Updated on: July 22, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best free VPN for Netflix in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It’s not technically free, but it’s the best VPN for streaming Netflix in 2024, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can use it risk-free for a whole month. It also has industry-leading security, so your internet service provider won’t be able to see that you’re on Netflix or the content you’re watching, maintains the fastest connection speeds I’ve seen in a VPN, and offers affordable plans.
Using a free VPN to stream Netflix can be risky — it might be unsafe, its speeds may be too slow, and it might not even work with Netflix. I always suggest using a premium VPN (like ExpressVPN) over a free VPN, as premium VPNs offer stronger security, better speeds, and full 24/7 support for Netflix and other streaming platforms.
Fortunately, some premium VPNs offer free versions of their service. I tested dozens of free VPNs and found the best 5 for streaming Netflix — while all of them have some limitations, they’re secure, fast, and work with Netflix most of the time. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Try ExpressVPN (30 Days Risk-Free)
Quick summary of the best free VPNs for Netflix in 2024:
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Netflix in 2024
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN to stream Netflix in 2024. It works with Netflix 100% of the time and can access international libraries in more than 10 countries, including the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, India, and more.
This is because it regularly rotates its servers’ IP addresses, making it hard for Netflix to flag and block them. Most free VPNs lack the necessary resources to bypass Netflix’s VPN detection technology, making them generally unreliable for the platform.
While ExpressVPN isn’t technically 100% free, it comes with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can subscribe risk-free and enjoy your favorite content for a whole month.
ExpressVPN is the fastest for streaming Netflix in HD and 4K quality and offers some of the best speeds I’ve seen in a VPN. This is thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol that uses fewer lines of code compared to most other fast VPN protocols, like WireGuard. In my tests, all HD videos loaded instantly, and there wasn’t any buffering or lag, even when skipping forward.
ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer, which is the VPN’s smart DNS tool, can access the Netflix US and UK library and is great for streaming your favorite Netflix originals on smart TVs and other devices that don’t support VPNs like gaming consoles.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN is a top choice. Your Internet Service Provider won’t be able to see you’re on Netflix or what you’re watching thanks to its 265-AES encryption. Plus, your IP address isn’t likely to leak to Netflix thanks to the VPN’s full built-in protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. I ran 10+ tests, and I never saw my real IP address — I only saw ExpressVPN’s IP address.
I also like its split-tunneling feature, which lets you control which apps route through the VPN and which ones bypass it. This means you can watch your favorite movies and shows on Netflix over the VPN connection and route the rest of your traffic through your internet provider’s network and enjoy better speeds.
Premium subscriptions start at $6.67 / month, and you get extra months for free, as ExpressVPN regularly runs special deals on its site.
Bottom line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Netflix in 2024 — it works with Netflix 100% of the time and accesses 10+ Netflix libraries, including US, UK, Canada, and Japan content. It lets you watch Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs and offers the best speeds possible for watching Netflix in HD and 4K quality. It’s not totally free, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, so you can try it with no risk.
Read our ExpressVPN review here
🥈2. Proton VPN — Best Free Netflix VPN With Unlimited Data
Proton VPN’s free version doesn’t come with a data cap, so you can watch as much Netflix as you want. It comes with 5 free server locations in the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland and can only access these Netflix libraries about half of the time — unlike ExpressVPN that works with Netflix 100% of the time.
Free Proton VPN users are allowed only 1 connection at a time, so you’ll have to log out from one device where you watch Netflix to use it on another. However, I think the biggest disadvantage is that you can’t choose what server location to connect to. Proton automatically connects you to the best server based on your location.
Proton VPN’s free plan has really good speeds for streaming HD content on Netflix. I mostly didn’t experience any buffering or lag, though some videos took longer to load when I was connected during peak times.
Proton VPN is great for securely streaming Netflix for free. It includes full leak protection, but there’s no smart DNS for streaming Netflix on your smart TV that doesn’t support VPN software.
Proton VPN’s paid version starts at $3.59 / month and includes streaming support for 25+ Netflix libraries and router support for watching on streaming devices that don’t support VPNs. There’s a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN’s free version offers unlimited data for streaming as much Netflix content as you want, but it only includes 5 free VPN server locations that can access those Netflix libraries about half of the time. It’s got great security for safely streaming on Netflix, and the free version only allows 1 device at a time. Upgrading to its premium plans gets you access to 25+ Netflix libraries and more devices and servers.
