I tested over 30 and found several that are better than PIA or just as reliable in making sure you’ll never skip a favorite show again. ExpressVPN is the best for watching Netflix because it’s superfast for streaming. Since all its servers are optimized for streaming, it bypasses geo-blocks effectively. Plus, you can get ExpressVPN risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get ExpressVPN for Netflix
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Access Netflix with PIA in 2023
Access Netflix with ExpressVPN
Does PIA Work With Netflix?
Yes, but not on every server or at every try. Netflix actively identifies traffic from VPN servers by monitoring users’ IP addresses. If an IP address appears to be shared by too many different users unlikely from the same household, Netflix blacklists and blocks it. So, though a PIA server may unblock a certain library today, it might not work tomorrow if Netflix blacklists it. Fortunately, it’s easier for the top VPNs on the market to replace blacklisted IP addresses with new ones than for Netflix to detect and block VPN usage. But this means VPNs will have to test their servers regularly and spend a lot of money. PIA does a decent job of this, but it’s not perfect and others like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost work better. Besides the regular servers, PIA has streaming-optimized servers in the US, UK, Australia, Japan, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. These were the most reliable to access different Netflix libraries. But the regular servers in some countries also bypassed Netflix’s geo-blocks. During tests, PIA managed to unblock the Netflix libraries in: However, PIA couldn’t access Netflix libraries in Portugal, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, France, Germany, Romania, Indonesia, Finland, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, Egypt, and Malaysia. The ability to unblock Netflix libraries is pointless if the VPN is too slow for streaming. I tested the closest server to me that works with Netflix (India), and it was faster than many other VPNs. It averaged 56Mbps, allowing the entire season of Hollywood to play without lags. Distant PIA servers were 18% slower, but still fast enough to watch The Stranger Things in UHD without delays.
Still Can’t Get PIA to Work With Netflix?
Netflix works very hard to block VPNs to protect its licensing agreements with content and studio providers. If Netflix identifies a set of IP addresses as belonging to PIA, they’ll be blacklisted and unable to bypass Netflix’s geo-blocks. It’s sometimes only temporary as PIA acquires new IP addresses. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t watch your favorite series on Netflix. Give these tips a try and you might still be able to access your usual content library.
1. Check Your IP Address
Sometimes, your IP address doesn’t change to the location of the VPN server you’ve selected. It’s called an IP address leak and you can easily detect it by using this IP lookup tool. If the locator pin is where your VPN server is, it’s not leaking. But if it’s where you currently are or another location, try disconnecting and reconnecting to the server. PIA also recommends disconnecting from its server and trying these methods to fix an IP address leak:
Clear the cache and cookies in all your browsers and close them Disable WebRTC in all your browsers Contact live chat support for detailed instructions to change ports in the app Switch protocols to OpenVPN or WireGuard
2. Connect to a Different Server
When Netflix blacklists IP addresses belonging to VPNs, it sometimes affects an entire server. Try connecting to another server in the same country (if available) and you’ll get a different IP address that possibly still works and hasn’t been blocked by Netflix.
3. Flush Your DNS
If your device is still using your ISP’s DNS server instead of PIA’s after connecting to a server, Netflix can still detect your real location and block access. To fix this, first, flush your DNS and then connect to PIA’s server again. How to flush DNS on Windows:
Press the ‘Windows’ + ‘R’ keys simultaneously Type ‘cmd’ to open the command prompt Type ‘ipconfig/flushdns’ in the command prompt and hit ‘Enter’ to flush DNS
How to flush DNS on Mac:
Type ‘Command’ + ‘Space’ to open Spotlight Search Type ‘Terminal’ and select ‘Terminal’ Enter ‘sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder’ into the Terminal window and press ‘Return’ Key in your password and press ‘Return’
4. Change Protocols
If the protocol you’re using is incompatible with Netflix, you might see the proxy error message. Try changing to OpenVPN or WireGuard protocol by following these steps on PIA’s app:
Hit the menu icon and select ‘Settings’ Go to the ‘Connection’ tab and select ‘Protocol’ to switch It should work when you connect to a PIA server now
5. Contact Customer Support
If these don’t work, contact PIA’s customer support either via 24/7 live chat or email with the show title you’re trying to access. They might suggest a different port or tell you if the show is available in another Netflix library that a different PIA server can access.
