The search for a free VPN that you can actually trust for keeping your data safe and which works for purposes such as Netflix unblocking and bypassing geo-restrictions is a never-ending one.
I can say that with absolute certainty because I have updated this article countless times alone. Why do I go through that trouble? Simply because a free VPN may work like a charm for Netflix one day and then fail completely the next day and onward. When that happens, the only choice is to look for a service that can do the job more reliably than the one before it.
So as soon as I find out that a VPN mentioned in this list is no longer effective (sometimes through my own testing and sometimes after reports from our amazing readers) for Netflix, I try my best to come up with a working solution.
Currently, I know of only 3 free VPNs that work reliably with Netflix.
Best Free VPNs for Netflix in a Glimpse
- Surfshark – Efficient unblocking of various Netflix libraries, particularly the US. HD quality streams with unlimited bandwidth. Can be refunded within 30 days for a free experience whole month.
- HomebrewVPN – Unlimited free access to Netflix US and Netflix Japan. Though there are no data caps, speed is throttled to 512 Kbps which is good enough for 480p quality streaming but not HD.
- ProtonVPN – Works with US Netflix. Unlimited bandwidth but choice is limited to only 3 server locations in the free version. Speeds are also capped.
Best Free VPNs for Netflix – Detailed Rundown (June 2020 Update)
The following VPN services are all free of cost and capable of unblocking Netflix, but some of these have limitations in other ways such as slower speeds. If you’re looking for a VPN that is free from these limitations, you should see this list of paid VPNs for Netflix.
But without further ado, here are the best free VPNs for Netflix:
1. Surfshark – Unlimited and Free (trial) for Netflix US
Surfshark is a powerful VPN for Netflix that offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on desktops and a 7-day free trial for smartphones. Although it not totally free, you can benefit from the 30-day refund window to enjoy Netflix virtually free of cost.
Surfshark’s network of 1,700+ servers in 63+ countries is perfectly capable of unblocking a variety of popular streaming services and US Netflix is one of them.
I used the Chrome extension of Surfshark to watch the Breaking Bad after connecting to Los Angeles server, which reliably works with Netflix US:
In addition, it features excellent tools for safeguarding user privacy. Some of the built-in protective mechanisms in Surfshark are CleanWeb, MultiHop, and kill switch. With these, you can surf the web and stream shows with your privacy fully guarded from any third-party intrusions.
If you do decide to stick with Surfshark after the initial 30-day money-back period and are satisfied enough to not demand a refund, you’ll be able to enjoy unrestricted access to Netflix TV shows with the 2-year subscription of $1.99/mo . At this price, Surfshark is the best VPN you can have for Netflix US.
To learn more about this VPN, see this Surfshark review.
2. HomebrewVPN – Standard-Quality Free VPN for Netflix
HomebrewVPN is a totally free VPN that works with Netflix US.
However, there is no dedicated app for HomebrewVPN. Instead, users have to manually set it up using OpenVPN GUI or other methods.
You can find setup information here. It’s fairly simple and got me access to The Walking Dead on American Netflix immediately:
The provider also claims to work with Netflix library of Japan, but I haven’t tested it for that personally.
Although the service works like a charm, there is one slight problem: the speed on the free version is capped to 512 Kbps. This is good enough for streaming Netflix on 480p quality, but you can’t count on it if you want better quality.
Nonetheless, considering that 99% of the free VPNs are incompatible with Netflix, HomebrewVPN is a godsend for Netflix fans looking for a free VPN to unblock Netflix and access their favorite shows and movies.
3. ProtonVPN – Unlimited Access to US Netflix for Free
There aren’t many VPNs out there that are free, reliable, and impose no bandwidth restrictions all at the same time. ProtonVPN is a rare breed in this sense. I found the provider efficient for accessing American Netflix library using its free app.
In fact, it offers server locations in US, Netherlands, and Japan. You can access Netflix libraries associated with all three of these regions using ProtonVPN free of cost. Here’s me streaming the Netflix show Space Force using ProtonVPN’s US-Free#3 server:
Since there are no data caps or bandwidth restrictions, you can use ProtonVPN indefinitely for Netflix streaming without needing to pay a single penny. The only problem is that you can’t expect the best speeds.
I was only able to get SD quality streams on Netflix through ProtonVPN. You will need to purchase the paid version of ProtonVPN to obtain fast speeds and enable HD quality streams.
Nonetheless, as a VPN that unblocks Netflix streams without charging anything, ProtonVPN is a blessing for Netflix fans that don’t want to spend any money in order to access their favorite geo-restricted shows and movies.
Why Free VPN Services are Unreliable for Netflix
In order for a VPN to efficiently work with Netflix it must have a strong server infrastructure with strategically located physical servers that use some form of obfuscation to mask VPN traffic.
Moreover, these VPNs should deliver fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth. Unfortunately, free Netflix VPN services do not have the resources to support a large enough network with a clean IP address list, and nor are they equipped with advanced obfuscation techniques to bypass Netflix block.
Therefore, if you’re a streaming enthusiast that wants access to the complete library of shows available on US Netflix, then you’ll find most of the free VPN for Netflix services very unreliable and you’ll be much better of with premium VPN with adequate resources to deal with Netflix’s proxy detection.
Nonetheless, the VPNs mentioned above are some rare gems that can work with Netflix, though you will have to bear occasional failures and lower quality videos due to slow speeds.
Free VPNs that Don’t Work With Netflix
The following free VPN services are the fallen heroes that used to be great for Netflix but don’t work with it anymore (though some like Wachee still work but they’ve transformed to a premium subscription model now):
- UrbanVPN
- Wachee
- Betternet
- Browsec
- SurfEasy
FAQs
What does unblocker or proxy mean on Netflix?
Any tool that can bypass geo-restrictions on Netflix is called an unblocker or proxy. Unfortunately, most free VPNs and proxies are unable to deal with Netflix’s advanced VPN and proxy detecting filter. This is why a premium VPN that is tried and tested to work with Netflix is your best bet.
How do I fix Netflix proxy or unblocker?
If your VPN is leading to the Netflix proxy error, you should invest in a better VPN service that is proven to work with Netflix. This is the only way to fix the error.
Final Thoughts
A free VPN for Netflix cannot obviously be compared to the services and strength of a paid service, as free providers usually lack the technology and resources to defeat Netflix’s VPN blocking technology and often simply fail to work with Netflix.
Nonetheless, the VPNs mentioned above are reasonably reliable when it comes to Netflix unblocking, especially Surfshark with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you have any cool tips to share about undoing Netflix’s blocking filters, don’t forget to participate in the discussion below.
Wachee doesn’t work anymore
Hi,
Thanks for the comment. You are correct. Unfortunately, Wachee has taken the paid route like many other providers that become paid providers after tasting success as a free service.
I have removed Wachee from the list and added another in its place.
So this post is false. just tried MOST of them including UrbanVPN and I can confirm that as of January 31st 2020 NONE of these WORK.
Hello Kwesi,
You are right about UrbanVPN. The service was working fine but it is no longer reliable for Netflix. We have removed it from this list and added a Chrome extension that is working at the time of this writing.
Having said that, you should know that Netflix is constantly cracking down on VPN services. Any given VPN might be working perfectly one day but suddenly lose Netflix functionality any day in the future. We update the blog article as soon as we confirm the status of a VPN regarding Netflix functionality, and this sometimes takes longer than we would like.
So the post is certainly not false and 2 of the VPNs mentioned ARE STILL working if you can try them yourself.
Thank you