Best VPNs for Netflix working in 2021

So, the movie you waited for so long has finally arrived on Netflix. There’s only one problem – it’s not available in your region. Luckily, you can still watch it with the help of the best VPNs for Netflix.

It’s true – the right VPN will be able to bypass geo-blocking and let you access the content you want. However, Netflix constantly blocks VPN traffic, making it difficult to find a VPN that works with this streaming service.

To help you find the best VPN that works with Netflix, we tested dozens of VPNs and compiled a list of the services that are actually able to deliver. Get ready for some binge-watching!

Quick list of best VPNs for Netflix:

1. NordVPN – #1 VPN for Netflix and other streaming services
2. Surfshark VPN – best cheap VPN for Netflix
3. VyprVPN – inexpensive long-term solution
4. ExpressVPN – high speeds for ultra HD
5. CyberGhost VPN – the longest money-back guarantee

Best VPNs for Netflix

In total, we tested 30+ VPN services and their ability to unblock Netflix. Unsurprisingly, we were left with only seven titles, as the rest weren’t great at bypassing the strict geo-blocks of this popular streaming site.

We used a number of different devices (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS) and tried out various features (like SmartDNS) that enhance your streaming experience.

1. NordVPN – a secure solution for Netflix

One of the most well-known VPN on the internet, NordVPN truly earns the #1 spot as the best VPN for Netflix.

Thanks to its revolutionary NordLynx tunneling protocol, NordVPN offers ultra fast download speed, which lets you watch Netflix with no interruptions. It also has a staggering number of 5,542 servers across 59 countries. Most of the servers are located in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Netflix fans will also appreciate the VPN’s SmartPlay technology. This feature helps you bypass streaming media blocks and watch geo-blocked content on smart TVs.

There’s also the possibility to purchase a dedicated IP address that has a much lower chance of being blocked by Netflix. You’ll be the only person who uses it, and that’s why Netflix and other sites won’t detect any suspicious activity.

You shouldn’t forget that NordVPN is great for unblocking other streaming services, too. It lets you watch content on BBC iPlayer, as well Youtube and DAZN (right now, the latter works with the UK server).

NordVPN is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. Also, you can use its browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

2. Surfshark – best cheap VPN for Netflix

Surfshark is yet another great VPN for Netflix and other streaming sites. You might have heard about this VPN from various Youtube ads – and for good reason. That’s because Surfshark can unblock a myriad of streaming sites – something that most VPN services fail to deliver.

Try Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Youtube: you will be watching geo-blocked content in seconds. It’s also nice that Surfshark offers a rather big server fleet that consists of 3,200+ servers in 65 countries. The US, the UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, and many other countries are just a click away.

Just like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, Surfshark offers a solution for devices that don’t support VPNs: SmartDNS. Using it, you can watch Netflix on your SmartTV or PlayStation. Right now, this feature allows you to access only the Netflix US library, but more libraries should be available in the future.

When it comes to applications, you get the usual bunch: Surfshark has apps for Windows, iOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. You can also download VPN extensions for Google Chrome and Firefox.

3. VyprVPN – inexpensive long-term solution

VyprVPN is one of those VPN services that don’t spend a fortune on advertising. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s any worse than the others. In fact, if you’re looking for the best VPN for Netflix, VyprVPN might be exactly what you need.

When we tested it on various streaming platforms, it didn’t disappoint us. VyprVPN successfully unblocked Netflix (Canada, the US, and Germany), BBC iPlayer, and DAZN. The speeds were also great, especially when the WireGuard protocol was selected. However, you should keep in mind that Netflix and other sites might not work with other tunneling protocols. For example, Netflix displayed an error message when we connected with IKEv2.

VyprVPN also offers a feature called VyprDNS, which is basically the same SmartDNS. It will help you access geo-blocked content on a lot of different devices. In addition, even though VyprVPN only has 700 servers in 70 countries, each and every server is owned by the company.

