If you’re like most Canadians, you enjoy kicking back and flipping through TV channels to unwind after a long day. Since many Canadian channels now stream live content on their websites, you might wonder: Why should it be any different when you’re outside Canada? The short answer: geo-restrictions.
These digital barriers prevent you from accessing Canadian TV content abroad, whether you’re a Canadian traveling for work or vacation, or simply a fan of programming from the Land of Maple Syrup.
More precisely, you can’t watch most Canadian channels unless you change your IP address to one located in Canada. Sounds complicated? Don’t worry, there are safe and simple ways to do it. In this article, we’ll guide you through the most reliable option: using a VPN. To help you choose the right one, you can check our vpn comparison for the fastest Canadian servers.
But first, let’s understand what’s really behind this issue.
Why You Can’t Watch Canadian Television Outside Canada
When you’re in Canada, you can explore tons of TV channels from the comfort of your couch. Channels like CityTV, CTV, CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet also have websites you can visit on your computer, phone, streaming device, or smart TV to enjoy live streams or on-demand content. However, depending on the channel, you may need a subscription.
It’s not that simple outside Canada. Even if you’re just visiting your southern neighbors in the United States, geo-restrictions will prevent you from accessing many of the TV channels and programs you’re accustomed to in Canada.
These geographical limitations exist because of licensing agreements that mean various countries and services have claims on particular movies, shows, or specials. For instance, a TV show may be exclusively licensed to air in Canada or broadcast in other regions in the future.
That’s why you’ll see an error like this displayed on the screen when you click Play on a Canadian TV channel abroad:
Sometimes, it’s just a blank screen that never loads or endless buffering, no matter how long you wait. Whatever the case, the message is clear, and they may as well be saying,
“You’re not in Canada, so we’re not letting you in.”
How Can You Watch Canadian TV Channels Abroad Anyway?
We understand that it stings being locked out of your usual TV channels and streaming services, especially when you have an active subscription that could expire before you’re back in the Great White North.
Thankfully, you can side-step this pesky problem with a good VPN for Canada. The idea is that it will help you to bypass geo-restrictions by modifying your IP address.
If this sounds pretty complicated, don’t worry — while the actual process takes place under the hood, most VPN services are designed for regular people to use without breaking a sweat. Here, we’ll show you all you have to do in three easy steps:
1. Subscribe to a Reputable VPN Service
Watching Canadian TV channels abroad begins with deciding on an ideal VPN and signing up. To be clear, while there are scores of VPN services, a significant chunk of them won’t deliver the seamless experience you need.
We’ll discuss the VPNs we trust below. Of them, our favorite option is NordVPN. Its plans are pretty affordable for how highly rated and capable the VPN is.
But what if you could snag a subscription for even cheaper? You can get an exclusive 72% discount on the VPN’s two-year package if you click the button below. It also comes with a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee.
After subscribing, download and install the VPN app from the website or official app store.
2. Connect to a Canadian Server
As we mentioned earlier, the trick for getting around the geo-blocks on Canadian TV channels while abroad involves masking your foreign IP address.
Launch your newly installed VPN app and sign in. Search for a Canadian location in the server section and click to connect.
In the demonstration above, we connected to a NordVPN server in Toronto. Alternatively, you can click on “Canada,” and the VPN will automatically choose (and connect to) a fast server for you. Wait a few moments until the prompt displays to inform you that the connection has been activated.
3. Watch Canadian TV Abroad
With the “hard” part out of the way, you’re all set to enjoy any Canadian TV channel you subscribe to, wherever you are.
This hack isn’t limited to Canadian television channels. With NordVPN and the same trick, you can also watch American TV channels outside the US or catch British humor and drama on UK TV channels outside the UK. In fact, it works globally.
The Best VPNs For Watching Canadian TV Channels Abroad
This is an in-depth look at the best VPN providers for accessing Canadian TV channels from anywhere.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN tops most of our VPN selection guides, and for good reason. For instance, it is the best VPN for streaming, whether on Canadian TV channels or streaming services. The provider has three server locations in Canada, with more than 480 servers between them.
In theory, such a wealth of options means seamless access to the content you want after getting a Canadian IP address. We put that to the test, and that’s precisely what we got. NordVPN effortlessly unblocked CityTV, CBC Gem, CTV, Global TV, and other Canadian TV channels. We experienced similar results with Crave, Netflix Canada, Hulu, Prime Video, and other streaming services.
Thanks to NordVPN’s well-optimized network and speed-friendly custom protocol, you can expect fantastic streaming quality, even in high definition.
NordVPN is compatible with a wide variety of devices. Want to stream Canadian TV channels on your computer, mobile phone, or tablet? It has full native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. What about your set-top box or smart TV? NordVPN also supports those platforms. For devices without native compatibility, router support means you can extend your VPN connection past the VPN’s 10-device limit.
As stated earlier, NordVPN’s pricing won’t burn a hole in your wallet. What’s more, each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not impressed, you can cancel within that window and ask for your money back.
