Best VPN for Netflix 2024: Access streaming libraries in other countries
Watched everything on Netflix UK? Use your existing subscription to see what's available in other countries
Using the best VPN for Netflix will open up a world of streaming content, quite literally. American Netflix has the most movies and TV shows, with Netflix UK hot on its heels in second place, but, despite this, you’ll notice that the content on offer differs from region to region. The movies and TV shows that are available in the UK may not be available in other countries, and vice versa.
While this is mainly to do with different studios and distributors and their licensing agreements with Netflix, another factor is the growing presence of Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. These streaming services have exclusive deals with some production companies – Disney went ahead and bought 20th Century Fox outright! – breaking Netflix’s earlier monopoly.
That being said, Netflix still remains the king of the streamers. If you want to find out which Netflix library has a particular movie or TV show that you’re looking for, head to uNoGS.com. If you find what you want to watch, but it’s only showing in another country’s library, then just use a virtual private network (VPN) to connect to a server there and access Netflix that way. If you’re not sure which VPN to use, we’ve listed the five best for you to choose from below.
In addition to Netflix, VPNs will also allow you to access the international libraries of other streaming services, including Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. But they’re also useful tools to have, even if you exclude their streaming benefits. For example, a VPN is often the most secure way to browse on public Wi-Fi networks.
Also, unless you use a VPN, all of your online activities are easily accessed by your internet service provider (ISP). Use a VPN and your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re up to. Because of this, we recommend everyone use a good VPN, and there’s no reason not to. A VPN subscription can cost as little as £6 or £7 per month – even less if you pay for a year or more up front – and will usually cover multiple devices at a time.
Most of the best VPNs have 24/7 customer support who will be able help you if you’re having trouble. Best of all, they usually come with at least a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose by signing up – if the service doesn’t work as advertised, simply get in touch and they will gladly refund your purchase.
READ NEXT: The best VPN services
Best VPNs for Netflix: At a glance
- The fastest VPN: ExpressVPN | £6.90/mth
- The best all-round VPN: NordVPN | £3.39/mth + VAT
- The cheapest VPN: Surfshark VPN | £1.84/mth
The best VPNs for Netflix to buy in 2024
1. ExpressVPN: The fastest VPN for Netflix
Price when reviewed: £83 for 12 months (£6.90/mth) | Check price at ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a star at getting through to Netflix, with nearly every server able to connect when we tested it. Whether it’s the US, the UK, Europe, or even Asia, you can watch Netflix in whichever country catches your fancy.
On top of that, ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, only reducing our original connection speed by a small percentage, even on long-distance connections. Plus, like most of the VPNs on this list, it has been independently audited to prove that they don’t log or store any user data whatsoever.
ExpressVPN is also easy to use, with tutorials telling you how to use its apps on whatever device you have, and, if you’re still stuck, you can always chat with their customer service, who are available 24/7 to answer any queries you may have. They can even tell you which server you need to connect to, if you’re having trouble connecting to a specific country’s Netflix library.
Read our full ExpressVPN review for details
2. NordVPN: The best all-round VPN for Netflix
Price when reviewed: £109.84 for 2 years + 3 months free (£3.39/mth+VAT) | Check price at NordVPN
NordVPN is a superb all-rounder because it’s one of the fastest VPNs and it offers great security, as well as some great pricing for first-time users. In our testing, NordVPN did a great job of cracking Netflix, just a smidge behind ExpressVPN.
You’ll find that NordVPN is BitTorrent friendly, as well as having double VPN servers that pass over two servers for extra security. Their app includes malware-blocking and anti-phishing features, as well as keeping your browsing free from ads. It even goes so far as to include a handy kill switch that halts all internet activity should the VPN accidentally disconnect.
NordVPN is also a good choice if privacy is important to you, as it has a strict no-logging policy and is based in Panama, a country famous – or infamous – for keeping things secret. It also has great security, with a custom VPN protocol, called NordLynx, and some high-end encryption. You’re not just getting through to Netflix with NordVPN, you’re also making sure you stay safe.
Read our full NordVPN review for details
3. Surfshark VPN: The cheapest VPN for Netflix
Price when reviewed: £57.53 for 2 years + 2 months free (£1.84/mth+VAT)| Check price at Surfshark
Surfshark is the newest VPN on this list, having been founded in 2018. In most cases, the new kid on the block can’t compete with experienced veterans, but Surfshark’s VPN more than holds its own in choppy waters. Not only is it one of the cheapest VPNs, when you first sign on for a long-term plan, but they are continuously adding new features to make the service better.
The latest of these was the so-called Nexus, a feature that continuously switches your IP address to help you stay ahead of anybody that may be trying to track you online. It’s a pretty nifty feature, and a must-have for people that are particularly worried about being tracked.
On top of that, Surfshark is also a great VPN for Netflix. In our testing, it unlocked eight Netflix libraries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, Italy, Netherlands, and Germany. As an added bonus, Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can have the app active on as many devices as you want, making it a great VPN to share with friends or family members. All in all, a pretty good deal for less than two quid per month.
Read our full Surfshark VPN review for details
4. CyberGhost: The most user-friendly VPN for Netflix
Price when reviewed: £59.94 for 2 years + 3 months free (£1.85/mth+VAT) | Sign up at CyberGhost
Few VPNs make it as easy to stream as CyberGhost does. It has a colourful, easy-to-use app that offers several tabs depending on what you’ll be using it for. For example, if you want to unblock Netflix, you’ll have several servers around the globe to choose from, each of which worked flawlessly when we tested it.
Speeds are decent too and, although they’re nowhere near as good as those offered by ExpressVPN and NordVPN, they’re reliable enough. Security is also decent, as CyberGhost offers all the standard protocols and encryption. The result is a VPN that can do a bit of everything, from torrenting, to streaming, to getting around censorship blocks.
Price-wise, CyberGhost is a good deal, meaning you’re getting a top-of-the-line VPN for a bargain-bin price, and that’s worth the small drop in speed, we think.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review for details
5. Windscribe VPN: The best free VPN for Netflix
Price when reviewed: Free | Get Windscribe
You might not expect a free VPN to be able to unblock Netflix, but Windscribe can do exactly that. To use Windscribe for free, all you need to do is download the app and start it up, then you can use up to 2GB of data per month – which you can increase to 10GB if you verify your email address – and, since a single Netflix movie is roughly 1GB, while episodes of most TV shows are about half that, you’ll be able to get plenty of viewing done.
Free users can use up to ten servers, though, in our experience, not all of them can get through to Netflix, so you may have to experiment a little in order to get the most out of the free plan. But paying for Windscribe may be worth it too, as it only costs around £55 per year and gives you access to more and better servers, as well as Windscribe’s Windflix servers, which are great at busting through to Netflix.
On top of that, Windscribe offers great security, solid speeds and R.O.B.E.R.T., its ad-blocking and anti-malware program that actively scans for threats. Overall, it’s a good package, whether you decide to pay for it or not.
Read our full Windscribe VPN review for details
