Do VPNs Work with Streaming Services? (Yes but Not All)

A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a must-have service for all internet users. It protects you from all the risks associated with using the World Wide Web. For instance, it protects you from cyber-attacks by masking and shielding your IP address from cybercriminals.

Also, with a reliable and robust VPN service, you can bypass geo-blocks, censorships and prevent bandwidth throttling. It can also hide your identity from government spies and protect you from legal actions.

But no matter how great these virtual private networks are, they may not help you gain access to all the streaming services on the Internet. Some movie streaming networks like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix are always on high alert against VPNs. These services have placed limitations that may work against virtual private networks and prevent them from accessing their services. That is why you may find it challenging to access a TV show in your country while others in another country can access it.

But don’t worry; there is an easy way to work around those restrictions preventing you from enjoying your favorite TV Shows. What’s that? I hear you. It’s VPN. Keep reading as we explore it for you.

Why Use VPN for Streaming Services?

The internet is open for everyone to use, but when it comes to private services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, there’re some restrictions to expect. These streaming services you find on the internet operate under contracts. That’s why they can feature some TV shows and movies for residents of a particular country but restrict others from accessing them.

So, what can you do about it? There’s no official way to work around this matter. This is because if a streaming service like Netflix is not allowed to stream some content in the country where you live, there’s nothing anyone, even the company, can do about it.

However, if you want to try at your own risk, you’ll need a solid and reliable VPN service to break down the barriers. That’s because there’s no way Netflix can stream all the contents they have all over the world. They must stand by the contractual agreements they have with the authorities pursuant to their business in any country.

Why is Amazon Prime Video and Netflix Strict on VPNs?

All the contents you watch on these streaming services are copyrighted. A company like Netflix must ensure that copyright holders are not exploited in any way. That’s why they placed bans against VPN services on all their servers. Netflix’s detection algorithm is so capable of detecting and blacklisting thousands of IP blocks automatically.

Amazon Prime Video is also strict with its restrictions on virtual private networks. The company did it to stop unauthorized access to its contents, especially by users trying to stream contents blocked in their countries.

If Amazon Prime Video or Netflix allows free access to all their content, they may face legal actions for streaming some content in some countries.

How does Amazon and Netflix Ban VPNs

This may seem complicated, but it’s really simple. These streaming services often detect suspicious IP addresses and ban them from accessing their contents.

VPN service providers usually provide a particular IP address to their users, not minding how many they are. If the users try to access these streaming services with the VPN service’s IP address, it raises a red flag to the detection algorithms in their servers. Once they detect that the IP address is from a VPN service provider, they’ll automatically block it.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have network monitoring tools that detect unauthorized access to their contents. If these companies identify a particular IP address as a VPN IP, they’ll ban it from their servers. This is why many VPN services are not ideal for certain activities online. You must always be on the lookout for a strong and reliable provider.

How Do I choose the best VPN to use for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix? 

There’re many VPN service providers out there, but unfortunately, Amazon and Netflix constantly block them. The good news is that you can still find some strong ones to use, especially those who have servers all over the world.

So, that’s the first factor to consider when selecting a VPN service to use on Amazon and Netflix. But don’t subscribe for a lifetime because, whilst these streaming giants may not detect them now, it may change in the nearest future.

Some VPNs may still be allowing Netflix and Amazon access because they’re not yet detected. Once the streaming companies identify their IP addresses as VPNs, they’ll block them. So, look out for VPNs that are flexible in their subscription plans. If they even offer a money-back guarantee, you can try them out.

For instance, some of the popular ones right now include ExpressVPN, PureVPN, NordVPN, SurfShark, etc. All these services are strong and reliable and can give you access to blocked content on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

Can you use a VPN with Amazon Prime Video or Netflix?

Whether we love it or not, streaming services will never open their servers to VPN service providers. Companies like Amazon and Netflix have measures in place to detect and block IP addresses associated with VPN services.

This is why it’s difficult to tell you that any particular VPN service is the best for streaming on Amazon or Netflix. The only thing that makes it possible for them to even access content for some time is if they have a limited number of users trying to access these streaming services all the time. This will keep them off the radar of the detection algorithms of companies like Netflix.

Also, we believe that these VPN services also have some tricks to mask their IP addresses from showing up as belonging to VPN services.

So, we can’t tell you the one to choose for lifetime access because it’s not possible. Sometimes, some VPN services may work on Netflix or Amazon when you’re using a web browser but not on its mobile app.

How do I set up a VPN to access Netflix or Amazon Prime Video?

Setting up your VPN to access Netflix or Amazon is not a complex process.  Many of the services have made it so simple that you can do everything through their apps. Also, many of them have both Firefox and Chrome plugins that enable an easy switch from VPN to your everyday browsing.

Moreover, every good VPN service provider equips its users with technical support on using the service. So, once you subscribe, you can easily follow the provider’s how-to guide to access your favorite streaming service.

For instance, a service like PureVPN promises four-minute access to the two streaming giants. So, it’s clear that they’ve simplified the process for their users.

What is the best VPN service for Amazon Prime Video and Netflix

When it comes to deciding on the best VPN service for Amazon and Netflix, it all depends on what you want. Some of the factors to look out for in any company are as follows:

• The network must be fast

If the speed of the VPN network is slow, you can’t enjoy action movies in HD. That’s why you must look out for a VPN service that is fast and reliable. A simple indication is if the VPN service has servers located all over the world, especially in your country of residence.

• The VPN security must be strong

Instead of being exposed online because of weak encryption by your VPN providers, it’s best to search for secure services. If a VPN service provider is using weak encryption to protect your IP address, cybercriminals can still hack their network to get your real information. So check the VPN protocol to know if they’re using the current and secure.

• No logs policy

While considering the VPN service providers to use for your Netflix and Amazon Prime Video adventure, make sure that there’s a “no-log policy” in place. This means that the providers won’t collect any information that passes through the VPN network.

Conclusion

While there’re many VPN services out there in the industry, you can’t use all of them for Netflix and Amazon. Some can be fast but may log your information and sell your data. There’re others that may be affordable, but the protocol they’re using is not secure enough to protect the users. Moreover, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have put up measures to mitigate illegal streaming of copyrighted content. So, it may be difficult to use any VPN service on them.

But that doesn’t mean you can try with some of the popular eons like ExpressVPN, PureVPN, SurfShark, NordVPN, etc. But remember, don’t go for a lifetime subscription if you’re using your VPN service just for streaming on Netflix. The IP address may work today and fail tomorrow.

Therefore, start with the popular ones and use them while they’re still off the radar of Netflix and Amazon.