5 Best REALLY FREE VPNs to Watch Netflix in 2024 by Eric Goldstein

Eric Goldstein

Updated on: December 22, 2023

Using a free VPN to stream Netflix can be risky — it might be unsafe, its speeds may be too slow, and it might not even work with Netflix. I always suggest using a premium VPN (like ExpressVPN) over a free VPN, as premium VPNs offer stronger security, better speeds, and full 24/7 support for Netflix and other streaming platforms.

Fortunately, some premium VPNs offer free versions of their service. I tested dozens of free VPNs and found the best 5 for streaming Netflix — while all of them have some limitations, they’re secure, fast, and work with Netflix most of the time.

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🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Netflix in 2024

ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN to stream Netflix in 2024. It works with Netflix more reliably and provides better security and faster speeds than most of its competitors. While it’s technically not 100% free, it comes with a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can subscribe risk-free and enjoy your favorite content for a whole month.

I like ExpressVPN because it’s very easy to use — it only took me a couple of seconds to find and connect to a server. Once I installed it, I connected to a local server, and I could easily stream Netflix US content on my browser with no issues. I also tested ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature, which let me stream Netflix from my game console and smart TV, and I experienced no problems whatsoever.

ExpressVPN has some of the best speeds I’ve seen in a VPN. On all the servers I tested, I was able to stream HD Netflix content without any lag, and I even got close to my normal connection speeds when I was connected to the local server closest to my actual location.

In terms of security, ExpressVPN is a top choice. It has TrustedServer technology, which means its servers use temporary RAM rather than hard drives, and they are wiped clean each time they’re restarted. It also has an audited no-logs policy and full protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks. I ran 10+ tests, and I never saw my real IP address — I only saw ExpressVPN’s IP address.

I also like its split-tunneling feature, which lets you control which apps route through the VPN and which ones bypass it. This means you can watch your favorite movies and shows on Netflix over the VPN connection and route the rest of your traffic through your internet provider’s network and enjoy better speeds.

Premium subscriptionsstart at $6.67 / month, but I often see special deals on ExpressVPN’s website offering extra free months.

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Read our ExpressVPN review here

🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Has Dedicated Servers for Netflix

CyberGhost VPN lacks a free plan but has a free 24-hour trial. And its free trial includes access to dedicated servers optimized to work with 15+ Netflix libraries — our international team confirmed they could watch Netflix in their locations at all times. The best part about the free trial is that you don’t need to share your credit card information to sign up for it.

Plus, CyberGhost comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee for its long-term plans, which gives you enough time to test out how well it works with Netflix (in my tests, it always worked really well with the platform). Its short-term plan is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee, which is still good.

What I really like about CyberGhost is its Smart Rules feature that allows you to set up VPN connection preferences. For example, you can configure it to automatically launch your Netflix app when you connect to a VPN server, which is very convenient. You can also set it up so that it automatically connects you to a Netflix server on launch.

CyberGhost has great speeds, but it’s not quite as fast as ExpressVPN. In my tests, all HD videos on Netflix loaded instantly, and I didn’t experience any buffering, but 4K videos took around 2 seconds to load.

You also get great security, including RAM-only servers, an audited no-logs policy, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection — when I tested it, CyberGhost never leaked my IP address.

CyberGhost VPN’s plans are super affordable, starting at just $2.03 / month. Plus, the longest plan often includes 2 extra months for free.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

🥉3. Windscribe — Best Free VPN for Watching Netflix

Windscribe’s free plan is one of the few that consistently works with Netflix. The provider claims it works with Netflix, and I didn’t experience any issues watching Netflix US while connected to the VPN.

The free plan gives you access to 10+ free server locations (more than many other of the free VPNs on this list), but it comes with a maximum monthly data limit of 10 GB. This means you get about 10 hours of SD Netflix content or 5 hours of HD content, which is decent.

Windscribe’s security features are solid, as it provides access to advanced security features like perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and full leak protection. Also, the free plan provides access to a built-in firewall and ad and malware blocking via the R.O.B.E.R.T. feature. And you also get access to split-tunneling, which can help you manage your data usage.

I’m also happy with Windscribe’s speeds. When I tested it, all HD videos on Netflix took only about 1–2 seconds to load, and there was minimal buffering, which only happened when I skipped through the videos — this is really good and didn’t affect my overall experience. But ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN are still faster.

Windscribe has several premium plans, starting at $5.75 / month, and they all give you unlimited data and access to more servers. It also has a “build-a-plan” option, which lets you customize your plan by adding access to individual servers. All plans have a 3-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Windscribe review

4. Proton VPN — Great Free VPN With Unlimited Data

Proton VPN’s free version doesn’t come with a data cap, so you can watch as much Netflix as you want. Its security is strong, and it offers good speeds on its 5 free server locations (the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland), but this also means only users in those 5 countries can use it to watch their local Netflix. Another drawback is that free users are allowed only 1 connection at a time.

In my tests, I could watch Netflix US most of the time, despite Proton VPN’s website saying that its free plan doesn’t support streaming. But I could always watch Netflix US content with ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN.

Proton VPN’s free plan has really good speeds for streaming HD content on Netflix. I mostly didn’t experience any buffering or lag, though some videos took longer to load when I was connected to its US server during peak times.

A major drawback is that Proton VPN doesn’t let you pick a server location to connect to — it just automatically connects you to the fastest free available server for your location. If you want to connect to another server, you’ll need to disconnect and reconnect to the VPN until it assigns you a server in your location.

