How to Watch American Netflix With a VPN: Updated in 2024

Netflix US is one of the biggest content libraries, and you can’t access it elsewhere due to its licensing agreements with American networks and production companies. To watch shows exclusive to American Netflix, you need to be in the US, using a local IP address.

A VPN can technically change your IP address to one from the US to access American Netflix, even if you’re actually located elsewhere. However, it’s against Netflix’s terms of service. Since it could be regarded as copyright infringement, my team and I don’t condone this.

If you want to use a VPN without it affecting your Netflix streaming locally in the US, it’s tough to find one that actually works — Netflix blocks VPN connections to protect its distribution agreements. However, our VPN tester in the US found a few VPNs that work reliably. ExpressVPN is the best for Netflix US because it has the fastest speeds for UHD streaming and works reliably.

Watch Netflix US in UHD

Quick Guide: How to Watch US Netflix With a VPN in 3 Easy Steps

If you’re watching Netflix US on your PC or mobile device, setup is easy — most VPNs are directly compatible with these platforms, so you can download your VPN app and start streaming right away.

How to Watch American Netflix With a VPN on Other Devices

If you want to watch Netflix US on other devices, sometimes the setup isn’t quite so straightforward. Take a look at the following guides for Amazon Fire Stick, smart TVs, and routers to learn how to establish a VPN connection for Netflix streaming on the screen of your choice.

Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV

Router (Best for Xbox One, PlayStation, Smart TVs, & Streaming Sticks)

When you connect a VPN to your router, every device using the network is also connected to the VPN. This includes gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch), smart TVs (Apple, Samsung, and LG), and even streaming sticks (Roku and Chromecast).

This is the easiest way to set up a VPN with your smart TV, game console, or streaming stick. However, make sure you have a VPN-compatible router and follow your VPN’s setup guide correctly, as a mistake could damage your router permanently.

Android TV (Sony, Hisense, and Phillips)

Important! Neither I nor my team condone copyright infringement. All the VPNs we recommend for US Netflix come with no-logs policies and won’t monitor your online actions. This means it’s solely up to you to use your VPN responsibly. Please don’t break Netflix’s terms of service.

The Best VPNs to Watch US Netflix — Tested 2024

1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN With the Fastest Connections for Streaming Netflix US in UHD Without Lags

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN has impressive speeds for streaming Netflix US without buffers, especially with its Lightway protocol. During tests, it only reduced speeds by 12% on average — a negligible amount considering the encryption. This is fast enough for UHD streaming on Netflix US. Even if your internet is slow, you’re unlikely to notice a significant reduction with ExpressVPN.

Our team of testers confirmed that the servers in all US locations, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Phoenix, worked with Netflix US on the first try. Unlike most VPNs, ExpressVPN refreshes its IP addresses regularly to keep up with Netflix’s blocks. This is why it’s so reliable with Netflix as well as other US services like Hulu and Sling TV.

You can stream Netflix US safely on all your devices, as ExpressVPN provides native app support for many popular platforms — Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire devices, routers, and more.

For devices that don’t support a VPN app, like a Roku streaming stick or a game console, ExpressVPN has a MediaStreamer Smart DNS feature. It only took a few minutes to set up on my PlayStation 5. MediaStreamer doesn’t encrypt like a VPN, but it makes streaming possible — most VPNs’ Smart DNS don’t work with Netflix US.

To keep your Netflix US streaming secure and private, ExpressVPN features AES-256-bit encryption, data leak protection, plus the following features:

• Obfuscated servers — watch Netflix US on networks that block VPNs, such as at school and workplaces.
• Split tunneling — encrypt your Netflix US traffic while excluding other apps or browsing activity to get the best speeds.
• Browser extensions — use the Chrome and Firefox extensions to conveniently watch Netflix US in your browser without having to open the ExpressVPN app.
• Network Lock — blocks the internet to prevent data leakages that could trigger Netflix’s proxy error messages if the VPN is interrupted.
• Private DNS — stream Netflix without letting your ISP, public WiFi operators, marketers, hackers, and other third parties know.

My only concern with ExpressVPN is that it’s a little more expensive than other VPNs. However, I think the 1-year + 3 months plan is well worth the $6.67 monthly price, considering that it worked reliably with Netflix US, compared to other VPNs.

Fortunately, you can try it risk-free with any plan you choose. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund within 30 days with the money-back guarantee. When I contacted ExpressVPN over 24/7 live chat, the support agent approved my request instantly without asking for a reason for leaving. Best of all, I had my money back within 5 days.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Netflix US Servers Provide the Best Streaming Experience

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,780+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost has 3 servers specifically optimized for streaming US Netflix, including Fire Stick and Android TV servers. They’re tested regularly by in-house staff to ensure they work with and provide the best speeds and video quality. During tests, CyberGhost’s optimized servers consistently connected to the Netflix US library without being blocked.

