Currently, BBC iPlayer is only available in China. But don’t worry, with a top VPN service, you can easily bypass its geo-restrictions and stream BBC iPlayer from anywhere outside the UK.
Choose a VPN like ExpressVPN, connect to a UK server, and access BBC iPlayer in China to stream your favorite BBC shows like Peaky Blinders, EastEnders, and more.
To watch BBC iPlayer in China, you will need to rely on a powerful VPN as BBC iPlayer is only accessible to viewers in the United Kingdom. If you try to watch BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, you will receive the following error message on your device:
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted, but you can always stream its fantastic content using a VPN in China. A VPN will help unblock the platform so you can enjoy the content of BBC iPlayer in China easily.
So, if you’re looking forward to catching up on Pretty Little Liars, the Peaky Blinders, or East Enders then now is the time you subscribe to the best VPN for China to stream the tubful of content available on BBC iPlayer in China.
How to watch BBC iPlayer in China in 2024?
Follow these easy steps to unblock and watch BBC iPlayer in China:
- Select a VPN and sign up for it (ExpressVPN is my top choice as it offers 4 UK servers).
- Download the VPN app on your device.
- Launch the app and connect it to a UK server. (ExpressVPN’s Docklands server is super fast).
- Visit BBC iPlayer, sign into your account, and start watching your favorite movies and shows in China.
Quick Overview – 3 Best VPNs to Watch BBC iPlayer in China [Updated 2024]
- ExpressVPN: Best VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in China. Offers 4 UK servers. Capable of offering super-fast speeds of 78.21 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Available at $6.67/mo - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free. Also offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee and 5 multi-logins.
- NordVPN: Reliable VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in China. Capable of offering blazing-fast speeds of 80 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Offers 440+ UK servers. Available at $3.99/mo - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend and comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee and 6 multi-logins.
- Hotspot Shield: Fastest VPN for Watching BBC iPlayer in China. Offers 1800+ servers across 80+ countries, including 2 servers in the UK. Allows 5 multi-logins and is available for $2.99/month with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Which VPN is the best to use in China?
Here is a list of the best VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer in China:
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for BBC iPlayer in China:
- UK servers: servers available in Docklands, East London, Wembley, & London.
- 3000+ fast speed servers in 94 countries
- 88 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection
- 5 simultaneous connections
- MediaStreamer feature for streaming on Smart TVs and gaming consoles
- Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and more
- Compatible with macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, routers, browsers, and more
ExpressVPN is undoubtedly the best VPN for BBC iPlayer in 2024 for bypassing geo-restrictions effectively in China. It offers 3000+ servers in 105 countries and among these, multiple are located in London, Docklands, East London, and Wembley for watching BBC iPlayer in China.
ExpressVPN not only consistently unblocks BBC iPlayer, but it also offers impressive speeds as well. With ExpressVPN, you can enjoy shows on BBC iPlayer in Italy as well as in China without any buffering or lags. Here are the speeds I got on the other UK servers of ExpressVPN:
| ExpressVPN UK Servers | Speed Result |
|---|---|
| Docklands | 79 Mbps |
| London | 86.51 Mbps |
| Wembley | 87.25 Mbps |
ExpressVPN backs up these servers with the best encryption and security to keep users completely protected while binging on their favorite streaming service. Also, if you look forward to unblocking BBC iPlayer in Philippines with this VPN, there is no better option than ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN offers a kill switch that disconnects your internet connection as soon as the VPN connection drops due to some issue. It also offers a no-logging policy, military-grade encryption, split tunneling feature, and more to keep users completely secure.
ExpressVPN works great in China, so you can easily unblock BBC iPlayer abroad and stream your favorite British shows. It also allows 5 multi-logins so you can stream on multiple devices at once.
ExpressVPN is available for $6.67/mo - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee during which you can test the service.
Recommended servers for BBC iPlayer: Docklands & East London.
2. NordVPN – Reliable VPN for BBC iPlayer in China
- UK servers: 645+ available in London
- 6000+ servers in 61 countries
- 6 simultaneous connections
- 78 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- Also works with Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, NBC, TF1, DStv, and more
- Compatible with macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, routers, browsers, and more
NordVPN is another top VPN for China that can unblock BBC iPlayer and other geo-restricted services in the country easily. NordVPN offers 6000+ servers in 61 countries including 645+ servers in the United Kingdom. So, you can connect to any British server and binge-watch shows on BBC iPlayer in China.
NordVPN offers a speedy connection offering over a 78 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection on average. During testing, we never experienced any lags while streaming BBC iPlayer in Russia nor China.
With NordVPN, you can also access popular streaming services in China like Netflix UK, Amazon Prime, Sky TV, Channel 4, and more. It also works with geo-restricted social media apps and websites in mainland China.
It also offers six simultaneous connections on a single NordVPN account. This means you can connect six devices and stream BBC iPlayer on any of them, as NordVPN is compatible with all major devices. It offers apps for various devices such as Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Amazon Firestick, and more.
It is available for $3.99/mo - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend. Just like other VPN services, it also offers a 30-day money-back so you can try it risk-free with BBC iPlayer.
For more information about this provider, read our in-depth NordVPN review.
Recommended servers for BBC iPlayer: Glasgow & London.
3. Hotspot Shield – Speedy VPN to stream BBC iPlayer in China
- UK servers: 2 servers in
- 1800+ servers in 80+ countries
- 5 simultaneous connections
- 82 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- Also works with Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and more
- Compatible with macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux
Hotspot Shield is an excellent choice to bypass geo-restrictions and watch BBC iPlayer in China. It offers great speeds for streaming without any buffering. Hotspot Shield offered fast connection speeds during testing as well.
