How to Get American Netflix in Australia in 2024
Download and install a VPN app (I recommend ExpressVPN). Find an American server and connect to it, then open Netflix and enjoy U.S. content. You can try ExpressVPN for free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
It’s really not just you — pretty much the entire world is pissed at Netflix for having all the best shows in the U.S., especially when you compare said library to some of the other markets Netflix is available in. And I’ve been there myself. I binge watched the entire Breaking Bad show on Netflix in a couple of days, and I would definitely watch it again. Only, I can’t do that with Australian Netflix, because someone decided to make it unavailable.
The problem is a geoblock, and for that reason, I can’t rewatch Walter White d… Oops, almost spoiled it for you. Sorry. Get yourself U.S. Netflix from Australia and see for yourself.
- Best for Netflix
The thing is, there is a solution, and it’s actually easier than you think. You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to access American Netflix in Australia. There are a few options that can do this for you (ExpressVPN being the top streaming VPN and the best VPN for Netflix), and I’ll show you how.
Is it illegal to watch American Netflix in Australia?
No, it is not. You can use a VPN to watch American Netflix in Australia without any legal problems.How do I get American Netflix in Australia without a VPN?
You can’t get American Netflix in Australia without a VPN — proxies are not effective because Netflix’s servers will check and catch them very easily.How do I make my Netflix American?
If you are not physically in the U.S., the only way to get a U.S. IP address and American Netflix is to use a VPN. Connect to a server in the United States and you will have made your Netflix virtually American.Why does Netflix USA have more content than Australia?
For the most part, the reason is licensing — Netflix doesn’t have the license to stream some of its shows in Australia. The other big reason is that there are plenty of Australia-only streaming services like Stan, which have exclusive permission to stream certain shows.
How to Get American Netflix in Australia in 3 Easy Steps
The steps are fairly simple, even for people who aren’t that tech-savvy, so let’s get into it. I’ll use ExpressVPN (the best VPN) as an example to show you how to get U.S. Netflix in Australia.
1. Download and install ExpressVPN
Downloading ExpressVPN is rather simple. All you need to do is head to ExpressVPN’s website and click the “get ExpressVPN” button. Then, choose a subscription plan and download the install wizard. The installation process is simple — just follow the install wizard’s steps and you’ll have ExpressVPN up and running in no time.
2. Connect to a server in the U.S.
From ExpressVPN’s user interface, click the location picker — it’s a button with a three dots icon in the corner. You should now have a list of servers to choose from; use the search bar to find the USA. Once you’ve found it, click the location, then click the “on” button. That’s it — you should be connected.
3. Navigate to the Netflix website and log in to your account
Head to Netflix’s website, and in the top right corner, click the “sign in” button. Type in your login credentials and click “sign in.” You should now have access to the entire American Netflix library!
Why Can’t I Watch US Netflix in Australia?
Why? The answer to this is rather simple — geoblocking. And with Netflix, it’s a worldwide issue. Each location where the service is available has its own library, and the U.S. always gets the most popular movies and shows. Thanks to geoblocking, if you aren’t physically located in the U.S., you can’t access U.S. Netflix shows.
Geoblocking is there for a reason — it mostly has to do with licensing and regional agreements. There are some shows that Netflix doesn’t have the license to stream in certain markets, so they limit where certain shows are available. To add to this, some competitors like HBO Now or Stan, for example, have shows that they’d like to keep to themselves, so Netflix doesn’t stream them in certain markets.
Netflix AU vs Netflix US
Even though at one point the gap between Netflix U.S. vs Australia was immensely larger, the difference nowadays is not that big. Australian Netflix has about 5,150 shows available for you to watch, while American Netflix has over 5,800. This is certainly an improvement, but it could still be better (yes, Netflix, we want the entire library available everywhere, please).
The problem isn’t the number itself, but rather the fact that among those 650 shows are some of Netflix’s highest rated and most-viewed series, like Breaking Bad. That’s far from the only example, though, which is why many people resort to a VPN when they want to watch American Netflix in Australia.
What Makes a VPN Good for Watching US Netflix in Australia?
When you’re trying to figure out how to get American Netflix in Australia, there are a few things that should impact your choice of which VPN to go for. Let’s discuss them briefly, and then I’ll provide you with five of my favorite VPNs for American Netflix.
1. Ability to Bypass Netflix Proxy Error M7111-5059
The proxy error M7111-5059 is an error that Netflix throws out when it detects that you’re using a VPN or a proxy to access the server from a different location. A VPN that can bypass such an error is a must if you want access to the U.S. library of Netflix shows.
2. Large Selection of Server Locations, Including the US
You’ll need a server in the U.S. to get access to American Netflix, and fortunately most VPNs offer one. But a large selection of locations lets you virtually move to other locations too, which might come in handy.
