How to Watch Canadian TV in the USA in 2024

If you are a Canadian expat, a resident traveling outside of Canada, or a foreign citizen who happens to have a craving for good Canadian TV, you may have already noticed that you are not allowed to access Canadian TV channels from outside Canada.

As frustrating as this can be, this is a pretty common dilemma that is not unique to Canada. If someone outside the USA tries to watch American TV, they, too, will be met with the same frustrating geographic rejection.

The good news is that you can accessCanadian TV services from a non-Canadian location. All you need is to do is use a quality virtual private network (VPN) service, and Canadian TV networks will see you as a friend, instead of a foe. A VPN can help you connect to the internet using one of its Canadian servers, which will give you a Canadian IP address. IP addresses that come from a Canadian server will grant you the same viewing privileges as all of the people connecting to Canadian channels from within Canada.

Wondering how to watch Canadian TV from the USA or abroad? Keep reading!

About Canadian TV

Canadian and US TV have plenty of differences, but they are also interconnected. Not only has Canadian entertainment been heavily influenced by US shows, but many US TV shows are actually filmed in Canada.

Canada is home to some of the most popular TV shows, and some very successful networks of their own. It also happens to be home to two of my all-time favorites – Degrassi and Heartland.

Canada today has a variety of stations that offer free content, like CTV or CBC, as well as options like TVC that serve the vast French-speaking population.

In addition to network TV, Canada has it’s own Canadian regional streaming library for channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crave TV, as well as cable TV channels that also offer online streaming content.

Why international users can’t watch Canadian TV 

As with most things, the reason why you can’t watch your favorite Canadian TV from the USA or outside of Canada is because of the bottom line – money. TV networks and streaming services are only licensed to show their content within Canada, limiting access to anyone who wants to watch any Canadian TV in the USA or outside Canada.

These content-streaming geo-restrictions are so strong that, even if you are a paid Canadian subscriber to a Canadian streaming service, if you travel across the border to the United States, you will not be able to use your own paid subscription.

How geo-censorship works 

An internet service provider assigns each device that connects to the internet an IP address. Your IP address is seen by every server with which you come into contact , which, usually, is not a problem.

However, when it comes to servers with geo-blocks, network administrators will see that you aren’t from the permitted country, and block your access to the content on their server.

(Don’t blame Canada for this, since this is common practice in almost every country around the world.)

A VPN will replace your rejected foreign IP address with a Canadian address through one of its Canadian servers, which will trick your Canadian streaming channels, like CTV, into thinking you are in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, or anywhere else in Canada.

How to choose the right VPN to stream Canadian TV 

With so many VPN services on the market, it is hard to know how to choose the best one to fit your needs. Here are the criteria we took into consideration when choosing the best VPN to watch Canadian TV from the United States or abroad:

• Servers. Is there an adequate number of servers on its network, particularly in Canada?
• Speed. Are there fast speeds for streaming Canadian TV channels and movies in HD, with no interruptions or buffering?
• Security. Does the VPN offer top security features, like military-grade encryption?
• Privacy. Does it have a no-logs policy to make sure your location and activity are private? What about protection against IP or DNS leaks?
• Usability. Does it offer user-friendly desktop and mobile apps? Is it compatible with an array of devices? Is the setup intuitive?
• Customer support. Is there live-chat service if you have any questions or a problem with setup? What about a money-back guarantee if the service is not working for you?

Best VPNs to watch canadian TV outside Canada 

To simplify the process for you, we have done extensive research and narrowed it down to our top 6 VPN providers that work best at unblocking Canadian TV from the United States or abroad – And now we are going to share our VPN ranking: (Disclosure – these were the VPNs that worked best for us when we tested them.)

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the fastest, most effective VPN when it comes to unblocking Canadian TV channels from the United States and abroad.

With high-speed servers located in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, it is easy to get a Canadian IP address to access Canadian streaming services like CTV from anywhere in the world – with no buffering or lag.

ExpressVPN is compatible with most devices, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, routers, Linux, Chromebook, smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and gaming consoles.

It is good to note that you can connect up to 8 simultaneous devices to the same ExpressVPN account, and that adding these devices will not slow your browsing or streaming experience.

As for privacy and security – ExpressVPN has a no-logs policy, and offers military-grade 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and OpenVPN across all platforms, so you never have to worry that Express will share or compromise your private information or IP address.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is another great VPN provider that will easily help you watch TV shows in Canada from the United States or abroad.

With over 480 Canadian servers in 3 locations in Canada, you will have no problem breaking through geo-restrictions for buffer-free access to Canadian content, like CBC or Canadian Netflix.

This VPN provider offers a no-logs policy, obfuscated servers, double VPN, 256-bit encryption, and DNS leak protection. Its CyberSec feature also provides an extra layer of protection from malware and annoying ads that may pop up.

NordVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, smart TVs, routers, and Linux, and you can use up to 10 different devices simultaneously with a single subscription.

3. Surfshark

With over 90 servers in 3 locations in Canada, Surfshark will quickly help you connect to a DNS server, get an Canadian IP address, and bypass regional restrictions to stream Canadian channels.

Though Surfshark’s speed does not compare to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, its servers are still plenty fast if you want to watch cable content in Canada with hardly any buffering or lag.

Surfshark has proven to be successful at getting past geo-restrictions for streaming sites like Netflix, CBC, and BBC iPlayer.

