Netflix Notices Vpn
Netflix VPN Ban 2021: Beat the Netflix-VPN-Not-Working Issue
Table of ContentsNetflix VPN Ban: Which VPN Services Beat the Ban in 2021? How to Solve Netflix Blocking VPN Services: Bypass the Netflix VPN BlockThe 5 Best Netflix VPN Options1. ExpressVPN2. NordVPN3. CyberGhost4. Surfshark5. WindscribeHow VPNs Get Around the Ban to Access NetflixCan a Free VPN Unblock Netflix or Another Streaming Service? Why Is Netflix Blocking VPN Services? Final Thoughts
Netflix has a different selection of TV shows and movies in each Netflix library due to regional content agreements. If you want to access these different libraries, you’ll need a VPN — but Netflix doesn’t want that to happen. In this article, we’ll make sure you’re wise to all the facts surrounding the Netflix VPN ban, as well as provide step-by-step instructions on how to beat the ban by using the top Netflix VPNs.
Key Takeaways:
A good VPN for Netflix needs to stay ahead of the streaming service’s VPN ban and offer servers in a lot of VPN is the best VPN for Netflix, though NordVPN and CyberGhost are more budget-friendly dscribe that Netflix can’t detect: is the best VPN to stream Netflix for free, though you’ll need more bandwidth if you watch more than occasionally.
If Netflix detects VPN IP addresses, it will throw up the streaming error code m7111-1331-5059 and temporarily block you from the Netflix servers. This type of ban isn’t unusual — other streaming services (like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and more) also have VPN bans in place. That’s why you need a VPN that unblocks Netflix reliably.
If you’re looking for a quick answer about how to get around the Netflix VPN ban, we suggest you invest in a good VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. However, stick around for more VPN options, plus instructions on how to get around the VPN ban and other nitty-gritty details about the Netflix service agreement, copyright law and other weird lawyerly tricks.
09/21/2021
Cloudwards updated the list of VPN suggestions to beat the Netflix ban.
updates
No, it will not. We’ve been messing around with many Netflix VPN providers to get around the Netflix VPN block for years now and never received a single warning or demand to cease. If you get some kind of email threatening to ban your account, chances are it’s a scammer trying to get something out of you and has nothing to do with Though it’s officially against the Netflix service agreement (you know, that thing you didn’t read when you set up your Netflix account), nobody seems too intent on catching perpetrators. This may change in the future, but we doubt it, so you can keep using your VPN for watching Netflix content from anywhere there’s a for maybe Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, the Netflix VPN detection system is the best in the business. In fact, only a handful of the best VPNs can get past the infamous streaming error. Despite this, sometimes even those VPNs fail to get past the Netflix VPN block when their servers get detected by Netflix. In this case, it’s best to switch to a different server or wait until the VPN fixes the best VPNs are those that Netflix can’t detect: ExpressVPN, NordVPN and CyberGhost to name three, though there are plenty of others that do the trick. Even then, though, the whole process can be kind of few free VPNs can unblock Netflix, and we’ve tried out pretty much all of them. One exception is Windscribe, which has an excellent free plan and a paid plan that usually cracks the Netflix block.
Netflix VPN Ban: Which VPN Services Beat the Ban in 2021?
When looking for the best VPN to get around the Netflix ban, there are a few things to consider. The most obvious is that it needs to be capable of spoofing your geographic location and hiding the fact that its IP address comes from a VPN. Here are the top VPNs that can consistently unblock Netflix.
ExpressVPN — Best Netflix VPN that unblocks streaming services reliablyNordVPN — Great Netflix VPN for the USACyberGhost — Best Netflix VPN to stream in EuropeSurfshark — Affordable VPN with unlimited simultaneous connectionsWindscribe — Best free VPN to beat the Netflix ban
Using a VPN with the Netflix service primarily revolves around gaining access to streaming content from other countries, so any suitable VPN should also have a large server list. Besides Netflix, it should prevent leaks during DNS requests, and a nice bonus is if the service is immune to VPN bans in general (like with Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and more).
Since you probably don’t want to break the bank just to use a VPN with Netflix, cheaper is better. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also suitable for testing purposes. If you plan to use a VPN to access Netflix libraries in specific geographic locations, such as UK Netflix or American Netflix, you should always look at the actual server lists to make sure your location of choice is well represented.
How to Solve Netflix Blocking VPN Services: Bypass the Netflix VPN Block
Here’s how to get past the Netflix VPN ban in three easy steps. ExpressVPN unblocks Netflix reliably, so we used that VPN service for our steps.
Download and Install a VPN AppThe first thing you want to do is sign up for a VPN, then download the VPN app for your device and install it. Most providers have apps for various devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV, desktops, mobile devices and gaming nnect to a VPN Server Open the VPN app and connect to a server in the preferred Netflix region. For example, if you want to watch Japanese Netflix, select a server in Japan and hit the “connect” Netflix AppOpen your Netflix app or open Netflix on your web browser. The VPN tricks Netflix into thinking you’re accessing the platform from your country of choice. As a result, it serves up movies and TV shows curated for that country’s residents.
Issue: Netflix VPN Not Working
If Netflix blocks VPN servers you are trying to use, you have two workarounds.
Switch server locations by going through the above steps again, but with a different location. You can buy a dedicated IP address, if that’s an option with your VPN provider. A dedicated IP is exclusively yours and comes with a clean reputation.
Now let’s take a look at each of the VPN providers that can unblock Netflix.
The 5 Best Netflix VPN Options
We tried out numerous VPNs and the following services proved to be capable of streaming Netflix consistently, despite the VPN ban. ExpressVPN is our top pick for streaming Netflix, so let’s dive straight into it.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best Netflix VPN, thanks to its lightning-fast speed and unparalleled ability to bypass Netflix geoblocks.
More Details About ExpressVPN:
Pricing: $6. 67 per month, plus three months free on the one-year planWebsite:
Pros:
Lightning-fast speedsOver 3, 000 servers to access all Netflix librariesUnmatched ability to unblock Netflix catalogsTop-notch security to bypass ISP throttlingMediaStreamer DNS for Apple TV30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN that unblocks Netflix. We’ve been testing it for years now, and every time, it claims the top spot on our fastest VPN list due to its blazing-fast speeds and unmatched consistency. You can now use the Lightway protocol that’s two times faster than OpenVPN and secure enough to beat the dreaded Netflix geoblocking.
