Unlocator
Free trialSmart DNS for smart TVs, consoles and streaming boxes, with an optional VPN for phones and computers.
Best for watching region-locked streaming services on TVs and consoles that cannot run a VPN app
Facts checked November 4, 2026 · First written by Mutuo Mbilla
The short answer
Unlocator is a Danish Smart DNS service that also sells a VPN. The Smart DNS side is the reason to buy it: you change the DNS settings on a TV, console, media player or router, and Unlocator routes the streaming services on its list of 194 channels through the right country, on as many devices as you like. The VPN covers Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Fire TV with WireGuard, but Unlocator publishes no server count and no independent audit, so privacy-first buyers have better choices. Smart DNS costs $6.99 a month or $69 for two years, and every plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Choose it if
- You want to watch a foreign streaming catalog on a smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox or Roku, none of which run a VPN app
- You want one subscription to cover every device in the house: Smart DNS has no device limit, and setting it on your router covers everything behind it
- You want to be in two countries at once, for example US Netflix and UK BBC iPlayer on the same TV, without switching anything on and off
- You want to test it before paying: every plan starts with a 7-day free trial, and Unlocator says no credit card is needed
- Your home connection is fast and you want streaming traffic left unencrypted, so Smart DNS adds no slowdown
Skip it if
- Privacy is your main reason for a VPN. Unlocator publishes no server count and no independent no-logs audit, while ExpressVPN lists PwC, Cure53 and KPMG audits
- You travel and stream from hotels: Unlocator's own help center says many hotels hijack DNS, which stops Smart DNS working, so you need the VPN plan anyway
- Your home IP address changes often and you don't want to update it. Smart DNS only works from the IP registered on your account, although Unlocator gives you an API link and router scripts to automate it
- You want a kill switch on your phone. Unlocator lists the kill switch and Shield features for the Windows and Mac apps only
- You need more than five VPN connections at once; Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections
Main features
Smart DNS
You replace your device's DNS servers with Unlocator's. When you open a supported streaming service, Unlocator sends the location check through a server in the right country, and the video itself comes straight to you, so your speed stays the same.
194 supported channels
The channel list covers US and UK Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, ESPN, ITVX, Channel 4 and music services such as Spotify and Pandora. The list does not show which channels are working on a given day.
Several countries at once
Smart DNS sets a region per service, so one TV can reach US Netflix and UK BBC iPlayer without you changing a setting. Local services such as online banking are left alone.
Setup guides for nearly 80 devices
Unlocator's setup pages link to step-by-step guides for smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Sony, PlayStation and Xbox, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, computers, phones and more than 20 router brands. Set it on your router and every device on your network uses it.
Automatic IP updates
Smart DNS only answers requests from the IP address registered on your account. An API key and URL let your router, a Mac cron job or an iPhone Shortcut update that address for you when your internet provider changes it.
VPN apps
The VPN plan adds apps for Windows 7+, macOS 11+, iOS 12+, Android 7+, Amazon Fire TV and Huawei, with WireGuard and OpenVPN on most platforms and IKEv2 on Windows and iOS. Manual guides cover L2TP, OpenVPN and WireGuard on routers, Linux and Chromebook.
Hybrid mode
Connect to an Unlocator VPN server and Smart DNS keeps working inside the tunnel, so you get encryption and streaming access together. You lose the per-service region settings in this mode, which matters for services such as ESPN+ and MLB.
Kill switch and Shield
In the Windows and Mac apps, the kill switch cuts your internet if the VPN drops, and Shield blocks internet access whenever you are not connected to the VPN at all.
Unlimited Smart DNS devices
Smart DNS has no device limit, and the VPN plan allows up to five simultaneous VPN connections on top.
Pricing
US dollar prices from the checkout that Unlocator's signup page loads, checked for a US customer on November 4, 2026. Each plan renews at the same price. Unlocator advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions.
Smart DNS, monthly
$6.99 / month
Smart DNS on unlimited devices and all 194 listed channels, with a 7-day free trial
Smart DNS, 6 months
$29 / 6 months
The same Smart DNS service, billed twice a year
Smart DNS, yearly
$49 / year
The same Smart DNS service, about $4.08 a month
Smart DNS, 2 years
$69 / 2 years
The same Smart DNS service, about $2.88 a month
VPN + Smart DNS, monthly
$11.99 / month
Smart DNS plus the VPN apps, Hybrid mode and up to 5 simultaneous VPN connections
VPN + Smart DNS, 6 months
$49 / 6 months
The same VPN and Smart DNS bundle, billed twice a year
VPN + Smart DNS, yearly
$79 / year
The same bundle, about $6.58 a month
VPN + Smart DNS, 2 years
$119 / 2 years
The same bundle, about $4.96 a month; Unlocator marks it as the most popular plan
Reviews
Write a reviewNo reviews yet. If you use Unlocator, yours would be the first.
