Is It Illegal to Use a VPN for Netflix?

While Netflix is an exceptional platform to binge-watch your favorite shows all night, most of its content is geo-restricted. And as you have guessed right, it surely failed to hold back entertainment enthusiasts from watching the best shows. This is true not just for Netflix but also for HBO Go, Hulu, and other streaming providers.

Having said that, ever since Netflix announced their new condition that they would ban any user who uses a VPN to unblock geo-restricted content, a new series of concerns and doubts arose for many of us. I mean, what would really happen if I watched “Orange Is the New Black” peacefully at home, by using a VPN streaming unblock feature? Will I really be breaking the law?

These concerns are totally understandable. But think about it, if your Netflix account can get suspended because of using VPN, does that mean it is also illegal to use VPN to unlock your favorite shows?

Well, let’s find out!

Why use a VPN?

A VPN or Virtual Private Network enables your device to hide your IP address and trick the government or any other third party to think you’re located in a different country. It does this by routing the traffic via the specific country and unlocking access to video streaming content intended for that country. Thus, with a decent VPN, you can gain access to all of Netflix content that otherwise would have been unavailable in your country.

Take, for example, an exclusive Netflix US show “Manhunt: Deadly Games”. Originally, if you’re someone from Italy you won’t be able to access this show whatsoever. With a VPN, it will connect your device to a random US-based server and trick Netflix to think that you’re currently located in the US rather than Italy. As a result, in a few seconds, you will be sitting on the couch, watching Manhunt with a bag of hot popcorn in your hands.

Is using a VPN for Netflix illegal?

Now comes the most important question: is using a VPN for streaming illegal? A simple answer would be, no, it’s not illegal. Although there is no specific law that states using a VPN to access Netflix region-based content is illegal, there are countries like China, Iran, or Russia where VPN itself is illegal to use. Therefore, unless you are based in one of such countries, you’re not breaking any law by watching Netflix via the VPN.

But this is still not the full picture.

Just because using VPN is legal doesn’t necessarily mean Netflix also allows you to violate its terms and conditions and watch the content that was blocked in the first place. According to Netflix, you should only access the content that is established in the country you’ve created the account in and they will certainly not tolerate any proxy, VPN, or other automated means to access the geo-restricted content on Netflix.

What happens if I get caught?

Along with the information mentioned above, the terms and conditions of Netflix also stated that they may terminate or restrict your account if you get caught violating their policies. But do they? Well, as of now there haven’t been any available reports of Netflix terminating user accounts for watching content that was only exclusive in the US.

The worst that could happen is Netflix will likely stop streaming your movie with an error message warning that using a proxy or VPN is forbidden. And if this happens you can try the following:

• Turn off the VPN and turn it on again
• Try connecting to a different VPN server
• Watch it in incognito mode
• Update your VPN software, if it isn’t already

All in all, considering all this information, we could conclude that if Netflix was this serious about not using VPN they would surely have done what other entertainment platforms like Hulu and HBO do – straight-up block your account by accessing where your account is originally registered and your current location. This means, if you’ve created your Netflix account say in Germany, then you couldn’t use it from elsewhere. This would render VPN useless for unblocking the Netflix US shows unless you’re using a VPN when creating your Netflix account.

Why does Netflix block VPNs?

Since you pay Netflix for the services they provide, it’s considerably unfair that they block most of the content for you. Ever wondered why is that so? All of these issues boil down to copyright and licensing that Netflix needs to undergo. As we all know Netflix doesn’t own most of the shows, which means it only has authority over its Netflix Originals. The rest is licensed by the original content creators and studios of those specific geo-restricted shows.

When content owners make deals with broadcast networks and cable providers worldwide, there are possibilities that the US didn’t yet deal with the broadcast networks of your country. Therefore, to restrict people from watching the shows anyway Netflix has recently made up a policy that it will ban anyone who uses third-party automated services, i.e., VPN to access the restricted content.

What about Netflix Originals?

Now that we have touched on the topic that Netflix does own the right to its Netflix Originals, is there a possibility that you’re geographically restricted to access some of its originals as well?

The answer isn’t as black and white as you may think. Sure, Netflix does own the rights to almost all of Netflix Originals worldwide, but there are shows where Netflix doesn’t own the distribution rights, and you can be geo-restricted to watch some of its Originals too. But, how and why?

There is a good possibility that after producing a show, Netflix sold its rights to local TV networks, or streaming sites before publishing on its own. And even if Netflix would like to change that now, they wouldn’t be able to since they will still be breaking their contract terms.

However, the story doesn’t end here. Thanks to some incredibly powerful VPNs that can let you specifically access restricted content with ease, you can totally uplift your day by watching any show you want.

The best VPNs to watch Netflix geo-restricted content

Among the thousands of VPNs out there that are suitable for various purposes, these 4 high-quality VPNs are specifically designed to let you access any Netflix content (and even Amazon Prime) so you can watch everything without worrying about the suspension of your account.

1. Express VPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers you can find on the market. What makes it exceptional for Netflix is its ability to connect to more than 3K servers in 160+ locations without compromising the speed of your device. With this VPN, all you have to do is connect to the best server (or allow the VPN app to choose one for you) and you’re ready to bypass any geo-restricted content on Netflix. The best part, if you’re not satisfied with the performance of the VPN (which is highly unlikely) the VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs available that work perfectly well with Netflix. It provides you with 5570+ servers in 59 countries with a huge part of servers located in the US. Once you turn on NordVPN, the Quick Connect feature immediately connects your devices to the most suitable VPN server.

This means you can stream, browse and enjoy your Netflix experience in a breeze. What’s more, NordVPN also comes with an adblocker and extra malware protection from its CyberSec suite that makes sure you are secure against any cyberattacks like phishing, profiling, and trackers. Just like ExpressVPN, this VPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and lets its users try out their services for free.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has never failed to in solving the problem of accessing the geo-restricted content on Netflix and other streaming providers. This VPN is packed with countless features to enable advanced services all without losing user-friendliness. What distinguishes CyberGhost from the rest of the ordinary VPNs out there is its unique ability to use HTTPS redirection to use the most secure possible connection for your device. Other than that, it can also help you block malicious websites, trackers, and ads and does optional data compressions to reduce bandwidth. Indeed, CyberGhost is packed with innumerable features!

4. Ivacy VPN

Nothing can beat the practical benefits of Ivacy VPN. Its short-term plan is offered for just $9.95 a month but if you’re willing to commit for 5 years then all you have to do is pay $1 a month! Ivacy has deserved its reputation for being an excellent VPN to stream videos on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. Its unbeatable features also include full P2P torrenting support and a decent stock of articles to help you in case you need support.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt Netflix has the best possible content to let you enjoy yourself on a good weekend. Unfortunately, all of this is futile since you won’t be able to see most of the best series. However, now that you know it’s not illegal to use a VPN for Netflix, you can use a good VPN to clearly bypass any geo-restrictions that will come your way.

So what are you waiting for, choose the best VPN from the list mentioned above, grab popcorn and start binge-watching the best shows on the web!