While many people use VPNs to increase their privacy and security online, they can also be used to bypass region locks to access streaming content in different countries. It’s true that it can be a bit of a cat-and-mouse game between streaming services and VPN providers to continually provide access to their content, but it’s still entirely possible with the right VPN. That’s why choosing your VPN carefully is essential in order to stream when outside the country.
Given the restrictions by services such as Netflix’s towards VPNs, you need to choose a service that has active compatibility with that streaming site. This can provide some assurance that the VPN is committed to adapting its strategies in accordance with any access restriction updates by these websites. Also, its a good idea to choose a VPN with good overall server spread so that if one server is down in the country you are trying to access, there are other options available as well. The PCWorld staff have thoroughly tested the top VPNs on the market for their ability to bypass region locks across multiple servers and we’ve curated our favorites in the list below.
We highly recommend that you use a VPN not only to access location restricted content, but also to provide one of the best upgrades to your online security. So, if you’re looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories.
Updated 01/23/2023: Check out our latest review of IPVanish. With a confirmed no-log policy and updates to its server spread and speed, IPVanish has upped its game. While there may be other services that offer more reliable connections to geo-blocked content, IPVanish is still a solid choice.
1. NordVPN – Best overall for Netflix
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Enough features to appeal to power users and novices
- No-logs policy
- Diskless servers
Cons
- Expensive
For our money, the best option for streaming Netflix is NordVPN. This company has been challenging the Netflix VPN ban from the start. It’s also had a goal of making all of its servers work with the streaming service. As of this writing, this is the case. No matter which Netflix catalog you want, NordVPN promises to deliver it.
NordVPN has more than 5,000 servers and offers locations in 60 countries around the world. It also allows you to choose your specific server so that you can switch around if you need to when Netflix’s ban hammer comes down.
In addition to top-notch speeds, and Netflix compatibility, NordVPN offers double-hop connections, and VPN over TOR. NordVPN also uses the WireGuard protocol by default, though it has made some modifications to make WireGuard friendlier and more private for commercial VPN services and thus calls its protocol NordLynx.
NordVPN is inside our top 10 for best speeds overall, and it should have no trouble streaming Netflix anywhere in the world.
2. ExpressVPN – Best runner-up for Netflix
Pros
- Consistently good speeds
- Easy-to-use desktop program
- Broad device support
Cons
- Logs data transfer amounts
- More expensive than many competitors
If NordVPN isn’t your style, our top VPN overall, ExpressVPN, is also an excellent choice. ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 95 countries. It also promises that Netflix will work with every server it has, and ExpressVPN offers good speeds. Express is on the pricier side at nearly $100 per year, compared to $60 for Nord. But the app is easy to use, the speeds are excellent, and it offers some nice extras such as a private DNS service that lets you set up an Apple TV or console for watching U.S. streaming services overseas.
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3. ProtonVPN – Best for watching Netflix on a Mac </h3>
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Easy-to-use software interface </li>
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Secure Core helps hide your location </li>
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Built-in malware and tracker blocker </li>
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One of the fastest we’ve tested on a Mac </li>
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No options for WireGuard protocol </li>
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A few occasions where Netflix didn’t work </li>
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<div class="product-content">Another good recommendation is ProtonVPN, which is available at a similar price to ExpressVPN. Unlike NordVPN, however, Netflix doesn’t work on every single Netflix server. It works on a lot of the more than 1,500 servers, but not every single one. The one issue with Proton is that it can have trouble from time to time, where a stream will suddenly stop, especially if you’re watching while you work on the same PC.
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4. Surfshark – Best for access with multiple devices </h3>
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Unlimited simultaneous device connections </li>
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Works with Netflix in 11 countries </li>
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Labels virtual server locations </li>
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Built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocking </li>
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Exotic business address </li>
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No ping or server load indicators </li>
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