How to Watch PBS Outside USA [Updated Nov 2024]

Launched in 1970, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American television broadcaster and distributor. This non-commercial, free-to-air television network is home to shows like Masters, BBC World News, PBS NewsHour, Nature, and many more. Not only that, but PBS has its own network, such as PBS HD, Sprout, and PBS Satellite services.

However, you can’t watch PBS outside the USA because of the geo-restrictions. If you try to access PBS from outside the USA, you’ll see this error message:

We’re sorry, but this video is not available.

To bypass geo-blocks, you will need a VPN.

But which VPN to get?

Well, ExpressVPN costs only $6.67/mo (49% discount – 1 year + 3 months free) and offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries. It can also easily unblock geo-blocked services like Netflix US and Hulu with ease. Tested to offer speeds of up to 88.44 Mbps (100 Mbps standard connection). Supports five devices connections and also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read along to learn how to use a VPN to watch PBS outside the USA while traveling.

How Do I Watch PBS Outside USA With a VPN (Quick Steps)

To watch PBS outside USA, just follow the 4 super easy steps below.

1. Get yourself ExpressVPN for just $6.67/mo (49% discount – 1 year + 3 months free).
2. Download the VPN app on your device and sign in.
3. Connect to a US server. 
4. Visit the PBS website or use its app to watch this channel from outside the USA.

Unblock PBS Outside US with ExpressVPN

Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch PBS Outside the USA?

Most streaming services today don’t stream their content worldwide because of the licensing issues and restrictions imposed by different production companies. That’s why you encounter an error on the screen when you try to access PBS outside the USA. However, don’t worry, a VPN can resolve the issue by bypassing the geo-blocking imposed by PBS. In addition, a VPN offers a secure connection that protects your online identity and doesn’t log your online traffic or identity. It’s because a VPN masks your IP address while redirecting your online traffic via the selected server.

For instance, when you select the USA server to watch PBS, the VPN encrypts your actual IP address and tricks the PBS to consider your current location within the USA. That’s why when you open the PBS website or app, you don’t encounter any errors. Lastly, you can enjoy ultra-fast speed and unlimited bandwidth to stream your favorite shows and movies.

Quick Overview of the Best VPNs to Watch PBS Outside USA

Best VPNs to Watch PBS Outside USA

1. ExpressVPN: Overall Best VPN to Watch PBS Outside USA

On number one we have ExpressVPN. It is my top recommendation for unblocking PBS outside the USA. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for PBS because it is capable of offering fast connection speeds of up to 88.44 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Needless to say, it can provide you with a smooth and enjoyable streaming experience.

Aside from fast speeds, ExpressVPN offers amazing apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Fire Stick devices, and more with easy one-click connectivity. 

ExpressVPN boasts an impressive collection of servers with a total count of over 3000 servers operating in over 94 countries. It even offers multiple servers in the USA. With various servers available in multiple US cities, ExpressVPN guarantees that you can enjoy uninterrupted streaming on PBS outside USA.

When I tried streaming “The Miniaturist”, I was able to watch the entire show in HD quality. Not once did I encounter any issues or disconnections. 

Though the service is on the pricey side, its features and performance more than compensate for it.

Speaking of pricing, ExpressVPN costs $6.67/mo (49% discount – 1 year + 3 months free) which is totally worth the cost. The best thing about ExpressVPN is that it comes with a full 30-day money-back guarantee and offers 5 multi-logins.

Overall, ExpressVPN is super fast than any other VPN on the market that provides top-tier unblocking performance.

Watch PBS Outside US with ExpressVPN

2. Surfshark: Affordable VPN to Watch PBS Outside USA

Next, we have Surfshark, an affordable VPN for unblocking PBS outside the USA. Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN for PBS which costs only $2.29/mo (85% discount – 2 years), it is light on the pocket and provides amazing services in lower price.

With over 3200 servers operating in 65+ countries, there is no shortage of servers to unblock PBS outside the USA. It offers multiple servers in different US cities, so you can always find a server to access PBS.

Surfshark also offers super-fast speeds. If we talk about numbers, when I tested it, Surfshark managed to reach speeds of up to 84.24 Mbps on my 100 Mbps connection.

With Surfshark, you will never experience any trouble unblocking any US content. When I tried streaming “The Paradise”, I was able to stream an entire episode without any buffering issues. 

Surfshark’s ability to provide unlimited simultaneous connections is one of its most notable features, allowing you to watch PBS on your smartphone, Smart TV, PC, laptop, firestick, set-top box, and even gaming consoles all at the same time. Moreover, this pocket-friendly VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Get PBS Outside US with Surfshark

3. NordVPN: Reliable VPN to Watch PBS Outside the USA With a Massive Server Network

Last up, we have NordVPN. With more than 5200 servers spread across 59 countries, including the US, NordVPN’s reliability never disappoints. It ensures a reliable connection while unblocking and watching PBS outside USA.

NordVPN also offers amazing speeds. During testing, it offered a speed of 79+ Mbps / 100 Mbps. Furthermore, NordVPN makes streaming in HD quality without lag a breeze. I watched “Sanditon” and I was blown away by NordVPN’s performance. 