Servers With IP Addresses That Get Around the Netflix VPN Ban
ExpressVPN has over 3, 000 servers, which isn’t the most extensive compared to top competitors like NordVPN. However, it has the best geographical server spread. Plus, no other VPN has quite as many servers around the globe that can get into the streaming site while also maintaining fantastic speeds (read our how to watch Netflix with ExpressVPN piece).
ExpressVPN offers instant access to Netflix movies and TV shows.
The only real downside to ExpressVPN is its price, which is quite a bit steeper than the competition. It costs a little more than double its closest competitor, NordVPN, which claims the second position in this ranking.
ExpressVPN is pretty much impossible to beat as a package — that is, if you have a hundred bucks per year to spend on a VPN. It’s secure and easy to use, has an extensive server network and friendly live chat, and is the fastest VPN as well. You can try out ExpressVPN risk-free before deciding, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN Plans: Unlimited GB: 5:
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best VPN apps for unblocking Netflix U. S.
More Details About NordVPN:
Pricing: $3. 30 per month plus three months free on the two-year planWebsite:
Incredibly fast NordLynx protocolMore than 5, 200 servers to access Netflix locationsAdvanced SmartPlay technology to enhance Netflix streamingEasy to install & use30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
Speeds are a little inconsistent across locations
When it comes to Netflix, NordVPN is reliable (it’s no slouch, even if it does come in second), though not quite as reliably fast as ExpressVPN. The new NordLynx protocol (a version of WireGuard protocol) seems to have improved NordVPN’s ability to beat the Netflix geoblocking, and you’ll rarely have to switch servers to get into your favorite Netflix library.
Dedicated IP Addresses
Netflix systems can detect and ban bundled IP addresses that route traffic through a single server. NordVPN’s dedicated IP is an ideal workaround. With it, you get an IP address that’s exclusively yours, allowing you to sidestep IPs that turn up on Netflix blocklists. This does come at a cost, however, and more than doubles the price of a one-year NordVPN plan.
NordVPN works seamlessly on all streaming devices, whether Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Windows or macOS devices.
NordVPN’s minor niggles are very easy to live with, considering its pricing. You get two years of VPN service for $89 plus three months free — the same price as one year with ExpressVPN — which is pretty cheap (though not as cheap as our next entry, CyberGhost). If you think that’s too much of an investment, though, you get a 30-day refund window to consider your purchase.
This VPN offers a massive, reliable server network, it gets into most streaming services (like BBC iPlayer, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video), and it’s our best VPN for torrenting. Plus, it has excellent multiyear deals that will save you heaps of money.
NordVPN: Unlimited GB: 6:
3. CyberGhost
Although CyberGhost doesn’t cut it for services like BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video, it’s one of the best Netflix VPNs.
More Details About CyberGhost:
Pricing: $2. 25 per month plus two months free on the two-year planWebsite:
Easy to usePocket-friendlyMore than 6, 900 servers to unblock Netflix librariesNetflix-optimized servers7 simultaneous connections45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans
Speeds can be slow over longer distancesCan’t control the kill switch
If NordVPN’s biggest draw for you is its discounted two-year plan, then CyberGhost may be an even better option. It’s one of the most affordable VPNs out there and packs quite a punch for the price, as you can read in our CyberGhost review. It offers decent speeds, an intuitive interface and gets into Netflix easily most of the time.
Dedicated Streaming Servers
CyberGhost comes with an array of streaming servers. In our testing, the servers didn’t cut it for BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, but they breezed through Netflix streaming. We tried various streaming servers like the UK and U. S. servers, and each time, they unblocked Netflix without a hitch.
CyberGhost is the best VPN for Netflix streamers on a tight budget.
Beyond the streaming-optimized servers, only a minority of CyberGhost’s servers will work for accessing streaming sites. It doesn’t have the server location spread of NordVPN, either, so it’s a teensy bit more hit and miss than our top two picks. We have a guide for how to watch Netflix with CyberGhost, though.
However, CyberGhost is among the cheapest VPNs out there, offering two years for just $58. 50. At that price, we figure it’s worth putting up with the very occasional annoyance. Plus, there’s a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans (14-day money-back guarantee on the monthly plan), so it’s easy to get a CyberGhost refund.
CyberGhost Plans: Unlimited GB: 7:
4. Surfshark
Whether you’re accessing Netflix on Apple TV or a mobile device, Surfshark allows you to enjoy lag-free HD streaming.
More details about Surfshark:
Pricing: $2. 49 per month on the two-year plan Provider website:
Unlimited simultaneous connectionsAffordable on extended plansEasy to useOver 3, 000 servers to access Netflix catalogsCleanWeb to block ads & malware30-day money-back guarantee
Can take several attempts to unblock Netflix libraries
Surfshark is a relatively new service working its way up to the top VPN echelon. It’s not there yet, but its excellent speeds and decent ability to bypass Netflix geoblocking earned it a spot on our best Netflix VPN list. It gets you into multiple Netflix libraries (including the UK and U. ones), although it sometimes takes several attempts to do so, as you can read in our Surfshark review.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Surfshark unblocks Netflix and also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, ensuring every device in your home is covered. In other words, when you organize movie nights at home, you’ll protect all your friends’ devices simultaneously so they can browse social media as you enjoy Netflix movies on your smart TV.
Surfshark is one of the most affordable Netflix VPNs.
As is typical with VPNs, the month-to-month price is pretty hefty at $12. 95, more than double its other plans. However, Surfshark’s two-year plan is very affordable, costing only $59. 76. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, just in case you change your mind.
Surfshark isn’t the fastest VPN we’ve tested, but it’s fast enough for HD streaming on any streaming device: smart TVs or mobile apps. Besides that, even though it sometimes takes several attempts to bypass Netflix geoblocking, it gets the job done. The minor frailties should be easy to put up with, considering you’re getting the service at nearly one-third of ExpressVPN’s price.
