Netflix VPN ban largely ineffective, according to 3,000+ tests

Best VPN Netflix

We ran over 3,000 tests on 37 VPNs, each against 20 different country versions of Netflix on both desktop browser and the mobile app to see which beat the Netflix VPN ban.

Netflix has a different library of shows for each country that it operates in. Due to geographic content licensing agreements, TV shows and movies available in one country might not be available in another country. To access other countries’ Netflix libraries, many people use VPNs.

A VPN is a type of proxy that allows you to change your IP address. Netflix determines your location using your IP address, so by changing it, you can access shows and movies not available in your own country. Based on over 3,000 in-house tests performed in 2021, we’ll show you the best Netflix VPNs and how to use them.

Not every VPN works. Netflix has caught onto the tactic and blacklists many VPN server IP addresses. When that happens, Netflix won’t let you watch and instead gives you a proxy error:

“Whoops, something went wrong. Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

In the past, only a small handful of VPNs could bypass these geographic restrictions. But according to our latest tests, most VPNs have figured out a workaround. The question now is whether a VPN can unblock a specific country’s Netflix library of TV shows and movies.

To find out which VPN services can bypass the proxy error and unblock Netflix, we tested 37 VPN services in 20 countries, accessing Netflix both on a desktop web browser and the mobile app. You can see the full results of our research below:

		USA		UK		CANADA		AUSTRALIA		BRAZIL		MEXICO		FRANCE		GERMANY		ARGENTINA		SPAIN		JAPAN		NETHERLANDS		SOUTH KOREA		NEW ZEALAND		SWEDEN		INDIA		ITALY		TURKEY		NORWAY		POLAND
VPN	Successful Tests	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop	Mobile	Desktop
NordVPN	32	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES
ExpressVPN	40	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Cyberghost	34	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
PrivateVPN	40	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Tunnelbear	38	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Hide.me	36	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
HideMyAss	32	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Hotspot Shield	34	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
StrongVPN	30	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
StrongVPN	30	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
PureVPN	37	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
SurfShark	34	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES
Torguard	34	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Windscribe	16	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO
Zenmate	33	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Ivacy	38	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
VPN Unlimited	39	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Speedify	0	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
ProtonVPN	40	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
IPVanish	36	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Vypr	31	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Private Internet Access	34	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Air VPN	22	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO
Avast Secureline VPN	34	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Hola	40	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Astrill	26	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO
BulletVPN	38	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
CactusVPN	27	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES
Le VPN	32	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Mullvad	30	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
SurfEasy	18	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Anonymous VPN	22	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
Betternet	32	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
F-Secure Freedome VPN	28	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Kaspersky Secure Connection	14	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
FrootVPN	20	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES
Unlocator	2	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO

Take these results with a pinch of salt. The battle between Netflix, customers, and VPN providers rages on and viable alternatives are still very much in flux. A server that works today may get blocked tomorrow, while new servers and locations are constantly being added.

International Netflix VPNs: by the numbers

ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, PrivateVPN, and Hola all unblocked Netflix in all 20 countries tested on both a desktop browser and the mobile app, more than any other VPNs. (Warning: for your privacy and security, we strongly recommend against using Hola). They are followed by VPN Unlimited, Tunnelbear, Ivacy, and BulletVPN.

The average VPN unblocked Netflix in about 15 countries. When we ran a similar study in 2018, VPNs could only access an average of six international libraries. The trend suggests VPNs across the board have invested in Netflix unblocking to meet customer demand, and Netflix hasn’t kept up.

Likewise, the percentage of VPNs that can unblock the most popular international Netflix libraries went up across the board from 2018 to 2021:

All but four VPNs could access the US version of Netflix, more than any other country. It’s closely followed by Canada, the UK, and Australia. It seems the English-language libraries are the most popular. They also tend to have larger selections of TV shows and movies on average, though that’s not strictly the case.

You may have already realized that, depending on where you live in the world, you could be getting shortchanged when it comes to Netflix content. Below you can see which countries have the largest content libraries:

A European Commission report from 2015 estimates cross-border film availability on Netflix within the EU was just 31 percent, though that figure is likely higher in 2021.

The capability for a VPN to unblock videos on Netflix’s website when viewed in a web browser is slightly more common than on the mobile app. But compared to our previous tests, that gap is shrinking. 555 tests were successful on the desktop website compared to 548 on the Netflix mobile app. In previous years, far fewer VPNs could unblock the official Netflix mobile app: about 80 percent of VPNs that could unblock Netflix could do so on both mobile and desktop in 2018, compared to 99 percent in 2021.

Testing methodology and limitations

Our testers were instructed to do the following and record the results for each VPN and country:

Log into the VPN app
Connect to a server in the list of 20 countries
Attempt to watch any show to check for VPN detection. Record whether the show is accessible or returns a proxy error.
Attempt to watch a show that isn’t available in the US (e.g. Rick and Morty based on https://surfshark.com/blog/netflix-shows-not-available-in-us) on the basis that Netflix may default to the US library. If the tester can watch Rick and Morty (or another show only available in that country) then it means they aren’t watching the US Netflix, and are therefore accessing the Netflix library of the country of the VPN server.
Record results.
Repeat on your mobile device using the Netflix app.

To ensure accuracy, we repeated this entire process twice, for a total of about 3,000 individual tests on desktop and mobile.

In order for a VPN to pass our test, it must be able to unblock Netflix videos out of the box, meaning no manual configuration outside of the VPN app is necessary. It must also bypass Netflix’s firewall with a reasonable degree of consistency—no reconnecting to the same server over and over in the hopes of finding an IP address that hasn’t been blocked. Finally, we used the paid subscription versions of VPNs when available.

Some VPNs redirect users to the US version of Netflix regardless of VPN server location. NordVPN, for example, can unblock Netflix when connected to any country, but can’t specifically unblock Norway’s library. Instead, it uses a DNS proxy to route Netflix requests to the US version when connected to a server in Norway.

A few VPNs bundle smart DNS proxies with their subscriptions, and some of those DNS proxies can unblock Netflix (e.g. Ironsocket DNS, Keenow Unblocker, ExpressVPN MediaStreamer). Due to time constraints and practicality, however, we elected not to test smart DNS services and instead solely focus on VPNs.

Some VPNs unblock Netflix in countries that we didn’t test, and those countries are not accounted for here. Surfshark, for instance, claims to unblock Netflix in 30 countries.

Aside from specifically testing VPNs with Netflix, we run extensive VPN testing to assess all major attributes of VPNs we recommend.

How to unblock and watch Netflix with a VPN (Video)

This video explains how to change Netflix region with a VPN so you can watch shows and movies from international catalogs outside of the country you are located in. For example, you can access US or Japanese Netflix from the UK, Australia, Canada or elsewhere.