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Netflix-in-china

Travelling to China and worried you’ll miss out on your favourite Netflix shows?

You are not alone.

Although Netflix is now available almost everywhere globally, China remains an uncharted territory for the streaming platform due to licensing issues. But, don’t worry, in this blog, we will show you how to get American Netflix in China with a VPN. 

If you are unblocking Netflix in China, why not unblock the largest Netflix library, i.e. American Netflix. Yes, American Netflix hosts the largest library of shows and movies available in the world.

With a Best VPN, you can mask your real IP address and get an American IP to access Netflix in China along with other geo-restricted platforms in the country.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

How to get American Netflix in China (5 Easy Steps)

Here are 5 easy steps to get American Netflix in China:

Step 1: Subscribe to a VPN with multiple servers in the US (we recommend ExpressVPN as it has 23+ servers in the US)

Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app on your device

Step 3: Launch the VPN app and enter your login details.

Step 4: After logging in, connect to a US server.

Step 5: Visit the Netflix website or app, and enjoy the US exclusive shows in China.


TL;DR: 3 Best VPNs to Get American Netflix in China in 2024

  1. ExpressVPN The Best VPN to get American Netflix in China. Offers 23+ servers in USA, 3000+ servers across 105 countries. Offers the best unblocking ability with a free MediaStreamer feature. Best for buffer-less Ultra HD streaming with fantastic speeds of 88 Mbps speed on 100 Mbps connection. Available for just $6.67/mo - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Surfshark Affordable VPN to get American Netflix in China. Budget VPN costing only $2.49/mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee . Offers 500+ American servers in 20+ US cities. Fast download speeds (84 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection) for bufferless, 4K streaming. It topped off with unlimited simultaneous connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  3. NordVPNFastest VPN to watch American Netflix in China. Offers fast streaming speed of 91 Mbps on 100 Mbps connection for 4K, Ultra HD video streaming. Offers 1970+ American servers in 15 US cities, with support for 6 simultaneous connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee for just $3.99/mo - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend.

3 Best VPNs to get American Netflix in China in 2024 (In-depth Analysis)

Since many providers cannot bypass the Great Firewall of China, you will need a VPN that works in China to access Netflix in the region. However, after testing 40+ VPNs, we bring you 3 VPNs that work best with Netflix and can easily unblock American Netflix.

1. The Best VPN to get American Netflix in China – ExpressVPN

Total Servers: 3000+ | Countries: 105 | American Servers: 23+ in 14 cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.7 | Maximum Devices: 5 | Speed: 88 Mbps | Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN to get American Netflix in China owing to its best unblocking power for geo-restricted sites like Netflix. For those of you wondering, yes, ExpressVPN works in China, and you can unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN’s international servers as these servers bypass the geo-restrictions and change Netflix region.

It offers 3000+ servers in 105+ countries, including 23+ servers in the US. These US servers are fully capable of letting you have unrestricted access to Netflix in China.

With ExpressVPN, you can also access other geo-restricted sites in China like Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Comedy Central, and more. In addition, you can also watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN in China.

Expressvpn-US-servers-in-14-cities

ExpressVPN also delivered amazing speeds for streaming Netflix. It gave a great speed of 88.31 Mbps on its New Jersey – 3 server on a 100Mbps internet connection during testing.

Therefore, with ExpressVPN, you don’t have to worry about buffering or bandwidth limitations. Its speeds are more than enough to stream Netflix in Ultra HD in China.

Here are ExpressVPN’s top 3 recommended servers for Netflix US and their speed results:

Recommended Servers Speed Result Video Playback Quality
New Jersey – 3 88.31 Mbps Ultra HD
Seattle 85.49 Mbps Ultra HD
Salt Lake City 85.73 Mbps Ultra HD

ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections, so you can stream Netflix shows on various devices and share them with your family and friends. It is compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and more.

ExpressVPN also offers a free Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer for those who want to access American Netflix on devices without native VPN support. With MediaStreamer, you can unblock American Netflix in China on your Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and more.

ExpressVPN is no doubt one of the best VPNs for online privacy and security while using social media apps in or outside of China because of this it has garnered reputation as the best VPN for WeChat. It offers 256-bit encryption, a network lock (kill switch), and IP/ DNS leak protection.

ExpressVPN is available for $6.67/mo - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free and it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it for 30 days risk-free. Read our ExpressVPN review for more information.


2. Affordable VPN to get American Netflix in China –  Surfshark

Total Servers: 3200+ | Countries: 100 | American Servers: 500+ in 20+ Cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.3 | Maximum Devices: unlimited | Speed: 84 Mbps | Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

Surfshark

Surfshark is the most affordable VPN to get American Netflix in China, available for only $2.49/mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee. It is affordable and comes with excellent unblocking ability as our team members in China had no issue unblocking American Netflix in China on its American servers.

Surfshrak offers a large server network of over 3200+ servers across 100 countries including 500+ servers in the US alone. During our testing, Surfshark unblocked Netflix US in a single attempt as we could stream “Supergirl” without encountering the Netflix proxy error.

Surfshark-USA-Servers

With 500+ servers in the US, you can unblock various American streaming sites in China that are geo-restricted. For example, with Surfshark, you can also unblock YouTube TV, Disney+, HBO Now, ESPN+, Sling TV, and more in China.

Surfshark offered 84.7 Mbps on its Charlotte – US server on a base connection of 100 Mbps if we talk about speed. It was more than enough for streaming Netflix shows in Ultra HD quality. Here are the top 3 recommended servers to watch American Netflix in China and their speed results.

Recommended Servers Speed Result Video Playback Quality
Charlotte 84.7 Mbps Ultra HD
Louisville 89.5 Mbps Ultra HD
San Francisco 81.2 Mbps Ultra HD

Surfshark also comes with amazing security features including, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and IP, DNS leak protection. It also includes a CleanWeb feature that acts as an ad blocker.

Surfshark also supports unlimited simultaneous connections on a single account, so you can stream Netflix in China on various devices and even share it with your friends and family.

It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users in China to test the service risk-free. Read our Surfshark review for more details.


3. Fastest VPN to get American Netflix in China – NordVPN

Total Servers: 6000+ | Countries: 61 | American Servers: 1,970+ in 15+ Cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 | Maximum Devices: 6 | Speed: 91 Mbps | Money-back guarantee: 30 Days

NordVPN

NordVPN also works in China and it is the fastest VPN to get American Netflix in the country. One reason behind its fast speeds is its large server network in the US. NordVPN has a massive network of 6000+ servers across 61 countries, including 1970+ servers in the US alone. With so many US servers, you can connect to any server you want because the chances of these servers being crowded with users are very low.

With NordVPN, you can choose the server that offers the best speeds for buffer-less streaming of Netflix shows in China. For example, with NordVPN, our team in China could unblock American Netflix within 2 minutes.

NordVPN-USA-servers

In terms of speed, NordVPN is great. It offered 91 Mbps on a 100 Mbps internet connection. The speed was more than enough for 4K video quality streaming. Here are 3 NordVPN’s recommended servers for Netflix US in China and their speed.

Recommended Servers Speed Result Video Playback Quality
New York 86.4 Mbps Ultra HD
Los Angeles 82.6 Mbps Ultra HD
Chicago 91 Mbps Ultra HD

NordVPN is a great choice for China because of its obfuscation technology. It offers obfuscated servers that disguise your VPN traffic as normal HTTPS traffic, thus effectively bypassing not only the Netflix proxy ban but also circumventing the Great Firewall.

This is one of the main reasons why NordVPNs can easily unblock with other geo-restricted streaming sites like Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, TVNZ, CW, HBO Max, and even BBC iPlayer in China.

It supports 6 simultaneous connections on a single account so that you can stream Netflix in China on multiple devices. It is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and routers. NordVPN also offers 256-bit encryption, Double VPN, and CyberSec (adblocker) for online security in China.

