Netflix boasts one of the largest collections of movies and shows, making it a platform that appeals to audiences worldwide. Viewers in countries like the United States, Japan, or Canada have access to some of the most popular and expansive libraries. Netflix US is especially noteworthy, offering one of the biggest selections available. Unfortunately, these libraries are restricted by geo-blocks, meaning access is generally limited to viewers within the United States.
Many people wonder if it’s possible to watch American Netflix from outside the country. The good news is that it is entirely achievable, and I’m here to explain exactly how.
How to Watch American Netflix from Anywhere with a VPN
To watch US Netflix abroad, you must trick the site into believing you’re in this country. You can do this with a Netflix-unblocking VPN, such as NordVPN. It offers streaming-ready servers in the US that work 10/10 times. Here’s how to use it:
- Get NordVPN. Its 2-year plans on sale are recommended for their lowest monthly price.
- Install the VPN on your device – all devices are supported.
- Open the app and connect to a US server.
- Go to Netflix and you’ll see the American catalog. Enjoy.
Why You Can’t Watch Netflix US Outside the United States
Netflix customizes its catalogs of shows and movies based on your location, which means the experience can vary dramatically depending on where you are. Users outside the US often find their options limited due to these geo-restrictions.
The platform determines your location using your IP address. For example, if you’re in France, Netflix detects your French IP and automatically directs you to the French library. As a result, you won’t have access to the US library unless you appear to be browsing from the United States.
In order to watch US Netflix outside of the USA, you’ll need to have an IP address from the United States. Not only that, but you’ll need to use the best VPN service to obtain it, as this is THE only way to watch Netflix US abroad.
How to Watch American Netflix Outside the USA
When talking about VPNs, it’s worth noting that not every VPN service will let you watch the American catalog of Netflix outside of the US. To be clear, pretty much any provider has servers in the country, but the main trick lies in Netflix’s anti-VPN measures.
These measures make it increasingly harder for VPNs to unblock the site, as many users are faced with error messages that look like this:
For this very reason, it’s crucial to choose a good provider that will work reliably and let you access Netflix US anywhere. Thankfully, NordVPN works well for this purpose, so I’ll use it in the following guide as I walk you through the steps. I will introduce you to other services that may be interesting to consider.
1. Subscribe to a VPN
A VPN like NordVPN will let you change your IP address to another country and mask your real IP address. As such, any site you visit will see you as if you’re located somewhere else, which in this case, will be America.
I recommend using the button below to get NordVPN’s 70% discount and some months free for its 2-year plans. That way, you’ll save a lot of money on a VPN subscription and get an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee in return.
Needless to say, this means that you can always get your money back in the first 30 days for whatever reason.
2. Install and Open NordVPN’s App
Once you subscribe, download and install NordVPN on your device. All devices are supported, so you can follow these steps even on your iPhone or Android devices (NordVPN is the best VPN for Android). In doing so, you’ll need to open the app and sign in with the credentials you provided previously.
3. Connect to Any of the US Servers
After signing in, the app’s dashboard will look something like this:
From here, it’s easy to get a US IP address and watch US Netflix outside of the US. Simply open the server list, scroll down, and find the United States. Now click or tap on it once to connect to a server in this country.
4. Watch Netflix US Abroad
With your new IP address in place, all you have to do is visit Netflix and you should be able to access the American catalog. You’ll know it’s the case by finding some of the shows and movies typical to the American library, such as Grey’s Anatomy or Never Back Down.
If your VPN isn’t working on Netflix, read our article on the subject to find a solution.
Best VPN to Watch Netflix US Anywhere
Now that you know how to watch American Netflix outside of America, let’s discuss why I used NordVPN and talk about two more providers I recommend.
1. NordVPN
Pros
- Nearly 2,000 servers in the United States
- Very reliable streaming performance
- Protection against viruses and malware
- Dedicated P2P servers
- 10 simultaneous connections in each plan
Cons
- Occasionally slow speeds on Windows
- Value-added taxes in some countries
The absolute best VPN to access Netflix US outside of the United States is NordVPN. I found it to be extremely reliable with nearly 2,000 servers in more than 15 cities in the USA, making it one of the best VPNs in the US. During my long-term testing, NordVPN proved to work with the streaming service in more than 90% of the cases.
When trying to watch US Netflix abroad, I had great results with pretty much all server locations. Not to mention that NordVPN is pretty fast as well – even faster than ExpressVPN – which ensures that watching movies and shows even in 4K will be satisfying.
The provider comes with a plethora of security features, some of which include antivirus, ad-blocker, and malware protection. People also like that it stores no logs, which is great for those worried about their online privacy.
NordVPN is pretty affordable as well, so you don’t have to worry about spending too much money. Besides, its apps for all platforms, 10 simultaneous connections, and P2P servers will surely make you excited about it.
And if that’s not enough, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscription plans. If that sounds exciting, don’t hesitate to check its cheapest deal below. To find out more, read our NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN
Pros
- Works with more than 15 Netflix catalogs
- Impeccable security and privacy
- Compatible with Firestick TV and Smart TVs
- Fastest speeds for streaming
- 20+ server locations in the United States
Cons
- Basic plan is… pretty basic
- No Double VPN support
ExpressVPN is another excellent choice you can opt for. It works with more than 15 libraries and offers access to a wide variety of shows and movies, making it one of the greatest VPNs for Netflix.
It has 3,000+ servers in 160+ locations around the planet. This, coupled with some of the fastest speeds around, guarantees a smooth and lag-free streaming experience on any platform. Moreover, ExpressVPN has 20+ locations in America alone, so you have a lot of choices.
If one server isn’t working, you can always choose another located somewhere else and achieve the effect you want. Plus, ExpressVPN is the best choice in terms of security and privacy given its bank-grade encryption and certified no-logging policy.
