The best Netflix VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Surfshark is a budget-friendly, easy-to-use VPN with a loyal customer base. It isn’t always the fastest option, and you may struggle to connect when servers are far from your original location. 

Overall, you can still take advantage of servers in 100 countries. Speed loss isn’t always noticeable when streaming, and this VPN offers excellent value for money.

Review: Surfshark VPN

When we used Surfshark to access Netflix, some countries, including Japan, were originally blocked. When we switched to a different server, the library was accessible. We could easily browse Netflix and watch global content, but we had less luck overall accessing geo-restricted films and TV shows.

Customers say that customer support is excellent, although some have experienced internet protocol (IP) blocking issues. 

The cheapest two-year subscription is Surfshark Starter, which costs $2.19 per month and includes three months of free access. A one-year plan at the basic level costs $3.19 per month — with three months free — while one month of VPN service costs $15.45.

Surfshark features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Ad-blocker | Two-factor authentication | Kill switch: Yes | Countries: 100 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, and routers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android, iOS, and macOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.4 | Google Play rating: 4.6 | App Store rating: 4.7

Surfshark is a budget-friendly, easy-to-use VPN with a loyal customer base. It isn’t always the fastest option, and you may struggle to connect when servers are far from your original location. 

Overall, you can still take advantage of servers in 100 countries. Speed loss isn’t always noticeable when streaming, and this VPN offers excellent value for money.

Review: Surfshark VPN

When we used Surfshark to access Netflix, some countries, including Japan, were originally blocked. When we switched to a different server, the library was accessible. We could easily browse Netflix and watch global content, but we had less luck overall accessing geo-restricted films and TV shows.

Customers say that customer support is excellent, although some have experienced internet protocol (IP) blocking issues. 

The cheapest two-year subscription is Surfshark Starter, which costs $2.19 per month and includes three months of free access. A one-year plan at the basic level costs $3.19 per month — with three months free — while one month of VPN service costs $15.45.

Surfshark features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Ad-blocker | Two-factor authentication | Kill switch: Yes | Countries: 100 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, and routers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android, iOS, and macOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.4 | Google Play rating: 4.6 | App Store rating: 4.7

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Private Internet Access (PIA) is another excellent VPN for streaming, and it did not disappoint when it came to Netflix.

PIA, together with NordVPN, provided the least amount of hassle for Netflix access. We didn’t encounter any blocks during testing. Regarding films and TV shows, we could access some geo-locked content and libraries, but in most cases, we were limited to Netflix originals and globally licensed content.

This could be your best bet if you just want to access Netflix while you’re away from home. PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use it on your PC, tablet, smartphone, and other devices at the same time.

Review: Private Internet Access

If you’re willing to sign up for two years, you will pay the equivalent of $2.19 per month and get two months of free access. Alternatively, you can opt for a six-month term for $7.50 per month.

PIA customer feedback indicates that many users are happy with this VPN, which can be used as a set-and-forget service.  

Private Internet Access VPN features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, routers, Fire TV, and NAS | Countries: 91 | Logging: No-logs policy | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.3 | Google Play rating: 4.4 | App Store rating: 4.7

Private Internet Access (PIA) is another excellent VPN for streaming, and it did not disappoint when it came to Netflix.

PIA, together with NordVPN, provided the least amount of hassle for Netflix access. We didn’t encounter any blocks during testing. Regarding films and TV shows, we could access some geo-locked content and libraries, but in most cases, we were limited to Netflix originals and globally licensed content.

This could be your best bet if you just want to access Netflix while you’re away from home. PIA offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use it on your PC, tablet, smartphone, and other devices at the same time.

Review: Private Internet Access

If you’re willing to sign up for two years, you will pay the equivalent of $2.19 per month and get two months of free access. Alternatively, you can opt for a six-month term for $7.50 per month.

PIA customer feedback indicates that many users are happy with this VPN, which can be used as a set-and-forget service.  

Private Internet Access VPN features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, routers, Fire TV, and NAS | Countries: 91 | Logging: No-logs policy | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.3 | Google Play rating: 4.4 | App Store rating: 4.7

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Also: The best streaming VPNs: Expert tested

Netflix VPNs, compared

VPN

Price

Simultaneous connections

Access to Netflix

NordVPN

$3.39 per month

10

Yes, solid performance, some limits

Surfshark

$2.19 per month

Unlimited

Yes, some blocks, overall good access, some limits

ExpressVPN

$5 per month

8

Yes, several blocks, some limits

Private Internet Access

$2.19 per month

Unlimited

Yes, some restricted content

CyberGhost

$2.19 per month

7

Yes, some restricted content

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What is a Netflix VPN service and why should you use one?