Read our Proton VPN review here
🥉3. Windscribe — Great Free VPN for Watching 10+ Netflix Libraries
Windscribe’s free plan is one of the few that consistently works with Netflix. It can access up to 10+ Netflix libraries, as it offers free server locations in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and even Hong Kong.
I also like how you get access to several free server locations in a couple of countries, including the US, Canada, and France. So, if you connect to the free server in Dallas in the US, and it doesn’t currently work with Netflix, you can try the free server in Atlanta.
The free plan comes with unlimited connections and a monthly data limit of 10 GB. This means you get about 10 hours of SD Netflix content or 5 hours of HD content, which is decent. You can also use its split-tunneling feature and only route traffic from the Netflix app and Netflix site via the VPN to manage data allowance.
Windscribe offers full leak protection on the free plan and a particularly useful Proxy Gateway feature for watching Netflix on a smart TV. You can use it turn your PC into a proxy server and route your smart TV or streaming device traffic through Windscribe’s servers to watch Netflix. Note that this setup can quickly use up your free data allowance.
I’m also happy with Windscribe’s speeds. When I tested it, all HD videos on Netflix took only about 1–2 seconds to load, and there was minimal buffering, which only happened when I skipped through the videos — ExpressVPN is still faster.
Windscribe has several premium plans, starting at $3.00 / month, and they all give you unlimited data and access to more servers. It also has a “build-a-plan” option, which lets you customize your plan by adding access to individual servers. All plans have a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom line:
Windscribe has one of the only free plans that consistently works with Netflix that can access up to 10+ Netflix libraries, including in the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, and Romania. However, free users can only reach a 10 GB/month data limit, so it’s not ideal for Netflix bingers. It does have split-tunneling to help manage its data cap. Upgrading to Windscribe’s premium plans unlocks unlimited data and a larger server network.
Read our full Windscribe review
4. Avira Phantom VPN — Good Free VPN for Streaming Netflix on Mobile
Avira Phantom VPN is a solid free option for streaming Netflix, as it accesses 10+ libraries, including in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Sweden, and Romania. You can pick any of its servers in 37 countries on mobile, including 10+ US server locations and 2 server locations in the UK and Australia each to get the best possible speeds for streaming.
Avira offers really fast speeds for streaming on Netflix on the free plan. In my speed tests, all videos loaded in no more than 1–2 seconds, and there was no buffering. I also got the same results on desktop, too, but note that you can’t pick a server location there — Avira automatically picks the nearest server for you, which gives you the best speeds for watching Netflix in HD. If you want to pick a specific server location on desktop, Windscribe has 10+ free server locations.
The VPN’s apps are very minimalistic, so it’s great for people that like watching Netflix but have never used a VPN. The only thing you need to do on the free plan to securely stream Netflix is just select a server location and click on the connect button.
You get only 500 MB of free data per month, which can be doubled to 1 GB by registering an account. This upper limit translates to about an hour of streaming Netflix in SD, which isn’t much — Proton VPN’s free plan gets you unlimited streaming time.
But I like that the VPN offers good security for streaming on Netflix thanks to an audited no-logs policy and built-in DNS leak protection. In my tests, there weren’t any leaks, however, I don’t like that there’s no kill switch.
Avira Phantom VPN paid plan costs $3.92 / month and adds unlimited data and a kill switch on Windows. The plan is backed by a generous 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Avira Phantom VPN is a great free VPN that accesses 10+ Netflix libraries. It lets you connect to any of its servers in 37 countries on mobile, but it only allows automatic server selection for the best speeds on desktop. The free plan includes 500 MB of data monthly (1 GB with registration) and access to Netflix in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Romania. The paid plan offers unlimited data and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Avira Phantom VPN review
5. hide.me — Easy-to-use Netflix VPN (Great for Beginners)
hide.me is an easy-to-use VPN that’s good for VPN beginners who want to securely watch Netflix. It has no data limit for streaming on Netflix, but it doesn’t guarantee its free plan can access the Netflix site or app.
hide.me offers 5+ free server locations and can access Netflix libraries in Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the US. If a specific server location doesn’t work immediately, you might need to reconnect several times to get a different IP address that Netflix won’t flag. Unlike Windscribe, there are no different server locations to choose from from a specific country.
hide.me’s free version is very secure. It has Stealth Guard, a feature that prevents apps from accessing the internet when you’re not connected to hide.me (kind of like a customizable kill switch), which works great for preventing Netflix leaks.