Furthermore, its apps are extremely simple to use and are compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems, including macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Windows, Fire Stick, Linux, Firefox, and others.

So, subscribe to NordVPN’s 2-year deal at a cost of $3.09/mo, with a whopping 58% off. The cool thing about NordVPN is that you can use a single subscription on up to six devices at the same time. It also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Access PBS Outside US with NordVPN

How to Sign Up for PBS Outside USA

You can use VPN to sign up for PBS outside the USA by following these steps:

• First, you can select any of the three top-rated VPNs discussed in this review.
• After purchasing a VPN subscription, log in to your VPN account.
• Next, to watch PBS, you need to connect to a US server. 
• After the VPN connection is successful, visit PBS.org and click Sign In from the upper left corner.

• Click Create a PBS Account under the Sign in with PBS Account button.

• Fill in the blanks with your first name, last name, email address, and password. Your password must be at least 8 characters long and contain both letters and numbers.

• After that, click Create an Account.
• When you click Create an Account, an email with a verification code is sent to the email address you entered when you created your account.

• Open the email that you received from PBS.
• Take note of the six-digit code that appears.
• Return to the PBS.org sign-in page and enter the six-digit code into the textbox provided.

• Continue by clicking the Continue button.

• If the code is accepted, your account is verified, and you are redirected to a screen indicating that your login was successful. After a few seconds, you will be redirected to the PBS.org homepage.

That’s it, you can start watching any content on PBS with your brand-new account. 

Worth Watching Content on PBS Outside USA

Confused about what to watch on PBS? Don’t worry as I’ve done all the hard work for you by listing some of the best movies and shows available on PBS.

New Releases to Watch on PBS Outside USA

• L’Opera’ (Dec 1)
• Lakeside Murders (Koskinen) (S1) (Dec 1)
• The Paris Murders (Profilage) (S7) (Dec 1)
• Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen (Dec 3)
• Frontline ‘Inside the Uvalde Response’ (Dec 5)
• Hotel Europa (Das Weiße Haus am Rhein) (Dec 8)
• POV ‘How to Have an American Baby’ (Dec 11)
• Frontline ‘The Discord Leaks’ (Dec 12)
• Season of Light: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir (Dec 12)
• Lookingglass Alice (Dec 15)
• 25 Years With Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee (Dec 18)
• Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas (Dec 18)
• America At a Crossroads with Judy Woodruff (Dec 19)
• Frontline ‘Netanyahu, America & The Road to War in Gaza’ (Dec 19)
• Call the Midwife Holiday Special (Dec 25)
• Next At The Kennedy Center ‘A New Year’s Eve Celebration’ (Dec 31)

Best Movies to Watch on PBS Outside USA

• Victoria (IMDB: 8.2)
• Around the World in 80 Days (IMDB: 7.1)
• Magpie Murders (IMDB: 7.3)
• Les Misérables (IMDB: 7.8)
• Forhøret (IMDB: 6.8)
• Ridley Road (IMDB: 6.8)

Best Shows to Watch on PBS Outside USA

• Sherlock (IMDB: 9.1)
• Call the Midwife (IMDB: 8.6)
• Downton Abbey (IMDB: 8.7)
• Threads (IMDB: 8.0)
• Poirot (IMDB: 8.6)

FAQs – PBS Outside US

Is PBS free?

Yes, you can watch PBS for free on your laptop or access the PBS Video app on your smartphone. Moreover, you can also watch PBS for free on partner streaming platforms, such as Apple TV, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

Can I use a free VPN to watch PBS?

Yes, you can, however, it’s not recommended because of the slow speeds and limited bandwidth. Furthermore, free VPNs aren’t secure and don’t guarantee your online privacy. 

What are PBS compatible devices?

PBS is compatible with Apple TV, Chromecast, Android smart TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Amazon Fire TV.

Is there any other way to watch PBS without VPN?

Yes, you can use Smart DNS to unblock PBS. The Smart DNS service redirects your Internet traffic by changing your location and rerouting the traffic via a dedicated server. However, Smart DNS doesn’t offer encryption as VPNs do. 

Channels you can watch Other than PBS from Outside the US

• How to Watch Crackle outside USA
• How can I watch HBO Max outside USA
• How can I watch Sling TV outside USA
• How can I watch ABC outside USA
• How can I watch DirecTV Now outside USA
• How can I watch Adult Swim outside USA
• How can I watch Acorn TV outside USA
• How can I watch Xumo outside USA

Wrapping Up!

This wraps up our easy guide on how to watch PBS outside USA. Hopefully, you can now sign up for a PBS account and watch any content you like anywhere outside the United States.

I highly recommend getting ExpressVPN to unblock PBS or any other streaming service. It is the fastest VPN out there, starting from just $6.67/mo (49% discount – 1 year + 3 months free).

It offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries and can also easily unblock geo-blocked services like Netflix US and Hulu. To offer the best value for money, it supports 5 devices connections, and also offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee.