Best VPN for Netflix

If you want reliable Netflix access at a cheaper monthly cost than ExpressVPN and are prepared to make some sacrifices, NordVPN could well be for you.

The good news is that NordVPN does the basics very well. It’s not as consistent as our top pick but it is very fast, faster even than ExpressVPN on some specific local connections in our speed tests (frequently around 194Mbps or more). It also gets one over its rival with reliable access to iPlayer.

The apps are slick but limited to only the most popular platforms, however you can protect up to a generous six devices at once. Manual VPN protocol selection is a minor downside but we do like its privacy features and strict zero-logs policy.

The customer support is good but can be slow. On a three-year subscription, it works out at incredible $2.99 per month, which for some will be absolutely worth the trade-offs.

Cyberghost is the smart budget pick for Netflix. It’s incredibly cheap but still manages to stack up well against its more premium rivals, on privacy as well as streaming.

Access to Netflix – and other streaming services – is rock solid thanks to dedicated streaming servers. Download speeds on local connections are typically over 187Mbps, which is easily enough for HD streaming even while performing other activities. Speed does drop off on international servers across what’s a fairly small network, but is still more than adequate.

A strict zero logs policy and first-party DNS servers make CyberGhost a top privacy pick, along with the automatic kill switch and other useful extras. The apps are mostly pretty user-friendly and a native app for the Amazon Fire TV Stick is a bonus, but there are nicer-designed alternatives out there. At $3.50 on an 18-month plan though, it’s amazing value and especially easy to overlook the shortcomings if all you care about is reliable Netflix access.

HideMyAss! boasts easy, reliable access to Netflix and a host of other popular streaming sites thanks to its optimized servers, Liberty Island in the US and Donkey Town in the UK. Excellent local download speeds of up to 306Mbps mean that you’ll be able to stream in buffer-free HD on multiple devices.

However, HideMyAss! falls down when it comes to privacy, with an intrusive logging policy that collects and stores connection details (including your IP address) for up to three months. This won’t affect those that just want to stream their favorite shows securely, but more privacy-conscious users may want to look at our other top picks.

HideMyAss! offers a range of user-friendly apps for all popular devices, but it isn’t the most configurable software out there. Nevertheless, it’s great for those who just want to connect and forget. Customer service is excellent with a genuinely 24/7 live chat feature and an extensive knowledge base. If you are looking for a reliable VPN for watching Netflix that also boasts a huge server network and incredibly fast performance, but aren’t too worried about top-level privacy, HideMyAss! is a great choice.

IPVanish is a standout pick for Kodi and torrenting so it’s included here for anyone who wants a VPN for P2P that also works with Netflix. Our recommendation does come with the caveat though that IPVanish lacks optimized streaming servers so access isn’t always guaranteed.

On the plus side though, it’s ultra fast on local connections even if less consistent internationally across a network that’s mid-sized for locations but super-sized for servers and IP addresses. This means no slowdown at peak Netflix-watching times.

The desktop apps could be more user-friendly but make up for it with powerful privacy features. The Amazon Fire TV Stick native app is a big plus although IPVanish does lack browser extensions or support for other streaming devices, while customer support is so-so.

IPVanish isn’t cheap but it only requires a 12-month commitment to slash the monthly price by 46% to a reasonable $6.49. If you are a heavy P2P user that also uses Netflix, IPVanish is for you.