You probably already know by now that if you want to get the most out of the Netflix, you should use a VPN. With it, you can defeat Netflix’s geo-blocks and watch any title you want no matter where you are in the world.
But here’s a question not a lot of online article address – how do you actually know if a VPN unblocks Netflix?
Sure, the provider will tell you they do that, but why take their word for it? Just because their marketing copy says their service works with Netflix doesn’t mean it’s 100% true. It could also mean that it “sometimes” works with Netflix.
If that’s something that’s been on your mind for a while, you’re in luck. We put together this article to show you how to check if a VPN actually works with Netflix.
How to Check If a VPN Works with Netflix
You basically have two options:
1. The Hard Way
This implies signing up for the VPN, and seeing how well it can unblock Netflix. If it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, you have an entire month to see how it works. You could also sign up for other VPNs and test them at the same time to see which one offers the best experience.
Here’s how you’ll know that the VPN doesn’t work with Netflix:
- You’ll end up on your country’s library.
- You’ll see the NSES-404 error.
- Netflix won’t let you log into your account (it will say you login credentials are incorrect).
- Netflix will display its proxy error page.
This testing method will let you get first-hand experience with Netflix VPNs. While that’s nice, there’s a lot of effort, time, and money involved. So it’s not for everyone.
After all, does the idea of spending a few hours testing Netflix with different VPNs after a long day of work or on the weekend sound appealing to you?
Probably not.
2. The Easy Way
This involves using an online site that can tell you what the best Netflix VPNs are. Unfortunately, there are tons of review websites. Reading articles from all of them will involve a lot of work – and that’s not what you’d expect when you first hear the words “the easy way.”
The good news is we know an online tool that is 100% accurate with its VPN recommendations. It doesn’t just tell you what the best Netflix VPNs are. It actually shows you where specific Netflix titles are available, and tells you which VPN server locations you have to use from which providers to unblock them.
That tool is StreamCatcher.It’s very simple to use, and the team behind it also runs ProPrivacy. If you’re not familiar with that site, it’s the leading Internet privacy and cybersecurity platform on the web. They offer useful tips to help you protect your online privacy and data, and review online services like password managers, cloud backup solutions, and VPNs.
To use StreamCatcher, just type the name of a Netflix title in its search field, hit Find, and you’ll get a list of locations where it’s available, and of the VPNs you should use. Here’s an example of how a results page looks like:
We can vouch for StreamCatcher’s recommendations. We tested them for over 60 Netflix titles, and they were always on point. We never saw the proxy error once!
Useful Tips for Dealing with the Netflix Proxy Error
Just because we never dealt with the proxy error while using the VPNs recommended by StreamCatcher doesn’t mean every single one of you will have the same experience. Netflix’s proxy and VPN detection methods are extremely efficient, and even servers from the top VPNs get blacklisted every once in a while.
If you experience that issue, here’s what you can do to bypass the error:
Use a Different Server
If the server you’re currently using doesn’t work with Netflix anymore, just connect to a different one. Of course, it has to be in a country where the content you want to watch is available.
If your provider has dedicated streaming servers for Netflix, try using them. They usually refresh their IPs faster, so it’s harder for Netflix to block them.
Contact the Provider’s Support Team
You need to ask them which server you have to use to unblock a specific Netflix library. Many VPN providers actually don’t make that information public.
Why would they? Netflix would only have an easier time blocking their servers that way.
If the support reps can’t tell you which server to use, ask them what the issue is (why Netflix is blocking their service), what they’re doing to fix it, and when they expect to solve the problem.
Update the VPN App
Using an outdated app? There’s a chance you might be using outdated IPs too – ones that already got blocked by Netflix.
Besides, an up-to-date app is also safer to use (no potential security exploits).
Use Incognito/Private Mode
Incognito/Private mode doesn’t store tracking cookies, so they won’t leak your geo-location when you use Netflix.
You should also clear your browser’s cache and cookies while you’re at it.
Get a Dedicated IP Address
With a dedicated IP, you’re the only person using it. Due to that, Netflix won’t detect issues when you log in. With shared IPs, Netflix sees multiple people logging into their accounts from the same IP address. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that probably means they’re using a VPN.
Most VPNs will charge you extra for a dedicated IP, but PrivateVPN offers them for free if you use a specific configuration (OpenVPN + TUN + UDP + 1194).
Want to Share Any Tips with Us?
If you know how else you can check if a VPN works with Netflix, or get rid of the Netflix proxy error, please tell us in the comments below.
