Luckily, a VPN can change your online location so you can keep up with your favorite Netflix shows, especially if you’re only temporarily overseas for work or a vacation. This will give you rightful access to your home country’s Netflix library. However, not every VPN actually works with Netflix. In fact, Netflix is notoriously tricky for most VPNs to access. To save you time and money, I tested over 50 VPNs to find the best for global Netflix. As a bonus, every VPN offers a money-back guarantee so it’s risk-free to try it for yourself. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN Note: While using a VPN doesn’t violate Netflix’s Terms of Use, it may if you’re primarily viewing Netflix’s content outside the country in which you’ve established your account or if you’re in a geographic location where Netflix isn’t available.
Quick Guide: Top VPNs That Still Work With Netflix in 2023
Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
The Best VPNs for Netflix in January 2023 — Updated Test Results
1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds for Watching Netflix in 18 Countries
Key Features: ExpressVPN is easily the #1 VPN for watching Netflix. Not only does it have the fastest consistent speeds on the market, but its servers can also reliably access Netflix in 18 locations. This means you’ll easily connect to your local Netflix account when you travel and stream the content you’ve paid for. Speeds are impressively fast, even over long distances. On average, my speeds dropped only 18% from 115Mbps to 94Mbps. This is a tiny slowdown, especially since some servers were over 15,000km away. As Netflix recommends speeds of 25Mbps for UHD streaming, I had no issues with lag or buffering when connected to ExpressVPN. In addition to fast speeds, ExpressVPN includes unlimited data with all its plans. This makes it a great option if you’re a binge-watcher like me — and since it supports up to 5 simultaneous device connections on a single subscription, your entire household can use it to unblock Netflix in the country of their choice. ExpressVPN supports multiple operating systems and platforms, so that you can stream Netflix on all of your devices. This includes devices that don’t natively support VPN apps, like routers, game consoles, and smart TVs, as the MediaStreamer feature lets you can change your DNS location. I set up quickly and was streaming Netflix on my PlayStation in less than 5 minutes.
Australia — Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney 1, Sydney 2, and Perth Brazil — Brazil 1 and Brazil 2 Belarus — all Canada — Toronto 1, Toronto 2, Montreal, Montreal 2, and Vancouver France — Paris 1 and Paris 2 Italy — Cosenza, and Milan India — Chennai, and Mumbai Japan — Tokyo 1, Tokyo 2, Kawasaki, and Yokohama Liechtenstein — all Macedonia — all Malta — all Monaco — all Montenegro — all Netherlands — Amsterdam 1, Amsterdam 2, The Hague, and Rotterdam New Zealand — all Sweden — all UK — Docklands, East London, London, and Wembley US — Denver, Los Angeles 1, Los Angeles 2, Los Angeles 3, New Jersey, and New York
There are even Firefox and Chrome extensions, which come with an HTML5 geolocation spoofing feature. I used these browsers to access my Netflix account without worrying that the browser would leak my real location. These premium features do come at a premium cost — although you can get a discount of 49% and 3 months for free when you sign up for the 1-year + 3 months plan. This makes ExpressVPN a great deal overall, especially if you’re watching Netflix nearly every night like me. ExpressVPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied, it’s hassle-free to get a refund. I tested it to make sure it works and I was impressed by how simple the process is. I just contacted the 24/7 live chat and asked for a refund, which the customer support agent promptly arranged without asking me to reconsider or troubleshoot any problems. I had my money back in just 5 days. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Netflix Servers for Easy Streaming in 7 Countries
Key Features: CyberGhost has a range of servers optimized specifically for Netflix, making it quick and easy to connect to your preferred library. CyberGhost staff regularly test these servers to ensure they connect consistently and reliably. I didn’t have to waste time trying different connections — I could pick my local Netflix server and start streaming almost immediately. CyberGhost has short and long-term plans, but the 2-year + 2 months plan is the cheapest at only $2.19 per month. In fact, this plan is actually one of the most affordable premium packages out there.
