Best Netflix VPN quick menu
A vpn (Virtual private network) is a powerful tool that reroutes your traffic through a secure server. Besides better privacy, this process also spoofs your IP address so you can fool sites and services into thinking you’re virtually anywhere on the earth. This means that with a Netflix VPN, you can watch your favorite shows no matter where you are—and that’s a big deal, because streaming services are notorious for locking down content because of copyright and licensing restrictions.
For 15 years, has tapped into the knowledge and expertise of its security and IT experts and relied on handson experience to learn everything about VPNs. The team and I have tested countless services, including industry titans and independent providers, so you can trust that our recommendations are always topnotch. In fact, most of us regularly use one of the best VPNs in the business at home.
There are hundreds of VPNs out there, however, so I’ve shortlisted 5 show stoppers that work seamlessly with Netflix. Each of my picks has reliably quick speeds (to reduce buffering), plenty of servers dotted across the globe, and apps that are compatible with more than just your PC or mobile phone.
The three best Netflix VPNs in 2024
Need a quick answer? No worries. Here are my top three Netflix VPNs:
The five best VPNs for Netflix in 2024
Why you can trust
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below, I break down the best VPNs for Netflix and discuss why you’ll want to check out each service, how they performed in my most recent tests, and any reasons you might be better off with an alternate pick. I dig into some FAQs at the end of the article, too, to help you find your perfect match.
The best Netflix VPN overall
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want to access Netflix in any country anywhere: NordVPN unblocks Netflix in pretty much every country you can imagine.
✔️ You need a VPN that’s fast: in my tests, NordVPN hit speeds of over 950 Mbps, which is way more than you need for HD and 4K streaming.
✔️ You need to stream using Amazon Firestick: NordVPN is one of the only VPNs that work with Amazon Firestick.
Don’t subscribe if:
❌ You use mobile more than other devices: NordVPN’s iOS and Android devices are slightly clunky—especially compared to their PC counterparts. Check out Surfshark for a smoother experience.
❌ You need secure torrenting: while NordVPN is a safe torrenting pick, its overall speeds can dip when engaging in P2P file sharing.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 NordVPN accessed each and every Netflix library I threw at it—which is seriously impressive. Factor in awesome speeds and a ton of security tools, and you get an unbeatable Netflix VPN. Try it for yourself with a 30day moneyback guarantee.
Georestrictions are, in a word, a buzzkill. Whether you’re trying to check out Netflix content from overseas or avoid blocks, bans, and censorships, NordVPN can help—thanks to a massive fleet of servers in 60 countries. Simply connect to a server in the location of your choice and you’ll be able to access all of that region’s content. NordVPN makes picking and choosing a server particularly easy, too, thanks to wellorganized server lists and a favorites system.
It doesn’t matter if your Netflix account is registered in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or Japan. NordVPN unblocks libraries from around the world without fail—meaning you’ll really, truly, get your money’s worth. Have other TV streaming services? No problem. NordVPN easily unlocks Amazon Prime, Disney+, BBC, and popular channels in the UK and Australia.
With apps for all platforms, you’ll be able to check out Netflix content on your PC, mobile, and tablet, and NordVPN even works with game consoles, Fire Stick, AppleTV, and Roku. NordVPN is also an allinone security suite. So, in addition to its awesome VPN, you’ll get adblocking tools and malware protection for all of your gadgets. You can even upgrade your plan and check out NordVPN’s very own password manager and cloud storage.
This VPN uses a double encryption process to scramble up your data so well that it’s hard to read if it is ever snatched by a cybercriminal. NordVPN accomplishes this by sending your info through two servers. Along with securely encrypting your information, this process also makes it difficult to figure out your original IP address location.
Speed is another area where NordVPN shines. We experienced some improved connection speeds reaching 950+Mbps with its WireGuardbased NordLynx protocol last time we checked, placing itself along with Surfshark as the fastest VPN services. This means you’ll be able to enjoy streaming in HD (high definition) and 4K with no buffer at all times.
There are a few hiccups we’ve encountered while using NordVPN, though. For starters, its mobile apps aren’t the easiest to figure out. There are inconsistencies between them and what tools are available on the desktop versions. Overall, there just isn’t the same detail and navigation ease with the apps as there is with the computer apps.
