The best Netflix VPNs of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

A Netflix VPN service is a virtual private network compatible with the Netflix streaming service. Using a VPN to access your streaming services can allow you to watch your local content anywhere, or use a server to change your location via IP address and access other content libraries. This may, however, 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.

Many providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth testing 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 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. After all, 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: There’s no point in using a VPN 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.

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.

No, but the company can often detect VPN usage by comparing historical data on your typical locations and logins.

As VPN usage can violate Netflix’s licensing agreements, the company appears to try to track down and block the IP addresses used by VPN providers. Therefore, a server that works one day may not work the next.

Possibly. If the main reason you want a VPN is to access your streaming service while you are away from home, it might be worth paying a few dollars a month for the privilege. VPNs also provide a layer of security that can be important for day-to-day browsing and online activities.

While there are trustworthy free VPNs that don’t sell your information, they are backed by paid subscribers and will simply reduce the server range, number of servers, and speeds on offer. So, they aren’t often the best option for streaming services such as Netflix. 

To use a VPN that won’t drastically reduce your Netflix speeds, you will need a Netflix subscription and a basic, paid VPN plan.

First, choose a reputable VPN vendor with a strong security background. Then, to check that your VPN is working properly, compare your IP address before and after enabling a VPN connection. You can find this in your device’s settings or by visiting whatismyipaddress.com. 

If you see the same IP address, your VPN is probably not working properly, as a VPN should assign you a new IP address. You can also visit dnsleaktest.com to see if any DNS leaks have been detected while using a VPN, which could be a sign that your information is being leaked. 

If you find that some websites can’t be accessed while you’re using a VPN, don’t fret. Some websites will detect and block IP addresses used by the VPN provider. It may not suggest anything to be concerned about — just try connecting to a different server.

You should also be careful with free VPNs, especially if they are outside of official app repositories or from relatively unknown companies. Free is rarely free, and while there are a handful of trustworthy VPN options, many will sell your information.

It can be a cat-and-mouse game between streaming services and VPNs, and so, maybe none of the above options are the best fit for you. If so, consider other noteworthy VPNs for Netflix below: