Ah, Netflix! It is the Holy Grail of streaming services. Everyone across the world wants to watch streaming T.V. shows and movies that Netflix has to offer. It is not that Netflix is not accessible to them. It is just that they all want to get access to the Netflix U.S. library, which arguably has the best collection of shows.
Unfortunately, Netflix has geo-restrictions in place. People from one country cannot watch the contents of another country. This is where VPNs step in. VPNs are the only way to access the U.S. library or any other library that Netflix offers in different countries.
VPNs are designed to mask the true location of a user. This allows people to bypass geo-restrictions. How does that work?
Simple! Let’s assume that you are from Germany, and you want to access Netflix’s U.S. library. When you use a VPN, you can select to connect to a VPN server located in the U.S. So, Netflix will believe that your traffic originates from the United States and not from any other country.
When Netflix’s geo-restriction filter thinks of you as a user from the U.S., it will allow you to access the U.S. library.
Isn’t that simple!
However, you need to understand that not all VPNs are good at bypassing geo-restrictions of streaming services like Netflix. Netflix, in particular, has a very aggressive filter that can identify VPN traffic. So, only the best VPNs in the world can give you access to Netflix’s restricted libraries.
The top VPNs work tirelessly to bypass Netflix’s powerful and sensitive geo-restriction tools that keep updating to mitigate the threat posed by VPNs. The ever-increasing sensitivity is what makes it difficult for VPNs to bypass the filters.
So, if you are looking for a VPN that will allow you to effortlessly access Netflix libraries across the world, here is my top list:
1. ExpressVPN – The Best of the Herd
ExpressVPN offers the most advanced VPN technology in the world for streaming content. Its ultra-fast SSD servers allow streaming even HD and 4K videos without any problem of buffering. Well, if you have read my review of ExpressVPN, you must already know that it is the second-fastest VPN in the world.
The company offers servers globally in 90+ countries. You can use any server location and access the Netflix library in that country. If Netflix U.S. is your top priority, rest assured that ExpressVPN will give you unfettered access to the U.S. library.
The company offers military-grade AES encryption and myriads of other security features that will help you to stay anonymous online. With its 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it out risk-free!
Yes, ExpressVPN is cross-platform, which means that you can use it on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and even routers.
2. NordVPN – The Fastest of the Herd
The only reason why NordVPN is taking the second spot on this list is the lack of RAM-only storage. Put that thing aside, and NordVPN is the fastest known VPN in this world. My experience with NordVPN tells me that you can easily bypass Netflix’s geo-restriction.
The company offers 6 simultaneous connections, logs no user data, offers free malware protection suit, and it can even bypass the Great Firewall of China. Netflix is not at all a challenge for it.
The high-speed servers ensure that you get to enough buffering-free HD streaming. It is compatible with various platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, etc. The cherry on the top, it is cheaper than ExpressVPN.
Irrespective of where in the world you are located, you can enjoy Netflix’s US library without buffering.
3. CyberGhost VPN – Use It Only If You Are Close to the U.S.A.
CyberGhost has servers in over 90 countries and offers a set of security features similar to ExpressVPN and NordVPN. However, you need to understand that CyberGhost is not as fast as NordVPN or ExpressVPN. However, it does provide a decent speed.
If you want to stream Netflix content over CyberGhost, make sure that you are located close enough to the country whose Netflix library you want to access. You can easily stream in HD if you are close enough.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said if you are located in a very distant country. For instance, if you want to access the U.S. library from Australia, you will have a very difficult time.
The good thing is that CyberGhost has specialty servers for streaming. It means that you know right from the onset that those servers will unblock Netflix.
CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. So, you can try it, risk-free! If you want to know more about CyberGhost, read my full review.
4. SurfShark VPN – A Reliable Choice for Netflix
Okay, it might not be the fastest VPN globally, but it definitely is one of the most reliable VPN providers in terms of speed. They maintain a consistent speed worldwide and provide a decent speed to stream Netflix content without buffering.
Yes, SurfShark will indeed have high ping times, but you shouldn’t be worried about it unless you want to play online games. High ping times do not interfere with Netflix streaming at all.
They are also one of the cheapest VPN providers in the world with a host of interesting features and rock-solid security to keep your identity and information safe when you go online. It supports all major platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, FireTV, Android TV, PlayStation, and more.
If you want to know more about this service, I have a full review of it. Feel free to read it anytime you want. I forgot to mention! SurfShark subscription will give you unlimited simultaneous connections against a single subscription. That’s hard to find!
5. PrivateVPN – They Have Clear Labelling
PrivateVPN is something that I will not recommend to users, and here is the reason why. However, if streaming unblocking Netflix is your only concern, PrivateVPN is one of the finest you can get.
Unlike most VPN providers who don’t clearly say which servers can unblock Netflix, PrivateVPN actually labels their servers clearly, mentioning which servers work with which services.
The speed that PrivateVPN provides is good enough for streaming HD content without a hint of buffering.
You can connect up to 6 devices against a single license, but you can make it unlimited if you install the VPN on a compatible router. They have a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. So, feel free to test it out. If you don’t like it, ask for a refund, and they will pay you back.
6. Hotspot Shield VPN – It Is a Good Option
Though I don’t recommend Hotspot Shield VPN because of its issues with privacy and DNS leak tests, I have to agree to the fact that it is a solid choice for streaming Netflix content.
But there is a catch! Though the company says that all its servers can access Netflix’s US libraries, it is not true. Some servers fail to bypass Netflix’s sensitive geo-restrictions. So, you have to undergo a few trial and error sessions to find the servers that work.
Those that work will stream content without any buffering, even if you are streaming in HD. That’s incredible.
They have a 45-day refund policy, so you may try out their services without the risk of losing your money. The VPN supports all major platforms that include Windows, macOS, Linux, Routers, Android, iOS, etc. You can install the VPN client on 5 devices simultaneously against your single premium license.
As before, there’s a full review that you can go through and learn why I don’t recommend this VPN to those who are concerned about privacy.
Conclusion
The list above contains the VPNs that I prefer. You may disagree. The thing is that you should be able to stream HD content from Netflix without buffering if you are in a country that is close enough to the country whose Netflix library you want to access.
As I keep saying repeatedly, choose your VPN provider wisely. If privacy is your major concern, VPNs like PrivateVPN, Hotspot Shield VPN, etc. should not be on your list. However, if streaming is the only thing you want your VPN to work hard on, many premium VPN providers will do that with ease.
As long as a VPN provider is offering 35-40 Mbps of download speed on their servers, you should be good to go! Buffering will be a thing of the past, and you can enjoy HD content!