Summary – Getting Netflix unblocked with a VPN is not as easy as it used to be.
In late 2016 Netflix has started to ramp up on its efforts to block any proxies or VPN services from access to its services.
Since then, it has been a cat and mouse game between VPNs and Netflix, each one trying to outsmart the other.
Today, only a few VPN services are still able to unblock Netflix.
After testing all VPNs that currently support Netflix I can say that the best VPN for Netflix is Cyberghost.
How to unblock Netflix with a VPN? (Netflix unblock tutorial)
- The first thing you must do is open a Netflix Account – If you don’t already have one. If you don’t have an account but come from a Country where Netflix services are unavailable, start at step 2
- Get and install a VPN that unblocks Netflix. It would be a good idea to purchase a package that supports multiple devices and OS’s, so you can hook it up on your Smart TV or using a streamer.
- Once your VPN Client is installed, connect to a US server. This would allow access, plus the US offers the largest Netflix Catalog.
- You can also connect to an Australian server to unblock Netflix Australia, Candian server to unblock Netflix Canada, and so on…
- Using your VPN client, you can now log in to your account and start to watch Netflix.
- Looking for a specific genere and can’t find it – Check out our Netflix Codes list to find hidden movies.
Best VPNs that work with Netflix in 2019 (updated May 2019)
Out of the few VPNs that still work with Netflix, two stand out. These two VPN services are the best for getting Netflix unblocked because with them you can have a great streaming experience.
#1 CyberGhost – Best VPN to unblock Netflix
Cyberghost have gone through comprehensive improvements in recent month.
They have positioned themselves at high ranks for streaming in general because they manage to provide one of the fastest VPNs in the market.
In addition, Cyberghost unblocks Netflix and is considered to be one of the most reliable VPNs for it.
I enjoyed a very smooth Netflix streaming with Cyberghost, and on top of it, they also offer a very competitive price for their VPN.
Highlights:
- Working with Netflix
- Superfast streaming – 88 Mbps. average Download speed
- Great promotional price – Cheapest VPN for Netflix
- Unlimited Bandwidth
Get Cyberghost- Only $2.75 / month for 18 months
#2 ExpressVPN – Unblock Netflix easily
The leader in the fight against Netflix is ExpressVPN, and not for nothing.
ExpressVPN really invested technologically, not just to be able to work with Netflix, but also to be able to supply a great streaming experience.
The connection speeds, tested from US proxy and Australian proxy were good enough to enable smooth streaming with a high-quality picture.
I did not experience any ‘hiccups’ between or during any stream. It was almost hard to tell I was connected via a VPN.
Highlights:
- Work with Netflix
- Fast Netflix streaming – 85 Mbps. average Download speed
- Unblock Netflix anywhere with 95 available Countries
- Unlimited Bandwidth
Get ExpressVPN – 30-day money back guarantee
#3 PrivateVPN – Get Netflix unblocked
PrivateVPN are constantly updating their users which IP addresses within the US proxy to use when trying to connect to Netflix.
Their relatively limited number of servers makes them more vulnerable to Netflix’s counter-measures against VPN’s.
In the money-time though, PrivateVPN delivered a speedy and smooth streaming experience.
I got disconnected from Netflix once during a few hours of watching using PrivateVPN but managed to easily re-connect and continue watching.
Highlights:
- Works with Netflix
- Great Privacy Features
Netflix VPN not working
How to bypass the ‘Netflix Proxy Error’?
Fooling Netflix is not as easy as it sounds, and you must use a VPN that works with Netflix in order to accomplish the task.
Netflix is fighting rigorously against people who seek to get it unblocked, and they are doing a good job of blocking the VPN’s out.
In fact, most so-called Netflix VPNs are not working.
Which is why you should do your homework and make sure that your VPN unblocks Netflix, and doesn’t just say that it does.
If we’re trying to access Netflix using a ‘compromised’ VPN service, you will get the infamous Netflix Proxy Error Message.
In other words, this error says – “You’re busted! We found out that you were trying to use a VPN to bypass Netflix proxy block. You’re out!’.
Basically, Netflix detects VPN traffic by using IP blacklists, exploiting DNS leaks, and testing IPV4 against IPV6
More and more VPN services haven’t been able to catch up with the needed technological developments, to bypass the Netflix proxy error, and the people who use them will find out that Netflix is not working for them.
Only the best VPN services that work with Netflix would be able to unblock it.
Cyberghost is one of them, and along with a selected few, can still bypass the Netflix proxy block.
What to look for in a Netflix VPN?
- VPN that works with Netflix (can bypass the Netflix proxy error)
- Speed
- Number of Countries
- Unlimited Bandwidth
In addition to being a VPN that works with Netflix and is able to bypass the Netflix proxy error, there are still some important features you’d wanna be looking for when you’re choosing a VPN for Netflix:
Speed – You wouldn’t want to get to a VPN just to discover that your connection speed is so slow that it is just not possible to watch anything.