SurfShark Plans: Unlimited GB bandwidth,
Unlimited devices: Unlimited GB: Unlimited:
5. Windscribe
Windscribe has 10 free locations and is quite adept at unblocking Netflix or any other streaming service.
More details about Windscribe:
Pricing: Free plan; build-a-plan optionProvider website:
Generous free planCheap build-a-plan option10 free VPN servers to access NetflixUnlimited simultaneous connections
Inconsistent connection speedsThree-day money-back guarantee
Windscribe is a great VPN for Netflix, though you wouldn’t think it at first because it’s usually touted as the best free VPN. However, if you go a little further than the free plan, you’ll find a powerhouse VPN that will get you into Netflix U. without too many problems, and for a reasonable price, to boot.
Streaming-Optimized Servers to Bypass the Netflix VPN Ban
When it comes to Netflix, Windscribe used to offer special “Windflix” servers that did a darn good job of getting past any VPN blocks and at a decent speed, too. Now their functionality has been extended to every server on its network, which means you can enjoy a great streaming experience even on Windscribe’s free plan.
Windscribe is undoubtedly the best free Netflix VPN.
There are 10 free server locations, which let you unblock popular libraries like Netflix UK and Netflix U. free of charge. However, some free locations are hit-or-miss, and you have to switch servers to beat Netflix’s VPN ban. The story is the same for the paid server options, as you can read in our Windscribe review.
Unlike most other VPNs, Windscribe has an extremely limited refund policy. Instead, it relies on its generous free plan to help people get acquainted with the service before they decide to purchase. Free is always nice, so we recommend you give it a spin (and you can read our guide on how to use Windscribe to get started).
Build a Plan: Per “Pro” server location: 10 GB: Unlimited: Pro Plan: Unlimited GB: Unlimited:
How VPNs Get Around the Ban to Access Netflix
As many companies have found out before, you can’t keep geeks down, and plenty of VPNs started quickly developing block-busting techniques. This whole thing has become a bit of a cat-and-mouse game, where VPNs figure out new ways to cycle IP addresses, and Netflix finds new ways to detect them.
Exactly how VPNs circumvent these blocks is a little unclear — it likely has to do with regularly cycling new IP addresses — but what is very obvious is that some VPN services are better at it than others.
How Does Netflix Know I Am Using a VPN?
Netflix has a security system that detects when multiple users log on from the same IP address, which indicates that the associated traffic is coming from a VPN server. If your Netflix VPN suddenly stops working, it means Netflix has blocklisted the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting to.
Netflix originals (titles to which Netflix owns full rights) are available in nearly all countries worldwide.
What VPNs Are Blocked by Netflix?
Truth be told, Netflix blocks most VPNs. The number of VPNs that do get past the block are dwarfed by the massive majority of VPNs that get hit with a proxy error when connecting from abroad. The VPNs on our list should do the trick, though we place ExpressVPN, NordVPN and CyberGhost (in that order) at the top of the pile.
Can a Free VPN Unblock Netflix or Another Streaming Service?
There are some VPNs you should avoid. For one, any VPN provider that advertises itself as free and able to get into Netflix is trying to sell your data (though it’s not only free services that do that, as you can read in this Avast SecureLine VPN review).
That said, some paid VPNs come with free plans capable of unblocking Netflix. Windscribe is a good case in point. The service offers 10 free server locations, including some popular Netflix hubs like the UK, U. and Germany, enabling you to enjoy favorite movies for free. Even so, you have to be content with a 10GB monthly data limit, which can be a hurdle for Netflix binge-watchers.
Also, be careful of any new services, as they generally lack the expertise necessary to become one of the best Netflix VPNs.
Why Is Netflix Blocking VPN Services?
In short, some shows are only available to watch in certain countries, because Netflix has the rights to stream those shows only in those countries. Since a VPN can make it seem like you’re in another country, this makes it hard for Netflix to uphold its licensing deals. We’ll explain how those deals work next.
Why Netflix and Other Streaming Services Use Geoblocks
When a network produces a show or a studio makes a movie, it makes deals that determine which distributors can show the content and where — and that’s not always necessarily the same company. For example, Showtime produced the hit show Homeland and, as such, it’s available in the U. on Showtime’s streaming site, and can’t be accessed from anywhere else.
Netflix may block a VPN if it notices streams of traffic emanating from a single VPN server.
However, Showtime has also made a deal with Netflix to make Homeland available for international users in countries other than the U. In Germany, you can watch it just fine on Netflix, while in the United States, Netflix users need to hook up to Showtime.
To keep its business model sailing along without breaching contractual agreements, Netflix deploys geoblocks to regulate the shows users can access based on their physical location. The system uses residential IP addresses to determine your location before serving up content specific to your country of residence.
Final Thoughts: VPN That Unblocks Netflix
There you have it: the skinny on the Netflix VPN ban and how to get around it to access titles. ExpressVPN is the ticket for anybody looking to thumb their nose at copyright restrictions, though plenty of other VPNs will do the deed as well.
Do you have any tips on how to watch Netflix in other countries? Or maybe some questions we haven’t answered? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thank you for reading.
Best Ways to Bypass the Netflix Block With A VPN (Tested 2021)
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It is possible to bypass Netflix regional blocks in order to watch your favorite international TV shows and movies. Here’s how:
Choose a VPN provider and sign up for a plan.
Download and install the VPN software.
Run your VPN software, choose a server from a country where you want to watch Netflix from, and connect to it.
Open your browser and go to. You should see the version of the site that corresponds to the location of your VPN server.
Log in and you can use the site as usual, but now you get to see all the content from the international location instead of your home country’s content.
Netflix has been so successful banning VPNs and proxies, you might think it’s impossible to unblock your favorite streams from abroad. Don’t be fooled–there are still some top-tier VPNs with networks powerful enough to bypass the Netflix block. We’ve tested them out, and below we provide our recommendations on which providers to use and explain how to watch Netflix with a VPN.
It is Possible to Watch Netflix from a Region Different Than Your Own…It Just Takes a Little Work
Here’s a preview of the best VPNs to unblock Netflix anywhere:
NordVPN – Best Netflix Unblocker – NordVPN’s server network is among the most expansive in the business, making its heavily encrypted VPN connections the perfect way to unblock Netflix around the world.