During my speed tests, I only saw a bit of buffering, but this was during peak times. Overall, I had good download and upload speeds but not near what I saw with ExpressVPN.
hide.me’s premium plans start at $2.69 / month and get you good streaming support for Netflix, and 50+ server locations. hide.me offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Bottom line:
hide.me is an easy-to-use free VPN with no data limit for watching Netflix. The free plan works with several Netflix libraries, including in the US, UK, and Germany, but not very consistently. However, its premium plans unlock unlimited data, come with more reliable streaming support for Netflix, and offer servers in 54 countries.
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I followed our comprehensive testing methodology to find the best free VPNs for watching Netflix. By evaluating each VPN’s performance in real-world scenarios, I ensured they met high standards for reliability, speed, and usability. Here’s what I considered to pick and rank each:
- I chose VPNs that work with Netflix. Most free VPNs can’t access Netflix, so I made sure to only select those that do. Plus, the VPNs I recommend here can access at least 5 Netflix libraries on their free servers.
- I looked for a large data limit. Streaming Netflix in SD can use up to 1 GB per hour, while HD content can use up to 3 GB per hour. The free VPNs I recommend here either have unlimited data or a large monthly data limit, so you get at least a couple of hours of Netflix time. Proton VPN and hide.me’s free plans both have no data cap.
- I tested for fast speeds. Many free VPNs have crowded servers that slow down your connection, making streaming pretty difficult. All the VPNs on this list provided speeds fast enough for streaming HD Netflix videos without buffering or lag. ExpressVPN was the fastest in my tests.
- I found VPNs with a split-tunneling feature. Since you only need a VPN to watch Netflix, split tunneling allows you to route only your Netflix traffic through the VPN, improving performance. This feature is available in several of the top picks, ensuring a smoother streaming experience.
- I evaluated the value of their paid plans. Each VPN on this list offers affordable, feature-rich paid plans that work with lots of Netflix libraries. They also come with a money-back guarantee, providing great options if you decide to upgrade.
Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN to Watch Netflix
- Poor streaming support. A lot of free VPNs simply don’t work with Netflix, so you won’t be able to watch content on the site when connected to their servers.
- Lack of security. Free VPNs are often unsafe as they lack security features such as encryption and kill switches. They might even track your data and sell it to third parties. While you’re connected to a VPN’s server, it’s hard to know who is looking at your data unless you use a reliable VPN with trustworthy privacy and security protocols.
- An increase in lag. VPNs can cause some delay in your connection, with free servers often suffering from congestion, leading to slower speeds. Some free VPNs may even intentionally reduce your speeds. On the other hand, premium VPNs have expansive server networks, which means fewer users on each server and quicker browsing and streaming speeds.
- Activity monitoring. Given that no-cost VPNs must make money somehow, they could potentially track your actions (such as online shopping and browsing) and trade your information to third-party entities. Premium VPNs such as ExpressVPN are stringent about never monitoring or trading user information.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for Watching Netflix
The free VPNs I discuss on this list
all have industry-standard VPN security features to protect your data, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. Some even include advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and full-disk encryption to further maintain your data while you watch Netflix.
However, free VPNs typically lack the features that premium VPNs commonly offer. Plenty of free VPNs out there throttle speeds (leading to buffering and lag during streaming), impose monthly or daily data caps (limiting how much you can stream), restrict access to only a couple of server locations, and many of them don’t allow streaming.
For example, Proton VPN’s free plan has good speeds and doesn’t have a data cap, but it doesn’t work with Netflix 100% of the time, only allows you to access servers in 5 countries, and automatically connects you to the closest server (you can’t manually connect to a different server). Windscribe’s free plan works with Netflix consistently and has good speeds, but it has a data cap of 10 GB per month — which is only enough for about 8 hours of streaming on Netflix in HD.