Another point to be aware of is though NordVPN comes with ad blocking and malware protection, these aren’t as effective as Antivirus software. These programs are dedicated to malware blocking and overall threat protection, and so do a much better job than what you get with NordVPN. Still, for the price of this service, having a little bit of extra security isn’t a bad thing.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Fun and interactive, though maybe a little too busy and overwhelming for some users | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Its mobile apps have a few quirks, and the interactive map isn’t for every, but all other devices and apps are super easy to use | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | One of the fastest VPNs we tested | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Netflix in every country, plus access to other popular streaming apps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Nologging policy and AES 256bit encryption mean high marks for both security and privacy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Quick responses and an easytounderstand knowledge base that are both helpful and professional | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Overall a good deal, though there are other VPNs that are cheaper | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The best cheap Netflix VPN
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want the best deal money can buy: Surfshark hits the high mark with its unbelievable deal that is perfect for anyone on a budget
✔️ You need a superfast connection: with 960 Mbps, Surfshark is the fastest VPN on our list and can handle multiple devices streaming Netflix at once
✔️ You need an easy interface: it keeps its interface fun while also being super easy to use, even for those just starting out
Don’t subscribe if:
❌ You want more servers locations: ExpressVPN has more server locations than anyone else, 160 in an impressive 94 different countries
❌ You need a reliable kill switch: though it does work, our tests show some potential issues with the kill switch. If this is a problem for you, consider either NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 Surfshark’s budgetfriendly price can’t be beaten, nor can its top speeds, which are awesome for streaming TV shows on every device in the house.
Want to know more?
Read our full Surfshark review to see why it’s more than just a fast VPN, it’s a budgetfriendly security suite.
When it comes to sending and receiving information, Surfshark is really, really fast. To watch Netflix on one device and in high definition, it’s recommended that you have a connection speed of 5 Mbps. Surfshark has lightening fast speeds of 960 Mbps. Every device in your household can be connected and streaming at the same time if you want and you wouldn’t have to worry about lag or buffering.
When it comes to unlocking streaming services, Surfshark is equally pretty impressive. It unblocks Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan. If you have other streaming accounts, like Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube, or BBC, Surfshark lets you tap into and watch those, too. For UK and Australian viewers, you can watch All4, ITV, 9Now, and 10Play.
▶ Try the fastest VPN for Netflix on unlimited devices
Just like NordVPN, Surfshark works with Apple TV, Roku, and the popular gaming consoles, PlayStation and Xbox. However, it isn’t compatible with Amazon Firestick and doesn’t have the high numbers of servers or server locations that NordVPN does, which is why it misses out on the top spot for Netflix VPNs.
This service doesn’t skimp on security either. Our tests show that it is tough on data leaks even under extreme stress. Plus its nologging policy is impressive and backed up by thirdparty audits. This means both your online activity and your personal identifying information are kept shielded from anyone trying to figure out what you do online. We noticed during testing that the kill switch doesn’t always work on Windows computers, though. Most of the time we saw it work as it should, but every now and then we did notice some small leaks when it didn’t engage quickly enough.
One drawback of using Surfshark is it doesn’t have as many servers in as many countries as ExpressVPN. The biggest number of servers are where the most Netflix accounts are, the US and the UK. So if this is where you need to watch, you shouldn’t have any problems connecting to a good, fast server.
Surfshark is an overall great value. In fact, it is the number one service on our cheap VPN guide and our recommendation if you’re on a tight budget. Its 24month subscription comes out to about $55 total, which is better than most singleyear subscriptions offered by its competitors.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Fun and simple while being intuitive and professional | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | One of the best for newbies just getting use to a VPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | Lighteningfast speeds that top all others | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Struggles with a couple of services, but most are easily unblocked | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Some kill switch issues, but does include an ad blocker and antivirus | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | The answer is in its extensive library of help articles, but it’s hard to navigate, especially if in a hurry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Can’t beat the price and the wealth of security that comes with it | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Best of the rest
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want a highly configurable VPN: ExpressVPN lets you set your preferences and will save them for future sessions.
