VPNs are growing more and more popular for all sorts of reasons – and one of them has to be for watching Netflix.
You don’t need one for streaming shows that are available in your region of course. But for unlocking a few extra goodies? That’s where a VPN comes in handy.
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If you guess is that Netflix doesn’t take too kindly to this workaround, you’d be right: the streaming giant is finding increasingly sophisticated means to block VPNs.
However, while it’s challenging to unlock Netflix content outside your designated region, it’s still far from impossible.
In this article, we’ve put together a list of the best VPNs to use for Netflix in 2022.
If you’re keen to settle down in front of some American Netflix – or indeed from any region across the world – take a look at our selection of services below.
For a list of our top services, you can also head to our best VPN article.
Best VPN for Netflix in 2022
1. ExpressVPN
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Our tech writer Alessandro Mascellino put ExpressVPN to the test in January 2022, and tried out accessing Netflix during his review.
He watched Netflix through a number of locations across the world, and found that every one delivered that region’s content with no issue – and on top of that, it was completely lag-free.
ExpressVPN might be that little more expensive than the majority of VPNs out there, but it also offers servers in locations across the world that you won’t see anywhere – we’re calling this an excellent choice of VPN for Netflix.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
- ExpressVPN, from £5.09 per month – buy here
2. Surfshark VPN
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Our tech experts tried out Surfshark in November 2021, and found it successfully access Netflix regions including the UK, US and Japan.
Plus, the service was able to stream these regions at 1080p with no delays or visible drop in quality.
It’s also a fantastic service in terms of value for money: a monthly basis you can expect to pay £8.99, but that can drop to as little as £1.70 if you pay for a two-year subscription.
Read our full Surfshark review
3. Cyberghost VPN
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CyberGhost certainly delivers in terms of quantity of servers – it currently has over 7,600 in locations across the world.
With that sheer number in mind, we’re badging it as one of the finest VPNs out there for access to VPN.
In a particularly nice touch, in its interface, it marks which servers are best for smooth streaming – on, and if you want to trial it, there’s a 45-day free refund period.
- CyberGhost VPN, from £1.59 per month – buy here
4. ProtonVPN
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You’ll need to choose ProtonVPN’s Plus plan as the Basic tier doesn’t offer streaming – but if you do, you should be able to unlock a wide number of different Netflix libraries.
The Plus plan costs 8 Euro – that’s around £6.60 – a month.
- ProtonVPN, from £3.34 per month – buy here
5. Private Internet Access
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Private Internet Access is one of the few open-source VPN companies out there – meaning the source code is publicly available, and it’s far less vulnerable to data breaches.
Outside of this extra security, PIA should grant you access to a sweeping number of Netflix regions outside of your own.
And if you want to test it out? There’s a 30-day money-back period so you can trial it risk-free.
- Private Internet Access, from £1.67 per month – buy here
Is it legal to use a VPN for Netflix?
Yes – VPNs are legal services, and there are no laws that prohibit using them to access Netflix content in regions outside the one you’re in.
Using a VPN as a workaround in this manner doesn’t constitute piracy.
However, it does go against Netflix’s terms of service – and the streaming company is entitled to cut access to anyone doing so.
But that’s not something that’s reportedly ever being done once. Our guess is that in Netflix’s eyes the pros of retaining a fee-paying customer far outweigh the cons of having them access content outside their region.
After all, the streaming market is an intensely competitive one, and anyone booted off Netflix will likely just head in the direction of Amazon Prime, Disney+ and HBO Max.
What is the best free VPN for Netflix?
There aren’t any free VPNs out there we would recommend for this – like nearly all products on the market, you get what you pay for.
However, lots of VPNs also offer free trial periods, which gives you the opportunity to try out different services and compare their performance.
Can I watch Netflix for free with a VPN?
No. Netflix remains a subscription-only service – and in our humble opinion a very good-value one at that.
We would never advocate for trying to access the service without paying a subscription fee.
For more information on the streaming giant and the costs, head to our how much does Netflix cost explainer.
How to use a VPN for Netflix
A VPN works by routing your traffic through a number of servers.
The locations depend on each service, but they’re typically scattered far and wide across the globe.
So when you active your VPN, you’re able to select from one of a number of countries across the world.
Having done that, when you access Netflix, you’re essentially tricking the service into thinking you’re based in that region of choice.
So, if you’re based in the UK, and you want to watch some US-only Netflix shows, simple use your VPN to selection an American server location, and voila: you’re set up on US Netflix.
Can you watch American Netflix with a VPN?
There all sorts of shows that are only available on US Netflix – and interestingly, a fair few UK shows that aren’t currently available in the UK itself.
Netflix offers its service across a staggering 190 countries worldwide, with a constantly rotating roster of shows and movies across each of them – you’ll find all sorts of things
Why do I need a VPN for Netflix?
For straightforward streaming, you don’t: Netflix is a service that you can access via any smart device, whether that’s your smartphone, tablet or TV.
Depending on the subscription tier you select, you can stream from as many as four devices at the same time – and you can log in from an unlimited number of devices.
As we explain in this wider article, VPNs come in handy for when you’d like to access shows that aren’t available in your region.
For info on VPNs in general, make sure you read our articles on what is a VPN and are VPNs are legal.
MORE on VPNS
Don’t miss our pick of the 100 best films on Netflix.
There’s also our selection of the 100 best series on Netflix.
And for the latest releases there’s our run-down of everything that’s new on Netflix.
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