Proton VPN
If you want a VPN that’s free and still able to stream Netflix’s US library, then Proton VPN is the ideal choice. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends because it’s safe, secure to use, and doesn’t impose any speed or usage restrictions. Technically, Proton VPN’s free servers are not optimized for streaming, but we still got enough speed and were able to stream Netflix content through the free VPN servers in the US without any problems.
With Proton VPN’s premium service, which includes over 8,500 servers in 112 countries (compared to five countries with the free plan), we were able to access content from several regional Netflix libraries, as well as content on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. Its ability to access thousands of international Netflix libraries, including the Egyptian Netflix library (which rivaled NordVPN and Surfshark tried to unblock), makes Proton VPN’s paid tier a worthy choice. The only snag we encountered was that we weren’t able to stream Disney Plus on MacOS through Proton’s servers in the US, although it worked fine on other platforms. Proton VPN paid subscriptions cost $10 per month, $60 for the first year (then $80 per year), or $108 total for the first two years (then $80 per year).
Read our Proton VPN review.
Private Internet access
Wallet friendly Private Internet accessor PIA, is an open source VPN provider with a strong focus on privacy. PIA is only $12 per month, $40 per year, or $79 every three years. Unlike many other VPN providers, PIA does not have price increases, so your plan must be renewed 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 almost every platform, including Windows, MacOS, Linux (with a GUI), web browsers, iOS/iPadOS, Android/Android TV, and Apple TV.
Despite its affordability compared to many VPN rivals, PIA is hard to recommend for streaming due to its middle-of-the-road speed performance. In our testing, we achieved an average loss of 49% of Internet download speed. People with fast internet speeds (50 megabits per second or more) should be fine, but slower or more insecure internet connections like satellite internet may not work as well. (For reference, Netflix recommends a minimum download speed of 15 Mbps 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.
Read our PIA review.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a good VPN for streaming if you’re new to VPNs and want a solution that’s easy to use and can help you watch content on different 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 can struggle to deliver across platforms, we were able to access each of the streaming services we tested on each of the devices we tested with IPVanish. The main area where IPVanish struggles is its speed. The inconsistency of IPVanish’s speeds — we noted a whopping 44% loss in average internet speed in our 2024 tests — can hurt your streaming experience, especially when watching ultra-high-definition 4K video.
With IPVanish, you’ll have access to servers in 56 countries, which is slightly 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 specific region, you’ll want to check IPVanish’s server page to ensure the provider has servers in those countries 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 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 increase dramatically to $90 per 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-range package prices, IPVanish isn’t ideal for streaming enthusiasts.
Read our IPVanish review.
Mulvad
Mulvad is an excellent choice for privacy-conscious VPN users. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, with an impressive overall speed loss of 13%. It worked well with Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu, but it struggled with Amazon Prime Video streaming during our tests, and it doesn’t offer full, native support for smart TVs or streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV. This, combined with its relatively small network of servers in just 44 countries makes Mullvad a tough sell for people who want to use a VPN for streaming purposes.
Mullvad requires zero personal information to sign up — not even an email address — and costs $5 a month whether you use it for one month, one year, or five years. You can pay and add as many months as you want to your account, but Mullvad does not have any kind of recurring subscription because it tries to collect as little data as possible. If you are not satisfied with the service, then you can request a refund within the first 30 days of purchase.
Read our Mullvad review.