Is Surfshark Good for Netflix?
Surfshark is an extremely good VPN for streaming Netflix.
In order to fully review Surfshark, we put the VPN service through our comprehensive VPN testing process.
In our latest streaming tests, Surfshark consistently unblocked 10 Netflix regions with quick speeds and minimal buffering.
The VPN service is great for streaming on a range of devices, too. This includes an impressive Firestick app to easily watch region-restricted movies on your TV.
Surfshark’s Fire TV Stick app unblocked Netflix in our tests.
In the section below, we take a detailed look at what makes Surfshark a very good option for Netflix.
Alternatively, skip to our section on how to watch Netflix with Surfshark, or try our workarounds if you’re still seeing the Netflix proxy error.
Surfshark Streams 10 Netflix Libraries
Surfshark unblocks Netflix in 10 regions, including:
- Australia
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
- United States
Being able to access the US Netflix library is a huge advantage if you don’t live in the US, since it has the biggest content catalog.
Other VPN services can stream more Netflix regions (e.g. Windscribe (32) or PrivateVPN (14), but the fact Surfshark works with the US, UK, and Indian libraries should be enough for most users.
In addition, Surfshark unblocks other content platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Sky, and HBO Max.
The VPN’s UK servers also work with BBC iPlayer, one of the hardest streaming services to unblock. This makes Surfshark one of the top-rated VPNs for the UK.
Watch US Netflix from Anywhere
Not only can you access American Netflix via Surfshark’s US VPN servers, the VPN also lets you stream US movies and TV shows from any server location that isn’t streaming-enabled.
Simply connect to a country that isn’t listed above and you’ll be able to stream US content.
We love this feature because it allows users who don’t live near to the US to enjoy American Netflix content without sacrificing internet speed. You get the speed benefit of a local VPN connection, while accessing the most desirable Netflix region.
Fast Enough Speeds for Buffer-Free Streaming
When you change IP address by connecting to a VPN server, your internet traffic has to make a longer round trip. This means a VPN connection will almost always be slower than connecting directly.
If your service’s speed isn’t fast enough, you’ll be restricted to low-quality video with a lot of buffering.
Netflix recommends the following minimum speeds:
- >3Mbps for standard-definition (480p) content
- >5Mbps for high-definition (1080p) content
- >25Mbps for ultra-high-definition (2160p / 4K) content
Thankfully, Surfshark offers strong speeds on both local and international connections.
The VPN service isn’t the quickest VPN we’ve tested, but it’s fast enough to stream Netflix videos in high-quality and with no interruptions.
Our speed tests showed just a 10% drop in download speeds connecting to a nearby server using the WireGuard protocol. We measured speeds of 90Mbps – more than enough to stream Netflix in 4K.
Surfshark’s speeds are also good on international connections, which is crucial if you want to unblock movies and TV shows in far away countries.
We recorded an average download speed loss of 44% and an average download speed of 56Mbps when connecting to US servers from the UK.
The VPN also performs reasonably well on other global connections:
| Country | Avg. Download Speed | Avg. Speed Loss |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 47Mbps | 53% |
| Canada | 42Mbps | 58% |
| Germany | 76Mbps | 24% |
The above speeds were recorded using our 100Mbps fibre broadband.
Surfshark’s large server network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries helps it to maintain good connection speeds by reducing server congestion and improving the distance between you and your local VPN server.
Elite-Level Encryption & Security
Surfshark protects your data with the safest encryption technologies on the market. It uses the military-grade AES-256 cipher to secure your traffic and lets you choose between a selection of great VPN protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard.
In addition, the VPN comes with effective IP, DNS, and WebRTC leak blocking tools, as well as a VPN kill switch that cuts your internet connection if the VPN ever stops working for a moment. Clearly, these tools are working well as we found no evidence of data leaks when we put Surfshark to the test.
Not only will Surfshark’s security suite keep you private and safe online, it’ll also help you beat Netflix’s geo-blockers. The obfuscation technology used by Surfshark makes VPN traffic look the same as regular HTTPS traffic, which makes it much harder for Netflix to identify you as a VPN user.
Obfuscation is applied automatically whenever you connect to a Surfshark server through the OpenVPN protocol. However, if necessary, you can change the connection protocol in the app’s Settings menu.
Simply open up Settings, select Advanced, and then choose your preferred protocol.
Compatible With a Wide Range of Devices
Surfshark lets you stream Netflix on all major desktop and mobile operating systems including macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
You can also use its Chrome or Firefox extensions if you prefer streaming video content in a browser.
Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs for streaming on your TV. Its dedicated Fire TV Stick app is very easy-to-use and well-optimized for bigger screens.
Simply download the app from the Fire TV app store and use the VPN to change your geographic region on a number of streaming platforms, including Hulu, HBO and YouTube.
Smart DNS and Trust DNS
Unlike many rival VPNs, you can easily use Surfshark on Apple TV, PS4 and other devices that don’t support native VPN applications.
To do this, Surfshark uses a SmartDNS (or Trust DNS) feature that works by rerouting your DNS requests, rather than hiding your IP address.
Smart DNS won’t encrypt your traffic in the way a full VPN does, so be careful when using it. But, it’s a great tool for spoofing your location and unblocking Netflix on Smart TVs and games consoles.
You can find full instructions for using Smart DNS on the Surfshark website.
Budget-friendly VPN With a 7-day Free Trial
Surfshark is very affordably and currently our favorite cheap VPN.
The VPN costs as little as $1.99 a month, if you’re willing to pay for two years up front. That’s considerably cheaper than our top-rated VPN, ExpressVPN, which costs $6.67 a month.
Moreover, if you want to try before you buy, Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial.
There’s also a 30-day refund period, meaning you can essentially stream with Surfshark entirely risk-free for up to five weeks.
