Top 5 Free VPNs for Netflix in 2020

1. Windscribe

The only 100% free VPN that works with Netflix in 2020.

PROS	CONS
Unblocks 10 Netflix libraries Uses industry-leading AES-256 and OpenVPN encryption Allows unlimited simultaneous connections Fast enough speeds for good-quality streaming Compatible with all major devices Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video	10GB data cap No human live chat functionality Dangerous jurisdiction (Canada) Doesn’t unblock Disney+

If you want a free VPN for Netflix, Windscribe Free is the best option. It is extremely secure, unblocks movies and TV shows in 10 countries including the US, and is fast enough for high-quality, buffer-free streaming.

In fact, of the 70 VPNs our experts regularly test, Windscribe Free is the only completely free VPN service that reliably works with Netflix.

This is a recent development which came after Windscribe announced that all of its servers were now optimized for streaming. Previously, only specialty ‘Windflix’ servers could be used to watch Netflix, and these servers were only available to customers of the paid service.

However, since the update, users can now access Netflix libraries in any of Windscribe Free’s ten server locations. These include:

• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Romania
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Most importantly, Windscribe Free works with American Netflix, which is by far the largest content library. This is extremely impressive for a free VPN, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely to see if Windscribe can stay ahead of the Netflix blockers.

While Windscribe isn’t the fastest VPN we’ve seen, its long-distance speeds are reasonably good. We recorded an average download speed of 68Mbps when connecting from the UK to a server in the US. This is a percentage speed loss of around 32% compared to our baseline 100.

For reference, Netflix’s official guidelines state that:

• >3Mbps is required for SD quality
• >5Mbps is required for HD quality
• >25Mbps is required for Ultra HD quality

We were able to stream in HD comfortably and even enjoyed Ultra HD quality for a lot of the time.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
United Kingdom	95Mbps	5%
Germany	85Mbps	15%
USA	68Mbps	32%
Singapore	4Mbps	96%
Australia	9Mbps	91%

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

If you encounter any issues, you can live chat with Garry the chatbot or email the Windscribe customer support team. They tend to take about a day to reply, which is something we’d like to see improved.

Windscribe is one of the most secure free VPN services we’ve tested. It uses the OpenVPN connection protocol with military-grade encryption cipher AES-256. The app comes with a built-in VPN kill switch and uses perfect forward secrecy to secure your data. This makes Windscribe Free even more secure than some popular subscription-based services.

There is one major downside to using Windscribe Free for Netflix. The VPN imposes a 10GB monthly data limit on free-tier users, which equates to around four hours of HD Netflix streaming a month.

Though it is 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 a lot.

If you want to watch more than a few hours of Netflix a month, you’ll need to use a premium VPN or take advantage of a free trial. While the rest of the VPNs recommended on this list are not 100% free, they can be used without payment for a specified period of time and they work great with Netflix.

Read our full Windscribe VPN review here.

2. ExpressVPN

The best overall VPN for Netflix; can be used for 30 days risk-free.

PROS	CONS
Unblocks 19 Netflix libraries The fastest VPN on international connections 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+ and Amazon Prime Video	Not 100% free No VPN kill switch on iOS Have to register payment information to use for free

ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN for Netflix according to our most recent tests. It is extremely secure and works to unblock American Netflix along with 18 other content libraries around the world.

Though it’s normally one of the more expensive VPN services, ExpressVPN offers a full refund to customers within the first 30 days of purchase – no questions asked. This 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 to us that under no circumstances would a refund be denied within the 30-day period. Just make sure to claim your refund before the month is up, otherwise you’ll have to pay for the service.

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested and its international connection speeds are exceptional. We saw an average speed loss of just 20% on long-distance connections to the US, so streaming Netflix in HD is no problem.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
United Kingdom	85Mbps	11%
Germany	79Mbps	17%
USA	77Mbps	20%
Singapore	73Mbps	24%
Australia	59Mbps	38%

With ExpressVPN, you’ll gain unrestricted access to Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan and much more. The service is extremely easy to use and is great for streaming on a wide range of devices and platforms, including smart TVs and games consoles.

Unlike with Windscribe, you’ll only be able to connect a maximum of 5 devices to ExpressVPN at any one time. This is commonplace among VPN providers and should be more than enough for watching Netflix.

