The easiest way to access Netflix US is through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Netflix determines what content you can watch by using your IP address to detect your location. A VPN can swap your regular IP address with one from another country (for example, the US), allowing you to access Netflix US when traveling abroad. There are plenty of VPNs that claim to give you access to Netflix US, but they don’t always deliver. To save you time, I tested dozens of VPNs to see which ones work best on Netflix US — my top recommendation is ExpressVPN. Its US servers unblocked American Netflix, and its super-fast speeds allowed me to stream in HD. Its 30-day money-back guarantee ensures you can try it risk-free. If you’re not happy with it, you can get a refund. Start Watching Netflix US Today
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Netflix US on Apple TV
Due to licensing restrictions, Netflix restricts some of its content depending on which country you’re accessing it from. This is referred to as geoblocking. The reason why you’re unable to watch American content on Netflix is that the US Netflix library is geoblocked to people outside of America. Watch Netflix US With ExpressVPN Today For example, if you’re trying to watch Netflix US content from Australia, the platform will pick up your location by looking at your IP address and, therefore, won’t grant you that access. Instead, you’ll come across this error message: A VPN lets you change your virtual location by masking your IP address and giving you another IP address to make it look like you’re in another country (e.g., the US). It routes your internet traffic through a secure tunnel to a remote server, keeping your location and data private. Using a VPN to connect to a server in the US makes it look like you’re located in the US. This way, Netflix will display all of its US content so you can watch American Netflix on your Apple TV, even when you’re traveling outside the US. Please note: Although using a VPN doesn’t go against Netflix’s Terms of Use, the streaming site does mention that you may only access content primarily in the country where you have set up your account and in locations where they offer their service and allow that content. Watch Netflix US Today
Best VPNs for Watching Netflix US on Apple TV From Anywhere in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds for the Best Streaming Experience
You need fast speeds for high-quality streaming, which you’ll get with ExpressVPN. My speed tests on a couple of US servers showed an average download speed of 26.64 Mbps. This was only an 8% drop from my base of 28.9 Mpbs. Generally speaking, most VPNs drop your speed by up to 20%. The consistently fast server speeds allowed me to watch shows like The Borgias in 4K HDR quality, with no buffering. ExpressVPN has thousands of servers worldwide and over 24 server locations in the US alone — making it of the best options for streaming Netflix US. Having a large number of servers means you get a higher chance of accessing your desired content. Plus, the more servers there are, the less load or crowding on each server (which means faster speeds). I tested 15 different US server locations and accessed the Netflix US library right away. To watch Netflix US on your Apple TV with ExpressVPN, you can set it up on your router. There are detailed guides for all supported routers on its website that will walk you through the process effortlessly. After that, you can just use its router app to change your locations. But if you want to skip the manual configuration, you can just buy a pre-configured ExpressVPN router and plug it into your network. ExpressVPN also offers MediaStreamer — a Smart DNS service designed specifically for accessing some US and UK streaming services (e.g., Netflix US). MediaStreamer is great for when you don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up the VPN on your router. You can get it directly configured on devices that don’t support VPN apps (like Apple TV) — then you can watch Netflix US in no time. The only slightly negative thing I could say about ExpressVPN is that it’s a little pricier than the other VPNs on this list (a long-term plan costs around $6.67/month). The prices change depending on the length of the plan you choose (monthly or yearly subscription). Sometimes there are offers on its long-term plans, where you can receive a pretty good discount of up to 49%. The upside is that ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out for yourself at no risk. It’s super easy to get your money back if you’re not satisfied. Simply reach out to customer support via 24/7 live chat or email, and they’ll walk you through it. Once your refund is processed, you’ll have your money back in a few days. Watch Netflix US With ExpressVPN Now
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Watching Netflix US
CyberGhost’s large global network includes Netflix US streaming-optimized servers to make it easy to access American content and watch in great quality. These dedicated servers differ from regular servers because they are constantly tested to make sure they work on major streaming platforms. You can easily find them in the “For streaming” menu on its app. When I tested these servers, I was able to instantly access the Netflix US library. Apple TV doesn’t support VPN software, but similar to ExpressVPN, CyberGhost offers a Smart DNS feature that you can configure on it. To access Netflix US on your Apple TV, simply log in to your account, head to “My Smart DNS”, and pick the optimized “Netflix US address” DNS. Then choose your Apple TV from the list of devices. CyberGhost’s servers had slower connection speeds compared with ExpressVPN. The average download speed while connected to 2 of its US servers was 22 Mbps — a 34% speed drop from my regular internet connection. The slow speeds were slightly concerning, but I’m pleased to say that this didn’t seem to cause any connection issues or buffering when I was streaming The Borgias. I was still able to watch all episodes in HD. There are a number of subscriptions to choose from, either monthly or yearly. The cheapest plan costs $2.11/month. There is also an option to add CyberGhost’s Security Suite (Antivirus and Security Updater) at an additional, discounted cost. CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on all its long-term plans (yearly plan and above) so you can try it out for yourself. If you’re not satisfied, you can simply request a refund. To do so, I recommend using the 24/7 live chat because it’s the easiest and fastest way of contacting the support team. Watch Netflix US With CyberGhost Now
