Best VPNs for Netflix: Get any version of Netflix anywhere

Unlocking Netflix’s treasure trove of movies and TV shows is an art form shadowed by the frustrating reality of geographical restrictions. The unfair limitations that keep you from your binge-worthy favorites just because of where you’re located.

Whether you’re a globe-trotter yearning for a slice of home entertainment or just someone who wants access to a world of content, these barriers can be unbearable. But we have a solution for you. After exhaustive research and meticulous testing, we’ve found that a VPN for Netflix is your front-row seat. But tread carefully: Netflix has waged war on VPNs, and the market is littered with services that promise but don’t deliver.

Only a select few VPNs for Netflix can sidestep these VPN bans, granting you unlimited access to a world of streaming securely and reliably. Stay tuned. We’ve done the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to.

When connected to most VPNs, Netflix gives the following error, accompanied by error code m7111-5059:

“Whoops, something went wrong. Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

If you’ve connected with a VPN and been left frustrated by the dreaded Netflix proxy error message, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there is still a select group of VPNs that work reliably.

At the time of publishing, we have re-run our comprehensive tests to identify the VPNs that still work reliably with Netflix. In this article, we’ll not only provide you with a quick list of our top recommendations but also delve into our detailed findings from extensive VPN testing. Additionally, we’ll guide you on how to use a VPN with Netflix and help troubleshoot common issues.

We have found these are the best VPNs that work with Netflix:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Netflix. Reliably works with the American Netflix library plus Netflix UK, AU, JP, and CA, among others. One of the fastest services on the market. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget option for Netflix. A reliable VPN for streaming abroad. Supports the super-fast WireGuard protocol and has a strict no-logs policy.
3. ExpressVPN: A fast, privacy-conscious service that works with a huge range of Netflix libraries. Also works with Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and a wide range of popular streaming platforms.
4. CyberGhost: Has excellent speeds and a huge server network. Works well with Netflix US and other regional libraries. Apps are easy even for new VPN users.
5. PrivateVPN: Impressive speeds and apps for all platforms that work to access American Netflix and 20+ other libraries. An excellent choice for streaming your favorite movies or shows.
6. IPVanish: Works with UK and US Netflix on desktop, Android, iOS, and plenty of other streaming devices. Allows for unlimited simultaneous connections.
7. AtlasVPN: Reasonably priced with excellent speeds, making it a great VPN for streaming. Works well with many Netflix regions and other popular streaming platforms.

Already got a VPN? Jump straight to how to use a VPN with Netflix

We selected the best Netflix VPNs based on the following criteria below. If you would like to see our full VPN testing and research process take a look at our dedicated article.

• Reliably and consistently work with Netflix
• Fast enough to stream in HD
• Fast, competent customer service
• Strong digital security and privacy protections so you can access Netflix and other services securely
• Works on popular devices
• Money-back guarantee
• Good choice of servers
• Reliable connections

Note: The battle between Netflix, customers, and VPN providers rages on, and viable alternatives are still very much in flux. A server that works today may get blocked tomorrow, while new servers and locations are constantly being added.

Best Netflix VPNs – Our hands-on review

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 VPN for Netflix.

Best VPNs for Netflix in 2023

Based on our extensive testing, we found these to be the top VPNs for streaming Netflix:

1. NordVPN

Sep 2023 works with NetflixTested Sep 2023

• Can access Netflix in browser: Yes
• Can access Netflix app: Yes

Most of NordVPN’s streaming-optimized servers can access many Netflix content libraries, although the majority will redirect you to the US version even if you’re connected to another country. Thanks to a low monthly price and the option to connect up to six streaming devices at one time, NordVPN is a great budget option especially if you share an account with friends or family.

NordVPN doesn’t skimp on security or privacy, offering military-grade encryption, a split tunneling feature, and a kill switch. Plus it provides fast and reliable connections. It’s pretty good at accessing other popular streaming services as well, like Disney+, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Apps are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

NordVPN was the most reliable option in our testing.

