How to watch Netflix USA content in South Africa: VPN streaming guide

Netflix is available almost everywhere in the world, but the content library changes based on your location. While there’s little to separate American Netflix and Netflix South Africa regarding the number of titles available for streaming, the actual TV shows and movies can still vary due to licensing restrictions. Luckily for Americans traveling in South Africa, there is a way to access the same content you’d see back home — just use a VPN.

When you connect to an American VPN server, you’re given a temporary US IP address, which can help you regain access to your home Netflix library. VPNs have another major benefit: they greatly increase your online privacy. Once connected, all of your network traffic is encrypted, meaning it can’t be read by snoopers like your internet service provider (ISP), employer, or government. Further, as your data is routed through servers elsewhere in the world, VPNs enable you to easily bypass government-imposed blocks.

We’ll be examining each of the following services in greater detail later, but if you’re in a rush, take a look below to find our list of the best VPNs for watching Netflix USA content in South Africa.

Best VPNs to watch American Netflix in South Africa:

1. NordVPN Our first choice for South Africa. With more than 2,600 high-speed US servers and a strong focus on privacy and security, NordVPN is ideal for streaming US Netflix in South Africa. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for US Netflix.
2. Surfshark: The best budget choice. A fast, security-conscious VPN that’s able to access Netflix US from South Africa securely. Allows you to connect as many devices as you like.
3. IPVanish: A fast VPN with more than 1,000 servers in the US. Comes with a kill-switch, split tunneling, and obfuscation. Allows torrenting and works to stream US platforms — including Netflix.
4. ExpressVPN: A reliable VPN with over 3,000 servers in 105 countries. Works well with American Netflix in South Africa, includes powerful security features, and offers consistently high speeds.
5. CyberGhost: Versatile yet simple enough for beginners to use. Offers excellent streaming and download speeds, one-click secure access for platforms like Netflix USA, and pre-configured security features.
6. PureVPN: Ideal for streaming geo-blocked platforms like Netflix abroad. Tons of speedy servers and the ability to beat just about any form of digital censorship. 24/7 support via live chat.
7. ProtonVPN: Quick and secure, with plenty of customizable security features. Lets you use platforms like Netflix US, Hulu, and Peacock in South Africa. Strict no-logs policy.
8. Private Internet Access: Easy-to-use VPN with proven ability to access US Netflix from anywhere. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
9. PrivateVPN: Works with more than a dozen Netflix libraries. Comes with a no-logs policy and a strong commitment to your security. Has servers in 63+ countries and an effective stealth mode.

How to stream Netflix US in South Africa using a VPN

New to VPNs and not sure how to get started? Don’t worry, VPNs make it easy to securely access your usual Netflix library as you travel. Just follow the steps below:

Here’s how to get Netflix USA in South Africa:

1. Start by signing up for one of the VPNs above (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the software. All of our recommended services have dedicated apps for mobile and desktop platforms, so be sure to get the right version for your device.
3. Connect to one of your VPN’s American servers. This will give you a US IP address for accessing American Netflix in South Africa.
4. Log in to Netflix and play a video. It should start right away, but if you’re still getting a proxy error (“You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again”), try clearing your cache and cookies and then refreshing the page.
5. Still can’t watch American Netflix? Try a different server or contact your VPN’s support team for further assistance. They should be able to direct you to a server that works with Netflix US.

How we select the top VPNs

Choosing a VPN doesn’t have to be an ordeal. While there are literally hundreds of VPNs to choose from (and new ones appearing all the time), we’ve narrowed the list to VPNs that performed in the test areas below. This means they’re all highly versatile services that are ideal for streaming US Netflix from South Africa.

• Streaming ability: We started by scoring providers on their presence in the US. Those with more US server locations make it easier for users to find the best speeds and uncongested servers. We then scored VPNs on their ability to access US Netflix as well as other regional variants. Finally, we tested each provider’s ability to access other popular streaming platforms.
• Speed: If you want to stream US Netflix from South Africa in HD or 4K, then you’ll need a VPN that’s up to the task. To find the fastest providers, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to their US servers.
• Security and privacy: We only recommend VPNs that can provide users with adequate protection while streaming US Netflix. Our comprehensive evaluation involved testing them against 16 different security and privacy criteria.
• Ease of use: To find the most user-friendly services, we evaluated providers against 10 related metrics covering everything from the quality of their apps to the responsiveness of their customer support teams.
• Value for money: If you’re cost-conscious, then you’ll appreciate getting a good deal. To check which providers were worth what they charged, we used eight criteria that took into account monthly fees as well as any discounts and free trials.

The above is just a summary. You can read more about how we test the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section later in the article.

