Best VPN Extensions for Netflix on Chrome
Chrome extensions are used for all kinds of things, including unblocking Netflix. However, very few add-ons for Google’s famous browser are up to the task, with many falsely claiming to offer full VPN functionality for free. Today, we’ll look at the best VPN extensions for Google Chrome that actually work to beat Netflix geoblocks.
It seems like everyone wants to watch the American version of Netflix these days. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Netflix is known to be the one with the most–and the best–content. But no matter why you want to watch it, or how strong your desire is, if you’re not located in the US, you’re out of luck. Or at least, this is what Netflix wants you to believe. But using modern technologies like a VPN, there are ways around this.
Boost your browser security with these VPN extensions:
- NordVPN – Best VPN for Chrome – NordVPN packs an impressive array of VPN features into their standalone Chrome extension. No external client needed for unlimited access to Netflix US.
- Surfshark – Smart automatic configuration, plus anti-adware/malware/pop-ups. Ready access to 14 international Netflix libraries.
- ExpressVPN – Attractive interface, fast response and connections, strong security.
- CyberGhost – A true standalone VPN Chrome extension with a battery of advanced features.
And today, we’re unveiling the best VPN Chrome extensions to change your location for Netflix and unblock the American Netflix. We’ll also explain why the popular streaming service uses geo-blocking and how it is implemented. Then, you’ll learn how a VPN can help bypass geo-blocking and how a VPN client can be built right into Google Chrome as a browser extension. Crucially, we’ll also discuss why and how Netflix tries to block VPN connections. We’ll wrap up with a brief history of Netflix.
Editor's Pick December 2024
Comparison of the Best VPNs to Unblock American Netflix
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 24/7 Live Chat
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer
- Netflix,
- Disney+,
- Amazon Prime,
- iPlayer,
- YouTube,
- Hulu
The Best VPN Chrome Extension Options To Unblock the American Netflix
We’ve searched the Chrome Web Store for the best VPN Chrome extensions to unblock the American Netflix. And while there are a few free services available, they usually don’t offer enough performance to permit decent streaming of Netflix video feeds. For that reason, of our top VPN extensions, two are subscription services.
1. NordVPN
- Very affordable plans
- No bandwidth caps
- Tor over VPN, double VPN
- Extra-secure Double VPN for data encryption
- Live Chat Support
- Some servers can be unreliable
- Sometimes slow in procesing refunds (but always do)
NordVPN is another top VPN provider. Its Google Chrome extension requires that you subscribe to the service but is a true stand-alone VPN extension that doesn’t require you to install an external client application. This makes NordVPN ideal to run on a ChromeOS computer.
Like most high-quality VPNs, NordVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol with 256-bit AES traffic encryption and a 2,048-bit DH key exchange. The service also has DNS leak protection enabled by default, a feature some providers don’t even have. And for the best in privacy, NordVPN has a strict no logging policy and keeps no trace of user activity.
A NordVPN subscription allows six simultaneous connections, one of the highest counts we’ve seen. This can be handy if you want to protect several devices. Finally, NordVPN has some 5,400 servers spread across 59 countries. Not that it matters much when all you need are US servers, of which there are plenty to choose from.
Read our full NordVPN review.
2. Surfshark
- Unblock 15 international Netflix libraries, including the US and Japan
- All 800+ servers are P2P-friendly, with private DNS and obfuscation
- Unbreakable AES-256-GCM encryption on every connection
- Logging policy independently audited and verified
- Support staff manned by actual human beings 24/7
- Server network is not nearly as expansive as major competitors
- Apps may be too simplistic for power users
Surfshark burst onto the VPN scene just a couple of years ago, but their offering is fully loaded. Their dedicated Chrome extension is one of the best in terms of usability and responsiveness–not to mention the intense levels of security provided by the core VPN service. This entails unbreakable 256-AES-GCM encryption, plus full access to all 800+ of their servers in 50 countries worldwide. Best yet: every single US server works to unblock the American Netflix!
The Surfshark Chrome extension has a nice little extra perk in the form of their CleanWeb cybersecurity suite. This blocks out malware, popups, ad trackers, plus over a million sites blacklisted for harboring known virus links. And, it does it all before these elements even have a chance to load.
Sadly, advanced functionality like multi-hop routing and static IP addresses are missing from the extension, and you don’t have control over which tunneling protocol is used. However, Surfshark is intelligent enough to pick the optimal settings automatically. Finally, zero logs are kept when you use the extension.
3. ExpressVPN
- Works with US Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu and other services
- Super fast servers (minimal speed loss)
- Torrenting allowed
- Keeps no logs of personal data
- Great customer service via chat
- Priced slightly higher
We often recommend ExpressVPN as one of the market’s best VPN providers, and for good reason. But its Chrome extension is not really self-contained within the Chrome browser. It does install into Chrome but it only allows you to control the ExpressVPN stand-alone client. You will, therefore, need to download and install the ExpressVPN client before you can use the Google Chrome extension. This, of course, also means that you need to subscribe to the ExpressVPN service. It is well worth it, though, as the provider is known for its powerful network (numbering 3,000+ servers in 94 countries) and excellent service.
