The Best Free VPNs for Netflix

1. PrivadoVPN Free: Best Free VPN for US Netflix

Pros	Cons
Unblocks US Netflix & UK Netflix	Video load times are slow on mobile
Easy-to-use apps on mobile, desktop & streaming devices	10GB monthly data cap
Fast download speeds of HD streaming	No browser extensions
Strong encryption & private logging policy

We’ve fully tested and reviewed 25 free VPNs. Based on our results, PrivadoVPN Free is easily the best free VPN for Netflix.

PrivadoVPN Free works with Netflix in the US and the UK, which are two of the most popular Netflix libraries. We used the VPN to stream popular geo-blocked TV shows, like The Great British Baking Show in the US and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in the UK.

PrivadoVPN Streams US Netflix on Desktop & Mobile

In our most-recent streaming tests, we discovered that PrivadoVPN is the one of the only two free VPNs capable of accessing US Netflix.

The second VPN, Atlas VPN, was inferior overall, failing to unblock any other Netflix region.

In the video below, you can see us using PrivadoVPN on our Windows laptop to stream 30 Rock, which is exclusive to Netflix US.

However, we noticed that PrivadoVPN’s performance on mobile platforms was subpar. Both iOS and Android tests showed longer load times (over 60 seconds) and reduced video quality compared to desktop streaming.

If you plan on using a VPN to watch Netflix on mobile, Windscribe is a better option.

Compatible with Many Streaming Devices

PrivadoVPN has apps for most popular streaming devices, including Fire TV and Android TV.

We found it straightforward to set up and switch between its Netflix-compatible UK and US servers.

Initially, PrivadoVPN had issues with Netflix streaming on TV devices due to bugs in its Fire TV and Android TV apps. However, we’re pleased that the company has addressed these issues, reflecting its responsiveness to user feedback

That said, PrivadoVPN doesn’t have any Smart DNS functionality. You won’t be able to use a proxy to unblock Netflix on devices that don’t allow VPN apps, like Smart TVs and games consoles.

10GB Monthly Data Cap

Like Windscribe, PrivadoVPN imposes a 10GB monthly data cap for free users. This limit translates to roughly 5 episodes of a geo-blocked TV show each month.

A notable difference from Windscribe is that PrivadoVPN requires manual account login every 30 days to refresh the data allowance, which we found to be a frustrating requirement.

2. Windscribe Free: Best Free VPN for International Netflix

Pros	Cons
Unblocks various Netflix libraries	10GB data cap
Uses AES-256 and OpenVPN encryption	Doesn’t work with US Netflix
Allows unlimited simultaneous connections	Mediocre customer support
Fast speeds for quality streaming	Privacy-unfriendly jurisdiction (Canada)
Compatible with major devices
Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video

This top-rated free VPN is a good alternative to PrivadoVPN if you don’t need access to US Netflix or already located in the country.

Windscribe Free unblocks 4 more Netflix regions than PrivadoVPN, including France and Germany, and is fast enough for high-quality, buffer-free streaming.

Unblocks 6 Different Netflix Regions

Windscribe offers both a free and paid version of its VPN service.

Until recently, the free VPN couldn’t unblock Netflix. Streaming was only possible on the VPN’s ‘Windflix’ servers, which were reserved for paying customers.

Importantly, in our Windscribe tests, the free software failed to unblock American Netflix, one of the biggest content libraries.

This is a big disappointment. Until recently, it was the most reliable free VPN for US Netflix.

Fast Enough Speeds For Streaming

While Windscribe isn’t the fastest VPN we’ve tested, its long-distance speeds are excellent.

We recorded an average download speed of 87Mbps connecting from the US to a server in the UK. This represents a speed loss of roughly 13% compared to our baseline 100Mbps.

In comparison, ExpressVPN only slowed down our internet connection speed by 7%.

We were able to stream in HD with Windscribe, and even enjoyed Ultra HD quality at times.

The issue is that this high picture quality isn’t consistent, and every now again our video stream became blurry.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
US	90Mbps	10%
UK	87Mbps	13%
Germany	80Mbps	20%

Windscribe’s apps are ad-free and very user-friendly. It takes seconds to connect to a VPN server location and start streaming.

However, Windscribe’s live support needs improving. If you encounter issues, you can only live chat with a chatbot, or email the support team, which takes roughly a day to reply.

Restrictive 10GB Data Cap

There is one major downside to using Windscribe Free with Netflix. The VPN imposes a 10GB monthly data limit on free-tier users.

For context, 10GB allowance equates to roughly four hours of HD Netflix streaming a month.

Though it’s common for free VPNs to enforce data caps – and Windscribe Free’s 10GB offering is among the highest we’ve seen – four hours of streaming a month isn’t much.

For the best streaming experience, you need to use a premium VPN. These unblock multiple Netflix regions, deliver the fastest speeds, and work on almost any device.

While they’re not 100% free, like PrivadoVPN or Windscribe, you can use a premium VPN for free for a given period of time. This is ideal to watch Netflix on vacation, or binge-watch a TV series.

The two best VPN free trials for unblocking Netflix are:

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN Free Trial for Netflix

Pros	Cons
Unblocks various Netflix libraries	Not 100% free
Very fast international connections	Requires registration of payment information for free use
30-day money-back guarantee
Works with Netflix on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick
Independently verified no-logs policy
Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video

ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN for Netflix based on our most recent tests.

The VPN service is extremely fast and lets you access an impressive 18 Netflix regions worldwide.

As well as unblocking content-rich catalogs like Netflix USA and Netflix UK, ExpressVPN also works with the highly-regarded Japanese library.

PrivadoVPN and Windscribe don’t offer free VPN servers in Japan, so ExpressVPN is currently one of the best VPNs for watching Japanese Netflix.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Offer

Though it’s one of the more expensive VPN services, ExpressVPN offers a full refund to customers within the first 30 days of purchase – no questions asked.

The 30-day refund guarantee means you can use the very best Netflix VPN for an entire month completely free of charge.

We spoke to a customer support agent who confirmed that under no circumstances would they deny a refund within the 30-day period. Just make sure to cancel your subscription in time, otherwise you’ll have to pay for the service.

You can find out exactly how to do this in our ExpressVPN free trial guide.

Very Fast VPN for International Connections

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested and its international connection speeds are exceptional.

We recorded an average speed loss of just 7% on long-distance connections from the US to the UK. Streaming Netflix in HD is no problem.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
US	97Mbps	3%
UK	93Mbps	7%
Germany	87Mbps	13%
Japan	83Mbps	17%
Australia	83Mbps	17%

The apps are simple to use and it’s a great VPN for streaming on a wide range of devices and platforms, including smart TVs and games consoles.

Unlike Windscribe, ExpressVPN only allows a maximum of 8 connections at any one time. This is commonplace among VPN services and should be more than enough for watching Netflix.

2. CyberGhost: Longest VPN Free Trial for Netflix

Pros	Cons
Unblocks various Netflix libraries, including the US	Not completely free
45-day money-back guarantee	Slow international speeds compared to competitors
7-day free trial on mobile
24-hour free trial on Windows & Mac
User-friendly apps available on all major devices
Works with Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video

CyberGhost is a very good Netflix VPN and can be used for 24 hours without payment details. Our tests confirm its ability to access key Netflix regions such as the US, Japan, and India.

The service differs from ExpressVPN and Windscribe Free, in that CyberGhost uses specific streaming-optimized servers. These are available on a wide range of devices and platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Excellent For Streaming Netflix on Your TV

CyberGhost’s Smart DNS technology means it’s currently the only VPN service that unblocks both Netflix US and UK on games consoles and smart TVs.

Like a VPN tunnel, Smart DNS lets you hide you IP address and spoof your location. However, it won’t encrypt your traffic like a VPN does, so we don’t recommend using it for any sensitive online activity.

CyberGhost also has a very good Fire TV Stick app, which allows you to seamlessly stream American Netflix on your TV.

Generous Free Trial & 45-Day Risk-Free Refund

What sets CyberGhost apart from the crowd is its 24-hour free trial on Windows and Mac, which can be used without payment details. No other top premium VPN for Netflix allows you to use it without an upfront payment.

It also has an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee. Users are entitled to a full, risk-free refund at any point within the first 45 days.

Simply sign up to the VPN, enjoy unrestricted streaming and then claim your money back before the time period expires.

Disappointing Slow Long-Distance Speeds

CyberGhost is a quick VPN for short-distance connections, but unblocking Netflix tends to rely on longer-distance, international connections.

Here, CyberGhost is not as fast as we’d like it to be. We recorded a worrying 17% loss in speed when connecting to UK servers from the US.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
US	94Mbps	6%
UK	83Mbps	17%
Germany	85Mbps	15%
Japan	81Mbps	19%
Australia	78Mbps	22%

You shouldn’t have any problems accessing Netflix USA with CyberGhost, but the video quality may not be as good as you’d like.

The video tutorial below shows you how easy it is to watch Netflix with a VPN:

Likewise, getting a free VPN or a VPN free trial to use with Netflix is simple.

Follow the steps below to use a VPN for free and unblock geo-restricted Netflix content.

Sadly, many free VPNs put users at greater risk than using no VPN at all.

It costs money to own and operate a VPN service, so how can a free VPN provider sustain itself without charging a subscription fee?

The answer is that free VPN services often monetize their users, while delivering a weakened service.

Here are some of the ways in which free VPNs can pose a risk to your security and safety:

1. Logging Your Online Activity and Personal Information. Free VPN providers have direct access to a huge supply of personal web data, now the world’s most valuable resource. A good VPN service operates a strict no-logging policy, deleting user data immediately or never recording it in the first place.

   However, many free VPNs exploit their position in order to collect, store, and sell valuable information about their customers.

   One study by CSIRO in 2016 found that 75% of the 283 free VPN products they tested contained at least one tracking library.

   These trackers allowed the companies to monitor and log information such as:

   • The users’ IP address.
   • The websites they visited.
   • The time they spent on these websites.
   • Sensitive information (e.g. bank details) that are shared on unprotected sites.

