As an international provider of on-demand Internet streaming media, Netflix has becoming more and more popular in recent years. Currently it’s available to viewers in many countries and locations, including North America, South America, New Zealand, Australia and a number of countries in Europe. If you are visiting China or staying in China, however, you can’t watch Netflix directly as you did in your home country.
Is Netflix Blocked in China?
China is known for blocking a lot of websites, such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter etc. However, the case with Netflix is a little bit different.
Netflix is not technically “blocked” in this way. Instead, Netflix’s geo-blocking technology restricts its service from operating in countries where it has no licensing agreements or hasn’t launched yet. This means when you try to access Netflix from China, Netflix can detect that you’re in an unsupported region and will block your access.
Example: Imagine you’re on vacation in China, and you open Netflix to continue watching your favorite series. Because Netflix uses geo-blocking, it detects your Chinese IP address and denies access to its content. The geo-blocking system prevents users from accessing certain content based on their geographic location. To Netflix, it’s as if you’ve left the supported zone entirely.
However, according to a recent report, around 30 million monthly users watch Netflix from countries where it doesn’t offer service. This includes around 22 million users in China. This is not a small number. How can those people watch Netflix in China?
How to Watch Netflix in China Using a VPN
The answer is using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). People use VPNs for different purpose: to bypass Internet blocking and censorship, to ensure security privacy when accessing the Internet and to bypass geo-blocking. For most Internet users in China, the purpose of using a VPN is to bypass content blocking by the so called Great Firewall of China so that they can access blocked contents such as YouTube, Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook, Google Maps, Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Google Maps etc. However, you can also use a VPN to bypass geo-blocking in China. By using a VPN service, you can hide your current location and pretend you are visiting Netflix from a location where its service covers, for example, the United States. In this way, Netflix will think you are really in the United States and thus allow you to watch.
Therefore, if you are in China and you want to watch Netflix, you can consider using a VPN service. There are many VPN providers out there, and you might even be able to find VPNs that you can use for free. However, for watching Netflix in China, we wouldn’t recommend using free VPNs for the following reasons:
- Many free VPN services are not secure or reliable.
- Most free VPN services will limit the speed and the amount of data you can use.
Instead, if you want to watch Netflix in China on a regular basis, you should consider using a reliable paid VPN service, which usually offers faster speed and unlimited usage. Some VPN services are really cheap. Most of them even offer VPN trials for you to test out their VPN services for free.
When you choose a VPN for watching Netflix in China, you need to consider the following:
- Does this VPN provider have servers located in the country where the shows I want to watch is based?
- Does this VPN offer fast enough speed to that I can have a smooth watching experience?
- Does this VPN is is accessible from China so that I can use its service uninterruptedly?
In fact, shopping for a good VPN service to be used in China is not an easy task, especially because the Great Firewall of China is known for blocking VPN services as well. At VPN-CHINA.COM, we test and monitor VPN services from China on a regular basis. Based on our real test results, we report which VPNs work best in China. Based on our test results, below are some VPN services that we recommend for watching Netflix in China:
Best VPNs for Watching Netflix in China:
Through years of testing and experience, these VPNs have stood out for their ability to bypass Chinese censorship in 2024:
1. ExpressVPN (Top Choice)
- Why it Works: ExpressVPN is known for its automatic obfuscation on all servers. This makes it particularly good at disguising VPN traffic so that it looks like regular internet traffic. With servers in nearby countries (e.g., Hong Kong, Japan), it ensures fast speeds and reliability for users in China.
- Starting Price: $6.67/month (with discounts for longer plans; offers 3 months free on a 12-month plan)
- Money Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Simultaneous Connections: 8 devices
Read our detailed ExpressVPN Review
2. NordVPN
- Why it Works: NordVPN’s obfuscation technology allows it to evade the Great Firewall by disguising VPN traffic. It’s one of the more robust options, providing a balance of security and speed with a large global server network.
- Starting Price: $3.29/month (with multi-year plan discounts available)
- Money Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Simultaneous Connections: 6 devices
3. VyprVPN
- Why it Works: VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon protocol scrambles data to defeat VPN blocking without sacrificing speed. This makes it a solid choice for users who want a reliable connection to bypass censorship.
