with a search option if you want to select a preferred location.

Additionally, PureVPN makes your work easier with the server sorting option.

You can sort the servers based on their ping valuesThe lower the ping value, the better the server.

This saves you the hassle of trying all 1,400 servers just to find the one that works best.

I didn’t experience any form of buffering in the random servers that I tested.

The interface is simple and finding your way around shouldn’t pose any challenge, even if you’ve never used a VPN before.

Music Streaming Speeds

PureVPN - Music Streaming Speeds

PureVPN was fast enough to handle Pandora Radio without issues.

It isn’t as fast as Surfshark, but that didn’t affect the overall experience.

And just like Surfshark, the speeds vary slightly from one server to another.

But, I didn’t experience any lag or buffering.

I was able to listen to my favorite Rihanna’s oldies (now that she has decided to never give us another album) on both my Mac and Android phone.

The best part is that you can use PureVPN for other streaming services.

Security & Privacy

PureVPN - Security & Privacy

Again, security and privacy aren’t a major issue with Pandora Radio.

However, you’ll need the inbuilt kill switch to maintain your privacy by killing internet connections when the VPN connection is interrupted.

So, ensure that’s toggled on the moment you start using PureVPN for streaming music.

Furthermore, the IP masking capabilities of this VPN service are up there with the best.

You don’t have to worry about anyone figuring out your real location when playing music on Pandora Radio.

For those who use iOS devices, there’s an iOS VPN on Demand feature that adds an extra layer of protection by rerouting data through a secure VPN tunnel.

This means you don’t have to worry about getting in trouble with Pandora Radio for using a VPN or having your account banned.

They can’t find out. So just rock away to your favorite genres of music without worrying about disruptions.

You also get 10 multi-logins through the same account.

That’s 10 devices getting the same high-level protection while streaming music on Pandora Radio.

This may not be as impressive as Surfshark’s unlimited connections, but 10 is more than enough.

Dedicated IP

PureVPN - Dedicated IP

PureVPN offers a Dedicated IP Address.

You get your own exclusive virtual IP address for better privacy and speeds without worrying about who else is on your network.

However, you have to fork out extra money to get the feature.

But if you think of the benefits of having your own IP address, getting this feature for Pandora Radio sounds really inviting.

With a Dedicated IP address, there’s less crowding, as you’ll be the sole user.

This is good for overall performance, especially the connection speeds. But again, going with the regular Shared IP won’t dent your experience.

I loved using PureVPN to listen to some of the best new albums, and it was wholesome (hoping Britney Spears finally drops something).

purevpn pricing
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PureVPN’s pricing is fair and among the lowest in the industry. Plus, there are tons of amazing discount deals here.

Pros

Cons

NordVPN - Great Security + Highest Number of US Servers

NordVPN is another great alternative for a reliable Virtual Private Network for Pandora Radio.

It’s best known for its great security, blazing connection speeds, and over 1,700 servers in the US.

That’s the highest on this list.

So, how did NordVPN perform in the areas that mattered?

Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

NordVPN - Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

Unblocking Pandora Radio with NordVPN was instant the moment I connected to a server in the US.

The interface is straightforward, with a detailed list of all active servers.

To find a server in the United States, just scroll the server list or use the search box to bring up US options in seconds.

As mentioned, NordVPN has the highest number of servers in the US on this list, with the figure rising every day.

It has 1,754 servers to be exact. This means you get good speeds since traffic is spread over many servers, reducing overcrowding.

Music Streaming Speeds

NordVPN - Music Streaming Speeds

With more servers comes better speedsSo, it’s no surprise that NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs around.

It wasn’t as fast as Surfshark, but it held the fort.

Plus, it was better than PureVPN, and there was no buffering, no matter how many song skips or shuffles.

I took this chance to give The Weeknd’s new album, Dawn FM, a good listen, and I got so lost in it that I forgot I was conducting tests!

Internet connection speeds were marvelous.

Security & Privacy

NordVPN - Security & Privacy

NordVPN has a standard kill switch for the times your VPN connection drops.

And though ads don’t exist in Pandora, you can still use NordVPN’s CyberSec to protect against phishing, hacking, and possible malware threats.

You don’t have to worry about using Pandora on public Wi-Fi, either.

You can stream music using school or workplace Wi-Fi without worries. AES-256 encryption will block any third-party tracking or hacking threat.

To avoid being found out, switch to NordVPN if you have to use public Wi-Fi for Pandora Radio.

Dedicated IP

NordVPN has a Dedicated IP Address, but like the others on this list, it comes at an extra cost.

On the plus side, you don’t have to share your virtual address with other people when streaming music on Pandora Radio.

This translates to more speeds and better privacy.

When it comes to price, NordVPN is costlier than Surfshark but still within the affordable range.