With over 1800 servers in 80+ countries, this VPN can easily unblock BBC iPlayer in Colombia or any other place with its British servers in 2 UK cities. It instantly unblocked BBC iPlayer on its UK server and we did not get the location error.
One reason behind fast speed servers of Hotspot Shield is its Hydra Catapult protocol. This protocol claims to improve connection speeds, without compromising security. Due to this feature, Hotspot Shield claims to be one of the fastest VPNs in the industry.
Keep in mind, you cannot use its super-fast Hyra Catapult protocol other than on its official apps. This feature is not available for routers or Kodi-like devices. But, you can always use it on your Windows, Mac, Android, etc., to enjoy its services while watching BBC iPlayer in Kenya as well as China.
That’s not all. With Hotspot Shield, you can also unblock other popular streaming services in China like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more. It also supports torrenting and P2P on its servers.
It is available for $2.99/month and it also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee as well. For more information, check out our Hotspot Shield review.
Recommended servers for BBC iPlayer: London.
How to subscribe to BBC iPlayer in China?
Here’s how to subscribe to BBC iPlayer in China:
- Visit bbc.co.uk/iplayer, and click on “Sign in.”
- Select the “Register now” option
- Choose “13 or over”
- Insert your date of birth
- Fill out the details that include Email, Password, Post Code and Gender
- Click on “Register”
- On the next page, click “No Thanks” and continue. Your account is ready to stream British TV online!
Note: During the process, you will be required to enter a postcode. Make sure to find a UK-based postcode from Google and use it in the process.
What Else Can You with a VPN in China?
Residents of mainland China need a VPN to bypass Chinese censorship and access all geo-restricted services from the world. China is a country that has a strict censorship policy.
You cannot access the most popular streaming services, apps, and websites in China as you can do in other countries. For example, if you want to use Instagram in China, it’ll be impossible for you to do so without a VPN.
Unblock other popular services in China:
This strict censorship system is commonly called The Great Firewall of China. While the Chinese government claims that the websites and services are blocked due to political reasons, we aren’t sure if that’s precisely the only reason.
To keep up with the world, people living in China use VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from across the globe.
What to do if my VPN stops while streaming BBC iPlayer in China?
If you’re in China and your VPN stops working at any time, you can always try connecting to a different server location. Premium VPNs offer a kill switch that won’t leak your IP address to your ISP if your VPN disconnects.
The VPNs listed above offer multiple servers in the UK. You can try and switch to a different UK server for better service to stream BBC iPlayer in Malaysia or anywhere outside UK. Server locations often stop working when there is a server overload. Changing servers will connect you back to the movie on BBC iPlayer that you left halfway.
If this doesn’t work, then try out a different internet connection. This is one of the primary reasons that your VPN might stop working. Just try to refresh your internet or switch to a different one.
You can also try switching security protocols in case your VPN doesn’t work. Every security protocol offers a different speed and security. Check out the most effective protocols that your VPN offers and connect to it.
Can I Use A Free VPN to Access BBC iPlayer in China?
Using a free VPN to access BBC iPlayer in China is possible, but based on our tests, many free VPNs may have limitations in reliably bypassing geolocation and VPN detection measures. However, Windscribe has demonstrated not only the ability to unblock BBC iPlayer in China but also a commitment to strong security protocols.
But I somehow still managed to pick some of the best free VPNs for BBC iPlayer to access it in China strict and stong security protocols. Among the tested free VPNs, Windscribe stands out as the best free VPN for China, providing a combination of reliable access and robust security features.
What can I watch on BBC iPlayer?
The most popular TV shows and movies to watch on BBC iPlayer are:
- Dragons: Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon
- Strike
- Life
- Monsters vs Aliens
- Don’t Take My Baby
- The Salisbury Poisonings
- This Is Going to Hurt
- Responsible Child
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- The Responder
- I May Destroy You
You can also access some channels on BBC iPlayer:
- BBC One
- BBC Two
- BBC Three
- BBC Four
- S4C
- BBC Parliament
- CBeebies
- Radio 1
What Devices Work with BBC iPlayer?
Here are some devices that you can stream content of BBC iPlayer on:
- Android smartphones
- iPhone/iPad
- Mac
- Windows
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku
- Smart TVs
FAQs
Is watching BBC iPlayer with a VPN illegal?
Yes, watching BBC iPlayer with a VPN is completely legal. It might be against BBC iPlayer’s terms of service, but it’s not illegal. Additionally, VPNs are legal to use in most countries including China, even though the government has blocked most VPN sites in the country.
How do I bypass the Great Firewall?
You can bypass the Great Firewall by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN will hide your identity and your actual IP address to easily bypass it and connect to your desired streaming platforms, including the BBC iPlayer.
How can BBC iPlayer detect a VPN?
When multiple users connect to a small VPN server network, the BBC iPlayer immediately detects it and blocks all users from that server. Also, keep in mind that most BBC iPlayer free VPNs don’t work because BBC can detect them and restrict access on these servers. This is why you should always subscribe to a VPN that works with BBC iPlayer.
Conclusion
BBC iPlayer is one incredible UK service to binge on your favorite movies and TV shows anytime. While proxies and VPNs both work for BBC iPlayer, it’s better to stick to a reliable VPN so that you can watch BBC iPlayer in China.
To access this geo-restricted service in your country, go through our list of the best VPNs for China and follow the step-by-step guide to get BBC iPlayer on your streaming services list to watch anything you like.
Among all the VPNs I listed above, ExpressVPN is our top recommendation. It offers super-fast UK servers, great speeds, and top-notch unblocking capabilities that work great for enjoying BBC iPlayer abroad in China.
