A VPN like Surfshark can technically change your IP address to one from a different country to access Netflix’s content there, but this is against copyright laws. Plus, Netflix forbids this in its terms of use, so I don’t condone using any VPN for this purpose. If you have to use Surfshark to stream safely on local public WiFi, it might not work in your location as Netflix actively blocks VPN IP addresses to curb piracy and protect its license. My teammates and I tested its global servers and found Surfshark works in 14 countries. Stream Netflix with Surfshark Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Quick Guide: How to Watch Netflix With Surfshark in 2025
Does Surfshark Work With Netflix in My Country?
As Netflix has improved its proxy-detection technology, more and more of Surfshark’s servers are blocked from the service. But this is the case with even the top VPNs on the market. Surfshark regularly improves its servers and ensures that it adapts to any changes in detection that Netflix makes. Surfshark has had problems working with Netflix in the past, but our international team was pleased to find that it works with the vast majority of local libraries that we tested. Surfshark’s servers in Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan had intermittent success with Netflix. Some servers would connect while others were detected by Netflix. This is likely due to a handful of blacklisted IP addresses that Netflix automatically recognizes as coming from a VPN. However, Surfshark worked with Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The good news is that if your household enjoys streaming you won’t have to worry about significant drops in quality. Even if your speed drops with a lot of simultaneous connections, you should still be able to stream UHD-quality videos.
Is Surfshark Fast Enough to Watch Netflix?
According to Netflix, the speed requirements for streaming content are:
0.5Mbps — Required broadband connection speed 1.5Mbps — Recommended broadband connection speed 3Mbps — SD quality 5Mbps — HD quality 25Mbps — UHD quality
When I first tested Surfshark, I was a little suspicious about its claim to support an unlimited number of devices. What you’ll often find is that speeds significantly slow down when you connect more devices to the VPN. But I was surprised — Surfshark’s speeds remained fast even when I connected 3 devices at once. I first connected my Windows laptop and ran a speed test. Then I connected my iPhone and iPad and ran the speed test again. My speed dropped by 20%, which is a relatively small decrease and won’t make a huge impact on your overall speed. Even with these speed drops, I had a stable and fast enough connection to stream my favorite content in UHD without issues.
What If Surfshark Stops Working with Netflix?
If you can’t watch Netflix or Surfshark is giving you the Netflix proxy error message even though you’re streaming from your own country, try these steps:
Connect to a different server in your country. This often solves the problem straight away. Contact customer support. Ask for a list of the latest servers that work with Netflix in your country. Change your VPN protocol. Protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 are fast, secure, and suitable for streaming. Clear your cache. Then relaunch your browser or the Netflix app. Get another VPN that’s proven to work with Netflix. In my tests, ExpressVPN consistently connects to Netflix, as well as CyberGhost and Private Internet Access.
The Best VPNs for Netflix — Full Test Results in 2025
1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds on Global Server Network for Netflix
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the top VPN for Netflix as it works with the platform in more than 18 countries. My team and I tested multiple regions, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, and the US. ExpressVPN allowed my colleagues to watch Netflix shows in their respective libraries with no proxy error messages. I was particularly impressed with ExpressVPN’s fast speeds, which allowed for smooth, lag-free Netflix streaming on all connections. I used ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol for every connection as it gave me the fastest speeds with the highest level of security and anonymity. Using ExpressVPN, speeds never dropped more than 21% from my base speed of 115Mbps. ExpressVPN has excellent device compatibility so you can stream Netflix whether you’re home or commuting to work. You can use the service Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and also configure ExpressVPN with your Smart TV, streaming devices like Roku, and compatible routers. There’s even a MediaStreamer feature for devices that don’t support VPN apps. If you’re in the US or UK, it lets you change your DNS settings on an incompatible smart TV or gaming console to watch local Netflix. I found it easy to configure with my router so I could start streaming Netflix straight away. While it’s a little more pricey than other options at $$4.994.99 on the 2-year + 4 months free plan, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for reliable connections to Netflix US, Japan, the UK, and more than 10 other locations. You’ll get fast speeds, top-tier security, and total data privacy with every connection. If you’d like to try the service yourself, you can test ExpressVPN with Netflix risk-free for 30 days. ExpressVPN is backed by a money-back guarantee, so if you’re not satisfied for any reason you can get a full refund. I was surprised by how easy the process was — I contacted the 24/7 live chat and the agent arranged my refund in less than 3 minutes. I had my full refund back in just 5 days. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Netflix Servers Provide Reliable Connections in Many Countries