The best VPNs for US Netflix in South Africa compared

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for US Netflix.

Best VPNs for watching US Netflix in South Africa

Comparitech aims to give you the most accurate and helpful VPN recommendations possible. To do that, our team personally uses each VPN and puts them through rigorous tests. The following reviews are based on our expert analysis and real-world experience.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching American Netflix in South Africa:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025 works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

NordVPN is our top recommendation for watching US Netflix in South Africa. It’s a particularly fast VPN and has a huge network, with over 7,700 servers in 118+ countries (and roughly 2,600 in the US alone).

This VPN is great for securely streaming Netflix USA as well as the likes of BBC iPlayer, and with fast speed-test results, you’ll be able to watch without any noticeable buffering or lag. NordVPN outperformed every other VPN in all three of our speed tests, and achieved an overall average of 198.46 Mbps. This was more than 67 Mbps faster than the combined average download speeds of the other tested providers. 

This service enables you to create your ideal security setup. There’s 256-bit encryption, protection against IPv6, WebRTC, DNS, and port forwarding leaks, an app-specific kill switch, a malware scanner, and an ad-blocker. This VPN even has specific servers for use in countries with strict internet censorship.

NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, so your privacy is guaranteed. If you need help, support is available over live chat 24/7.

NordVPN provides Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV apps. It also has extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. While NordVPN works with network routers, this must be configured manually. Subscriptions allow up to 10 simultaneous connections.

BEST VPN FOR US NETFLIX:NordVPN is our top choice. This powerful VPN has several advanced security features, works well with American Netflix, and has over 7,700 high-speed servers to choose from. What’s more, it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free option.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

Surfshark is a budget-friendly provider with over 3,200 servers across 100+ countries, including the US. This service not only lets you watch American Netflix in South Africa, but it also works with platforms like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

A key attraction of this VPN is that it has no connection limit, offering excellent value and making it particularly suitable for households with many devices. The provider’s tested speeds were excellent, with an overall average download speed of 192.78 Mbps. As a rough guide, this is fast enough to stream Netflix in 4K on seven devices at the same time. 

This service takes your privacy seriously. It has a zero-logs policy, so details of your activities can’t be revealed, even if requested. Users can also pay with Bitcoin for added anonymity. Surfshark uses 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak protection to secure your data. Live chat-based support is on hand 24/7 in case you run into any problems.

Surfshark has Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV apps. You’ll also find browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It works on routers, too, although it must be installed manually.

BEST VALUE VPN:Surfshark is a fast, security-conscious VPN that works well with Netflix US. With no connection limit and a no-logs policy, you can stream safely on as many devices as you like. This service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish is a US-based VPN with servers in over 140 locations, including the US and South Africa. It worked well to access streaming platforms such as Netflix US, Netflix South Africa, and Amazon Prime Video during testing.

Using the WireGuard protocol by default, IPVanish is one of the fastest VPNs on the market today. In our tests, it averaged 174.13 Mbps overall, which is fast enough for just about any task.

This secure and private VPN service uses strong AES 256-bit encryption and reliable privacy-protecting features, including obfuscation, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and a kill switch. A no-logs policy means IPVanish does not store any of your online activities.

Should you require any assistance, 24/7 live chat and email support are included. IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections per account and has apps available for Windows, Android, macOS and iOS.

SUPER FAST:IPVanish has a proprietary network of servers that make it secure and fast. Works to access US streaming services such as American Netflix from South Africa. Allows unlimited connections. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

ExpressVPN has a network of over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, including the US. It can securely access a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix USA, Hulu, and Sling TV from abroad.

With five connections permitted on a monthly plan and eight on a longer subscription, you can protect all of your most commonly used devices simultaneously.

In our speed tests, ExpressVPN’s results ranged from a low of 124.09 Mbps to a high of 129.67 Mbps. As well as being remarkably consistent, its results make it suitable for everything from 4K streaming through to video calling and torrenting. 

This VPN keeps your traffic safe from prying eyes using DNS and IPv6 leak protection, 256-bit AES encryption, and a kill switch that automatically stops all data transfer whenever your connection drops suddenly.

There’s also the option to pay with Bitcoin, but ExpressVPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, so your activities can’t be traced back to you either way. Need help? You can reach customer support 24/7 via live chat.

ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. It also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Last but not least, there’s custom firmware designed to make it easier to install ExpressVPN on select internet routers.

SECURE AND RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is a great choice for watching American Netflix in South Africa. It’s fast, reliable, and secure, plus it offers access to more than 3,000 servers worldwide. ExpressVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

CyberGhost has an extensive server network, with over 10,000 servers in 100+ countries, more than 1,400 of which are in the US. More pertinently, it conveniently has a list of servers that are labeled with the streaming platforms that they work best with.

