Do I even need to introduce Netflix? The US-based streaming service has become a global phenomenon. With a vast library, user-friendly subscriptions, and availability on various devices, Netflix also produces top-notch original content like House of Cards, Narcos, and Orange Is the New Black. While Netflix is accessible in over 190 countries, each country’s catalogue varies. That’s why this article will demonstrate how to access American Netflix in the UK, or anywhere else in the world.
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If you already have a Netflix subscription, you’ve already got access to hundreds of movies and series. Even with all the time in the world, it’s unlikely you’d make it through the whole catalogue. And yet, most of us still want more. Since you’re currently reading an article all about how to watch US Netflix in the UK, you’re probably in the same boat.
But why do so many of us want access to other Netflix catalogues?
Knowing how to watch US Netflix in the UK is the Holy Grail for subscribers. American users get more content than any other country in the world. A study showed that UK subscribers can only access a third of the movies a US subscriber can. Subscribers across the Atlantic also get the same content before anyone else!
That’s why everyone wants to know how to get US Netflix in the UK; to get ahead of pop culture and enjoy exclusive content. Luckily, the way Netflix set up their subscriptions mean it is possible to learn how to get American Netflix in the UK. And anywhere else in the world, for that matter. And I know how.
You’ll first need the right tool for the job. So if you are desperate to know how to access Netflix US and setup Netflix party with all your friends, keep reading.
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It all comes down to broadcasting rights and – of course – money.
The owners and producers sell their programmes to Netflix with conditions about where the content can be broadcast. Because they can make more money selling rights per country. And, they know that if a movie has a bigger audience in the UK than in Germany, they can increase the price…
Also, it’s because of the competition… Netflix (128 million users) is not the only streaming service on the market. Maybe a movie is not available in your library because a competitor bought the exclusive rights. And the company faces serious rivals, like Amazon Video (85,3 million users) and Hulu (32 million users), competing for the best content for their own users.
Imagine the amount of money it would cost to own the rights for all content in all countries. It’s basically impossible to achieve. Therefore Netflix focuses on their domestic and main market: The USA. As a result, in the UK, we get less content.
And imagine the amount of money if you were to subscribe to all streaming platforms in order to be able to stream your favourite programs anywhere in the world… No way.
Before telling you how to get US Netflix in the UK, let’s see first what makes it possible.
When you subscribe to the streaming service, you get a global account – meaning you can connect from almost anywhere in the world and it will work. But there’s a catch: You can only watch the catalogue of the country where you’re staying. If you’re in the UK, you can only access British Netflix. So if you’re a US expat, or are travelling to the UK, you’ll likely search how to watch US Netflix in the UK, so not to miss out on your favourite shows while away. And the same tool can be used to show UK subscribers how to get American Netflix in the UK, too.
As a result of the contracts with content producers, Netflix has to set up geo-restrictions on all their content, so that only certain countries can access certain programmes. When you log into Netflix, the site will use the IP address of your device to detect where you are in the world. Each country owns a range of IP addresses for the local users, so they can quickly check whether or not you can access the content you’re requesting.
When Netflix detects which country you’re in, it’ll blacklist your IP address against all other content catalogues. So, how to get American Netflix in the UK isn’t the only question we’re answering with this article. The real question is how can I get any other Netflix catalogue in the UK, or while travelling.
While Netflix would much prefer to keep their geo-restrictions in place, there is a totally legal way to solve the question of how to watch US Netflix in the UK. And since this is TheBestVPN.UK, you can probably guess that my solution for how to access American Netflix is to use an American Netflix VPN.
A VPN (for Virtual Private Network) is a security software for your connection, but with an added bonus. This bonus is that it allows you to pretend to be somewhere else. Or at least make your device look like you’re somewhere else. And that’s what’s important. So, if you use a VPN to watch American Netflix, you’ll be able to make Netflix “believe” that you’re physically in the US – even when you’re on your couch in Manchester.
And as I explained above, if Netflix thinks you are in the US, you’ll get the American catalogue. That’s how to get American Netflix in the UK, checkmate!
Basically, the VPN software creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and an American server. The server then connects to netflix.com on your behalf. Because of its American address, it can get the US content. And send it back to you for your enjoyment. If you want more technical details, check my other guides. I’ve written a lot of awesome articles about VPN for dummies, and VPN reviews.
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While using a VPN to solve how to watch US Netflix in the UK is completely legal, content producers and the streaming platform themselves, hate it.
