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If you know what you are doing, it is not difficult to change your Netflix region. This guide will walk you through each step of the process, providing you with the key to unblocking thousands of additional shows and movies. A VPN is the ticket to changing your Netflix country catalog in order to view movies and shows available in that country. Here you will learn which ones are still functional with Netflix, and how they function.
Netflix is accessible in every country except Crimea, China, Syria, and North Korea. Hence, if you subscribe to Netflix, you can use the service to stream television shows and movies in almost every part of the world. There is just one problem. That is access to certain shows and movies is restricted in some countries. Due to licensing agreements between movie and television studios and Netflix, different content is available in different countries or regions. Therefore, some of your favorite shows, which you currently enjoy on Netflix, may not be accessible if you are traveling abroad.
Fortunately, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can make it appear to Netflix as if you are in a different country or region, which unlocks access to shows that were previously restricted. Linking to a VPN in a particular country causes the server to fake your location by disguising the IP address of your device. Hence, it looks like your device is in the same country as the VPN.
There are only a few steps needed to change your Netflix country or region. It takes only a few moments to set up.
Absolutely, following this process will let you view Netflix from anywhere. For instance, if you travel to Europe and wish to view Netflix from America, or you go to Switzerland and wish to view Netflix from England, utilizing a VPN will let you change countries.
Listed here are the 7 best VPNs for changing Netflix's country or region. Later you will get a thorough explanation of each one.
You should know that Netflix works actively to prohibit its subscribers from employing a VPN to gain access to content not available in their own country. This is due to contractual responsibilities. Netflix has become quite skilled at determining when a subscriber is accessing their service through a VPN connection. When they discover an IP address issued by a VPN service, that IP is blocked, eliminating access to streaming services.
Related: Best VPN Services
When this happens, the VPN provider establishes new IPs for their clients to use, which restores Netflix access until Netflix discovers the new IPs and the process starts all over. For this reason, you want a VPN service with the willingness and resources to continue this ongoing process. The providers discussed in this guide have what is necessary, and are willing to keep up this game of quid pro quo with Netflix.
To determine which VPNs are the best, the following six factors were considered:
NordVPN features a system of servers suited to Netflix and top-of-the-line app support while remaining budget-friendly. This provider gives you dependable access to Netflix content in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the U.K., and the U.S., among others. NordVPN provides access to several other streaming services as well. This provider has well over 5,000 servers spread across 60 countries.
NordVPN has specially optimized servers just for video streaming plus its fast connection speeds provide seamless streaming, even when the content is in HD. With unlimited bandwidth and no data caps, you can enjoy endless hours of streaming. Customer support is readily available should you experience any problems.
If your connection with NordVPN is ever broken, kill switch security prevents exposure, meanwhile top-notch encryption hides your online travels. When it comes to security and privacy, NordVPN has you covered. It follows a rigid no-logs policy. No data is collected, including bandwidth. Additionally, some servers feature a special security attribute that optimizes them to shield against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) interruptions.
NordVPN provides native app support for Linux, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms. Also, Firefox and Chrome users can get browser extensions. You can use NordVPN on as many as six devices at once.
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Related: ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN
ExpressVPN is excellent for changing your Netflix country or region. This provider offers quick connection speeds and has a worldwide server system that effortlessly unlocks Netflix. Along with Netflix, this VPN is dependable for unlocking the content of several other streaming services as well. ExpressVPN has 3,000 plus servers positioned in 94 countries across the world. You will be able to access content from the U.K., Canada, the U.S., France, Japan, and other countries.
This provider has super-fast speeds that easily stream content in HD and 4K and there are no data caps or limits on bandwidth. High-class encryption along with a kill switch option means that all of your online activities will always remain completely private. This provider does not keep any records of its clients' internet activity, and with the Bitcoin payment option, you can use a disposable email in order to remain completely anonymous.
ExpressVPN offers extensive customer service in the form of a searchable library, support tickets, email support, and 24/7 live chat support. Native app support is provided for macOS, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, Linux, Kindle Fire, Android, and iOS platforms. There are also extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Connect as many as five devices with one login. Read our ExpressVPN review for more information.
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Related: Cheapest VPNs of the year
This VPN is located in Romania and provides an expanding system of servers with over 5,700 in 90 countries. You will not get quite as much access with this provider as with ExpressVPN, but CyberGhost is dedicated to granting access to U.S. Netflix which has the largest content assortment. You will also get access to France, U.K., and Germany Netflix, among others.
The fast connection speeds offered by this provider effortlessly stream videos in HD, UHD, and 4K. Relax knowing that your internet activities are kept private via banking-grade encryption and kill switch security. CyberGhost offers Bitcoin subscriptions and does not keep server records. Additionally, customer service is available any time of the day or night with a trouble ticket system, searchable library, and chat support.
CyberGhost provides apps for Android, Android TV, macOS, iOS, and Windows. Browser extensions are provided for Firefox and Chrome. Additionally, you can secure all other devices you own with just one access point with this provider's awesome router compatibility. This is also a great choice for big families as it allows up to seven connections at once.
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Surfshark is great for large families and small businesses because it provides unlimited connections. This VPN provides access to U.S., Canada, U.K, Japan, and France Netflix, to name a few. Although this provider only has 500 servers across 50 countries, it works for most subscribers.
Surfshark is fast enough to effortlessly stream HD videos, and under the right circumstances, can handle 4K streams as well. Its connections are well secured with the use of high-level encryption, ad-blocking, and backup kill switch security. Your privacy is safe as well due to Surfshark accepting Bitcoin payments and not keeping records.