Poor speed connection can also affect the picture quality, and make your experience much less than it could be.
After comprehensive testing, I have come to the conclusion that anything below 70 Mbps. would be too slow for Netflix streaming.
A fast VPN is a necessity for streaming Netflix, which is why you should not compromise on this.
Available Countries – Some Countries have their own unique shows, and you would have to make a VPN connection through those Countries to watch them.
Make sure your VPN supports all the Countries you would want to connect to.
The most desirable Country is obviously the US since it has the largest Netflix catalog.
Luckily, most VPN services have a lot of US-based servers, but that should not have an impact on the VPN service you should choose unless you are looking for a very Geo-specific Netflix show.
Unlimited Bandwidth – Though provided by most VPN services, there is nothing more frustrating than running out of streaming bandwidth half-way through your favorite show.
You should look for a VPN that supplies unlimited bandwidth.
Most premium VPNs do, most free VPNs don’t.
Free VPNs for Netflix
After reading all this, you probably realize that there is no free VPN that works with Netflix.
Netflix is one of the most advanced streaming platforms today, and its abilities to detect VPN traffic is second to none.
Free VPNs are awesome and can be used for many purposes, as long as you understand their limitations.
When it comes to actually hiding your IP while encrypting your connection and protecting you from DNS leaks, the free VPNs just don’t cut it.
Which is why there is no free VPN for Netflix, and there will never be one.
The free VPNs are good for changing your IP, and getting you access to some geo-restricted sites, but that is as far as they will take you.
There are some very cheap VPNs that work with Netflix and can provide a great Netflix streaming experience.
Just keep on reading to learn about the best VPNs for Netflix…
Additional VPN services that unblock Netflix:
#4 NordVPN – Works with Netflix, but too many glitches
While NordVPN is an outstanding VPN service overall, when it comes to Netflix I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome.
What I assume were radical lows and peaks in connection speed while I was streaming, caused a very jumpy and glitchy Netflix streaming experience.
Regardless of those glitches, I could watch a show all the way through, just didn’t enjoy it as much as would have without them.
Since NordVPN does come at a relatively low price tag, it might be worth it for those who look for a cheap solution.
#5 HideMyAss – Too Complicated and unreliable
Though HideMyAss is considered to be a working VPN to unblock Netflix, their solution is way too complicated.
In order to connect to Netflix, you would need to speak to someone there who will tell you which IP addresses are currently supported by Netflix.
From the ‘white-list’ of IP addresses with some, I didn’t manage to access Netflix at all, and with the one, I did succeed so I kept on disconnecting and speed with unimpressive.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which VPNs don’t work with Netflix?
Read the list below before you proceed with purchasing a VPN for Netflix. All of the VPN services listed were tested and I can confirm that these VPNs are not working with Netflix.
- IPVanish
- PureVPN
- HotSpotShield
- BufferedVPN
- Private Internet Access
- TunnelBear
- Cactus VPN
- ZenMate
How to get Netflix unblocked at school?
Schools and other private institutions use web-filters to keep students from using their closed networks’ bandwidth.
Streaming platforms, torrent sites, and social networks are usually blocked by those web-filters for this reason.
In addition, in most cases, the VPN sites themselves are also blocked from schools, in order to prevent students from bypassing the network restrictions.
In order to be able to access and download a VPN, there are a couple of useful tricks:
- Connect to your mobile hot-spot – make sure your mobile is not connected to the school network, and then connect your PC/Mac to your phone’s hot-spot.
This way you would be able to access the VPN site and install it on your computer. - Use an off-campus Wi-Fi connection – Find the nearest Starbucks or any other place with its own Wi-Fi network. Then go to the VPN site and install it on your computer / mobile device.
Once you have a VPN installed on your device, you can get Netflix unblocked at school, and watch your favorite shows during those boring classes.
How to unblock Netflix without a VPN?
Unfortunately, this is not possible.
If you want to unblock Netflix in Europe, for example, you must use a VPN in order to bypass the Netflix block.
Proxy services and free VPNs wouldn’t work either, as they simply lack the technology to outsmart Netflix.
Bottom Line
Netflix is putting up a lot of effort to prevent people to access their service using VPN’s.
Luckily, despite their efforts, there are still several VPN services that can get Netflix unblocked and even provide a great and uncompromising streaming experience.
I actually watch Netflix with Nordvpn provider, but I am surprised about your experience because I did not notice any glitchy or jumpy steaming problems. I do not know from what it depends, but for me, it works pretty well.
Thanks for your feedback Santiago.
As part of the tests I conducted, I reviewed each VPN on several servers and geo locations. NordVPN had a download speed that ranged between 61 Mbps and 34 Mbps. On the high level streaming was ok, but on most cases it was a simply too slow.
On my reviews I am looking on the averages to determine if I can recommend it or not.
That said, I know that NordVPN are one of the fastest growing VPNs when it comes to their network of servers. I would keep an eye and run some new tests and will update on any changes.