The Best VPNs for Netflix in 2025

Kris Henges

Mon, October 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM UTC

Using a virtual private network (VPN) allows you to enjoy all of your favorite Netflix TV shows and movies from anywhere. However, not all VPNs can get past Netflix's geoblocks. For the best binge-watching, even across borders, consider these VPNs.

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NordVPN

Best VPN for Netflix Overall
Surfshark

Best Budget Netflix VPN
ExpressVPN

Another Premium Option
Proton VPN

Fastest VPN for Netflix
CyberGhost

Most User-Friendly VPN for Netflix
See More

Windscribe

Best Free VPN for Netflix

What to Look For in a VPN For Netflix

A virtual private network (VPN) gives you more options when accessing streaming websites like Netflix. For example, if you're in the US, you'll only see content in Netflix's US library . The reason for regional variation in content is copyright laws. If Netflix has rights to a certain movie or TV show only in the US, you won't find it in Netflix UK. This content is geoblocked , i.e., only accessible in specific regions.

Netflix checks a user's IP address to determine their physical location. Then, the streaming service understands which content library a user should have access to.

That's where a VPN comes in. A VPN that works with Netflix can help you hide your real IP address and assign you a different IP address that might belong to a different country. When you access Netflix using another country's IP address, Netflix will think you're physically in that region and allow you to access its content library.

For example, when you connect to a VPN server in the UK, the server will access Netflix on your behalf and transmit the content it receives from Netflix. That's how VPNs help you access another country's Netflix library .

All VPNs can assign you another country's IP address, but not all VPNs can get past Netflix's geo-restrictions, and many VPNs do more harm than good . You should look for specific features and characteristics so you can be confident about your choice. For example, you want a VPN that can effectively bypass geoblocks. The only way to find out which ones can do so is to try them, so you'll want to choose a VPN that has been properly tested.

You should also select a fast VPN. Slow VPNs can result in frustrating buffering. While all VPNs reduce speed, the best ones minimize this reduction.

Split tunneling is another desirable feature that allows you to use a VPN for specific apps by creating two tunnels. Traffic in one tunnel goes through the VPN server, while the other goes through your regular internet connection. For example, if you want to access Netflix Japan, you can use the encrypted VPN connection in your browser. On the other hand, you can continue other activities you don't need a VPN for using your unencrypted internet connection. All VPNs in this list offer split tunneling.

Some services also offer specific features to improve the streaming experience, such as streaming-optimized servers or technologies that impact streaming performance (for example, MediaStreamer on ExpressVPN).

Best VPN for Netflix Overall: NordVPN

NordVPN on Mac (4) — Justin Duino / How-To Geek

If you're looking for a VPN specifically for cracking the region restrictions on Netflix and other streaming services, you'll want two things: for the VPN to actually be able to get past geofencing, and not slow your internet speeds down so much that your video constantly buffers. In that case, you can't beat NordVPN .

As one of the bigger, premium VPN names, NordVPN lives up to its reputation of great speeds, ensuring that when you bypass the restrictions on the streaming service of your choice, you'll have no trouble loading and watching whatever you want. When testing the service in our NordVPN review , we noticed that speeds fluctuated at times, but overall, NordVPN ran well.

Finally, while NordVPN is considered one of the more expensive VPN services alongside ExpressVPN, the company usually offers some deep discounts for its various plans, provided that you pay for two years up front. The NordVPN Basic plan, which should be all you need to bypass geofencing on streaming services, is $2.98/month at the time of writing, and you'll get four additional months free on top of that, making it a great deal.

If you're unsure if NordVPN will work for your needs, there's also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can thoroughly test the VPN to make sure it's right for you.

Best Budget Netflix VPN: Surfshark

Surfshark running on Windows-1 — Kris Henges / How-To Geek

For those on a budget, if you're looking to bypass Netflix's region restrictions, you will need to make a few concessions. Thankfully, with Surfshark , the concessions are very minor.

To start, when testing for our Surfshark review , our reviewer was able to easily use UK and US servers to log into Netflix and Hulu with no issues. This is not something most VPN services can so, and with Surfshark's incredibly cheap price, it's even more impressive.

Surfshark's speeds do take a hit, though. The service can be slower than the likes of NordVPN, so you may sometimes experience buffering—but considering you can pay under $2 a month to use the service, you can't expect the same speeds as a premium VPN.

As of the time of writing, Surfshark's Starter plan is $1.99/month if you pay for two years of service upfront. This gives you access to the VPN service on an unlimited number of devices, and for those looking only into cracking streaming services, this plan will work.

However, if you go with the Surfshark One+ plan for $3.99/month, you'll also get a slew of essential security features and Incogni services to remove your personal data online. It's well worth the cost for your security, even if just bypassing geofencing was your goal with a VPN.