Customer support is provided through a searchable library of FAQs, a contact form, and readily available live support. This provider works with all major device platforms and has native apps for Android, Fire TV, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows. Chrome and Firefox browser add-ons are provided as well. Subscribers with other devices can connect through a router.
With Surfshark you can have as many simultaneous connections as you want, there are no limits. This is great for large groups.
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In spite of a small server network, this provider serves 56 countries, which is possible access to a broad range of Netflix content. PrivateVPN will dependably unlock content for Japan, Brazil, Italy, Spain, U.K., and U.S. Netflix along with others. You can also use it to access content on other streaming services. PrivateVPN provides excellent speed that will allow you to watch movies and shows minus the buffering.
This provider lets you connect as many as six devices at once. Mobile apps are provided for iOS and Android. You may also install desktop apps on macOS and Windows.
PrivateVPN offers 128 or 256-bit encryption depending on what you choose. Either one is very secure. In addition, you get backup kill switch security and DNS leak protection. No records are kept so everything you do is completely private.
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Hotspot Shield has a large server network with over 3,200 stationed in over 70 countries. This low priced option is super speedy and provides access to a variety of Netflix libraries as well as other streaming services.
This provider is no slouch when it comes to protection. With Hotspot Shield you can expect security from WebRTC and DNS leaks. Hotspot provides excellent forward secrecy behind 256-bit AES encryption. For Windows users, there is also a kill switch backup. Mobile apps are equipped with automated WiFi security. Although this provider does keep a few records, there is nothing that can be tracked back to any particular subscriber.
All of Hotspot Shield's U.S. servers provide access to U.S. Netflix, which is better than some other providers who only allow Netflix access through a handful of servers. The same is true for other countries such as Netflix Spain, U.K., and Sweden.
Apps are available for macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows. You can access live customer service through chat 24 hours a day, or if you prefer, web forms are available. This VPN allows you to connect as many as five devices at once.
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Located in the U.S., this provider has over 700 fast servers across more than 30 countries. Its dependable service allows access to U.K. and U.S. Netflix content. Streaming servers are labeled as such so there is no need to ask customer support which ones to use. Along with Netflix, SaferVPN unlocks content for other popular streaming services as well.
Despite this provider being in the U.S. you need not worry about privacy because SaferVPN does not record IP addresses or keep any records of user actions. In addition to privacy, you get top-notch security with DNS leak guard, 256-bit AES encryption, and backup kill switch.
With a basic plan, you get apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. SaferVPN lets you connect as many as five devices at once.
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Related: How to get unbanned from Omegle
It is not advisable to use free VPNs for any online activities, especially Netflix. First of all, free VPNs have data caps that they enforce. Video streaming uses a lot of data and the data allowance of a free VPN will be used up in very little time. Secondly, as already stated, Netflix endeavors to block VPN users from their servers and is quite good at it. Several paid VPNs no longer offer dependable Netflix access because of this. This means that it is not likely that a free VPN has the necessary resources to maintain dependable Netflix access.
Finally, using a free VPN provider means sacrificing your online privacy and security. A lot of free VPNs fund themselves by keeping records of your online activities and selling the information. Some free VPNs use tracking cookies and insert ads into your browsing sessions.
Clearly using free VPNs is not safe or dependable for accessing Netflix or any streaming service. Although free seems desirable, especially if you do not have much money, it is much better to choose a low-cost VPN instead.
In the beginning, Netflix only existed in the U.S. However, in the past 10 years, it has spread across the globe. Presently service is offered in most countries throughout the world. The only exceptions are Crimea, China, Syria, and North Korea. However, just because Netflix services most countries, that does not mean you get the same content in every country. The selection of television shows and movies vary greatly from one country to another. Hence, the shows you like to watch in the U.S. may not be available in France or another country.
The reason for this is that some countries do not allow certain shows because of restrictive laws or religion. Also, Netflix's licensing agreements vary by country. The vast majority of available content is found on U.S. Netflix, which currently has 1326 television shows and 4330 movies. On the other hand, viewers in Croatia get only slightly over 200 television shows and less than 600 movies.
In actuality, this is not allowed. Netflix, as well as other streaming sites, has gotten very good at finding and preventing VPN users from accessing content. Although some VPNs, such as the 7 reviewed in this guide, have managed to continue offering dependable Netflix access by eluding their barriers, other providers have not.
Netflix is obligated by its licensing agreements to block VPN users. According to these agreements, Netflix is not permitted to grant access to everything it has in all locations. Obviously Netflix must at least appear to have some means of preventing the worldwide distribution of its entire content via VPN use.
However, if you are caught using a VPN, Netflix only blocks usage from the VPN. There has yet to be a case in which Netflix has canceled a subscription or completely banned a user just because they used a VPN.
A lot of DNS proxies say that they can unlock Netflix as well as other streaming sites. In fact, if they offer IP addresses that Netflix has not blocked, access is possible. That said, Netflix easily finds and blocks DNS proxies, therefore they are not dependable. Furthermore, DNS proxies do not provide the global access that you get from a VPN. More importantly, they do not provide encrypted security, leaving your activities and information vulnerable.
Not only that but, just like free VPNs, DNS proxies often gather and sell your information. They might also use tracking cookies and insert bothersome ads. The one exception to the rule is the MediaStreamer DNS proxy offered by ExpressVPN, which you automatically get with an ExpressVPN subscription. It is used automatically when you link to the VPN but may also be used separately.
Employing any of the VPNs discussed in this guide should allow you access to numerous Netflix catalogs. That said, you might still have a few issues. Following is a list of things you may need to do in order to enjoy the Netflix content of your choice.
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