Best VPN for Netflix

After 34 years, the Studio Ghibli movies, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, are finally available on Netflix.

But there’s a catch — they aren’t available on Netflix in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.

How do you watch Studio Ghibli Movies on Netflix in the US? Just follow these instructions.

1. Use a VPN

   
   Using a VPN is the best way to access the Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix. No doubt about it.

   This is because Netflix effectively detects other circumvention tools, like web proxies, giving you the dreaded proxy error screen and blocking you from accessing geo-restricted content.

   This block is so effective, in fact, that even most VPNs don’t work with Netflix.

   All of our five recommendations do work to unblock Netflix, though, so make sure to only stick with these providers.

2. What Is the Best VPN Server Location to Unblock Studio Ghibli?

   The best countries to connect to watch Studio Ghibli movies on Netflix in the US and Canada are:

   1. Costa Rica
   2. Panama
   3. Colombia

   Screenshot from Browserleaks.com showing a Costa Rica IP address, despite connecting from London, UK.

   These are the closest countries to the US and Canada with Netflix libraries that have access to Studio Ghibli movies.

   The benefit of connecting to a nearby VPN server is that your internet speeds stay as fast as possible.

   This is essential to keep your Studio Ghibli movies buffer-free and in the highest possible definition — a good VPN on a good internet connection will be able to stream Studio Ghibli Netflix content in 4K UHD.

3. When Are the Studio Ghibli Movies Released on Netflix?

   Some of the most popular Studio Ghibli films are available now on Netflix. These include:

   • Castle in the Sky.
   • My Neighbor Totoro.
   • Kiki’s Delivery Service.
   • Porco Rosso.
   • Only Yesterday.

   But don’t worry — the rest of the Studio Ghibli catalog will be arriving on Netflix soon. The remaining movies are being released in two phases, with the first on 1 March 2020 and again on 1 April 2020.

   The remaining Miyazaki movies will be released on the following dates:

   1 March	1 April
   Spirited Away. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Princess Mononoke. My Neighbors the Yamadas. The Cat Returns. The Secret World of Arrietty. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.	Howl’s Moving Castle. Pom Poko. Whisper of the Heart. Ponyo. From Up on Poppy Hill. The Wind Rises. When Marnie Was There.

4. Can I Watch Studio Ghibli Movies in the US Without a VPN?

   If you have the patience and the budget, there is another way to get your hands on the Studio Ghibli films in the US.

   All 21 of the films will be available on the upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service, HBO Max. But, sadly for fans of Miyazaki, HBO Max is not launching until May 2020.

   This means you will have to wait months to get your hands on the movies, while the rest of the world enjoys full access.

   On top of this, HBO Max is going to cost a pricey $15 a month, making it the most expensive streaming service on the market.

   Alternatively, you can purchase the films today, but for $15 each. This means having to splash out $315 for the full catalog.

These are the most best ways to unblock Netflix using a VPN for the most popular devices for streaming:

1. For PC and Mac

   Download, install and launch the VPN, select your preferred server location (e.g. USA for American Netflix), and launch the Netflix website.

   If you get an error screen, try clearing your cookies and browsing history if you haven’t already, and open Netflix again.

   If you use Chromecast, or you have an Android TV, you can also cast your computer screen onto your TV screen.

2. For Smartphones

   Install one of the above VPN services on your smartphone. Connect to your preferred VPN server location, launch the Netflix site or app, and begin streaming.

   Again, if you have a Chromecast or an Android TV you can stream Netflix on your TV easily.

3. For Amazon Fire TV Stick

   If you use an Amazon Fire TV Stick or a Fire TV Cube to stream shows, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, or PrivateVPN will be your best choices to watch Netflix.

   The home page of ExpressVPN’s Amazon Firestick app

   All of these VPN services offer custom Firestick VPN apps and provide reliable access to Netflix, as well as a whole host of other popular streaming sites.

   Take a look at the best VPNs for Firestick if you’re planning on mainly using this device to watch Netflix.

4. For Games Consoles

   You have several options here, including setting the VPN up on your router, sharing your computer’s internet connection with your console, or using ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.

   To install a VPN on your home router, take a look at our VPN router setup guide.

   For best results, always look out for VPN servers optimized for streaming.

