Bollywood is the heart of Indian cinema. It’s adored in India (and worldwide) for its vibrant storytelling and larger-than-life productions. Still, American entertainment has a strong following in the country. Many Indians enjoy US movies and TV shows, thanks in part to streaming services. Ironically, you can’t watch American Netflix in India.
Why? Because streaming platforms like Netflix customize their libraries based on where you are. So even though you’re using the same platform, the content you see in India is very different from what’s available in the U.S. That is, until you change your IP address to the United States.
A good virtual private network (VPN) is your best bet for masking your IP and gaining access to exclusive American content. So, in this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to watch Netflix US in India with a VPN. As a bonus, we’ll share the best VPNs for the job.
Why You Can’t Watch American Netflix in India
Netflix US is the most in-demand content library in the world. Sure, Netflix India features plenty of international titles, but it doesn’t offer everything, especially when it comes to U.S. exclusives. That means many shows and movies in the American library won’t show up in the Indian version.
Netflix, like most popular streaming services, uses geo-blocking technology to restrict content based on a viewer’s location. It checks your IP address to determine where you are and serves a library tailored to that country. So, if you’re visiting India from the US or are just a fan of American content, you can only access the library curated for the Indian audience.
Why You Need a VPN For Unblocking Netflix US
VPN services are becoming mainstream as more people recognize how valuable VPNs are. For one, they’re equipped to keep you private online and safeguard your data from online nasties. But VPNs are also really effective at bypassing geo-restrictions.
Virtually any VPN can change your IP address to one in the United States when you connect to an American server. Now, if you’re using a top-tier service, it goes beyond that. The VPN can also “trick” Netflix into accepting that you’re physically present in the server location, even when you’re all the way back in India.
That will give you access to the entire American Netflix library, complete with exclusive US movies and TV shows. Depending on the VPN and server location, the same trick works for other region-locked platforms. For example, you can stream BBC iPlayer or American TV channels outside the United Kingdom and the United States, respectively.
How to Watch American Netflix in India with a VPN
VPNs are not nearly as complicated as some think, especially when it comes to streaming. Once you’ve chosen the right service, the process is pretty simple, and you can get down to enjoying American Netflix in no time.
The guide below explores the complete process in a few steps.
Step 1: Pick a Proven VPN Service
Only a handful of VPNs can match Netflix’s VPN-blocking technology. Even fewer can unblock the American Netflix catalog. So, you want to choose a service with a track record of doing so. Beyond that, look for one with fast speeds, stable servers in the United States, and a firm no-logs policy for privacy.
We’ll discuss our top picks shortly, but NordVPN is our favorite VPN for streaming Netflix US in India.
Step 2: Sign Up
Once you’ve selected a service, visit the VPN’s website and choose a subscription plan that fits your budget. Most services offer monthly and longer-term plans, with discounts for the latter. Provide the required information and pay for the plan to complete the checkout process.
Step 3: Download and Install the VPN App
Next, download and install the VPN app on your device. Most top VPN providers offer apps for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Go to the VPN provider’s website or your device’s app store. Find the app and download it. Once done, follow the usual installation process. It’s typically straightforward, but visit the VPN’s resource base for assistance or contact customer support if you encounter any issues.
Step 4: Connect to a US Server
Launch your newly installed app and sign in with your account credentials. Head over to the server menu and locate a server (or server location) within the United States. Click or tap to connect to it and wait a few moments while the VPN activates the connection and fetches your new IP address.
Step 5: Stream American Netflix in India
Return to the Netflix app or website, and you should be ready to stream. The platform will automatically display Netflix US content as if you were physically in the United States. If that doesn’t happen, switch to a different server and try again. Alternatively, clear your browser’s cache and cookies before retrying.
The Best VPNs for Streaming American Netflix in India
While VPNs are generally the best approach for getting around geo-blocks, they are not all equally effective. Netflix takes its restrictions seriously and is always blocking VPN IP addresses, so a service that worked last week may suddenly stop working today.
Your edge is a provider that’s consistently ahead of the platform — one that comes with excellent unblocking, blazing-fast connection speeds, and streaming-friendly features. The VPNs below check those boxes:
1. NordVPN
Big-name service NordVPN tops the leaderboard in two relevant rankings: it’s the best VPN to use in India and is our consistent favorite option for Netflix.
NordVPN has a massive network in 118 countries, including almost 2,000 servers distributed across 16 US cities. The more servers a VPN has, the broader a user’s choice. So, NordVPN’s massive server pool means you can easily get a reliable US IP address from anywhere to access region-locked content.
During testing, our expert in Ahmedabad gained instant access to American Netflix. The platform loaded the sought-after library as soon as they logged in, and thanks to NordVPN’s searing speeds, there was no pesky buffering, even when streaming in 4K quality.
NordVPN’s SmartPlay combines SmartDNS with the VPN’s excellent security to deliver secure access to your favorite movies and shows. It’s built into the VPN and automatically enabled, so there’s nothing to configure.
