*Content includes branded mentions of our sponsor, Norton VPN.
A virtual private network, or VPN, can help you to surf the internet with greater privacy and security. The right VPN can also help you bypass restrictions on regional content so you can start watching your favorite shows wherever you are in no time.
In this article we list some of the best VPN services for using Netflix, the biggest streaming service worldwide.
Our Top Picks for Best VPN For Netflix
Windscribe – Best Free VPN for Netflix
ExpressVPN – Best VPN Browser Extension for Netflix
Surfshark – Best VPN App for Netflix
NordVPN – Best Netflix VPN for Fast Connection Speeds
PrivateVPN – Best Netflix VPN for Frequent Travelers
Best VPN For Netflix Reviews
Pros
Generous free plan
No limit on the number of connected devices
Extensive browser features
Cons
10GB data limit per month
Limited server locations
Why we chose it: Windscribe boasts an extensive list of features — especially for browsers — and an unlimited number of connections, which is atypical of free VPNs.
Windscribe has a positive reputation for a simple reason: it works well and it’s free. Paid VPNs typically set themselves apart by offering more servers and more features. While Windscribe’s free version only offers around 15 server locations and has a small number of free servers in each one, users have been able to consistently access Netflix using them.
Another advantage of the free version is that it comes with many of the features of its paid version. This is especially noticeable when looking at the Windscribe’s browser extension, which can track and delete cookies, block WebRTC to prevent your IP address and DNS from leaking, change your timezone or GPS location to fool trackers and more.
Windscribe’s biggest drawback is that its free version caps data at 10 GB per month. In Netflix terms, this means you can watch three episodes of Suits or stream Skyfall in high definition. If you’re planning to watch more than that, you may need to look elsewhere on this list, but if you just need a good, reliable option in a pinch, Windscribe is a stellar choice.
Pros
Available for all major web browsers
Extension is easy to download and use
Audited numerous times by trustworthy firms
Remarkable speeds
Cons
Owned by the controversial Kape Technologies
Expensive compared to competitors
Why we chose it: ExpressVPN offers extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave and Vivaldi and it does not significantly impact streaming speeds.
ExpressVPN supports all major web browsers and allows users to switch between servers in the browser itself by choosing from a list, or go with the one recommended by the company’s smart location feature. This means you can unlock geo-restricted Netflix content without ever leaving your browser window.
The VPN’s browser extensions come with useful features like WebRTC blocking, which hides your true location and IP address, and location spoofing, which ensures that your browser’s geolocation matches the VPN server you’re connected to. Additionally, the extension’s interface is user-friendly, supports over 15 languages and has a dark mode.
These features are great, but would be irrelevant if the company could not promise consistently fast connections. Fortunately, ExpressVPN’s browser extension does not have a notable impact on streaming speeds while using Netflix, which limits buffering issues on the platform. It might not be the fastest VPN on our list, but it shows consistently high results in speed tests.
Potential customers should keep in mind that there are more affordable options on our list which offer unlimited connections for less than half the price of this VPN. Additionally, the fact that ExpressVPN is owned by Kape Technologies, a company with a controversial history developing malware, might be a concern for some users.
Pros
Simultaneous streaming on unlimited devices
Independently audited no-logs policy
Consistently high marks on speed tests
Competitive pricing
Cons
Expensive monthly subscriptions
Why we chose it: The Surfshark app for mobile devices is available on a wide variety of streaming devices and boasts outstanding speeds and features.
Surfshark’s VPN apps boast a variety of security measures and tools designed to improve your privacy online. This includes multiple security protocols to choose from, a blocker for ads, cookies and pop-ups, a kill switch and more. Moreover, the company’s server infrastructure and no-logs policy have been audited by well-established independent auditing firms.
The speeds in the app are consistently fast enough to stream Netflix on your smartphone without connection issues. IT firm AV-Comparatives found that it performed especially well in its download speed test. According to Surfshark, regular connections to its servers in the US show an average download speed of 58.46 Mbps — far beyond the 15 Mbps minimum to stream Ultra high definition content on Netflix.