This service is ideal for streaming American Netflix in South Africa or overseas as it’s fast and offers unlimited bandwidth. In our speed tests for this article, CyberGhost averaged 143.76 Mbps overall, with a difference of only 6.27 Mbps between the slowest and fastest results. 

There’s no need to configure anything because all of CyberGhost’s security features are enabled by default. These include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (in every version), DNS and IPv6 leak protection, an ad-blocker, and a malware scanner. Best of all, this service doesn’t log any information that could identify you. In case of any issues, 24/7 customer support is available over live chat.

CyberGhost offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux (command line). It also has a free Chrome browser extension. Manual configuration is required for routers. Subscriptions allow you to stream safely on up to seven devices simultaneously.

COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY:CyberGhost provides fast, reliable connections, advanced security and privacy features, and the ability to stream US Netflix from almost anywhere. This VPN has 11 US server locations and includes a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Check out our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

Works With Netflix USTested Jun 2025

PureVPN is a fantastic option for anyone looking to continue watching American Netflix abroad. It has reliable servers in over a dozen US cities and provides fast speeds suitable for high definition streaming. Its average speed across our three tests was 144.65 Mbps, which is more than quick enough for watching Netflix in 4K.

PureVPN works with plenty of other streaming platforms in addition to Netflix. These include Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Paramount+. It’s equally well-suited to torrenting and gaming, plus it offers a generous 10-device limit and 24/7 support.

Don’t be fooled by its beginner-friendly apps; PureVPN actually has plenty of powerful security tools built-in. These include unbreakable encryption, support for multiple protocols, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch.

It’s one of the only providers that has been audited four times, so we can safely say that it doesn’t keep logs. There is a tracker and ad-blocking feature too, as well as automatic obfuscation.

PureVPN apps are available for Windows, Android, MacOS, iOS, and Linux. Alternatively, users can follow manual setup instructions to get it running on their router.

WATCH NETFLIX ANYWHERE:PureVPN helps you regain access to American Netflix, no matter where you are in the world. It’s fast, highly-secure, and easy to use, plus it offers 24/7 support in case anything goes wrong. Includes a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Interested? Read our full review of PureVPN.

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7. ProtonVPN

Works With Netflix USTested Jun 2025

ProtonVPN has more than 3,000 US servers and works flawlessly with major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.

ProtonVPN allows up to 10 connections at a time and offers 24/7 support via live chat. Note that while there is a free plan, this comes with several significant limitations, such as the inability to choose which server you’re using. As such, anyone hoping to watch Netflix in South Africa will have to upgrade to a paid subscription.

In our speed tests, the provider averaged 140.34 Mbps. This makes it suitable for uninterrupted streaming, browsing or torrenting.

One of the best things about this VPN is its versatility. You can set up port forwarding and split tunneling, block ads and trackers automatically, or get an extra layer of privacy using its specially-optimized Secure Core servers (though these are quite a bit slower). Naturally, there’s also uncrackable encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch, plus an independently-verified zero-logs policy. Looking to sign up anonymously? No problem: you can pay in either Bitcoin or cash.

ProtonVPN offers apps for iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux devices. It supports most routers too, though you’ll have to follow manual configuration instructions.

TOP-TIER PRIVACY TOOLS:ProtonVPN goes above and beyond to keep your data hidden. Lets you effortlessly regain access to Netflix USA and similar sites in South Africa. Paid subscriptions come with 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our in-depth ProtonVPN review.

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8. Private Internet Access

Works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

Private Internet Access is a fast and user-friendly provider with a large server network spanning 91+ countries, including the US and South Africa. In the US, these servers are spread across 20+ cities, ensuring you have plenty of choice.

In our tests, PIA reliably accessed a variety of popular Netflix libraries, including Netflix US, UK, and Canada.

Speed-wise, the provider averaged 66.84 Mbps. This was slower than the previous VPNs, though still fast enough for interruption-free streaming — provided that you have a decent base connection speed (ours was 250 Mbps).

PIA comes with many advanced features, including DNS leak protection, a kill switch, malware filtering, and customizable 256-bit AES encryption. It also features the Wireguard protocol, allows torrenting, and has a proven no-logs policy, so you can be sure your online activities remain private.

PIA has apps available for most platforms, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It offers 24/7 live chat in case you have any issues and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test it out risk-free. As PIA has no connection limits, you can stream across all of your devices.

STREAMING SERVERS:PIA has no connection limit and dedicated US streaming servers. Its apps are easy to use and subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our full Private Internet Access review.

