Let’s get one thing straight first: using a free VPN for Netflix is always tricky. Like all other streaming platforms, Netflix is waging war on users trying to access its geo-blocked TV shows and movies. They have a good reason to do so since there are different exclusivities regarding copyrights in different parts of the world.
Netflix works hard to detect those who use a VPN to unblock geo-restricted shows.
Therefore, even premium VPN services could fail to provide access after some time as their IP addresses and servers may get blocked.
Top 5 free (trial) VPNs for Netflix
There are only a few completely free VPN services that unblock Netflix, and it’s not always the much-coveted US library. That’s why I tested if they can give you access to other libraries, such as the Netherlands and Japan as well. Besides, you can still find providers that offer free trials for more than one day.
So, please find our top 5 free (trial) VPNs for Netflix below:
1. PrivateVPN
63
200
24/7 live chat
- Unblocks Netflix in US, UK, NL, AU and more
- Excellent for Netflix
- Fast speeds
- Very cheap
- 7-day free trial with no bandwidth limit
- Support could be more responsive
- macOS and iOS apps have fewer features
PrivateVPN is the best free trial VPN for Netflix. I bet you’ll learn that faster than in those seven days given to you. All of its features are in full display with no bandwidth or server limit. Just install PrivateVPN and check out all of its dedicated streaming servers. These include not only Netflix but Disney Plus, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, among others.
During my test, I managed to unblock Netflix in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia. The credit goes to PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN feature. It makes it much harder for streaming platforms to detect that you’re using a VPN. The same feature allows one to use this service in China.
PrivateVPN is fast enough for streaming in 4K and allows six simultaneous connections. And since this VPN is so cheap, starting at $2.00/month, you may consider purchasing it after the free trial.
For a deeper investigation of PrivateVPN, read our PrivateVPN review.
2. Atlas VPN
37
750
Email, tickets, FAQ
- Free version
- Good security
- Unlimited devices
- Great for streaming
- Allows torrenting
- WireGuard tunneling protocol
- MultiHop+ (VPN chaining)
- Few countries
- Apps lack features
Atlas VPN is one of the few freemium VPNs that has the potential to unblock Netflix. This US-based VPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption and the WireGuard tunneling protocol. The free version comes with a 10GB/month data limit, a kill-switch, and three server locations to choose from. Of course, connection speeds will be a bit slower on the free version than on the paid version.
Alternatively, the premium version comes with 750 servers in 37 countries. Most importantly, a 30-day money-back guarantee is included, allowing you to try out the premium version to see if it can unlock the Netflix library that you desire. My own tests unblocked a good amount of Netflix libraries, such as the US and UK.
The premium version starts at $1.99/month and is available on Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS.
For a deeper investigation of Atlas VPN, read our Atlas VPN review.
3. TorGuard
50
3000
Live chat, email, 24/7 phone
- Unblocks Netflix in US
- 7-day free trial with no bandwidth limit
- Great server list
- Very fast
- 8 simultaneous connections
- Not very user-friendly
- No 24/7 live chat, only 24/7 US phone line
- Located in the US (Five Eyes)
- Not very good for Netflix
Generally speaking, TorGuard is not the best option for streaming fans. However, it has a 7-day free trial and unblocks Netflix US. Unfortunately, not all US servers are capable of doing that.
TorGuard is knowns for its WireGuard-powered performance and long server list of 3000+ servers in 50+ countries. This means you shouldn’t have a problem streaming in HD or even 4K.
Furthermore, this VPN is great for Kodi and has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick. The full version starts from $3.89/month and has a 7-day money-back guarantee. One account allows 8 simultaneous connections.
For a deeper investigation of TorGuard, read our TorGuard review.
4. Windscribe VPN
60
480
Email, knowledgebase
- Unblocks Netflix in US
- Free version (10+ locations, 10 GB/month)
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Decent speeds
- Amazon Fire TV app
- No live chat support
- Complicated refund policy
Windscribe is among the best free VPN for Netflix, and here’s why. For starters, it unblocks Netflix in the US, which has over 5,500 movies and series available. Furthermore, it has a generous 10 GB/month bandwidth – only a few competitors allow more than that.
