A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a useful tool that creates a new IP that masks your original one. Every computer has its own IP linked to your location and a VPN is a tool that shields your actual region by showing a new place. Not all VPNs are up to the job of accessing your paid streaming site accounts. Only premium VPNs stay on top and unblock the top streaming services so you can watch your shows. ExpressVPN is the fastest and most secure VPN, plus you can try ExpressVPN and stream your programs on ARD and Mediathek whenever you want. Watch ARD with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: 3 Steps to Watch ARD From Anywhere
Stream ARD & Mediathek with ExpressVPN
Why You Need a VPN to Watch ARD & Mediathek Outside Germany
You’ve noticed that ARD isn’t available outside Germany. There are broadcasting restrictions in place that make ARD block their content to viewers outside Germany. This is called geo-blocking. A VPN helps you get around these geo-blocks so that you can watch the content that other people at home in Germany are watching. The VPN gets past geo-blocks by masking your IP and showing a new one. A VPN will reroute your internet traffic through its private servers, and that server has a different country’s IP address, so it seems like you’re browsing from inside the allowed country (instead of where you actually are). While testing the VPN, my team and I could not only access servers in Germany, but other servers in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. When you connect to a VPN, websites really can’t tell where you are on the globe, so you can continue to access ARD.
The Best VPNs to Watch ARD in January 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Fastest Speeds So You Can Watch ARD Without Lags
The best quality of ExpressVPN is its blazing-fast speeds. I tried it on several devices and always had bufferless streaming even at peak usage periods. To further test ExpressVPN, I switched to its Lightway Protocol — which is less resource-intensive too — and had 104Mbps. At such high speeds, I could sit and view ARD Mediathek without any interruptions for hours. I love a viewing experience that’s uninterrupted by pixelation and lags. ExpressVPN has easy payment options when you sign up for the service. Not only will it take my credit cards, but it allows me to pay for my service through PayPal or even Bitcoin if I fancy cryptocurrency. Since it’s flexible in taking payment methods, I can pay the way I want. The only minor con of this VPN is the fact that it costs more than other VPNs. To combat this, you can get a discount for 49 off of a one-year subscription and save a good bit of money in the process. Best of all is ExpressVPN’s money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out for yourself completely risk-free. If you’re not satisfied, you can always get a full refund. I tried it myself to see if they would try to troubleshoot with me. But they gave me a refund, no questions asked. The money was back in my account 5 days later. It was so easy. Watch ARD with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers So You Can Stream ARD In The Highest Quality
With CyberGhost’s optimized servers, I could watch ARD with the best quality a VPN could offer. Each show I watched was smooth and in HD quality even from a long distance. All I have to do is click “For Streaming,” scroll down to Germany, and pick the server optimized for ARD. Whether on CyberGhost’s optimized or normal servers, I could unblock ARD and Mediathek every time. When it comes to the number of devices you can connect at one time, CyberGhost allows 7. That included my laptop, iPhone, tablet, Playstation 5, and a connection for everyone else in the house. I thoroughly tested CyberGhost on all of my devices, including router, desktop pc, and smart TV, and I was able to play games, browse the web, and stream ARD to watch news, videos on Mediathek, children’s programming, or arts. CyberGhost’s Smart Rules are a great feature of the app. You can configure it to launch on startup. Another option I like is CyberGhost can be configured to launch an app when a VPN connection is made. I connect and it automatically starts my browser. CyberGhost is secure, with military-grade AES-256 bit encryption. That means when you are connected, your data is broken into indecipherable pieces and can’t be understood. It can only be put back together with CyberGhost’s cypher key. What’s more, they have a kill switch and leak protection in case you are suddenly disconnected from the internet, so your business is only known to you. With their no-logs policy, what you do on the internet is kept private. The only small problem with CyberGhost is that the desktop app is inefficient when it comes to picking a server. The favorites start in the center of the expandable menu with the server menu on the left. Choosing from the server menu puts the list of servers in the center. A menu that expanded to the right would be easier to work with. But the program is easy to set up. It’s also easy to configure, which makes it good for beginners. I had it running quickly so I was able to start watching ARD immediately. You can try out CyberGhost for yourself. It has a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free. It was easy for me to get a refund through its customer support. I just chatted with someone and they refunded my money. The cash was back in my account in 3 days. Watch ARD with CyberGhost CyberGhost also unblocks: Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, YouTube TV, ESPN, and more.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Reliable Servers to Watch ARD in Ultra HD
Outstanding!