6. Get a Different VPN That Can Access Netflix
Your last resort is to get a VPN that’s proven to access the Netflix library you’re looking for. Many VPNs claim to work with Netflix when they actually don’t have the resources and financial means to keep up with the streaming service’s anti-VPN campaign. After testing over 30 VPNs, I’ve found ExpressVPN to be far better for watching Netflix than any other VPN. It has blazing-fast speeds and unblocks global libraries within seconds. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN
Alternative VPNs for Accessing Netflix in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Netflix With Superb Streaming Speeds and Geo-Block Bypassing Abilities
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the overall best for watching Netflix as it scored the highest in several critical areas such as connection speeds and the ability to bypass Netflix’s geo-blocks. Besides these, ExpressVPN also has a stellar customer service team that’s extremely helpful and responsive. Local ExpressVPN connections maintained my speeds at 92Mbps, which loaded episodes of Slick Note instantly. I liked that the drop from my baseline speed was barely noticeable and the episodes played without buffering. Long-distance connections are typically slower as your data has to travel farther. But ExpressVPN’s servers more than 5,000 miles away were fast and didn’t interrupt Daniel’s snowballing lies. Unlike PIA, ExpressVPN doesn’t have specialized streaming servers but all of them are great for watching movies and TV shows. Plus, ExpressVPN has servers in the most number of countries compared to other VPNs on this list. Its servers in 94 countries also unblocked the most number of Netflix libraries around the world: Besides having native apps for common devices like smartphones, computers, tablets, and even routers, ExpressVPN also has MediaStreamer for gaming consoles and smart TVs. It’s a Smart DNS feature so your connections won’t be encrypted, but it’ll allow you to access Netflix on incompatible devices. At any one time, you can connect up to 5 devices to ExpressVPN with zero difference in performance. The VPN’s only disadvantage is its price but when you see how seamlessly it works with Netflix, you’ll know it’s worth it. With ExpressVPN, you don’t have to keep switching servers to find one that unblocks your Netflix library or wait every few minutes while a show buffers. I recommend ExpressVPN’s 1-year plan for the best value. It’s $6.67 per month and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee like all the other plans. Although I was happy with the VPN, I asked for a refund via 24/7 live chat to test their money-back policy. An agent approved it immediately and I was reimbursed 4 days later. Get ExpressVPN for Netflix
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers Make it Easy to Access Netflix From Anywhere
Key Features: CyberGhost has specialized streaming servers to unblock Netflix libraries all over the world. Since these servers are regularly tested, they always work on the first try to access popular shows like Narcos, Wednesday, and Stranger Things. However, some of the VPN’s regular servers in 91 countries also sneaked past Netflix’s global libraries. Besides being able to access Netflix US from anywhere, CyberGhost also unblocked: Since I often watch Netflix on several different devices, I was pleased to find out CyberGhost has native apps for all major operating systems. This includes Windows, iOS, Mac, Android, and more. It also allowed me to use 7 devices simultaneously. I left my computer and smart TV connected at home and watched Netflix on my tablet or smartphone while commuting. Sometimes, I use public WiFi to catch a few quick episodes on Netflix but I never do it without VPN protection. Luckily, CyberGhost’s regular server was fast and averaged above 80Mbps. With speeds like these, I felt like I wasn’t connected to a VPN server at all when watching Green Book in UHD. Unfortunately, the VPN’s servers over 3,000 miles away caused a 5-second delay when loading episodes of Wednesday and buffered twice in 3 hours. For a smoother streaming experience, try CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers for Netflix. These were fast no matter where I connected from and shows didn’t buffer. If you want to watch Netflix with CyberGhost, I recommend the 2-year + 3 months plan. It’s only $2.11 per month and has a longer money-back guarantee period of 45 days compared to the monthly plan. I asked for a refund via the 24/7 live chat and a CyberGhost agent told me it’ll be processed the same day. A week later, I got my money back. Get CyberGhost for Netflix