Another Premium Netflix VPN Option: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN running on a desktop computer. — Justin Duino / How-To Geek

ExpressVPN checks all the boxes—it's fast, secure, and bypasses Netflix's geo-restrictions without a hitch. With a server network spread across 94 countries, ExpressVPN helps you access your favorite content libraries no matter where you are.

You get unlimited bandwidth and five simultaneous connections with ExpressVPN. This means up to five members can stream virtually any Netflix content library simultaneously, and everyone will get the same, buffer-free streaming experience.

VPNs can slow down your internet speed because your data will need more time to travel through an intermediary server, especially if the server is located far away. However, the speed reduction is minimal when you use ExpressVPN, as you can read in our review :

Without a VPN, we were hitting just under 9.9Mb/sec, with a ping of about 25ms. While connected to ExpressVPN via Lightway UDP, that dropped to around 8.2Mb/sec with a ping of 26. [...] It's hard to predict how these results would translate to the much-faster 100Mb connection we were using only a few months ago. In our experience, we were only losing a couple of megabits and our speed wasn't significantly impacted.

Moreover, ExpressVPN has a feature called MediaStreamer that tackles speed issues. MediaStreamer helps you spoof your location, allowing you to access another country's Netflix library, without the performance drag that comes with encrypting your connection. The connection may be less secure, but you'll get faster speeds.

The biggest downside is that ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market. Its performance justifies the cost, but if you're on a budget, you might want to consider other services on this list.

Fastest VPN for Netflix: Proton VPN

Proton VPN widget on iPad with VPN connected. — Kris Henges / How-To Geek

Proton VPN is another great pick if you're looking for a VPN, especially considering how fast it is. As you can read in our Proton VPN review , it performed extremely well under testing, losing very little speed even on transatlantic connections. This makes it well-suited to anybody who regularly wants to crack Netflix across the pond:

This is an excellent result, with even the connection to faraway Japan showing a very acceptable [speed] loss of less than 25%. This makes Proton VPN a great option for streaming, as you'll still be able to display your shows in high quality even if you're on the other side of the world. The loss of ping, or latency, is unavoidable with VPNs, so this result is still decent.

Proton VPN does more than unlock Netflix. The company has a strong reputation for security and privacy, offering secure email, a password manager, and a VPN. It offers a special stealth mode that masks the fact that you're using a VPN, meaning it's great for people who need to be anonymous online.

Price-wise, Proton VPN is also a pretty good deal. The VPN by itself is $60 per year, though you could also sign up for the full package, which includes all of Proton's products. Called Proton Unlimited, it will set you back $120 per year, which is a pretty good price seeing that you get the full suite of Proton's products.

Most User-Friendly VPN for Netflix: CyberGhost

Cyberghost VPN running on an Apple MacBook Pro computer — Justin Duino / How-To Geek

CyberGhost doesn't offer anything over and above other services regarding streaming. However, as you can read in our CyberGhost review , it beats almost all services in terms of user-friendliness. The interface is clean, well-organized, and, more importantly, detailed.

For example, most VPNs offer a connect button and a list of servers on the home screen. CyberGhost goes a step further by categorizing its server list by purpose so you can find the most optimal server for streaming, torrenting, or gaming, among other things. You can also view the distance between your physical location and the server, allowing you to select the closest server for improved performance.

Interestingly, CyberGhost also offers automation features called "smart rules." For example, you can set a rule where every time you launch CyberGhost, it automatically connects to a UK-based server, allowing you to skip an extra step before you start streaming.

The only downside? CyberGhost tends to be a little slower than comparable services. You might experience occasional buffering, but you should still be able to stream using Netflix.

Best Free VPN for Netflix: Windscribe

Kris Henges / How-To Geek

Windscribe is popular for its generous free plan. Fortunately, the free plan also cuts through Netflix's geo-restrictions just fine. As a free user, you get 10GB of free monthly data and access to servers in 10 countries.

The 10GB offered through the free plan may or may not be enough depending on how much Netflix content you want to stream and the quality you want to stream in. If 10GB sounds too low, Windscribe offers a flexible build-a-plan option which allows you to buy server locations for.

Don't want to build a plan? Windscribe also offers ready-to-use paid plans. However, they are a little more expensive. If you're open to paying for a VPN service, consider one of the other options on our list.

If you plan on trying Windscribe's paid features, the money-back guarantee window is only three days. That's much shorter than other services, so you might want to try the free version first and then the paid features.

Besides the data cap and limited server locations, the free version of Windscribe works perfectly for streaming. Even as a free user, you get top-notch connection speeds and excellent security.

Check out Yahoo's latest streaming advice, based on hands-on testing.

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NordVPN

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Proton VPN

CyberGhost

Windscribe