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Are you searching for the best VPN for Netflix? Netflix is a global company, available in almost every country around the world. While the company works hard to make their original programming available to all subscribers, their libraries vary constantly from region to region.
For example, if you’re a Netflix viewer based in the United States, you might not know that in Canada, our neighbors to the north have a number of movies streaming online that you can’t access. Likewise, if you fly to England, you’ll find out that shows like NBC’s The Good Place and AMC’s Better Call Saul are actually labeled as Netflix Originals, with new episodes premiering on the service the day after they first air in the US. And while most countries around the world can finally stream all of Studio Ghibli’s animated classics, those remain an HBO Max-exclusive in both the United States and Canada.
Plenty of Netflix subscribers have had the realization that, if they were able to just jump from country to country, they’d have access to a much larger library to stream from. And since this is the 21st century, it’s totally possible to do just that. Thanks to VPNs, or virtual private networks, you can virtually hop around the world all while keeping your browsing data safe and secure. For just a couple of dollars per month on average, a VPN can really help improve your experience online.
See Also: What is a VPN?
We cover VPNs all the time at Alphr, but when it comes to using a VPN with Netflix, that’s something we take special care of noticing. Unfortunately, VPNs are in a constant struggle against Netflix to work properly. Pressured by both Netflix’s shareholders and studios around the world, Netflix works hard to stop most VPNs from working with their service, and it’s tough to do much about it.
Thankfully, some VPNs do work well with Netflix, thanks to a number of additional features implemented by developers. We’ve covered our favorite VPNs for general use already, but if you’re looking for specific VPNs that cater to anyone looking to stream Netflix from regions around the world, you’ve come to the right guide. These are our favorite VPNs for Netflix.
At A Glance – Best VPNs for Netflix
This article will discuss the five best VPNs for Netflix. But if you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary of our top three choices.
Best VPN for Netflix: Top 5
1. ExpressVPN
Our best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN. It’s tough to find a VPN that works perfectly with Netflix, but ExpressVPN is probably the offering that comes closest. Though it’s not without its occasional hiccups, most of its servers are well-prepared to stream Netflix from major locations in the world right in your bedroom. Not only that, but ExpressVPN continues to be one of the fastest offerings on the market today, which means less buffering when you’re trying to watch your favorite movies.
ExpressVPN is one of the simplest apps you can find today, no matter where you’re trying to stream from. The app lets you select from a number of locations, then uses a simple on-off switch to let you toggle on your VPN. With apps on all major platforms, including Windows and MacOS, Android and iOS, Linux, Fire TV, and support for routers, ExpressVPN can run on basically any device you own today.
We tested four different locations on Windows with Netflix from the United States: Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands. Both Canada and the United Kingdom worked without flaws, immediately connecting us to those region’s Netflix libraries without any kind of slowdown or connection issues. The Netherlands, unsurprisingly, loaded a bit slower, but once we began streaming John Wick 3, Netflix was able to buffer into high definition and stream Keanu’s latest installment in the action franchise without any issues.
ExpressVPN is by far the best experience we had with a VPN working with Netflix, and it’s highly recommended for anyone trying to watch Netflix in other regions. Why? Because ExpressVPN consistently unblocks various Netflix regions with ease and at high speed. Its servers work with popular Netflix libraries including the US, UK, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, and more.
ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 94 countries. This VPN comes with a MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy, which will allow you to access Netflix on streaming devices that don’t natively support VPNs (like Apple TV and gaming consoles such as Xbox One and PS4).
Good news! Alphr readers can subscribe for 49 percent off by signing up with our link here.
PROS
- Unblocks the most Netflix libraries
- Can stream Netflix on smartphones, computers, smart TVs, and game consoles
- Reliable fast speeds
- Easy-to-use apps (including apps for Amazon Fire TV Stick and routers)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- This premium VPN is pricier than the competition
2. CyberGhost
The runner-up for the best VPN for Netflix is CyberGhost. If ExpressVPN is a bit too expensive for you, you might want to check out CyberGhost, a cheaper alternative that works well with Netflix. With apps on all major platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more. Though we hadn’t heard much about CyberGhost prior to 2018, after hearing nothing but good things about the app, we decided to check out the app, and we’re glad we did.
Outside of its excellent visual design, CyberGhost is one of the best ways to access Netflix through a VPN. The service has more than 9,700 servers across 91 countries, making it easy to quickly connect and browse from any server in multiple countries, and choosing a specific country or server can be done from within the app itself. When it comes to Netflix offerings in the US, Canada, and the UK, we had no issues connecting right to the service to stream some region-locked content.
Of course, CyberGhost is also a great VPN. Strong AES-256 encryption is the usual thing we’re looking for here, and thankfully, it makes an appearance. Automatic kill switch support is also here, and with support for OpenVPN, L2TP-IPsec and PPTP protocols, it’s also one of the most flexible tools on this list. Overall, we still recommend ExpressVPN for most users looking to stream Netflix, but if you’re looking for an alternative, it’s hard to go wrong with CyberGhost. At $2.19 per month when billed for two years (with 2 months free), it’s one of the best ways to get Netflix in any region without locks.
