Is Netflix Available Worldwide?
Netflix has grown immensely since it launched, numbering almost 200 million subscribers according to the most recent data. It also launched its services in more and more countries over the years.
Considering that, is it safe to say that the service is available worldwide?
Maybe. We’ll answer that question more in-depth in this article. Just keep in mind we’ll have to make two important distinctions – Netflix the service, and the content on Netflix.
Is Netflix Available Worldwide?
Yes, Netflix has expanded to the point where you can call it a worldwide service. You can check this FAQ article on their site to see where the platform is available. So far, you can get Netflix in over 190 countries!
Sure, if you want to get really technical, Netflix isn’t exactly available worldwide. Its service isn’t operational in China, Crimea, North Korea, and Syria. But you can’t really fault them for that. Political issues are stopping them from launching in those regions. It’s very likely that if it weren’t for them, Netflix would have long been available in those countries too.
Is Netflix Content Available Worldwide?
This is a whole different story. Except for most original titles, a lot of content on Netflix isn’t available worldwide.
Basically, some shows and movies might be available in some countries and unavailable in others. For example, you can only watch Weeds in the US, Demon Slayer in Japan and India, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in the UK.
How do we know that?
We used StreamCatcher from ProPrivacy to check. It’s an online Netflix library checker that tells you where you can watch Netflix titles. Here’s an example of how a search result looks like:
Why Aren’t All Netflix Titles Available Worldwide?
Because Netflix uses geo-restrictions to make sure its shows and movies are only available in the countries it bought licensing rights for.
If the company only licensed a movie for the US, it will use geo-blocks to make sure only people in the US can watch it. Anyone else won’t be able to find it.
How Does Netflix Know What Country You Are from?
Your IP address tells the site everything it needs to know: what country you are from, what city you live in, who your ISP is, sometimes even what your ZIP code is. Overall, it’s plenty of information for Netflix to know what content you should be able to watch.
And Netflix sees your IP every single time you connect to it. It’s visible in your connection requests, which the site meticulously analyzes.
What’s the Best Way to Bypass Geo-Blocks on Netflix?
According to our tests, the most efficient way to unblock Netflix content and get an enjoyable streaming experience is to use a VPN – a service that hides your IP address. By doing that, it prevents Netflix from seeing your geo-location. Instead, it’ll only see the country the VPN server you’re using is in.
So you just need to use a server in a location where the title you want to watch is available. If you want to unblock a show that’s only on Netflix US and UK, you’ll have to use a US or UK VPN server.
IMPORTANT
Not every VPN can unblock Netflix, so you’ll have to be sure you use one that actually works. You can try out PrivateVPN or NordVPN (the services recommended by StreamCatcher). We tested those two and had no problem unblocking Netflix content.
Besides those providers, you can also check out ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost VPN. They all offer fast speeds, easy-to-use apps, and 24/7 access to Netflix.
If you know other VPN providers that work well with Netflix, please mention them in the comments. The same goes for VPNs that can’t unblock Netflix.
Unblocking FAQs
What follows are some common questions we got from our readers about unblocking Netflix. We also checked Reddit to see what else people wanted to learn about unblocking methods.
Can You Unblock Netflix with a Proxy?
Yes, that is doable. A proxy is similar to a VPN, as in it hides your IP address to stop Netflix (and other sites) from seeing your geo-location.
Just keep in mind that proxies don’t offer encryption. Or if they do, it’s pretty weak. That’s only an issue if you want to enjoy Internet privacy and data security on top of unblocking Netflix, though.
But don’t use free proxies. They often can’t unblock Netflix, use data caps, and have pretty slow speeds.
Can You Unblock Netflix with a Smart DNS?
Yep, that’s possible. Smart DNS services help you unblock sites like Netflix by tweaking your DNS settings, routing your traffic through a proxy server, and editing your DNS queries. The end result is Netflix not being able to see where you’re from.
A Smart DNS service doesn’t offer encryption, so privacy and security are off the table. They do offer faster speeds than VPNs most of the time, however.
But getting a stand-alone Smart DNS isn’t worth it in our opinion. Most VPN providers offer these services alongside their VPN. You get a much better deal that way.
Can You Unblock Netflix with Tor?
Maybe, we can’t say for sure. We were never able to do that, but we heard of people who did. So if you want to give it a try, go ahead.
But remember that if you do manage to unblock Netflix, you’ll get very slow speeds with Tor. We usually averaged around 2-3 Mbps, which is well below the recommended 5 Mbps for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K quality.
Did You Ever Had to Unblock Netflix Content?
Which movie or show was it? And how fast were you able to get it unblocked? Also, did you encounter any issues?
Go ahead and tell us about your experience in the comments below.
About the Author
Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.
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