✔️ You want to access content anywhere: ExpressVPN has servers in over 160 countries, though it has fewer total servers than NordVPN.
✔️ You place security as your top priority: ExpressVPN is the best when it comes to privacy and security hands down. That’s why it’s our #1 VPN pick overall.
Don’t subscribe if:
❌ You want to tap into your US or UK Netflix account: ExpressVPN isn’t consistent when unblocking these apps, though it’s perfect for watching in Japan or Australia.
❌ You’re on a tight budget: Though it’s worth every penny, ExpressVPN is expensive compared to most other services. Surfshark is our top budget pick.
❌ You need a Linux app: Though it does work with Linux, it isn’t the best because it’s missing a graphical user interface (GUI).
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔒 ExpressVPN may not be the cheapest VPN, but the ease of use and attention to detail are just a couple of the reasons why it’s our alltime favorite VPN.
What to know more?
Check out our ExpressVPN review and see why, even though it’s not our top Netflix VPN, it is our goto recommended service for most uses.
It’s no secret that ExpressVPN is our top pick in most of our buying guides. This is because it consistently proves how secure it is when testing for leaks, logging, and trackers. It’s really hard to get this VPN to break. Even its kill switch is fast at shielding your information if there is even a hint of a threat.
ExpressVPN’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands. This country governs itself where it counts, including collecting and sharing digital information. It doesn’t subscribe to the Five Eyes, or even the 14 Eyes alliances, so even if another country asks, ExpressVPN isn’t obligated to provide any information about you to them. And they won’t.
▶ Try our favorite VPN with a 30day moneyback guarantee
ExpressVPN is also one of the easiest VPNs on any device or platform. It’s pretty consistent across all its versions, so it’s almost second nature when you enable it on a laptop, a mobile device, or even an Xbox. Developers think of everything to make the user experience quick and easy.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN isn’t as consistent as NordVPN or Surfshark when it comes to streaming Netflix. It easily unblocks Netflix in Australia and Japan, but you may need to hop a server or two to stream US or UK libraries. Unfortunately, when it comes to Netflix Canada, we’ve never been successful in accessing the regional library with ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN doesn’t come close to the speeds we’ve seen from both NordVPN and Surfshark either. However, it is still over 20 times faster than what you need to watch Netflix in 4K on a single device, plus it is pretty consistent regardless of where in the world we tap into an open server.
Speaking of servers, ExpressVPN has over 3,200 servers in 94 different countries with many in multiple locations in some of them with a good percentage found in both the US and the UK. That’s 2,000 fewer servers than NordVPN has, but it’s worth noting the quality of those servers, and the increased focus on bare metal servers, rather than virtual instances.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
| Design | Everything you need is easily found without a lot of clutter to distract you | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Super easy to use for anyone just learning about VPNs, and very configurable for more techsavvy users | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | It’s fast enough to support streaming, but it is significantly slower than both Surfshark and NordVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Struggles with a couple of Netflix apps, but just about everything else is easily accessed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Can’t beat how secure ExpressVPN keeps your data from leaking, or falling into the wrong hands | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Can’t beat the friendly, helpful, professional, and alwaysavailable support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | It’s expensive, even if it is worth it | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Subscribe if:
✔️ You need Linux (GUI) support: Proton VPN’s Linux app is a good choice if you need a graphical user interface.
✔️ You need a free VPN: the free version of Proton VPN doesn’t allow TV streaming, but it doesn’t cap your usage and is available for most devices and platforms.
Don’t subscribe if:
❌ You need fast speeds: Proton VPN peaks at 510 Mbps, which is fast enough for streaming, but much slower compared to Surfshark’s impressive speeds.
❌ You want to watch 10Play: this is the only streaming service we couldn’t unblock with Proton VPN.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 ProtonVPN is secure, and unblocks Netflix as well as many other streaming services. Plus, it even offers a free VPN plan.
Want to know more?
In our indepth review of Proton VPN learn about both its free offering and paid subscription and what is missing and included with each.
Proton VPN is one that appeared to come out of nowhere, joining the rankings in our overarching VPN provider rankings. The good news is, based on our tests, Proton doesn’t look to be losing its touch anytime soon. It is one of the few VPN services that infiltrated Netflix’s biggest crackdown on IP addresses to date.