Besides top security features like AES 256-bit encryption and a kill switch, CyberGhost boosts your Netflix US streaming with:

• WiFi Protection — starts a VPN connection automatically using public hotspots so you can stream Netflix without being spied on.
• Auto app launch — opens Netflix as soon as CyberGhost connects to a US server for quick streaming.
• RAM-based network — stores none of your Netflix streaming histories within its servers.
• Dedicated IP address — stream with an exclusive IP that’s less likely to be blocked by Netflix for a small fee.

You can use CyberGhost on up to 7 devices at the same time. It has native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire devices. Though it offers Smart DNS for incompatible devices, it didn’t work with Netflix US during tests. You can do a router configuration, but this is not a straightforward process with CyberGhost as it doesn’t provide firmware.

I had great speeds with all local CyberGhost servers. But if you’re more than 1,500 miles away, you might notice a bigger slowdown than ExpressVPN. The optimized servers however, are fast no matter where you’re located in the US. Additionally, the regular servers in your area might also work with Netflix, so give those a try as well for the best speeds.

CyberGhost’s plans are affordable and start at $2.03/month with the 2-year + 4 months subscription, and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. If you change your mind about the service, getting a refund is hassle-free. I tested it myself, and it took less than 5 minutes to get my refund request approved over the 24/7 live chat. I was refunded within the week.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Servers in Every US State Provide Local Netflix Connections

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PIA has nearby servers in every US state for streaming Netflix without slowdowns caused by distance. Besides the 50 US locations, it also has 2 streaming-optimized servers. My colleagues tested both optimized connections and the servers in California, Chicago, and New York — all worked with Netflix US.

The US servers provided consistently fast connections to stream Netflix in UHD. Tests averaged a 28% decline, which wasn’t significant as my network was fast. If your home baseline connection is less than 20Mbps, you may notice some lagging — I recommend using the WireGuard protocol as it’s the fastest.

Another reason I recommend PIA is that it provides several advanced features for the best experience streaming Netflix US:

• Customization options — adjust settings like encryption levels and data packet size to improve speeds, if shows start to lag.
• Dedicated IP — provides an exclusive US IP that’s not easily blocked by Netflix.
• Advanced kill switch — delays internet connection until the VPN connection has been re-established to stop data leakages that could cause Netflix to block your traffic.

I found PIA easy to download and install with apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire devices. Since it allows unlimited devices on a single subscription, you can connect every device in the house to PIA’s US servers. I didn’t notice an impact on speed with 12 connections running at the same time during my tests.

For beginners, PIA can be a bit tricky to use due to its customization options. However, I got used to it within a week and found the settings useful to improve my streaming quality.

Since every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can use it as a free trial. Even though it’s one of the best monthly VPNs, I recommend its 2-year + 4 months plan as it’s only $2.03 a month. You’ll pay more upfront, but can use it longer and still get a full refund when you’re done. I contacted support via 24/7 live chat and got all my money back in 7 days.

4. NordVPN — Almost 2,000 US Servers for Streaming Netflix Without Overcrowding

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	6,320+
📱Devices	10
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

NordVPN has an extensive US network for buffer-free Netflix streaming. Overcrowded servers have to deal with too many requests, which can result in poor performance. But since there were almost 2,000 in the US to choose from, none of NordVPN’s servers were crowded or slow during tests. For the best streaming speeds, I recommend using its NordLynx protocol.

During tests, all 40 servers that were tested with Netflix US in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and St. Louis worked on the first try. It uses strong encryption standards like AES 256-bit to secure your data while streaming on public networks, and other safety features like:

• Obfuscated servers — allows you to watch Netflix without being detected and blocked by anti-VPN firewalls.
• Audited no-log policy — proven to store no data concerning your connection or streaming history on its servers.

Another reason to use this VPN is that NordVPN has a built-in SmartPlay feature that works with the US library as long as you’re connected to its server. It’s a Smart DNS feature, except that it’s built into the app, and works automatically when you connect to a server — no manual configurations required.

Despite having multiple specialty servers for torrenting, Tor, and obfuscated connections, NordVPN’s list doesn’t include streaming. Without this, you could end up with a server that doesn’t work with Netflix US. During tests, at least 1 of the servers in Atlanta didn’t work, so you may have to try reconnecting several times. However, at least 3 other servers in the city worked.

