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Pluto TV is an old contender in the long list of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services that have been popping up. However, Pluto TV is exclusive to the US and not available in New Zealand as a standalone service. You can find some limited Pluto content as part of the 10Play platform in New Zealand, but only 50 live channels are offered.
Moreover, if you have a Pluto TV account and travel to NZ, you won't be able to use it. The good news is you can watch Pluto TV in New Zealand by unblocking it with a VPN. Once you connect to a US server, the streaming service will think you're located in the US and give you full access to all its channels.
In the following guide, we’ll show you how to unblock Pluto TV in NZ step-by-step, explore which VPNs are best for this purpose, and explain why you need one for the job. Later on, we’ll offer individual guides for getting the app to work on all your devices and answer some FAQs we’ve seen floating online.
You have to change your IP address to the US if you want to stream Pluto TV in New Zealand. The easiest way to achieve this is using a premium VPN with US servers. Do the following:
Fortunately, you don’t need an account to watch Pluto TV outside the US. That said, if you want to stream through the Pluto TV app (say, on Android or iOS devices), you’ll have to register a separate, US-based Google account or Apple ID. Once you’re done, just connect to a US VPN server to download Pluto TV and enjoy thousands of hours of free content.
If you want to stream Pluto TV in New Zealand, you need to use a VPN because most of its content is inaccessible outside the US. Now, 10Play did bring over 50 live Pluto TV channels to its platform. However, that’s only a fraction of the 250+ channels you could be surfing right now. Plus, the on-demand free movies and TV shows are also missing from its New Zealand offering.
If you try to access the standalone Pluto TV streaming service in NZ, all you’ll get is this straightforward geo-block message: “Pluto TV is not available in your location. Thanks for your patience.”
Fortunately, it’s not that big of a deal to watch Pluto TV outside the US. All you need is a decent VPN with US servers. Once you connect to one, your device is assigned an American IP address, allowing you to browse US-only content without restrictions.
However, not every VPN can unblock Pluto TV in NZ. Naturally, streaming sites are aware of people using VPNs to bypass geo-restrictions, which is why they often ban their IP ranges. Therefore, we highly suggest using NordVPN. It can easily access Pluto TV from New Zealand, and its high-speed connections allow you to enjoy buffer-free streaming.
A suitable VPN should have a wide-reaching server network (both in the US and globally). This will allow you to unblock Pluto TV without a hitch, as well as other streaming platforms - free or otherwise.
A VPN with lightning-fast speeds and impeccable performance is necessary for a seamless streaming experience in New Zealand. Features like obfuscation and a kill switch help you evade VPN blocks and prevent IP leaks. Go for VPNs with firm no-logging policies, robust encryption, and secure protocols for enhanced privacy.
The VPN should be supported on a wide variety of systems, from Windows to Linux and mobile. It should also provide plenty of simultaneous connections for your daily needs. Ensure the provider has affordable pricing, 24/7 live chat support, and a no-strings-attached money-back guarantee, just in case.
Based on the criteria above, these are the 3 best VPNs to unblock Pluto TV in New Zealand:
NordVPN is the best VPN to unblock Pluto TV in New Zealand, providing stand-out features like SmartPlay to smoothly bypass geo-blocks. It works well with other streamers, too. It boasts an impressive network: a total of 6,300+ servers in 111 countries. Over 1,970 of those are located in 16 US locations, ensuring easy access to all the US-exclusive content you want.
NordVPN consistently tops the charts in terms of speed and performance, offering a lag-free experience while live streaming any of Pluto TV’s 250+ live channels or delving into its vast selection of free, on-demand content.
To conceal your VPN activity online, NordVPN offers a wide array of obfuscated servers across the globe. It also includes a useful kill switch feature, which halts traffic to your preferred apps until you can safely reconnect to the VPN.
NordVPN safeguards your data with robust encryption (AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20) and protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and NordLynx). The provider never logs any of your data and has an audited no-logs policy to prove their claims.