Key Features: CyberGhost’s optimized Netflix servers help connect to the service without proxy errors. You can connect to this specialized server in your country whether it’s France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, the UK, or the US. During tests, my team and I had no issues connecting to these servers and streaming with our respective local Netflix accounts. I was pleased to find CyberGhost supports the WireGuard protocol on all of its apps, as I’ve found this protocol often provides the best speeds for streaming. When using CyberGhost’s optimized servers and WireGuard, I had speeds of around 70Mbps on average, which is a drop of 39%. My speeds were fast enough for buffer-free Netflix streaming on all local CyberGhost server connections. CyberGhost supports up to 7 connections at the same time, so the whole family can stream Netflix easily. The applications are simple to download and set up across various devices, plus it extend compatibility to a wide range of Smart TVs, such as Samsung, LG, and Apple TVs. I also managed to set up CyberGhost on my router, enabling me to link devices that lack VPN support and enjoy Netflix streaming. While CyberGhost’s speeds are mostly solid for smooth Netflix streaming, I noticed a significant slowdown when connecting to distant servers. My speeds dropped by 60% when using an Australian server — this didn’t cause an issue for me, but if your regular ISP speeds are slower it could affect your online activity. For streaming Netflix, you’ll have great speeds as long as you respect its terms of use and connect to a server in your own location. I recommend you sign up for CyberGhost’s 2-year + 2 months-plan for only $2.19 per month. It’s the most affordable monthly plan and you’ll be protected by the [VDS: MBG]-day money-back guarantee, which only applies to subscriptions of 6 months or more. The money-back-guarantee is a great way to stream Netflix with CyberGhost risk-free for up to 45 days. If you ever decide to change your mind, rest assured that you can request a complete refund. I personally put the refund process to the test, and I was pleasantly surprised by its efficiency. Within just a few minutes of chatting with a friendly customer support representative available 24/7, I successfully arranged for my refund. It took only a week for the money to be back in my account. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network for Quick and Easy Netflix Connections
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has an enormous network, with more than 35,000 servers. This means you’re likely to have a working server for Netflix in your country. During tests, my team and I could stream Netflix in the US, Canada, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the UK. It was as simple as selecting our respective Netflix country and clicking Connect — there were no issues with server congestion. I was pleased to find PIA’s speeds were good for smooth, lag-free Netflix streaming on all local servers. I used the WireGuard protocol with Netflix, as this is a lightweight option that keeps speeds fast and is less likely to be detected by proxy technology. My speeds dropped on average from 115Mbps to 63Mbps — around 45%, which is a bigger drop than other VPNs. That said, PIA is the cheapest Netflix VPN at only $2.19 a month on the 2-year + 2 months plan. It’s a great deal if you want to save on a VPN. To try PIA with Netflix for yourself risk-free, you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. During my process evaluation, the 24/7 live chat agent inquired whether I wished to reconsider prior to canceling. I affirmed my request for a refund, and they promptly organized the necessary arrangements. Within a week, my money was successfully refunded to me. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Surfshark Is Good for Netflix
While Surfshark can reliably stream Netflix, it also has several features that secure and protect your online activity: PIA works on: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Kodi, routers, and more. If you find you’re continuously getting the Netflix error with Surfshark, I recommend trying a different VPN instead. A service like CyberGhost has dedicated Netflix servers that are regularly tested by CyberGhost staff to ensure smooth, reliable connections to the site — with no Netflix error messages.
AES-256-bit encryption and data leak protection, plus RAM-based servers Multi-hop and static IP options Ad and malware blocker Unlimited device connections 24/7 customer support 30-day money-back guarantee
However, ExpressVPN includes all the features above plus it reliably works with Netflix. You can try ExpressVPN with Netflix risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, it’s quick and easy to get a full refund. If you want to read more about other great VPNs for Netflix, check out this list of the best VPNs in 2025. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Summary — Best VPNs for Netflix in 2025
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.