In fact, in our latest tests, we were able to unblock all test countries, only seeing a slight niggle in the UK. Still, two out of three attempts are great odds. It doesn’t perform half bad in accessing other services either, with only Australia’s 10Play an outright fail. We view that kind of coverage as a real feather in the cap of Proton VPN, which has also made strides with its connection speeds, feature list, server count, and general client usability.
▶ Try ProtonVPN’s unlimited free plan
It’s fair to say, though, Proton VPN does lag a little behind now in terms of its performance. We logged speeds that peaked at 510Mbps. While not a bad result, against the rest of the market, this is below average.
If speed is a priority, you may be better off picking from our top 3. That said, Proton’s averages offer ample speed for a reliable connection without buffering on 4K content.
It’s worth noting Proton VPN has a great free VPN, too. While you’ll need to hold your horses in regards to unblocking Netflix or any other streaming service (which is reserved as a feature for paying customers only), for anyone unsure about committing to a VPN, it does offer a great stepping stone.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | This is especially helpful for users that prefer dark mode | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | The mobile apps are really easy to use, but the desktop ones are more overwhelming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | There’s a lot of variation between apps, but it’s a decent option | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Can’t unblock most georestricted content with its free service, but all paid services are great at unblocking most content | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | You get AES256 bit encryption, a good nolog policy, and addon options to boost allaround security | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Help articles are pretty technical and hard to figure out, and live support is hit or miss | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Paid subscriptions are pricey, but its free service has a lot to offer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Subscribe if:
✔️ You want dedicated streaming servers: PIA has streamingspecific servers designed to help you unblock your favorite content wherever you want.
✔️ You need customization: you can change settings to the protocols you want and the torrenting servers to need, just to name a few of PIA’s options
Dont’ subscribe if:
❌ You’re new to VPNs: PIA is highly configurable and not the easiest for beginners. We recommend either Surfshark and ExpressVPN if you’re after a super easytouse app.
❌ You need faster speeds: though it’s fast enough to support torrenting and TV streaming, PIA is far from reaching the speeds of NordVPN or Surfshark.
Bottom line ⭐⭐⭐½
🔒 Private Internet Access has so many servers it’s hard not to find what you need when you need it, but it isn’t recommended for new users.
Private Internet Access (PIA) reenters our best Netflix VPN list following our recent round of tests where we try to access exclusive titles in five key locations (the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan) by connecting to the auto server in these geos. In PIA’s case, we utilized its dedicated streaming servers and saw a fairly competent performance.
While not a 100% success rate, PIA was able to unblock all Netflix libraries more often than not. It had no problem accessing catalogs in the UK, Canada, and Australia, with two out of three of our attempts working in the US, and one of three in Japan. Considering Netflix is proving more and more difficult for VPNs to wrangle into submission, this is a strong show effort from PIA that sees it sitting at #5.
▶ Try PIA and stream on unlimited devices today
Add to that, it was also able to gain access to many other streaming services including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4, as well as Aussie service 9Now, Disney Plus, and Prime Video. It struggled in our test to unblock 10Play, but for the most part, it was ticking boxes across the board.
Offering an abundance of apps across a number of platforms, we also rate PIA for how featurepacked it is, including an excellent kill switch. That said, for those newer to VPNs, this could potentially be a bit offputting. It’s also fair to say it’s not the fastest. PIA fell into the comfortable average bracket at 510Mbps peaks. While it’s not far behind the likes of ExpressVPN at 560Mbps, it certainly is a far cry from the fastest performances at 880950Mbps.
We deem PIA to be great value for money and its support website and customer service prove excellent should you run into any problems, making this a reliable option for your Netflix VPN of choice.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Not a lot of detail, but it is very customizable | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Not the best choice for beginners | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | It’s good but average in just about every area | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Really good at unblocking TV streaming services including Netflix | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Uses the latest technology to really secure its VPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Some of the best customer support that’s always available, and its support library is helpful, too | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | A good price point value for everything you get with this service | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
What is the fastest VPN?
As independent reviewers, we want to see with our own eyes what VPN services are really capable of despite their marketing pitch. That’s why we regularly test the speeds of the top software on a variety of servers and protocols.