Speed 8.0/10
Servers 10/10
User Experience 9.0/10
Support 10/10
Pricing 10/10
See Deals
I found Private Internet Access (PIA) features 35000 servers in 83 countries, and it has two in Germany. With so many servers, the connection is high-quality and you can stream in Ultra-HD. Not only can you access your shows in Germany, you can stay protected while streaming content with a reliable VPN such as PIA. PIA offers a feature called split tunneling. This allows you to direct traffic from websites around the VPN tunnel that doesn’t work well with VPNs. So you don’t have to disconnect from the VPN to go to these websites. Its traffic is not affected by the VPN and every other site’s is. When I tested PIA, I used it on a number of different devices for gaming, surfing, and streaming. It kept the traffic I wanted on the VPN and the rest was not affected. Featuring a 3000+ Gbps network, PIA is good for gaming too, if you need those high speeds. I played Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the response time was fast. When you’re looking for security and a network that reacts, this is a great option. With its prices, Private Internet Access is extremely affordable on any budget. You can use this VPN, watch ARD and ARD Mediathek, and stay secure and protected on the web. I think this is a great app for the money, and you can’t afford to not use it to unblock streaming sites like ARD. It’s a deal for the speed and ease of use. PIA has a minor con. We know PIA holds its customer’s privacy of utmost importance, but its location is a potential disadvantage. Still, it does have a no-logs policy, and you have the choice of how much encryption you want. The app features data leak and disconnect protection as well. Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN for the money since it unblocks ARD and Mediathek with additional premium features included. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it without risk and get your money back if you aren’t satisfied. I got in touch with support over chat, asked for my money back, and it was back in my account in 3 days. Watch ARD with PIA
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionA kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlyBuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerFully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. You can stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $3.69 per month. To ensure that you’ll really get your money back, I tested NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription (which means you can connect your entire family and even friends!). I tested Surfshark’s unlimited connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UltraHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultDiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)Kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you (and those you share your account with) can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in Ultra HD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet. You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.05. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
How to Choose the Best VPN for ARD
If VPNs are new to you, the technical jargon can be overwhelming and make it challenging to pick the right one for you. For a simpler way to access ARD, I checked all three of the VPNs listed on this page for each of the following crucial features:
Has German servers to unblock ARD Features super-fast speeds. The encryption process naturally causes you to lose some bandwidth, but these premium VPN services have top-notch technology to alleviate this. An authentic, proven money-back guarantee so you can try the VPN risk-free to decide for yourself Hides your IP address for anonymity online AES-256 bit encryption so no one can monitor you Bypass geographic restrictions on websites and streaming services that are popular Make it possible to download torrents anonymously
Access ARD and Mediathek with ExpressVPN
Is it easy to watch ARD outside Germany?
Yes, but it’s not as simple as going to the website and watching it. Overall, you need a VPN to access ARD and if you don’t have one, it will block you. You can’t watch the content at all. I tried and no matter how many times I refreshed my browser, I still couldn’t watch it.
Do I need to pay to watch ARD outside Germany?
No. ARD is a public broadcasting system and is free. With one of the best VPNs, you can start watching anything you like, and there will not be a charge as it is not a subscription service. You will have to pay for the VPN subscription, so it’s not totally free. But you can take the advantage of CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you can cancel it anytime and get your money back in full.
What devices can I use to stream ARD?
You can watch ARD on almost any device, but you’ll need to connect to a VPN first, or the site blocks you. Once you’re on a German server, you can watch ARD on devices like: PCs: Windows and MacOS Smart TVs: Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Apple TV Gaming Consoles: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X I’ve found that ExpressVPN works with most of these devices and has native apps for many of them. You can use it on a router for the rest.
What else can I do with a VPN?
What sports and shows can I watch on ARD?
ARD’s main channel is Das Erste which has news, dramas, comedies, children’s programming, and the Bundesliga Soccer League. If you’re abroad, a VPN will help you watch One, geared toward 30-49 year-olds with movies, music, documentaries, dramas, and sports. tagesschau24 is their news channel, and it also has Arte and a children’s channel, KiKa. Some of the on-demand shows you can watch are: If the specific show you want isn’t listed, here is a list of channels:
Do I need to set up an account to watch ARD?
Surprisingly, ARD does not require an account to be able to access content on the site. Most streaming services require an account with personal data or payment information attached, which is why you need a VPN to stream anything to protect that data. Inside the country, you can watch the site directly or out of the country you can watch the international stream. Although for ARD’s main site, you will need a German IP to access it. Without a German IP address, you’ll get an error message that tells you the content is unable to be viewed outside the restricted area.
Can I use a free VPN to watch ARD?
Free VPNs aren’t the best way to watch ARD. First, many streaming sites’ VPN blockers catch them and block them. They also typically have low bandwidth allowances, so you can’t watch very much until you’ve used up your allotment of data for the month. I tested numerous free VPNs and found they aren’t typically as fast as premium VPNs, and they may not have servers in Germany because they don’t usually have as many servers. You’re better off with a quality VPN that will provide outstanding service and do what you need.
Start Watching ARD Today!
If you’re a German ex-pat or traveling abroad, you need a VPN to watch ARD. Imagine watching shows from home in your language right from your desktop or smart TV. While you’re at it, appreciate the VPN for all the other things it does, like keeping your traffic secure, allowing you to watch streaming sites you subscribe to, P2P file sharing, and more. With connections for all of your devices and the rest of the family, everyone’s happy. I like to watch tagessau24 and Das Erste. The live stream always has something to watch while I relax. That’s possible with a top-notch VPN like ExpressVPN. It makes it easy to start watching ARD. With one click, you connect to a server, and your traffic is encrypted. There’s no reason to worry with ExpressVPN. Test ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free. If you just don’t feel it’s right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period. ARD is on right now, with arts, dramas, soaps, comedies, music, documentaries, news, and kids programming. Now I can keep up with my programs and the second-largest public broadcaster in the world.