3. Private Internet Access — Servers in All US States to Reliably Access Netflix US
PIA has 53 US servers across all US states so you can watch Netflix US on your Apple TV. I tested some of these servers and was impressed with how quickly I could access the Netflix US library. I also tried out the US West and US East Streaming Optimized servers, which worked well too. However, unlike CyberGhosts’s dedicated servers, PIA’s are not dedicated to specific streaming sites. I ran some speed tests on the US servers. Although the results weren’t as good as ExpressVPN, I could still watch The Borgias in HD quality on most of the servers. I got an average of 24.48 Mbps, which was a 16% drop from my base speed. When I connected to some of the regular servers, however, I occasionally ran into the Netflix proxy error message. If you see the proxy error message, don’t worry — you can quickly rectify this by choosing a different PIA server to connect to, which takes about a second or 2. PIA has some reasonably priced plans starting from $2.03/month. I’d recommend going for one of the longer-term plans, as they give the best value for money and they come with the same features as the short-term ones. All of PIA’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free before you decide if it’s right for you. To get a refund, you’ll just need to contact customer support. Once it’s been processed, you’ll have your money back in your account within a few days. Watch Netflix US With PIA Now
4. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Device Connections for Streaming Netflix US on All Your Devices
IPVanish is one of the only VPNs that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use it on as many devices as you like, under 1 account. This is great for big families or if you just want to share your account with some friends. With IPVanish, you can watch your favorite Netflix US titles on your Apple TV and all your other devices without having to disconnect any of them. It’s simple to use and provides customizable settings to connect you to the server that best suits your needs. I suggest filtering the servers by country (United States), then by ping (the lower, the better), and finally by load (lowest is best here too). By doing this, you’ll be connected to the US server with the fastest connection speeds so that you can avoid buffering and delays while streaming Netflix US. With over 20 server locations in the US, IPVanish makes it easy to access and watch Netflix US. I tested all 17 server locations and was impressed that every single server unblocked the US Netflix library. I watched episode after episode of All American: Homecoming with no delays or buffering. I was quite pleased with the speeds too — when I connected to the San Jose server in the US, my download speed only dropped by about 10%. IPVanish’s plans come at a reasonable price, and you can choose between the monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan. Depending on the current offers, you can save up to 77%. The lowest costing plan is priced at $2.49/month. The downside to IPVanish is that its 30-day money-back guarantee is only available with its yearly plan. So if you’d like to try it risk-free, you’ll need to sign up for that specific plan (you’ll pay for one year upfront). If you’re still not happy with IPVanish after your purchase, you can ask for a refund. Watch Netflix US With IPVanish Now
5. PrivateVPN – Intuitive Apps That Are Super Easy to Use for Watching Netflix US
PrivateVPN offers easy-to-use apps for a range of devices. I used it on my Windows device and was impressed with its functionality. It has 2 different views: Advanced (for customizing settings) and Simple View (if you just want to connect to a server). Connecting to a US server is very easy and quick; simply select one from the list, and you’ll be connected in no time. Plus, you can use the app on your iPhone or iPad to AirPlay Netflix US to your Apple TV. I ran some speed tests and was pleased with how fast some of PrivateVPN’s servers were. The Atlanta server, in particular, gave me some good speeds — my download speed only dropped by about 29% compared with my regular connection. With only a few hundred servers around the world, PrivateVPN’s network is smaller than that of the other VPNs mentioned. In saying that, there are still more than 10 US servers you can connect to in order to watch Netflix US. The servers that worked for me were Los Angeles and New York — I streamed All American: Homecoming in HD with little to no buffering. PrivateVPN currently has yealy and monthly subscription plans, with prices starting as low as $2/month. All of PrivateVPN’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can see if it’s right for you. If you’re not 100% satisfied with it, getting a refund is super easy. Watch Netflix US With PrivateVPN Now
How to Change Your Apple TV Region to Watch Netflix US
Although you can watch Netflix US on your Apple TV, you can’t actually install a VPN app on it. However, there are ways around this. I found 3 different methods to get US Netflix to play on your Apple TV outside the US: you can either use a VPN on your iPad/iPhone and AirPlay it on your TV, install a VPN on your router, or set up Smart DNS on your Apple TV. Read on for step-by-step instructions on each method.