You’re free to stream on any compatible gadget, thanks to NordVPN’s broad support. Plus, you get up to ten simultaneous connections to play with, which means you can stream American Netflix in India at home or on the go.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the most expensive option on this list. However, in return, you get a user-friendly provider that’s not bogged down with complex configurations or clutter.
More relevantly, the provider is super dependable when it comes to unlocking Netflix US. On top of that, it unblocks Netflix in other regions, as well as other streaming services, from regional to global. It has over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, the US included, so you have lots of connection points to choose from. Thanks to it, you’ll have no trouble watching American TV from India (or any other country, for that matter).
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN services on the block, thanks to its 10 Gbps servers and custom Lightway protocol. During our tests, we didn’t experience that frustrating buffering circle, even when streaming in Ultra HD. The content library loaded quickly, and playback was smooth from start to finish.
While ExpressVPN is broadly compatible, it lags behind NordVPN in terms of simultaneous connections, allowing you to juggle up to 8 devices.
3. Private Internet Access
If you’re on a budget, consider Private Internet Access, the cheapest VPN on this list.
Despite the low cost, the provider stands out in several ways. For example, it has more servers in the United States than most VPNs have in their entire networks. There are PIA servers in every US state, which is a feat no competitor can boast of.
Some of those are dedicated streaming servers, and they impressed when we checked them out. We didn’t experience any hiccups or interruptions while streaming American Netflix in India, an improvement over its previous performance.
Connecting to any of the VPN’s servers is easy. We especially like its nifty latency monitor, which lets you sidestep loaded servers. That way, you’re unlikely to encounter congestion and slowdowns.
Private Internet Access is an excellent choice if you have lots of devices you want to stream Netflix on. It allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so your subscription can cover all your devices.
4. Proton VPN
Right off the bat, Proton VPN impresses with its massive, constantly growing network. It comes with 12,000+ servers in 117 countries, including a pretty extensive spread in the United States.
While Proton VPN has made a name for itself with its robust security, we found it to be one of the best VPNs for streaming. Unblocking American Netflix in India was a breeze, and we had no issues accessing content from every other region we tried either. Note that if you are of legal age, you can also rely on Proton VPN to access Pornhub and other adult sites in India.
It has also been carving a reputation for fast speeds. We’ve repeatedly recorded impressive speeds while testing the provider, and streaming, even in high quality, is typically buffer-free. Plus, the VPN’s VPN Accelerator feature comes in handy in less-than-ideal network conditions to optimize your experience.
Like NordVPN, Proton VPN makes it possible to connect up to ten devices to a VPN server simultaneously. It has native apps for all the popular platforms, so you can stream Netflix on the big screen if you want.
5. Surfshark
Thanks to its affordable long-term plans, Surfshark is another preferred choice for budget-conscious users. And, just like Private Internet Access, there’s no cap on the number of devices you can connect at once.
The VPN packs incredible unblocking power, repeatedly impressing with the ease at which it unblocks Netflix and other popular streaming services. During our latest round of tests, Surfshark unlocked American Netflix in India completely undetected, and we never had to switch servers for a seamless experience.
The VPN also excels at performance, which is no surprise, as you have over 600 super-fast servers to choose from in 22 major American cities. Since upgrading its server fleet to 10 Gbps, it has consistently clocked lightning-fast connection speeds. And because there are no bandwidth limits or data caps, you never have to worry about annoying interruptions in the middle of a marathon streaming session.
Can You Use a Free VPN?
That’s highly unlikely, which is why we only listed premium VPN services. While free VPNs can be helpful in a pinch, we generally don’t recommend using them for streaming for various reasons.
For one, they typically only offer limited networks. Even though you’ll have access to US servers, you’ll be restricted to a few. They can (and usually do) get overcrowded, leading to slow speeds, which can be frustrating while streaming on Netflix. And that’s if they can get past the platform’s blocks, which is unlikely. Even Proton VPN’s free tier, arguably the best free VPN on the market, struggles in this area.
Besides, many free VPNs compromise privacy and security, both of which are important, even if you’re primarily interested in streaming. They log heavily and can put you at risk of malware. Plus, free VPNs may expose you to pesky ads.
Ultimately, free providers are unreliable when it comes to streaming on Netflix. If the budget is high up your list of priorities, consider affordable premium options like Private Internet Access and Surfshark.
Conclusion
With a high-quality VPN with servers in the United States, you can circumvent geo-restrictions to unblock and watch American Netflix in India. In this guide, we explored the trick comprehensively, demonstrating how to mask your IP address for full access to all your favourite American movies, TV shows, anime, and documentaries.
Of the five quality providers recommended, NordVPN is our pick, thanks to its best-in-class unblocking capabilities, searing connection speeds, and extensive collection of global and US servers. Click the link below to claim a generous exclusive discount on any NordVPN plan, and you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing.