Short on time? Here’s the best VPN for Netflix in 2023:
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ExpressVPN : Works with Netflix 100% of the time, can access 10+ Netflix libraries, and is also compatible with 100+ other streaming apps. It provides lightning-fast streaming speeds, very intuitive apps, and excellent security and privacy. It also has affordable plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Netflix’s terms and conditions say you can only watch content that’s available in the country where you registered your account, or within locations where Netflix offers its service. For example, if you travel to a country where Netflix has a content library, you’re allowed to watch Netflix titles from that country — but not titles from the country where you created your account.
If you travel abroad, a VPN can help you to access the Netflix content library from your home country. A VPN may allow you to watch content libraries from other locations too, but this might violate Netflix’s terms and conditions (but it’s not illegal). To prevent users from accessing libraries in other countries, Netflix has become really good at detecting and blocking VPNs.
So I wasn’t surprised that most of the VPNs I tested were unable to find a way around Netflix’s VPN blocks. And most of the VPNs that were able to access Netflix didn’t have fast enough speeds for uninterrupted streaming.
But the good news is that there are a handful of really good VPNs for Netflix. All of the VPNs that I picked for this list allow you to access Netflix, provide excellent speeds, and are reasonably priced.
Quick summary of the best VPNs for Netflix in 2023:
- 1.🥇
ExpressVPN — Best VPN for accessing Netflix in 2023. - 2.🥈
Private Internet Access — Excellent for streaming Netflix on mobile. - 3.🥉
CyberGhost VPN — Great for beginners (with dedicated Netflix servers). - 4.
NordVPN — Really good VPN for Netflix (with smart DNS tools). - 5.
Surfshark — Good server network for streaming Netflix. - Bonus.
Proton VPN — Great for optimizing Netflix speeds. - Comparison of the best VPNs for Netflix in 2023.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Netflix in 2023
It can access popular Netflix libraries in the US, UK, and Japan — I’m based in the US, and it always works for me, and my colleagues from the UK and Japan tested and confirmed to me that they were always able to access their home libraries while connected to an ExpressVPN server.
I also like the VPN’s MediaStreamer feature, which is a smart DNS tool that lets you access Netflix on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps — like certain smart TVs or gaming consoles. While MediaStreamer requires a manual setup, the provider has helpful tutorials, so the whole process shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes.
In addition to Netflix, ExpressVPN also works with 100+ other streaming services, which is amazing — it’s compatible with top sites like BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. In fact, this is the best VPN for streaming in 2023.
Plus, you get lightning-fast streaming speeds with ExpressVPN — in my speed tests, Netflix’s site always loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos loaded instantly and never buffered when I skipped through them. This is not really surprising, considering this is the fastest VPN on the market.
I also like that you get access to split-tunneling, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN connection and which apps use your local network — I used this feature to only route Netflix traffic through ExpressVPN, and that increased my streaming speeds by about 15%.
And this is one of the most intuitive VPNs on the market. It has apps for all major platforms (even routers), which are all simple to install and navigate. Plus, I love the Shortcuts feature, which lets you create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites that show up on your screen after you connect to a VPN server — I always use this feature to get instant access to Netflix after connecting to ExpressVPN.
Plus, ExpressVPN also provides excellent security and privacy — it has a strict no-logs policy that has been audited several times, and it comes with advanced security features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers that wipe all data on every reset, and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session. And it has Threat Manager, which blocks connections to malicious sites, so it can protect you from fake Netflix websites.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best Netflix VPN on the market — it consistently works with Netflix and can also access 10+ Netflix libraries. Plus, you also get access to a smart DNS (to watch Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs), the fastest streaming speeds out there, and very intuitive apps. It also has excellent security features, affordable plans, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review here
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great VPN for Streaming Netflix on Mobile
The provider’s streaming servers can access 5+ popular Netflix libraries, including the US, Italy, and Germany — my colleagues in each European country tested the VPN and confirmed it works with their home libraries without any problems.
And on top of Netflix, PIA also works with 30+ other popular streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, ITV, CBC, and Disney+. While that’s great, I still think ExpressVPN has better streaming support, as it works with 100+ streaming services.
In my speed tests, PIA provided me with really fast streaming speeds — Netflix’s site always loaded instantly, HD videos loaded instantly and never buffered, and 4K videos took less than 2 seconds to load and I didn’t experience quality drops while skipping through them. Even so, I still had slightly better speeds with ExpressVPN.
And, I also like how the provider comes with other features that are useful for streaming, like a smart DNS and split-tunneling. I actually think that PIA has better split-tunneling than ExpressVPN — in addition to apps, it also lets you split-tunnel IP addresses. This is very convenient, as you can get faster streaming by only sending traffic from Netflix’s site through the VPN, while still being able to access other sites (like your bank’s website) using your local network.
This VPN also provides very strong security and privacy — it comes with advanced features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection. Also, its no-logs policy has been proven true in court and audited, and all of its apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the code for security issues. It also has PIA MACE, the best VPN ad blocker on the market, which can protect you from malicious sites that mimic Netflix.
You also get unlimited simultaneous connections. This way, you can stream Netflix and other streaming services on all of your devices. To test this out, I asked everyone in my house to connect their devices (8 total) to a PIA server, and we all had a reliable connection.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access is really great for streaming Netflix on mobile — its iOS and Android apps are very simple to navigate, come with helpful explanations, and have convenient automation options. The VPN also has dedicated streaming servers that work with 5+ Netflix libraries, it can access 30+ streaming apps, and it allows unlimited connections. It also has fast speeds, good security and privacy, affordable plans, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Private Internet Access review here
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN With Dedicated Netflix Servers
I also like how easy to use this VPN is, as it comes with very intuitive apps. And, I’m a big fan of its Smart Rules feature, which lets you automate VPN connections — for example, you can make the VPN automatically open the Netflix app after you connect to one of its Netflix servers.
The provider also has really good streaming support — in addition to its dedicated Netflix servers, it has streaming servers that work with 50+ other streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer, Rai Play, DAZN, and Amazon Prime. Plus, it has a smart DNS too.
When I used the VPN with Netflix, I was impressed with its speeds — Netflix’s site loaded instantly, HD videos loaded in 2 seconds and didn’t buffer, and 4K videos took only 4–5 seconds to load and there was only minor buffering when skipping through the videos. Even so, ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access, are a little faster.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has dedicated streaming servers for 15+ Netflix libraries. It also comes with beginner-friendly apps that feature convenient automation options. It backs the longest plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review here
4. NordVPN — Good Netflix VPN with Smart DNS Tools
NordVPN claims to access 10+ Netflix libraries, and it also comes with a smart DNS, which only takes 5–6 minutes to set up if you follow the provider’s tutorials.
In addition to the smart DNS, the provider also has SmartPlay on all of its VPN servers, which combines VPN security features, such as encryption, with smart DNS functionality. This makes it harder for Netflix to detect and block the provider’s VPN servers, and it also means your data is secure while streaming (smart DNS tools on their own don’t protect your data with encryption).
In addition to Netflix, NordVPN also works with 10+ streaming services, such as BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. I’m happy to see that, but I honestly think you get better variety with ExpressVPN (can access 100+ streaming services).
I also had decent streaming speeds with this VPN — Netflix’s site usually loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos took 4–5 seconds to load and there was some buffering when skipping through them, and 4K videos loaded in 5-6 seconds. But ExpressVPN provided me with much faster speeds.
You also get really secure streaming with this provider, as it has advanced features like RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. Also, it has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited several times.
NordVPN has tier-based subscriptions with monthly and yearly plans. I recommend the Standard subscription, which starts at $3.19 / month, as it comes with all of the provider’s features (including the smart DNS and SmartPlay). All purchases are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN helps you access Netflix via a smart DNS and SmartPlay, which mixes VPN and smart DNS technology. Its support reps told me it works with 10+ Netflix libraries, and that it can also access 10+ other popular streaming services. You also get good streaming speeds and strong security. The provider has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full NordVPN review here
5. Surfshark — Good Server Network for Accessing Netflix
Surfshark comes with one of the biggest server networks on the market, as it has servers in 100+ countries. This means that just about anyone should be able to connect to a server in their home country to access their local Netflix library. The provider claims to access 15+ Netflix libraries, including the US, UK, Brazil, and Japan. Also, it has a smart DNS.
I like Surfshark’s Override GPS Location feature on Android, which matches your GPS data with the location of the VPN server you’re connected to — this makes it harder for Netflix’s mobile app (which uses GPS data to see your location) to detect and block your VPN connection.
Besides Netflix, Surfshark can also access 50+ other streaming platforms, so you get great variety. It can access top sites like BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, DAZN, and Amazon Prime, but it unfortunately doesn’t work with Disney+ (like the other VPNs on this list). Like Private Internet Access, Surfshark supports unlimited connections.
This provider performed pretty well in my speed tests, as Netflix’s site usually loaded in 1–2 seconds, HD videos loaded in 3–4 seconds and there was only minor buffering at the start, and 4K videos didn’t take more than 6 seconds to load. That said, I still had much faster speeds with ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
Surfshark has very affordable plans that start at just $2.30 / month. Also, it backs each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark has a server in 100+ countries, which makes it a good pick for most users around the world to access their home country’s Netflix library. It claims to work with 15+ Netflix libraries, and it also has an Android feature that makes it easier to access Netflix’s mobile app. Surfshark covers each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Surfshark review here
Bonus. Proton VPN — Great for Optimizing Netflix Streaming Speeds
Proton VPN claims it can access 10+ Netflix libraries, including popular ones like Netflix US, Netflix UK, and Netflix Canada — my colleagues in the UK and Canada confirmed the VPN consistently accesses their home libraries.
The provider lets you increase VPN speeds via split-tunneling and its unique VPN Accelerator feature, which uses speed-enhancing technology to boost VPN speeds on distant servers. I tested VPN Accelerator on servers in 5+ distant countries, and it always sped up my connections by 40–45%.
I also like how Proton VPN displays the server load, which shows you how many active users are connected to a VPN server — I always had faster streaming speeds when using servers with low load than servers with high load.
But even with those features, Proton VPN still isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN — in my speed tests, Netflix’s site loaded in 2-3 seconds and so did HD videos, but 4K videos took 6-8 second to load, and I sometimes experienced buffering at the start of the videos.
Unfortunately, Proton VPN doesn’t have a smart DNS like ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access — but you can still use it to access Netflix on devices that don’t natively support VPNs by manually setting it up on your router, which only takes about 10–12 minutes since the provider has helpful tutorials.
The VPN’s apps are very intuitive, and I really like the Profiles feature, which lets you customize your VPN connection preferences — for example, I created a Netflix profile that automatically connects me to the fastest server in the US.
Proton VPN has a decent free plan, but it doesn’t support streaming — so you need to get its Plus subscription instead, which comes with all features and 10 connections. Pricing starts at $4.99 / month, and there’s a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN provides many ways to boost your Netflix streaming speeds, including split-tunneling, VPN Accelerator, and server load. It also works with 10+ Netflix libraries and 30+ streaming platforms. Plus, it has user-friendly apps, good security and privacy features, and a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Proton VPN review here
Comparison of the Best VPNs for Netflix in 2023:
How to Choose the Best VPNs for Netflix in 2023
- Pick a VPN that works with Netflix. Netflix doesn’t allow users from certain locations to access certain content due to licensing and copyright agreements. And Netflix has become really good at detecting VPNs, so most VPN providers don’t work with Netflix. But all of the VPNs that I recommend are able to consistently access Netflix.
- Look for a VPN that works with multiple Netflix libraries. Some VPNs only support 1–2 libraries, which may not be sufficient for everyone. Every VPN on my list can access a minimum of 5 Netflix libraries, offering a wide range of content. Among them, my top recommendation, ExpressVPN, can access more than 10 Netflix libraries, providing a great variety.
- Choose a VPN that also has good streaming support. Most people use multiple streaming sites, so it’s better to get a VPN that can also access other popular platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, or Amazon Prime.