3. Fast and Reliable Service
Streaming content, especially at higher resolution, requires more bandwidth and a reliable service in order to avoid things like buffering or resolution drops. Get a VPN that has fast and reliable service so you don’t have to deal with this.
The Best VPNs to Watch US Netflix in Australia
There are definitely a lot of options for a VPN provider, but when it comes to watching U.S. Netflix in Australia, these five are my favorites.
1. ExpressVPN
- Very fast & reliable service
- Great device compatibility
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Expensive
ExpressVPN takes the top spot for accessing U.S. Netflix, with locations all around the United States — Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and a few others. It’s also the fastest VPN out there, and has a very reliable connection, which comes in clutch for streaming Netflix shows. ExpressVPN also boasts excellent device and platform compatibility, so you can use it on almost any device you could own.
Check out ExpressVPN’s pricing here or read the full ExpressVPN review.
2. NordVPN
- Servers in 15 U.S. locations
- Double VPN functionality for added security
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Speeds sometimes inconsistent across servers
NordVPN is a fast VPN service with a ton of servers all around the U.S. Speeds over longer distances can sometimes be inconsistent, though, which is why it comes in second on the list. Thankfully, its proprietary NordLynx protocol should fix some of those speed issues, and it’s great for streaming in HD. The UI is simple to navigate, and you’ll be enjoying your favorite U.S. Netflix show in no time.
Check out NordVPN’s pricing here or read the full NordVPN review.
3. Windscribe
- Free
- Do-it-yourself plan maker
- No throttling or speed limits, even on the free plan
- Free plan comes with a 10GB data limit
If you don’t want to spend any money at all, Windscribe should be your prime choice. This is the best free VPN out there, and it comes with plenty of functionality, even for those of you who don’t want to spend a cent. It does, however, have a 10GB data cap on the free plan, which may end up not being enough. Plus, it has dedicated streaming servers (called Windflix), though they’re not available on the free plan.
Check out Windscribe’s free plan here or read the full Windscribe review.
4. Surfshark
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections
- Built-in ad blocker
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Requires a bit of trial and error to connect
Unless you’re going to get a monthly subscription, Surfshark is a solid and affordable choice for accessing U.S. Netflix in Australia. It gets you unlimited connections so you can stream shows on multiple devices at once. Plus, it has a built-in ad blocker, which comes in handy. Speeds are solid, but keep in mind that you might need to try a few different servers before you get one that unblocks Netflix.
Check out Surfshark’s pricing here or read the full Surfshark review.
5. CyberGhost
- Extremely affordable in the long run
- 11 server locations in the U.S., with 1,324 servers in total
- 45-days money-back guarantee, compared to the competition’s 30 days
- Some server locations are slower than others
“Extremely affordable” is an understatement — CyberGhost is dirt cheap when you compare it to its competitors, as long as you get a longer subscription up front. And if you don’t like it, a 45-day money-back guarantee is more than enough for you to try it out. The service has servers in 11 locations in the U.S., which should be enough for Netflix shows, and it performs fairly well overall. Well, in some locations, at least, but if you stick to them you’re good to go.
Check out CyberGhost’s pricing here or read the full CyberGhost review.
How Do I Get American Netflix in Australia for Free?
The general consensus on free VPNs is that most of them are bad. Many are plagued by things like data or bandwidth limits and unreliable servers that seldom work. Worst of all, most of them lack a no-logs policy, which means they can keep track of your internet traffic, and might even sell your data to advertisers or even cybercriminals.
A notable exception when it comes to getting American Netflix in Australia for free is Windscribe, which has a generous amount of data and is reliable and secure. The few other VPNs that you can trust are TunnelBear, ProtonVPN and Hide.me, which all have free versions (though Proton’s no longer lets you select an American server, instead choosing your location randomly).
An alternative is making use of the money-back guarantees that most VPNs offer — they either give you 30 days (or 45, in the case of CyberGhost) or offer a free trial so you can dip your toes and see whether it does the job for you. Once you’re done, get your money back and voilà, free American Netflix in Australia.
Oh, and please steer clear of proxies. Not only are they not safe (and any basic tracing service can find your real IP address), but you’ll get Netflix’s infamous proxy error M7111-5059 because, well, proxies can’t bypass Netflix’s geoblocks.
Conclusion
When all is said and done, the easiest way to get American Netflix in Australia is to opt for a VPN. While ExpressVPN is our number one recommendation, there are also some solid alternatives that might be a better option for some users.
What’s your favorite choice out of the aforementioned options? Do you go for the expensive, yet blazing-fast ExpressVPN, or do you go for one of the more affordable picks such as NordVPN, Surfshark or CyberGhost? Or maybe it’s Windscribe’s free plan that has you covered — let us know in the comments, and thank you for reading!
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