Alternatives to Unlocator
| Product | Choose it instead if | Starts at |
|---|---|---|
| StrongVPN | You want a VPN with a published network of more than 950 servers and 12 connections, with a Smart DNS service (StrongDNS) included in the same price | $3.97 a month on the ann... |
| NordVPN | You want the best for people who want one VPN app on up to 10 devices that also scans downloads and warns about scam sites | |
| IPVanish | You want the best for households that want every phone, laptop and streaming stick on one VPN account, with apps for Fire TV, Apple TV and most other TV boxes | $2.19 a month on the 2-y... |
| ExpressVPN | Privacy matters more than price: ExpressVPN lists servers in 113 countries and third-party audits by PwC, Cure53 and KPMG | $2.99 a month on the 2-y... |
| VyprVPN | You want the best for people on networks that block or throttle VPNs who want Chameleon alongside WireGuard in mainstream apps | |
| Surfshark VPN | You want a full VPN for a large household, with unlimited simultaneous connections and more than 4,500 servers | $2.49 a month on the 2-y... |
Questions people ask
Is Unlocator a VPN?
It sells both. Unlocator started as a Smart DNS service, which changes your apparent location for selected streaming services but does not encrypt your traffic. The VPN + Smart DNS plan adds encrypted VPN apps for computers, phones and Fire TV devices.
Does Unlocator have a free trial?
Yes. Every plan, monthly or longer, starts with a 7-day free trial for new customers, and Unlocator says you don't need a credit card. Its terms allow one free trial account per person, and it may block repeat trial signups.
How much does Unlocator cost?
Smart DNS costs $6.99 a month, $29 for six months, $49 a year or $69 for two years. VPN + Smart DNS costs $11.99 a month, $49 for six months, $79 a year or $119 for two years. These are the US prices at checkout on November 4, 2026.
Does Unlocator work with Netflix?
US Netflix and UK Netflix are both on Unlocator's channel list of 194 services. Streaming services block DNS and VPN providers from time to time, and the list does not say which channels are working today, so use the 7-day trial to check the services you care about on your own TV.
Why does Unlocator ask for my IP address?
Smart DNS only serves IP addresses registered on your account, and Unlocator adds yours when you sign up. If your internet provider changes your IP, you update it in your account or automate it with Unlocator's API link, which its help center explains for DD-WRT routers, macOS and iOS Shortcuts.
Why doesn't Unlocator work in my hotel?
Many hotel networks force their own DNS servers, which overrides Smart DNS. Unlocator's help center recommends switching to its VPN in that case, which needs the VPN + Smart DNS plan.
Does Unlocator keep logs?
Its privacy policy says it does not store logs on individual accounts. It does keep a personally identifiable log for abuse prevention, which it purges every 24 hours with no backups, and it records your IP address when you sign up and use the website or API. Unlocator has not published an independent audit of these claims.
Can I get a refund from Unlocator?
Unlocator advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions. You request it by emailing [email protected] from the address on your account. Read the terms of use before you buy a long plan, because they describe refunds for prepaid periods more narrowly than the homepage does.
Read the full Unlocator review
Unlocator is a good buy if you want to watch another country's streaming catalog on a smart TV, games console or streaming box. Its Smart DNS service covers 194 listed channels on any number of devices, costs $6.99 a mon...
Read the full reviewSources we checked 20
- unlocator.com for products, free trial, money-back guarantee, VPN device claim, platform count checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/account/signup/user for plans, billing periods, trial per plan, Smart DNS unlimited devices, 5 simultaneous VPN connections checked November 4, 2026
- checkout.paddle.com/api/2.0/prices for US dollar prices and trial days for every plan, loaded by the signup page's Paddle checkout checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/about-unlocator for company name, address and headquarters checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/smart-dns for how Smart DNS works, IP registration, no-card trial checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/vpn for VPN apps and trial wording checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/vpn-apps for app platforms, minimum OS versions, protocols checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/unlocator-hybrid for Hybrid mode and its limits checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/channels for channel list (194 entries) checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/setup for setup guide coverage and router support checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/privacy-policy for logging, IP recording, data retention, Danish law checked November 4, 2026
- unlocator.com/terms-of-use for auto-renewal, cancellation, refund terms, one trial account checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com for help center categories and article counts checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com/article/142-difference-between-unlocator-smart-dns-and-vpn for Smart DNS versus VPN differences and limits checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com/article/356-what-is-unlocator-shield-and-kill-switch for kill switch and Shield platforms checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com/article/85-how-to-get-a-refund for refund window and how to request it, support email checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com/article/386-how-to-use-the-api-key-and-url for automatic IP updates checked November 4, 2026
- support.unlocator.com/article/89-im-at-a-hotel-and-i-cant-get-unlocator-to-work for hotel DNS hijacking and VPN recommendation checked November 4, 2026
- expressvpn.com/features for ExpressVPN server countries and audits (alternative) checked November 4, 2026
- surfshark.com/features for Surfshark connections and server count (alternative) checked November 4, 2026