If you have any friends in the US, you’ve probably heard them talking about certain shows on Netflix that aren’t available for you in the UK. Supernatural, Criminal Minds, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse among other popular shows and movies are unavailable in Netflix U.K.
That’s one of the greatest injustices for streaming fans like you and me. Despite there being 9.1 million Netflix users in the UK, only 44% out of the entire Netflix library is available to U.K residents. But from a legal aspect, Netflix has no other option than to impose geo-restrictions on the content they have to offer.
As annoying as this issue might be, you can easily get over it by using a VPN that offers U.S servers. In this article, you’re going to learn “how to Get American Netflix in the UK” with the help of a VPN and other methods like Proxy and Smart DNS that I have personally tested for Netflix and have proved reliable for me over the years.
Overview of 5 Best VPN that Works with Netflix in 2020
In a hurry? Here’s a quick overview of the best VPNs to get U.S Netflix in the U.K in 2020:
1. PureVPN: Offers Netflix optimized servers that effectively unblock U.S Netflix in the U.K. Best Servers: Ashburn and Miami.
2. Surfshark: The most affordable solution for unblocking Netflix U.S in the U.K. Best Servers: Detroit and Denver.
3. ExpressVPN: Expensive, but can easily unblock U.S Netflix from the U.K. Best Servers: Washington DC and New-Jersey 1.
How to Get America Netflix in the UK in 2020?
Due to licensing agreements, the content available on Netflix in the US can’t be the same as that in the UK. Yet, there are methods to watch American Netflix in the UK but the most appropriate is using a VPN for Netflix.
As mentioned, VPN isn’t the only approach to access American Netflix in the UK. The troubles that I have experienced trying to stream Netflix have compelled me to research other methods, including Proxy and Smart DNS.
You can learn about the essential characteristics a VPN should possess to unblock Netflix effectively in greater detail here.
Get American Netflix in the UK using a VPN (With Video Tutorial)
You can follow these steps to watch American Netflix in the UK without any buffering:
- Get the subscription to PureVPN.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and enter your login details.
- After logging in, connect to a US Server location.
- Visit the Netflix website or app, and enjoy the US content library in the UK.
To watch Netflix in other regions, check out these guides:
Get American Netflix in the UK using Smart DNS
Smart DNS is more useful though it has its strengths and weaknesses. Since it doesn’t provide the 256-encryption, that means your connection is not secure from prying eyes.
Therefore, if you are not concerned with security and privacy as much as speed, in that case, Smart DNS can be a useful solution.
Unlocator is a Netflix-compatible Smart DNS that works for streaming US Netflix in the UK. The 2-year subscription of the Unlocator costs $4.96/month.
Note: I only recommend Smart DNS as the second option in case you’ve had a bad experience with VPN service for any reason.
Best VPN To Watch American Netflix in the UK
A couple of months back, I was in the UK and I tested some VPNs to see if they can actually let me access US Netflix. I found these VPNs to be working remarkably well in my testing process:
1. PureVPN
PureVPN is an excellent choice to watch American Netflix in the UK as it has multiple servers built for the express purpose of streaming with a total of 6500+ servers in 140+ countries.
The best thing about PureVPN is how I was able to unblock Netflix shows in HD quality with minimal buffering. It is a testament to the fact that you can count on this VPN to deliver consistently fast speeds.
PureVPN Testing Video with Netflix (25th November 2020)
You can read the PureVPN review and explore more about the provider.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is another friendly VPN solution to get American Netflix in the UK. It allows bypassing restricted Netflix content in a single attempt after connecting to one of its many US servers.
The Surfshark app is a breeze to use, and I found it delivering high speeds for HD-quality streaming on Netflix. The entire network of servers is 3200+ servers in 65 countries.
Furthermore, you can acquire Surfshark for $2.21/mo. Frankly, there are hardly any VPN providers that offer top-grade performance for Netflix at such a low cost.
You can read the Surfshark review and explore more about the VPN provider.
3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the most expensive VPN on this list. Nonetheless, I mention it here because there’s no denying that the VPN works exceptionally well for changing the Netflix region.
If you need a superfast VPN that is always at the top of its game when it comes to unblocking Netflix with uninterrupted streaming, then you can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.
However, you will have to increase your budget to afford this VPN as it costs $6.67/mo. Those who can afford ExpressVPN should be their top choice for US Netflix in the UK.
You can read the ExpressVPN review and explore more about the provider.
VPNs That Fail to Unblock American Netflix in the UK
After testing dozens of VPNs, I found the following 10 providers that failed to unblock U.S Netflix in the U.K:
- Turbo VPN
- OperaVPN
- Unlocator
- Buffered
- GetFlix VPN
- OverPlay
- HideIPVPN
- Browsec VPN
- Hola VPN
- TunnelBear VPN
Why American Netflix Is Blocked in the UK?
Every TV show and movie that Netflix has to offer is made available in a region after licensing agreements with production studios and distributors.
In these agreements, it is specified which regions Netflix can stream a given show or movie. This is why some titles are only accessible from certain regions and can’t be watched anywhere else.
What makes American Netflix different from the UK?
US Netflix has a vast library and ranks second in this regard. Although the UK is quite close to the US in terms of the number of titles, it falls short by more than 11.5%.
This is the simple reason why most Netflix subscribers want to have access.
Though you can gain access to all American titles while sitting in the UK, for that, you need a VPN service to unblock Netflix TV shows and movies in the UK.
What Shows Can I Watch on American Netflix?
Netflix U.S offers some of the most amazing shows on the planet. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the many titles that you can only watch on American Netflix:
- John Wick 1, 2, 3
- Grey’s Anatomy (2005)
- Casino Royale (2006)
- Legacies (2018)
- Yes, God, Yes (2020)
How to Unblock American Netflix in the UK on Devices
Netflix offers dedicated apps for the wide majority of devices and operating systems out there. Here I’m going to show you to watch US Netflix in the UK on your smartphones and smart TVs.
For Android and iOS
- First, go to the App Store or Play store.
- Then, download and install the PureVPN apps.
- Launch the PureVPN app and enter your login details.
- Now, connect to a USA server of PureVPN.
- Open the Netflix app and stream your favorite US-content on iPhone/Android.
Note: To set up a VPN for American Netflix on Smart TVs is a little complicated. If you have an Android-based Smart TV, then the method described above should work for you.
For Smart TV and Apple TV
The process of setting up a VPN is different for other types of Smart TVs. You can find a Samsung VPN setup here. Moreover, Apple TV users can see this method for Setting up a VPN on Apple TV.
Is it Illegal to Get American Netflix in the UK?
No, it is not illegal to get American Netflix in the U.K. I say this because U.K has no restrictions on VPN usage, unlike some countries that follow strict censorship laws. Speaking of which, North Korea and Iraq have strict censorship laws that ban VPN usage. So, if you use a VPN in any country with strict censorship rules and regulations, you can get into a lot of trouble.
Wrapping Up
American Netflix is the subject of envy of all streaming enthusiasts in the UK. The good thing is, it is very much possible to unblock your favorite version of Netflix in the UK with the help of a VPN.
My recommended choice is PureVPN for this purpose because I’ve been using it a long time and it has never failed to let me get American Netflix in the UK at a very reasonable price.
Nonetheless, all the VPNs mentioned in this list are proven to work with Netflix in the UK and you can’t go wrong with any of these.
In my experience, well-known VPNs struggle with keeping Netflix accessible because way too many users are connecting from the same IP and it looks suspicious so it get’s blocked. Yes, they might be able to restore the access in some time but in my opinion it’s way more convenient for such things to use less known VPNs. Smaller crowd = less issues.