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9. PrivateVPN

works with Netflix USTested Jun 2025

PrivateVPN doesn’t have the largest network (around 200 servers in 63+ countries), but it is able to securely access multiple Netflix libraries from abroad, Netflix USA included.

It has an effective stealth mode that enables it to work in countries such as China and the UAE. This makes PrivateVPN ideal for international travelers. With up to 10 simultaneous connections allowed, you can stream on whichever device you prefer.

This VPN uses a combination of 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks to keep your data secure. PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy, although you can sign up anonymously by paying with Bitcoin and using a throwaway email address. If you need help, you can contact support via live chat up to 22 hours per day. Free remote help and installation is also available.

PrivateVPN’s only real downside is that it’s slower than the above providers. Across our three tests it averaged 56.65 Mbps. While this is comfortably fast enough for streaming Netflix in 4K, you may want to opt for a different VPN if you have a very slow base connection speed while in South Africa.

PrivateVPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. This VPN can be manually configured to work with Linux systems and home routers.

SECURE STREAMING:PrivateVPN boasts access to servers in multiple US cities. Works with stubborn streaming platforms like Netflix. A no-logs policy and strong focus on security keeps you safe at all times. PrivateVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Take a look at our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: how we found the best VPNs for Netflix USA in South Africa

Not every VPN with US servers will let you watch Netflix USA in South Africa. Some VPNs won’t be capable of unblocking the geo-restrictions, while others lack the speed to stream in 1080p HD or 4K without performance issues. To help us develop a list of the best VPNs for the job, we’ve collated a list of the test areas we focused on to separate the best from the rest.

Streaming ability

To stream US Netflix from South Africa, the VPN you choose must have servers in the United States. Some VPNs only have a small number of server locations per country, which isn’t beneficial if one of the servers goes down and there’s no backup. To ensure you’re not in this position, we scored providers on the number of server locations they had in the US. 

Of course, there’s not much point being able to access US servers if they don’t work with Netflix. We tested each VPN with US Netflix to check that it could evade restrictions when you’re streaming from South Africa. As most people use more than one streaming service, we also tested providers with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.

The scores for each test were weighted and then combined for ease of comparison.

ExpressVPN’s score of 9.1 out of 10 was highest. It has servers in more US locations than the other VPNs and worked well with every streaming platform we tested it with. Surfshark and IPVanish were the strongest alternatives.  

Speed

Streaming content online is relatively resource-heavy, so it’s a good idea to choose a VPN that is fast enough to ensure smooth streaming. We found the fastest providers for streaming US Netflix by carrying out multiple speed tests over the course of a day.

To better replicate the experience of the average user, we rate-limited our connection speed to 250 Mbps. We measured each VPN’s speed using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. The results were averaged and then converted to a score out of 10 for ease of comparison.

NordVPN scored highest overall. Its high-speed connections combined with unlimited bandwidth means you can use it for streaming US Netflix lag-free in HD and 4K. Surfshark is a great alternative, and only fractionally slower than NordVPN.

Security and privacy

To ensure your connection remains private to you and out of sight of prying eyes like your ISP, we looked for VPNs with a clear no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. As you can see from the table below, we also looked for additional privacy tools such as obfuscation.

If the terms above don’t mean much to you, then don’t worry. We’ve converted and combined the scores for each metric to generate a more user-friendly overall score chart:

NordVPN and Surfshark both scored an impressive 9.5 out of 10. They have audited no-logs policies, and use robust encryption, and RAM-only servers as standard. We also recommend ProtonVPN and PIA — both of which scored 9.3.

Ease of use

When you’re looking to stream a TV show, there’s nothing more frustrating than having a screen full of confusing settings. The VPNs we chose have apps for all major platforms and will have you set up in a couple of clicks. They also have strong customer support and other features to make life easier when accessing US Netflix.

If you’d rather have an overview of which providers were the easiest to use, we combined all of the results from the table above into a handy chart.

NordVPN and PIA were the easiest providers to use overall, with scores of 9.6 out of 10. Their apps are suitable for users of all abilities, and their services have a hassle-free sign-up and cancellation process. IPVanish and ExpressVPN also come highly recommended if you’re new to VPN software.

Value for money

We compared the VPNs on our list to ensure they offered pricing that reflects the range of features included with a subscription. As you can see from the table below, we also looked for things like a money-back guarantee. 

To make comparison easier, we combined the scores for each of the above metrics into scores out of 10 for each provider.

With a score of 9.7, Surfshark was the best value-for-money provider overall. It allows unlimited simultaneous device connections and comes with a great value two-year introductory deal. IPVanish and NordVPN also offer generous introductory subscription deals.

Watch US Netflix in South Africa: FAQs

See also:

• Best VPNs for South Africa
• How to change your Netflix country
• How to get a South African IP address