There are few things more annoying than having to miss out on great content because of Netflix’s geo-restrictions. These restrictions target users from certain countries for a range of reasons. Either because the content is not licensed to play in that jurisdiction, elements of the show may be banned by some countries governments, or simply Netflix is not available in the country. So in this article we are going to be introducing our recommendations for best VPN’s for Netflix in 2023
Sure, there are valid commercial and legal reasons why such geo-restrictions are put in place. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit back twiddling your thumbs until Netflix does away with that bummer of a policy.
Netflix identifies and locates users using their IP address, the unique address used to identify individual internet-connected machines. This means that even if you lie in your contact details and say you’re an American citizen when you try to watch US Netflix, you will be locked out.
How to Watch American Netflix With A VPN
As a US-based service, Netflix often airs the best shows and premiers exclusively to their American customers. For those in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, this can be highly frustrating. As a result, many are left wondering, how can I watch American Netflix?
The easiest way to get around this problem is to use one of the best VPNs available on your smartphone or computer, so Netflix thinks you’re someplace else. More specifically, someplace where geo-restrictions don’t apply to the content you are looking to enjoy.
You don’t have to worry about any adverse consequences of using a VPN client. Your Netflix account will continue working just as usual, and you won’t be charged an additional fee.
The only issue you are likely to face is that there are, in fact, a plethora of VPNs out there, making it somewhat difficult for even the experienced user to zero in on one. That’s why we have tested a few of the most popular ones available today to help you narrow down your choices.
5 Top VPNs For Netflix That Still Work
Although we’re going to show you a collection of the very best VPN services for watching American Netflix, regardless of what VPN you ultimately use there are a few key aspects that you must not compromise on while choosing a VPN from all the available options. These are:
- Download speeds
- Privacy and security features
- Compatibility and speed with Torrent clients
- Compatibility with Netflix and other popular streaming services
- Logging/tracking policy
- Ease of use and customer support
- Cost
Also you should note that most of the really good VPN services have loads of servers in nearly every major Geo. Thus if you wanted to watch Netflix italy, or Netflix Japan etc, you could do so. For a really comprehensive list, see our best vpn guide.
A quick note on cost – many VPN services will draw you in with massive savings if you sign up for an extended period. These savings can be very attractive, although most if not all will require you to pay a lump sum for the entire period upfront. If you’re just testing which VPN you like best, it might be best to try it out for just one month.
Another quick note on cost – Something free in VPN world usually means that it is going to be very slow, intrusive to your privacy and it could contain malware. So if you see a VPN that is being offered for free and allows you to access Netflix, be very weary. The downsides always outweigh the positives.
Likewise, as you’re going to be using a streaming service, speed is an incredibly important factor. Remember, you’re not going to be using a VPN server hosted in your home country; instead, you need to look at the speeds you can get using a server located in the USA!
Based on our personal experience of toying around with several popular VPN services, we’ve have found the following five to be a great option on all seven of these fronts.
1# NordVPN
The first thing you should take note of about NordVPN is that it is based in Panama. This country is unarguably one of the most privacy-friendly territories you will find across the world. Add to that the fact that NordVPN currently operates more than 5,200 servers across 60 countries worldwide.
I personally use Nordvpn myself and I have had no issues using in on Netflix or for torrenting, streaming etc. It even works well with gaming.
For added protection, Nord deploys a “double encryption” mechanism that ensures the utmost safety of your personal data.
And just in case that’s not enough for you, the software comes equipped with a “kill switch” which restricts all incoming and outgoing traffic in cases when VPN connectivity is interrupted. Therefore, preventing any unprotected access to the internet. Basically, it is the designated part of the software that continuously monitors the connection status for any change in the IP address.
Rigorous testing of the app has returned absolutely no traces of leaks or identifiable data such as IP, DNS, or WebRTC. Buying NordVPN’s 3-years subscription package will cost you nearly $3 a month, which is a pretty good deal for the quality you get.
Another great feature of NordVPN is that you can use it to protect all devices in your house with just 1 subscription by installing it on your router.
We really recommend NordVPN, not just for Netflix, but for anything you want to do. It is consistently rated as our best VPN in almost every category including gaming, iphone, torrenting and much more. It really cannot be beat for functionality and price point.
2# CyberGhost
With more than 3,700 servers across 60 countries, CyberGhost is one of the fastest growing VPN networks around today. It is based out of Romania and has a very stringent “no logging” policy in place.
This also means that you can use Torrent and P2P sharing services to your heart’s content without fearing any backlash.
CyberGhost is affordable, and you can buy a 3-year subscription for around $2.75 a month. It works seamlessly with Netflix, giving you access to different localized versions, including Netflix US. It is compatible with most major protocols, including OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec.
Like NordVPN, CyberGhost also offers a “kill switch” that prevents your data from being compromised should there be any interruption in VPN connectivity.
3# ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN brings a near-perfect blend of speed and ease-of-use. Even a user with no prior experience with VPNs can get used to it in a matter of minutes. Paid members can choose any of the available 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries.
Supported protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPSec, among others. All connections come with AES-256 encryption standards, making it handy for use across a wide spectrum of devices.
ExpressVPN offers three months of free premium service if you buy the 1-year subscription plan. At roughly $6.66, it costs more than some of the other VPNs on this list. However, the higher price is more or less compensated by the excellent service and customer support. This can come in really handy if you spend the bulk of your screen-time on Netflix. Torrenting is allowed.
4# Surfshark
One of the most affordable and reliable VPN services you’ll find, Surfshark has fewer servers compared to the other services on this list — just over 800.
Sure, the speed is sometimes not as high as that of NordVPN or CyberGhost, but it is unlikely to affect you much unless you are into streaming Netflix content in the highest available quality.
Surfshark offers AES-256-GCM encryption over OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec protocols, and it assures users of a strictly maintained “no logging” policy. If you are willing to pay for a 2-year subscription, the odds are high there is some kind of offer that brings the monthly cost down to as low as $1.99.
Oh, and did I mention that Surfshark also includes add ons such as Multihop & Ad-blocker without costing a penny extra?
5# IPVanish
With more than 1,200 servers spread across 60 countries, IPVanish has a larger server-network compared to Surfshark. It supports Android, iOS, Fire TV, macOS, Windows, and DD-WRT routers, offering up to 10 simultaneous connections.
With AES-256 encryption at its core, IPVanish supports all commonly used protocols. While IPVanish tends to be slightly on the costlier side compared to NordVPN or CyberGhost, it periodically offers hefty discounts. For example, there is a “Buy 1 Year, Get 1 Year Free” offer going on as of press time that costs just $3.99 a month.
Torrenting is allowed, just as with the other VPNs on this list. The only drawback is that IPVanish doesn’t offer live customer support.
