Crave is a leading streaming service in Canada that includes exciting Showtime, HBO Max, and Starz titles, as well as original French-language movies and shows. However, if you want to access Crave from outside Canada, you’ll encounter a digital roadblock, as the platform uses geo-restrictions to limit its content to viewers within Canada; unless you use a VPN that works with Crave.
Like other region-locked services, the platform detects your foreign location using your IP address and denies access. That means you can’t follow your favorite shows even if you have an active Crave subscription. What to do? You could wait until you’re back in Canada — or modify your IP address.
There are a few ways to do that, and in this article, we’ll take a closer look at each of them before highlighting the most reliable option. Hint: it involves using a virtual private network (VPN).
How to watch Crave from anywhere with a VPN
- Choose a reliable VPN with Canadian servers. Not all VPNs work with Crave, so it’s important to pick one that does. I recommend NordVPN (now 70% off), which offers 300+ Canadian servers optimized for streaming. It also provides excellent speeds for HD playback and advanced security features to keep your online activity private.
- Download and install the VPN. Most top VPN providers offer easy-to-use apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. They also have apps for Fire TV Stick and some Smart TVs.
- Connect to a Canadian server. Open your VPN app and select a server in Canada. This will give you a Canadian IP address, making it appear as though you’re physically in Canada and allowing you to bypass Crave’s geo-blocks.
- Log in to Crave. If you already have a Crave subscription, simply log in with your credentials. New users can sign up directly on Crave’s website.
- Start streaming Crave abroad. That’s it! Head to Crave’s website or app, pick your show or movie, and start streaming as if you were back home in Canada. With a VPN, you’ll have unrestricted access to Crave’s full library anywhere in the world.
Why You Can’t Watch Crave Outside of Canada
Say you’re somewhere outside Canada. Here’s what happens when you browse through Crave’s content library and click Play on a movie or trailer:
An error message displays on the screen explaining that the content isn’t available in your region. That’s because Crave is geo-restricted, meaning there’s a geographic limitation due to licensing agreements limiting its content’s distribution to other territories.
In Canada, you only need a subscription to enjoy the service. That won’t help if you’re only taking a trip, even if it’s only down south of the border to the United States. The same issue exists on other streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, except most international services offer you a curated library for your location. Not Crave though, as it’s exclusively Canadian.
How to Watch Crave Abroad – All The Options
Crave’s geo-restrictions may seem like a dead end, but they aren’t, because there are workarounds to bypass them. Let’s briefly consider each one.
1. A VPN
Using a VPN is the most reliable way to use Crave outside of Canada. When you connect to a Canadian server, the technology encrypts your traffic and redirects it through a secure tunnel to that server.
That makes it seem like you’re accessing Crave from the country, effectively bypassing the geo-restriction.
Access Crave outside of Canada with NordVPN
2. Proxy Server
A proxy server is the closest alternative to a VPN.
Like a VPN, proxies will route your connection through a remote server in Canada. However, they don’t encrypt your traffic, leaving your data vulnerable to interception and theft. What’s more, proxy servers are much less potent than VPNs when it comes to bypassing tough geo-restrictions. There’s no guarantee that they can help you access Crave abroad.
3. Tor
The Tor network is an excellent tool for browsing semi-anonymously because it routes your internet traffic through a series of relays operated by volunteers around the world. Regardless of your actual location, you can configure your exit node location to Canada.
While that technically means you can watch Crave outside of Canada with Tor, it’s not an optimal streaming tool because this option comes with extremely slow speeds.
The Best VPN for Watching Crave Abroad
We’ve established that a VPN is the safest and most convenient of all the methods discussed above. Does every VPN service cut it? Unfortunately, that’s not the case, with many providers actually performing far below the levels they claim.
So, we set out to curate a list of the best VPNs for unblocking Crave while overseas. Following extensive testing of 40+ VPNs, here are the three providers you want to consider because they offer the best combination of functionality and performance.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming on the market. It easily unblocks Crave wherever you are. In fact, over the years and through a series of tests, we’ve not come across any streaming service with geo-blocks that are too tough for NordVPN.
The VPN boasts more than 8,000 servers distributed across 126 countries, including 480+ in Canada. With that vast pool, you can also bypass the geo-restrictions on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and other platforms.
NordVPN is fast enough for buttery-smooth streaming, thanks to high-bandwidth servers and a speed-friendly proprietary protocol called NordLynx that’s built around WireGuard. Also, it doesn’t cap your data or restrict the bandwidth you can use.
While you enjoy watching Crave, NordVPN safeguards your data with virtually uncrackable AES 256-bit encryption, together with a host of advanced and extra tools. On top of that, it doesn’t store any information about your online sessions on its (RAM-only) servers.
NordVPN provides native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, and streaming devices. You can even stream on devices without native VPN support with NordVPN’s SmartPlay. Plus, NordVPN lets you connect up to 10 devices to one account simultaneously.
For more about this VPN, check out our comprehensive NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN
Our next-best VPN unblocked Crave instantly each time we tried. Just like NordVPN, it breezes past geo-restrictions on virtually every streaming service. ExpressVPN also unblocks American Netflix, Netflix Canada, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more.