Below are the speed results for the top VPN services, during our latest tests:
| Header Cell Column 0 | WireGuard or proprietary | OpenVPN |
|---|---|---|
| 1. NordVPN | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 140 Mbps |
| 2. Surfshark | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 130 Mbps |
| 3. IPVanish | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 225 Mbps |
| 4. Windscribe | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 330 Mbps |
| 5. Hide.me | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 260 Mbps |
| 6. Norton VPN | over 950 Mbps (maxed out my testing) | 240 Mbps |
| 7. Mullvad | 900 Mbps | 530 Mbps |
| 8. privadovpn | 880 Mbps | 130 Mbps |
| 9. Atlas VPN | 860 Mbps | N/A |
| 10. ExpressVPN | 750 Mbps | 230 Mbps |
| 11. FastestVPN | 730 Mbps | 170 Mbps |
| 12. PureVPN | 650 Mbps | 140 Mbps |
| 13. CyberGhost | 630 Mbps | 360 Mbps |
| 14. Private VPN | 610 Mbps | 110 Mbps |
| 15. Hotspot Shield | 570 Mbps | N/A |
| 16. TunnelBear | 500 Mbps | 310 Mbps |
| 17. Proton VPN | 460 Mbps | 350 Mbps |
| 18. Private Internet Access | 360 Mbps | 310 Mbps |
| 19. Mozilla VPN | 360 Mbps | N/A |
| 20. Google One | 345 Mbps | N/A |
| 21. VyprVPN | 325 Mbps | 105 Mbps |
| 22. Astrill VPN | 390 Mbps (inconsistent testing results) | N/A |
How to choose a Netflix VPN
Now that you know why you should use a VPN to unblock Netflix, you might want to know what to look out for in your next software.
For starters, it doesn’t help to use a VPN if someone is able to break through and see what you’re doing. That’s why our top priority is to make sure the VPNs we recommend are the most secure. This includes not found data leaks during testing, strong nologging privacy policies with extra kudos for those that allow independent audits, and an effective kill switch to keep you secure even when your VPN connection fails.
ExpressVPN is the best when it comes to security, but both NordVPN and Surfshark have some security aces of their own. For example, NordVPN sends your data through its encryption process twice to make it extra hard to figure out if it is intercepted. And Surfshark allows thirdparty audits of its nolog policy to prove it really doesn’t keep tabs on anything you do.
Speed is another detail that is important for a VPN, especially one being used for TV streaming. This is because if you don’t have a fast enough connection you’ll experience a lot of buffering while watching.
Netflix requires a minimum speed of 5 Mbps for one device to watch a show in highdefinition (HD) and 25 Mbps to watch in 4K. Remember this is for only one device. If there is more than one device connected to the VPN—it doesn’t even need to be logged into Netflix—you will beed faster speeds to head off any lag.
The good news is all the VPNs we’ve tested and reviewed easily support your laptop, your cellphone, a gaming console, and in some cases a Roku or Apple TV all watching Netflix at the same time without any problems.
Part of the speed factor is determined by the VPN server you’re connected to. If you’re trying to connect in an area that is a) popular and b) has few servers, it may be harder to get a server connection, or you may experience slower speeds if a lot of users are connected to the same server.
For a Netflix VPN, look for a service that has a lot of servers in many different countries. One of the best in this area is Private Internet Access (PIA). It has a whopping 20,000 servers in 84 countries.
How to use your Netlfix VPN
The idea of a Netflix VPN sounds great, but how do you actually use it? With relative ease, I would say—a VPN for Netflix can make just about any device appear to be in a completely different country in just a few clicks.
In practice, this means if you’re in the US but want to access shows only available on Netflix’s UK or Canadian libraries—or just about anywhere else—you can hop on the appropriate server and gain access to a whole other catalog. The same works in reverse. In the UK and want to get American Netflix? A VPN can do that too!
To get started, all you need to do is install your chosen Netflix VPN. All the providers we recommend below have tons of clients and apps across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, and more. However you stream, there’s a VPN that’ll get you up and running.
Once you’re all set up, you simply need to select a server in the country you want to appear to be in. Once connected, simply head to Netflix and start watching TV shows and movies available in that country.
