There’s something truly therapeutic about gathering up all your favorite snacks and drinks, wrapping yourself up in a comfy cushion or blanket, and spending hours in front of a screen. Unfortunately, there’s one big problem with this hobby: the amount of content to keep you entertained is limited.
We’re a greedy bunch, so if you’re a regular streamer, sometimes it feels like you don’t have anything readily available to watch. What do you do when that happens? Don’t panic, there’s a simple solution to this frustrating problem.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re running out of streaming options, you should consider investing in a VPN, which can potentially unlock more shows and movies for you to watch on the services you already subscribe to.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a security tool that protects your information by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). All your online traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel, making all your activity untraceable and secure. No one can see inside the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected from hackers, viruses, malware, and other online threats.
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The act of hiding your real IP address can trick major streaming sites into thinking you’re based in a different country.
Do I need a VPN?
VPNs are used to protect sensitive information, which is obviously very important, but that’s not the only reason they’re popular: these tools can also be used to watch content that’s normally blocked in your region.
By hiding your real IP address and connecting to a server in another country, you can watch all your favorite content from that location. For example, you can watch all the extra movies and shows on American Netflix that are normally inaccessible outside the U.S. There is a ton of content you can access with the help of a VPN.
Everyone needs a way to get around geo-restrictions and access all that blocked entertainment — that’s what a VPN is for. These services are your key to the online world, giving you more access to your favorite shows and movies.
How to unblock US Netflix
If you think it’s difficult to access American Netflix using a VPN, think again. It’s actually a very simple process that anyone can understand.
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Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app for your preferred device (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, etc.)
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Open the app and connect to a US server
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Visit Netflix to watch movies and shows from our US content library
If you’re worried that all of this sounds a bit illegal, rest assured. Currently, it is legal to use a VPN to watch Netflix, but Netflix’s terms of service state: terms of service “Inappropriate” usage may result in your account being restricted without compensation or notice. Not sure what that means, but consider it a warning.
Let us be clear that you need to have a Netflix subscription for this trick to work. A VPN does not grant you free access to streaming sites. Subscribing to a VPN will give you access to more libraries from around the world.
Should I use a free VPN?
Why pay for a VPN when there are plenty of free versions and free trials available? As with most things in life, with a VPN, you get what you pay for.
Free versions always have their drawbacks, and they usually limit data usage. If you only use it occasionally, these plans are fine, but if you stream or download, they won’t work. Free trials are different in that they include everything you get in the paid plans, but of course, they don’t last very long. Trials are great for trying out a service before you commit to it, but they’re not a long-term solution.
To access advanced security features without usage restrictions, you usually have to pay, but services like ProtonVPN offer an impressive feature set for free, although the free version may have issues streaming Netflix.
What is the best VPN for Netflix?
There are plenty of VPN services out there that can effectively unblock American Netflix, but which one is best? There are plenty of powerful options to consider, but you don’t want to waste time checking them all out. To save you time, we’ve handpicked the best options. Each service has a different set of features that make it better for some users than others. It’s all about finding the one that works for you.
ExpressVPN tops this list because it combines must-have features with great results, but it’s not the only option available. This list features all of the best VPNs for unblocking Netflix. There’s something for everyone on this list. We’ve featured great value VPNs like Surfshark, PureVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and NordVPN.
These are the best VPNs for Netflix in 2024.
