Streaming support

When you’re selecting a VPN to stream Netflix, you’ll want to consider how many international content libraries it unlocks. Generally, we found that most servers in the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Romania and Australia worked flawlessly. Servers in other countries, like Egypt, occasionally didn’t show geo-specific movies and shows -- while Netflix never failed to load, on some VPNs, it simply continued showing the US version. Aside from Netflix, think about the other streaming services you want to unblock with a VPN, like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, YouTube TV, Sling, Amazon Prime Video and other providers.

Server network

The more individual country servers a VPN provider offers, the greater potential it offers for unblocking international Netflix libraries. At the high end, VPN companies including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and Surfshark sport 100 or more nations. We recommend at least 60-plus countries, which gives you plenty of options. Notably, you may not be able to access global Netflix content on all servers. But if a VPN offers multiple servers in a particular country -- such as several choices in the UK -- you can try changing connectivity options within that region to see if that successfully unblocks Netflix. 

Device compatibility

Think about the devices you want to stream Netflix on using a VPN. Most VPNs offer Windows, MacOS and Linux applications for desktops or laptops. Likewise, you’ll find Android and iOS/iPadOS apps for mobile devices including phones and tablets. Many VPNs feature Android TV apps that run on streaming boxes, like the NVIDIA Shield TV or Chromecast with Google TV. A growing number of VPN companies, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PIA and IPVanish, boast Apple TV apps, which are great for Apple aficionados.    

Speed

All VPNs slow down your internet connection somewhat, with the best-performing VPN dropping your speeds by an average of 25% or less. A reliable connection is a must, especially for streaming in 1080p high-definition or 4K ultra-high-definition. Look for a VPN with a minimal internet speed loss for buffer- and lag-free streaming.

Privacy

Aside from entertainment like streaming video and gaming, many folks use VPNs for additional privacy. When connected to a VPN, apps, websites and your internet service provider view your traffic as coming from a different location -- such as another state or even country. At a minimum, I recommend a VPN service with AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch and split tunneling. Additionally, make sure your VPN provider maintains a strict no-logs policy and undergoes annual third-party audits to verify its zero-log claims. However, more privacy-conscious users, like investigative journalists or political activists, may want advanced privacy features such as a double VPN or multihop, Tor over VPN and RAM-only servers.  

Price

You can sign up for a monthly, bi-annual, yearly or multi-year VPN subscription. VPN plans run you anywhere from $40 to $100 per year. Typically, the more you commit to the more you save, so an annual plan breaks down to a lower price per month than a monthly plan (but you’re paying upfront). We recommend sticking to an annual plan for the maximum savings with the lowest risk. A lot can change in a year: Your fast, private VPN might suffer a data breach or get acquired by a shady company during a 12-month time span. Notably, many VPN providers hit you with price hikes, so you might pay $60 for your first year of service, then get slapped with an auto-renewal of $100. Pay attention to the checkout page when purchasing a VPN, and take advantage of any early renewal discounts you get to avoid a costly subscription renewal.