Keep in mind that accessing content not available in your region is something Netflix doesn’t want its users to do. In fact, it is explicitly forbidden in Netflix’s terms and conditions of usage. In short, this means you proceed down this avenue of content unblocking entirely at your own risk, although we will say we’ve never heard of anybody having their Netflix account suspended due to using a VPN.
How we test VPNs
There are a lot of experts on our VPN team that range from IT personnel, who can read the source code and find trouble spots, to cybersecurity analysts, who can sport data leaks, to parents who use VPNs at home to protect their families. Many writers, editors, and managers travel internationally and use VPNs to access sensitive company files, log in to backend programs, or relax by watching a favorite movie from their TV streaming account.
has been testing all kinds of hardware, software, tech devices, and everything in between for 15 years, so we really know what we’re doing, and VPNs are no exceptions.
To begin with, we test how secure every VPN we review is. In fact, we test a lot of VPNs that don’t make it onto our buying guides or are ultimately never reviewed because it first needs to pass our security tests.
If we see any hint of a DNS leak, we make note of it and how much pressure we needed to put on the VPN to get it.
Part of these tests try to make the VPN connection drop or leak some data. If we see any hint of a DNS leak, we make note of it and how much pressure we needed to put on the VPN to get it.
Another security test is forcing the VPN connection to drop. This is so we can test the kill switch. An effective kill switch will quickly shield your data rather than allow it to leak until the VPN connection is restored. This test is repeated multiple times, with multiple levels of force, and on multiple devices to make sure we can recommend the VPN regardless of how you use it.
An important part of our evaluation really isn’t a physical test, but it does require us to read and reread through each VPN’s privacy policy. We look for any clauses that mention personal information that is traced, tracked, or logged by the company. We want to ensure you are safe as possible, so we put a lot of confidence behind those that don’t keep logs of your online history at all.
Another important test we conduct is a speed test. This test looks at how fast information is sent and received between your device and the VPN server. This test is conducted hundred of times from test computers in both the UK and the US.
We connect to servers throughout the world and at different times of day to get a good speed average. This average is what we use for ranking and reporting our findings.
When we run our tests, we count the number of server locations that are listed inside the VPN app. This is usually different than what is reported on the company’s website, but we want to give you accurate information. The numbers we report are those we’ve verified ourselves.
Another important test we run is for georestricted content, specifically TV streaming services. We want you to be able to watch your favorite shows by having access to your streaming accounts. So, we get a list of the most popular services and try and access them with each VPN.
As with the speed tests, we try to tap into accounts from a variety of server locations to make sure there is a definite way to gain access to georestricted content. We rerun these tests using different devices, so we can let you know if a VPN is compatible with AppleTV, Amazon Firestick, or Roku.
Best Netflix VPN FAQs
What is the best Netflix VPN
Topping the lot at the moment is NordVPN as the overall best Netflix VPN. This, bolstered by its reputation for being incredibly secure and mighty fast makes it the perfect choice for all your streaming. And if you get stuck, it offers 24/7 customer support.
It’s fast, secure, and available on pretty much every device you can imagine, with its Smart DNS available for the less smooth sailing devices. So use it on your laptop, mobile, smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox, or any one of a range of TV streaming devices. One sub allows simultaneous connections on five devices, too, so you can even let friends and family members use it for their global Netflixstreaming needs as well.
How to choose the best Netflix VPN
Many providers have given up on Netflix unblocking, leading to the infamous proxy error advising you to turn off your VPN when watching Netflix. But all five VPNs recommended in this guide work for Netflix.
Connection speeds are a priority, of course—video streaming is an intensive activity, and you’ll need nippy performance levels to avoid suffering at the hands of stuttering footage, particularly when watching HD or 4K content. Having plenty of servers on offer will mean you’ll be more likely to be able to find that vital fast connection, as well. And it pays to go for a service with excellent support, just in case you do run into any issues.
Privacy and security are important whatever you’re using a Netflix VPN for, with a “no logs” policy and good encryption being definite musthaves. Support for mobile devices, and hopefully native clients for iOS/Android, will obviously be handy for watching flicks on the move.