Another great feature of Windscribe is unlimited simultaneous connections. It means that you can connect all your devices and watch Netflix for free wherever you might be. This service also provides decent speeds that should be enough for HD or even 4K streaming. The quality will probably depend more on your internet connection. There’s also an app for Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick and setup guides for routers and Kodi.
However, you may want to try Windscribe at its fullest to access over 60 countries and its special Windflix servers. They don’t encrypt your traffic but provide better speeds for watching Netflix in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and Japan.
For a deeper investigation of Windscribe VPN, read our Windscribe VPN review.
5. CyberGhost
89
7400
24/7 live chat
- Unblocks Netflix in US and more
- 1-day free trial with no bandwidth limit
- Extensive server list
- Decent pricing
- Very fast
- macOS and iOS apps have less features
- Owner Kape Technologies has a poor reputation
CyberGhost VPN gives you a 24-hour free trial without any bandwidth limits. Unfortunately, this applies to Windows and Mac users only, even though this service supports a great deal of platforms, including Android TV and Amazon Fire Stick.
One of its biggest assets is a massive server list (89+ countries and 7400+ servers). The speeds are also great, thanks to the next-gen WireGuard protocol.
With CyberGhost dedicated streaming servers, you’ll unblock Netflix US and other libraries. Watching Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ should also not be a problem. The prices start at $2.15/month and one account gets seven simultaneous connections.
For a deeper investigation of CyberGhost, read our CyberGhost review.
4 traits that a good VPN for Netflix should have
There are four crucial traits a good free VPN for Netflix should have. They will let you enjoy watching geo-restricted videos:
- Ability to unblock Netflix without detection
- Good speed for streaming HD videos
- No connection drops
- Good privacy features
As you can see, the chances of you finding a good free VPN for Netflix are pretty slim. But, we are not saying it’s impossible, either.
Our top free VPNs for Netflix ranked above are definitely worth a look. Once you find a service that unblocks Netflix, it’s mostly up to speed whether you can enjoy HD shows. A lot also depends on your physical location and distance from your chosen server, as well as the time of day when you connect.
Finally, there’s a number of libraries that a free VPN for Netflix can unblock. Usually, Netflix US is the most-wanted one, but we also checked if our tested services can give access to the Netherlands and Japan. Naturally, users in Asia might want to watch the latter version because of faster speeds.
Free VPNs don’t work with Netflix
There are multiple free VPNs that come up in search results and are mentioned or ranked on review sites as working with Netflix. However, my research shows that most of these are based on outdated information.
That’s why I list the most frequently ranked and supposedly free VPNs for Netflix that are either not free, not working, or both.
- Hide.Me – free version, doesn’t unblock Netflix
- TunnelBear – free version, doesn’t unblock Netflix
- Hotspot Shield – free version, doesn’t unblock Netflix
- ExpressVPN – no free version, free trial (Android & iOS), unblocks Netflix
- NordVPN – no free version, free trial (Android), unblocks Netflix
- IPVanish – no free version, free trial (Android), unblocks Netflix
- Surfshark VPN – no free version, no free trial, unblocks Netflix
- Astrill VPN – no free version, no free trial, unblocks Netflix
- VyprVPN – no free version, no free trial, unblocks Netflix
- Perfect Privacy – no free version, no free trial, unblocks Netflix
Alternative VPNs for Netflix
Even the best free VPNs for Netflix have their limitations when it comes to the number of countries or simultaneous connections. I tried hard but couldn’t find one truly great VPN for Netflix to recommend with certainty. This is a grey area anyway because even paid VPN services get blocked more and more often.
There’s no permanent solution for unblocking Netflix. However, you can always go for a top-notch paid streaming VPN that finds new ways to bypass Netflix detection.
I’ve found that some providers aren’t ready to give up and still work with Netflix. If you live abroad, are a traveler, or simply want to watch geo-restricted shows real bad, I suggest that you visit our Best VPN for Netflix page for more information on streaming your favorite shows from anywhere.
How to know if a VPN is actually free?
Most premium VPNs like to disguise the fact that they want money from you. They often advertise money-back guarantees and free trials as “free VPNs.” However, in the end, they ask for your payment details or even a one-month fee. The good news is that there aren’t many free VPNs that are worth your time. And they never ask for your payment details unless you decide to upgrade.
