Netflix viewers living in the United States have access to the entire library. However, users outside the country don’t have the same luxury. Some content is blocked due to geographic restrictions.
Of course, it’s not fair that people outside the U.S. have limited access to the full Netflix lineup. But that’s not Netflix’s fault. Many countries have different censorship rules than the US. Sometimes it’s not Netflix that denies you access, but the country you live in bans some of its shows, and the company complies by not making them available to you.
Until a year ago, you could simply install a VPN and access Netflix USA from anywhere in the world. The VPN disguises your actual location and prevents the government of your country of residence from tracking your online activity through your ISP, which could help you avoid censorship.
However, Netflix has introduced a new security system that prevents users from accessing its content via VPN services. Nonetheless, there is a handful of trusted (and free!) VPNs that can bypass this new Netflix security protection.
Why Free VPNs Can be Dangerous
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Before we delve in-depth into unblocking Netflix with free VPNs, it’s important to mention that free VPNs can be dangerous if they come from untrusted providers. Carefully check the information about the developer of a free product and read the reviews on EN.VPNWelt before installing it on your device. Otherwise, you risk the following dangers when using an untested free VPN:
Excessive logging. Although the purpose of a VPN is to protect your privacy, free tools are often known to collect large amounts of user data. This way, providers can either use it for targeted advertising and pay-per-click revenue or sell the information directly to third parties. Therefore, it is important to read the privacy policy carefully and check if it is a no-log VPN.
Malware. The worst scenario of using an unverified VPN is that you receive ransomware instead of a security tool. Cybercriminals often create various types of malware that resemble legitimate software and then distribute them on dubious websites as free products. Therefore, you should only download free VPNs from official developers and verified websites.
Intrusive ads. Another way free VPNs can offer their services for free is affiliate marketing. Simply put, their products are densely packed with intrusive ads promoting products from affiliate companies. Unfortunately, the advertised tools often fall into the category of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or may even lead to adware and spyware distribution sources.
Best Free VPNs for Netflix – Choose the Best Service
There are many VPNs that claim to unblock the most popular streaming platforms for free, but in reality, not many of them do. That’s why we’ve carefully tested at least a dozen products to list the best free VPNs that work with Netflix for you.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is definitely one of the best VPN services to watch Netflix anywhere for free. There is a generous free trial for Android that lets you use all the features for up to a week.
You can unlock 16 Netflix libraries by choosing from 5400 servers in 60 countries located in key regions like the US, UK, Japan, and others. Moreover, this VPN supports the WireGuard protocol to ensure fast speeds and no buffering.
Apart from that, you can also access global content on other popular streaming platforms. It works with BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Hulu, HBO Max, and others.
All you need to do is to request a free trial of NordVPN by signing up. You won’t be charged for up to 7 days. After that, you can continue watching Netflix risk-free as the provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN can help you unblock over 30 Netflix libraries for free. It has over 3200 servers in 65 countries, giving you access to American Netflix and other popular regions.
It also supports WireGuard protocol to give you the best speeds and even has a SmartDNS feature. So, you can watch Japanese Netflix or other global content on your smart TV or another streaming device.
To take advantage of all this, all you need to do is create a free Surfshark account. It works with Android, iOS, and macOS devices, and you can use it for free for up to 7 days.
If you want to continue watching Netflix after the trial period is over, you don’t need to cancel the subscription. Instead, use the 30-day money-back guarantee and enjoy your shows for another month without any risk.
3. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN unlocks 10 Netflix libraries that you can watch for free. You can either use the free version or the 30-day money-back guarantee to get access to the most popular shows.
This service provider offers 1080 servers in 54 countries that let you unlock not only Netflix but also HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer or Disney+ and other streaming platforms.
Just like other streaming VPNs, ProtonVPN supports the WireGuard protocol that delivers fast speeds – you shouldn’t experience any buffering time while watching movies and TV series.
Apart from that, this VPN also works with Android TV and other streaming devices. Thus, you can cosy up with your friends and family and stream Netflix on your smart TV.
However, it is important to mention that the free ProtonVPN version has some limitations, such as only three servers in Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands and one simultaneous connection.
If you want to access other Netflix libraries for free, you should subscribe to a paid version with no restrictions and request a refund before the 30-day money-back guarantee expires.
Free Netflix VPNs that don’t unblock Netflix
Unfortunately, there are also free VPNs that cannot unblock Netflix. These include the following:
Avira Phantom VPN. The free version of Avira Phantom VPN not only manually selects countries for you but also fails to unblock Netflix or other streaming services. AVG Secure VPN. Although AVG Secure VPN has a great free version that you can use for up to a week, it is not able to bypass Netflix’s location restrictions.
ZoogVPN. Even though this VPN provider promises to provide access to more than 20 Netflix libraries, these benefits are limited to paying subscribers only. The free version of ZoogVPN does not work with Netflix.
Hide.me VPN. Users can only choose from four countries, and in streaming performance tests, Hide.me VPN failed to unblock Netflix or other popular platforms.