The Best VPNs for Netflix of 2023

We love VPNs for lots of reasons: they keep our information secure, encrypt our web traffic in a tunnel and replace our IP address so we can safely join public Wi-Fi networks. However, another reason we can’t live without our VPN is the ability to stream Netflix. With certain VPNs, we can even access Netflix as if we were in another country, giving us access to our favorite U.K reality shows. Below, we’ll take you through our top picks if you’re just like us and can’t live without binging your favorite series. Of course, download speed is important when streaming, so pay close attention to our speed test results for each VPN as we go through them.

How We Test VPNs: Methodology

We spend lots of time testing out all these VPNs and want to let you know exactly what’s behind our recommendations. We’ve come up with a framework that evaluates each VPN by key standards like encryption standards, IP addresses, amount of data logged, customer service, etc., to confirm that it does all that a VPN should do. On top of that, we put each VPN through speed and security tests to ensure we don’t get too bogged down, and that nothing accidentally leaks. We’ll take you step by step below on all of that and more.

Speed

Typically, our VPNs will get tested from our Brooklyn office. We have a private Optimum network there, but on some rare occasions, we will test VPNs when we travel to the Philippines or even Poland.

Our control is our Internet speed without a VPN, and we’re sure to only connect one device at a time. We know our readers use all different devices, so we make sure to test on a Macbook Air or Pro and a Windows Vivobook or an Acer Aspire 5. We use the website SpeedTest.net.4 to test download speed, upload speed and ping (latency). First, we perform tests with the VPN, and then, without. Download and upload speed are measured in megabits per second, while latency is measured in milliseconds. Once we take these two measures, we identify the difference in terms of a percentage to account for any discrepancies between the greatly varied natural speeds of Macs and Windows computers.

Distance to the server, operating system and device all impact speed, but it’s ideal that VPNs have no more than a 40 percent difference in any of our categories (ping, download speed or upload speed).

Security

We all want to feel safe while using the Internet, which is why VPNs are so popular. We don’t want our domain names (website names) and their IP addresses available to anyone, not even the government. It’s also important for us to know that users’ IP addresses aren’t being leaked due to WebRTC, which allows browsers to communicate directly with each other and is the default on browsers like Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera. We tend to stick to Chrome, so this struck a chord with us personally.

We test for DNS leaks by using DNSLeakTest.com. By comparing our computer’s IP address with the IP addresses that the website shows, we can tell if there was a DNS link while using the VPN or not. Then, we test for WebRTC leaks by leveraging a tool available on ExpressVPN’s website. We use a similar tactic where we look at the local and Public IPv4 IP addresses to see if there were any WebRTC leaks.

We also go through the companies’ privacy policies with a fine-toothed comb to get a thorough understanding of their data-logging policies. We take note of where a company is headquartered, because it dictates if they are members of Five Eyes, Nine Eyes and 14 Eyes. Those are international surveillance alliances that have the potential to legally force companies to surrender customer data. While it’s ideal for a company to not be located in a country impacted by such agreements, we also prefer they log minimal user account information. We find things like name, email and payment information acceptable, but don’t see why VPNs would log additional data, like when customers use their VPNs, how long they use it for, how much data they’ve transferred, what servers they use, what websites they visit and more.

In our full in-depth reviews, we also conduct a full analysis of a VPN’s encryption methods and Internet protocols to make sure they meet the industry standards. We prefer VPNs with AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN, which are some of the highest standards of security on the market.

We take note of how a company handles IP addresses because it impacts our likelihood of being tracked. It’s best if a company offers dynamic addresses that change each time we log on, making it even harder to track what we are doing. Static IP addresses stay the same and that makes them less desirable and easier to track. Finally, we make sure that each VPN has a kill switch. This function shuts down Internet browsers in the unlikely event that a VPN fails. If a kill switch isn’t in place, our activity could become exposed, which is a no-go for us.

Torrenting and Netflix

VPNs are also used to watch movies and television. We make sure to keep track of which VPNs offer torrenting and have access to Netflix. The Netflix part can be a bit of a toss-up, as the entertainment giant is always updating its code to block VPNs. Even though we test our ability to access Netflix, we can’t guarantee that it will always work for everyone.

Split Tunneling and Encryption

Split tunneling is another feature we’re on the lookout for. It lets us use both the VPN, and a public network at the same time. The lower bandwidth can create faster speeds. We prefer double or multi-hop VPNs, because this means that data is encrypted multiple times through multiple servers.

Subscriptions

We know that cost is a big decision driver, so we promise to give it to you straight. Most VPNs offer many options and that can be overwhelming. Luckily, we spend lots of time looking at VPNs and will make sure to point out a really good deal when one pops up. Some VPNs are super cost-effective, with monthly fees of less than a dollar if you sign on for a long-term commitment. Alternatively, certain companies offer subscriptions as expensive as $15 each month. We like it when a company offers several options in their pricing structure, like the ability to pay month-to-month, or pay less monthly for a longer-term contract. We also look for the option to give a VPN a test run through a free trial or money-back guarantee period. Finally, we specify what actually comes in a subscription in terms of how many servers the company offers and how many devices can be connected simultaneously.

Customer Support

Once our readers decide on a VPN, we want to make sure they stay in good hands. That’s why customer support is another dimension we look at VPNs through. We check what resources are available in the event that issues pop up. Most companies offer a live chat option, email support, and a searchable compilation of past users’ questions. Once in a while, a company will have a support line available via phone. That’s not too common, so if a company has one it scores major brownie points.