BEST VPN FOR NETFLIX: NordVPN is our #1 pick. Access Netflix US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and more. Offers exceptionally high speeds, great privacy, and security credentials, and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Can access US Netflix in browser: Yes
• Can access US Netflix app: Yes

Surfshark is a relatively new VPN service that makes it easy to stream Netflix. There’s no trial and error here because all of SurfShark’s servers can access Netflix and other streaming sites. Most of them will redirect you to the US version of Netflix, but it does offer local versions for a handful of countries, including popular libraries like France, Canada, and Japan. Speeds are fast enough to stream in HD without buffering and without compromising security.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android, and you get unlimited simultaneous connections.

Surfshark worked well with Netflix UK, US, Australia and other Netflix libraries.

BEST LOW-COST OPTION:A low-cost VPN that works great with Netflix and puts your security first. Connect any number of devices. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. ExpressVPN

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Can access Netflix in web browser: Yes
• Can access Netflix App: Yes

 

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for Netflix, although it is more expensive than NordVPN and Surfshark. It has a dedicated Netflix page and a few VPN server locations can reliably access geo-restricted content on Netflix. They change on occasion, so it’s best to send a quick message to the live chat support on ExpressVPN’s website to ask which server to connect to. We found speeds suitable for HD streaming without buffering.

ExpressVPN provided reliable access to Netflix on every platform tested, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and certain wifi routers. ExpressVPN lets you connect up to five devices at a time. Plus, every ExpressVPN subscription comes with the MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy. MediaStreamer can access Netflix on streaming devices that don’t typically support VPNs, such as Apple TV, and gaming consoles like Xbox One and PS4.

We enjoyed secure, buffer-free Netflix streaming with ExpressVPN.

STREAM NETFLIX ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN is another good choice. Access Netflix US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, as well as most other video streaming services like BBC iPlayer with great speeds for buffer-free HD viewing. Try it risk free with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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4. CyberGhost

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Can access US Netflix in web browser: Yes
• Can access US Netflix App: Yes

CyberGhost makes it easy to watch Netflix in just a few clicks. The app’s streaming video section lists dedicated streaming servers by what they access, instead of just their physical location. Netflix is clearly listed right at the top, and clicking it will turn on the VPN connection and even open Netflix on your behalf. CyberGhost VPN users can give instant feedback as to whether a particular server works with Netflix with simple thumbs up, and thumbs down buttons.

CyberGhost also offers faster speeds than most of its competition, top-notch security, strong encryption a no-logs policy, and fast customer support. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.

CyberGhost’s dedicated Netflix servers made connecting a breeze.

GREAT VALUE: CyberGhost's apps are easy to use for those who want to get reliable access to Netflix without fuss. Stores no logs and streams HD video reliably. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

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5. PrivateVPN

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Works with US Netflix in web browser: Yes
• Works with US Netflix App: Yes

PrivateVPN works with Netflix in more countries than any other provider—no small feat for a VPN with only a couple of hundred servers. PrivateVPN scored well in our speed tests, meaning you can continue to stream your favorite shows and movies in high definition or even 4K.

You’ll also get a zero logs service, up to 10 simultaneous connections, and live chat support. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

PrivateVPN had no issues avoiding Netflix blocks.

GREAT SPEED: PrivateVPN works with Netflix in 20 countries and allows up to 6 devices on the same account. Small global network of servers but fast connections. 30-day money-back guarantee

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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6. IPVanish

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Works with US Netflix in browser: Yes
• Works with US Netflix app: Yes

IPVanish has support for users who want to watch US Netflix. We have tested it and confirmed it works on both desktop browsers and Netflix’s mobile app on Android and iOS. We recommend you contact IPVanish’s customer support to ask which server to use and troubleshoot any issues you might have connecting. IPVanish is built with privacy and security in mind while also offering decent speeds to stream in HD.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Fire TV.

