The availability of certain Netflix TV shows and movies depends on where you are in the world. If you want the entire library to choose from, you’ll need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This makes it appear as if you’re located in a country licensed for the content. This isn’t foolproof, however. You might find, for example, that a VPN like Astrill is not working with Netflix. In this case, you’ll receive this error message:
“You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”
There are a few troubleshooting tips you can try to fix this issue, and we’ll talk you through each of them here. If any of them don’t work, you might need to switch to a more reliable VPN for Netflix, so we list some quality alternatives in this article.
Does Astrill work with Netflix?
Astrill has servers in 140+ cities across 56 countries, but the only place from which we were able to stream Netflix during our tests was the US.
It seems that Astrill mostly only works with US-based streaming sites – great if you want the likes of Hulu and Disney+, less so if you’re looking for services such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX.
If you have a Netflix account based outside the US and wish to use it while abroad, we’d recommend looking for a different VPN. A VPN like NordVPN offers a wide variety of options, providing access to American Netflix plus Netflix UK, JP, CA, AU, and more.
Why is Astrill not working with Netflix?
There are a few reasons why Astrill isn’t working with Netflix. One is that you’re using blacklisted VPN servers. If this is the case, you’ll receive an error message advising you to disconnect from your unblocker or proxy and try again.
Alternatively, you might receive an error message stating that the content you’re trying to access isn’t available in your region. In this case, cookies stored in your browser might reveal your IP address.
If you can’t access Netflix using a mobile device, it could be because your GPS data is being cross-referenced with the location of the server that you’re connected to. Netflix can use this information to determine whether your true IP address is being hidden.
How to fix Netflix not working with Astrill
There are a variety of potential solutions for Astrill not working with Netflix. Start with these:
- Try connecting to a different server within the same region. You might have to do this several times before establishing a working connection. While this is easy in the US, where Astrill has the majority of its servers, it can be more difficult elsewhere.
- Remove cookies from your Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browser, and also clear the cache and history. Sometimes, different browsers can work better with your chosen VPN, so play around with the different options.
- Try streaming from your browser rather than the Netflix app.
- Uninstall and then reinstall Astrill. This will ensure that you’re running the most up-to-date version.
- Try streaming Netflix with a laptop or desktop computer rather than a mobile device. If there’s only a problem with the latter, try using a GPS-spoofing app to provide fake GPS data. Or switch to a VPN like Surfshark, which has built-in GPS spoofing.
- Get in touch with Astrill customer support. You can send a message via a contact form or chat with them live.
How to securely stream Netflix with Astrill
If you’ve never used a VPN before, you’ll be pleased to know that accessing streaming services like Netflix from abroad is easy:
- Start by signing up for Astrill. Bear in mind, however, that we’d recommend a more reliable provider like NordVPN.
- Download and install the appropriate version for your device (Astrill has apps for Windows, Android smartphones and tablets, macOS, Linux, and iOS/iPadOS. A router applet is available for ASUS Merlin and DD-WRT routers).
- Connect to one of Astrill’s servers in your home country.
- Sign in to your Netflix account and start streaming. If you run into any problems, try clearing cookies from your browser, or switching to a different server.
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Which are the best VPNs for streaming Netflix abroad?
Netflix has more subscribers than any other streaming platform, which means it has bags of money to spend on preventing the use of VPNs. The servers of smaller providers, such as Astrill, are usually identified and blacklisted first, though many big-name VPNs regularly lose access too.
With this in mind, we’ve tested some of the best VPNs to see how they perform when trying to access Netflix libraries from 30 different regions.
- NordVPN – Our 1st choice when Astrill is not working with Netflix. Fast enough to stream 4K content and able to access all of the major Netflix libraries. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it risk-free.
- Surfshark – Best budget VPN alternative for Netflix. Fast and secure, and with servers in all Netflix regions. Leaves you plenty of money to pay your streaming subscriptions.
- IPVanish – Top-notch security and privacy. Provides top-notch online protection while keeping your online viewing habits undercover. Fast connections perfect for streaming binges.
- ExpressVPN – Highly secure and reliable. Works notably well with Netflix. One of the first VPN providers to run diskless servers.
- PureVPN – Works well in restrictive countries. Offers fast, well-protected connections for streaming, performs well in countries other VPN’s struggle in.
- Cyberghost – Great for streaming Netflix abroad. Boasts top-notch security and privacy features and a huge server network.
- ProtonVPN – Good option for privacy-focused users. This VPN screams anonymity. However, it also provides fast connections to several streaming services, including Netflix.