On this page, I clearly state which Virtual Private Networks have free a version and which ones offer only a free trial. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find a legit free VPN for Netflix not listed here. That’s because unblocking is such a rare feat. Netflix easily blocks most free VPNs, and only a few manage to stay in this constant fight.
FAQ
Which free VPN works with Netflix?
Windscribe is the only free VPN that works with Netflix. You can find it reviewed in our list of best free VPNs for Netflix above. While some other free providers might unblock Netflix, we didn’t include them because of their overall quality. After all, what’s it good for if the speeds are too slow, even for SD?
How do I get free VPN for Netflix?
You can get a free VPN by simply choosing one from our list, downloading it, connecting to a server, and then trying it out with Netflix.
Which free VPN unblocks US Netflix library?
Windscribe is the only free VPN that unblocks Netflix US. There are also VPNs with a free trial that can do so. You’ll find them on the list above.
Can I watch Netflix for free with a VPN?
Unfortunately, no. Getting a VPN that can unblock Netflix doesn’t mean you can access its libraries for free.
You will still need to purchase a Netflix subscription, and we recommend doing that from your current location. This way, you will be able to watch the content available in your country without a VPN.
Can I watch Netflix with a free trial of a paid VPN?
If a paid VPN unblocks Netflix, it will definitely offer that in a free trial. This includes the services on our list above. All of them have their pros and cons, so I advise you to read the reviews carefully first.
What are the limitations of a free VPN?
Even though you can watch Netflix with a free VPN, they do have limitations. The most common one is limited data. You’ll get 10GB/month at best, so binge-watching is not an option. What’s more, free VPNs offer slower speeds that sometimes are capped by the provider. This means that you can forget streaming in 4K and sometimes even in HD.
Finally, not all free VPNs have a reliable connection. Therefore, you may experience long loading times or your show freezing at the most interesting part.
Does Netflix allow VPN?
Netflix allows VPNs per se but is against accessing content from a country where it hasn’t been made available yet.
The biggest trouble is that each country has its national rights holder to every movie or show. It means that Netflix has to negotiate with all of them. If the deal cannot be reached or the rights belong exclusively to some other entity, Netflix won’t be adding that content in a particular country.
For this reason, using premium VPNs for Netflix is better. They have the necessary tools to fight geo-restrictions. You can learn more about this battle on our Netflix VPN ban page.
How to change Netflix region?
Here’s a detailed explanation of how to change Netflix region.
Is free VPN safe?
While most free VPNs are far from safe, certain reputable providers do enough to protect their free users. Most of the time, these are premium VPN services that also offer a free version or a free trial. And while it’s common for VPNs to limit your monthly data, speed, or server selection, they won’t remove essential security and privacy features.
If you’ve chosen a quality free VPN, expect it to have military-grade encryption and modern tunneling protocols, such as WireGuard, IKEv2, or OpenVPN. What’s more, they will provide leak protection and a kill switch so that your identity is not exposed. Finally, our recommended free VPNs have strict no-logs policies. So even if their servers are compromised, there will be nothing of use for the hackers.
Does a VPN negatively impact streaming speed?
Every VPN slows your connection down to some extent. It’s inevitable because the encryption and routing via additional VPN servers take their toll. If that wasn’t enough, free VPNs usually have a speed limit. That’s why you should consider yourself lucky if you’re streaming in HD.
Another thing to point out is that the speeds may vary depending on your location, Internet Service Provider, and device. That’s why you should test the speed by yourself, especially if you’re planning to buy a premium version of that VPN later.
Writer
Ethan is a security researcher and digital privacy advocate. He spends his time unraveling various anonymity and security tools, plus contributing to open-source projects. Otherwise, he keeps a low profile by hiking or cycling around the countryside.
Did you check Atlas VPN as well? Their free version is the best for streaming Netflix. They don’t limit data, unlike most of the listed free providers, so you’re up for a good start without paying a single penny
I’m glad I could stumble on this article. I must say it’s really helpful. Currently out of the United States to Asia for a few days and needed a free VPN which is fast and reliable to access Netflix. Really happy to find many options here. Thank you