Best VPN for Netflix in Australia
Netflix shows different titles in different countries, and Australia’s catalogue is not the biggest. That is why “VPN for Netflix” is one of the most common reasons Australians go shopping for a VPN. We tested ten of them against Netflix from a lounge room in Melbourne. Here is what each one did.
What happened when we tested each VPN with Netflix
Every result below is from our own hands-on testing in Melbourne. The month of each test is shown, and the screenshots are in the linked reviews.
| VPN | American Netflix | Other libraries and services | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Worked on every US server we tried | Other countries took some trial and error; BBC iPlayer opened easily | August 2021 |
| ExpressVPN | Worked on every US server we tried | BBC iPlayer worked | August 2021 |
| Surfshark | Worked on every US server we tried | BBC iPlayer worked first go | August 2021 |
| PrivateVPN | Worked first go | The widest range of libraries in our tests; BBC iPlayer worked | August 2021 |
| CyberGhost | Worked, most reliably on its New York server | Less luck on other US servers | August 2021 |
| Proton VPN | Worked on most servers we tried | BBC iPlayer worked first go | March 2022 |
| Windscribe | Worked | Canadian and British Netflix worked; Hulu, Prime Video and HBO did not | Late 2021 |
| IPVanish | Worked on most US servers | BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and HBO did not work | August 2021 |
| Private Internet Access | Worked on one US server, Washington DC | BBC iPlayer and Prime Video worked | Late 2021 |
| Astrill | Worked after hunting for the right server | BBC iPlayer and Prime Video worked, with the same hunting | March 2022 |
The pattern was clear. NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark were the ones where you could pick any American server and press play. PrivateVPN was the specialist, slow but excellent at opening libraries. The rest worked with a bit of patience.
Speed matters as much as access
Opening the library is half the job. The stream then has to cross the Pacific, and that is where the VPNs separated. In our tests on a 100 Mbps Melbourne connection, download speeds to an American server ranged from 25 Mbps to just over 100. Netflix recommends about 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K, so all ten cleared the bar, but the faster ones left far more room for a second stream or a busy evening. The speed tables are in each review and on our US VPN page.
Current prices
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per 1 year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | Visit NordVPN |
2 Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | Visit Surfshark |
3 ExpressVPN | US$2.99 (about A$4.29) 28 months, US$83.72 upfront | US$99.95 per 1 year | 30 days | 113 | – | Visit ExpressVPN |
4 CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per 1 year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | Visit CyberGhost |
5 Proton VPN | US$3.49 (about A$5.00) 2 years, US$83.76 upfront | US$83.88 per 1 year | 30 days | 149 | 10 | Visit Proton VPN |
– means the provider does not publish that detail on its pricing page. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 12 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.43).
Every provider above has a refund period. Netflix changes what it blocks all the time, so the sensible approach is to sign up, test the library you actually want in the first week, and ask for your money back if it does not play.
Is it legal to use a VPN with Netflix in Australia?
Using a VPN is legal in Australia. Netflix’s terms say you should watch content in the country where you have your account, so viewing another country’s library is against those terms. In practice Netflix responds by blocking VPN addresses, which is why a server that works one month can stop the next. More on the law in are VPNs legal in Australia?
Tips for getting it working
- Try a second server. If one US server shows the proxy error, pick another city.
- Use the app, not the browser extension. The full app is harder for streaming services to detect.
- Sign out and back in. Netflix sometimes remembers the country from your last session.
- Travelling? To watch Australian Netflix from overseas, connect to an Australian server instead. See how to get an Australian IP address.
FAQ
Does a free VPN work with Netflix?
Rarely. Free plans usually leave streaming out or cap your data. See best free VPN in Australia.
Will Netflix ban my account for using a VPN?
Netflix’s approach has been to block the VPN connection and show an error, not to close accounts.
Which VPN is best for Hulu?
Hulu is a different story in Australia now. See how to watch Hulu in Australia.