To learn more about ExpressVPN, read our complete review.

3. CyberGhost

A beginner-friendly Netflix VPN with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

PROS	CONS
Unblocks US and UK Netflix 45-day money-back guarantee 7-day free trial on mobile Huge server network with over 6500 servers in 89 countries Very user-friendly apps available on all major devices Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video	Not 100% free Only unlocks 4 Netflix libraries Slow international connection speeds

CyberGhost is a great VPN for beginners. It works well with Netflix in 4 countries: the US, UK, France, and Germany. It comes with specialty servers that are optimized for streaming and is compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS.

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. Its native Fire TV Stick app is also particularly impressive, allowing users to seamlessly stream American Netflix on their TV.

What sets CyberGhost apart from the crowd is its generous 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.

CyberGhost offers 6,500+ servers in 89 countries, which makes it one of the largest server networks around. It delivers excellent local speeds, but can be slow and inconsistent on longer-distance connections.

We saw a worrying 81% loss in speed when connecting to US servers from the UK. While you shouldn’t have any problems accessing American Netflix, the video quality might not be as good as you’d like.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
United Kingdom	83Mbps	10%
Germany	87Mbps	7%
USA	17Mbps	81%
Singapore	28Mbps	70%
Australia	11Mbps	88%

CyberGhost also offers a 7-day free trial. This differs from the money-back guarantee in that users don’t have to pay anything up-front – you can use the VPN without having to register any payment information and you don’t have to remember to claim a refund at the end.

It should be noted that CyberGhost’s 7-day free trial is only available on mobile devices. Desktop users have the option of a 1-day free trial, but this does not permit use of the specialized streaming servers.

Want to know more? Read our CyberGhost review.

4. Surfshark

Reliably unblocks US Netflix with a 7-day free trial.

PROS	CONS
Unblocks 15 Netflix libraries 7-day free trial 30-day money-back guarantee Supports US Netflix access from any unsupported location Allows unlimited simultaneous connections Impressive Fire TV Stick and Apple TV apps Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video	Not 100% free Have to register payment information to use for free

Surfshark is a popular subscription-based VPN service that comes with a 7-day free trial so you can try it out risk-free.

The Surfshark free trial can be used across all devices – although it has to be initiated on either Android, iOS, or Mac. To activate the trial, you need to enter payment details, however nothing will be charged to your account until after the 7 days have passed. Just be sure to deselect the ‘auto renewal’ feature in order to enjoy this great Netflix VPN for free.

Surfshark works with Netflix in 15 major locations including the US, the UK, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, and Japan. It also includes a feature that automatically connects users to American Netflix when trying to stream from an unsupported location.

This is a great feature that lets you access the largest Netflix content catalog from anywhere in the world without enduring huge speed losses. Simply connect to a nearby server that isn’t Netflix-supported, and you’ll be able to watch US movies and TV shows with local connection speeds. It also works well with Netflix on Fire TV Stick and Apple TV, where its apps are intuitive and easy-to-use.

Surfshark isn’t the fastest VPN we’ve tested, but its long-distance speeds are certainly good enough for reliable, high-quality streaming. Our tests showed an average speed drop of 45% when connecting to Surfshark’s US servers from the UK. Here is a summary of the speeds we saw around the world and the speed loss as a percentage of our baseline 100Mbps connection.

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
United Kingdom	86Mbps	14%
Germany	76Mbps	24%
USA	55Mbps	45%
Canada	42Mbps	58%
Australia	47Mbps	53%

With Surfshark, we were able to stream Netflix in Ultra HD quality no matter which country we connected to. Read more about our tests in this complete guide to Surfshark and Netflix.

To top it all off, Surfshark also offers a 30-day risk-free refund. Enjoy a month of Netflix streaming and then claim a full refund, no questions asked.

To learn more, check out our complete Surfshark review.

5. NordVPN

An excellent VPN for Netflix with a generous 30-day refund period.