Denmark — Copenhagen France — Optimized server, Paris, and Strasbourg Germany — Optimized server, Berlin, and Frankfurt Italy — Optimized server and Rome Japan — Optimized server and Tokyo Sweden — Optimized server and Stockholm UK — Optimized server, London, and Manchester US — Optimized server, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New Yor
You can even take advantage of CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee. You can use CyberGhost for more than a month with Netflix — and still get a refund as long as you ask within 45 days. It’s quick and easy over 24/7 live chat — I tested it myself and my refund was approved in 5 minutes. Watch Netflix with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network Provides Steady Connections to Netflix
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has an enormous global network — over 35000 servers in 84+ countries worldwide. This massive number of servers lets you connect to Netflix without worrying about user congestion or traffic issues at peak streaming times. During my tests, it never took more than 5 seconds to connect to PIA’s servers, so I could start streaming on Netflix almost instantly. The servers can reliably access Netflix in 6 prime locations, including Japan, the UK, and the US. With such a huge number of available IP addresses, I never got the Netflix proxy error message when using PIA in the supported locations. Some of PIA’s Netflix-accessible locations have optimized streaming servers. When I tested these, I found my speeds were faster and streaming was smoother. On average, PIA dropped my speeds by about 44%, from 115Mbps to 64Mbps — still fast enough to stream Netflix in UHD quality. I made sure I connected using the WireGuard protocol to keep my speeds as high as possible. The easy-to-use app is available on Windows, Mac, mobile devices, and Smart TVs. PIA also has a SmartDNS feature with connections available in Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US for devices that don’t support VPNs. The main downside is that PIA is slow when connecting to distant servers. This could be an issue if you’re traveling far from your home country and want to stream content. You may find the speed drop causes significant buffering or lower-quality streaming.
Germany — Berlin Japan — Optimized server and Tokyo Poland — all Spain — all UK — Optimized server, London, and Manchester US — Optimized servers, Denver, Chicago, Florida, New York, and Seattle
PIA has very affordable prices and the cheapest is only $2.19 per month on the 2-year + 2 months plan. Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try PIA with Netflix risk-free and see if it’s the right choice for you. If you don’t like it, you can easily get a full refund by contacting PIA over 24/7 live chat. Watch Netflix with PIA
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
Key Features: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionA kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlyBuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerFully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. With plans that cost as little as $3.49 per month, it’s easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. To ensure that you’ll really get your money back, I tested NordVPN’s money-back guarantee. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. Get NordVPN today NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Key Features: Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out. I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultDiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)Kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in UHD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet.
You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.05. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Get Surfshark today Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
6. PrivateVPN — Small But Powerful Network of Servers Unblocks 16 Netflix Libraries
Key Features: PrivateVPN surprised me with its ability to access so many Netflix libraries, considering its small network size of just 200+ servers. During testing, my team and I connected to 16 different Netflix locations without seeing the proxy error. However, my speeds slowed down by around 47% on average. If your internet is very slow, PrivateVPN gives you the option to reduce your encryption from the standard AES-256 bit encryption to AES-128. This won’t impact your data security as AES encryption has never been broken, but it can increase your speed by lowering the encryption level. I recommend using the OpenVPN protocol and AES-128 bit encryption to get the best speeds for watching Netflix without interruptions. Despite its small network, PrivateVPN is one of the few VPNs that can bypass the Great Firewall of China. Only a couple of servers will work in China though, and you should expect some lags and buffering when streaming Netflix. The biggest con is that I had issues establishing a connection at times. It often took several attempts to connect at high traffic times, like evenings and weekends. Another downside is that PrivateVPN lacks a Smart DNS feature, which means you can’t install it on smart TVs or gaming consoles.
Argentina — Buenos Aires Australia — Sydney Brazil — São Paulo Canada — Toronto 1, Toronto 2, and Vancouver Colombia — Bogotá Denmark — Copenhagen Finland — Espoo France — Paris Germany — Frankfurt 1 and Nuremberg Italy — Milan 1 and Milan 2 Japan — Tokyo Netherlands — Amsterdam 1 Norway — Oslo South Korea — Seoul Spain — Madrid Sweden — Kista, Stockholm, and Gothenburg Switzerland — Zürich UK — London 1 and London 2 US — Buffalo, New York City 1, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York 4, and Phoenix
You can use PrivateVPN for as little as $2.00 per month when you sign up for a 3-year plan. It’s risk-free sign up for PrivateVPN and stream Netflix as you’re protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you do want to claim a refund, just remember that you need to give a reason for your refund request before it’s processed (you can simply say you changed your mind). Watch Netflix with PrivateVPN
7. IPVanish — Connects to Netflix in Japan and the US
Key Features: IPVanish makes it easy to choose the best server connection for Netflix. On the app, you can see the ping (or latency) and user load for each server. All I had to do was pick a server with low ping and user load to get fast speeds and near-instant connections to Netflix. I found that my speeds were 15% faster when I chose the server manually. This took a little more time than a 1-click connection, but it’s worth it to get the best speeds. On average, IPVanish slowed my speed by around 34%, from 115Mbps to 75Mbps. I used the WireGuard protocol as this is faster than OpenVPN. If you have a device that doesn’t support VPNs (like a games console or Roku), you can configure IPVanish with a compatible router. However, IPVanish doesn’t have a SmartDNS feature, which would make it easier to use with devices that can’t support VPN apps.