You can use VyprVPN with a myriad of different devices. It offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, all of which support the WireGuard protocol. You can also set it up with your router or smart TV.

4. ExpressVPN – ultra high speeds for streaming

ExpressVPN definitely deserves to be listed as one of the best VPNs for Netflix. Similarly to NordVPN, it offers an in-house tunneling protocol called Lightway. It allows for super fast download speeds that are perfect for streaming – you’re likely to be left with 70%-90% of your original speed depending on the server you connect to.

When it comes to unblocking streaming services, ExpressVPN won’t disappoint you. We tested it on the US Netflix library and could watch all the shows available only to American users. In addition, ExpressVPN also works with BBC iPlayer and Youtube.

Another good reason to list ExpressVPN as a great VPN for Netflix is its MediaStreamer feature (a.k.a. SmartDNS). It will help you watch Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs. You might also like the fact that ExpressVPN has a proprietary router app that eliminates the restriction of five simultaneous connections, allowing you and your family members to use many different streaming services at the same time.

As for applications, there’s a lot to choose from. You can download ExpressVPN to your Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS device. There are also browser extensions for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

5. CyberGhost VPN – the longest money-back guarantee

Equipped with its cute logo and hauntingly low prices, CyberGhost VPN is one of the best VPNs for Netflix fans. By offering specialized servers for streaming, it is able to unblock a lot of geo-restricted libraries on Netflix and other streaming platforms.

When skimming through the server list, you’ll see that some servers are good for unblocking a particular streaming platform. For example, you’ll see servers for Netflix, Youtube, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Sky. If you’re only interested in Netflix, keep in mind that you’ll be able to access the geo-blocked libraries of the US, Germany, France, and the UK.

In addition, the VPN offers SmartDNS that lets you unblock Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Hulu UK on various devices like PlayStation, Xbox, Samsung SmartTV, Roku TV, routers, and the Wii.

Currently, the server fleet of CyberGhost VPN consists of 6,100 servers in 89 countries. The large number of countries will be useful if you want to watch Netflix content available in different regions of the world. However, when it comes to speeds, CyberGhost should step up their game: even though the VPN offers WireGuard, our tests didn’t show stellar results. In fact, the IKEv2 protocol worked better and offered more stability.

You can download CyberGhost for your Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS device. Just keep in mind that its Linux version is not the most convenient one.

6. Windscribe VPN – the best free VPN solution for Netflix

Windscribe VPN is yet another useful VPN service for movie buffs. Offering a bunch of specialized servers for streaming (called Windflix), this bad boy can help you access geo-blocked content from the UK, the US, Canada, and Japan. These servers can also unblock BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and Youtube.

When it comes to tunneling protocols, Windscribe VPN supports a few of the fast ones, like WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and OpenVPN UDP. Unfortunately, WireGuard is available only on the Android app of Windscribe – you’ll have to use something else on other applications.

Even though Windscribe doesn’t offer the SmartDNS option, it has something else to give you, which is a feature called Time Warp. It spoofs your timezone so that websites would be less likely to spot that you’re using a VPN. To use this feature, you’ll have to download one of the Windscribe’s browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Aside from browser extensions, you can download Windscribe onto your Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.

One downside of this VPN could be the selection of servers, which is very small: Windscribe offers only 480+ servers in 60+ countries.

7. TunnelBear VPN – the best Netflix VPN service for beginners

TunnelBear VPN is the most fun VPN you’ll see thanks to its irresistible mascot (which will make you shed a tear or two if you try to uninstall the program).

However, there’s also a ferocious beast hiding underneath all the fluff. According to our tests, it’s actually one of the best VPNs for Netflix and streaming in general. We managed to unblock the Netflix US library, as well as a few other platforms like DAZN and Youtube.

When it comes to locations, TunnelBear VPN offers 1,800 servers in 26 countries. Even though this number is lower than what other VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark can offer, the server fleet of TunnelBear is growing – we may witness a much wider coverage in the future.