NordVPN subscription plans start from $3.99/mo - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can use it free for 30 days in China to test the service. Read our NordVPN review for more details.


Things to consider while choosing the best VPN to get American Netflix in China

Not all VPNs work in China due to their Great Firewall. We have shortlisted the 3 best VPNs for Netflix on the following criteria:

  • A VPN provider that works in China consistently unblocks Netflix and other streaming services like Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.
  • Fast-speed for streaming in Ultra HD video quality without buffering.
  • Large server network with multiple servers in the US so you can connect to any server you want.
  • Strong 256-bit encryption and obfuscation so you can efficiently bypass the Great Firewall and Netflix’s proxy detection.
  • Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • 24/7 customer support in case of technical issues. You can ask them the best servers for streaming American Netflix in China.

How to unblock American Netflix in China on devices?

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to unblock American Netflix in China on various devices and platforms:

How to get American Netflix in China on Smart TVs

There are two ways you can get American Netflix in China on your Smart TV: through the router or SmartDNS. We will discuss both in detail.

Follow these steps to get American Netflix on your Smart TV via router:

  1. First, choose a VPN and configure the VPN on your router.
  2. Now, connect to a US server.
  3. Connect your Smart TV to the router on which you have configured the VPN.
  4. Head over to Netflix on your Smart TV and sign in.
  5. It will automatically take you to American Netflix. So enjoy streaming the US library!

The second method to get American Netflix on Smart TV in China is by using a Smart DNS. In this method, we are using ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS called MediaStreamer:

  1. Go to ExpressVPN’s DNS setting page and sign in.
  2. Under IP Address Registration > check Register my IP address.
  3. Go to the MediaStreamer page and write down DNS server IP addresses.
  4. On your Smart TV > press Menu > Network > Network Status > IP Settings > DNS Settings.
  5. Choose Enter Manually.
  6. Enter the DNS addresses from Step 3.
  7. Click OK and restart your TV.
  8. Open the Netflix app and enjoy the full library of American Netflix.

This way, you can get American Netflix on your Samsung Smart TV, Apple TV, LG Smart TV, and more in China.

How to get American Netflix in China on Android in China

  1. Subscribe to a VPN like ExpressVPN
  2. Go to Google Play Store and search for the ExpressVPN app
  3. Download and install the app
  4. Once the installation is complete, log in to your ExpressVPN account
  5. Connect to a US server
  6. Open the Netflix app, and you will automatically be redirected to the American Netflix library.

How to get American Netflix in China on iOS

Follow these steps to get American Netflix on your iPhone and iPad in China:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN like ExpressVPN
  2. Go to App Store and download the VPN app on your iOS device
  3. Launch the app and log in using your credentials.
  4. Connect to US server from server list
  5. Once connected, launch your Netflix application and enjoy.

Make sure to keep your device location service feature disabled when accessing American Netflix content.

How to get American Netflix in China on PlayStation

  1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN
  2. Go to ExpressVPN’s official website and log in with your credentials.
  3. Select ‘Set Up More Devices
  4. Choose PlayStation and note down MediaStreamer IP addresses.
  5. Launch your PlayStation
  6. Go to XMB > Settings > Network Settings > Internet Connection Settings
  7. Click OK > select Custom
  8. Type your MediaStreamer DNS IP address and click OK
  9. Restart your device and head over to Netflix, and log in.
  10. Enjoy streaming the American Netflix library.

How to get American Netflix in China on Xbox

  1. Subscribe to a VPN like ExpressVPN
  2. Download and install the VPN on your desktop
  3. Go to ExpressVPN DNS settings
  4. Click Register My IP Address under ‘IP address registration’
  5. Go to the MediaStreamer page and get your DNS addresses. Write it down because you will need it later.
  6. Launch your Xbox > go to Settings > System > Change your location to US
  7. Go to Advanced Settings > DNS Setting > Manual
  8. Enter MediaStreamer IP address from Step 5 > Save
  9. Head over to Netflix and enjoy its American library in China.

Still having issues accessing American Netflix in China?

If you are using one of the VPNs recommended above for American Netflix in China but are still facing issues, try these troubleshooting tips:

  • Disconnect, and reconnect to a different VPN server. 
  • Switch the VPN protocol from the app. For example, you can try the OpenVPN protocol that is the most recommended for users in China.
  • Clear your browser cookies and cache.
  • If you are using the app, try accessing Netflix in your web browser instead.
  • Log out of Google accounts on your device because Google caches IP addresses and can reveal your real geo-location to Netflix.
  • Disable IPv6 (this is mainly for Windows 10 devices, as it might cause issues on other OS)
  • Flush your DNS. To do that, type this in Command Prompt: ipconfig /flushdns
  • Contact customer support to ask them which Netflix does not block servers.

Netflix title availability by region

There is a significant difference between the number of titles available in the US library of Netflix and its library in other regions. A glimpse at the table below will highlight the sheer magnitude of the difference:

Region Number of Movies Number of Shows
United States 4593 1157
Canada 2562 623
United Kingdom 1586 442
Australia 158 443
France 1485 387
Germany 1440 328
Japan 1181 392

Thus, there is clearly a wide disparity between the content you can find on Netflix US and the titles available on other Netflix libraries. With a VPN, you can access the largest Netflix library (i.e. American Netflix) and stream your favorite shows and movies from China.

Exclusive shows and movies available only on American Netflix

Here are some of Netflix movies and shows exclusively available on American Netflix, and you won’t be able to watch them on any other regional Netflix libraries in China.

Movies TV Shows
Avengers: Infinity Wars The Office
Ant-Man and the Wasp The Tudors
Black Haws Down Dexter
Incredibles 2 Supergirl
Black Panther Parks and Recreation
The 2nd The Flash
50 First Dates Marvel’s Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D
Casino Royale Person of Interest
The Outpost Twin Peaks
I’ll See You in My Dreams Penny Dreadful

Other Countries Where You Can Stream American Netflix

Some more countries where you can stream American Netflix with an ExpressVPN if it is region-blocked


Can I watch American Netflix in China with a free VPN?

Accessing American Netflix in China with a free VPN is highly unlikely due to the Great Firewall’s robust restrictions. Even paid VPNs struggle here, let alone free ones, as the Chinese government continuously blocks VPN access through stringent security measures.

However after testing numerous free VPNs, ProtonVPN and Windscribe emerged as the most reliable and best free VPNs for China for accessing American Netflix. Despite the challenges posed by Chinese restrictions, these two VPNs showed some effectiveness in navigating the barriers, providing a ray of hope for users seeking US Netflix content in China.


How to get American Netflix in China – FAQs

Yes, you can watch Netflix in China. All you need is a working VPN in China that has the capability to bypass Netflix’s restrictions. Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN, as it works in China and also unblocks American Netflix from abroad. In addition, ExpressVPN has 23+ servers in the US to help you unblock American Netflix in China.

Certain shows and movies on Netflix can be downloaded through its app in China. So if you are traveling to China, download a VPN and the Netflix app on your device. Then search for shows you like and download for offline viewing while you are in China.

Yes, Netflix is blocked in China. Netflix hasn’t been successful at forming licensing agreements with providers and authorities in China, which is why you get an unavailability error when you try to visit Netflix from China.

Yes, you can watch Netflix with Chinese subtitles. To turn on subtitles, go to Audio and Subtitle from the options > Select the subtitles you want > Press Back and select play. You will now be able to watch Netflix shows and movies with Chinese subtitles.

Summing Up!

We hope now you know how to get American Netflix in China. With a VPN, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies on American Netflix in China.

Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It is fully capable of unblocking Netflix in China. If you want to test it yourself, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee and try ExpressVPN free for 30 days in China.