How to Unblock BBC iPlayer without Spending a Dime on a VPN

Looking to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK but don’t have the budget for a VPN? We have an easy fix!
BBC iPlayer offers a big treasure trove of TV shows to enjoy. You can find titles in almost every genre on it – from family-based soap operas and dramedies to crime thrillers and musicals. Oh, and it has a dedicated section for kids too.
Furthermore, if you are a sports fan, you can also follow your favorite sport action live on BBC iPlayer. The British-based streaming service features an impressive lineup of over ten channels from the BBC network that bring you the latest and the most current from the world of athletes, cars, horses, and beyond.
However, as you know, BBC iPlayer is geo-locked to the UK, and the only way to access it from abroad is to use a VPN. A virtual private network (or VPN) is a piece of software program that routes your online traffic through a remote server, masking your real location in the process. This allows you to access websites and content—otherwise blocked in your region—like a local.
Unfortunately, VPNs that work with BBC iPlayer don’t come for free. To be fair, they don’t cost much either; you can get a good VPN in the range of $5–$13 a month. But if you only have a short-term need (for example, if you’re traveling or planning a small binge-bash with your friends) spending even $5 on a VPN might seem inconvenient.
So what do you do if you don’t want to pay VPN fee but still want to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK?
Simple; find a reputable VPN service that offers an unconditional money-back guarantee and get a paid BBC iPlayer VPN for free.
The money-back guarantee hack explained!
Many VPNs today give refund guarantees, where if you don’t like their service for any reason, you can cancel your subscription and have your full payment back. Of course, there is a guarantee period involved, which in most cases averages thirty days.
All you need to do is hack one of these money-back guarantees, and you can enjoy a full month of unrestricted access to your favourite BBC iPlayer shows and documentaries from anywhere. Imagine watching EastEnders in your slippers from your home in Australia without having to worry about paying the VPN fee. How cool would that be?
Bear in mind, however, some money-back guarantee offers come with conditions. So always do your due diligence before signing up.
Below we’ve listed four VPNs that have a minimum 30-day no-questions-asked refund policy. They work with BBC iPlayer problem-free and provide complete privacy online.
- Surfshark
It is based in the British Virgin Islands and offers three optimized server locations for streaming BBC iPlayer.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days
- Best server for BBC iPlayer: Manchester
- Stand-out feature: Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Log policy: Stores no activity logs
- ExpressVPN
It is also based in the British Virgin Islands and offers four optimized server locations for streaming BBC iPlayer.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days
- Best server for BBC iPlayer: Docklands
- Stand-out feature: Fast speed, clocking an average of 53.5 Mbps
- Log policy: 100% activity-log-free service
- NordVPN
It is based in Panama and offers a huge server park of 437 servers to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK.
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days
- Best server for BBC iPlayer: UK #1946, #2102, and #2193
- Stand-out feature: Largest UK server inventory
- Log policy: Keeps no activity logs
- PureVPN
It is based in Hong Kong and offers four server locations to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK.
- Money-back guarantee: 31 days
- Best server for BBC iPlayer: London
- Stand-out feature: Intuitive streaming mode
- Log policy: 100% activity-log-free service
Can I sign up with the same VPN provider twice?
Yes, you can register with the same VPN service twice and extend your free VPN perks beyond the initial 30 days. However, make sure to change your billing details and personal information to avoid a record match.
Do I need a UK TV license to watch BBC iPlayer?
You don’t need a UK TV license to stream BBC iPlayer, except for when you are watching PG-rated TV shows. Even then, there’s an easy way around. Just select “Yes, I’ve a UK TV license”, and you’ll be good to go.
Happy binge-watching!