To grab great bargains and fantastic discounts, click here while they still last!

NordVPN pricing
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Pros

Cons

Private Internet Access - Advanced Kill Switch + Highest Number of Global Servers

Private Internet Access VPN has a good-looking interface and is easy to navigate.

Furthermore, it’s the VPN with the highest number of global servers, thousands of them, and still rising.

This, among many other features, makes it a good VPN for streaming high-quality music on Pandora Radio.

This is how PIA performed in the tests.

Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

PIA VPN - Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

Unlocking music streaming services like Pandora Radio was instant the moment Private Internet Access was active.

Choosing a server isn’t hard; I just scrolled through the list to find US servers.

However, for the purpose of this review, I couldn’t get a clear figure on the number of servers that PIA has in the US alone.

I counted about 20 US servers, but there’s probably more, considering the overall number of servers that Private Internet Access has.

I got in touch with PIA to inquire about the right number and the response wasn’t as clear as I had hoped.

That said, there were no buffering or lags when using the few available servers from the official Private Internet Access app.

One thing that caught my eye was the performance display that gives you an insight into how fast a server is the moment you start using it.

With this, finding a faster and better server is easier compared to other options on this list.

Music Streaming Speeds

PIA VPN - Music Streaming Speeds

PIA posted better speeds than NordVPN and only came second to Surfshark.

There were no lags, interruptions, or buffering when streaming hi-res music at any point.

I even cranked up the ante by switching to the highest quality possible, and it still worked fine.

But just like other VPNs we’ve already covered, the speeds varied from one server to another.

Security & Privacy

PIA VPN - Security & Privacy

Some notable security and privacy features I found useful include the multi-hop and obfuscation feature.

It reroutes your online traffic through a proxy to further hide VPN traces from your connection.

This makes it hard for Pandora Radio to know what you’re up to, limiting the chances of your account getting flagged and banned.

The icing on the cake, however, is the Advanced kill switch.

This prevents any form of leaks by blocking any traffic from going outside the VPN, even when it’s turned off.

A point to note, PIA still offers the regular kill switch that’s just as efficient on its own.

Dedicated IP

PIA VPN - Dedicated IP

Private Internet Access offers a Dedicated IP Address, also at an added cost that’s separate from the usual subscription.

With this activated, you get your own virtual IP that’s exclusive to you without added internet traffic from other people.

By using the same IP address every time, you reduce the chances of triggering security warnings when using Pandora Radio.

PIA is also very affordable.

You can further grab exclusive discounts right here at any time.

Private Internet Access Plans & Price
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Pros

Cons

Atlas VPN - Good for Beginners + Reliable Privacy

AtlasVPN occupies a unique space on this list.

It’s a premium VPN, but the free version can still get the job done when it comes to Pandora Radio.

In fact, its connection speeds impressed me by outperforming most of the more popular VPNs around.

Here’s how it booked a place among the 5 best VPNs for Pandora Radio.

Bypassing Geo-Restrictions

AtlasVPN - Bypassing Geo-Restrictions​

Unblocking Pandora Radio was easy and unproblematic with AtlasVPN.

The number of servers wasn’t that many, but I didn’t experience any buffering or lags when listening to hi-res music files on Pandora Radio.

AtlasVPN has over 750 VPN servers worldwide, with about eight in the United States.

This is way low compared to what other alternatives have. Still, I didn’t experience any buffering on Pandora Radio.

On the flip side, this may be a blessing in disguise.

AtlasVPN isn’t as popular as Surfshark or NordVPN.

This could mean fewer people are using it, leading to less crowding and faster streaming speeds, as demonstrated already.

AtlasVPN doesn’t stop there, though.

It goes a step further by including servers dedicated to streaming only, perfect for a service like Pandora Radio.

All it takes is selecting the server you need and tapping on it once for a quick connection.

There are also SafeSwap servers that offer extra privacy for those who don’t want their online activities tracked by anyone, especially Pandora.

Music Streaming Speeds

AtlasVPN - Music Streaming Speeds

Atlas is fast, and that reflects well with high-resolution streaming music on Pandora Radio.

It was the second-fastest on the speed tests, only coming second to Surfshark and blowing the rest out of the water.

But just like the other options on this list, the speeds rose and fell with different servers.

Therefore, ensure you try several before settling on one for the best streaming experience.

This shouldn’t be hard since it has 8 servers in the United States.

Security & Privacy

For starters, you can make use of the SafeSwap servers for extra privacy if you’re worried about people snooping on your online activities.

Furthermore, you get a network kill switch that safeguards against IP and DNS leaks when the VPN connection drops without warning.

Dedicated IP

Unlike other VPN providers, AtlasVPN doesn’t offer a Dedicated IP Address.

