If you haven’t heard of it yet, a VPN is a nifty tool that enhances your online browsing experience in many ways: it detects malware, covers your track from hackers, blocks pesky ads and pop-ups, and for the most part, it doesn’t retain any of that data, much less share it to third-parties.
But here at The Spool, the feature we’re interested in the most is a VPN’s ability to let you switch countries in a snap. That’s because streaming services like Netflix carry wildly different media libraries per country. For instance, in the US, Friends has long moved on to Max, but all 10 seasons are still available on Netflix Italy, Netflix India, Netflix Singapore, and more. Likewise, for whatever reason, The Hunger Games franchise isn’t available in the same countries—Netflix Hong Kong is missing Catching Fire, for example, while Netflix Japan has all four.
In this case, a VPN helps you access all those libraries and more, so you’re not limited by restrictive geo-blocks and get the full viewing experience. Below, we recommend our favorite VPNs to use when switching Netflix countries.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is always making its way into "best of" lists, and for good reason: it's fast, easy to use, and provides good value for money. Its multiple servers across the globe ensure users get maximum protection and coverage, not to mention multiple choices for when you want to stream using a different location. A monthly subscription costs $12.95, while a six-month plan only costs $10/month.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
$6.67/monthDoes ExpressVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysNordVPN
As one of the fastest VPNs in the market, NordVPN is perfect for streaming Netflix and other platforms with a different and protected address. But apart from being easy to use, it also encrypts data, detects malware, and manages passwords to give you that extra layer of online defense. The standard monthly price starts at $13, but enlisting for a one-year plan slashes that up to $4.49 while a two-year plan cuts it further down to $2.99.
How much does NordVPN cost?
$3.39/monthDoes NordVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysSurfshark
Consistently ranked among the best, SurfShark is a VPN that promises high speeds, safe browsing, and multiple servers around the world. Its real highlight, however, is unlimited device connection, which is not something usually offered by services of this caliber (for comparison, Nord allows up to six, while ExpressVPN allows up to eight). It’s based in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine-Eye alliance, but other than that, its privacy features remain sturdy and highly competitive.
How much does Surfshark cost?
$2.29/monthDoes Surfshark have a Free Trial?
30 daysPrivateVPN
With just 200+ servers around the world, Sweden-based PrivateVPN is significantly smaller than powerhouse VPNs like Nord and Express, which have about a thousand to their name. But that's not to say it doesn't get the job done. PrivateVPN unblocks geo-restrictions, allows for up to 10 simultaneous connections, and has a no-logs policy that adheres to stricter Swedish privacy laws, hence the straightforward name. It may not be the fastest nor the widest-reaching service, but it does enough for a reasonable price. Oh, and bonus: where most services only offer money-back guarantees, Private VPN has an actual, weeklong free trial.
How much does PrivateVPN cost?
$9.90/monthDoes PrivateVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
7 daysPrivate Internet Access VPN
Simply known as PIA, Private Internet Access VPN is an easy-to-use VPN that has servers in 91 countries and all 50 states in the US. It's not known to be the fastest in the game, but two things set it apart. First, it allows an unlimited number of devices to use an account. Second, it's fully transparent: PIA is open source, so you can check for yourself whether its features and privacy policies are up to scratch. If they're not, no sweat. Like most VPNs, PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're unsatisfied with its services.
How much does Private Internet Access VPN cost?
$11.95/monthDoes Private Internet Access VPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysCyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost may not be as recognizable as its more well-known competitors, but the VPN is growing quickly thanks to its wide network of servers (it currently has more than 115 locations around the world) and no-logs policy. It's also one of the quicker VPNs out there, which may not be surprising considering it does limit an account to only seven connected devices. If you're not satisfied with the VPN, it also has money-back guarantees that range from 14 to 45 days, depending on which plan you choose.
How much does CyberGhost VPN cost?