There’s been a merciless war raging between Netflix and the VPNs for some time now. And the Californian company keeps blocking VPN servers worldwide. While the US servers are the main target, of course, other countries’ servers are not spared by their wrath.
So how do they keep banning servers? It’s simple: When they identify a VPN server is being used to stream their content, they ban its IP address. So anyone using that server for how to get US Netflix in the UK will now have the content blocked.
But that’s not the end of the line, don’t worry.
To strike back, VPN companies have had no choice but to adapt. And now work constantly to renew the IPs of their servers.
Some VPN providers are much better set up to do this. Which is why not all VPNs will work with Netflix. So, while there are tonnes of VPN services available on the market, you must choose the right one if you want to know how to get American Netflix in the UK.
There’s also collateral damage in this war. VPNs weren’t created simple to help you learn how to get US Netflix in the UK; they were build for security. Which means if US internet users are using a VPN for security purposes in the States, they might find that they have to temporarily disable their online security system in order to access their Netflix account. Because Netflix blocks all VPN servers – even if they were able to see that it was definitely American user using them.
No, I’ve never heard of it. And the company is unlikely to ban your account for using a VPN. However, there’s been a change in their terms of service to state that you shouldn’t “circumvent […] any of the content protections in the Netflix service” and they “may terminate or restrict your use of our service” if you do, without compensation or notice…
This is the million-dollar question if you want to know how to get US Netflix in the UK. As mentioned above, not all VPNs will solve your problem. But lucky for you, I’ve tried, tested and hand picked the best of the best VPNs for the job.
In order to create the ranking below, I’ve judged each VPN on the following criteria:
I made the selection of VPN based on this criteria, but the ranking changes regularly. Some VPNs might win or loses their spot. But no matter when you check this article, all the VPNs below will help you with how to watch US Netflix in the UK.
You should always avoid free VPNs. Not only will most freebies not help you in the quest to find out how to watch US Netflix in the UK, a lot of them are dangerous.
They can be harmful to your privacy.
These companies aren’t just good Samaritans trying to offer free services to anyone who needs them. They’re still here for the money, and they still need to make money. And to do that, they’ll log your online activity and sell your data to the highest bidder.
So although a good quality VPN does cost, I strongly believe that your privacy is worth more than a few pounds, don’t you?
Most VPNs that work with Netflix aren’t expensive, either. They typically require a monthly subscription between £4 and £8. For less than a fiver, you’ll know how to get American Netflix in the UK, be able to access content from across the world and also protect your data while browsing online.
‘Small VPNs’ are popular services but only operate with just a few servers. Their software works just fine with US Netflix. But when Netflix comes a’ knocking and blocks their server IP addresses, they don’t have the set up required to fight back.
Netflix and other streaming giants put a lot of money into monitoring VPNs, so they can block them as quickly as possible. I know their teams regularly visit websites like mine, to stay up-to-date with the VPN that unblock their services.
To protect small VPNs, I don’t really add them to my rankings, because they’d go out of business under the wrath of a giant like Netflix.
I’ve endorsed a small VPN previously, and tons of users subscribed because it was good and affordable. Most users were pretty happy witht eh service, but the inevitable eventually happened: The server was banned. And that’s when the sh*t hit the fan: The provider couldn’t provide a new server, therefore some readers complained about my recommendation.
So protect the small VPNs, and to protect my own site, I’ll only tell you how to watch US Netflix in the UK with larger, proven providers.
Enjoy unlimited streaming and torrenting, anywhere in the world and protect your privacy online. With this exclusive offer, you can use ExpressVPN 30 days, risk-free!
So you now know how to get American Netflix in the UK, but how do you actually set it up and watch it?
To help, I prepared this step by step guide. Because each VPN providers has a similar process, I make the guide very generic, but it should work for most on the list above. Just follow these steps. And feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.
What if it doesn’t work? Most VPNs have multiple servers in each country. If one isn’t working, try another. If after a couple more tries, you can’t get it fixed I’d recommend you to get in touch with your provider. Most of them offer live chat support. And they’ll happily tell you how to get American Netflix in the UK in under 5 minutes.
So, that’s the guide. Now you know how to get American Netflix in the UK with a VPN. Finally, you can watch the latest content without restrictions, like BoJack Horseman, which I highly recommend! You’re welcome.
This was my guide on how to get US Netflix in the UK (Nov 2024) Stay tuned for more.