Article Summary
- Best for streaming: NordVPN, tops our list with a 100% streaming success rate Get for $3.49/mo
- Budget pick: Surfshark, unlimited devices and solid streaming for a low long-term price Get for $2.49/mo
- Privacy while streaming: Proton VPN, Swiss-based audited no-logs with reliable US and EU access Get for $2.99/mo
- We reviewed each VPN by testing multiple Netflix regions while connected to their apps.
Most VPNs brag that they can unblock Netflix and other streaming services, but we’ve found that isn’t always true. Netflix is always trying to stay one step ahead of VPN providers, so we’ve put together a list of the very best VPNs for unblocking Netflix.
In first place is NordVPN, which consistently unblocked all of the Netflix regions we threw at it first time. It performed extremely well in our speed tests too, so it’s well worth checking out. Then we have Surfshark, another VPN that offers both high-speed access to Netflix servers and unlimited device connections on a single subscription, which is ideal if you want a VPN for your laptop, your mobile phone, your desktop, and your smart TV. In third, we have Proton VPN: great for privacy, strong at unblocking streams, and at a price that isn’t going to break the bank.
Best VPNs for Netflix in 2026
Netflix is constantly trying to keep VPN users away from its streaming service. So even if your VPN advertises that it works with Netflix, it’s possible Netflix has already blocked it, and you won’t know until you try it out for yourself.
To get a better understanding of which VPNs consistently outpace Netflix’s detection systems, we put 30 providers through their paces. Most were unable to consistently access Netflix.
However, we found that three were consistently able to punch through Netflix’s blocks:
- NordVPN: Reliable access to US, UK, Germany, and Japan libraries in our testing
- Surfshark: Unlimited devices and reliable streaming
- Proton VPN: 20,500 servers with Swiss privacy
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is a fantastic all-around VPN that scored zero failures in our latest round of testing across four major Netflix regions. We also recorded speeds of up to 228 Mbps on US-East servers. That’s 91% of the speed of our testing line, which shows that NordVPN leaves plenty of bandwidth for high-quality streaming.
At $3.49/month on the long-term plan, you get 10 simultaneous connections. That’s great news, because NordVPN supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, smart TVs, and routers, so there are plenty of connections to cover all of your devices.
NordVPN Pros:
- Fast servers (9,000+)
- Torrenting/P2P allowed
- Works with Netflix
- Strict no-logs policy
- Easy-to-use VPN apps
- Double VPN encryption option
- No IP/DNS leaks found
- Great VPN for gaming
NordVPN Cons:
- Best discounts are on longer subscriptions only
- No refunds for purchases from the iTunes/App Store
4/4 tested servers unblocking Netflix
With a massive network of 9,000+ servers in 181+ locations, we found that NordVPN capably unblocked the following Netflix regions:
- The US
- The UK
- Japan
- Germany
This means we were able to access Netflix US with ease and stream the entirety of Stranger Things without issue.
Switching over to the Netflix UK servers for streaming also worked without a hitch.
Next, we jumped over to Netflix DE to check out the library from Germany. Yet again, NordVPN worked first time.
Finally, our tests on Netflix JP performed as you’d expect: flawlessly. We loaded up Killing Eve without a problem.
Our streaming tests also showed that NordVPN works flawlessly with Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and HBO Max. Even if your streaming service isn’t currently accessible, NordVPN’s 24/7 customer support should be able to help.
Pricing: $3.49/month (with a 2-year plan)
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark costs less at $2.49/month and covers unlimited devices, which makes it great for families. Its modest speed drop on US servers still leaves plenty of headroom for 4K streaming.
Surfshark Pros:
- Strict no-logs policy
- Unlimited devices
- Unblocks Netflix
- Torrenting allowed
- Simple to use
- Very affordable
- Safe and secure
Surfshark Cons:
- Best discounts are on longer subscriptions only
4/4 tested servers unblocking Netflix
In our tests, Surfshark successfully unblocked Netflix using the following servers:
- The US
- The UK
- Japan
- Germany
Launched in 2018, Surfshark has rapidly become a prominent player in the VPN industry. The company operates over 4,500 servers in 100 locations, providing extensive global coverage. In 2022, Surfshark merged with Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN, though both brands continue to operate independently.