Japan — all servers US — Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, and San Jose
While the short-term plans are a little pricey, IPVanish does offer a great deal on its 1 year plan (it’s only $3.99 per month!). IPVanish has a 30-day money-back guarantee as well, so it’s risk-free to sign up and test it out. It’s straightforward to get a refund if you don’t like it — just click the Cancel Now button in your account’s Subscriptions tab and your refund will be approved in under an hour. Watch Netflix with IPVanish
8. Proton VPN — Great for Streaming Netflix in 10 Countries
Key Features: Proton VPN’s Plus subscription provides reliable connections to Netflix in 10 different countries. The Plus servers are spread out around the world, so there’s always a nearby server connection to keep your speeds fast. Unfortunately, Netflix access is extremely patchy on the Basic and Free plans — these servers aren’t regularly refreshed, so connecting to Netflix largely depends on your luck. In tests, I had minimal buffering when streaming Netflix on the Plus servers. My speed only dropped by around 30% from 115Mbps to 80Mbps on the WireGuard protocol. There’s no Smart DNS feature, but you can still use Proton VPN with smart TVs and gaming consoles by installing it on your router.
Australia — AU #14, AU #18, and AU #19 Canada — CA #15, CA #17, CA #20, and CA #38 Denmark — All DK servers France — FR #11 and FR #56 Germany — DE #7, DE#46, DE# 50, and DE #53 Italy — IT #10, IT #11, and IT #12 India — IN #2 and IN #9 Japan — JP #50, JP #71, JP #72, and JP #76 UK — UK #28, UK #29, and UK #30 US — US-CA #16, US-CA #21, US-CA #71, US-CO #7, US-FL #13, US-FL #39, US-FL #52, US-GA #29, US-IL #14, US-NJ #7, US-NY #10, US-NY #50, US-TV #14, US-TX #26, and US-UT #31
I compared all the plans and the best-value subscription is the 2-year plan for $4.99 per month. While there is a 30-day money-back guarantee included with every plan, you’ll only receive a refund or account credit for the days you haven’t used the service (it’s a prorated refund). Watch Netflix with Proton VPN
9. PureVPN — Specialized Setup Makes It Easy to Stream in 10 Netflix Locations
Key Features: PureVPN makes it simple to configure your device for Netflix, giving you the option to download a profile designed for streaming. During the installation process, PureVPN asked me why I needed a VPN — when I chose the “streaming” option, I could then download PureVPN’s browser extension for Chrome or Firefox. From there, all I had to do was select one of the Netflix-optimized servers, and PureVPN automatically opened Netflix in my browser to start streaming. These optimized servers are available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the US. I had speeds of around 40Mbps, which is an average drop of 60% from my regular speed. I didn’t experience a loss of stream quality — but if your internet speeds are slower, you may notice a drop from HD to SD streaming.
Australia — Optimized server Canada — Optimized server Denmark — All servers France — Optimized server Germany — Optimized server Italy — All servers India — All servers Japan — Optimized server UK — All servers US — Optimized server
Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the 24/7 live chat service. The representatives were unhelpful when I asked questions about streaming servers and often needed prompting to answer my questions thoroughly. I also had to wait 3 days to hear from the billing department when I tested the money-back guarantee (although I did get my money back successfully). While the short-term plan is a bit expensive, PureVPN is very affordable when you sign up for a long-term plan. The cheapest offer is just $1.33 each month on the 5-year plan. PureVPN has a 31-day money-back guarantee as well, so you’re protected if you change your mind. However, if you want a refund, make sure to ask well before the 31 days are complete in case customer service doesn’t process it quickly. Watch Netflix with PureVPN
10. ZenMate — Dedicated Streaming Servers for Netflix US, France, and Germany
Key Features: ZenMate offers optimized streaming servers designed for Netflix and other services, much like CyberGhost. The difference is that ZenMate has a smaller number of servers overall. During my tests, I experienced slower speeds and a longer buffering time before I could stream. ZenMate’s optimized servers are quick to connect, but it took almost 5 minutes to buffer an episode of Stranger Things before I could watch the show. I found that my download speeds were slower than other VPNs on this list. On average, my speeds were around 20Mbps — fast enough to stream Netflix in HD. However, I had variance of between 5Mbps in some US locations up to 40Mbps in France. As usual, the closest servers produced the best speeds. Despite ZenMate’s slower download speeds, I was pleased with the VPN’s overall performance. I could access Netflix’s biggest content libraries and stream with good-quality video, even if I had to wait a few minutes. Considering ZenMate is one of the cheapest VPNs available when you sign up for the 18-month plan, I think a few minutes of buffering is worth the low price of only $1.99 a month.
France — Optimized server and Paris Germany — Optimized server and Berlin US — Optimized server, Chicago, New York, and Washington
If you’re not sure, you can use ZenMate’s premium features for 30 days (and still get a full refund with the 30-day money-back guarantee). Watch Netflix with ZenMate
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPNs for Netflix
Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN!
