The Best VPNs for Netflix

Accessing a different country’s Netflix library is easy on a computer. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region you want, then open Netflix in your browser.

Unblocking international Netflix content on mobile devices is also simple. However, I picked up on some unique pain points that differ from streaming on a computer.

For instance, the Netflix mobile app can override your VPN’s DNS settings, forcing the app to use its own DNS servers.

This allows Netflix to detect VPN traffic on mobile more effectively, making some VPNs useless for mobile streaming.

Netflix is actually one of the easier platforms to unblock on a streaming device. Unlike most other streaming services, you don’t need to change your app store region.

Since the Netflix app is the same in every country, you can use the version already installed on your device. Alternatively, you can simply download it from the device’s app store while signed into your regular account.

Roku, Chromecast, and game consoles like PS5 and Xbox don’t support VPN apps. Additionally, content-sharing solutions, like Casting, only work with Netflix if both devices are connected to the same VPN server.

That said, you still have three options for unblocking Netflix on these devices: a pre-flashed VPN router, installing a VPN on your existing router, or setting up a mobile hotspot on a Windows PC.

The hotspot is often the quickest and easiest option as it’s likely you already have the required hardware.

The most effective way of solving Netflix VPN problems is to use a VPN that unblocks many Netflix regions.

This is because most VPNs won’t ever work with Netflix, no matter what workarounds you attempt. The majority lack the necessary technology, prioritize other software features, or don’t have the resources to unblock Netflix.

My recent tests confirm that using ExpressVPN with Netflix is still the most reliable way to beat the latest Netflix VPN ban.

The service works consistently with US Netflix and 17 other libraries.

If you want a 100% free VPN that unblocks Netflix, PrivadoVPN’s free service is currently the best. It works with Netflix USA and UK, but it’s limited to just 10GB of free data each month.

If you can’t access Netflix using a VPN, it means that Netflix has identified and banned that server’s IP address.

Connecting to another server in the same country gets you a new IP address, and there’s a chance Netflix hasn’t blocked it yet.

Alternatively, skip the guesswork and use the table below. I’ve listed servers from my top picks that I’ve personally verified with the most popular Netflix libraries.

Just connect to one of these servers to stream the specified Netflix region:

VPN Service	Working VPN Servers
ExpressVPN	Canada: Canada – Toronto India: India (via Singapore) Japan: Japan – Tokyo UK: UK – Docklands US: New Jersey - 1
Windscribe	Canada: Toronto – Mansbridge India: Mumbai – Mahim Japan: Tokyo – Kaiju UK: London – Crumpets US: New Jersey – Situation
NordVPN	Canada: Canada #1614 Japan: Tokyo, Japan #881 UK: United Kingdom #2290 US: United States #6779

Once connected, refresh your browser on desktop or relaunch your app on mobile.

Many websites collect temporary location data through cookies and cache files.

Netflix can use this information to identify your true location, even when you’re connected to a VPN server in a different country.

Clearing these files will force Netflix to show the library of the server you’re connected to.

If your internet connection has both an IPv4 and an IPv6 address, Netflix uses the IPv6 one to decide which library to show you.

That’s a problem because many VPNs still don’t support IPv6. If your IPv6 address leaks outside the VPN tunnel, Netflix will see your real location and show your local library.

For example, Betternet leaked my IPv6 address in testing. This meant that I could only stream TV shows and movies from my local US Netflix library.

For peace of mind, I recommend blocking IPv6 on your device, rather than relying on your VPN’s built-in settings.

You can check for IPv6 leaks using the VPN leak test tool.

Some VPNs include a Smart DNS proxy, which changes your Netflix region without connecting you to a VPN server.

Since the August 2021 Netflix VPN ban, my tests have found that Smart DNS is much more reliable for unblocking Netflix than full VPN services, albeit in fewer regions.

Weighed against this consistency come several drawbacks: Smart DNS proxies only tend to cover 1-4 countries, they won’t encrypt your traffic, and they don’t offer any security features.

With this in mind, I don’t usually recommend Smart DNS, but there’s no harm using it if you only want to stream one specific Netflix library and privacy isn’t a concern. It’s also a great option for devices that won’t run VPN software, like game consoles.