As for the applications, TunnelBear offers native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can also get browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. However, Linux users only get limited support.

Key factors we used selecting VPNs:

When making this list of the best VPNs for Netflix, the biggest factor was the app’s ability to unblock the famous streaming site. However, there were a few other things that we took into consideration:

• Speed. It’s no secret that poor download speeds can totally ruin your Netflix marathon, causing lags and downgrading video quality. For this reason, we picked only those VPNs that don’t mess with your speed too much. We prioritized the services that offer fast tunneling protocols like WireGuard, Lightway, and NordLynx.
• Features for streaming. Most of the VPN services for Netflix we listed have features like Smart DNS (that helps you watch Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs) or dedicated IPs (which can help you unblock content when regular IPs become useless).
• Country selection. Even though most users want to access the US or the UK libraries of Netflix, it’s not fair to forget all the other countries that also have a good selection of movies and shows. For this reason, we selected the VPNs that have a wide choice of servers.
• Apps and supported devices. As Netflix is also available as an application for Android and iOS phones, we picked only those VPNs that flawlessly work on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Customer support. When trying to access Netflix from another country, you might run into some technical problems. For this reason, we picked the VPNs with good customer support options.
• Price. All of the VPN services on this list offer a great feature-to-price ratio, especially if you consider their long-term subscription.

How to use a VPN for Netflix?

If you feel that Netflix geo-blocking is unfair, you’re not alone. Millions of people use VPNs every single day to unblock movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Netflix restrictions become especially frustrating when you realize that your country’s library lacks a season or two of your favorite show, leaving you on a cliffhanger.

If you’re in a similar situation, don’t get discouraged – once you do some research and choose a suitable VPN, unblocking this streaming site becomes a piece of cake. Here are the steps you need to take after purchasing the subscription of a VPN:

1. Install the VPN of your choice (make sure you download it from its official site)
2. Choose the country whose Netflix library you want to unblock (the US, the UK, Canada, etc.) and connect to the server
3. Open your browser and go to Netflix (or open your Netflix application on your phone or tablet)
4. That’s it. Pick a movie and have a great time!

If, by any chance, Netflix doesn’t show the content you need (or worse – displays an error message), there may still be some hope left. You might still make the VPN work by tweaking a few things here and there, like disabling IPv6 connections. In any case, you can always contact the customer support of your VPN and get the advice and instructions you need.

See our tips for more VPN use cases here.

Is it illegal to use a VPN for Netflix?

First and foremost, you have to know that using a VPN for Netflix is completely legal. You won’t get fined or anything like that – Netflix won’t even ban your account, so there’s no reason to get too nervous when you see the proxy error message that scolds you for using a website unblocker.

However, unblocking Netflix is against their Terms of Service:

You may view the 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.

With that said, it is not a criminal activity comparable to torrenting or otherwise pirating licensed content, and Netflix isn’t known to enforce this clause. You can say that it falls into a grey area, leaving the decision solely to your own conscience.

On the other hand, keep in mind that in some countries the general use of VPNs is downright illegal. You should be especially careful if you’re currently visiting or reside in China, Russia, Iran, or the UAE.

Why is Netflix not working with a VPN?

To prevent people from using a VPN to unblock the US and other libraries, Netflix came up with methods that render many VPNs completely useless. Unfortunately, more and more VPN services struggle to keep up with the restrictions of this streaming giant.

So, using the wrong VPN will result in the Netflix error M7111-5059, which states:

You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.

But how does Netflix know you’re using a VPN service? Here are the two main ways of detecting VPN usage:

• Blacklisting popular VPN services. Netflix finds lists of IP ranges belonging to certain VPNs and blocks them. This means that you and many other users who fall into the same IP range won’t be able to access Netflix (at least with some servers). In this way, you may get blocked even if you try connecting through a server of your own country. To make things worse, some VPNs have their IP ranges publicly listed.
• Blocking IP addresses. A website can see how many visitors share the same IP address. And when it detects that the same IP is shared by, say, 1,000 people, this raises suspicion. In this case, Netflix simply blocks the IP address and calls it a day.