Don’t worry if you get a proxy error when accessing Netflix – simply try a different VPN server, or clear your web browser cookies and try again.

Alternatively, contact your VPN service and its support agents can tell you which VPN servers to use to watch Netflix.

Yes, you’ll need a VPN to stream all the geo-restricted content on Netflix.

You can certainly watch Netflix without a VPN, but you’ll be limited to the video content available in your country.

For example, if you live in Hong Kong you’re only getting 10% of the movies and TV shows available in the US library!

With a good VPN you can connect to a VPN server in almost any country in the world, bypassing geo-blocks and accessing video content that wouldn’t otherwise be available to you.

In January 2016, Netflix began blocking VPN, proxy and smart DNS services.

Why?

Because by then it was well known that Netflix subscribers were using VPN and proxy services to unblock geo-restricted video libraries.

As a result, Netflix gave in to pressure from large copyright holders, who profit from content geo-restrictions as these allow them to sell their content in different locations around the world.

No, it’s actually not illegal to watch Netflix with a VPN.

However, using a VPN to access Netflix content that isn’t usually available in your location is against its Terms of Service.

This means that Netflix will block your connection if it suspects you’re using a VPN or a proxy.

When you use a not-so-good (or a free) VPN to stream Netflix, it’s all too common to see the dreaded Netflix Proxy Error message.

If you’re using one of our five VPN recommendations, this is usually easily solved by clearing your browsing history and cookies, then relaunching Netflix. Alternatively, simply connect to a different VPN server location.

Most VPN services will be aware if their IP addresses are being blocked by Netflix, so often the best option is to simply ask their customer service for help. They’ll quickly tell you which servers are working for Netflix.

Netflix is able to block IP addresses it knows belong to a VPN or proxy service in order to prevent users from streaming geo-locked content.

How Netflix screens for IP addresses associated with VPNs or proxies is not entirely known, but there are a number of behaviours which will set these IPs apart from genuine ones, such as a large influx in the number of accounts attempting to stream from a single IP.

Once a single IP has been identified as associated with a VPN, Netflix can ban a whole block of IPs located at the same server or operated by the same company.

Only the VPN services we’ve recommended – along with a handful of others – are able to circumnavigate these blocks and allow you to stream Netflix without any issues.

The problem with free VPN services is that they very rarely work for Netflix due to limited server locations and stingy data caps. Some free VPNs are also so slow that you’d struggle to stream any content from Netflix, let alone in good quality.

We’re yet to find any safe free VPNs that work for Netflix, other than Avira Phantom VPN, which seems to work intermittently. It also comes with a stingy 1GB monthly data cap, though, making it a less than ideal for watching Netflix.

If you’d like to test out how well a VPN service works with Netflix before you sign up to a subscription, we recommend taking advantage of VPN free trials and money-back guarantees.

We’ve also published a handful of guides showing you how to get premium VPN services for free (for a limited amount of time), including:

• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• IPVanish

You can use Netflix in pretty much any country in the world, so no matter where you live or are planning on traveling to, you should be able to stream your favorite TV series and movies no problem.

There are a handful of exceptions, though. Netflix is currently unavailable in:

• China
• Crimea
• North Korea
• Syria

This is due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies. The best way to watch Netflix from any of these countries is to use a VPN that beats aggressive online censorship.

Watching Netflix on blocked WiFi is as easy as downloading a VPN that works with the service, connecting to a server, and watching it through that.

Don’t be put off if you see a Netflix proxy error when you first try to connect – clearing your cookies and cache should normally solve this problem.

If you’re still unable to access Netflix, simply select a different VPN server location until you find one that works. Alternatively, reach out to your VPN provider for the best advice.

Put simply, the majority of VPN services don’t provide reliable access to Netflix. These include:

• TunnelBear
• AirVPN
• TorGuard
• Trust.Zone
• Avira Phantom
• Perfect Privacy

This is by no means an exhaustive list, either. The five VPN services we recommend are by far the most reliable for streaming Netflix – others may work temporarily but are usually blocked within a week or two.

Avoid free VPN services altogether if you’re hoping to access Netflix, too. Bypassing the regularly-changing VPN blocks costs a lot of money, and just isn’t something you can expect from a free VPN.