Does Mullvad Work with Netflix US?

We tested each of Mullvad’s 25 US server locations and found that only servers in Charlotte and San Jose currently work with Netflix. This is a significantly worse performance than we have seen in previous tests and appears to indicate that unblocking Netflix is not a priority for Mullvad.

Other major VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN, openly and actively support Netflix users by providing resources on their websites explaining how best to access the service.

By contrast, Mullvad makes no mention of Netflix or any other streaming service on its website. Nor does it offer any streaming-optimized servers, like CyberGhost and PrivateVPN do.

Simply put, we don’t recommend using Mullvad for streaming.

For the time being, the VPN unblocks US Netflix in two of its server locations. But it seems as though it’s only a matter of time before Netflix manages to block these servers too.

Given that streaming does not appear to be a priority for Mullvad, we can’t recommend it as a reliable VPN for Netflix.

This section will take a more detailed look at using Mullvad for Netflix. Alternatively, you can check out some more reliable alternatives VPNs or read our full Mullvad review.

How Big Is Mullvad’s Server Network?

Generally, Netflix blocks VPN users from accessing its service by identifying and blacklisting IP addresses that belong to VPN servers. It’s therefore important for VPN providers to have large server networks – with thousands of different IP addresses – in order to reliably unblock Netflix.

Unfortunately, Mullvad operates a fairly small server network. It offers just 775 servers, spread across 35 countries. By contrast, our top recommended Netflix VPN, ExpressVPN, has 3,000+ servers in over 90 countries.

Mullvad’s small network makes it much easier for Netflix to detect and block each and every one of its servers, making it an unreliable service for streaming Netflix.

Does Mullvad Work with Other Streaming Services?

Mullvad generally doesn’t work with other streaming services, either:

• Hulu: Mullvad is unable to bypass Hulu’s VPN restrictions.
• BBC iPlayer: BBC iPlayer is blocked when connecting through UK-based servers.
• Disney+: Mullvad does not work with Disney+.
• HBO Go: This was the only streaming service that Mullvad could unblock.

In short, Mullvad is simply not a good choice for streaming. It doesn’t work reliably with Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer.

Is Mullvad Fast Enough for Streaming?

Mullvad is one of the fastest VPNs around. If the service ever does start working reliably with Netflix, you can expect consistently quick speeds, full HD streaming, and minimal buffering.

In our most recent tests, we recorded an average speed loss of just 6%, with download speeds dropping from 91Mbps to 86Mbps on local, UK-to-UK connections.

International connections tend to be more important when it comes to streaming. Here, Mullvad still performs very respectably:

Country	Avg. Download Speed	Avg. Speed Loss
Germany	83Mbps	9%
USA	44Mbps	52%
Singapore	38Mbps	58%
Australia	38Mbps	58%

Our download speeds dropped about 52% when connecting to the US to unblock the American Netflix library. This sounds like a lot, but it is still more than fast enough for high-quality streaming.

What Other Important Features Does Mullvad Offer?

While Mullvad isn’t a good choice for Netflix users, it’s an excellent VPN in many other respects. It’s great for torrenting safely and is one of the most private and secure VPNs we’ve ever tested.

Mullvad has an impressive no-logging policy that has been independently verified through a third-party audit. It also doesn’t require any personal information when you sign up, which is a great feature for privacy-conscious users.

The VPN comes with all the essential privacy and security controls, including AES-256 encryption, DNS and IPV6 leak blocking, and an automatic VPN kill switch. Users can also choose between two popular VPN protocols: OpenVPN and WireGuard.

Finally, Mullvad offers apps for all major desktop operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and MacOS. It has a mobile app for iOS, but is absent from Android.

When you try accessing Netflix while connected to Mullvad VPN, you’re likely to encounter the Netflix proxy error m7111-5059. This usually means the streaming site has blacklisted your VPN server’s IP address.

Here are a few workarounds you can try to help bypass this error:

1. Connect to a Different Server

   The Netflix VPN ban works by blocking IP addresses known to belong to VPN providers. You can therefore try disconnecting from your current VPN server and connecting to a new one, in the hope that you find a server whose IP address has not been blacklisted by Netflix.

   With Mullvad, you’re limited to just two server locations for unblocking US Netflix: Charlotte and San Jose.

   Reconnect to a different server in these cities by clicking on the Switch location button, scrolling down to the US servers list, and connecting to one of the two locations.

2. Try an Alternative Netflix Library

   If you want to watch a specific TV show or movie that isn’t available in your region, you might be able to locate it in a different streaming library.

   Unogs.com is a regularly updated database which displays what’s available in which regions. Try connecting to a server in a country which contains your desired show or movie in its library.

   EXPERT TIP: Netflix Originals, such as Selling Sunset and The Queen’s Gambit, are available in all locations. You don’t need to have your VPN on to access them.

3. Switch to a Different VPN Service

   Ultimately, the most likely reason why you’re seeing the m7111-5059 error code is because Mullvad doesn’t work well with Netflix.

   Your best option is to choose a different VPN service that is known to reliably and consistently unblock Netflix. We’ll introduce some working alternatives in the next section.

Here are the three best VPN services for unblocking Netflix libraries around the world, and how they compare with Mullvad VPN:

VPN Provider	No. of Netflix Libraries	Server Network Size	Cheapest Monthly Price	Avg. Speed Loss (UK-US)
ExpressVPN	19	3000+	$6.67	20%
Mullvad	1*	775	$5.80	52%
NordVPN	9	5000+	$3.71	21%
Windscribe Pro	42	Undisclosed	$4.08	32%

^{*Mullvad currently only unblocks US Netflix with its San Jose and Charlotte servers.}

1ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN service for 2020. It offers some of the fastest speeds around and has an impressive suite of security and privacy features. It’s also compatible with every type of device, including game consoles and smart TVs.

Although it is more expensive than Mullvad and requires a 15-month commitment to enjoy the lowest price, it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Most importantly, ExpressVPN consistently unblocks 19 Netflix libraries around the world, including those in the US, the UK, Germany, and Japan.

2Windscribe

Windscribe unblocks 42 Netflix libraries – far more than any other VPN we’ve tested – and offers native apps for the Amazon Fire TV stick and smart TVs, so you can easily stream Ultra HD Netflix on your TV.

Windscribe also has a free tier, which is the only truly free VPN service that works with Netflix – although it should be noted that Windscribe Free’s 10GB data cap will only let you stream about four hours of TV shows and movies each month.

Read our dedicated guide to using Windscribe for Netflix here.

3NordVPN

Although it only unblocks nine Netflix libraries, including those in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, NordVPN offers a reliable streaming service on desktop and mobile devices.

With NordVPN, we’ve seen some of the fastest speeds around. It averages an amazing 74Mbps download speed when connecting from the UK to servers on the eastern coast of the US. This is an average speed loss of just 21%, making NordVPN an excellent VPN for buffer-free Netflix streaming.