If you're a Netflix viewer who wants to explore what other regions have to offer without spending any cash, one of the best free Netflix VPNs is the best way to do this.
Before you get too excited, though, it's worth noting that even the best free VPNs have some significant restrictions compared to the best VPNs. Most have some kind of data cap, almost all have very limited server choices, and key features – like Netflix streaming – may be reduced. Some, though, are fairly generous, and these are the choices we've rounded up here.
Still, if you've decided you want to go for a paid-for service rather than a free one, I've included the top 3 VPNs below – NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN.
Top 3 paid-for VPNs
The best free Netflix VPN
As our top-rated free service after our hands-on review, PrivadoVPN Free is an excellent choice for just about anyone looking to stay private online without spending a penny.
However, its standout feature is the fact that it can reliably access Netflix just as well as the paid version. While Netflix access can't be guaranteed for any VPN – especially a free one – this is a huge reason to give PrivadoVPN a shot. After all, if it doesn't work, you're not out of pocket.
Beyond streaming, PrivadoVPN offers all the standard privacy essentials like quality encryption, and no DNS leaks.
While we'd like to see an independent audit back up the zero-logging claims in the privacy policy, for what it is it's an excellent choice.
A secure free Netflix VPN
Windscribe's free service is one of the best, and it combines a number of premium features not often seen given away for nothing – a firewall, 10 servers, a choice between IPsec/IKEv2 and OpenVPN, and 10GB of data available every month.
However, what free users aren't privy to is Windscribe's 'Windflix' servers – connections that are dedicated to giving access to blocked Netflix locations.
That doesn't mean you'll won't be able to access Netflix though, and in our testing we had some successes with UK Netflix – you'll just need to do some trial and error.
Also, seeing as it's totally free to sign up, even if Windscribe can't get you access to Netflix you won't lose out on any money – and it's super-quick to install, too, so it's worth a go.
The best VPNs with free trials for Netflix
An excellent option for accessing Netflix for free is security giant NordVPN. Known for its powerful encryption, strong stance on privacy and great usability, it's the best VPN service we've tested.
NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android, so if you're looking for the best Android VPN as well as a free trial Netflix VPN, it's a great choice.
NordVPN also offers an easier and more user-friendly version of a free trial via its 30-day money-back guarantee. While you will have to pay upfront, this means you'll have a full month to trial NordVPN's full service.
However, you will have to remember to cancel before the 30 days in complete, or your plan will auto-renew and you'll have to pay the full price.
Surfshark is one of our favourite services on the market, not only because it's the best cheap VPN, but also thanks to its genuinely free 7-day trial. It's also one of the fastest VPNs on the market, as well as easy to use and affordable – what more could you want?
It can be a little complex to access Surfshark's free trial, though, so we'll outline what you need to do.
The free trial is only available on mobile, so you'll have to sign up with your phone. Once you've done that, you should be offered a 7-day free trial. Accept that, and then you'll be able to use your account on any device.
However, a better option is taking advantage of Surfshark's 30-day money-back guarantee. While you'll have a pay a small amount upfront, you'll have a full month to get to know the service and work out if it's for you. If it's not, you'll be able to get a full refund no questions asked.
Whether you go for Surfshark's free trial or its 30-day money-back guarantee, you'll be able to take full advantage of its abilities as one of the best streaming VPNs. With Surfshark, you'll be able to unblock streaming services and catalogs from across the world.
ExpressVPN has excellent unblocking power, class-leading security, great support and excellent apps, and is one of the easiest VPNs to use.
ExpressVPN also offers 7 day free trial for iOS and Android, 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can take advantage of all its features for a month with no risk (although we wouldn't blame you if you stuck with them afterwards).
During those 30 days you'll have full access to the whole ExpressVPN experience, and be able to unblock pretty much any Netflix library you can find – it's on our list of the best Netflix VPNs for a reason.
You'll also be able to stay secure online and cover up to eight of your devices simultaneously, as well as getting access to ExpressVPN's password manager.
However, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market. With prices staring from $4.99 per month for a two year subscription, you'll need to make sure that you cancel before your 30-day money-back guarantee is up or risk paying the hefty subscription fee.
CyberGhost rounds off this free Netflix VPN guide with its mega 45-day money-back guarantee.
It also has a 24-hour free trial for Windows and MacOS, a 3-day trial for Android, a 7-day free trial for iOS, and a 14-day money-back guarantee for its monthly VPN subscription.
If you prefer torrenting to streaming, with CyberGhost you'll be in safe hands as it is one of the best torrenting VPNs. Also, a CyberGhost feature we really love is its filtering system – when exploring servers, you can choose to see which are best for streaming Netflix or other providers, or even best for torrenting.