This may be a big deal-breaker for seasoned VPN users looking for a cheap alternative for Pandora Radio.

It may not be high on the priority list for a beginner who cares more for quality streaming.

Atlas VPN black friday prices

Pricewise, AtlasVPN is very cheap, and another big plus is that even the free version gives you access to Pandora Radio.

Although you may have to deal with privacy and other security issues common with free VPNs.

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Pros

Cons

Choosing a VPN for Pandora Radio: Factors to Consider

Having gone through the 5 best VPNs for Pandora Radio, how do you make the decision to choose the one that fits your needs?

Here are quick pointers to help your work easier.

  • Unblocking Capabilities: Since Pandora Radio is only available in selected regions, a VPN needs to unblock the geo-restrictions. Otherwise, there’s very little you can do without full access to the music platform. In this regard, every single VPN we looked into was able to take care of this.
  • Connection Speeds: You need the internet to stream music on Pandora Radio. A good VPN should have good connection speeds that make streaming a smooth experience without any buffering or lags. Surfshark performed very well and would be the best option if speed is your focus point.
  • Privacy and Security: Although there are not many threats when using an official platform like Pandora Radio, it never hurts to cover all bases. Go for a VPN that has AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and any other features that take care of hacking and phishing. A dedicated IP is an added bonus.
  • The Number of US Servers: The higher the number of US serves a VPN has, the better it is for Pandora Radio. More servers mean traffic won’t be concentrated in a few servers. This is good for the overall music streaming experience.
  • Ease of Use: A VPN should not be too complicated when setting it up with Pandora Radio. You should be able to find the servers you need, activate and disable some features when you feel like, and disconnect everything without issues. It should be simple and easy to use, even for someone who has never used a VPN before.

How to Sign Up for a US Pandora Account

Setting up a Pandora Radio account while outside the US isn’t hard.

It can be done through the following steps:

  1. Install Surfshark on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
  2. Launch the VPN and choose a server inside the US.
  3. Go to the official Pandora Radio website through your browser or download the app on your device.
  4. Tap the Sign-Up option in the top-right corner.
  5. Key in your email address, password, birth year, a US zip code, and finally, your gender. Click on the Sign-Up button at the end to complete the process.

VPN for Pandora Not Working? (Troubleshooting Guide)

Are you still having trouble connecting to Pandora Radio, even after setting up an account and running a VPN?

Here are some tips to help you get it working.

  1. Clear cookies on your browser if you’re using the web version of Pandora Radio. Whether you’re using Safari Browser, Google Chrome, or Firefox, clearing cookies should help reset things.
  2. Close the Pandora Radio app and the VPN and restart them. This may help get rid of minor software glitches that may be stopping you from accessing the music service. You can even restart the device for good measure.
  3. If you’re using a smartphone, ensure the Pandora Radio App is installed directly to the phone’s internal memory and not the external SD card. Installing the app on external storage causes performance issues, and you may have trouble streaming music.

FAQ

There are slight changes to your base internet speeds once you activate a VPN.

It may rise or fluctuate depending on the server you connect to.

However, based on my tests conducted using the VPNs for Pandora Radio, streaming music was not affected in any way.

A free VPN can help you gain access to Pandora Radio by unblocking IP bans, and AtlasVPN is the ideal choice here.

However, free VPNs have limited servers and have mediocre connection speeds.

These will negatively impact your Pandora Radio experience.

Use a premium VPN like  Surfshark to gain all these vital features without breaking your bank.

Pandora Radio doesn’t allow or encourage the use of VPNs to access its service.

However, that doesn’t mean VPNs can’t work with the music streaming platform.

The use of VPNs goes against the license agreements that only allow Pandora Radio to operate in the US.

Gaining access to the platform outside this region is a license breach.

Pandora Radio is currently available in the US only.

It was also available in New Zealand and Australia but had to discontinue services on July 31st, 2017, due to financial constraints.

The best VPN for Pandora is Surfshark; it’s fast, secure, and has features like unlimited device connections that make streaming music on Pandora Radio a wholesome experience.

Sometimes workplaces impose restrictions on streaming sites like Pandora Radio.

If this is your situation, you can unblock and access Pandora in the following steps:

  1. Download and install a VPN provider on your preferred device. I recommend Surfshark for its speeds, mobile phone compatibility, and low prices.
  2. Launch the VPN and connect to a US server.
  3. Launch Pandora Radio and start listening to your favorite jams.

Final Word

That concludes our detailed review of the five best VPNs for Pandora Radio.

My money is still on SurfsharkIt packs a lot of Pandora-friendly features at a very affordable price, which is hard to ignore.

However, every VPN that made the cut on this list can handle your music streaming needs just fine, so feel free to make your own decision.

Don’t hesitate to take advantage of amazing Surfshark discounts before it’s too late!

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