Netflix is an awesome streaming site, but the geo-blocking gets annoying fast. After all, you’re paying more or less the same price as people in other countries, so why do you get access to less content?
If you’re not sure what we’re talking about, go ahead and use StreamCatcher to cross-check the worldwide Netflix library. It’s an online service that tells you where Netflix titles are available. For example, if you look up the Home Alone series, you’ll see the movies are only available in Thailand and Hong Kong. Search for The Tudors, and you’ll see you can only watch the show in the US.
And it goes on and on.
Pretty unfair, we know, but Netflix doesn’t have a choice. They need to use geo-blocks to respect licensing agreements. Otherwise, they could end up in serious legal trouble (like getting sued).
Still, you probably want a way to unblock the content you’re technically paying for, right?
Well, if you google how to do unblock Netflix, you’ll find various solutions – using VPNs, proxies, Smart DNS services, and even VPSs. A lot of our readers have been asking us about using VPSs with Netflix recently, so we’ll take a closer look at that topic in this article.
First Things First – What Is a VPS?
VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. To keep it simple, it’s like a normal server, but instead of being a physical device, it’s virtual. To be exact, it’s a virtual instance that runs within a physical server.
So a VPS is basically a part of a whole physical server.
So Can You Unblock Netflix with a VPS?
In theory, you should be able to do that. Here’s why – a VPS hides your IP address from Netflix. It does that by sitting between you and the site, so Netflix thinks your traffic (which contains your IP) is coming from the VPS.
Basically, your entire connection will look like this:
You à VPS à Netflix
Because of that, Netflix will only see the VPS’ IP address. As long as you use a VPS in a country where the show or movie you want to watch is available, you should be able to unblock it. Netflix will think your geo-location matches the VPS’ location, so it will redirect you to the regional library matching the VPSs IP.
So if you use a British VPS, you’ll unblock the Netflix UK library.
Should You Use a VPS with Netflix?
It works, so why wouldn’t you?
Well, there are a few reasons why VPSs aren’t the most popular unblocking methods for Netflix:
1. They’re Not Exactly User-Friendly
If you were expecting to just download and install an app, and call it a day, we have bad news for you. Using a VPS is unfortunately not that simple.
Instead, you’ll have to get used to new things that can feel overwhelming:
- Using VM (Virtual Machine) software, more often than not on Linux.
- Using command lines.
- Learning how to use SSH (Secure Shell) apps to log into your VPS.
Besides that, you also have to update your VPS, and – at the very least – set up a firewall on it.
If you want to see a step-by-step example of what awaits you, go ahead and read this tutorial from Hostinger.
Overall, that’s a lot of hassle to deal with just to watch a few movies or TV shows on Netflix. It takes all the fun out of it, and almost makes you want to stop unblocking Netflix altogether.
2. They’re Not Very Cheap
If you’re on a tight budget, VPSs won’t be a viable unblocking method for you. Prices vary a lot from provider to provider, but you should expect to pay anywhere between $7-$8 to $20+ per month. Most low-cost plans come with capped bandwidth, though.
You’re already paying anywhere from $9 to $16 for the Netflix monthly subscription (or even more if you’re from a country where Netflix is more expensive, like Switzerland or Norway). Not to mention all the other monthly subscriptions you probably have (like Spotify, for instance) and your living costs.
Adding another big expense to all of that doesn’t seem like such a good idea (at least in our opinion).
3. Netflix Can Block Your VPS’ IP Address
Netflix is pretty aggressive when it comes to blocking VPNs and proxies. While you’re only using a VPS, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Netflix still sees that your traffic is coming from a data center, so it might think you’re using a VPN or proxy server with a dedicated IP address.
If that happens, you’ll start seeing this page every time you try to unblock Netflix with your VPS:
That’s the infamous Netflix proxy error. The only way to avoid seeing it is to regularly refresh your VPS’ IP address to avoid getting it blacklisted.
Getting a new IP is easier said than done, though. Some providers require you to create a new “droplet” (VPS). Others don’t offer you any solutions, so you have to buy a new VPS, which is hardly a good solution (plus, Netflix can always block it again).
The only convenient solution is to get a VPS with a residential IP. That way, Netflix won’t think your traffic is coming from a data center, but a residential ISP. Not many providers offer that, though. And those that do charge a hefty sum for it (starting at around $15 per month and easily going up to $50 per month).
What’s a Good VPS Alternative?
You’re much, much better off using a VPN. Here’s why:
- They’re easier to use – You just download and install a VPN app, use it to connect to a server (in the same country as the titles you want to watch), and you’re good to go!
- They’re cheaper – Monthly plans are still sometimes expensive, but long-term plans are often dirt cheap (between $2-3 and $5 per month).
- VPNs avoid detection better – VPN providers can afford to regularly refresh their servers’ IPs to avoid Netflix’s detection algorithms.
In Conclusion
In our opinion, a VPS isn’t an ideal way to unblock and watch Netflix. They’re too hard to use, and a bit expensive. VPNs are definitely better options.
How do you feel about this, though? Please let us know in the comments below.