3. NordVPN — Netflix Less Likely to Blacklist and Block Dedicated IP Addresses
Key Features: NordVPN’s Dedicated IP servers offer exclusive IP addresses that can’t be misused by other users and cause a Netflix ban. If you travel a lot and access the streaming platform from different parts of the world, the unchanging IP address will avoid triggering suspicions in Netflix. Though not as fast as ExpressVPN, NordVPN’s speeds were impressive and stayed well above the 25Mbps minimum required to watch Netflix in UHD. Servers as far as 5,000 miles away averaged 62Mbps so watching Money Heist felt like it was a direct connection without a VPN server. With over 5700+ servers in 60 countries, NordVPN had no problem unblocking Netflix libraries around the world. The VPN doesn’t have specialized servers for streaming Netflix, but its global network accessed: You can install NordVPN on a maximum of 6 devices including your smartphone, laptop, tablet, desktop, and more. I used all the connections and Netflix still played without any slowdowns on all my devices. It’s also easy to use NordVPN’s apps. It took me just a few seconds to find a server in Malaysia and connect on my Windows computer. I was initially disappointed to learn NordVPN doesn’t have obfuscated servers in China where VPNs are banned. Obfuscated servers get your Netflix traffic past firewalls when traveling in restrictive countries. Luckily, it’s possible to use NordVPN in China by connecting to its obfuscated server in Hong Kong. To get the best deal, try NordVPN’s 2-year plan with Netflix. It’s only $3.49 per month and you’ll have 30 days to ask for a refund. When I canceled my subscription on live chat, NordVPN processed my refund immediately and I was reimbursed within a week. Get NordVPN for Netflix Try CyberGhost with Netflix However, your data is more secure and private when you use PIA to stream, especially with public hotspots in airports and hotels. The encryption will make sure no one can steal your personal information or watch what you’re doing. I don’t condone using PIA to break any laws or rules, so only use a VPN to watch Netflix shows that are available in your country safely. Alternatively, you can buy a router that has been pre-installed with PIA from FlashRouters. This is a lot easier since you won’t have to manually configure the VPN. If you get stuck, you can get help from PIA via 24/7 live chat. You can’t do much with just 500MB of data per month as most Netflix shows are bigger than that. Bandwidth limit means your connection speeds will become considerably slower when there are too many users on a VPN server. This affects everyone’s speed in the end, meaning your shows will lag or not load at all. Free VPNs also only offer 2 to 3 free servers to keep costs down, which limits the Netflix libraries they can unblock, if at all. But the worst are the spammy operators masquerading as ‘free VPNs’. Some inject malware into your device when you download their apps to capture your data. Others have been known to sell your information on the black market, further risking your security. That’s why I recommend subscribing to a top-notch VPN like CyberGhost and using it with Netflix for free. When you don’t need it anymore, just ask for a refund within its 45-day money-back guarantee period.
Access Netflix With PIA Today
PIA can unblock many Netflix libraries around the world, but it might not necessarily work with yours since the streaming service is actively blocking VPN traffic. You can try a few easy fixes but if you still can’t watch your usual shows, I recommend changing to another VPN. Fortunately, there are several better VPNs than PIA for watching Netflix. I recommend ExpressVPN as it has the fastest speeds for uninterrupted streaming. Plus, it unblocked the largest number of Netflix libraries during recent tests. When you get ExpressVPN to watch Netflix, your purchase will be risk-free. If you change your mind, you’ll have 30 days to ask for a refund and it’s guaranteed.