PROS
- 9,700 servers in 91 countries
- Consistent speeds
- Apps are easy to use
- Budget-friendly VPN
- 45-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- No third-party audit
3. Private Internet Access
With over 30,000 servers across 84 countries (including 12,000 servers in the USA), Private Internet Access (PIA) can help you access US Netflix from anywhere in the world.
It has a stealth mode, allowing users to bypass VPN blocking, ensuring your real IP address is hidden. As such, you can access any Netflix library without getting detected.
PIA is a VPN service that offers excellent security and privacy features together with support for Netflix streaming. It comes with a kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and DNS leak protection.
Although its WireGuard speed is not as speedy as the competition, it’s not slow either. Users can enjoy uninterrupted streaming. Additionally, if you have fast internet at home, the speed reduction will be almost negligible.
One advantage of Private Internet Access is that it offers affordable subscription plans. Currently, you can get the 2-year plan at only $2.19 per month (with 2 months free). Another good news is that this VPN now allows unlimited device connections. That means you and family members can connect all your devices to this VPN all at the same time.
PROS
- Good for unblocking UK and US Netflix
- Unlimited device connections
- Advanced configuration settings
- Affordable VPN
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- No independent security audit
Get Private Internet Access now!
4. NordVPN
NordVPN is a good option for streaming. This VPN is known for its speed. It can support 4K streams without buffering. It offers fast performance thanks to its NordLynx protocol.
The engineers at NordVPN have been busy finding ways to bypass the beefed-up geo-restrictions of Netflix. Although NordVPN had its struggles in the past, apart from US Netflix, it can now unblock the UK, Canada, Japan, and Australian libraries.
Other notable features include 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. This VPN has a no-logs policy that has been audited by an independent third party.
Each VPN has its share of flaws, and NordVPN is no different. If you’re going to use it on a mobile device, the interface can be a bit tricky. But that’s trivial considering the performance and features of this VPN.
If you need help, you can get in touch with their 24/7 customer support team.
PROS
- Fast speeds
- Excellent security features
- Good server locations
- Keeps no logs
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- Not the easiest mobile experience
5. Surfshark
If you want to access Netflix from outside the United States, Surfshark is a solid option. It does a good job of unblocking shows and movies in that library. You can also access content in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. If you ever need help with connecting to the best server or any other issue, this VPN’s customer support is available on live chat 24/7.
Surfshark is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. But undoubtedly, its biggest strength is its pricing. Surfshark is one of the best options if you’re looking for a cheap VPN. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try it out before committing to a long-term plan.
That said, Surfshark is lacking extra features that power users might be looking for in a VPN. For example, its OpenVPN speeds lag behind other VPNs such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN. It also had some issues with streaming Netflix on Amazon streaming devices.
PROS
- Budget-friendly
- Unlimited connections
- Easy-to-use interface
- 24/7 customer support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
CONS
- Has issues with Amazon Fire Stick
Frequently Asked Questions About Netflix and VPNs
Why Do You Need a VPN for Netflix?
Some Netflix shows are popular in much of the world. That said, even the United States can miss out on some content. Japanese Netflix offers a ton of anime that you won’t find anywhere else, while Netflix in the UK still has some iconic British episodes that aren’t available anywhere else.
If you travel, using a VPN for Netflix is essential because you won’t be up-to-date with the episodes you’re currently watching if you’re not in your home country.
Also, if you feel like you’re losing out on all the amazing Netflix stuff that you can’t get in your home country, it’s absolutely worth considering subscribing to a VPN service to expand your viewing. On top of that, you can utilize the VPN to secure your browsing on your computers and mobile devices.
Why Does Netflix Have Regional Restrictions?
The reason for the differences in Netflix libraries across countries is simple – copyright law. Because movie companies may have exclusive contracts in different countries, one show may be available in one place but not in another. Then there’s the issue of local broadcasting rights, where some nations may have exclusive rights to certain programs.
It’s not surprising that the United States has the best Netflix library. Given that the majority of original content originates from the US, it’s expected that more shows would be available there. For instance, US Netflix has a thousand more shows than its UK counterpart. Excellent if you live in the United States, but not so if you live in the United Kingdom.
Why Is Netflix Not Working on Your VPN?
Netflix always tries to block IP addresses of VPNs to prevent people from watching content they are not entitled to.
While the VPNs listed above have proven their reliability and capability to unblock Netflix, there is always that possibility that, at some point, certain servers will not be available. If that happens, we recommend reaching out to the VPN’s customer service. They can usually provide a working server that will allow you to access the Netflix library that you want.
Final Thoughts on the Best VPN for Netflix
All of these five services would make a great VPN option for Netflix. They all currently work with Netflix and actively seek to maintain that by using IP pooling, unique addresses and other checks to avoid Netflix VPN blocks. All are priced differently and offers slightly different features but all will help you achieve your primary goal: to access or maintain your Netflix catalog while outside the country. But for us, the best VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN.
Do you use a different VPN provider to access Netflix? Got any other recommendations? Tell us about them below if you do!
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Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.