Plans start at just $3.09/month for a 2-year + 3 months subscription, and they come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like NordVPN, you can request a refund through live chat. My request was approved in a few minutes, and the money was back in my account 3 days later.

5. Surfshark — Affordable VPN for Streaming Netflix US With High-Speed 10 Gbps Ports

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	3,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Surfshark has high-speed 10 Gbps ports in heavy streaming areas, including all its US servers. This means that you can stream Netflix and other top streaming platforms without any disruptions, such as stuttering and lags caused by overcrowding.

It also has top security features that also make streaming Netflix US a lot more enjoyable and convenient, like:

• Static US IP addresses — assigns you the same IP address every time you connect to avoid an ever-changing IP from arousing Netflix’s suspicions.
• CleanWeb 2.0 browser extension — blocks all ads, including those that Netflix shows on its ad-supported plans.

When you subscribe, you’ll get unlimited connections to stream Netflix at home and on your mobile devices. If you take advantage of its multi-device connections, you can log in with a unique code. This is easier than typing your username and password on every device. Streaming Netflix US with a VPN-incompatible device is also possible with Surfshark’s Smart DNS.

Surfshark is very affordable for newcomers, with the 2-year + 2 months plan costing just $2.29 a month. The only problem is that its price increases significantly when you renew your subscription. I recommend canceling your plan before you’re charged for the next cycle and subscribing to a more budget-friendly VPN.

Still, it’s a good VPN for streaming Netflix US if it’s your first time subscribing. There’s no risk, since all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can trust. I got my money back as promised 6 days after canceling it and requesting a refund via live chat.

How to Choose the Best Netflix USA VPN

My team and I tested some of the best VPNs in 2024 using these criteria to find out which ones are the best for streaming Netflix US without interruptions:

• Works with Netflix US — All the VPNs on this list have plenty of servers with working IP addresses in the US to watch Netflix without getting blocked.
• Fast streaming speeds — A dedicated US team tested at least 40 servers per VPN to find out if they had consistent speeds for streaming Netflix without lags.
• Broad device compatibility — You can use the VPNs on this list with any streaming device, including Amazon Fire devices, smart TVs, and smartphones.
• Easy to use — I only selected VPNs with native apps for major devices to watch Netflix US easily and quickly.
• Quality security and privacy features — Besides the necessary military-grade encryption, leak protection, and kill switches, some of the listed VPNs also have obfuscation features for networks that block VPNs.
• 24/7 customer service — If you have questions about router installation or Smart DNS setups for streaming Netflix, the VPNs on this list provide live chat support.
• Value for money — Some VPNs cost a lot but don’t work with Netflix US or have poor speeds. I excluded those so you get the most for your money.

Got a VPN But Still Can’t Watch US Netflix? Try These Quick Fixes

A VPN can protect your online privacy, especially on public WiFi networks. But VPN IP addresses are often blocked by Netflix to protect its streaming rights. This means that even when you’re simply trying to protect yourself online, you might not be able to access your Netflix account.

When this happens, you’ll likely see the following error:

If you see this error, you can try the following fixes to get Netflix working again:

• Connect to a different US server — All the VPNs on this list have servers in multiple US cities and states, so you can continue streaming even if one of them is blocked or under maintenance.
• Clear your cache and cookies — These contain your location details, which can sometimes trigger a Netflix proxy error. Deleting them allows you to start fresh with a different US IP address.
• Update the VPN app — Outdated VPN apps sometimes don’t work as well as they used to with some platforms. Fortunately, it’s easy to update the app to the latest version.
• Try a different VPN protocol — OpenVPN is a common protocol that most VPNs support. However, it’s easier to detect, so switching to Lightway or the WireGuard protocol can help.
• Contact customer support — If none of the solutions above work, talk to your VPN’s support agents. They may be able to suggest a working server for Netflix US or find the show you’re looking for on another streaming service.

FAQ: Watching American Netflix With a VPN

Stream American Netflix With a VPN

If you want to use a VPN to stream Netflix US, you don’t have many options. Our tests show that only a handful of VPNs can actually stream Netflix US in UHD quality. Some are blocked, while many are not fast enough for streaming.

I recommend ExpressVPN as it supports UHD streaming and has reliable servers in the US. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free with Netflix. If you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a refund, and it’s easy due to the “no questions asked” policy. It took less than 2 minutes to get mine approved, and I had my money back within 5 days.

Summary: Watch US Netflix Now With These VPNs (Updated 2024)

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked Top Choice

1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.03 / month Save 83%

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4.

9.4

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$3.09 / month Save 76%

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5.

9.4

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$2.29 / month Save 85%

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