Is Windscribe a Good Choice for Netflix?
Simply put, Windscribe Pro is one of the best VPNs there is for streaming Netflix. It consistently unblocks the Netflix libraries of at least 42 countries, which is more than any other VPN we’ve tested. It delivers fast and reliable connection speeds and works well on a range of devices.
Costing just $4.08 per month, Windscribe Pro is an excellent choice for Netflix and it won’t break the bank.
Windscribe’s free service is also the only totally free VPN that works with Netflix. It lets you access 10 of the biggest Netflix regions, including the coveted US catalog – meaning you can stream US exclusives such as Parks and Recreation in HD quality and minimal buffering.
Windscribe Free does come with a restrictive 10GB data cap, but it’s frankly the best VPN you’re going to find that is completely free.
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
|
|
Windscribe isn’t just good for streaming, either. Both the free and paid VPN use industry-leading AES-256 encryption and support our favored VPN protocol, OpenVPN – so you can be sure your data is safe from leaks and from the prying eyes of ISPs, governments, and hackers.
In order to be considered among the very best VPNs around, we’d like to see Windscribe improve its customer service and undergo an independent audit of its logging policy; like competitors ExpressVPN and NordVPN. That said, Windscribe is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to streaming and we wholeheartedly recommend using it.
We’ll now take a more in-depth look at the features that make Windscribe Pro both good and bad for Netflix. Skip to the next section if you’d rather read in detail about Windscribe Free. Or check out these workarounds if you’re encountering problems while streaming with Windscribe.
Unblocks More Netflix Libraries Than Any Other VPN
We put together a list of what we consider to be the most desirable Netflix libraries around the world, and Windscribe Pro unlocked nearly all of them. The only failure was Ireland.
Our tests showed that you can use Windscribe to easily and reliably stream Netflix videos exclusive to 42 countries, including:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- India
- Israel
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Russia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Thailand
- UK
- US
It’s rare that a VPN works to unblock so many international Netflix libraries. Many VPNs work with American and British Netflix, but it is less common to see support for South Korea, Thailand, and India.
Even more impressively, Windscribe Pro is the only VPN we’ve tested that is capable of changing your Netflix region to Mexican, Russian, and South African.
EXPERT TIP: Visit uNogs.com to see where your desired movie or TV show is available. With access to 42 Netflix regions, chances are you’ll be able to use Windscribe to watch it.
Very Fast Local Speeds But Slower on International Connections
Windscribe Pro is certainly fast enough for buffer-free streaming with high-quality video, but its international connection speeds are currently lagging behind competitors.
For reference, Netflix recommends a bandwidth of:
- 3Mbps for SD quality
- 5Mbps for HD quality
- 25Mbps for Ultra HD quality
In our latest same-country speed tests, Windscribe performed extraordinarily well. All VPNs will cause some form of speed loss, but with Windscribe we recorded a speed loss of just 5% on UK-to-UK connections. This meant speeds of around 95Mbps from our 100Mbps office connection.
International speeds tend to be more important when it comes to streaming Netflix, though. Here’s how Windscribe performs on a number of longer-distance connections:
Country | Avg. Download Speed | Avg. Speed Loss |
---|---|---|
Germany | 85Mbps | 15% |
USA | 68Mbps | 32% |
Australia | 9Mbps | 91% |
Singapore | 4Mbps | 96% |
From our location in London, we can stream in HD or Ultra HD quality when connecting to servers in Europe or North America. Loading times and video quality are likely to be worse for Asian and Oceanic content, though.
There’s no limit to the number of simultaneous devices you can connect using Windscribe, so it’s a good option for families with multiple devices. Just be aware that the more devices you connect, the greater the strain on your internet connection.
Reliably Unblocks Other Streaming Services
Windscribe works well with other streaming services, too. We tested the most popular ones, and here’s how the VPN performed:
-
Amazon Prime Video: Windscribe lets you successfully stream US Amazon Prime Video content.
-
BBC iPlayer: Based on our most recent tests, the VPN app does not consistently unblock BBC iPlayer. However, Windscribe’s free browser extension proxy does currently work with Netflix. Check out our dedicated guide to learn more about the difference between a VPN and a proxy.
-
Disney+: Windscribe has recently started working with Disney+, after a period of inaction. It’s still a bit unstable though so if Disney+ is a streaming priority for you, you should consider using Surfshark.
-
Hulu: You can use Windscribe to reliably stream Hulu.
-
YouTube: Windscribe unblocks geographically restricted videos on YouTube, no problem.
Easily Stream Netflix On a Range of Devices
You can use Windscribe to stream Netflix on your computer, smartphone, or TV. The VPN offers easy-to-use, custom apps for all major devices and platforms, including Windows, MacOS, iPhone, and Android.
Windscribe also has native apps for Amazon Fire TV Stick and Nvidia Shield. Although they’re less user-friendly than the more mainstream apps, they aren’t difficult to set up and can be used to watch Netflix on your TV. The service is compatible with Android TV and Kodi, too.
If you’re using a games console such as a PS4 or Xbox One, things are trickier. VPN apps don’t work on those platforms, but there are some workarounds:
-
Install the VPN on your router: You can protect your entire home network’s web traffic by installing Windscribe straight onto your router. It works, but it’s not easy to set up. See our installation instructions for guidance, and download the Windscribe software here to get started. Windscribe router software is available for Tomato and DD-WRT routers. The easiest option is to buy a router already preconfigured with Windscribe.
-
Use Smart DNS: Smart DNS re-routes your traffic through a DNS server that spoofs your country of origin. It hides your true location, but does not change your IP address or encrypt your traffic. Unfortunately, Windscribe doesn’t support Smart DNS. You could try ExpressVPN instead, which enables you to stream Netflix without using a VPN app.