Netflix’s US and Australian catalogs are close in size but offer different shows and films. On US servers, NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN switched our Netflix account to the American catalog on a PC and a phone, and streaming started in under 3 seconds, so the experience was smooth.
US Netflix Catalog Access for 2026
- Sign up for NordVPN and download it to the phone or TV you use for Netflix.
- Tap Connect on a US server. The app’s recommended server works.
- Open Netflix and sign in with your Australian account.
- Browse as usual. The US catalog replaces the Australian one.
Switching Netflix to the US Catalog
Choose a US server in the VPN and connect before opening Netflix in a browser or the app. Netflix sets the catalog from your IP address, so a US server shows the American library on the account you already pay for. Netflix requires no US account or US card, and the Australian price doesn’t change.
Phones follow the same steps. If Netflix was open before the VPN connected, close it fully and reopen it, or it may still load the Australian library.
Netflix US vs Australia: Catalog Differences
At the end of 2025, the US catalog had about 7,900 titles and the Australian one about 8,100. Netflix buys rights country by country, and in the US many licensed shows belong to Peacock, HBO Max, Hulu, or Paramount+, while Netflix streams some of the same titles in Australia. The reverse happens too, with US-only films and series that Australian rights holders license to other services.
Catalogs change every month, so search for a title on a US server to confirm it’s there. The same method works for American Netflix in other countries, and our Netflix VPN guide covers other regional catalogs.
Netflix US Unblocking Compared
From our September tests on a Windows 11 PC in Europe with a 190.36 Mbps connection, on each VPN’s fastest US server.
| VPN | US locations | Netflix US on PC | Netflix US on phone | US download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 55 cities | Unblocked | Unblocked | 181.50 Mbps |
| Proton VPN | 18 states and DC | Unblocked | Unblocked | 173.68 Mbps |
| ExpressVPN | 63 locations | Unblocked | Unblocked | 177.03 Mbps |
Best VPNs for American Netflix in Australia
- NordVPN: Best for US Netflix speed, at 181.50 Mbps.
- Proton VPN: Best for privacy while streaming, with Secure Core servers in VPN Plus.
- ExpressVPN: Best for US location spread, with 63 across the country.
1. NordVPN: Best for US Netflix Speed
Pros
- SmartDNS for TVs
- Dedicated US IP option
- Post-quantum encryption
Con
- Windows VPN conflicts
NordVPN recorded 181.50 Mbps on its fastest US server, a 4.7% loss from our baseline, and it unblocked Netflix US on the PC and the phone. Having ExpressVPN installed on the same Windows PC sometimes stopped NordVPN from connecting. NordVPN’s 27-month Basic subscription averages under $3.50 a month, and paying monthly costs about $15.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy While Streaming
Pros
- US servers by state
- Free tier included
- Chrome and Firefox extensions
Cons
- TV setup requires a router
- No dedicated US IP
Proton VPN unblocks Netflix US on Windows and on the phone, and its fastest US server measured 173.68 Mbps, 8.8% below our baseline. Secure Core passes the connection through a server in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before the US server. Proton VPN’s VPN Plus plan drops below $3 a month with a two-year plan, and a single month is about $10. Renewal comes to about $84 a year. More budget VPNs are covered in our cheap VPN guide.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for US Location Spread
Pros
- Philadelphia and Tampa servers
- Simple app layout
- Split tunneling by app
Cons
- Dedicated IP costs extra
- Renewal price jump
ExpressVPN‘s fastest US server measured 177.03 Mbps, a 7.0% loss, and it also unblocked the US catalog in its Windows and phone apps. The app is easy to use but offers less customization than NordVPN. For other US uses, see our best VPNs for the US. ExpressVPN comes to under $3 a month on a 28-month subscription. Renewal is near $100 a year.
Setting Up US Netflix on a TV
Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV devices install the VPN app directly, so connect to a US server on the device before opening Netflix. Our Android TV VPN guide walks through those sets. Samsung and LG televisions can’t install VPN apps. NordVPN’s SmartDNS and ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer cover them, and Proton VPN, which has no Smart DNS, requires a router setup.
Fixing Proxy Errors and the Wrong Catalog
- Netflix shows a proxy error: the US server’s IP address is flagged. Switch to a different US server and reload the page.
- The Australian catalog still appears: quit Netflix, confirm the VPN is connected to a US server, and start Netflix again.
- The browser keeps your old location: clear Netflix cookies or open Netflix in a private window.
Free VPNs and Netflix US
Free Windscribe and PrivadoVPN accounts unblocked Netflix US. Their 10 GB monthly allowances cover roughly three hours of HD Netflix, which uses up to 3 GB an hour. Free Hide.me and TunnelBear accounts failed to unblock it. Windscribe and PrivadoVPN also appear in our free VPN rankings.
Verdict
Start with NordVPN for the fastest US server and SmartDNS on Samsung and LG TVs, or Proton VPN for Secure Core. ExpressVPN adds 63 US locations and an app that’s easy to use. The same VPNs unblocked US Prime Video in our streaming tests. Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max are covered in our guide to US TV in Australia, and our Australia VPN rankings list VPNs for home use.
American Netflix in Australia FAQs
How do you get American Netflix in Australia?
Use a VPN with a US server and log in to Netflix as usual. Netflix reads the country from the IP address and loads the US catalog on the same subscription.
Is Netflix US bigger than Netflix Australia?
No, the two libraries are about the same size, and Australia's recently had slightly more titles. The difference is which films and series each country licenses.
Does a VPN let you watch American Netflix?
Yes, a VPN with US servers that Netflix hasn't flagged, such as NordVPN or Proton VPN, unblocks the American library on computers, phones, and TV apps.
Do you need a US Netflix account to watch US Netflix?
No, an Australian subscription displays the American catalog on any device with a US IP address. Billing stays in Australian dollars at the local price.
Can a free VPN unblock US Netflix?
Yes, Windscribe and PrivadoVPN unblock it on their free plans. Their 10 GB monthly data allowances cover only a few hours of HD streaming.
Can you watch US Netflix on a phone in Australia?
Yes, the VPN's phone app works the same way as the desktop app. Once a US server connects, the Netflix app loads the American catalog.