No, YouTube TV isn't available in Canada, the UK or Australia. It's a US-only service: you need a US home ZIP code to sign up, and YouTube TV says you can't watch anything, live or recorded, while you're travelling outside the US. YouTube Premium, on the other hand, is available in all three countries.
People in Canada see YouTube TV advertised during US sports broadcasts all the time, so it's a fair question. The answer is the same in the UK and Australia. Here's exactly what YouTube TV's own pages say, and what you can use from YouTube instead.
Why YouTube TV only works in the US
YouTube TV is built around US local channels. When you sign up, it asks for your home ZIP code and may ask to verify your area through your device's location, so it can give you the right local stations. Its sign-up page says it's available in the U.S. nationwide, and the FAQ says it works anywhere you have internet access in the US.
There's no Canadian, British or Australian version with local channels for those countries, and no plan you can buy from outside the US.
What happens to US subscribers who travel abroad
This is where Canadians with family in the US, or Americans moving north, get caught. YouTube TV's FAQ says you won't be able to access any programmes, live or recorded, while travelling internationally. Your DVR recordings don't come with you either.
There's also a home area rule. YouTube TV's help centre says you should use the service in your home area at least once every 3 months to keep the right local networks, and you can only change your home area twice in 12 months. I explain those rules in detail in how to change your location on YouTube TV.
If you're going abroad for a while, YouTube TV says you can pause your membership for up to 6 months instead of cancelling, which keeps your saved recordings.
Does a VPN make YouTube TV work in Canada?
No. YouTube TV's help centre says that while you're connected to a VPN or proxy, you won't be able to stream content from YouTube TV, Primetime Channels or YouTube channels that restrict playback. It tells you to turn the VPN off to fix the resulting playback errors.
So paying for a VPN to watch YouTube TV from Toronto, London or Sydney is wasted spend on YouTube's own terms.
What travels with you and what doesn't
YouTube treats its other memberships differently from YouTube TV. Its help centre says YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium members keep their paid benefits and music library in the YouTube Music app even in a country where Music Premium isn't sold, for a limited period. Music downloads stay available for 30 days without an internet connection. Those travelling benefits only work in the YouTube Music app, though, not in other apps and services.
So if you're a US household moving to Canada or the UK, your YouTube TV stops at the border, while your YouTube Music library keeps playing for a while. That's the moment to pause YouTube TV and look at a Premium membership in your new country.
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YouTube TV in Canada, the UK and Australia compared
| Country | YouTube TV | YouTube Premium | YouTube Music Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Available | Available | Available |
| Canada | Not available | Available | Available |
| United Kingdom | Not available | Available | Available |
| Australia | Not available | Available | Available |
The Premium columns come from YouTube's list of locations where its paid memberships are available. YouTube Premium removes ads on YouTube, adds downloads and background play, and includes YouTube Music Premium, but it isn't live TV and doesn't carry US channels like ABC, ESPN or CBS.
YouTube Music is available where the TV service isn't, and how it compares with Amazon Music is covered in YouTube Music compared with Amazon Music.
What you can watch from YouTube outside the US
- YouTube itself. The regular YouTube app and website work in Canada, the UK and Australia, free with ads.
- YouTube Premium. Available in Canada, the UK and Australia, for ad-free viewing, downloads and background play.
- YouTube Music Premium. Available in all three countries if music is what you're after.
- Primetime Channels. These are YouTube's paid channel add-ons; I explain how they work in what is YouTube Primetime, but check availability in your country before relying on them.
My verdict
If you live in Canada, the UK or Australia, YouTube TV isn't an option, and YouTube's own rules make a VPN a dead end. If you're a US subscriber heading abroad, pause your membership rather than cancelling, and remember to use it at home at least once every 3 months when you're back. For YouTube without the ads in your own country, YouTube Premium is the product that works.
Some YouTube products are sold in different countries, and where the two-person Premium plan is offered is covered in YouTube Premium Duo.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get YouTube TV in Canada?
No. YouTube TV is only available in the US and needs a US home ZIP code to sign up. YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium are available in Canada.
Is YouTube TV available in the UK?
No. YouTube TV is a US-only service. In the UK you can subscribe to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium, but not YouTube TV.
Can I watch YouTube TV with a VPN?
No. YouTube TV's help centre says that while you're connected to a VPN or proxy, you won't be able to stream YouTube TV content, and tells you to disable the VPN.
Can I use YouTube TV while travelling outside the US?
No. YouTube TV says you can't access any programmes, live or recorded, while travelling internationally. You can pause your membership for up to 6 months instead.