- Pick a provider with fast speeds. All VPNs slow down your internet connection at least a little bit, but the best VPNs minimize the speed loss so that it doesn’t get in the way of your streaming. All the VPNs I recommend provided me with smooth streaming on Netflix.
- Get a VPN with strong security features. I only recommend VPNs with industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch to protect you from traffic leaks, protection against IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks, and a no-logs policy that stops the VPN from logging your data.
- Look for a VPN with good value. All of my top picks come with extra features that are useful for streaming on Netflix, like split-tunneling or a smart DNS. They also allow multiple simultaneous connections (Private Internet Access and Surfshark allow unlimited simultaneous connections), have affordable plans, and come with generous money-back guarantees.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut:
- SlickVPN. This provider only sometimes works with Netflix, so it’s not a good pick. In addition, it also has significant slowdowns on distant servers, and it lacks mobile apps.
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN doesn’t route your internet traffic through encrypted servers. Instead, it uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) network and replaces your IP address with the IP address of another Hola VPN user. This means someone else could use your IP address to engage in suspicious or illegal activity.
- IVPN. IVPN has excellent security and privacy features, maintains pretty good speeds, and supports torrenting, but it’s not good for accessing streaming services — IVPN didn’t work with Netflix or any other popular streaming service in my tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to watch Netflix with a VPN?
Yes, it is completely legal to use a VPN to watch Netflix. However, depending on your usage, it may be against Netflix’s terms and conditions to use a VPN to watch geo-restricted content.
If Netflix detects that you are using a VPN, you will likely receive an error message and you won’t be able to access that Netflix content until you turn off your VPN.
While Netflix blocks a lot of VPNs, there are many good VPNs that are able to access Netflix, like ExpressVPN and and Private Internet Access.
What is the best VPN for Netflix?
ExpressVPN is my top pick for Netflix in 2023 — it can access 10+ Netflix libraries, it has the fastest streaming speeds on the market, it has a smart DNS so that you can access Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs, and it has very intuitive apps for all major platforms.
How do I use a VPN with Netflix?
Accessing Netflix with a VPN is very simple — it requires only 3 steps:
- Get a VPN. Download and install a good VPN that consistently works with Netflix, like ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server. Open the app, look for a server location that matches the Netflix library you want to access, and connect to it.
- Sign into your Netflix account. Netflix will now display content from the VPN server’s location.
Can I use a free VPN to watch Netflix?
No, since Netflix blocks most free VPNs. Instead, its best to use a paid VPN, like ExpressVPN — it consistently works with Netflix, can access 10+ Netflix libraries, and has lightning-fast streaming speeds. Even if you find a free VPN that works with Netflix, I don’t recommend using it, as free VPNs have slow speeds, limit how much data you can use, and have buggy apps.
What’s the fastest VPN for Netflix?
I had the fastest speeds with ExpressVPN — Netflix’s site always loaded instantly, and HD and 4K videos loaded instantly, and I didn’t experience any buffering or quality drops. This isn’t really surprising, though, considering that ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market.
How can you avoid the Netflix proxy error?
Here are the tips I use to make it harder for Netflix to detect my VPN connections:
- Use a different browser. Avoid your day-to-day browser, as cookies can reveal your real location to Netflix even if you’re using a VPN.
- Use the browser’s incognito/private mode. In addition to using a new browser, make sure you use its incognito/private mode to prevent it from storing cookies that can leak your real location to Netflix.
- Use a different VPN server. Sometimes, Netflix blocks the IP address of the server you’re currently using. To fix this, simply switch to a different server from the same country — if the VPN only has one server location in said country, reconnect to it to get a new IP address.
- On mobile, use Netflix’s site. In addition to your IP address, Netflix’s mobile app might also rely on GPS data to detect your real location, which VPNs can’t usually hide (only Surfshark has a feature that does that). So it’s better to access Netflix’s website, as it only checks your IP address.
Which country has the largest Netflix library?
The US usually has the largest Netflix library, but other countries like the UK, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, and France also have really large libraries. Keep in mind that copyright agreements change pretty often, so the size of a country’s Netflix library will always vary.