Connecting to US Netflix was easy enough, allowing us to stream Fauda without any issues.
We then jumped over to the UK Netflix library to stream Friends. Since the UK has one of Netflix’s largest content libraries, we needed to use a UK server, but once connected, streaming was smooth and buffer-free.
With two successes in the bag, we tried out DE Netflix to see whether Surfshark’s servers in Germany worked as well. The answer’s yes, we were able to stream Breaking Bad first time.
Finally, we tried out JP Netflix, where we were able to stream Last Samurai Standing straight from Netflix’s Japanese content library.
Surfshark excels at unblocking various streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. During our tests, every Surfshark server we tried successfully accessed Netflix content, offering a seamless streaming experience with minimal buffering.
Surfshark works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and routers. You can connect unlimited devices simultaneously, making it perfect for families or users with multiple devices.
Pricing: Starts at $2.49/month (with a Surfshark coupon)
Read our full Surfshark review.
3. ProtonVPN
Proton VPN brings Swiss jurisdiction and a large server network at 20,500 servers, but you’ll pay $2.99/month for the privilege, even with the current ProtonVPN coupon.
ProtonVPN Pros:
- Highest security standards
- Audited no-logs policy
- Fast speeds
- Works with Netflix
- Advanced features
ProtonVPN Cons:
- Pricier than most rivals on this list
- Free plan limitations
4/4 tested servers unblocking Netflix
In our latest tests, ProtonVPN successfully unblocked Netflix on the following servers:
- The US
- The UK
- Japan
- Germany
With the major alternative streaming platforms out of the way, we moved on to testing Netflix across a variety of regions. Streaming on Netflix in Germany worked well, as we were able to stream exclusive content from Netflix’s DE library.
It’s the same story for Netflix JP, where we found that ProtonVPN’s Japan servers also worked without a problem.
Given how easy it was to stream BBC iPlayer, we expected that Netflix UK would also be no problem. Streaming Friends worked too.
Last but not least, we tried out Netflix US to stream Grey’s Anatomy. All in all, ProtonVPN scored full marks for streaming.
Headquartered in Switzerland and built by the team behind Proton Mail, ProtonVPN puts privacy first without sacrificing streaming access. On its Plus servers, it reliably unblocks major Netflix libraries and delivers fast, stable playback for HD/4K, so you can binge without buffering. Secure Core routing and open-source apps are nice extras if you want stronger privacy while you stream.
Beyond Netflix, ProtonVPN also works with Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more on supported Plus servers. If a location ever fails, switching to another nearby Plus server typically restores access.
Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, smart TVs, and routers. Paid plans allow up to 10 devices at once, great for households with lots of screens.
Pricing: From $2.99/month on the 2-year Plus plan
Read our full Proton review.
How to Use a VPN to Watch Netflix
Getting Netflix to work with a VPN isn’t rocket science, but there are a few tricks that separate smooth streaming from endless buffering. Here’s what actually works.
- Pick a VPN that regularly refreshes its server network: I recommend starting with NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN. All three stay ahead of Netflix’s blocks by regularly refreshing the IPs they offer you.
- Connect to the right server: Picking a server close to your streaming provider (or a streaming-optimized one) tends to give you better speeds. For US Netflix, East Coast servers usually perform better, as they’re generally closer to Netflix’s content servers. You can double-check your IP to make sure your VPN is really located where you think it is.
- Wipe your browser clean: Clear your cookies and cache, or just open an incognito window. Otherwise, Netflix may remember you used a VPN.
- Restart Netflix completely: Close the app entirely, or kill your browser tab, then reopen. The new library typically shows up within a short time once Netflix starts requesting content through your VPN.
- Do a quick test stream: Watch a few minutes of something before committing to a two-hour movie. You might catch lag issues that can be nipped in the bud by changing to a server with a better connection.
