by If you’re tired of dealing with geo-blocks while using Netflix, it’s time to find a way to bypass them. A few articles later, and you decided that using a VPN is your best option.
But wait – there are hundreds of VPNs on the market. How do you know which one to use?
We’ll tell you what to look for in a Netflix VPN in this quick article. So let’s get started with the most important part:
1. The VPN Needs to Be Able to Unblock Netflix
There’s no point in paying for a VPN if you’ll just end up seeing the Netflix proxy error whenever you use it.
If that happens, it means the VPN you’re using doesn’t work with Netflix. The site can detect and block its IPs.
The easiest way to find a VPN that can unblock the Netflix titles you’re interested in is to use StreamCatcher (https://streamcatcher.proprivacy.com). ProPrivacy developed that tool (they’re a popular tech review site), and it can tell you which countries Netflix titles are available in.
What’s more, StreamCatcher also shows you which VPN providers you should use to unblock a specific title. By using it, you’ll know exactly what VPN to sign up for, and which servers to use.
For example, if we use it to look up Attack on Titan, we’ll see that (at the moment) we can unblock the anime with different servers from NordVPN and PrivateVPN. The guys and gals at ProPrivacy thoroughly tested those services and server locations to make sure they work.
We also did our part and ran tests using those providers and their servers, and can confirm that StreamCatcher’s suggestions are 100% accurate.
2. The VPN Should Offer Decent Speeds
The last thing you want is to experience tons of buffering and poor stream quality. Netflix doesn’t have steep speed requirements, but – even so – some VPN providers struggle to meet the 4K speeds (over 25 Mbps).
So, when you pick a VPN, make sure you test its speeds first. Connect to the server you plan on using for Netflix, and use Ookla’s Speedtest to get an idea of what kinds of speeds you can expect.
You can also just see how the VPN behaves when you watch shows or movies on Netflix, but the speed test method is a bit more convenient. After all, you don’t need to spend a few hours watching videos to make sure nothing goes wrong. You’ll know what speeds you can expect from the start. Just compare them with these speeds and you’ll know if the VPN is fit for the job:
- SD Streaming – At least 3 Mbps
- HD Streaming – At least 5 Mbps
- 4K Streaming – At least 25 Mbps.
3. The Provider Shouldn’t Use Any Data Caps
Bandwidth caps mean you can only consume a certain amount of data each month. If you want to binge different movies or TV series, that’s a problem.
Let’s face it – nobody likes to keep an eye on the bandwidth counter before they start playing the next episode of their favorite show. And nobody loves having to wait until next month to be able to continue it!
So when picking a Netflix VPN, make sure the provider offers unlimited bandwidth. Pretty much all the top VPNs do. However, if you plan on using a free VPN or a free subscription from a paid VPN, you might have to deal with bandwidth caps.
4. The VPN Should Let You Use Multiple Protocols
Being stuck with OpenVPN doesn’t seem so bad until your speeds start tanking. While it’s an excellent VPN protocol, it’s not ideal for streaming. Its main purpose is to offer powerful security.
That’s why you need the ability to use multiple protocols. If the VPN provider lets you use any of the following on top of OpenVPN:
- WireGuard
- IKEv2
- L2TP/IPSec
That’s a great sign. Any one of those protocols can offer fast speeds compared to OpenVPN.
P.S.: We didn’t mention PPTP on purpose. We know it’s a very fast VPN protocol, but using it is extremely risky. Its encryption is very weak and can easily be compromised. So we really can’t recommend it.
5. A Large Server Network Is Always a Welcome Sight
A few hundred servers are pretty good. A few thousand servers are even better!
Here’s why:
- You’ll always be able to find a server location that’s close to your current geo-location. You get better speeds that way.
- You’ll always find a server that’s not overcrowded (again, faster speeds).
- You’ll get to unblock Netflix titles from pretty much any country you want.
Dedicated Netflix streaming servers are not mandatory, but they do help. They’re basically servers that refresh their IPs more often, so Netflix won’t be as likely to detect and block them.
6. Cross-Platform & Easy-to-Use Apps Are a Must
You probably want to watch Netflix on more than one device. So, it’s important that the VPN provider offers apps for most platforms – Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TVs.
What’s more, the apps should be very user-friendly and have an intuitive design. You want to start using them without any issues after a very quick installation process. You definitely don’t want to read long step-by-step tutorials just to learn how to connect to a VPN server.
Also, the VPN provider should have their own apps. If they force you to use third-party clients, you’re gonna have a bad time. They’re usually pretty clunky, and it takes time to get used to them.
What Else Do You Look for in a Netflix VPN?
Please let us know what other things people should keep an eye on in the comments below. Also, if you’d like to recommend some really good Netflix VPNs, please do so.
