The TV shows and movies you can watch on Netflix vary from country to country. Because of licensing agreements, Netflix might have a show in the US that’s not available in the UK, for example. Many people use VPNs to get around these restrictions and watch shows that aren’t normally available where they live.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, tunnels your internet connection through another location, granting access to other countries’ Netflix libraries. In most cases, all you have to do is sign up, install an app, and choose the country where you want to watch.
However, Netflix now blocks most VPN connections, including the vast majority of free VPNs. So, if you’re looking to find a free VPN for Netflix, your chances of finding one that consistently works are slim. Whereas a few paid VPNs can stay one step ahead of Netflix’s blacklist, free VPNs just don’t have the resources to keep up.
A free VPN for Netflix probably isn’t a viable option, but you can make the most of free trials and money-back guarantees for paid VPNs. This gives you full access to all the premium features and performance of a premium VPN. You’ll likely need a credit card or other form of payment to sign up, but as long as you cancel before the offer expires, you won’t be charged.
If you don’t want to read the full article, here’s our shortlist of the top 5 best VPNs for Netflix that you can use for free.
Best free (or free-trial) VPNs for Netflix:
- ExpressVPN: Our top recommendation. This great all-round VPN works on a wide range of devices, unblocks Netflix, and comes with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
- CyberGhost: Best budget option. Unblocks a wide range of streaming services, including Netflix, which you can choose right from the home menu. Includes a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN: This VPN unblocks Netflix in six countries where it’s most popular. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- PrivateVPN: A small but powerful provider that unblocks Netflix and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Windscribe: Unblocks Netflix and offers a free tier that comes with 10GB of data per month.
We chose these VPNs based on the following criteria:
- Unblocks Netflix
- Offers a free trial or guarantee period
- Fast enough to stream high-quality video
- Secure and private
- Good customer support
Best free (or free-trial) VPNs for Netflix
Here are the top five best free VPNs for Netflix in detail:
ExpressVPN is the cream of the crop when it comes to VPNs, and you can try it risk-free for 30 days. It unblocks Netflix US, UK, and Canada. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and certain wifi routers. You can even unblock Netflix on devices that don’t normally support VPNs—game consoles, Apple TV, smart TVs, etc—using the MediaStreamer DNS service that comes packaged with every plan. Up to three devices can be connected at once.
ExpressVPN excels on all fronts including security, speed, and customer support. Its network of servers spans 94 countries.
CyberGhost used to offer a free version of its app but has since switched to a 45-day money-back guarantee. Users can simply choose Netflix from a list of unblock-able streaming services from within the app, rather than guessing at which server or location to use. The app will even launch Netflix in your browser once it’s ready to go.
CyberGhost boasts excellent speeds and security. You should have no problem streaming in HD. The company stores no logs and uses military-grade encryption to keep out snoopers.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Amazon Fire TV and Android. You may connect up to seven devices at once.
NordVPN unblocks Netflix libraries from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands. If you connect to any other NordVPN server, you’ll be directed to the US version.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It allows up to six devices to connect at once and is a cheaper alternative to ExpressVPN. It doesn’t skimp on privacy or performance, either. The company keeps no logs and uses strong encryption. NordVPN operates more than 5,000 servers worldwide. Live chat support is on hand if you require any assistance.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV.
PrivateVPN unblocks Netflix and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Streaming servers are clearly labelled in the app, so there’s no guesswork. It offers speeds suitable for HD streaming without compromising on speed or privacy. This VPN has fewer servers than most, but offers competitive performance and security.
PrivateVPN allows up to six simultaneous connections. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
Windscribe is the only VPN on this list to offer a truly free option. You can use it to stream up to 10 GB worth of data per month. That’s enough to get you through a few episodes before you have to pay up. It reliably unblocks US Netflix as well as a few other streaming sites.
The apps come armed with hardened security and Windscribe keeps no logs. It allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.
But there are tons of VPNs that are actually free!
A quick Google search will turn up no shortage of free VPNs, but the vast majority do not work with Netflix. Netflix actively blacklists known VPN servers, so when you try to watch Netflix through them, you get this error message:
Whoops, something went wrong. Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.
Some (but not all) paid VPN providers have the means and resources to keep their servers off Netflix’s blacklist. Free VPNs do not.
Even if you manage to access Netflix with a free VPN, it probably won’t last long before Netflix snubs it out.
Free VPNs are best avoided for other reasons as well. Many fail to protect your privacy by using weak encryption or no encryption at all. They might record your online activity and sell the data to advertisers. Some even carry malware. Free VPNs still have to make money somehow to cover overhead costs, so they often turn to these shadier sources of income.
Lastly, free VPNs often cap your data or limit bandwidth. That means you’ll get cut off after an episode or two, or the video will be of poor quality. Free VPN servers are often overloaded with users, which causes congestion and slow speeds.