If you’re travelling outside the US, you may have noticed Netflix doesn’t have all the same shows as it does at home.
For example, you can watch Better Call Saul on Netflix in the US, but it won’t be available if you’re in the UK.
The reason this happens is because film and TV studies enforce copyright and licensing restrictions by country. Netflix has the rights to broadcast Better Call Saul in the US but not in the UK.
This can be frustrating when you’re travelling. However, 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 same Netflix library you get at home so you can watch all of your favourite shows anywhere in the world.
This article will explain how to get a reliable VPN that will allow you to watch US Netflix while travelling.
See also:
US Netflix running slow with VPN? Try these EASY fixes (2021)
How to watch US Netflix while travelling: Quick Guide
To watch US Netflix while travelling, you need a US-based IP address.
A VPN makes this process simple. Just follow these steps:
Total Time: 2 minutes
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 while travelling
Why is Netflix different in other countries?
When Netflix started, it was only available in the US. It didn’t expand for ten years until 2016, when Netflix went through a massive expansion. Now it’s available almost anywhere.
Although Netflix as a platform is available worldwide, the content it broadcasts varies from country to country.
This is because film and television studios spend a lot of money creating their productions. And to protect their investment, they enforce copyright and licensing measures regarding 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 may sell the US broadcast 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 television channel. This means you won’t be able to watch it using UK Netflix.
Basically, Netflix is different in every country because film and TV studios may or may not sell Netflix the rights to broadcast their content in that country.
Can I watch US Netflix while travelling?
The good news is you can easily watch US Netflix when travelling. All you need is a reliable VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month).
These VPNs allow you to trick Netflix into thinking you’re accessing it from within the US. And this will give you access to the US Netflix library.
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 number of customers and 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 can 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) play a game of cat and mouse with Netflix. When Netflix blocks an IP address provided by these VPNs, they’ll close that IP address and open a new one. This will allow you to watch Netflix while travelling reliably. They also have a lot of IP addresses and some of the fastest servers on the market.
The best VPNs to watch Netflix while travelling
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
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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