PROS	CONS
Unblocks 9 Netflix libraries 30-day money-back guarantee Supports US Netflix access from any unsupported location Exceptional connection speeds Independently verified no-logs policy Works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video	Not 100% free Have to register payment information to use for free Doesn’t work with Netflix on Apple TV & has limited access on Fire TV Stick

NordVPN is widely-recognized as one of the best VPNs available. It is fast, uses super secure AES-256 encryption, and takes user privacy very seriously. The service is used by over 12 million users, making NordVPN one of the world’s most popular VPNs.

To use NordVPN with Netflix for free, you can take advantage of its generous 30-day refund period. For a whole month, you can experience the VPN’s industry-leading connection speeds while streaming your favorite Netflix shows. Then, at the end of the 30-day period, just contact the NordVPN customer support team and request a full refund.

NordVPN successfully unblocks nine content libraries including the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and Brazil. It also has a similar feature to Surfshark in which users are automatically redirected to American Netflix when connected to an unsupported server location.

This is especially useful given NordVPN’s impressive local connection speeds. Our experts found just a 2% drop in speed when connecting to nearby servers in the UK. You can expect similar performance levels for your same-country connections. This means, if you live in an unsupported Netflix location, you can access American Netflix with only marginal drops in speed.

Here is a quick summary of our NordVPN speed tests:

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
United Kingdom	92Mbps	2%
Germany	83Mbps	12%
USA	74Mbps	21%
Singapore	63Mbps	33%
Australia	56Mbps	40%

NordVPN is one of the few VPNs to be verified as truly no-logs. This is particularly important given the company’s server breach in 2018, where a hacker successfully broke into a NordVPN server in Finland.

While we were disappointed with the VPN company’s response at the time, we have been very pleased with the measures they have taken since. We now believe they are one of the safest and most secure VPN services around.

One thing to note is that, unlike competitors, NordVPN does not work well with Netflix on streaming devices and games consoles. The VPN cannot be used for streaming on Apple TV and is limited to just the American, British and Candian Netflix catalogs on Fire TV Stick.

For desktop and mobile users, however, NordVPN remains one of the best VPNs for Netflix and you can use it risk-free for an entire month. To learn more, check out our dedicated guide to NordVPN and Netflix.

Or read more about NordVPN in our comprehensive review.

Here is a table comparing the five best free VPNs for Netflix:

VPN Provider	Type of Free Access	Unblock US Netflix?	No. Of Netflix Libraries	Avg. International Speed Loss (US)
Windscribe	100% free VPN	Yes	10	32%
ExpressVPN	30-day refund	Yes	19	20%
CyberGhost	45-day refund	Yes	4	81%
Surfshark	7-day free trial	Yes	15	45%
NordVPN	30-day refund	Yes	9	21%

Honorable Mentions

Occasionally other free VPN services will manage to slip through the blocks imposed by Netflix. However, this is almost always temporary. As it stands, Windscribe Free is the only truly free VPN that consistently works with Netflix.

With that said, in our latest round of testing, we did find that TunnelBear’s Japanese servers are successfully unblocking Netflix. Given that TunnelBear fails to access Netflix libraries anywhere else in the world, we suspect that this is a freak occurrence. However, for the time being, it is possible to access Japanese Netflix with TunnelBear Free.

Another service worth mentioning is the HideMyAss browser extension. It is only available in Chrome and Firefox browsers, but is effective at unblocking US Netflix and, crucially, permits unlimited data usage.

The HideMyAss browser extension is a great way to stream US Netflix for free after exhausting your Windscribe Free data limit. However, it should be noted that the browser extension is a proxy, not a VPN. It’ll mask your IP address, but it won’t protect your privacy or security online.

To learn more about the difference between VPNs and proxies, check out our dedicated Proxy vs VPN guide.

For unrestricted streaming, check out our list of the best VPNs for Netflix.

To judge what makes a good free VPN for Netflix, we consider the following criteria:

• Price: the VPN should be completely free. If not, then it must offer some form of free access; either a free trial or a money-back guarantee.

• Netflix Streaming: the VPN needs to reliably and consistently unblock Netflix. A good Netflix VPN will beat the site’s geo-blockers in a range of locations, with American Netflix being the largest and most important library to unlock. We also look out for streaming-optimized servers, as well as the ability to access other streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video.

