BFI Player contains unique content and an amazing section of classical films. Its content is however restricted and can only be viewed by people in the United Kingdom. That is not to say that those of us who live outside of the UK can’t find a way around that restriction.

A VPN is the best work around for these types of restrictions but you can’t just grab any VPN and run with it. Here are the essentials to look for in a VPN:

No Log Policy

Opt for a VPN service that exclusively uses the policy of not logging any client data. This means that the VPN will not save your browsing activities.

However, be fairly warned that even though a lot of VPN services claim to operate under the ‘no log’ policy, they still keep elements of your data like session logs. It would be prudent to read the fine print of the service’s terms and conditions to be absolutely sure that your data is not being saved.

VPN Kill Switch

There are times when a VPN connection drops or gets overloaded. During such instances, there is a threat of your IP address getting leaked or exposed when you are online.

Choose a VPN service that comes with an integrated kill switch that actively detects a failed VPN connection and as a result, shuts down the transfer of data. This prevents you from becoming a victim of IP leaks as unencrypted data can no longer be transmitted on a killed connection. For the feature to work, make sure you turn on the kill switch inside the VPN’s app settings so that it can monitor the connection.

Router Compatibility

The smart thing to do while connecting a VPN would be to install it directly on your router, instead of on each device separately. Not all VPN providers would offer such router compatibility and you will have to see which ones do.

This kind of a support automatically puts all your devices that are connected to the router under the purview of VPN protection. To take advantage of this feature, you will also have to ensure that your router is compatible to such VPN server installation.

Ample Server Locations

VPN services are widely used to bypass geo-blocking. You can take on the IP address of the VPN server you are on and pretend to be in a different geographical location than the one you are actually in. People often use this to navigate to streaming services or specific websites that are not available in their countries.

Make sure that your VPN service covers a wide range of countries so you to be able to access material from all over the world.

Cheaper Pricing

This might look like an obvious point to make but it is often overlooked when dealing with the vast array of VPN options. If you diligently go through the wide range of plans and pricing, you will realize that there is always a cheaper deal available.

However, most of the time you will have to subscribe to at least 12 months’ worth of VPN service. Please keep in mind that while looking for a cheaper service, you can’t afford to compromise on any of the other features that are absolutely essential in a VPN server.

Smartphone Compatibility

All VPNs are compatible with a Windows PC, but very few of them offer client software for mobile phones. Considering that nowadays a lot of users spend more time accessing the internet through their smart phones instead of their computers, it is important that your VPN service supports all the platforms you use.

In fact, for a lot of people, smart phones have become not only their primary device, but the sole device through which they access entertainment or run their businesses online. And if you have any other phone than Android or iOS, look for a VPN provider with a truly wide range of device support.

How To Use A VPN To Watch BFI Player

Even if you’re no good with computers or technical things there’s no need to worry because using a VPN is a simple process. I’ve broken this down into a few easy steps below so you can be watching BFI Player wherever you are in minutes.

Visit your chosen VPN service, for example my recommendation ExpressVPN, and sign up. Or on a mobile device, search for the service in the app store.
Open the software and login with the account details you created.
Find “Choose Location” in the settings.
Then select “United Kingdom”.
You may also need to press “Connect” depending on what device you’re using.
It will take a few minutes to connect, once you’re connected visit the BFI Player website or use the BFI Player app.

The Best VPNs To Watch BFI Player Abroad

1. IPVanish

IPVanish is great for BFI Player and others including the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. For mobile users without access to an app store, IPVanish allows you to simply download the APK file from its website and install it directly onto your device without the need to go through an app store.

IPVanish now lists its app on the Fire TV app store via Amazon, and as of time of writing it’s the only one on this list to do so. Linux users, however, will have to manually configure the VPN.

The Fire TV version is optimized to be used with the Fire Stick remote, making it easy to get set up and connected to your server of choice. Over 1,000 servers are available to choose from, with fast and reliable service to the vast majority of locations around the world.

You’ll also get solid security thanks to 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy. IPVanish is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Fire TV.

2. CyberGhost

CyberGhost categorizes its servers not just by location, but by which video streaming service the user wants to access. This is useful for users who like to watch BFI Player. Unfortunately, there’s no Linux app and the Android version is only available from Google Play.

That means devices that run on OpenELEC, a popular Linux distro for low-power Kodi devices like Raspberry Pi, or a version of Android that doesn’t have Google Play will have to manually configure CyberGhost servers.

On the plus side, CyberGhost has gotten pretty good at unblocking streaming channels as of late, and it’s added a whole slew of servers to its ever-expanding network. Speeds are solid and security is tight. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a great all-around choice for BFI Player users, promising fast speeds and reliable service. A Linux version of the app with a command-line interface is available, although we haven’t yet tested this with OpenELEC.

A Fire TV-optimized version is available on Amazon’s app store. One downside for users with Android-based Kodi devices is they can’t easily download the APK from the website without first authorizing their account.

That means devices that lack Google Play and a traditional web browser will have to sideload the app from a second Android device. ExpressVPN also has a tutorial for getting set up with Nvidia Shield on its website.

ExpressVPN is a reliable unblocker of geo-locked services, including BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now and HBO Go. It boasts best-in-class security standards, 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy among them.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux (command-line), and certain wifi routers. If your Kodi device doesn’t support VPNs at all, ExpressVPN’s pre-flashed wifi routers with the company’s bespoke firmware might be just what you’re looking for.

4. NordVPN

NordVPN offers a network of more than 1,100 servers in over 60 countries. Many of those can unblock geo-locked streaming services like BFI Player, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Netflix.

Android users without Google Play can get the APK file directly from the NordVPN website. Unfortunately, there’s no Linux version of the app, but NordVPN can be manually configured using a range of different protocols.

The company uses 256-bit encryption and adheres to a strict zero-logs policy. Speeds are decent and connections are reliable. The default map interface might not be suitable for users who operate Kodi with a remote control, but you can switch to view the available servers in list form as well. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

5. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a solid option for BFI Player. The Linux version is tested and proven to work on OpenELEC. The software is lightweight and the price is cheap, so this is a good overall choice for Kodi users on a budget. The APK file is available for direct download from the PIA website if your Android device doesn’t have Google Play.

Despite its small footprint, PIA doesn’t compromise on security or performance. Speeds are decent and you get a decent range of server locations.

Encryption standards are adjustable with 256-bit and 128-bit encryption available; the latter might be preferable lower-end Kodi devices. PIA sticks to a strict no logs policy. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

BFI Player might be blocked where you are, but with a VPN there is no reason to feel restricted.