   Given one of the main reasons to use a VPN is to protect your privacy online, this is a clear violation of trust. Yet, for most free VPNs, it is common practice.

2. Infecting Your Device with Malware. A number of free VPNs knowingly endanger users by infecting their device with malware.Malware is a piece of code designed to hack into your accounts, steal your money, or lock you out of your accounts until a ransom is paid.

   We recently investigated 150 of the most popular free VPN apps in the Google Play Store and discovered that a worrying 21% tested positive for potential malware or viruses. This included Ultrasurf (beta) and VPN Proxy Master, both counting over 5 million installs.

3. Leaking Sensitive Information. A defining feature of a VPN is its encryption tunnel. Yet, CSIRO revealed that a staggering 18% of the free VPNs they tested had no encryption whatsoever, making them more like proxy servers than VPNs. Without encryption, a VPN cannot protect your privacy. Instead, it will reveal personal information like your IP address to your ISP, government, and any snooping third party.

   Even with encryption, VPNs can still leak sensitive information. Of the top 150 free VPN apps on Google Play, 25% leaked user-identifying data in our leak tests, despite all using some form of encryption.

   Most of the time these were DNS leaks, but there were also instances of WebRTC leaks and IP address leaks.

   Data leaks undermine the whole purpose of using a VPN for privacy. These findings emphasize the need to be extra careful when using a free VPN.

In addition to putting your privacy and security at risk, free VPN services rarely have the money or motivation to ensure their product is the best it can be.

Below are different ways free VPNs can affect user experience:

1. Won’t Work with Netflix and Other Streaming Platforms. A common reason for getting a VPN is to access streaming and entertainment web content from abroad. This involves unblocking platforms like Netflix, HBO and BBC iPlayer. Sadly, the vast majority of free VPNs do not work with streaming services. PrivadoVPN and Windscribe are the only 100% free VPNs that work with Netflix, and it is a similar story for other streaming services.

   Free VPNs tend not to be effective when it comes to streaming.

2. Data Usage Limits.Most free VPNs impose some form of data usage limit. This means that, for free VPNs that do unblock Netflix, there is only a certain amount of content you can stream before running out of data.The limit varies across providers. Windscribe Free users are allowed up to 10GB of data, which equates to around four hours of Netflix streaming. Whereas TunnelBear restricts users to just 500MB, which isn’t even enough for a single movie.
3. Slow Connection Speeds. Free VPNs are often known for having slow speeds and unstable connections. While paid VPN providers invest in large server networks in order to give customers a greater range of locations, free VPN services tend to offer relatively few servers.

   With fewer servers and locations, connections often have further to travel between device and server. The servers themselves are also far more crowded, leading to slower speeds and occasional drops in connection.

   Free VPNs have sometimes also throttle connections to reduce VPN speeds. They do this to maintain network stability or to frustrate users into upgrading to the paid version of the product.

Simply put, most free VPNs are not worth the risk. At best, they’re slow and unable to unblock Netflix. At worst, they steal your personal information and infect your device with malware.

This is not to say that all free VPNs are bad or unsafe – or that all premium VPNs are trustworthy. It just emphasizes the need to do your research before using a VPN, especially a free one.

What is the Best Free VPN for Netflix?

The best free VPN for Netflix is PrivadoVPN Free. It unblocks 2 libraries including American Netflix, and has good enough speeds for high-quality streaming with minimal buffering.

The major downside to using PrivadoVPN’s free-tier to watch Netflix is that users are restricted to 10GB of data a month. When streaming in HD quality, this equates to just 4 hours of Netflix viewing.

Why Is Netflix Better with a VPN?

Netflix restricts users to watching the movies and TV shows that are available in their geographic region. They do this to comply with licensing laws that govern where a particular title can and cannot be aired.

Using a VPN you can bypass these restrictions and access the entire Netflix content catalog.

You’re no longer limited to videos only available in your geographic location. By changing your IP address with a VPN, you can stream Netflix content from anywhere in the world.

Netflix also changes its pricing plans by region. This means you can use a VPN to get a cheaper Netflix subscription. For example, Netflix Ukraine is much cheaper than a US Subscription.

Unfortunately, not every VPN works with Netflix. The streaming service actively identifies and blacklists IP addresses that belong to VPN servers.

You therefore need to use a VPN that successfully avoids Netflix’s VPN blocks in order to enjoy a better Netflix experience.

Can I Watch Netflix for Free?

Using a VPN will not let you watch Netflix for free. A VPN helps users who already have a Netflix account unlock content that isn’t available in their geographic region.

How Do I Get a Free VPN for Netflix?

To get a free VPN for Netflix:

1. Go to the PrivadoVPN website and click “Download PrivadoVPN”.
2. Select your chosen device or browser and follow the steps to complete the installation process.
3. Create an account with your email address to get 10GB allowance.
4. Open the PrivadoVPN app and choose a server location that corresponds with the Netflix library you wish to unblock.
5. Once you’ve connected, navigate to Netflix. Your chosen content library should appear.