Proton VPN has great security that includes full leak protection, an independently audited no-logs policy, and open-source apps that are regularly audited by independent third parties, which makes it easy to trust this VPN.

Proton VPN’s paid version starts at $4.99 / month and includes streaming support for Netflix, a really good ad blocker, and more. There’s a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read our Proton VPN review here

5. Hide.me — Easy-to-use Netflix VPN (Great for Beginners)

hide.me is an easy-to-use VPN that’s good for beginners. It has a data limit of 10 GB/month, which is less than Proton VPN or Windscribe, but it’s enough to stream a few movies a month. It doesn’t guarantee its free plan works with Netflix, but it worked 60% of the time in my tests (on Netflix US), which is decent.

hide.me offers 5+ free server locations, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US. During my speed tests, I only saw a bit of buffering when connected to its US East server, but this was during peak times. Overall, I had good download and upload speeds but not near what I saw with ExpressVPN.

hide.me’s free version is very secure. It has Stealth Guard, a feature that prevents apps from accessing the internet when you’re not connected to Hide.me (kind of like a customizable kill switch), which works great for preventing leaks.

hide.me’s premium plans start at $2.22 / month and get you unlimited data, good streaming support for Netflix, and 50+ server locations. hide.me offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

Read our full hide.me review

Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for Watching Netflix in 2024

How to Choose the Best Free VPN for Watching Netflix in 2024

• Choose a VPN that works with Netflix — Not all free VPNs work with Netflix, so make sure you choose one that does. ExpressVPN worked with Netflix US the most consistently out of all the VPNs in my tests. It’s not free, but it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it risk-free for a whole month!
• Test for fast speeds — Many free VPNs have crowded servers that reduce your speeds, making it difficult to stream Netflix content without buffering or lag. All the VPNs on this list have speeds good enough for streaming HD Netflix videos without any interruptions.
• Look for a large data limit — Streaming Netflix content in SD can take up to 1 GB per hour of data, and HD content can take up to 3 GB per hour. Choosing a free VPN with unlimited data or a large monthly limit will allow you to stream your favorite Netflix movies and shows. Proton VPN’s free plan doesn’t have a data cap.
• Find a VPN with a split-tunneling feature — Since you’re using a VPN only to watch Netflix, you don’t need all of your internet traffic going through the VPN’s server. Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps to route through the VPN (like your Netflix app or browser).

Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN to Watch Netflix

• Poor streaming support. A lot of free VPNs simply don’t work with Netflix, so you won’t be able to watch content on the site when connected to their servers.
• Lack of security. Free VPNs are often unsafe as they lack security features such as encryption and kill switches. They might even track your data and sell it to third parties. While you’re connected to a VPN’s server, it’s hard to know who is looking at your data unless you use a reliable VPN with trustworthy privacy and security protocols.
• An increase in lag. VPNs can cause some delay in your connection, with free servers often suffering from congestion, leading to slower speeds. Some free VPNs may even intentionally reduce your speeds. On the other hand, premium VPNs have expansive server networks, which means fewer users on each server and quicker browsing and streaming speeds.
• Activity monitoring. Given that no-cost VPNs must make money somehow, they could potentially track your actions (such as online shopping and browsing) and trade your information to third-party entities. Premium VPNs such as ExpressVPN are stringent about never monitoring or trading user information.

Affordable Alternatives

• Private Internet Access (PIA). Private Internet Access is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market (with prices starting at just $2.11 / month). It’s very fast, reliably works with Netflix, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans. Read the full Private Internet Access (PIA) review here.
• NordVPN. NordVPN offers fast speeds, has excellent security features, and works well with Netflix. It has intuitive apps, and all of its plans (that cost $3.39 / month) are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read the full NordVPN review here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best free VPN for watching Netflix?

While it’s not exactly free, the best VPN for watching Netflix is ExpressVPN. It works with Netflix 100% of the time, provides the fastest speeds, and has excellent security for safe steaming. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can subscribe risk-free.

How do I use a VPN with Netflix?

You can follow these 3 quick steps:

1. Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has excellent security, fast speeds, and easy-to-use apps for all platforms.
2. Connect to a local server. The closest server to your location gives you the best speeds.
3. Log into Netflix and start streaming. Open Netflix on your browser or via the Netflix app, log into your account, and enjoy your favorite content!

Do All VPNs work with Netflix?

No, not all VPNs work with Netflix. Premium VPNs like ExpressVPN have servers that always work with Netflix, so you’ll never run into this issue.

How do I watch Netflix with a VPN on devices that don’t support VPNs?

You’ll need a VPN that has a smart DNS feature or good router support. If you want to protect your traffic while watching Netflix on your smart TV, PlayStation, or Xbox, you can set up the VPN on your router — this way, your traffic is encrypted and every device connected to the VPN is protected. Smart DNS can also help you stream Netflix on a device that doesn’t natively support VPNs, but it won’t encrypt your traffic.

For watching Netflix on devices that don’t support VPNs, I recommend ExpressVPN. It has a dedicated router app that’s easy to use and install and a great smart DNS tool.

Best Free VPNs for Watching Netflix in 2024 — Final Score:

Our Rank

Provider

Our Score

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1

9.6

save 49%

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2

9.2

save 84%

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3

7.8

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4

8.4

save 50%

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5

7.8

save 74%

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