How to watch Canadian TV in the USA

If you’re an expat or traveling outside Canada, you’ll lose access to your Canadian TV account because it’s geo-restricted. It’s currently only available in Canada, so if you’re in the USA, you won’t be able to stream it.

With the help of a VPN, though, you can change your IP address and get your account back. By connecting to a Canadian server, you can make streaming platforms like CBC Television and CTV think you’re still in Canada.

There’s a plethora of VPNs on the market and not all of them work with Canadian Television. But don’t worry because we’ve done the testing for you. In this article, we’ll teach you how to watch Canadian TV in the USA with the help of a VPN and share our top picks for the job.

Why can’t I watch Canadian TV outside Canada?

Canadian TV services don’t work outside Canada because they’re geo-restricted and only have the rights to distribute their content within the country. They have licensing restrictions in place that prevent them from broadcasting their content in other countries, same as watching German TV abroad.

When you try to watch anything, you’ll get an error saying, “This content is not available outside Canada.”

The error you get when you try to watch anything on Canadian TV from outside Canada.

These streaming platforms detect your location with the help of your IP address. If they see that you have an IP that’s based outside of Canada, they block you from viewing content on them.

Luckily, your IP address can be changed and manipulated with a VPN to trick apps and sites into thinking you’re physically present in a different location.

Best VPNs for watching Canadian TV abroad

There are tons of great options out there, which is why it can be confusing to decide which one to choose. But after several days of testing and researching, here is a list of what we think are the best VPNs for watching Canadian TV abroad:

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for watching Canadian TV abroad in 2024
2. NordVPN – Canadian TV VPN with advanced security features
3. Surfshark – Affordable VPN for unblocking Canadian TV in the USA

We’ve provided a more detailed review of our top 3 VPNs for Canadian TV below:

1. ExpressVPN – Best overall VPN for Canadian TV in 2024

ExpressVPN

1

9.7

/10

Visit ExpressVPN

Pros & cons

• Has 4 server locations in Canada
• Minimalist app design
• Lightway protocol lets you watch Canadian shows in HD without buffering

• No trial version for any platform

ExpressVPN is the most reliable option when it comes to watching Canadian TV in the USA. It has 4 RAM-based server locations in Canada, which are updated on a regular basis. And with its Lightway protocol, you can can easily watch Crave TV or Netflix Canada in HD without any stuttering, even while you're in the US.

It has a minimalist app which looks the same on every platform, making it extremely user-friendly.

Use ExpressVPN’s Canadian servers to unblock Canada-exclusive streaming sites.

With ExpressVPN, you won’t have to worry about your online security while watching Canadian TV as it comes with plenty of security features, such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling.

If you want to learn more about our top Canadian TV VPN, check out our ExpressVPN review.

You can get ExpressVPN for from $6.67/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN – Canadian TV VPN with powerful security features

NordVPN

1

9.6

/10

Visit NordVPN

Pros & cons

• Has around 240 servers in Canada
• Includes several advanced security features
• Has a trial version for Android

• No trial version for iOS or desktop

NordVPN has a total of 5000 servers and a large portion of them are based in Canada. It’s a solid option for people who want extra security features and a server network that lets them watch their favorite Canadian shows and movies without any hassle.

There are plenty of advanced security features that come with NordVPN, including dark web monitoring, Double VPN servers, and an ad blocker. Unlike ExpressVPN, though, its UI can be a bit confusing for new users, but you can get the hang of it very quickly.

NordVPN’s servers in Canada.

NordVPN is available from $3.39/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it also has a trial version for Android.

3. Surfshark – Watch Canadian Television in the USA with this VPN’s unlimited simultaneous connections

Surfshark

1

9.5

/10

Visit Surfshark

Pros & cons

• Cheap VPN for watching Canadian TV
• Has unlimited simultaneous connections
• Over 300 servers in Canada
• Offers a trial version for Android, iOS, and macOS

• Company is located in a 14 Eyes country

Surfshark may be cheaper than ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but it doesn’t cut any corners. With 3 server locations in Canada, you can watch Canadian TV from anywhere in the world. It uses WireGuard protocol, ensuring you get the best speeds while you’re watching TV shows and movies.

One of its specialities is that it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. This means you can use it on as many devices as you want. Other than that, it includes security features like Multi-Hop routing, an ad and tracker blocker, and Rotating IP.

Canadian servers on Surfshark.

You can get the VPN service starting from $2.29/month. It has a trial version for Android, iOS, and macOS.

Is there a free VPN to watch Canadian TV?

Yes, there are some free VPNs you can use to watch Canadian TV, but keep in mind that they won’t be as safe or reliable as premium ones.

Windscribe is a free VPN service that has servers in many countries including Canada and the USA. It only lets you use 2 GB of data per month, though. If you want to look at other options, check out our list of best free VPNs in 2024.

Windscribe has some Canadian servers you can use for free.

That being said, we don’t recommend you use free VPNs since many of them show ads and sell your data to advertisers.

Instead, get a premium VPN that has a 30-day money-back guarantee like ExpressVPN. Not only will you get access to a wider server network, but you’ll also be able to protect your online traffic with advanced security features.

What can I stream on Canadian TV?

Some of the most popular streaming services you can watch on Canadian TV include CBC, CTV, Netflix Canada, Brave, CraveTV, and Hayu.

Here’s a list of some of the shows and movies you can find on these streaming platforms:

• The Voice
• Shelved
• The Rookie
• Station 19
• Canada’s Ultimate Challenge
• Savage River
• Anger Management
• Identity
• Naked and Afraid

Note that some of the shows we’ve listed here have free episodes, so you might not even have to buy a subscription after turning on your VPN.

Conclusion

Canadian TV has some of the best shows and movies available online, but you can’t access it if you’re in the USA or anywhere outside of Canada, unless you use a VPN.

By using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN, you can connect to a Canadian server and unblock all Canada-exclusive streaming platforms such as CBC and CTV.

There are free VPNs you can use, but many of them will display ads and won’t have all the powerful security features you usually find in premium services.

Once you’ve unblocked your favorite Canadian streaming platform, you can easily start watching your favorite TV shows and movies, some of which don’t even require a subscription.