Surfshark has great privacy and security features with its no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, double encryption, kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and its special CleanWeb Suite, which blocks ads and protects against malware.

Surfshark allows unlimited devices to connect on just one account, making it ideal for a large family who wants to connect to different sites all at once.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a VPN provider with over 160 servers in Canada that will help you watch your favorite blocked Canadian content like, CBC Gem or Canadian Netflix, or other media streaming sites, like other Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, and Hotstar.

CyberGhost is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. You can connect 7 devices simultaneously, which means that you can watch Netflix while the rest of your family streams, games, or torrents, all at once.

CyberGhost VPN offers a no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, 256-bit AES-encryption, a kill switch, and a built-in adblocker, so you never have to be concerned about your privacy or security.

5. UltraVPN

Despite its size, UltraVPN’s connection speed and reliability in unblocking Canadian TV are impressive. If you need a break from watching CBC gem, UltraVPN can also unblock other TV streaming services, including Amazon Prime Video Canada.

UltraVPN has strong security and privacy with its no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption to protect your internet traffic, andan automatic kill switch that will protect your data in the event that your internet fails. UltraVPN does not offer built-in ad-blocking.

An UltraVPN account only allows you to use 3 devices simultaneously, so if more than three of you want to connect at once, another of the other VPNs might be a better option.

All in all, this VPN that doesn’t offer quite as much value for your money as all of the VPNs listed above.

6. Private Internet Access

PIA is a VPN provider with an impressive 2,735 servers in 4 locations in Canada, so you should never have trouble finding a Canadian server that will help you unblock your Canadian streaming content, as well as sites like BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video Canada.

PIA also offers good privacy and security protocols, and it is easy to use PIA on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and more. You can use unlimited simultaneous device-connections, which really does make this service appealing for family members who want to watch different streaming services on the internet all at once.

The reason this VPN service is not at the top of the list, despite its huge server size, is because it does not come close to the connection speeds of more highly ranked VPNs, like ExpressVPN.

Can I use a free VPN to watch Canadian television?

Wondering how to watch Canadian TV for free?

You are always welcome to try free VPN services, but I would seriously recommend that you save yourself the time and frustration. While there are free VPN services that may work at unblocking Canadian TV, most will not be strong enough to get through its geo-blocks, and may actually make you vulnerable to security breaches and invasions of privacy.

Because free VPN providers are not making money from a subscription fee, they need to find alternative ways to make some cash. They do this by selling user information to advertisers or third parties. Some free VPNs are even known to infect your device with malware.

If you are still not deterred, another reason to avoid these free VPNs is because they tend to have fewer VPN servers available. Fewer servers means more crowding on the servers they do have, which means slower speeds for you (if you are even able to connect to their servers in the first place).

Once you are finally connected, many free providers will put a data cap on your VPN usage, and even throttle your connection speeds.

The smartest choice is a reliable, safe VPN provider. It’s worth the small price for peace of mind.

What are the other reasons to use a VPN?

There are certainly more reasons for a VPN than simply bypassing geo-blocked content. VPNs are often used for online security and privacy.

A VPN encrypts your online location, activity, and footprint, so not even your internet service provider can see your private information or whereabouts. This is helpful if you are browsing sensitive sites, or using a large amount of data online that would normally signal your ISP to throttle your usage. A VPN is also particularly helpful in protecting your private information from being exposed and falling into the hands of hackers on insecure wifi networks.

Best Canadian streaming services

Here is a list of some of the best Canadian channels and TV stations you can watch if you use a VPN:

• CTV
• CBC Gem
• CBC News
• Crave TV
• CityTV
• Amazon Prime Video (Canadian)
• Canadian Netflix
• Acorn TV
• Tou.TV
• Sportsnet
• HGTV Canada
• TSN
• Shomi
• Ztele
• Global TV

Best Canadian TV shows 

Here are some of my favorite television shows to watch on Canadian television (with or without a cable subscription) using a VPN:

• Heartland episodes
• Degrassi
• Murdoch Mysteries
• Schitt’s Creek
• Kim’s Convenience
• Big Brother Canada
• Orphan Black
• Masterchef Canada
• Continuum
• Trailer Park Boys
• Saving Hope

FAQ

Can I watch Canadian TV in the US?

Here’s the thing: If you are trying to figure out how to watch Canadian TV in the US, it can be done – but only if you use a reliable VPN provider with high-speed servers in Canada. A VPN will change your real IP address by letting you connect from the Unites States or abroad to a VPN server in Canada. This will give you an IP address in Canada, allowing you to get past the network’s geo-blocking to watch your TV-streams outside Canada.

Can I watch Canadian TV on Roku?

Are you wondering how to watch Canadian TV on your Roku device? It is possible to do this, but only if you connect Roku to your VPN. Because you can’t set up your VPN directly on your Roku device, you have to connect your VPN to your router, and then connect Roku to your router.

Conclusion

So, if you were wondering how to watch Canadian TV streams from abroad, now you have the answer: A reputable VPN provider, like ExpressVPN, can easy mask your real IP address coming from the USA, or anywhere in the world, and replace it with any IP addresses from their Canadian servers. This will have you watching your favorite Canadian content in minutes!

ExpressVPN is always our top choice, because it is the absolute fastest VPN provider on the market.