Best 5 VPNs for streaming Netflix and other services

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Who should use NordVPN?

For my money, the best option for streaming Netflix is NordVPN. From the very beginning, the service has been challenging the Netflix VPN ban. It’s also succeeded in its goal of making all of its servers work with the streaming service. As of our latest review, Netflix works without a hitch on all servers tested. No matter which international Netflix catalog you want, NordVPN promises to deliver it.

Simply put, everyone looking to use a VPN with streaming services such as Netflix can, and probably should, use NordVPN — it’s really that good for streaming. Between its consistently good speeds and history of successful unblocking, I think NordVPN can’t be beat.

NordVPN has more than 6,000 servers and offers locations in more than 110 countries around the world. It also allows you to choose your specific server so that you can switch around if you need to if Netflix’s ban hammer ever comes down.

For both download and upload speeds, NordVPN is the undisputed fastest VPN overall, and with the company’s success rate of averting bans, it should have no trouble streaming Netflix anywhere in the world.

NordVPN: Further considerations

In addition to top-notch speeds and Netflix compatibility, NordVPN offers multi-hop connections and Meshnet. NordVPN also offers a ton of extra security features including access to the TOR network over VPN, multi-hop connections, Meshnet file sharing network, a security suite complete with ad- and malware-blocking, and Nord’s latest password manager and link-checker safety tool.

The main drawback to NordVPN is its pricing which can be more expensive than many other VPN services. If you can, it’s best to try and wait for a special discount on long-term plans which are offered a few times every year.

Who should use ExpressVPN?

ExpressVPN is right up there with NordVPN as my recommendation for most people. Its great server spread means you’ll likely find a country to connect to no matter where you are. Also, as one of our top VPN’s overall, ExpressVPN will serve you just as well with non-streaming activities as it will unblocking Netflix.

It promises that Netflix will work with every server it has, and our testing showed this to be true. ExpressVPN also offers lightning-fast speeds and the recent Turbo upgrade to it’s Lightway protocol means that it’s now even faster.

ExpressVPN: Further considerations

ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries and has extremely broad app compatibility so no matter what device you want to use it on, you can bet it will work. The service also comes with a good set of additional features such as ad- and tracker-blockers and a built-in password manager. I also believe that ExpressVPN’s app is the best designed VPN app on the market and it’s extremely easy to use even for novices.

The service is on the pricier side but it recently revamped its membership model offering multiple subscription tiers so you can pick the plan that works best for your price range. The lower tiers however don’t always come with quite as many extra features as competitors such as NordVPN or Surfshark.

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Who should use CyberGhost VPN?

If you’re looking for the greatest server spread with the most server locations to choose from then CyberGhost VPN is the ticket. For those who travel a lot or just need access to a wide-ranging server network all over the world, CyberGhost is more than worth your time and money.

When using a VPN to stream Netflix or another service, having a large pool of servers to choose from is a huge benefit. This is because streaming services and VPN providers are in a constant cat-and-mouse game for access to content. And if you want variety and options in the server locations from your VPN, then CyberGhost VPN can’t be beat.

It offers a staggering 9,000+ servers for users to connect to — more than twice as many as most other top services. These servers aren’t all concentrated in the U.S. or Europe either. They boast an equally impressive international server spread covering 120 countries across the world. It even provides optimized servers to users for various needs such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

CyberGhost VPN: Further considerations

CyberGhost has an intuitive and easy-to-use Windows app with good functionality. It lacks some of the power-user features that other VPNs on this list provide, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you’re just looking to use the service to stream.

Additionally, I did find that some of the servers were faster than others, with servers located in Europe having excellent speeds while servers in Asia not so much. The service provides so many servers though that if you encounter a slow connection, there is likely another server in the same country with faster speeds. All-in-all, in my testing I found that the speeds were good enough to stream on practically any and all of CyberGhost’s servers.

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Who should use Surfshark?

Surfshark does most everything well for a very low price and that makes it an excellent option for those looking to unblock Netflix without breaking the bank. It has blazing-fast speeds, a robust feature set, and excellent privacy credentials thanks to its no-log policy and multiple independent audits. A subscription comes with all of your standard VPN features, plus highly customizable multi-hop connections, identity protection tools, and antivirus/malware protection. Every single server I’ve ever tested with Surfshark was able to unblock Netflix and any other streaming service I accessed.

But the best thing about Surfshark is the price. With a subscription to its 2-year plan you’ll get comprehensive protection for just over $2 per month. That’s ridiculously cheap for a premium VPN service. Surfshark is a great all-around VPN option for most people. That being said, those who don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a VPN to access Netflix will find that Surfshark checks all of the boxes. If you want to save some money and get one of the best VPNs on the market, look no further.

Surfshark: Further considerations

While the price for long-term plans are very affordable, a monthly subscription to Surfshark is quite expensive. I typically advise against long-term VPN plans as the market changes so frequently, but Surfshark is a rare exception. It’s an established company with a reliable track-record and consistently good service. Just be aware that it’s only considered ‘cheap’ if you’re willing to opt for a long-term plan.

Something else that potential users should be aware of is that Surfshark is based out of the Netherlands. The country itself has strong personal privacy laws, but it’s a member nation of the 14 Eyes Data Sharing Alliance, meaning the government could require Surfshark to share user data if asked. The company maintains a strict no-logs policy so this shouldn’t matter, but it’s still something privacy-conscious users should be aware of before committing.

Who should use Proton VPN?

Unlike the rest of the VPNs on this list, you won’t have to pay a dime to use Proton VPN’s free tier. The free version specifically will appeal to those on a tight budget, or those who just need a VPN to do the occasional online task safely and securely online. Whether you opt for the free or paid version, Proton VPN is a good option for anyone.

It does restrict you to a one-device limit and access to five servers located in countries across the world. These restrictions are fairly common among other free VPNs, but where Proton really shines is in the fact that it has no data or time limits and doesn’t even serve you ads either.

In my testing, I had no problems accessing Netflix or other streaming services on Proton VPN’s free U.S. servers, but I did encounter a few blocks on servers in other parts of the world. Still, I would assume this was only a temporary problem in the ever-changing game of cat-and-mouse that VPNs play with streaming services. Especially with a free VPN, this is just something that comes with the territory. There are currently no better options for streaming unlimited content with a free VPN, and certainly none with as trustworthy of a reputation as Proton VPN.

Proton VPN: Further considerations

The VPN is from the same company behind Proton Mail, a privacy-focused email service, so it’s very easy to integrate the VPN into the whole Proton ecosystem if you so wish.

The company has undergone multiple independent audits confirming its no-logs policy — including the free VPN, as well. The premium version’s monthly price is expensive though, so it’s probably best to try out the free version first before considering an upgrade.

Most likely you will see a moderate speed decrease to your internet while using a VPN. This is mainly due to the process of your internet traffic being rerouted and encrypted through a VPN server before heading on to its destination. The amount of latency you will experience through this process is down to what country’s server you choose to route your traffic through. If you choose a server located on the other side of the world, then you will generally notice a much greater hit than if you were to connect to a server nearby in your same country.

Thankfully, most modern VPNs should have the infrastructure to maintain high-speed and secure data transfer rates. So it’s likely you can still browse and stream without much of a noticeable impact while using a reliable VPN like those on this list.