ExpressVPN uses the OpenVPN protocol with 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. It also uses 4,096-bit DHE-RSA keys protected with the SHA-512 algorithm. As far as logging policy goes, ExpressVPN only have a partial no-logging policy but it is the provider’s only drawback. And the only data they keep are the servers users connect to and the dates they connect, thus providing a sufficient level of privacy protection.
As for the Google Chrome extension, ExpressVPN installs an icon at the top right of the Chrome windows. When you click it a small window that looks almost identical to the stand-alone client opens. This is where you can pick your server location–A US location to watch the American Netflix–and turn the VPN on or off. Clicking the menu button at the top left of the window lets you enable the Chrome Startup function that will automatically connect the VPN to the last used server whenever the browser starts up. There’s also an option to block WebRTC within Chrome for added security.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
4. CyberGhost
- Unblocks US Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu
- Special profile designed for torrenting privately
- No leaks detected
- No log files
- Live chat support (24/7)
- WebRTC IPv6 leak in macOS
- Sometimes experiencing average speeds
CyberGhost offers a true stand-alone Chrome extension that requires no other software. It does not even require to subscribe to CyberGhost’s service. It is a true free extension that works from within your browser.
The extension offers an excellent level of security and privacy. CyberGhost’s stand-alone, subscription-based VPN service is amongst the best VPN providers we’ve seen. We can most likely assume that the free service provided by this extension is equivalent to their subscription service as a way of accessing the American Netflix.
There are, of course, differences between CyberGhost’s free service and its subscription service. For instance, the free version only allows you to connect to servers in the US, the Netherlands, Germany, and Romania. It might not be as much as the paid service but it’s more than enough four our needs. Another major difference is performance; like most free services, this one will slow down your connection considerably. You’ll still be able to watch streaming videos but possibly not in HD.
And if you subscribe to CyberGhost’s paid service, this add-on will still have the same destination country limitations but will offer the same level of performance you’d get from the standalone app. The Chrome extension is very simplistic, making its use a no-brainer. After clicking the extension’s icon, it opens in a small window where you can select your country and turn the VPN on or off.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
Why Can’t I Access American Netflix From Outside the USA?
First and foremost, Netflix is a content distributor. This means that it offers content from other producers and is bound by typical broadcasting and distribution contracts. This means that it will often secure the right to distribute a given show or movie in specific markets but not everywhere. For example, Netflix has the right to offer the popular US show The Big Bang Theory in several EU markets (try Netflix UK) but not in the USA. In America, the show is instead broadcast on conventional TV by NBC. Furthermore, Netflix is often bound by contractual obligations to actively prevent out-of-market users from viewing content.
Although we might not be happy about it, due to these distribution restrictions, the available content varies from region to region. Some titles may not be available for streaming on your local version of Netflix while they are in the next country. Generally speaking, the American Netflix is considered to be the one with the most desirable content (unless you’re an anime fan, then Netflix Japan takes the cake). This is always disappointing but there’s not much we can do about it. Or is there?
Distribution restrictions are enforced by Netflix by using a well-known technique called geo-blocking. the technique ensures that users can only access their own version of Netflix. A user in the US, for example, can only access the American version of the site, while one in Canada can only access the Canadian Netflix and not the American one.
This geo-blocking is not only affecting non-US users, though. It can also be an issue for US residents. What if you’re a US citizen traveling abroad? Normally, you wouldn’t be able to watch Netflix. At least, not until you found a way to bypass the geographic blocking.
The ABCs Of Geo-blocking
Geo-blocking is almost always implemented by filtering–that is allowing or denying–traffic based on source IP address. An IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to every computer connected to the Internet. It is used to route data to and from different Internet-connected computers and devices. Every request you transmit to Netflix–or anywhere, actually–is marked with your IP address. This is what we refer to as the source IP address. It is that source IP address that will allow Netflix’s servers to know where to send the video stream you requested.
IP addresses are very similar to postal mailing addresses. And just like postal addresses, there is a direct correlation between IP addresses and physical location. Netflix can, therefore, know your location by cross-referencing your IP address and then decide to block or allow your requests based on whether or not you are located in an authorized location.
How A VPN Can Help
Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, were originally used primarily to provide secure access to private networks over unsecured channels, like the Internet. Today, they are widely utilized as a means to increase a connection’s security, privacy and anonymity. They do their magic by encrypting all data in and out of your computer using strong algorithms and sending it through a secure tunnel to a remote VPN server. When your data reaches the server, it is decrypted and sent out on the Internet. And when the server receives the reply back, it encrypts it and sends it back to you through the same tunnel.