NordVPN has a Smart DNS tool, but it only covers the US, and its access to US Netflix is intermittent at best. For those reasons, I’ve left it off my list.

Smart DNS setup differs by provider, so refer to your VPN’s support page for instructions.

This is Netflix’s current VPN detection error code and the one you’re most likely to see. It means your VPN IP address has already been added to Netflix’s blocklist.

First, confirm you aren’t on an ad-supported plan, as VPNs aren’t supported on those. If you are, either upgrade to an ad-free subscription or switch to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, as both work across all Netflix plans.

If you’re already on ad-free plan, switch to a different VPN server and reload the page. This can take multiple attempts.

Netflix displays the error code: m7111-1331-5059 when it detects a VPN connection on desktop. This is the older VPN/proxy detection code, but you may still come across it from time to time.

The easiest way to fix the “pardon the interruption” error is to clear your browser cookies and cache files. Then, restart your browser and reopen Netflix.

You’ll see this error code on your iOS device when Netflix detects you are using a VPN to stream a region-locked video.

To fix this, connect to a working VPN server from those I’ve listed above. As well, use uNoGS to ensure the content is available in the country that you’re connected to.

This error code is triggered when there is a general problem with your network.

If you can access Netflix when disconnected from your VPN, this means there’s a problem with the VPN connection.

To fix this, contact your VPN service’s customer support team. They will let you know if there’s an issue with their server network, or if you’ve configured the VPN incorrectly.

Same as above, you will see the NW-2-5 error code when there is a problem with your network. It doesn’t necessarily mean your VPN has been detected.

To resolve this, contact your VPN provider’s customer support. They can identify problems with your VPN setup, or let you know if the VPN is having connection issues.

If Netflix detects you’re using a VPN, it will only display Netflix originals. As Netflix owns the global distribution rights for these titles, there’s no need for it to geo-lock them.

This also applies to licensed content that Netflix has since purchased the global rights for. For example, you can also stream Seinfeld and Monty Python even if Netflix knows you’re using a VPN.

To get around this, change your VPN service. If you’re still having issues, connect to one of the servers that I’ve verified work with Netflix.

If Netflix has blocked the IP address of your VPN server, it’ll sometimes stop you from signing in. You will be shown an Incorrect Password error, even when your details are correct.

This error is more common on low-rated VPN services, like Hola VPN and Betternet.

Therefore, the best way to fix this is to upgrade your VPN. If this doesn’t work, try deleting cookies and cache from your browser.

IPVanish unblocks 17 Netflix libraries, which is level with NordVPN and beaten only by ExpressVPN and Windscribe.

The margins are very thin here, but IPVanish lacks a Smart DNS proxy or dedicated router app, making it far harder to unblock Netflix on Smart TVs and game consoles.

My experience wasn’t as seamless as it was with my shortlisted VPNs, either. The desktop apps feel too cluttered at times, and I was occasionally blocked from a library when the VPN quietly defaulted to OpenVPN.

Still, if ExpressVPN is out of your budget and neither NordVPN nor Windscribe appeals to you, IPVanish remains a solid alternative for streaming Netflix.

Despite claiming to work with every Netflix region to “view all of the content that Netflix has to offer,” my research found that Surfshark in reality only works with 10 Netflix libraries.

This is 8 and 7 fewer than ExpressVPN and NordVPN respectively. Moreover, unlike these VPNs, it can’t access the popular Netflix libraries of Australia or Japan.

Even with massive streaming improvements and access to 10 Netflix regions, Proton VPN still sits in the tier just below my top picks.

I also noticed some slight buffering and dropped frames when streaming Netflix, particularly on the Australian, British, and Canadian libraries.

Mullvad doesn’t work with any Netflix region. I tried all of the VPN’s apps, but Netflix blocked every VPN server.

Private Internet Access (PIA) once provided access to 10 Netflix libraries but has seen its total drop to 4. Most notably, it no longer works with US or UK Netflix.

This, in combination with PIA’s poor streaming device compatibility, means there are now far better Netflix VPNs available.

Hide.me has improved more than any other VPN with Netflix over the last year of my testing. The VPN has almost doubled the number of accessible Netflix libraries from 6 to 11. It’s also one of only a few VPNs that provides an app for Apple TV.

Despite these improvements, the VPN still falls short of my top recommendations for Netflix. It unblocks 66% fewer libraries than Windscribe and 39% fewer than ExpressVPN. It also still can’t access Netflix in Australia or India, so content choices are limited.

It’s also one of the only top VPNs without a Smart DNS feature, so you’ll have to set up a mobile hotspot or install it on a router for accessing Netflix on a Smart TV or game console.

Here’s a comprehensive list of VPNs that didn’t work with any Netflix library in my tests:

• AirVPN
• Avira VPN (Free & Paid)
• Betternet (Free)
• Bitdefender VPN
• Free VPN by FreeVPN.org
• Hide.me (Free)
• Hola VPN
• Kaspersky VPN (Free & Paid)
• McAfee VPN
• Mozilla VPN
• Mullvad
• Proton VPN (Free)
• Psiphon Proxy
• Psiphon VPN
• SkyVPN
• Snap VPN
• SuperVPN (Free)
• Thunder VPN
• TorGuard
• Touch VPN
• TunnelBear (Free)
• Turbo VPN
• VPN 360
• VPN Proxy Master
• VPNBook
• X-VPN (Free)
• ZoogVPN (Free & Paid)

The more Netflix regions a VPN can access, the higher your chances of being able to access the content you want to watch.

According to my research, the most sought-after Netflix content catalogs, outside the United States, are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, and the UK. As such, VPNs that unblock these regions earn a higher rating compared to those that access less popular regions.

How I Test

To test a VPN’s performance in this category, I manually connect to VPN servers in the target country. The key part of my test is streaming specific titles that are unique to that particular region.

Rating System

• Desirable Libraries (maximum 7 points): VPNs earn 1 point for every primary library (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, UK) they can access.
• Additional Libraries (maximum 3 points): Access to any of the other international Netflix libraries I tested grants the VPN an additional 0.1 points.

As the United States is the most popular Netflix region in the world, it’s essential for a top-tier Netflix VPN to access it reliably.

How I Test

I manually connect to a VPN’s US servers and attempt to stream titles exclusive to the American Netflix library. If it streams successfully on all/most servers, it passes the evaluation.

I regularly repeat these tests, allowing me to track every VPN’s performance over time. If a VPN can’t access US Netflix for two consecutive test runs, I adjust its rating.

Rating System

• 0.0: Can’t access US Netflix on any server.
• 0 – 9.9: Varying reliability with US Netflix.
• 10: Works reliably with US Netflix.

Streaming is a data-intensive activity, so your VPN needs to provide fast download speeds to avoid buffering. As you’ll be using a VPN to access Netflix regions from around the world, the VPN’s long-distance speed performance is a key factor.

How I Test

I conduct speed tests using my team’s proprietary speed test tool. I perform 12 individual speed tests across nine locations: the West and East Coasts of the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Africa, and the UK.

The final speed rating for each VPN is derived by calculating the average of these 12 test results, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of its performance.

Rating System

• Download Speed: 80%
• Upload Speed: 10%
• Latency: 10%

A VPN that maintains an average speed loss below 5% scores maximum points, with ratings dropping for slower speeds.

My speed scale starts at 0.1, indicating significant Netflix streaming interruptions, and maxes out at 10, reflecting a seamless streaming experience.

To stream geo-blocked content across all of your devices, a VPN needs to be compatible with all of them, including more challenging platforms like Roku and game consoles.

How I Test

I test a VPN’s software for all the devices typically used for streaming Netflix, including Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV. I also evaluate the effectiveness of any Smart DNS proxy and router configuration for devices like game consoles and Roku.

Rating System

• Fire TV app: 2 points
• Android TV app: 1.75 points
• Apple TV app: 1.5 points
• GPS Spoofing: 0.25 points
• Smart DNS (works with one country): 2 points
• Smart DNS (works with 1+ country): 2.5 points
• Router app: 2 points
• Pre-flashed router available: 1.5 points