Surfshark – Surfshark “just works” when it comes to streaming Netflix from another country. Any one of their servers will work, coming pre-configured for optimally streaming geoblocked content.
ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN’s fast speeds and powerful encryption have a great track record unblocking Netflix US, UK, Japan, and more.
CyberGhost – A well-respected major VPN provider with numerous servers tooled for getting past Netflix blocks. Simple interface.
PrivateVPN – This lightweight-yet-powerful VPN features Netflix-specific servers, optimized for speed and security.
StrongVPN – Limited to just Netflix US, but it’s a great VPN with access to the most popular Netflix library, so we’re recommending it.
Nearly 100 million people from all over the world use Netflix to watch TV shows and movies. However, you might have heard that Netflix offers different content in different countries. Even though all users go through the same website,, the content which they have access to varies depending on their ’ll have noticed this if you have been traveling abroad and tried to watch something on Netflix – you might not be able to load the video you want because it isn’t available in the region you are. In places like Germany, Spain, and Hong Kong, Netflix users can’t see the original Netflix programs (like House of Cards, for example), many Netflix users turned to a VPN to access content from other countries. If you lived in Germany but wanted to watch a Netflix show that was only available in the US, you just had to fire up your VPN software, connect to a US server, then head to and watch without problems.
Recently, though, this has stopped working for many.
So now, if you’re stuck looking for ways to bypass the Netflix VPN ban, we’ve done the research for you. We start by explaining how Netflix blocks VPNs and then show you our top choices to beat the geo-location ban from anywhere in the world.
30-days money back guarantee
The problem with using a VPN to unblock Netflix streaming
Netflix cracked down on the use of VPNs. Netflix decided to block attempts to bypass their region-locked content using VPN services, making it more difficult to access Netflix content from other countries. Netflix was pressured into this action by movie copyright holders, as the pricey streaming rights for big movies are sold separately in different countries.
Netflix VPN & catalog access
When Netflix customers use a VPN to watch a movie that is not licensed in their country, copyright holders do not receive payment for their viewing. So there has been pressure on Netflix to prevent users from getting around region locks and making it difficult to change the location on netflix.
There is also the factor of Netflix becoming a content creator as well as a content distributor — now their shows like The Irishman and El Camino or Orange is the New Black are so successful.
A few years ago, Netflix took a more tolerant stance towards privacy and copyright law, but with the rise in importance of its own content, it is becoming stricter around potential piracy issues.
Eventually, Netflix has stated that they want to provide global access to content, so that you can watch all of the content wherever you are in the world.
But achieving this will be a long process of negotiations with copyright holders, so we’re unlikely to see Netflix global any time soon. For now, it is highly likely that Netflix content will remain region locked for the near future.
VPN detection, explained
When users have a VPN enabled and visit the Netflix site, they can browse the content as usual, using the VPN location.
For example, if you connect to a VPN server in the UK and go to, you’ll see the UK version of the site and everything appears to be working. But when you select a video to play, you may get a proxy error saying “Whoops, something went wrong… Stream Error”.
Beneath this is a warning that Netflix has detected that you are using an unblocker or a proxy, and you will not be able to play the video. If you see this warning, it means that Netflix has blocked your VPN and you won’t be able to watch your content.
This problem is caused by the sophisticated VPN detection which Netflix uses. At first, the VPN works as the Netflix website sees an IP address in UK, and so it serves the UK version of the site (it reads the country code of the incoming IP address and serves up the relevant version of the site).
However, the Netflix server which hosts the actual video content, rather than the website, uses much stricter detection methods to determine whether a VPN is being used. This prevents you from watching the video, even if you can navigate the site.
RELATED READING: How to Bypass the Netflix Proxy Error
Best VPN options for Netflix
Here’s our list of the best services VPNs that allow you to watch Netflix from anywhere:
1. NordVPN
Another VPN option for Netflix users is NordVPN. This service is perfect for highly privacy-minded users, thanks to its strong encryption and no-logging policy. NordVPN specializes in getting around region locks, so it has one of the biggest networks of servers with more than 5, 580 servers in 59 countries. NordVPN, in fact, has Netflix-optimised servers that don’t require extra configuration to work.
These are particular numbered servers that have been set up specifically to be used for watching Netflix. You can see the exact instructions for watching Netflix on the NordVPN website. According to NordVPN’s information, the servers are currently working with Netflix in the US as well as France, India, Netherlands, Canada, Germany, and Australia.
Read our full NordVPN review.
Pros
SPECIAL OFFER: 2-yr plan (68% off – link below)
Most VPN servers with different IP addresses
Zero leaks: IP/DNS/WebRTC
“Double” data protection
Great customer service via chat.
Cons
Very little
Sometimes slow in procesing refunds (but always do).
2. Surfshark
Surfshark has quickly established itself as a major player on the VPN market. And, their runaway success is in large part due to the exceptionally reliable access to Netflix anywhere in the world. Indeed, you can connect to any one of their 800+ servers to unblock 14 different Netflix libraries. There are no special settings to apply, no fishing around for streaming-compatible servers; just click connect and you’re ready to binge!
With powerful 256-AES-GCM encryption, there’s no way even the most restrictive government or ISP restrictions will keep you from watching what you want, when you want. And, to keep anyone from watching you, rest easier knowing Surfshark has a litany of privacy provisions, including a sterling no-logging policy, diskless server structure, and protection against IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
For an extra push through heavy censorship, just toggle Surfshark’s NoBorders mode on. And, enjoy ad-free streaming with their CleanWeb switch.
Read our full Surfshark review.
Reliably unblocks Netflix US, UK, Japan, and more
Over 800 servers in 50 countries worldwide, and constantly growing
Wide app availability on desktop, mobile, consoles, smart TVs and more
Based in the British Virgin Islands, where there are no data retention laws
Helpful 24/7 live chat with an actual human being.
Server network is not nearly as expansive as major competitors
Power users may wish for more settings to fiddle with.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has extremely fast servers that are ideal for streaming netflix, making it one of the most reliable VPN providers for accessing Netflix. With its huge network of 3, 000+ servers in 94 countries worldwide, you’ll easily be able to use ExpressVPN to spoof your location to watch Netflix from places like the US, Canada, and Germany.