Why Is My VPN Not Working with Netflix?
In almost every case, the reason is simple: Netflix has flagged the IP address you’re connecting from as belonging to a VPN. Netflix maintains large blocklists of known VPN and datacenter IP ranges, so when your VPN server’s IP lands on one of those lists, you get the proxy error instead of the show.
Netflix also works closely with ISPs around the world to optimize its traffic, which gives it a strong ability to tell residential IP addresses apart from datacenter ones and block the latter aggressively.
One separate caveat worth knowing: Netflix’s cheapest ad-supported plan has some proxy and download restrictions of its own, so if you’re on that tier and struggling, your plan may be part of the issue. But for standard and premium plans, a blocked VPN almost always comes down to IP detection, not your subscription.
Here’s why your VPN keeps failing:
- Overloaded servers: Popular servers may get blacklisted when many people share the same IP.
- DNS leaks: Your real location bleeds through even with the VPN running.
- WebRTC leaks: Your browser reveals your real IP address.
There are a few quick steps to make sure you aren’t being locked out because of these issues.
First, clear your browser cache. The easiest way to check whether this is the problem is to spin up an incognito tab and see whether you get the same lockout error.
Next, switch your server. Ideally, pick a streaming-optimized server, as these tend to receive special attention from your VPN provider. For example, NordVPN runs dedicated streaming servers that swap IP addresses regularly so you can stay ahead of Netflix’s blocklist updates.
Finally, if nothing else helps, try switching on an obfuscation protocol. The issue may be that you’re sending what is very obviously VPN traffic, so obfuscation could get you past the network blocks. Surfshark disguises VPN traffic so it looks like normal web browsing.
Still blocked everywhere? Contact support.
Can You Use a Free VPN for Netflix?
For most VPNs, the answer is no. A totally free VPN provider usually doesn’t invest enough in its infrastructure to get past Netflix’s blocks.
I’ve tested plenty of free services over the years, and Netflix shuts them down fast. Once they’re blocked, that tends to be the end of it.
Netflix spends serious money on hunting down VPN IP addresses. To stay ahead, you need constant IP rotation on servers with dedicated streaming infrastructure. Free VPN providers simply can’t afford to stay in that arms race for long.
There are some other big problems with free VPNs too. On a free plan, your speeds may be severely throttled when you’re streaming video. Restrictive data caps mean your VPN might shut off or throttle halfway through a Netflix binge. Worst of all, many free services log your activity or bombard you with ads.
The only free tier we’ve found that consistently sneaks past Netflix’s defenses is Proton VPN’s free tier. It’s not a perfect solution, though. You only have access to a handful of server locations and you’re assigned one at random, so if you’re trying to reach a specific library, you’re better off with a paid VPN.
Of course, it’s best to check for yourself whether your VPN provider can actually unblock Netflix. Each provider we’ve recommended comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee on direct website purchases, so if you can’t access Netflix in the region you need, you can claim a refund.
Surfshark runs $2.49/month and gives you unlimited devices plus rock-solid Netflix access across multiple regions. NordVPN has those specialized streaming servers that stay one step ahead of Netflix’s blocking efforts.
How to Choose the Right Netflix VPN
Not all VPNs can reliably unblock Netflix. Here’s what actually matters when you’re picking one.
Streaming success rate: Look for streaming VPNs that consistently unblock Netflix across multiple regions. Our top picks all work on Netflix US, UK, Germany, and Japan.
Server network: More servers give you better odds when Netflix starts blocking IPs.
Speed for 4K streaming: Netflix typically requires around 15 Mbps for Ultra HD. As long as your VPN doesn’t take your connection under this speed, you should be fine. The faster your home connection, the less you’ll notice the overhead of running a VPN.
Device support: Surfshark gives you unlimited simultaneous connections. NordVPN and Proton VPN both support 10 devices, which covers most households. All work across Windows, Mac, mobile, and smart TV apps.
Privacy jurisdiction: Our picks operate from Panama, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, all outside the Five Eyes surveillance alliance, with solid privacy protections.