• Speed: slow speeds cause poor-quality video and long loading times, so a VPN needs to deliver strong long-distance connection speeds to be good for streaming. We regularly run both manual and automated speed tests to assess how much speed is lost when connected to a particular server. We also consider how reliable and stable the VPN connection is.

• Security: a VPN is only as secure as the encryption it uses to protect your data. A good VPN will offer a range of connection protocols including OpenVPN and AES-256 encryption – the most secure cipher on the market. We also test for IP address, DNS, and WebRTC leaks along with advanced security features like split tunneling and obfuscation.

• Privacy: A good VPN should operate a strict no-logs policy and be based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. We also consider features of transparency, such as clarity over the company’s ownership structure and independent audits of its privacy policy and internal processes.

• Customer Support: a good Netflix VPN will provide its users with accessible and helpful customer support services. A 24/7 live chat feature operated by real experts is particularly important.

VPNs are not safe by default. Many free VPNs put users at greater risk than using no VPN at all.

Since it costs money to own and operate a VPN service, it’s important to consider how a free VPN provider manages to sustain itself without charging a subscription fee. Often, the answer is that they monetize their users and deliver 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 data – now the world’s most valuable resource.

   A good VPN service will operate a strict no-logging policy, in which user data is deleted immediately or never recorded 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 that 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 found that a worrying 21% of them tested positive for potential malware or viruses. This included Ultrasurf (beta) and VPN Proxy Master, both of which have been downloaded over 5 million times.

3. Leaking Sensitive Information.

   A defining feature of a VPN is its encryption tunnel. Yet, CSIRO found 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. We found that of the top 150 free VPN apps on Google Play, 25% were leaking user-identifying data 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, and these findings emphasise the need to be extra careful when using a free VPN service.

In addition to putting your privacy and security at risk, free VPN providers also rarely have the money or motivation to ensure their product is the best it can be. Here are some ways in which user experience can be affected by a free VPN:

1. Won’t Work with Netflix and Other Streaming Sites.

   One of the most common reasons for getting a VPN is to access streaming & entertainment content from abroad. This involves unblocking sites like Netflix, HBO and BBC iPlayer.

   Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of free VPNs do not work with these streaming sites. We have seen that Windscribe is the only 100% free VPN service that works 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 also been found to throttle connections by purposefully reducing the speeds that users experience. This might be done to maintain network stability or to frustrate users into purchasing a paid product.

Simply put, the vast majority of 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 emphasises the need to do your research before downloading a VPN, especially when using a free service.

For a list of safe free VPNs, read our recommendations for 2020.

What is the Best Free VPN for Netflix?

The best free VPN for Netflix is Windscribe Free. It unblocks 10 libraries worldwide including American Netflix, and has good enough speeds for high-quality streaming with minimal buffering.

The major downside to using Windscribe’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 show can and cannot be aired.

With a VPN, you can bypass this restriction and access the entire Netflix content catalog. You are no longer limited to the only videos available in your geographic location. By hiding your IP address with a VPN, you can stream Netflix content from anywhere in the world.

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 find a VPN that successfully avoids the site’s geo-blockers 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.

However, it is possible to watch Netflix for free by taking advantage of their free trial offer. Netflix offers customers in certain locations the opportunity to use their service free of charge for the first month. You can learn more about this offer here.

Are Free VPNs Safe?

The overwhelming majority of free VPNs are not safe to use. In order to cover costs and make a profit, many free VPNs will track, store, share, and sell customer data.

Here at Top10VPN.com, we’ve conducted a number of investigations into free VPN products and our findings have often been worrying. We have found that:

• 64% of the most popular free VPNs have suspicious links to China
• 18% contain potential viruses or malware
• 86% have unacceptable privacy policies
• 25% of the top Android apps leak user data

Thankfully, our experts have found a handful of free VPNs that are safe to trust with your personal information. We found that, not only is Windscribe Free great for Netflix, but it is also one of the safest free VPNs around.

How Do I Get a Free VPN for Netflix?

To get a free VPN for Netflix:

1. Go to the Windscribe website and click “Download Windscribe”.
2. Select your chosen device or browser and follow the steps to complete the installation process.
3. Create an account. (HINT: include your email address to get the full 10GB allowance, otherwise you will only receive 2GB)
4. Open the Windscribe 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.