With apps for all platforms and 10 simultaneous connections, enjoying ExpressVPN on multiple devices will be a breeze. This will allow you to unblock Netflix US abroad on your Smart TV, Fire TV Stick, Nvidia Shield, PC, or smartphone effortlessly.
And if we factor in its 24/7 live chat support and the 73% discount + 4 months free for the annual plan, it’s easy to see why it’s so appealing. To learn everything about this provider, read our full ExpressVPN review.
3. CyberGhost
Pros
- Dedicated US Netflix servers
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Very cheap prices
- Bank-grade 256-bit encryption
Cons
- Not working with many libraries apart from Netflix US
- Unreliable performance in censored countries
Last but not least, I want to talk about CyberGhost. CyberGhost is a very interesting provider with the cheapest prices in the premium segment. It has close to 12,000 servers in 100 countries, with 1,400+ of them in the US.
This allows you to get a US IP address and watch American Netflix abroad with a snap of a finger. The best thing about this provider is the presence of dedicated streaming servers. CyberGhost has several “Netflix US” servers that give you direct access to the American catalog.
Dedicated streaming servers are here for other platforms as well, and they’re accompanied by fast P2P servers. Along with WireGuard support, an ad-blocker, and a no-logs policy, CyberGhost offers 7 simultaneous connections and applications for all major platforms.
Having in mind its insanely cheap prices that go way below $2.5 a month for a 2-year plan, CyberGhost is a pretty attractive option. Oh, and don’t forget its 45-day money-back guarantee for all plans longer than a month.
This will allow you to test it for 45 days risk-free and get a refund if you don’t like it. Although I think that getting a refund will be the last thing on your mind. To find out more, read our in-depth CyberGhost VPN review.
How Did We Select the Best VPN for Netflix US?
If you’ve ever used a VPN, you know how hard it is to access Netflix. With this in mind, we took into account several criteria for choosing the top VPNs for streaming Netflix US anywhere.
- Compatibility with Netflix. The most important thing is that the provider can unblock the catalog we’re talking about. Luckily, all 3 VPNs fulfill this criterion and pass the test with flying colors. In fact, they can also unblock many other libraries from the UK, Japan, Canada, and others.
- Fast speeds. With 10 Gbps servers and modern protocols, our providers come with exceptional performance. We’re talking about blazing-fast speeds for watching Netflix US abroad without buffering. This applies even to people far away – in New Zealand or anywhere else.
- Unlimited traffic. Premium VPNs like these offer unlimited traffic, which is one of the best perks. You get to stream and do anything else without limits that many free VPNs will impose.
- Apps for all platforms. Some people watch Netflix on their phones or tablets, not necessarily computers. Well, it’s good to know that NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost offer apps for all your systems and devices. Plus, they add 7 to 10 simultaneous connections for good measure.
- Ease of use. All VPNs on our list are simple to set up and use. As you saw, you’re required to connect to the US server, and voila – you can access American Netflix even on Jupiter or Mars.
- Security/privacy. Neither of the VPNs will store logs of your private data and browsing history. Moreover, they’ll also keep your connection private thanks to AES encryption, a kill switch, and protocols like WireGuard, Lightway, and NordLynx. They even have third-party audits, making them one of the most respectable and revered names in the industry.
Summary
Now that you know the process, watching US Netflix outside the United States is straightforward. The key is to obtain a US-based IP address using a VPN, which makes Netflix believe you are browsing from the US.
Equally important is choosing a reliable VPN provider. Premium options like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost ensure fast, secure, and uninterrupted access to Netflix US from anywhere in the world.
FAQ
To cover this subject properly, I think I owe you answers to some of the frequently asked questions.
How does Netflix know where I’m located?
Netflix identifies your location through your IP address. If your IP indicates that you’re in another country, you’ll be shown that country’s library instead of the US catalog.
How to watch US Netflix in the UK?
If you live in the UK, you’ll inherently be bound to the UK catalog of this platform, with no access to other catalogs. However, the procedure to watch US Netflix in the UK is the same. You’ll need to get a US IP address from one of the VPNs of our top 3.
Once you do that, accessing the American catalog will be possible. As said, you don’t have to worry about where you’re located. The only thing that matters is that you have US IP.
How do I get Netflix US in Canada?
While the Canadian library stands as one of the best, you might not be satisfied with the content it offers. In this case, you can get Netflix US in Canada by changing your IP address to America. This will allow you to change countries on Netflix without having to leave your home.
Does the Indian Netflix account work in the United States?
Yes, it works. If you have an account on this platform, no matter where you made it, it’ll work in the US or any other country. However, if you’re currently located in another country, accessing Netflix will transfer you to that country’s version of the site.
Thus, if you’re an Indian traveling to the US, you’ll get access to the American catalog of the streaming service without using a VPN!
Can I watch Netflix US with a free VPN?
Unfortunately, the answer is NO.
Free VPNs don’t work with Netflix and they’re easily detected by its anti-VPN measures. Despite their servers in the US, unblocking any movies and shows from this catalog will be impossible, no matter which free provider you’re using.
In my analysis of free VPNs for Netflix, I proved that almost none of them will actually work with the platform, regardless of the catalog you’re trying to unblock. Even some paid providers are known to struggle with this platform, let alone 100% free ones.
Not to mention their limited monthly bandwidth, slow speeds, and practically no security, which makes them pointless to use, even if they worked properly. If you want to watch US Netflix outside of the United States, your best bet is to choose one of the three providers from our comparison.
After all, they have a money-back guarantee that goes from 30 to 45 days. This will allow you to watch Netflix US for free for a limited period but in the end, you’ll lose no money.