A big advantage of Surfshark over its competitors is that it does not limit the number of devices you can use with the VPN at the same time. This is especially appealing when you consider Surfshark’s monthly cost, which starts at $2.19 per month. However, netting that price requires a two-year commitment; its monthly subscription is much more expensive.
Pros
Leading speeds on third-party speed tests
Robust browser extension
Competitive pricing
Split-tunneling
Cons
Mixed customer satisfaction
Why we chose it: NordVPN offers consistent, industry-leading speeds and numerous useful features at a competitive price.
Independent testing has shown that Nord is the best-performing VPN on average by a large margin, which means you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite Netflix series without having to worry about buffering or slow frame rate issues. The company credits its in-house NordLynx technology for this, which is built around the Wireguard protocol and results in better speeds without sacrificing security.
NordVPN’s browser extension deserves a special mention due to its extensive features. These include Threat Protection Lite —which blocks ads and dangerous links— malware protection and an ad blocker. Users also have access to split-tunneling, which allows you to decide which data goes through the VPN and which does not, further ensuring NordVPN’s fast speeds.
It’s also important to mention that Nord’s online reviews show mixed customer satisfaction. A number of customers were angered by the auto-renewal process and the difficulty associated with changing payment methods. However, others gave the service high marks based on its reliability and performance, as well as for their positive interactions with customer service.
Pros
Reliable access to full Netflix library
Affordable long-term prices
Consistent high speeds
Positive reviews for customer service
Cons
Fewer number of servers worldwide
Lacks advanced features like multi hop and split tunneling
No browser extensions available
Why we chose it: PrivateVPN features low prices and widespread, reliable access to Netflix’s geo-restricted content.
While you travel, you want to be able to access the shows and movies you’ve been watching when you were in the comfort of your own home. PrivateVPN is particularly effective at avoiding geo-restrictions, which may be especially attractive to Americans who frequently travel abroad, since as many as 80% of the TV shows available to them at home are blocked in some countries.
PrivateVPN allows users to access Netflix titles from all over the world, using one of its 200 servers located across 63 countries. Although that’s fewer servers than many of its competitors — which means you could encounter longer wait times with Private VPN — the price and speed of PrivateVPN keep it in the running as one of the top VPNs for Netflix.
Customers have given Private VPN glowing reviews, and it boasts the highest customer ratings of any other company on this list. Users were particularly happy about its customer service, citing quick response times and effective problem-solving on reviews in third-party sites. It also also scored remarkably well on relevant speed tests, such as those carried out by AV-TEST.
Other VPNs for Netflix we considered
We reviewed several VPNs for Netflix that did not make our list for one reason or another. Still, some of these VPN services warrant further recognition for their noteworthy features or benefits. Below we have highlighted the pros and cons of a few of these providers.
Private Internet Access
Pros
Unlimited number of connected devices
High-speed connections
Cons
Inconsistent access to Netflix
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers an unlimited number of simultaneously connected devices for the impressively low price of $1.98 per month when you sign up for a three-year plan, though we recommend thoroughly testing out any service before committing to such a long term subscription.
Why it didn’t make the cut: PIA has an inconsistent track record for those hoping to access Netflix outside of the U.S.
IPVanish
Pros
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Extensive server network
Cons
Limited connection to foreign Netflix content
IPVanish is an appealing option due to its large network of 2,400 servers distributed across more than 90 countries and its support for an unlimited number of simultaneously connected devices.
Why it didn’t make the cut: IPVanish struggles to support connections to Netflix from outside the U.S., with users reporting difficulty accessing content from Germany, the U.K. and Canada. The VPN might still be a good option for those hoping to stream Netflix U.S. from elsewhere.
VPN for Netflix Guide
After a long day of travel, you just want to lay back and relax in a hotel room while watching your newest guilty pleasure show. But when you log in to Netflix, you can’t find the series you’ve been binging, leaving you asking yourself: “Do I need a VPN?”
Using a VPN may allow you to access Netflix content from back home while you’re abroad. Moreover, if you want to watch geo-restricted shows and movies from other regions of the world, you may also need a VPN at home.