- PrivateVPN – Remarkably good access to Netflix libraries. Also very fast and log-free. While its server network isn’t as large as the others on this list, it works well in the countries it serves.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Netflix.
Watching Netflix with a free VPN
We know it’s tempting to try and find a free VPN for Netflix, but it will likely prove frustrating and could compromise your online safety.
Free VPNs might seem like a good option, but they can rarely provide the services they advertise. They tend to be under-funded, so their network of servers is small. This, coupled with large numbers of users, results in slow connection speeds and poor streaming quality.
A chronic lack of investment also means they are slow to respond when their servers get blacklisted, which makes using Netflix with a free VPN very difficult.
Most importantly of all, their security can be lax. Many of the most popular free VPNs share your data with third parties, and most have some kind of logging policy. Unless you choose very carefully, a free VPN can compromise the security of your personal data – the very opposite of what it should be doing.
Read more Netflix articles here:
VPN connections and network speeds
Worrying if a VPN will slow down your Network speed? Using a VPN means the data flowing to and from your device needs to follow a more circuitous route. This inevitably means a reduction in speed. However, using one of the better VPNs means that this reduction is barely perceptible. VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, IPVanish, and ExpressVPN offer average download speeds of hundreds of Mbps.
The actual speed you get on any given day will depend on where the server you connect to is located, and how many other people are using it. Distant and heavily loaded servers will reduce your speeds.
In terms of Netflix, you need a download speed of at least 3 Mbps to stream high definition (HD) 720p content. Full high definition (HD) 1080p streaming requires 5 Mbps, while Ultra high definition (UHD) 4K content needs 15 Mbps or higher. A VPN like Astrill should be able to comfortably meet these requirements.
If you’d like to test your connection speed, you can visit the fast.com website, which is run by Netflix and will give you a good idea of what kind of connection you’ll get when accessing Netflix.
The protocols and type of encryption used by the VPN also have an effect on speed. The strongest encryption takes the heaviest toll on speed, though some of the top VPNs have custom protocols that help offset any losses. A protocol is a set of instructions that determines how data routes between your device and the VPN server.
Watching Netflix with Astrill: FAQs
Is it legal to use a VPN with Netflix?
Yes. There is no law against using a VPN to watch Netflix. However, using a VPN to watch Netflix content that isn’t in your own country violates the company’s terms of use. These state that:
“You may view Netflix content primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer our service and have licensed such content. The content that may be available to watch will vary by geographic location and will change from time to time.”
Does Astrill have a kill switch?
A kill switch is a feature that prevents the flow of internet traffic should your VPN suddenly disconnect. It prevents you from unwittingly using the internet – and potentially leaking identifiable information – without the protection of the VPN.
Astrill’s kill switch can be activated for a number of reasons:
- Patchy internet: A VPN’s connection is only as good as your internet’s service strength. If you have a fluctuating mobile or wi-fi signal, you may lose your VPN connection.
- Router & Firewall preferences: Firewalls and anti-virus software can cause the Astrill connection to drop. You may need to change their permissions to stop this from happening.
- VPN protocol: Some protocol configurations can be less stable than others.
- Changing networks – When you switch between wi-fi networks, between wi-fi and LTE, or between wired and wireless connections, the kill switch ensures you’re never unprotected.
Can I install Astrill on my router?
If your router is either an ASUS Merlin or DD-WRT with at least 8MB flash memory, then yes, you can install Astrill. Installation is much easier than with most VPNs as Astrill provides an applet that you can run on your router’s web interface.
If you don’t have a compatible router, you can buy an Astrill VPN router that comes pre-installed with Astrill VPN.
The benefit of having a VPN installed on a router is that it provides a secure and private connection to all devices on your network. This includes everything from your games console to your smart TV. This will become increasingly useful as we welcome more IoT devices into our homes.
Does Astrill keep logs?
Astrill is somewhat contradictory in this respect. It says that while it does not store any subscriber information or keep any logs, it does need to store some information for the technical functioning of services.
Information stored during the duration of your session includes connection time, IP address, device type and Astrill VPN application version. Astrill says this information is permanently deleted when the session ends, and is only used to check that you don’t exceed the limit on the number of simultaneously connected devices.
Astrill also monitors the volume of web traffic generated by each subscriber, which it says is to inform any future network expansion. It also stores information about your last 20 connections for up to 30 days. This includes connection time, connection duration, country, and device type.
Will my ISP know if I’m using Astrill?
Yes, your internet service provider (ISP) will be able to see that you’re connected to a VPN server. They’ll also be able to see the volume of data flowing to and from your device, and the time you connected.
On the other hand, the websites you visit, how long you spend on each of them, and any data you enter will be hidden.