A Netflix VPN service is a virtual private network compatible with the popular streaming service. Using a VPN to access streaming platforms allows you to watch your local content anywhere. You can also use a server to change your location via IP address and access other content libraries. This may go against Netflix’s licensing agreements.

See also: What is a VPN and why do you need one?

Netflix says that if a VPN is detected, the service will only show you content for which the company has global rights. During our testing, however, we found this isn’t always the case.

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How to set up a Netflix VPN

There are different ways to set up a VPN to work with your Netflix subscription. 

Netflix says that using a VPN isn’t permitted on an ad-supported plan. In addition, the company says that if you use a VPN, Netflix will only make available shows that have been licensed worldwide and won’t offer live events. This is assuming that Netflix detects your VPN. In our testing, we found that Netflix sometimes fails to detect VPN usage.

Setting up a VPN for Netflix will differ depending on your preferred service, but most of the steps will be the same. First, decide how you want to install your VPN for Netflix. If you are on a PC, you can visit your VPN’s website and download the app directly. For smartphones, you will need to visit Google Play or Apple’s App Store. On your TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV, you will need to check if a native app is available.

Once you have downloaded your VPN, sign in using your login credentials, select your preferred country and server, and connect. Visit Netflix to see if you have access.

During our testing, we found that very few VPNs were blocked outright. It was far more common for libraries to be restricted to globally licensed content when Netflix wasn’t sure of the region. It might make sense for Netflix to adopt this approach rather than locking down libraries outright.

See also: How to set up a VPN on your router

How we test VPNs

Many providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth tests and reviews by members of the ZDNET team. We’ve been talking about VPNs for years, spoken with their management and their users, and developed a generally favorable impression.

ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can’t test from all locations. Every home, community, local internet service provider (ISP), and nation has a different infrastructure. 

We analyzed the best VPNs for Netflix below using the following criteria that were most important in helping you make an informed decision:

  • Performance: Our top VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. There’s no point in using a VPN while streaming Netflix content if your connection continually drops or lags.
  • Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit the number of devices you can connect to a service simultaneously. If you have a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, or smart TV you want to connect to a VPN, you need a service that allows at least five or six simultaneous connections.
  • Security: A VPN is useless unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured that the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements over time and patching reported bugs.
  • Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection. It is an important feature for a VPN, as it protects you by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.
  • Geo-blocks and streaming: VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you’re away from home. We ensured that our top recommendations performed well considering these factors and are unlikely to slow down your connection while streaming, although we can’t guarantee that every VPN will consistently work with Netflix. We also tested access to geo-locked libraries, although we don’t suggest you use a VPN for such circumvention.
  • Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our Netflix VPN recommendations have to offer easy-to-use and intuitive apps suitable for various hardware. 
  • Countries and servers: In how many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether there are enough — at least 50 or so — to provide variety.
  • Trial length and price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee of at least 30 days.

For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page.

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Choosing the right Netflix VPN

Choose this Netflix VPN…

If you want…

NordVPN

A do-it-all, fast, and secure VPN with good access to Netflix, geo-locked libraries, and few restrictions. NordVPN offers a massive server network with plenty of countries to choose from.

Surfshark

An affordable VPN with a decent success rate in accessing Netflix. Surfshark’s speed isn’t the greatest compared to competitors, but it is one of the best affordable VPNs for streaming. 

ExpressVPN

A fast VPN service. ExpressVPN offers some of the lowest speed loss, stable connectivity, and an expansive server network. Switching servers is not too much of a hassle if you encounter a block.

Private Internet Access

A VPN service with unlimited simultaneous connections. PIA is a great option for watching Netflix while you’re on the move and when you want to access the service from multiple devices at the same time.

CyberGhost

A solid VPN that is excellent for streaming. CyberGhost provides servers optimized for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, and has a good success rate when accessing Netflix.

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Factors to consider when choosing a Netflix VPN

When you are selecting your new Netflix VPN, you need to consider the following factors:

  • Speed: There’s nothing worse than loading up your favorite Netflix show only to experience lag or failures to load. Choose a VPN that provides consistently strong speeds and a stable connection.
  • Use cases: Some VPNs are better than others when accessing streaming services. Consider which service you need to access with the VPN.
  • Geo-locking: Some VPN users might want to access Netflix content in libraries not typically available in their home country. While we don’t suggest you do so, if this is your intention, you will need to consider how often the IP addresses used by your VPN are detected and blocked. Customer reviews might be worth reading.
  • Price: You can subscribe to a VPN for as little as a few dollars a month, but if you want a VPN that is reliable in certain locked-down countries — such as China — you will likely have to pay more.

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