Proton VPN
If you want a VPN that’s free and still able to stream the U.S. Netflix library, then Proton VPN is the ideal choice. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN CNET recommends because it’s secure, safe to use and doesn’t put any limits on speed or usage. Technically, Proton VPN’s free servers aren’t optimized for streaming, but we still achieved sufficient speeds and were able to smoothly stream Netflix content through the VPN’s free U.S. servers.
With Proton VPN’s premium service, which includes 9,100-plus servers in 112 countries (as opposed to five countries with the free plan), we were able to access content from several Netflix regional libraries as well as content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. Its ability to access tons of international Netflix libraries, including the Egyptian Netflix library (which rivals NordVPN and Surfshark struggled to unblock), makes Proton VPN's paid tier a worthy choice. The only hiccup we ran into was that we were unable to stream Disney Plus on MacOS through Proton’s U.S. servers, although it worked fine on other platforms. Proton VPN's paid subscriptions cost $10 a month, $60 for the first year (then $80 annually) or $108 total for the first two years (then $80 a year).
Private Internet Access
The wallet-friendly Private Internet Access, or PIA, is an open-source VPN provider with a strong focus on privacy. PIA costs just $12 monthly, $40 annually or $79 every three years. Unlike many other VPN providers, PIA doesn't have price hikes, so your plan should renew at the same price as your original purchase. Although PIA worked well enough for Netflix and Disney Plus, it struggled with Amazon Prime Video. PIA has apps for nearly every platform, including Windows, MacOS, Linux (with a GUI), web browsers, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Android TV and Apple TV.
Despite its affordability compared with many VPN rivals, PIA is tough to recommend for streaming because of its middle-of-the-road speed performance. In our testing, we clocked an underwhelming 49% average internet download speed loss. Folks with fast internet speeds (50 megabits per second or more) should be fine, but slower or more unreliable internet connections like satellite internet might not work as well. (For reference, Netflix recommends a minimum 15Mbps download speed for a single 4K video stream.) Ultimately, PIA is a fantastic VPN with strong privacy features, but its streaming shortcomings limit its appeal for VPN users who want to unblock a wide selection of streaming content.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a decent VPN for streaming if you’re new to VPNs and want a solution that’s simple to use and can help you watch content on various streaming platforms. During our testing, we were able to access Netflix libraries from a handful of regions, along with content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. Although some VPNs may struggle to deliver across platforms, we were able to access each of the streaming services we tested on each of the devices we tested them on with IPVanish. The main area where IPVanish struggles is its speed. The inconsistency of IPVanish’s speeds -- we clocked a high 44% average internet speed loss in our 2024 tests -- may put a damper on your streaming experience, especially while watching 4K ultra-high-definition videos.
With IPVanish, you’ll have access to servers in 56 countries, which is quite a bit less than other options like NordVPN (111 countries), ExpressVPN (105 countries), Surfshark (100 countries), Proton VPN (112 countries) and PIA (91 countries), so if you’re looking to stream content from a particular region, you’ll want to check IPVanish’s server page to ensure the provider has servers in those locations before purchasing a subscription. A monthly subscription to IPVanish costs $13 per month, which is on par with many other VPNs, but its annual plan starts off cheaper than b3th NordVPN and ExpressVPN at $40 for the first year. IPVanish offers a two-year plan that costs $52 total for the first two years combined. Beware that the one-year and two-year plan prices jump dramatically to $90 a year or $180 total for two years after the initial one- or two-year term. Considering its slow internet speeds, small server network and mid-pack prices, IPVanish isn't ideal for streaming enthusiasts.
Mullvad
Mullvad is an excellent choice for privacy-conscious VPN users. It's also one of the fastest VPNs we've tested, with an impressive overall 13% speed loss. It worked well with Netflix, Disney Plus and Hulu, but it struggled with streaming Amazon Prime Video during our tests and doesn't offer full, native support for smart TVs or streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV. That, in combination with its comparatively small network of servers in just 44 countries makes Mullvad a tough sell for folks wanting to use the VPN for streaming purposes.
Mullvad requires zero personal information to sign up -- not even an email address -- and costs a flat fee of $5 a month whether you use it for a month, a year or five years. You can pay for and add as many months to your account as you want, but Mullvad doesn't have recurring subscriptions of any sort because it strives to collect as little data as possible. If you're not satisfied with the service, then you can request a refund within the first 30 days of purchase.
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