The Problem With VPNs and Netflix
Netflix blocks most VPN IP addresses. It's been doing this since 2016, and the arms race between Netflix and VPN providers hasn't stopped. A VPN that worked last month might not work today.
We test each VPN on this list monthly. Here's what we found in January 2026.
Our Top Pick: NordVPN
NordVPN unblocked Netflix US, UK, Japan, and Germany in every test we ran. Speeds were consistently above 80 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, which means 4K without buffering.
The SmartPlay feature routes streaming traffic automatically. You don't need to pick a special server or change any settings.
Best for: Streaming Netflix from any country
Runner-Up: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN also unblocked every Netflix region we tested, and it's slightly faster on single-connection speed tests. The downside is price: it costs more per month than NordVPN.
If speed is your only concern and budget isn't, ExpressVPN is the better pick.
What We Tested
For each VPN we checked:
- US Netflix: comedy and drama titles not available outside the US
- UK Netflix: BBC co-productions exclusive to the UK library
- Japan Netflix: anime titles with JP-only licensing
- Germany Netflix: German-language originals
We also measured:
- Download speed while streaming (Mbps)
- Time to load a 4K title
- Whether the proxy error appeared
VPNs That Didn't Pass
Two services we tested got caught by Netflix's proxy detection within the first five minutes:
- One free VPN service showed the "You seem to be using an unblocker" error immediately
- A budget VPN we tested worked on some US servers but not others, making it unreliable
Reliability matters as much as compatibility. A VPN that works 70% of the time is worse than one that works consistently.
Bottom Line
NordVPN is the safest pick if unblocking Netflix is your goal. It's consistently reliable, fast enough for 4K, and handles multiple regions. ExpressVPN is a valid alternative if you're willing to pay more for marginally better speed.