You might find that not all servers work with Netflix when you use ExpressVPN, as the VPN detection evolves over time. If you’ve tried a few servers and not found one which is working, you can contact ExpressVPN’s 24/7 customer service and ask them for a recommendation of which server to connect to. They should be able to point you to the server that you need.
ExpressVPN supports plenty of different platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, Chromebook, Kindle Fire and Firestick, Nook, and many more. The strong 256-bit AES encryption keeps your data safe and the no-logging policy ensures your privacy with ExpressVPN.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
Unblocking Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime
Super fast servers (minimal speed loss)
AES-256 encryption
No personal information logs kept
Live Chat Support.
Expensive month-to-month plan.
4. CyberGhost
Cyberghost managed to reinvent themselves under new ownership. They’ve improved operations greatly by adding a deluge of new servers and location, improved speeds by a long shot and upped the security for all their infrastructure.
The good thing about advertising some 6, 300 servers in 89 countries worldwide is that some of these are specifically meant for Netflix streaming — just open up the app and select your preferred server from the streaming menu.
That means you won’t have to contact customer support for working servers or just try random ones every time you bump into a problem.
On top of that, there’s a review feature that allows you to thumb up or down on a server’s IP address which pings the support team if a server has been blocked or not.
From a privacy standpoint, Cyberghost is based in Romania — a country that has no data retention laws, which means you can stream totally private; no logs and no data usage is being leaked.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
LOW PRICE: 6 EXTRA free months (79% off – link below)
P2P allowed on any server except in US and Russia
Jurisdiction in Romania
Strict no logging
24/7 Live Chat Support.
Can’t unblock some other streaming sites.
5. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is another great solution for unblocking Netflix. They focus strongly on privacy and usability which means it will allow you the comfort of accessing content safe and secure.
PrivateVPN has apps for smartphones, computers and even the firestick — it comes with a super light and quite sleek interface so that everyone can use it no matter how tech-literate they are. Just choose a server and connect. There aren’t a ton of these by the standards of this list of top VPNs, but you still get a generous 150 servers in 60+ countries to choose from.
The service comes with a unique feature that will make watching Netflix extremely easy. By that we mean confirmed servers that work with the service — simply browse the server listing and you’ll see some odd labels saying? Netflix?,? Hulu?,? BBC? and others; voila you’re no more random luck trying to find servers that work with Netflix.
Read our full PrivateVPN review.
6. StrongVPN
Some users complain about StrongVPN not working with Netflix. Our testing revealed that they have specific servers in the US to unblock Netflix US — Miami and Atlanta worked great, but if you encounter issues just email the support team and they will help out with working servers. Their network is indeed robust, numbering more than 650 servers in 20+ countries in total.
The only drawbacks are that we couldn’t use the OpenVPN protocol which is more secure than PPTP (Note: SSTP also worked at the time of writing) and that you cannot unblock Netflix from the app.
Netflix and shared IP addresses
The first issue that VPN detection investigates is shared IP addresses. Many VPN providers will use shared IP addresses, so you could be on the same IP address as dozens or even hundreds of other users.
This is advantageous for anonymity, but it is easy for Netflix to see which IP addresses are accessing huge amounts of data, suggesting that they are a VPN shared IP, and to block them.
Anonymity vs sacrificing privacy
One solution to this is to use an individual IP address, which some VPN providers do offer, but this loses the advantage of anonymity offered by a shared IP.
Another problem is that VPN providers will typically buy up IP addresses in large bulk, so they will have a whole lot of servers under similar IP addresses. Once Netflix has discovered that a particular IP address is used by a VPN, it sometimes bulk blocks a whole range of addresses.
This means that users who aren’t even running VPNs can be affected by this issue, as their IP address happens to fall close to a range of VPN IP addresses.
The rules which Netflix uses to detect VPNs are not fully understood, and their VPN detection continues to evolve over time. This has created a situation where many if not most VPNs will no longer work with Netflix.
Even if you are a Netflix customer who only wants to access streaming content from your own country, you still won’t be able to use the service without turning off your VPN and sacrificing your privacy.
Using Netflix’s app vs browser (tested)
A separate complication with watching with a VPN is the two different ways in which you access the Netflix service. As well as banning IP addresses, Netflix also detects VPNs by looking at whether the location of your IP address and your DNS server matches.
If you use your web browser to watch Netflix and you have a VPN installed, then the VPN provider will be able to route your traffic via a DNS server that they have provided. This way, your traffic and your DNS server match and you do not trigger the proxy error.
RELATED READING: How to Get a U. S. IP Address from Anywhere
When you use Netflix in an app for your Android or iOS device, however, this does not always work. Apps can override the DNS settings on your device and force your device to use the default ISP name server.
This means that when your VPN service is turned on, the location of the traffic passing through the server does not match the DNS server, and so the Netflix streaming app can detect VPN use.
In this case, you’ll trigger the proxy error.
Many VPN providers have not yet been able to resolve this issue to allow users to watch Netflix through an app. However, the VPNs that we have selected below have found a way around this issue to make it work.
Install a VPN on your router to access unlimited US Netflix streaming
An alternative strategy to manage this problem is to install your VPN software directly onto your router rather than onto your individual devices. This way, any traffic which is sent through your router (i. e. any traffic originating from your home network) will be automatically encrypted.
Once you have installed your VPN software onto your router, you’ll need to configure your settings to forward DNS queries to the DNS servers provided by your VPN. Now, you can watch Netflix on any device – even through an app – without triggering the proxy error.
You can find instructions on how to install VPN software onto your router and how to configure your DNS settings on your VPN provider’s website.
How do you use Netflix with a VPN?
Once you’ve chosen a VPN provider and signed up for a plan, then using your VPN with Netflix is simple. Start off by downloading and installing the VPN software from your chosen provider.
When you run the software for the first time, you’ll see a list of servers in different countries that you can connect to. Find one that is in the country where you want to watch Netflix from and connect to it.
Is my VPN working?
You can check whether your VPN is working by going to. This site will tell you your current IP address, and show the location of that address on a map. Make sure that the IP address matches with the location that you wish to access Netflix from.