The provider offers upwards of 3,000 servers across 105 countries and has locations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. We connected to servers in each location and could instantly watch Canadian TV abroad. The VPN unblocked Netflix Canada, CTV, CBC, Tubi TV, and Sportsnet.
ExpressVPN makes good on its high-performance promises thanks to 10 Gbps servers and a proprietary protocol called Lightway. You can enjoy high-quality streams with little to no buffering, even while connected to a Canadian server from a long distance away.
Because of its bank-level encryption, your ISP cannot throttle your connection. The VPN also has a kill switch to plug any leaks as soon as the VPN connection drops. What’s more, ExperssVPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means it won’t hand over your activity logs to any third parties — it doesn’t store them in the first place.
You can watch Crave outside of Canada on your computer, mobile phone, tablet, and smart TV, as ExpressVPN has lightweight, user-friendly apps for each platform and offers up to eight simultaneous connections.
For more information about this service, check out the full ExpressVPN review.
3. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access should be high up your list of options if you like streaming across an array of devices, as it allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
While Crave offers access to HBO Max and STARZ, you can get even more variety whenever you want because PIA also unblocks Netflix Canada and allows you to watch Canadian TV channels anywhere. We found that its regular servers work well enough for Crave, but you may need to switch to streaming-optimized servers for tougher geo-blocks.
The VPN has the most extensive collection of ultra-fast 10 Gbps servers on the market, so you can expect buffer-less streaming. We experienced the best results while using WireGuard, which is offered alongside OpenVPN.
Is Private Internet Access safe? Sure, it is. You can rely on the provider’s superior privacy and security measures, including a strict no-logs policy that has undergone multiple security audits. In addition, it implements AES 128-bit encryption, with the option to upgrade to the even more secure AES 256-bit algorithm.
PIA is compatible with all the major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can even stream Crave directly from your smart TV via Smart DNS or PIA’s native Android TV app.
Check out our Private Internet Access review for more details.
How to Watch Crave Abroad With a VPN: Tutorial
Here’s a step-by-step guide for streaming videos on Crave’s library when you’re not in Canada with the help of a VPN:
- Choose a reputable VPN service, preferably from the list of best VPNs for Crave in 2026. You want your choice to be capable of unblocking Crave (and other streaming services you’re interested in) and offer smooth streams on various devices. Our favorite option is NordVPN.
- Subscribe to the VPN by choosing one of the VPN’s plans and purchasing it on its website.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device from the website or mobile app store. Most popular VPNs have native Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS apps.
- Connect to a Canadian server by logging in and navigating to a Canadian server location on the app’s server menu. This is the essential step to obtain a Canadian IP address.
- Go back to the Crave website and enjoy streaming while abroad.
If you’re still locked out, clear your browser’s cache and cookies. You may also switch to a different Canadian server. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you overcome persistent connectivity issues.
How We Selected the Best VPN for Crave
Many VPNs have Canadian servers, but that doesn’t automatically qualify a provider as a good VPN for Crave. Here are the factors we considered while testing 40+ providers to research this list:
- Server Network: We prioritized VPNs with robust networks, including Canadian servers, to ensure reliable connections and optimal streaming performance.
- Unblocking Capabilities: We tested each VPN’s ability to bypass Crave’s geo-restrictions consistently and reliably. It should also unblock other popular streaming services.
- Speed & Performance: Fast connection speeds are essential for high-quality streaming. We evaluated VPNs based on their download and upload speeds. The three VPNs on this list are some of the fastest options on the market.
- Security and Privacy: We placed a strong emphasis on VPNs with high-level security features, such as military-grade encryption protocols, kill switches, and no-logs policies.
- Device Compatibility: We considered VPNs that offer apps for various devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs. This way, you can watch Crave outside Canada on any device you want.
- Customer Support: You need reliable support, especially when encountering issues. Each VPN on this list has 24/7 support.
- Pricing and Value: Cheaper isn’t always better. We compared different pricing plans (and features) to determine the best value for money.
Final Thoughts
Craving a marathon streaming session on Crave even though you’re not in Canada? No problem. A quality VPN for Crave is all you need. We’ve explored the best options in this article.
Our top choice is NordVPN because it consistently unblocks Crave and offers buttery-smooth and private streaming. A 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to test the service yourself risk-free.
Watch Crave anywhere with NordVPN
FAQ
Is Crave available outside Canada?
No, Crave is a Canadian streaming service, and its content is restricted to viewers within Canada due to licensing agreements. If you try to watch abroad, you’ll see an error message or be blocked.
Can I use a free VPN to watch Crave abroad?
Unlikely. Free VPNs often have too few Canadian servers, limited bandwidth, and are easily blocked by platforms like Crave. They may also compromise your privacy. A premium VPN with a money-back guarantee, like NordVPN, is much more reliable.
On which devices can I watch Crave with a VPN?
Crave works on most devices: smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and web browsers. With a VPN installed on your device (or router), you can access Crave from anywhere.