Overall, upgrading to a premium VPN is better for streaming on Netflix. Top paid VPNs work with Netflix consistently, offer better speeds, have no data caps, and allow you to access a large VPN server network. They also typically provide advanced security features, such as better encryption and leak protection, ensuring your privacy while you enjoy Netflix. Most top VPNs offer a money-back guarantee, so you can try them out without risk.
Free VPNs to Avoid for Watching Netflix
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN doesn’t have a typical server network — it’s a peer-to-peer service, which means it assigns users the IP addresses of other users. This is incredibly dangerous, because that means someone could use your IP address for illegal activities online. Also, it logs a lot of user data to share with third parties.
- SuperVPN. SuperVPN logs your personal data. What’s more, it suffered a large data breach that exposed a lot of its users’ IP addresses and locations, so it’s difficult to trust SuperVPN.
- TouchVPN. TouchVPN has good speeds on nearby servers, and its free plan works with Netflix. However, it has a very limited data cap of 500 MB/day, which is enough for about one 45-minute episode on Netflix.
- AceVPN. AceVPN only offers its free plan to journalists and bloggers, and it doesn’t work with Netflix.
- Opera VPN Pro. Opera VPN Pro works with Netflix pretty consistently, but it lacks a lot of security features (like a kill switch). Also, its free plan limits the VPN’s protection to traffic in the Opera browser.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Hotspot Shield. Hotspot Shield is fast, secure, and easy to use, and it has a free plan with unlimited data — but it doesn’t consistently work with Netflix on its free plan.
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear is a simple, easy-to-use free VPN that has fast speeds and consistently works with Netflix. Its free version only allows 2 GB per month (only enough for 30–45 minutes of HD streaming), but upgrading to its affordable premium plans unlocks unlimited data.
- IPVanish. IPVanish has a large server selection and allows unlimited device connections. It has good streaming support for Netflix, but it doesn’t offer a free version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free VPN for watching Netflix?
While it’s not exactly free, the best VPN for watching Netflix is ExpressVPN. It works with Netflix 100% of the time, provides the fastest speeds, and has excellent security for safe steaming. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can subscribe risk-free.
Can I watch Netflix US with a free VPN?
Yes, but note that most free VPNs don’t consistently work with Netflix. Free VPN services typically have a limited number of IP addresses, which they don’t update frequently. Once Netflix detects and blocks a free VPN IP, it likely won’t work until the VPN refreshes its IPs. For a consistent Netflix streaming experience, a premium VPN like ExpressVPN is always the better choice.
If you still want a free VPN that accesses Netflix US, check out the other VPN providers on my list.
How do I use a free VPN with Netflix?
You can follow these 3 quick steps:
- Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has excellent security, fast speeds, and easy-to-use apps for all platforms.
- Connect to a server. The closest server to your location gives you the best speeds.
- Log into Netflix and start streaming. Open Netflix on your browser or via the Netflix app, log into your account, and enjoy your favorite content!
Is it safe to use a free VPN to watch Netflix?
That depends on the VPN. The majority of free VPNs have questionable privacy practices, such as logging your data or displaying intrusive ads, and some even sell your browsing habits to third parties. Additionally, free VPNs may lack strong security features, leaving your online activities exposed to hackers or surveillance.
That said, the free VPNs I recommend in this article are generally safe. They follow a freemium model and are backed by reputable companies.
Do All VPNs work with Netflix?
No, not all VPNs work with Netflix. Premium VPNs like ExpressVPN have servers that always work with Netflix, so you’ll never run into this issue.
How do I watch Netflix with a VPN on devices that don’t support VPNs?
You’ll need a VPN that has a smart DNS feature or good router support. If you want to protect your traffic while watching Netflix on your smart TV, PlayStation, or Xbox, you can set up the VPN on your router — this way, your traffic is encrypted and every device connected to the VPN is protected. Smart DNS can also help you stream Netflix on a device that doesn’t natively support VPNs, but it won’t encrypt your traffic.
For watching Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs, I recommend ExpressVPN. It has a dedicated router app that’s easy to use and install and a great smart DNS tool.