1. Set up Smart DNS on your Apple TV
2. Use a VPN and AirPlay
3. Install a VPN on your router
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Will Netflix allow me to stream its content while I’m using a VPN?
Yes, it will if your VPN is reliable enough. Netflix can sometimes tell if you’re using a VPN (because streaming sites are familiar with some popular VPN IP addresses), but this doesn’t mean your account will be blocked. You’ll still be able to watch Netflix content, but you might get the proxy error message, restricting you from accessing your preferred library. In order to avoid getting this error, I recommend getting ExpressVPN — I never had to deal with this issue when I was connected to any of its servers.
What if I still can’t access the Netflix US library with a VPN?
There are a couple of solutions to this. Sometimes, Netflix picks up that you’re using a VPN or proxy, and you end up with a proxy error message. If you come across this type of error when trying to watch Netflix using a VPN, don’t be concerned. Here are some quick ways to solve this.
1. Clear your cache
Your cached data might be exposing your real location to Netflix, so you may need to clear it. To do this, go to your browser’s settings and clear your history (you can choose to delete only cached data or all your history, including cookies). If you’re not using a browser (e.g., you’re using the Netflix app on your iOS device), you can clear the cache via your device’s storage settings.
2. Switch to another US server
If a particular server is giving you the proxy error, you can try to connect to a different server and see if this solves the issue. I tested a lot of US servers and these are the ones that worked for Netflix US:
ExpressVPN: Seattle, Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New Jersey - 1, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas -2, Atlanta, Lincoln Park, and Santa Monica. CyberGhost: Optimized Netflix US servers, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. Private Internet Access (PIA): US West and East Streaming Optimized servers and Washington DC. IPVanish: All 17 US server locations. PrivateVPN: Los Angeles and New York.
3. Reach out to 24/7 live chat support
If you’ve tried clearing your cache and switching between different servers, and you still can’t get Netflix US to work, it’s probably best to contact the VPN’s support team via live chat. All the VPNs mentioned have this feature, and it usually doesn’t take long for a support team member to respond (2–3 minutes at most).
Do I need a US payment method for US Netflix?
If your Netflix account is set to the US, you’ll need a US payment method for it. But there’s an alternative to the regular credit card payment — paying in gift cards. These gift cards need to be in USD and can be bought online or in-store (if you’re going to the US). You can then use them on your Netflix account as you usually would for gift cards. Note that if you’re traveling or staying abroad for longer periods, you’ll still be paying for Netflix with your set US payment method. However, your content library will differ and you’ll see titles that are available in the country you’re currently in. If you still want to access your regular US library, you can use a VPN to change your virtual location.
Can I use a free VPN to access Netflix US?
It’s possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The reason why premium VPNs charge for their product is that they need money and resources to run their software and services. This is what makes them safe and reliable. 100% free VPNs can be very unsafe. They may save you the cost but will often compromise your privacy and safety by selling your data and personal information to whoever’s willing to pay the most for it. This is how they make money. Plus, their limited number of servers most likely won’t work that well for Netflix US, meaning more server loads and slower connection speeds. Not to mention that you’ll almost always see the proxy error message. If you want to watch Netflix US but don’t want to compromise your online privacy and safety, the closest thing to a free VPN is to get a premium VPN with a reliable money-back guarantee. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Now
Start Watching Netflix US on Apple TV Now
Netflix has different content libraries for different countries due to licensing agreements. That’s why you can’t watch its American content outside the US. The best way to access all your favorite Netflix US titles on Apple TV from wherever you are is to sign up for a reliable VPN. ExpressVPN is my top recommendation. With dozens of US servers and blazing-fast connection speeds, you can easily watch American Netflix content in 4K HDR quality. The best thing is that you can test ExpressVPN risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not too happy with it, don’t stress — just get in touch with customer support to request a refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for watching Netflix US on Apple TV are…
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