Read on to learn how VPNs work with Netflix in-depth and how to use one to access content on this platform.
What Is a Netflix VPN?
VPNs obfuscate your online activity by redirecting your internet traffic through an encrypted data tunnel. This has the effect of disguising your IP address, the unique, identifying code that is attached to your computer.
A “Netflix VPN” is the common name for any VPN you might use to stream content from Netflix. Specific licensing and copyright agreements define the countries in which Netflix may show a film or series. Using a VPN for Netflix allows you to stream content that the company may be restricting in your region.
How does VPN work with Netflix?
VPNs allow you to access Netflix content from other regions by connecting to servers in a different country. For this reason, VPN services that offer more servers in a greater number of countries are preferred to those with a smaller server count.
Netflix’s recent attempts to discourage password sharing have made headlines, but the company has been fighting VPN use for years. The platform has blocked IP addresses from an increasing number of VPN services as the company seeks to root out revenue losses and enforce its terms and conditions.
As with any service, we encourage you to read your Netflix user agreement before trying to circumvent any of the platform’s established restrictions. Moreover, we acknowledge that using a VPN to specifically get around Netflix’s password sharing restrictions may breach your user agreement, and we do not advocate it.
How to use VPN for Netflix
Watching Netflix with a VPN connection is not as difficult as it may seem. The following steps should help you use a VPN to watch Netflix with ease.
1. Choose a reliable Netflix VPN service provider
You should consider several factors when choosing a VPN for Netflix, namely security, performance, servers, price and customer reviews.
Security features are paramount because poor cybersecurity can result in data leaks, revealing your IP address location and preventing you from streaming your favorite shows. Performance is also key for data-heavy activities like streaming in high resolution, so high speeds and consistent connections are a must.
The number and location of the VPN provider’s servers are another important consideration, as this will play a large role in your ability to stream geo-restricted content. As with all products, price is also a factor you should consider to ensure you don’t overpay for an underperforming VPN. Finally, customer reviews can also be a good resource of a VPN provider’s reliability.
2. Install the VPN software or app on your device
After choosing a Netflix VPN, go to its website and sign up for an account. Some VPN companies may require you to give personal information about yourself, while others may allow you to sign up with almost no information to ensure greater anonymity.
If your selected VPN provider supports a smartphone app, you can download it from the App Store or Google Play depending on your device; if they support a browser extension, you can typically download this directly from the provider’s website. Instructions will vary based on your device’s operating system.
Once you have downloaded and installed the software on your device, you are ready to sign in and start streaming.
3. Launch the VPN app and sign in to your account
With the app downloaded on your device, you’re ready to launch the VPN. Open the app and sign in to your account with the credentials used you when you signed up. Some providers allow you to automatically launch your VPN when you start your device or open a new browser window.
If you forgot your login credentials, contact your VPN provider’s customer support for assistance.
4. Select and connect to a server location that supports Netflix access
Next, you will need to select and connect to the right server location for the Netflix content you want to stream. Choosing the best server is something that will depend on your service provider. For example, some VPNs allow users to select from specific servers that are configured for streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Apple TV or BBC iPlayer.
If your VPN does not feature dedicated streaming servers, you will first need to ensure the server is beyond the reach of Netflix’s geo-restricted boundaries. For instance, if a show is streaming on Netflix in the U.K., but you want to watch it in the U.S., you will need to select a server in the U.K.
5. Open Netflix in your browser or app and start streaming
The final step is to navigate to the streaming site or app, log in to your Netflix account as you normally would and start your featured presentation. Popcorn is optional.
Occasionally, you may encounter technical difficulties — this is not uncommon. If you’re unable to connect the first time, give it a minute and try again. Contact your VPN provider for support if the issue persists.
How to change Netflix region without a VPN
The most common methods for changing your Netflix region without a VPN involve using a smart DNS or a proxy server. Neither method uses encryption to protect your online activity, so it may be exposed to your internet service provider (ISP) or anyone within your network.