Sometimes, you can solve this problem by buying a dedicated IP address from the VPN. If it’s not used by many people, Netflix might not yet recognize it, allowing you to access the content you want.

VPNs that don’t work with Netflix

Unfortunately, there are many VPN services that are currently blocked by Netflix. These include some top services, such as:

• Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN. Despite its huge server fleet, PIA VPN didn’t manage to unblock the US or the UK content of Netflix. However, some user reports suggest that you might have some luck with some of the more obscure servers.
• Mullvad VPN. Right now, this VPN only allows you to watch geo-blocked content on Youtube. It doesn’t allow you to access Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or DAZN.
• TorGuard VPN. TorGuard isn’t the best VPN for Netflix because it can’t unblock this streaming site. However, you won’t get any proxy error – it will still let you watch the content available in your country.

Keep in mind that the situation with VPN services and Netflix is constantly changing. If a VPN can’t unblock this streaming site today, it doesn’t mean that it won’t work tomorrow.

Netflix blocked my VPN. What should I do?

If you’ve already bought a yearly subscription to a VPN and it suddenly stopped working with Netflix (while it’s already past the money-back guarantee period), don’t take it very hard. Try a bunch of different servers in the same country (as there might be an IP address left that isn’t yet blocked) or simply wait and try again later – you may be in luck this time.

Also, do some research. Ask customer support to point out which servers unblock certain Netflix libraries. Or maybe your VPN has launched specialized streaming servers that you can use for an extra buck or so. Some services even offer a feature called Stealth servers (or obfuscated servers), which disguises VPN traffic as regular traffic, which may do the trick.

In addition, you can try buying a static IP address that belongs only to you or a select group of people – small enough not to be suspected as an IP that belongs to a VPN service. Keep in mind that your static IP will be bound to a single country and that it doesn’t guarantee access to geo-blocked Netflix content.

Finally, you shouldn’t forget that shows and movies are usually available in multiple countries. For example, I accidentally stumbled upon all the seasons of My Hero Academia on Indian Netflix (while my VPN couldn’t unblock the Japanese library, which is the first to spring to mind when it comes to anime).

Why does Netflix block most VPNs?

Each country has its own Netflix library, but that (usually) doesn’t have much to do with censorship. It simply has to do with geographic licensing restrictions.

You see, Netflix has to buy licences for movies and shows to be distributed in different countries. If the company thinks that a certain piece of content won’t be popular in your country, it simply won’t buy the necessary licence. For example, right now, Parks and Recreation is available only for the viewers from the US and Canada.

Ideally, such geo-restrictions shouldn’t exist, but it’s not a perfect world we live in. So, to avoid trouble with its content providers, Netflix puts a lot of effort into trying to prevent VPN traffic.

Does Netflix work with free VPN?

If you’re already paying for your Netflix subscription, spending extra for a VPN service seems preposterous. Unfortunately, in most cases this is the only way to unblock the libraries, because free VPNs rarely do their job well.

On the other hand, trying a free VPN for Netflix won’t hurt – especially as there are a couple of free services that are occasionally able to unblock certain Netflix libraries – according to our tests and user experience.

Windscribe is a good example of a best VPN for Netflix, as its free version might still unblock content for the US audiences. On the other hand, the paid subscription of Windscribe should work with more Netflix libraries.

With all that said, stay away from the fully free (not freemium) VPNs – these have a tendency to do awful things to your privacy or security (or both).

Bottom line

All in all, getting a VPN for Netflix is totally worth it. That’s because it’s one of the only methods to access movies and shows legally, letting you stay away from such illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted content.

Of course, it would be much more convenient if Netflix made all their content available internationally. But, for the time being, we have to rely on services like NordVPN and ExpressVPN to make our lives a little bit more interesting.

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Best VPNs for Fire Stick TV: unblock favorite shows & movies

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