The Netflix You See Is Different from Netflix Abroad
It’s a common misconception that the video streaming services we use offer the same content globally, but that isn’t the case. The availability of shows can differ significantly from one country to another, as streaming platforms like Netflix form various agreements with studios in specific markets. A prime example is Rick & Morty: While it was once available on Netflix in the US, you now need a Hulu or Max subscription to follow their adventures due to local licensing arrangements between the streamers and Warner Brothers. Conversely, viewers in Australia and several other countries can still enjoy their antics on Netflix.
As a Netflix subscriber, you can only access libraries tailored to the country you’re connecting from. Netflix identifies your location by reading your IP address, and serves up a library of content specific to that region. Different regions have assorted agreements with various studios, which means the Netflix libraries aren’t uniform across the globe.
Although these libraries often contain many common shows, there are just as many that are unique to each region. To guarantee uninterrupted access to your favorite series regardless of your location, using a VPN to mask your location is essential.
However, Netflix’s engineers have recognized this tactic as well. When a VPN is detected, Netflix attempts to block it using several methods. One straightforward method is monitoring traffic patterns. If several IP addresses from the same server consistently connect at all hours, Netflix can analyze the traffic to determine if it belongs to a single user or a VPN service. If identified as a VPN, that particular IP address block could be banned entirely from Netflix. Alternatively, you might find that your VPN access is restricted to a limited library, which we’ll discuss in more detail below.
The Best VPNs for Watching Netflix in the US
In this article, we considered two main scenarios for using a VPN with Netflix. The first is when you’re traveling abroad and are unable to continue viewing a show started in your home country. While that’s a real dilemma, we suspect that just as many of you (if not more) are interested in the second scenario—gaining access to Netflix content that is currently unavailable in your home country.
This leads to a complex ethical question. Utilizing a VPN for Netflix (or other streaming services) to watch content that has been licensed in another country differs from downloading copyrighted material without payment. After all, you are still a paying customer of Netflix. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, accessing content that isn’t available in your home country does violate the rules—even if it’s completely unavailable for purchase in your location.
How We Test Netflix on VPNs
For our testing, we installed various VPNs and tried to access Netflix while connected to servers in different countries. We connected to VPN servers in Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US. While these regions are not exhaustive of Netflix’s global service, we chose them due to their population size and distinct content licensing agreements.
For each VPN service, we utilized any unblocking tools available in the desktop application. We began with a Chrome browser logged into a single Netflix account and opened a new Incognito window each time the VPN connected to a new location. Each VPN was allowed five attempts to load content from a specific location while using a different IP address for each attempt. This sometimes involved switching to different servers in the same location or trying a completely different location within the same country. If a VPN offers specific servers for streaming, we prioritized those first.
What Is Blocked, Open, and Limited Streaming Access?
During our testing, we encountered three distinct results from Netflix. The first state resembles a typical connection within a specific country, allowing us to view and stream all content in that region’s library without any obstacles. We refer to this condition as Open.
The second state is labeled Blocked, where attempts to stream content lead to an error message.
The third state is a hybrid where we can only view and stream a limited selection of films and series, mainly Netflix Originals. The offerings on the homepage vary by region, but searches yield the same limited selection of Originals. We refer to this state as Limited.
By comparing this year’s results with those of previous years, we’ve observed an interesting trend: outright blocks from VPNs have become increasingly rare; 20 out of the 23 VPNs we evaluated were categorized as either Open or Limited in every region tested. This was most frequently observed with Australian or Japanese VPN servers, while many tested VPNs remained Open in the US, UK, and Canada.
This might be frustrating for those trying to access region-restricted content in Australia or Japan, but it represents a marked improvement for most users attempting to bypass local Netflix restrictions. It seems that Netflix is recognizing the futility of stopping VPN usage outright, opting instead for a more manageable solution by allowing enough Originals to maintain subscriptions.
How Does a VPN Affect Netflix Playback?
Streaming video can be bandwidth-intensive, particularly for HD quality or higher. For 4K video, Netflix recommends a minimum download speed of 15 Mbps, whereas 1080p requires at least 5 Mbps.
To collect the speed data in the preceding chart, we measured the percentage change in speeds between an unconnected VPN and one that was activated on an Intel NUC 13 Extreme Kit (‘Raptor Canyon’) benchmark PC. Keep in mind, your results will likely differ as every VPN provider has varying bandwidth capabilities based on your connection location, the selected server, and even the time of day.
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For instance, while peak speeds in our tests may have been high, they could be attributed to the presence of many VPN providers in Manhattan, where we also conducted our tests. However, if we tried to stream a show in New York City that’s exclusively available in the UK, all data must travel between the UK and the US before reaching your device. Longer distances typically lead to slower speeds, and our findings reflect expected performance on local connections in densely populated areas.
How to Unblock Netflix With a VPN
If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself with the highest likelihood of success, you have a few strategies to consider. First, utilize the specific servers marked for streaming by your VPN provider. Many VPN companies are aware of their users’ desire to stream content, and several offer servers optimized for streaming in popular regions. These are most likely to provide Open libraries on the VPN’s network.
Another option is to purchase a static IP address. This means that rather than being assigned a random IP each time you connect to the VPN, you’ll maintain the same IP address. The downside is that this can reduce your anonymity, as this fixed address is uniquely yours, making it easier for observant parties to link your online actions back to you. However, because Netflix can block access based on IP address ranges, a static IP may enjoy greater longevity without being Blocked or Limited by Netflix. These may come at a higher cost, so consider the risk if your only interest is streaming.
(Credit: NordVPN/PCMag)
After locating the right server type, simply activate the VPN on your device and access Netflix as you normally would.
It’s worth noting that gaining access to Netflix through a VPN is always subject to change. What works today may be blocked tomorrow, and the only way to confirm is to personally test it. We suggest starting with a short-term VPN subscription or a free trial in order to evaluate performance on Netflix in the regions that interest you before committing to a longer, more expensive plan.
In the case of free VPNs, these often prove to be the least reliable for accessing Netflix. As free servers tend to attract the highest user volume, their usage patterns become easily recognizable to Netflix. They often utilize IP addresses that get blocked quickly and frequently, and won’t adequately represent the unblocking experience available through paid servers from a VPN provider.
