How to Watch Netflix With a VPN

A lot of people use VPNs to protect their privacy, but another popular reason for using a VPN is to access Netflix. You see, Netflix’s library changes depending on where you are, as determined by your IP address location. If you live in the United States, for example, you may not have access to some shows that are available to Netflix users in Australia. And vice versa.

>> Learn More: A 2024 Guide to VPNs

To get around that, you can use a VPN to access Netflix as if you’re from a different location. And today, we’ll tell you exactly how that works.

How to Watch Netflix With a VPN

To watch Netflix with a VPN, do the following steps:

1. First, choose a VPN that works with Netflix. We list all of your options in detail below.
2. After you’ve signed up for your account, download the VPN app on the device you want to watch Netflix on.
3. Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed in, connect to another country’s compatible server. This will automatically change your region on Netflix, once you sign on.
4. Now that the VPN is turned on, log into Netflix, sit back, and watch.

VPNs That Work With Netflix

Not all VPNs work well with Netflix. In fact, Netflix doesn’t like the fact that people use VPNs to get around its geographical restrictions. So what does Netflix do? If it sees that you’re using a VPN IP address, it will limit its library to only shows and movies over which it has a global license. That means instead of unlocking new shows, your library may become limited.

That won’t happen if you choose a VPN with servers optimized for Netflix, so here’s a guide for you.

Free vs. Paid Options

While we recommend getting a paid VPN to avoid the time, server, speed, and data limits, there are free VPNs and VPNs with free trials that work with Netflix. Here are some noteworthy options:

• HideMyAss: HideMyAss, often abbreviated as HMA, offers users a seven-day free trial of its premium VPN. After that, prices start at $2.99 a month with the three-year plan, although you will still have a money-back guarantee for the first 30 days.
• ProtonVPN: ProtonVPN’s pricing is different from HMA’s, as there’s no time limit to its free VPN. But before you get too excited, you’re limited to one device, speeds are half as fast as the premium version, and you can only connect to servers in the U.S, Japan, and the Netherlands. These limitations will probably be deal breakers for most, so it may be worth it to bite the bullet and pay for ProtonVPN, which starts at $3.29 per month for a two-year plan.
• Surfshark: Surfshark makes it simple with a free 30-day trial with no limitations. After that, Surfshark’s costs start at $2.49 for a two-year package.
• Windscribe: Windscribe offers a completely free VPN that you can use indefinitely. However, it only provides users with 10GB a month, which may not be enough to watch all the Netflix you want. Plus, you can only connect to 10 out of 62 servers, which includes:
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • Norway
  • Romania
  • Switzerland
  • The Netherlands
  • The U.K.
  • The U.S.

  Windscribe’s pricing is reasonable, starting at $4.08 a month if you sign up for a year.

How to Choose

Once you have determined that a VPN is compatible with Netflix, keep these other considerations in mind:

• Price: It’s not necessary to spend more than $10 a month on a VPN.
• Device compatibility: Make sure the VPN works on the device you want to watch Netflix on, be it a VPN for the Fire TV Stick, a VPN for your router, a VPN for your iPhone, a VPN for your Android, etc.
• Servers: If you want to connect to a specific server, check to see that it works with Netflix, and that the VPN has a server in that location in the first place. Most VPN companies list their server locations on their website, and whether or not these servers work with Netflix.
• Privacy: If you’re watching Netflix in a place where it’s banned, like China or North Korea,1 you have more considerations to mull over. One, make sure that your VPN won’t keep any of your web traffic or device IP addresses. Two, make sure that the VPN is headquartered in a Five Eyes nonmember country so they won’t share your information with governments around the world. Finally, look for VPNs with AES-256 encryption, the current industry standard.

• Speed: Especially with VPNs for streaming, speed is important. After all, you can’t handle buffering when it’s the season finale of “The Great British Baking Show,” can you? Look at our speed test results to find a VPN that’s fast enough for your needs. Alternatively, if the VPN has a free option or a free trial, you can do a speed test yourself. Simply Google “free speed test,” and use a tool that is presented.2
• Connections: Whether you watch Netflix on multiple devices or you just want general protection, make sure that your subscription covers all of the devices you need to connect, in general and simultaneously.

What If I Can’t Get Netflix To Work with a VPN?

You may see a message that states, “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy”. The truth is that not all VPNs work with Netflix. Here’s a comprehensive list, so you don’t waste your time.

VPNs That Don’t Work With Netflix

• Perfect Privacy
• Blackvpn
• IVPN
• Encrypt.me
• TunnelBear
• VPNSecure
• Mozilla VPN

If you get this error, here is what can be done:

1. Try switching to another IP address and/or server on the VPN you’re connected to.
2. If that doesn’t work, change your VPN to one that’s compatible with Netflix.
3. Or, get a dedicated IP address, meaning you’re the only one on it. This makes it much less likely that Netflix has blocked it; typically, they block IP addresses that thousands of users share.

» Learn more: How to find your IP address

Why Netflix Is Different in Different Countries

Copyright and distribution laws are the main reason why Netflix libraries differ from one region to another. To show movies and TV shows, Netflix buys the right to distribute every title it has on its library. However, not every title offers global rights, so Netflix may have the right to show a movie in the United States, but not in the U.K., for example.

Each country has its own unique Netflix library, so by changing your IP address, you can unlock new content. As of March 2023, Slovakia currently has the largest Netflix library with 8,427 different movies and TV shows. They’re followed by Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, and Iceland.3

How to Optimize VPN Speeds for Netflix

While all VPNs will slow your streaming down a little bit, they also have advantages when it comes to speed.

Do VPNs Block Throttling?

Some internet service providers (ISPs) may throttle websites, meaning slow them down intentionally. However, by using a VPN, your ISP won’t know what websites you’re on, making throttling impossible.

We recommend doing a speed test to quantify the slowdowns precisely:

1. Turn off all other websites.
2. Close all web apps.
3. Turn off all other devices on your network.

Will Netflix Ban Me If I Use a VPN?

While Netflix has a ban against VPNs and proxy servers, it’s perfectly legal to use VPNs on Netflix; it just may not work. Netflix has specific licensing agreements with TV shows and movies, meaning that they’re only allowed to offer them to certain audiences, divided by country.

As VPNs replace IP addresses, making users seem like they’re elsewhere, you can see where this becomes a licensing issue. However, you don’t have to worry about being carted off to jail if you use a VPN on Netflix. Unless you’re in a country where VPNs are illegal,4 you should be safe and sound.

Recap: How to Watch Netflix With a VPN

Using a VPN to watch Netflix can be great for many reasons. Whether you’re traveling and can’t help but keep up with your TV shows or you just want early viewing access to a new movie, a VPN can do that for you. Since Netflix’s library is different depending on the country you’re in (for legal licensing reasons), changing your IP address to appear in a different location can help you unlock more content.

However, you should keep in mind that Netflix is smart and many times it knows when you’re using a VPN. If it catches you, you won’t be banned or get in trouble, but it will block certain content until you turn off your VPN.

So, if you want to watch Netflix using a VPN, you have to choose a service that’s compatible with Netlflix. Some services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have optimized servers that will bypass restrictions for your viewing pleasure. Overall, when you pick a VPN for Netflix, you should consider compatibility, server locations, connection speeds, and how much it costs.