Now you can open up your browser and go to. You should see the version of the site that corresponds to the location of your VPN server. So, if you picked a server in the UK, you should see the UK version of Netflix. Log in and you can use the site as usual, but now you get to see all the UK content instead of your home country’s content.
You can use this method to access Netflix from all over the world. Some of the most popular versions of Netflix are those in the US, Canada, and the UK, as these have lots of content that is missing from other countries like Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Hong Kong, and Turkey.
Bypass Netflix region locks with a VPN
Netflix has set out on a mission to make bypassing their region locks on content more and more difficult over the last year or two, and they’ve succeeded in locking out many VPN users.
Whilst it may be understandable that they need to enforce strict rules about region locking from the copyright holders who provide their content, it is highly controversial that they are also blocking access to those customers who want to use a VPN in order to protect their privacy.
Parting words – The future of VPN use and Netflix
Eventually, Netflix aims to make all of its content available globally, but for now, we are stuck with region locking for the Netflix subscriber.
If you want to access Netflix content from other countries, however, this is still possible. You can use either of the two VPN providers that we recommended here – NordVPN and ExpressVPN – to bypass Netflix region locks.
Using VPNs is your best option to access Netflix for now
VPN detection will continue to grow more sophisticated, so you might need to ask for guidance to find the specific servers to which you can connect to in order to access Netflix, but as things stand these two are the most reliable options for VPNs to access Netflix.
Have you tried to get around the Netflix region locks? Do you use either of the VPNs which we recommended, or is there another which you prefer? Let us know your tips in the comments below!
Netflix Unblocking: Quick FAQ On How To Unblock The Content
Which VPNs work with Netflix?
We’ve done more than 5, 000 tests on 45+ VPNs and came up with those that WORK and are able to unblock Netflix. They are: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PrivateVPN, and StrongVPN.
Is using a VPN with Netflix, illegal?
Since Netflix doesn’t know if a VPN is “being used for legitimate purposes”, they block VPN usage for their users. But that doesn’t mean you will be doing anything illegal by using one. There is no law against using a VPN to watch Netflix.
Why do I need a VPN with Netflix?
A VPN is more than a tool to fool apps and websites into thinking your location is somewhere else than it is. We recommend using a VPN, because it’s in your best interest when it comes to privacy.
Why Netflix doesn’t work with a VPN?
Because you’re not using the right VPN. Our research on 45+ VPNs reveals that only a select few services are able to actually unblock Netflix viewing.
How to use a VPN to unblock Netflix?
Using a VPN with Netflix is easy. Just sign up for a recommended VPN service from our list and then follow their instructions for setting everything up.
The Best Netflix VPN Of 2021: How To Avoid The VPN Ban & More
Netflix & VPNs: A History
In early 2016, millions of Netflix users signed in to their account and were greeted by a message they had never seen before. A now-infamous error message which read: “Whoops, something went wrong…Streaming Error”.
The reason for this message? They were using a VPN.
Without a single forewarning to their paying subscribers, Netflix attempted to prevent anyone connected to a VPN service from accessing their library. To this day, the streaming powerhouse continues to seek out and block IP addresses they believe to be associated with VPN servers.
So why did Netflix decide to ban VPNs? And are there any legal methods to find a VPN that works with Netflix?
In this guide, we’ll discuss the answers to both of those questions and explain everything you need to know about how to watch Netflix with a VPN.
Why Netflix Subscribers Want To Use A VPN
Before we dive too deep, it helps to know a bit about why a VPN is such a helpful tool when it comes to streaming media. In fact, watching shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, etc. is one of the most common use cases for a VPN.
A primary benefit of watching Netflix with a VPN is of course the added layer of privacy it provides. A VPN encrypts data sent across the Internet, making it impossible for anyone to see who you are, where you are, or what you’re doing online. And given that the vast majority of streaming sites house sensitive billing information, it’s always smart to secure your data from hackers and prying eyes.
That being said, there’s no ignoring the gorilla in the room when it comes to VPNs and streaming. The simple truth is that using a VPN can increase the amount of shows and movies you have access to by a huge amount.
How so? Well, one of the neater features of a VPN is that it can alter your digital location to nearly anywhere in the world. So, for example, if you’re in Europe but want to watch Japan Netflix, a VPN can make it appear as if you’re connected to the Internet from Tokyo.
Want to sign up for a Hulu account but don’t live in the US? A VPN can fix that as well.
When used correctly, a VPN can effectively give you access to any streaming content in the world. A normal Netflix subscription only allows you to watch shows and movies available in your region.
So why does Netflix have an issue with this practice? Aren’t VPN users paying for their subscription all the same?
Why Does Netflix Ban VPNs?
In short, Netflix bans VPN connections because they don’t have the rights to air certain content in many countries. So when a subscriber uses a VPN to watch a show that isn’t typically available in their region, Netflix is in violation of their copyright agreement. Even though the user is the one with a VPN, it’s the streaming company’s responsibility to ensure media is watched strictly in areas that it’s licensed for.
As a result, Netflix has enacted measures to prevent paying subscribers from using a VPN with their service. Even if the VPN is being used solely as a form of Internet security.
So why doesn’t Netflix have rights to air their shows and movies universally? Namely, because they can’t afford to. Media distributors also don’t want to make those deals, because it isn’t in their best interest.
Instead, Netflix acquires content through a practice known as territorial content licensing.
What Is Territorial Licensing?
In media, territorial licensing is when a distributor sells the rights to their content to a streaming service in country or region-based chunks, rather than charging one flat fee for a universal license. The rights holder can raise or lower the price of their content based on dozens of factors including population, the number of current subscribers, and the number of potential customers that may sign up over the next (X) years.
For instance, Netflix boasted around 56 million subscribers in the US in May 2019, while the UK only had about 7. 5 million. As you can imagine, purchasing a license to make content available for 56 million people would be a lot more expensive than for 7. Purchasing a universal, or global, license would cost even more.
A good example of territorial licensing is the NBC show Community. While five seasons of the show have been on UK Netflix for years, the only place you can find Community in the US is on Hulu, Netflix’s biggest competitor in the region. Why hasn’t Netflix been able to obtain rights to a popular sitcom in the country it was filmed?