Pros
- Blazing-fast speeds
- The #1 for anything streaming-related
- Works with many devices
- Top-notch privacy
- A lot of advanced features
Cons
- Price fluctuations
- Multiple subscription tiers
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another popular choice for unblocking Canadian TV channels outside Canada. It also has three Canadian server locations — in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.
During our in-house test, we tried streaming Crave TV outside Canada while connected to ExpressVPN, and the VPN impressed. In fact, all our tries were successful — we could access CTV, CBC, and several others. Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix? Yes, impressively. It also unlocks exclusive BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu content.
Nobody wants to battle through frustrating buffering while watching TV, whether it’s a thrilling ice hockey game or a dramatic high school show. ExpressVPN offers next-gen servers optimized for fast connection speeds and a custom protocol to prevent that. And they work pretty well — we enjoyed butter-smooth connections during testing, even while connected to a long-distance server.
What’s more, ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use. It has lightweight apps without a steep learning curve for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS VPN beginners. It’s also one of the few VPNs with a full graphical interface VPN for Linux. You can also catch up on Canadian live streams on the smart TV in your hotel room, as it’s compatible with Android TV.
However, it’s not all pros — ExpressVPN has high-end pricing. That said, it’s still good value for money, as you can extend its eight-device simultaneous connections limit with a router. You also have ample time to decide if the subscription fee is worth it due to the 30-day refund window backing all plans.
Pros
- Excellent for streaming
- Servers in 105 countries
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction
- High speeds with Lightway protocol
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Only eight simultaneous connections
3. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access is the best budget VPN for watching Canadian TV abroad because of its dirt-cheap pricing. It’s cheap, but can it do the job? Yes, it can. Private Internet Access unblocked several Canadian television channels, like CityTV, Global TV, and CTV, during testing. And, even though we’ve noticed it can be inconsistent when it comes to tough geo-blocks, PIA also excelled when we tried to access Netflix Canada and Crave TV.
PIA has more than 30,000 servers distributed across 91 countries. That’s the biggest server fleet around by some distance. More servers don’t always mean blazing-fast speeds, but PIA also delivers in this area. You can expect smooth streams, especially when you use the performance-friendly WireGuard.
While Private Internet Access offers plenty of customization, it’s intuitive enough for the less tech-savvy. It’s widely compatible and offers lightweight apps for every platform you can stream TV channels on.
What’s more, it’s the best VPN for large households because it allows unlimited simultaneous connections. That means a single PIA subscription covers all the devices you want to connect to the VPN.
You can take PIA on a spin if you need even more convincing. It has a 7-day free trial exclusively for Android and iOS. And if one week is not enough time to make up your mind, take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Cheaper than most
- Excellent transparency
- Great device support
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- The app could be improved
- Not very feature-rich
Can You Watch Canadian TV Abroad With a Free VPN?
Technically, yes. Some of the best free VPNs might be able to unblock certain Canadian TV channels. However, a seamless streaming experience involves more than just bypassing geo-blocks. That’s why we generally recommend using premium VPN services, especially the ones highlighted above.
To begin with, free VPNs typically offer access to only a limited number of servers. These servers are often overcrowded due to a high user-to-server ratio, which results in slow connection speeds. That, in turn, leads to buffering and degraded video quality, far from ideal for streaming.
Additionally, most free VPNs impose data caps and bandwidth limits, which can cause throttling and frequent interruptions.
More importantly, most free VPNs are unreliable when it comes to protecting your online privacy—the primary reason for using a VPN in the first place. Many have been found to log user data and browsing activity extensively, selling this information to third parties for profit.
In contrast, a reputable premium VPN is well worth the investment. Top providers offer money-back guarantees, allowing you to try their service risk-free.
Final Thoughts
Watching most Canadian TV channels outside Canada requires a tool that masks your IP address. A VPN is the most effective method, offering privacy, convenience, and smooth streaming. In this article, we’ve outlined the essential steps and tools you need to get started.
NordVPN is our top recommendation for watching Canadian television abroad, but ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access are also excellent choices. Each offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch Canadian television abroad with NordVPN
FAQs
How to use a VPN to watch Canadian television from anywhere?
Start by choosing a VPN service and subscribing to a plan. Then, connect to a server located in Canada. After that, visit the live-streaming page of the TV channel you want to watch and enjoy your content.
Do I need a VPN if I’m in Canada?
Not for watching local TV channels. However, a VPN is still useful. It helps secure your internet connection against cyber threats. Additionally, it allows you to access international streaming content and TV channels from other regions while you’re in Canada.
Is Watching Canadian TV Overseas Legal?
Using a VPN to unblock Canadian TV channels exists in a legal gray area. While VPNs are legal in most countries, streaming geo-restricted content may violate licensing agreements. That said, it’s generally not considered a criminal offense, and you’re unlikely to face legal consequences.