IPVanish worked well with US Netflix.

GREAT FOR STREAMING:Start watching US and UK Netflix with IPVanish and get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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7. AtlasVPN

works with netflixTested Sep 2023

• Works with Netflix in web browser: Yes
• Works with Netflix App: Yes

Atlas VPN was launched in 2019. It is a VPN that puts accessing streaming services at the forefront. It provides super-fast WireGuard connections that are ideal for streaming in HD. Atlas can reliably access several popular Netflix catalogs, including Netflix US. It also works with Disney Plus, Prime Video, and Hulu. AtlasVPN has high-speed servers in 40+ countries and apps for all platforms that come with malware filtering. Plus, it has a solid no logs policy. You can test it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

As you can see, Atlas VPN is super fast, which makes it great for streaming Netflix and other services in HD. It also boasts a robust suite of security features and live-chat customer support. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android.

HIGH SPEED AND LOW COSTS:AtlasVPN makes watching Netflix a breeze and is easy on the wallet. You can use it on an unlimited number of devices, meaning you can share your account with friends and family. Includes malware filtering for added security.

Read our full review of AtlasVPN

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Honorable mentions

These VPNs work with Netflix, but for one reason or another, they don’t make the top seven cutoff. This may be due to inconsistent service, privacy concerns, slower speeds, or the inability to access Netflix on mobile devices. Netflix frequently blocks VPNs, so we also favor those with a proven track record of resolving the proxy error. Erring on the side of caution, we don’t want to recommend Netflix VPNs that work today but not tomorrow.

Netflix VPNs that DO NOT work

Hola

Hola won’t access Netflix, and you shouldn’t be using it as your VPN for security reasons anyway. The company has a sordid history of abusing members of its peer-to-peer VPN-ish network to distribute pirated materials, and pornography, and even carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on websites.

GetFlix

GetFlix is a smart DNS proxy service that made its debut heralding a fast and cheap means to watch Netflix. That didn’t last long, and now the company is stuck with an embarrassing name that brings up painful reminders of when its users were blocked a few months later.

HideIPVPN

HideIPVPN has previously mentioned that neither its VPN nor its smart DNS proxy service would continue to work with Netflix. “[…] as stated in our ToS we cannot guarantee that you will be able to access specific websites or services. For now, that is the case with Netflix.”

Overplay

After Netflix began intermittently blocking Overplay’s smart DNS proxy and VPN services, the company seems to have given up the fight, scrubbing its website of any mention of Netflix.

Opera VPN

Opera VPN, a proxy built into the Opera browser, will not reliably work with Netflix.

How to watch Netflix with a VPN (Video)

This video explains how to change Netflix region with a VPN so you can securely watch shows and movies when away from home. For example, you can access US or Japanese Netflix from the UK, Australia, Canada or elsewhere you might be traveling to.

Netflix libraries by country

You may have already realized that depending on where you live in the world, you could be getting shortchanged when it comes to Netflix content. Check out our up-to-date list of the best Netflix libraries and start streaming the best content available.

Netflix VPN ban: What the VPN providers say

To find out more about their ongoing fight, we spoke to executives from NordVPN, VyprVPN, ExpressVPN, and LiquidVPN for some insight from the front lines.

“We are receiving an unprecedented number of inquiries from people looking to access Netflix service, suggesting there are not a lot of VPNs left that offer an alternative workaround,” NordVPN CIO Emanuel Morgan tells Comparitech. “Keeping up with offering new workaround solutions might require significant resources and it is understandable that some services chose to forgo advocating for this issue – choosing to concentrate their resources on primary service functions (offering privacy and security solutions) instead.”