Your connection to a specific website is facilitated by a domain name system (DNS) request. A smart DNS intercepts these messages and can run them through a server in a region beyond the geo-restriction you are trying to bypass. Proxy servers, as the name implies, operate as a go-between, connecting your device to Netflix via a server in a different location.
Because these methods work without encryption or tunneling, you will not experience the typical speed drain associated with VPN usage.
VPN for Netflix FAQ
Which VPNs work with Netflix?
Many VPNs claim to work with Netflix, but our research led us to a few services that stood out. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark and PrivateVPN have all shown a consistent ability to connect to Netflix. A free VPN for Netflix won't work as well if you'd like to watch content on a consistent basis because they often restrict usage via data and speed limits, which will negatively affect your streaming experience.
Why is my VPN not working with Netflix?
Your VPN may be struggling to connect to Netflix due to overcrowded servers or efforts by the streaming platform to thwart activity that breaches their terms and conditions. Heavy bandwidth use on a server may be to blame for your VPN not working, which is why the number of servers a VPN provider offers can impact the speed and quality of your connection. Additionally, Netflix has been ramping up its pushback against VPN use, so you should expect to encounter some hiccups as the tug-of-war between Netflix and VPN providers continues.
How does Netflix detect VPN?
Netflix has developed several methods to identify and curtail VPN activity on its platform. One way that Netflix can tell you are using a VPN is by singling out VPN-associated IP addresses. Your VPN service may recycle IP addresses, which can tip off Netflix security and cause it to ban that IP address altogether.
Netflix may also recognize inconsistencies in user activity data. For instance, if a user's DNS request and IP address do not match, it can be an indicator that they are using a VPN.
Why does Netflix block VPNs?
Netflix blocks VPNs because they allow users to avoid geo-restrictions on certain content. Due to licensing agreements, Netflix has the rights to stream movies or series in certain countries, but not in others. For instance, The Office is currently streaming in Canada, but not in the U.S.
Geo-blocking prevents customers from having access to content not available in their region. A VPN can circumvent this by allowing an American user to appear as though he or she is in Canada, France, Japan or any other country where the VPN has servers.
Can I watch Netflix with a free VPN?
Some free VPNs are perfectly capable of bypassing geo-restrictions for many regions of the world. However, a free VPN for Netflix won't work as well if you like to watch content on a consistent basis. This is because they often restrict usage via data and speed limits, which will negatively affect your streaming experience.
How We Chose the Best VPN For Netflix
The best VPNs for Netflix have excellent connection quality, unique features, positive customer feedback and access to a large number of servers across a wide variety of regions.
We researched VPN providers by referencing their websites, customer reviews and app store ratings, when applicable. In general, we favored companies that had dedicated streaming servers and allowed a higher number of connected devices.
These were the most important factors we used for evaluating companies.
Reliable connection speeds: A stable connection with high speeds is a must if you plan to stream content, especially in 4k resolution. We favored providers with speeds that were better suited to support streaming.
Range of features: We reviewed the functionality of each service, including tools to safeguard your privacy and to customize your experience with the VPN.
Customer reviews: Customers are often the best source of information for what a VPN does well (and what it doesn’t), so we looked for reviews and took them into account when evaluating companies.
Number and location of servers: If you want to stream content from other regions, then the number and location of a VPN provider’s servers can make a big difference. We considered how many servers each provider offers and where these are located.
Number of simultaneously-connected devices: Being able to connect more devices to your VPN minimizes the hassle of switching between them and makes the software easier to use for large groups or families. We gave higher marks to VPN services that allow a large or unlimited number of simultaneously-connected devices.
Price: Price is always at the forefront of a buying decision. Customers will want to know exactly how much a product or service will cost them, so we compared VPN plans based on the list price on their websites.
Summary of Money’s Best VPN For Netflix
Windscribe – Best Free VPN for Netflix
ExpressVPN – Best VPN Browser Extension for Netflix
Surfshark – Best VPN App for Netflix
NordVPN – Best Netflix VPN for Fast Connection Speeds
PrivateVPN – Best Netflix VPN for Frequent Travelers