$12.99/monthDoes CyberGhost VPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
14 daysAtlas VPN
Two main things set Atlas VPN apart from its competitors. The first is that, instead of the usual free trial, it offers a free tier, though it comes with a smaller bandwidth than its premium tier. The second is that it allows unlimited devices to connect to its servers at the same time (most services allow less than 10). Another nice little feature it has is called “Safe Swap,” which basically swaps your server from time to time to make it harder for potential hackers and snoopers to track your activity. Aside from that, Atlas VPN offers many of the same features as other VPNs, including private browsing, global servers, malware detection, and an emergency kill switch. Like most VPNs, it also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re not satisfied with the service.
How much does Atlas VPN cost?
$1.64/monthDoes Atlas VPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysThe best VPNs to switch Netflix countries:
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is always making its way into "best of" lists, and for good reason: it's fast, easy to use, and provides good value for money. Its multiple servers across the globe ensure users get maximum protection and coverage, not to mention multiple choices for when you want to stream using a different location. A monthly subscription costs $12.95, while a six-month plan only costs $10/month.
How much does ExpressVPN cost?
$6.67/monthDoes ExpressVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysNordVPN
As one of the fastest VPNs in the market, NordVPN is perfect for streaming Netflix and other platforms with a different and protected address. But apart from being easy to use, it also encrypts data, detects malware, and manages passwords to give you that extra layer of online defense. The standard monthly price starts at $13, but enlisting for a one-year plan slashes that up to $4.49 while a two-year plan cuts it further down to $2.99.
How much does NordVPN cost?
$3.39/monthDoes NordVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysSurfshark
Consistently ranked among the best, SurfShark is a VPN that promises high speeds, safe browsing, and multiple servers around the world. Its real highlight, however, is unlimited device connection, which is not something usually offered by services of this caliber (for comparison, Nord allows up to six, while ExpressVPN allows up to eight). It’s based in the Netherlands, which is part of the Nine-Eye alliance, but other than that, its privacy features remain sturdy and highly competitive.
How much does Surfshark cost?
$2.29/monthDoes Surfshark have a Free Trial?
30 daysPrivateVPN
With just 200+ servers around the world, Sweden-based PrivateVPN is significantly smaller than powerhouse VPNs like Nord and Express, which have about a thousand to their name. But that's not to say it doesn't get the job done. PrivateVPN unblocks geo-restrictions, allows for up to 10 simultaneous connections, and has a no-logs policy that adheres to stricter Swedish privacy laws, hence the straightforward name. It may not be the fastest nor the widest-reaching service, but it does enough for a reasonable price. Oh, and bonus: where most services only offer money-back guarantees, Private VPN has an actual, weeklong free trial.
How much does PrivateVPN cost?
$9.90/monthDoes PrivateVPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
7 daysPrivate Internet Access VPN
Simply known as PIA, Private Internet Access VPN is an easy-to-use VPN that has servers in 91 countries and all 50 states in the US. It's not known to be the fastest in the game, but two things set it apart. First, it allows an unlimited number of devices to use an account. Second, it's fully transparent: PIA is open source, so you can check for yourself whether its features and privacy policies are up to scratch. If they're not, no sweat. Like most VPNs, PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're unsatisfied with its services.
How much does Private Internet Access VPN cost?
$11.95/monthDoes Private Internet Access VPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
30 daysCyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost may not be as recognizable as its more well-known competitors, but the VPN is growing quickly thanks to its wide network of servers (it currently has more than 115 locations around the world) and no-logs policy. It's also one of the quicker VPNs out there, which may not be surprising considering it does limit an account to only seven connected devices. If you're not satisfied with the VPN, it also has money-back guarantees that range from 14 to 45 days, depending on which plan you choose.
How much does CyberGhost VPN cost?
$12.99/monthDoes CyberGhost VPN have a Money-back Guarantee?
14 daysAtlas VPN
Two main things set Atlas VPN apart from its competitors. The first is that, instead of the usual free trial, it offers a free tier, though it comes with a smaller bandwidth than its premium tier. The second is that it allows unlimited devices to connect to its servers at the same time (most services allow less than 10). Another nice little feature it has is called “Safe Swap,” which basically swaps your server from time to time to make it harder for potential hackers and snoopers to track your activity. Aside from that, Atlas VPN offers many of the same features as other VPNs, including private browsing, global servers, malware detection, and an emergency kill switch. Like most VPNs, it also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re not satisfied with the service.