Warning! Avoid Using These VPNs for Netflix
Many VPNs claim to work flawlessly with Netflix, but my tests found that these claims weren’t valid. Here are some of the VPNs you should avoid if you want to watch Netflix:
3 Easy Steps: How to Watch Netflix With a VPN in 2023
Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Netflix
My team and I tested more than 50 VPNs using the following criteria and ranked them according to how well each service performed. These tests are conducted every month, so you’ll always have the latest working list of Netflix VPNs and servers. Not only will a quality VPN work with Netflix, but it’ll also keep you safe online. Especially if you’re regularly banking, torrenting files, or sending sensitive information over the internet. With a VPN, your online browsing history can’t be traced back to you and your identity will remain anonymous. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
Why is my VPN not working with Netflix?
Occasionally, even the best VPNs for Netflix will have servers that don’t work. This is because Netflix is constantly identifying and banning known servers of VPNs. If Netflix detects that you’re using a VPN, you’ll receive the dreaded Netflix Streaming Error: When this happens, the fastest way to find a working server is to contact your VPN’s customer support team. They will help you find a server that does work with Netflix and offer any other troubleshooting advice. I like ExpressVPN because it has a 24/7 live chat feature — I’ve tested it before and it’s never taken more than a few seconds to speak to a representative. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again. For more help, visit netflix.com/proxy. Error Code: M7111-5059 Alternatively, you can try switching servers and refreshing Netflix to see if the new server works.
Do free VPNs work with Netflix?
As a big Netflix fan, I’ve tested some of the best free VPNs available — and I’ve always been disappointed. I can’t even connect to Netflix with most free VPNs. Free VPNs are easily detected by Netflix, as these companies don’t have the resources or technology to get around Netflix’s geographic restrictions. In addition, free VPNs are notorious for slow streaming speeds and limited bandwidth. Even when I’ve managed to connect to Netflix, I get frustrated because I have to wait for buffering and watch low-quality videos. Aside from struggling to watch Netflix, my biggest concern with free VPNs is the risk to my privacy. I take my online security seriously and I don’t like that free VPNs are known to sell user data to advertisers and other third parties in order to make money. You shouldn’t have to expose your personal data to watch Netflix, nor resign yourself to endless buffering and connection errors. If you only need a VPN for a short time or to binge-watch your favorite show, I recommend you take advantage of CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee. You can use it for free as long as you request a refund within 45 days. You can do so over 24/7 live chat or email.
Is it illegal to use a VPN for Netflix?
It’s legal to use a VPN to watch Netflix. Netflix doesn’t like people to use a VPN due to licensing agreements for specific TV shows and films — but it’s not against the law.
Will I get banned by Netflix for using a VPN?
No, you won’t get banned if you use a VPN with Netflix. However, it’s against Netflix’s Terms of Use, which you agree to when creating your account: Netflix doesn’t encourage people to use a VPN because it licenses content for specific countries. However, to date, there have been no cases of Netflix banning an account for VPN use.
Can I use a VPN to watch Netflix on my device?
However, if you’ve got multiple devices in your household, the easiest option is to install a VPN on your router. Router configuration guides are available on your VPN’s website. Some services like ExpressVPN have a dedicated router app to make the installation more simple. ExpressVPN even has a MediaStreamer feature, which lets you change your DNS address to a US server on your smart TV, game console, and Roku. This will reroute your streaming device’s traffic to Netflix US.
What’s the fastest VPN for Netflix?
After extensive testing, the fastest VPN for Netflix is ExpressVPN. My speeds with ExpressVPN dropped a tiny 18% on average, from 115Mbps to around 94Mbps. I could stream on Netflix in UHD quality as though there was no VPN connection at all. With its proprietary Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN is excellent at reducing speed loss caused by data encryption. This means that even if your existing internet speeds are slower, you should find your speed drop is minimal. Netflix recommends speeds of 25Mbps or more for 4K UHD streaming. You need a minimum speed of 3Mbps for SD-quality video streaming. If you’re experiencing slow speeds, make sure you connect to a server close to your physical location to help minimize speed loss. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
Keep Up With Your Favorite Shows on Netflix
It can be tricky to find a VPN that works with Netflix. That’s why I did the testing for you and compiled a list of the top VPNs for Netflix. During my latest tests, ExpressVPN really impressed me when streaming Netflix. Its global servers always connected to Netflix and there was no lag or buffering during the streams. You don’t have to take my word for it though — it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test ExpressVPN with Netflix for yourself. If you’re not 100% happy with the performance, you’re entitled to a refund with no questions asked. To test this process myself, I spoke to customer support over 24/7 live chat and I was pleasantly surprised when my refund was processed in minutes. No one hassled me to stay and the money returned to my bank account in just 5 days.