Morgan says Netflix probably isn’t targeting isolated VPN providers. He believes a combination of techniques is used to block them. One of those techniques, says LiquidVPN CEO Dave Cox, is by identifying connections coming from data centers instead of residences. He goes on to explain that the Netflix apps combat SmartDNS services by forcing you to use a public DNS server and frequently change the URLs that do geolocation for their content. This makes it impossible for services that could support thousands of customers streaming at a time by only forwarding the geolocation packets through their servers.

Since this article was first published, we’ve seen reports from other VPNs of Netflix blocking residential IP addresses in the streaming giant’s latest round of measures targeting VPNs.

It’s not just Netflix. Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and several other streaming sites have all implemented VPN bans at some level. Should the trend continue, legally watching licensed content online from any site would require users to relinquish their privacy.

Accessing Netflix across the globe: study

A European Commission report estimates cross-border film availability on Netflix within the EU is just 31%.

Comparitech has conducted the most comprehensive study to date of which VPNs work with Netflix in which countries. We tested 59 VPNs in 30 countries with our Netflix subscription in a desktop web browser and the Netflix iOS and Android apps. In all, our team ran more than 5,000 manual tests on real devices.

Click the image below to see the full results in a Google Spreadsheet:

International Netflix VPNs: by the numbers

PrivateVPN worked with Netflix in more countries than any other provider, and it did so on all three platforms: desktop browser, iOS, and Android.

43 out of 59 VPNs were able to access American Netflix on at least one platform, nearly double the second-place British Netflix. Given that there are almost 70 million subscribers in the US alone, it should come as no surprise that many VPN providers make accessing US Netflix a high priority.

Users who want access to the Belgian version of Netflix have the smallest choice of VPN providers; it can only be accessed by one of the 59 VPNs we tested (ProtonVPN). Accessing Netflix in countries like Belgium and Turkey is probably not at the top of the priority list for most VPNs, and many of the VPNs we tested don’t have servers in those countries at all.

Our team recorded roughly 1,650 results on each platform: Netflix website in a desktop browser, iOS Netflix app, and Android Netflix app. The website in a desktop browser was accessed 286 times, while Android and iOS apps were close at 197 and 184, respectively. It’s worth noting that not all the VPNs we tested have mobile apps, in which case the result was negative.

Some VPNs redirect users to the US version of Netflix regardless of VPN server location. NordVPN, for example, can access Netflix when connected to any country, but uses a DNS proxy to route Netflix requests to the US version, except for Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, and UK. Opening Netflix while connected to any other country through NordVPN will return the US version. And though Surfshark users can access Netflix on any server, they all redirect to the US version except France, India, Japan, the Netherlands, and the UK. Similarly, AirVPN redirects many international users to US Netflix regardless of their VPN server’s IP address.

Netflix VPN testing methodology and limitations

For each test, our staff connected to the VPN, opened Netflix in a browser or in the Netflix app (depending on the OS), and played a video. If the streaming video played normally, the VPN scored a positive result. If it wasn’t clear which server to connect to for a given VPN, we contacted the VPN’s customer support team to ask which servers work with Netflix.

In order for a VPN to pass our test, it must be able to work with Netflix videos out of the box, meaning no manual configuration outside of the VPN app is necessary. It must also work with a reasonable degree of consistency—no reconnecting to the same server over and over in the hopes of finding an IP address that hasn’t been blocked. Finally, we used the paid subscription versions of VPNs when available.

We tested the most popular VPNs to see which worked with Netflix in each country.

A few VPNs bundle smart DNS proxies with their subscriptions, and some of those DNS proxies work with Netflix (e.g. Ironsocket DNS, Keenow Unblocker, ExpressVPN MediaStreamer). Due to time constraints and practicality, however, we elected not to test smart DNS services and instead solely focus on VPNs.

Aside from specifically testing VPNs with Netflix, we run extensive VPN testing to assess all major attributes of VPNs we recommend.

Netflix VPN FAQs

See also: Which countries pay the least and most for Netflix?

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Are the solutions listed here no longer working for you? Do you know of any other VPN services that work with Netflix? Drop us a note in the comments!