- Starting Price: $5.00/month (with discounts for longer plans)
- Money Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Simultaneous Connections: 10 devices
Step-by-Step: Using a VPN to Watch Netflix in China
- Choose a VPN Provider: First, pick a reliable paid VPN service with servers in countries where Netflix is available (e.g., the U.S. for the American Netflix library). Some of the best VPNs for China include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill VPN due to their robust obfuscation technology, which hides the fact that you’re using a VPN from China’s restrictive censorship systems.Pro Tip: Avoid free VPNs. They often suffer from slow speeds, limited bandwidth, and weak security, making them unreliable for consistent streaming or for bypassing strict censorship.
- Install the VPN App: Once you’ve chosen a VPN, download and install the app on your device—this can be your laptop, phone, or tablet. VPN providers offer apps for all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.Example: If you’re using ExpressVPN, after installation, you will see a list of server locations. You’ll need to pick a location where Netflix is available (e.g., Los Angeles for the U.S. library). Most VPN apps have an intuitive location picker to help you select the server.
- Connect to a U.S. Server: To watch Netflix U.S. while in China, open your VPN app and connect to a U.S. server. It’s best to choose a server on the west coast (e.g., Los Angeles or San Francisco) because it’s geographically closer to China, which can result in faster connection speeds.
- Open Netflix: After you’ve connected to a VPN server in the U.S., open the Netflix app or go to the Netflix website. Netflix should now recognize you as being in the U.S., allowing you to access the American Netflix library as if you were back home.
- Enjoy Streaming: You can now stream content just as you would from the U.S. If you experience buffering or lag, you might want to switch to a different server within the U.S. that has less congestion or offers better performance.
Why Not All VPNs Work with Netflix
It’s important to note that Netflix actively works to block VPNs. As Netflix aims to enforce its content licensing agreements, it attempts to detect and block IP addresses associated with VPN servers. Therefore, not all VPNs are able to consistently bypass these blocks.
Example: Let’s say you use a low-quality or outdated VPN to connect to a U.S. server. You might successfully bypass the Great Firewall, but when you try to stream Netflix, you could get an error message like, “You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.” High-quality VPNs (like ExpressVPN) update their IP addresses regularly to avoid this issue.
What to Look for in a VPN for Watching Netflix in China
Choosing the right VPN is crucial for a smooth streaming experience. Consider the following factors:
- Obfuscation Technology: The VPN must use obfuscation to disguise the fact that you’re using a VPN. Without this, China’s Great Firewall can detect and block VPN traffic.
- Server Locations: Ensure the VPN has servers in countries where the Netflix library you want to access is available. Most users in China prefer servers in the U.S., UK, or Japan.
- Speed: Streaming requires fast internet. Look for VPNs that offer fast speeds and minimal slowdowns, especially during peak times or in heavily censored regions like China.
- Reliability in China: VPNs are regularly blocked in China, so it’s important to choose a VPN that is known to work well despite these restrictions. Regular testing and monitoring is key to identifying which VPNs are currently effective.
Practical Example: Using ExpressVPN in China
Let’s say you’ve installed ExpressVPN on your phone while preparing for a trip to China. After arriving, you want to watch a U.S. Netflix show. Here’s how you’d do it:
- Open the ExpressVPN app and select a U.S. server on the west coast.
- Connect to the server (it takes a few seconds).
- Open Netflix. Now, Netflix thinks you’re in the U.S., and you can stream your favorite content.
If you run into issues, like slow streaming, try switching to another U.S. server or clearing your browser’s cache to ensure Netflix doesn’t detect your previous location.
In conclusion, while Netflix is not officially available in China, using a reliable VPN with strong obfuscation capabilities allows users to bypass both Netflix’s geo-blocking and China’s censorship. The key is choosing a VPN that offers high-speed servers in the right locations and is specifically designed to work in China’s restrictive environment.
By following these steps and selecting the right VPN, you can enjoy your Netflix library in China with minimal hassle, ensuring smooth streaming and access to the shows you love.