And another good idea is to plump for a provider with a moneyback guarantee—that will be useful if things change suddenly and the particular VPN you’ve gone for ends up getting the cold shoulder. Some countries block Netflix completely—for example, China—and again, you can use one of our top Netflix VPN picks above to get around this.
How and why does Netflix prevent VPN use?
It’s very clear, Netflix doesn’t want you using your VPN when you stream with the platform. It says as much in its Terms and Conditions. And it’s understandable, as it needs to protect its rights agreements.
Generally, its engineers will do this by completely blocking the use of Netflix at a select range of IP addresses that it knows are associated with VPN servers.
But in August 2021, it stepped up the game even further. Netflix went and blocked a whole range of residential IP addresses in an effort to clamp down on the abuse of its TS&Cs. The effect was to seriously curtail the attempts of VPNs to circumnavigate the geoblocks. This move saw many longtime fans start considering Netflix alternatives.
Why Netflix has regional restrictions
The reason why Netflix catalogs differ from country to country is simple: copyright law. Movie studios have different contracts in different countries, so it’s possible that one series may be available in one country but not in another.
And then you have to deal with local broadcasting rights, where some countries may have the rights to some shows and therefore don’t permit them to be accessed on Netflix. House of Cards in Hong Kong is a great example—because a local TV network has the rights to the Netflix show, it’s not available online.
It’s no surprise that America has the best Netflix library. With the majority of original content coming out of the States, it makes sense that more series would be available there. In fact, the U.S. Netflix library has nearly 1,000 more shows than its UK cousin. Again, great if you’re in the States, but not so much if you’re in the UK.
You can check out our pick of the best Netflix series for each region below:
And what about the movies? has uptotheminute ‘best of Netflix’ guides for the longer format, too:
What can I watch with a Netflix VPN?
Combining your VPN and Netflix means that you can watch shows and films that are exclusive to certain regions—that’s usually because they’re licensed to another streaming service in that country.
A fantastic example is for people who want to watch Rick and Morty. In the US, you’ll need a service that gives you access to Adult Swim. But down in Australia, every single episode is sitting on Netflix. It’s a similar story for Friends, The Office, and Fargo—none of which are on US Netflix but can be accessed using a VPN.
It’s beyond the scope of this article to list and update every single show and film that is exclusive to certain regions. Luckily, the site FlixWatch does a pretty good job of that.
How to bypass the Netflix VPN proxy error
Netflix has invested big bucks in detecting and blocking VPNs, and users can attest that servers that work with Netflix one day may not work the next. You’ve likely seen the infamous “Streaming Error” message below if you tried to access Netflix from outside the US with a VPN.
Netflix has been systematically finding and blacklisting suspected VPN IP addresses. While the past few years have been an ongoing battle between VPNs and Netflix restrictions, VPNs are now setting up specific server locations intended to be used with Netflix.
How some providers overcome the Netflix VPN ban
Every IP address is associated with a country code, which Netflix then uses to either reroute or block network access. As the majority of VPN providers have multiple servers in cities and countries around the world, hopping from location to location is essentially the only way to stream the US Netflix library abroad. It’s a tab cumbersome, but it works.
Be aware that not every server will work—it’s best to contact the provider’s customer assistance to see which servers are working on a particular date. ExpressVPN, for example, has been one of the leading providers to stay one step ahead of the Netflix VPN ban.
The company (along with a handful of other VPN providers) has been working overtime to acquire new IP addresses, which they can then cycle out whenever an older address is no longer working. As soon as Netflix detects and subsequently blocks a specific IP, the VPN then switches to another IP and encourages customers to use that specific location to stream.
June 11, 2023 update notes
We’ve included important information about how to choose the right VPN, how to use it specifically for watching Netflix, and more insight into how we determine which VPNs to include in our guide.
Product sections are made simple with the easiest terms and features highlighted first, If you’re more techsavvy and want to dive deeper, simply expand the review to learn more.
By clicking the section in the navigation bar, you’ll jump down to that part of our guide without the need to scroll through text you don’t really need.
Finally, we just made sure the latest test results or new features are included. And we doubled checked to make sure information like server counts and locations, protocols offered, and the number of maximum device connections haven’t changed since our last update.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paidfor is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.