However, while you'll have a great selection of servers, the CyberGhost experience isn't quite up to scratch with the rest. Still, with prices starting from $2.19 per month for a two-year subscription, it's pretty good value for money.
So, if you're willing to make a few sacrifices and want 45 days before having to give over your cash for good, it could be an excellent choice.
How does a free Netflix VPN work?
A VPN – or virtual private network – encrypts and anonymizes your internet connection by sending it through its own servers. You can use them to browse anonymously and even make yourself appear to be in different countries.
Netflix delivers different shows and movies to people living in certain countries, and you may find that what you want to watch isn’t available – even if you pay for a subscription. Using a VPN can help you access this content, whether you're traveling abroad or just want to explore the world's TV.
However, Netflix actively tries to stop this, and many free services can’t fool the streaming provider. Using a paid-for service is always more reliable, but some free Netflix VPNs have been known to work. Also, we should mention using a VPN to access content does breach Netflix's terms of use, so you'll be doing so at your own risk...
The downsides of free Netflix VPNs
There’s a magical combination of speed, server variety, and a large data limit that you need in order to make a great free Netflix VPN – and that’s not to mention actually being able to unblock the streaming site to begin with. Sadly, there’s not really a free service available that can cover all the bases.
Every free service is limited in some way, but many fall at the first hurdle because they simply can't access Netflix. Even the best free security-focused VPN has drawbacks that make watching Netflix for free difficult or even impossible.
However, there are ways to access geo-locked Netflix content with a VPN without paying a penny...
How can you watch Netflix with a VPN for free?
You’ve got three options. Firstly, you can take a chance with a free Netflix VPN. While Netflix is always updating and blocking more IP addresses associated with VPNs (and free services aren’t kept as up to date as paid ones), some have been known to work. It’s worth a try, as if it doesn’t work you still haven’t lost out. Then, if you’ve used up your data allowance or want a better service, you can upgrade to a paid plan or move on.
Secondly, you can go with a service that offers a VPN free trial. These will give you full access for a short time – and that usually means thousands of servers and unthrottled speeds. You may have to input payment details, but you won’t be charged for the duration, which is usually a matter of days. That’s perfect if you just want to watch a couple of exclusive films over the course of a weekend, or if you want to access what you’re used to when you’re on a short trip abroad.
Thirdly, you can take advantage of the money-back guarantees many providers offer. Ranging from 14 to 45 days, these do require you to make a payment, but you’re guaranteed a full refund for any reason within the time period – and with these you can get the very best services without worrying about spending too much cash.
Out of the three, a money-back guarantee provides you with the most flexibility and will allow you to stream overseas Netflix for a month before canceling or choosing to pay – plenty of time to trial the service, or give you cover for a mid-length holiday.
Is a free Netflix VPN worth it?
The answer to this depends on what your expectations of a free Netflix VPN are.
If you've found that ProtonVPN or Windscribe work for you, you'll need to be aware of their limitations. Both free services have a limited server selection, so you won't be able to access tons of Netflix libraries.
Also, connection speeds aren't as fast as paid-for services, so streaming in HD probably won't be an option – even if you have got the data limit to do that.
That's why a truly free Netflix VPN isn't really a realistic proposition – although if you can get it to work for you then by all means make the most of it. However, if you take out a free trial or make the most of a money-back guarantee from a provider who can definitely access Netflix, you'll be able to watch without worry.
Are free Netflix VPNs legal?
While not a criminal act, using a VPN to access geo-blocked content does violate Netflix's terms of service. In turn, that means the provider is well within its rights to terminate your account should you use a VPN.
Also, Netflix tries to identify and block VPN servers, with mixed results – that's why many VPNs can't get you watching. The company didn't always do this, but it's now under pressure from Hollywood studios and other content creators to block cross-border streaming.
We contacted Netflix for further clarification, and were directed to a company blog post from early 2016:
"We have a ways to go before we can offer people the same films and TV series everywhere...In the meantime, we will continue to respect and enforce content licensing by geographic location...We look forward to offering all of our content everywhere and to consumers being able to enjoy all of Netflix without using a proxy."
Make of that what you will, and use a VPN to access Netflix at your own risk.
The experts that test VPNs at Tom's Guide
Mo has written about VPNs for Tom's Guide, day-in, day-out, for five years. He's an expert when it comes to what makes a VPN truly usable, and loves it when a VPN makes staying safe online as easy as possible. He is also a contributor to TechRadar, T3, and What Hi-Fi?.
Olivia joined Tom's Guide in October 2023 as part of the core Tech Software team, and is currently VPN Commissioning Editor. She regularly uses VPNs to make sure they deliver what they promise, and specializes in testing VPNs with streaming sites.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