In addition to the inherent security they provide, VPNs are also widely used to bypass access restrictions. As you may have experienced, several networks such as corporate ones, public WiFi hotspots and even some whole countries won’t let you access certain sites and/or services. It can be done to protect morality, reduce criminality, save bandwidth or control information.
Finally, and this is where it gets interesting when it comes to unblocking streaming services such as Netflix, a VPN also allows one to bypass geographic restrictions. This is actually a side effect of using a VPN. As we explained, when your data arrives at the VPN server, it is decrypted and sent out to its destination on the Internet. But since the server must receive the reply and send it back to you, it changes the source address to its own. To the resource you’re trying to access–be it Netflix or anything else–your request will be seen as coming from the VPN server’s location, not yours.
So, if you connect to a server in the US, you will be seen as being located in the US, no matter where you actually are.
A VPN Built Right Into Chrome
The part of the VPN that does the encryption and routing through a VPN is called a VPN client. It is often a piece of software that runs on your computer, encrypting on the fly any data that goes out or comes in.
But instead of running on your computer, the client can also run inside your Chrome web browser. Extensions are modules that you can add to Chrome to add some functionality. Many VPN providers offer a client as a Chrome extension.
And there are many advantages to running the VPN client as a Chrome extension. One of them is that, instead of encrypting all data, only data to and from your browser will be encrypted. This means, for example, that you’ll still be able to access resources on your local network such as a file server or a printer while being able to unblock websites on Google Chrome with the VPN extension.
RELATED READING: Top 5 Chrome Extensions Reviewed
But Isn’t Netflix Also Blocking VPNs?
In its efforts to enforce geographic restrictions, Netflix has been known to actively seek and block incoming connections that use a VPN. How do they do it? Well, there are several ways they can but, most of the time, they rely, once more, on the source IP address. Netflix is constantly running some reverse-engineering to find and log IP addresses of VPN servers. And through the years, they’ve accumulated blacklists on many popular VPNs.
In order to bypass this restriction, you need to carefully pick your VPN providers. Many of them regularly add servers or change their IP addresses. Some use virtual IP addresses that automatically change every so often. And VPN providers constantly invent new ways of obfuscating their connection, making them undetectable by the likes of Netflix.
A Brief History Of Netflix
When Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph decided to start Netflix back in 1997, they were actually starting an online DVD rental business, not a streaming service. And their rental business thrived and grew constantly for several years, passing the 4 million users mark in 2005.
2007 marked the start of a revolution–although no one realized it back then–when Netflix launched its movie streaming service. It was the beginning of a new era where people could rent movies and watch their right away on their computer. Gone were the days of waiting for the DVD to be delivered.
The following years saw Netflix entering partnerships with television set, game console, and media player manufacturers. The idea was to stream online content directly to each manufacturer’s platforms by installing a Netflix client app on it.
Today, Netflix is available on virtually every smart TV, media player, major game console, Android and iOS smartphone and tablet. And it seems like it won’t ever stop growing. Although official figures are not available, it is estimated that Netflix has now close to 120 million users worldwide. Netflix is now reaching users in 190 some countries with localized versions of the service available in many markets.
Netflix As A TV Content Producer
Since 2003, Netflix has also become a TV production company. It is no longer just a streaming company. Their foray into production is called Netflix Originals, which are TV shows and movies produced or co-produced by Netflix. Netflix Originals have an excellent reputation and are usually very successful.
Netflix Originals are often exclusively available on Netflix although some are available on broadcast TV. One example is Riverdale, which is currently in its second season on the CW. Among the best and most popular shows of recent years, many are Netflix Originals. Immensely popular Netflix Originals include shows such as Stranger Things, Orange Is The New Black, House of Cards, The Crown, and Arrested Development. And if you’re into superheroes, Marvel superhero series Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Punisher, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Defenders are also part of the Netflix’s Originals family.
Final Thoughts On Using A Chrome Extension To Unblock And Watch Netflix
Watching the American Netflix is something everyone outside the US wish they could do. And thanks to Virtual Private Networks, it is possible to bypass geographic restrictions the streaming service imposes. We’ve explained to you the why and the how of the geo-blocking and we’ve introduced the three best Chrome extensions to unblock the American Netflix.
Have you tried any of our recommend Chrome extensions?
Which VPN Chrome extension is your favourite? Or perhaps you’re using another extension to unblock and watch Netflix or other streaming services. What do you like most about it? Share your thoughts using the comments below.
If you need a VPN for a short while when traveling for example, you can get our top ranked VPN free of charge. NordVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. You will need to pay for the subscription, that’s a fact, but it allows full access for 30 days and then you cancel for a full refund. Their no-questions-asked cancellation policy lives up to its name.