That would be because NBC, who owns the rights to Community, has a majority stake in Hulu. So it made competitive sense to stream the show exclusively on that platform in the US. NBC then chose to charge Netflix for the rights to air Community in the UK, since Hulu is not available in that country.
Territorial licensing has been such a hindrance to Netflix achieving their goal of globalized content that they’ve invested billions ($8 billion in 2019 alone – compare that to HBO’s $7. 8 billion) in producing their own ‘Netflix Originals’ shows and movies. If Netflix owns the media from front to back, then they can feature it in every one of their 200 markets, avoiding licensing agreements entirely.
What Does Netflix Say About The VPN Ban?
The company has publicly stated many different reasons for the ban, including that the loss of VPN users was “inconsequential” to their bottom line. Unsurprisingly, dismissing the wants of paying customers didn’t bode well with privacy enthusiasts. An uproar ensued, leading to the creation of a 40, 000-strong petition calling on Netflix to reverse its decision on VPNs.
During an earnings call in 2016, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings addressed the issue:
“The VPN thing is a small little asterisk compared to piracy. Piracy is really the problem around the world, ” Hastings noted. “The basic solution is for Netflix to get global and have its content be the same all around the world so there’s no incentive to [use a VPN]. Then we can work on the more important part, which is piracy. The key thing about piracy is that some fraction of it is because [users] couldn’t get the content. That part we can fix. Some part of piracy however is because they just don’t want to pay. That’s a harder part. As an industry, we need to fix global content. ”
Furthermore, the official Netflix Twitter account claimed that the streaming giant was moving quickly towards embracing globalized content.
… Netflix is now global. #NetflixEverywhere
— Netflix (@netflix) January 6, 2016. @Casper_O Still prisoners of territorial licensing — moving quickly to have global availability of all content on Netflix.
— Netflix (@netflix) January 6, 2016
Unfortunately, years have passed and territorial licensing remains a large part of Netflix’s content strategy. Apart from an increase in Netflix Originals, there has been no further mention of globalized content.
It appears that subscribers can expect for their libraries to continue to be determined by the country they’re located in.
How Does Netflix Ban VPNs?
Now that we understand why Netflix decided to ban VPNs, let’s discuss how they actually do it. While the exact process remains an industry secret, the primary method the company utilizes is IP blacklisting, which involves mass banning IP addresses Netflix believes to be associated with VPN servers.
Once an IP or block of IPs is detected as being used by multiple users rather than a single household, Netflix’s server infrastructure automatically bans that IP address from its service.
Can VPNs Avoid The Netflix Ban?
Well, not all of them can. Buying new IP addresses is expensive, so for now only the largest VPN providers are able to stay ahead of Netflix’s aggressive tactics. As soon as it’s been detected that a group of IP addresses has been blacklisted (often through reports submitted by subscriber base), they’ll simply buy more and distribute the new IPs among their servers.
This cat-and-mouse game has proven successful for the VPN providers that can afford to play, but it’s left hundreds of smaller VPNs without the resources to give their users access to streaming services.
On a bright note, there are presently no signs that Netflix is in development of more advanced systems (like deep packet inspection) to predict whether traffic is coming from a VPN-based IP address. so for the time being as long as you’re using a VPN from one of the providers listed below you should be able to stream freely as much as your heart desires!
Which VPNs Does The Netflix Ban Block?
As of writing, the VPN providers blocked by Netflix’s ban include:
Private Internet Access
Unlocator
Unblock-US
IPVanish
Opera VPN
CactusVPN
AnonymousVPN
Hide My IP
PersonalVPN
Celo VPN
PureVPN
ProXPN
Ra4w VPN
HideIPVPN
GetFlix
Blockless
Tunnelbear
Hola
Avast Secureline VPN
Anonymous VPN
Kaspersky Secure Connection
Unotelly
Buffered
IronSocket
Overplay
SecureVPN
OneVPN
iVPN
F-Secure Freedome
Hoxx VPN
Ivac
How To Find A VPN That Works With Netflix
We’ve already made this part easy for you by testing over 1, 000 VPNs and finding the best for Netflix, which you can find at the top of this page. However, if you’d like to do some research on your own, here are a few tips on finding a great VPN that will work with Netflix.
Large VPNs Can Afford To Stay Ahead Of Netflix
As we discussed earlier, the most popular VPNs — those with hundreds of thousands or even millions of users — can afford to purchase new IP addresses at a rate faster than Netflix can ban them.
A few examples of the largest VPNs known for working with Netflix are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PrivateVPN, Hotspot Shield, and CyberGhost VPN.
There are other benefits of using a large, established VPN, too. They often have expansive server networks with thousands of connection points all over the world, work across multiple devices, and feature the most user friendly apps and websites.
While providers in this tier may cost a few dollars more per month, they’re still very affordable and their reliable, feature rich VPNs make the extra expenditure more than worth it.
Very Small VPNs May Not Be On Netflix’s Radar
On the other end of the spectrum, particularly small or newly formed VPNs may still work with Netflix simply because they haven’t been recognized yet. These providers are able to get through the ban for the exact opposite reason as their larger counterparts — their user numbers are so small that Netflix never detects an issue.
However, we don’t recommend this approach for a number of reasons. The quality of these services often pales in comparison to the best VPNs for Netflix, they rarely house servers in locations around the world, and there’s no telling just how long the network will be able to fly under the radar.
That’s not saying you won’t find a diamond in the rough that fits your needs perfectly, but typically large, established VPNs offer a much higher level of is the only surefire way to guarantee that your VPN will never be detected by Netflix, but it comes with a pretty significant limitation — only one server location to access the VPN from. That means you won’t be able to access Netflix libraries from around the world, which is the main reason a lot of people want to use a VPN with Netflix in the first place. You’ll also need to install the VPN on your router if you want to use it on your mobile devices, and even then you’ll only be protected in your home.
However, making your own VPN isn’t terribly difficult or expensive, and there are some great DIY resources to help guide you through the process. It won’t grant you any additional content, but from a pure privacy standpoint making your own VPN is the most affordable and surefire way to watch Netflix with a VPN.
