If you’re in the UK, you may have noticed Netflix doesn’t have all the same shows as it does in the US.
The reason this happens is because film and TV studies enforce content copyright based on location. Just because Netflix has the rights to broadcast some content in the US it doesn’t necessarily mean it can broadcast all of that content in the UK.
This can be frustrating when you want to watch a show that’s on US Netflix but not in the UK. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to get around this issue.
A reliable VPN can trick Netflix into thinking you’re watching its content from within the United States. This will provide you with the US Netflix library so you can watch content that might not have been available on UK Netflix.
This article will explain how to get a reliable VPN that will allow you to watch US Netflix in the UK.
See also:
- How to watch Australian TV in the UK: The EASY way! (June 2022)
- How to watch Hulu in the UK: The EASY way! (June 2022)
- How to watch HBO Max in the UK: THE EASIEST method! (June 2022)
How to watch US Netflix in the UK: Quick Guide
To watch US Netflix in the UK, you need a US-based IP address.
A VPN makes this process simple. Just follow these steps:
Create a new account with ExpressVPN ($6.67/month)
Download and install the new VPN app
Select a server in the US
Watch US Netflix in the UK
Why is Netflix different in other countries?
Although Netflix as a platform is available all over the world, the content it broadcasts varies from country to country.
This is because film and television studios enforce copyright and licensing measures in regard to where and how their content is broadcast.
Studios are the ones that decide how and where to market their content. A TV series might be popular in the US so the studio sells the US broadcasting rights to Netflix. This means you’ll be able to access that show with US Netflix, however it might not be popular in the UK so they may potentially sell the license to a UK-based national television channel instead. This means you won’t be able to watch it using the UK version of Netflix.
That’s a bit confusing but all you need to know is Netflix is different in every country because film and TV studios may or may not sell Netflix the rights to broadcast their content in certain countries.

Can I watch US Netflix while in the UK?
The good news is you can easily watch US Netflix in the UK. All you need is a reliable VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month).
Whenever you go online you’re given a unique IP address. This IP contains geographic information that discloses where you’re located.
When you connect to Netflix, it scans this IP address and uses this information to determine which Netflix library you’ll have access to. If you’re in the UK, you’ll be using a UK IP address and Netflix will show its UK library.
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month) allow you to change your IP address.
When you use these VPNs you can choose to change your IP address to one based in the US. Now when Netflix scans your IP address it will think you’re in the US and you’ll have access to the US Netflix library. It’s that simple.
Does Netflix block VPNs?
Because VPNs are a good way of watching region-locked Netflix outside its broadcast zones, Netflix tries to block VPNs.
The good news is Netflix cannot block a VPN in its entirety, the bad news is it can block the IP addresses a VPN provides.
For lesser VPNs, especially free VPNs this can be a problem.
Free VPNs have a massive amount of customers and they cannot provide enough IP addresses to keep up with the demand. To get around this, lesser VPNs force customers to share IP addresses.
Netflix knows this and it monitors for what it calls an “abnormal,” amount of connections coming from the same IP address. Because lesser VPNs force customers to share IP’s often hundreds of customers connect to Netflix via the same IP address. This is deemed abnormal by Netflix and the streaming service will block that connection.
Over time Netflix is able to identify all the IP addresses these VPNs can provide and that VPN won’t work anymore.

What VPNs work with Netflix?
The VPNs that work with Netflix are the ones that meet three key criteria.
First they need to have a lot of IP addresses so there’s less chance you’ll share an IP with another customer. Second, they need to have reliable servers around the world you can connect to and thirdly and most importantly they need to have measures in place to get around Netflix’s VPN blocks.
Even the best VPNs have their IP addresses identified and blocked by Netflix from time to time. It’s how they react to this that sets them apart from lesser VPNs.
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month) are very good at this. This is because they play a game of cat and mouse with Netflix. When an IP address provided by these VPNs is blocked by Netflix, they’ll close that IP address and open a new one.
This simple measure will allow you to reliably watch US Netflix in the UK. They also have a lot of IP addresses and some of the fastest servers on the market.
The best VPNs to watch US Netflix in the UK
1. ExpressVPN
The fastest and MOST reliable VPN of 2022

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
SPECIAL OFFER – 3-MONTHS FREE!
2. NordVPN
A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Pro
- Fast servers
- No logs
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 6-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
SPECIAL OFFER – $3.49/month
3. Ivacy
The great low-cost VPN option

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- Dedicated streaming servers
- 5-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- Sometimes runs slow
- Occasionally blocked by streaming sites
SPECIAL OFFER: 7-DAY TRIAL ($0.99)
4. Private Internet Access
The BEST mid-range VPN for streaming!
Pros
- Fast and reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 48 server locations
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 82%!
30-day money-back guarantee
5. CyberGhost

Pros
- 1-day free trial
- Reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 7-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
- Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
30-day money-back guarantee
[…] And if you want to know why you might need a free VPN, see our piece How to watch US Netflix from the UK. […]