The VPN is suitable for streaming, gaming, and other activities on Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, and even smart TVs. It comes with 10 simultaneous connections on any subscription, enough for the average household.
What’s more, NordVPN is very affordable, offering a 2-year plan for as low as $3.09 per month. It also provides expert 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans if you encounter any problems.
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Surfshark is another strong option for unblocking Pluto TV in NZ, with features such as smart DNS and Nexus making it easy to get around geo-blocks. This makes it great for accessing other streaming services, too. It has a decently sized network and impressive coverage - 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, including 600+ in 25 US cities.
Nexus facilitates IP rotation without disconnecting you from the VPN, all by routing your traffic through Surfshark’s entire network. Not only does this improve your privacy, but it also allows for super-fast speeds and consistent performance while streaming, browsing, and so on.
To keep your IP from leaking, Surfshark uses a powerful kill switch to shut off Internet access if your VPN connection drops. Surfshark also has Camouflage Mode (obfuscation) to prevent online services from detecting you using a VPN.
Surfshark prioritizes your online privacy with a no-logs policy independently audited by one of the Big Four firms (Deloitte). Moreover, the VPN shields your day-to-day browsing with tried-and-tested protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard), featuring strong encryption ciphers like AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20.
PIA supports all popular systems nowadays, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and others. And great news: Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a great budget option for families or sharing among friends.
Speaking of budgets, Surfshark is excellent if you're on a tight one because it offers a 2-year plan for only $2.29 monthly. Should you encounter any issues, you can reach out to their 24/7 live chat support.Lastly, it comes with a generous 30-day money-back plan - ensuring a hassle-free experience all-around.
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ExpressVPN is a great fit for accessing Pluto TV in New Zealand and exploring all the different streaming options the world has to offer. It features thousands servers in 105 countries (including 24 US server locations), ensuring private browsing across various websites.
ExpressVPN’s ultra-high speeds and reliable performance provide a smooth viewing experience on Pluto TV - whether you’re watching from New Zealand or overseas. Fortunately, the VPN’s built-in obfuscation has no noticeable effect on live or on-demand streams.
Its reliable kill switch cuts off Internet traffic if the VPN happens to disconnect for any reason. This ensures your IP never leaks on Pluto TV or other streaming platforms. Plus, the provider maintains a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your data is never stored on their servers. As with all providers on our list, their no-logs claims have been independently audited.
Aside from the standard OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols (both AES-256-enabled), ExpressVPN offers a speedy alternative called Lightway. It uses the lightweight WolfSSL library to provide strong security without sacrificing performance during streaming.
ExpressVPN has apps for most devices nowadays, whether you’re watching on PC, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and so on. You get up to 8 simultaneous connections as well, no matter which subscription plan you pick.
One notable downside is ExpressVPN is a bit pricey - its annual plan is $6.67 per month. As expected, ExpressVPN offers 24/7 assistance through live chat, and all plans are backed by a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
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You’ll need a trusty VPN to get past the service’s geo-blocks if you want to access Pluto TV on all your devices in NZ. If your console or streaming device doesn’t support VPNs, what you can do is set up a VPN on your router - thus securing all your home gadgets. When you’re ready, check out these guides on how to watch Pluto TV on any device:
Pluto TV made its way to New Zealand and Australia through 10Play at the end of August 2023. However, the full standalone Pluto TV service is not available in NZ. The only things you can access if you live in or travel to New Zealand are 50 of its 250+ live channels, with none of the free on-demand content. Fortunately, there is an easy solution: you can use a VPN to unblock US Pluto TV.
NordVPN is our top choice for the best VPN to watch Pluto TV in New Zealand. This is thanks to its massive US server network and impressive speeds, on top of all its extra features, such as SmartPlay, which makes geo-blocks a thing of the past. As such, NordVPN is highly suitable for unblocking Pluto TV while also giving you access to any other streaming service in NZ.
Thank you for reading our guide on how to watch Pluto TV in New Zealand! Leave a comment below if you’re unsure about anything, and we’ll be glad to help.