How To Compare The Best VPNs For Netflix
Now that we’ve covered everything there is to know about the relationship between Netflix and VPNs, it’s time to choose the VPN provider that’s best for you and your ’s important to remember that not all VPNs that work with Netflix are created alike, and that you should always compare features, read reviews, and do a free trial if possible before paying help your research, here’s a list of what we’ve determined to be the most important features when it comes to watching Netflix with a VPN.
Speed is easily the most important factor when determining whether a VPN will be good for streaming Netflix content. No one likes to be stuck watching a buffering wheel when they’re trying to enjoy a show or movie.
According to Netflix, these are the speeds required to stream their content:
0. 5 Megabits per second – Required broadband connection speed
1. 5 Megabits per second – Recommended broadband connection speed
3. 0 Megabits per second – Recommended for SD quality
5. 0 Megabits per second – Recommended for HD quality
25 Megabits per second – Recommended for Ultra HD quality
Any provider you choose should have a minimum speed of 5 Mbps, but the faster the better. Whether it’s through a chat box or phone operator, it’s important that you have some way you can contact support 24/7. You don’t want to be left waiting if your VPN goes down or you’re experiencing issues connecting to Netflix. If you ever find yourself getting the Netflix proxy error, you should let your VPN provider know immediately.
This accomplishes two things:
Gives your provider up-to-the-minute information that their IP addresses are being targeted by Netflix
Allows them the opportunity to provide you with access to a server with new IP addresses
Fast and responsive customer service should be a cornerstone of any VPN, and the absence of an available support staff is an immediate red flag.
The Number Of Server Locations
Simply put, the more server locations a VPN has, the more Netflix libraries you’ll have access to. The actual number of servers a VPN has is not the be-all end-all, but you will want to make sure their network is spread across the globe.
Other Factors To Consider
Be Careful Of Bogus Claims
The ability to watch Netflix is a sought after VPN feature. As a result, unscrupulous companies have been caught falsely advertising the ability to circumnavigate Netflix’s VPN ban. Be sure to conduct due diligence to ensure every claim a VPN makes is legitimate and, if possible, always sign up for a free trial before spending any money.
Does The VPN Unblock Other Streaming Services?
After the Netflix VPN ban went into effect, other major streaming providers soon followed suit. YouTube, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Showtime all attempt to prevent VPN users from accessing their services.
However, the same technique used to circumvent the Netflix VPN ban can also be used to access other streaming services. Unfortunately, access to each service often differs case by case
If there is a specific streaming service you want to watch, check the FAQ page of the provider you’re considering or contact their support staff to see if you’ll be able to access it with a VPN.
Is There A Free Trial Or Money Back Guarantee?
It’s always important to look for providers that offer a free trial or money-back guarantee. This way you can make sure the VPN fits your needs and achieves everything it advertised sufficiently.
You never want to get stuck with a product that you aren’t satisfied with!
How To Watch Netflix With A VPN
Using a VPN is almost deceptively simple, and our recommended providers have apps for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
To sign up, visit the website of your preferred VPN provider and purchase a subscription or start a free trial. You’ll then be directed to download and install the provider’s app in a one-click process.
Once installed, open the app, choose the server you’d like to connect to, and activate the VPN. You’re now ready to watch Netflix with an additional layer of security and access to thousands of more shows and movies.
On Your Phone And Other Devices
If you, like millions of others, also watch Netflix on your phone, tablet, smart TV, gaming consoles, etc., you’ll also want a VPN enabled across those devices. In many cases, you’ll follow almost the same steps as you would on PC — download the VPN app, sign up for a subscription, choose a server, and activate the VPN.
Depending on your device, however, it may be difficult to find an app for your preferred VPN provider. Many of the top providers are in the Google Play and iTunes App Stores, but when it comes to native apps for gaming consoles and smart TVs, the pickings can be slim.
Another issue is that a single VPN subscription rarely covers more than five devices. Even for small families, that can be a bit restrictive considering the amount of Internet-enabled devices we use today.
Luckily, there’s a fairly easy solution to enabling a VPN across every device in your home. And you probably already have all the necessary equipment.
Install A VPN On Your Router
Installing a VPN on a router requires some technical ability and we definitely recommend seeking help and following a guide closely if you attempt it. Despite that, it’s still the best way to watch Netflix with a VPN on every device in your home.
Once activated on your router, the VPN will be active on every device connected to your home network. Better yet, your provider will only count the VPN as being installed on one device, even though it’s protecting several.
If you don’t want to go through a custom installation process and are willing to spend a bit more, some providers do sell their own pre-configured routers. This can also be a good option if your router is dated or in need of replacement.
Take Your Stand — Sign The Petition
Take your stand against the Netflix VPN Ban and sign the My Netflix, My Privacy petition from our friends at OpenMedia, a community-driven organization that works to keep the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free. More than 50, 000 signatures have already been collected!
To be clear, does not endorse violating Netflix’s Terms of Service or infringement of copyright laws. As a private company, Netflix has every right to protect their content as they see fit, including the practice of banning VPNs outright.
That said, we believe that paying customers have rights, too. These include the right to ensure your digital privacy and the right to watch the content you pay for no matter where you are in the believes fully in the rights of the digital consumer, and we will always stand up for what we believe in. We are pro-privacy and pro-content access for every Internet user in the world.
Thank you for being a safe, responsible member of the Internet community.
Frequently Asked Questions about netflix notices vpn
Why does Netflix notice my VPN?
If you see this warning, it means that Netflix has blocked your VPN and you won’t be able to watch your content. … However, the Netflix server which hosts the actual video content, rather than the website, uses much stricter detection methods to determine whether a VPN is being used.Dec 4, 2020
How does Netflix feel about VPN?
In short, Netflix bans VPN connections because they don’t have the rights to air certain content in many countries. So when a subscriber uses a VPN to watch a show that isn’t typically available in their region, Netflix is in violation of their copyright agreement.Mar 11, 2021
How do I stop Netflix detecting VPN?
Switch servers Even the best VPN services get detected and Netflix is constantly blocking new IP addresses. Simply go to the app of your VPN and try an alternative server in the same country. If you are using a free VPN service, be prepared to try a lot of servers.
