Is it illegal to stream Netflix with a VPN

However, one of the primary uses of VPNs today is to unblock content only in a specific region from popular streaming sites like Netflix.

With a quality VPN, users can access geo-locked content through their servers nearly anywhere in the world. Suppose a movie or TV show you want is only available to Netflix viewers in a particular region. In that case, you can connect with a VPN to pass your traffic through their server in that country and gain access to that content.

For example, NordVPN works with Netflix, but the streaming service may frown upon using a VPN to stream US-only content like Mystic Pizza.

A VPN changes the IP address, which the streaming sites use to identify a user's location. The user gets a new IP address, making it seem like they are browsing from another place. If a user wants to access Netflix US, they'll have to connect to a US server to receive a US IP address. That means the user can watch Mystic Pizza with a VPN even if it's not available in their region.

But is using a VPN to access geo-blocked content an illegal practice? Can Netflix ban an account for using a VPN? Does Netflix ban VPN users?

Let's find out.

Is Streaming Netflix with a VPN Illegal?

There's no specific law that would make streaming Netflix with a VPN an illegal practice. However, some countries have laws that block VPNs, like Iran and China.

There are no laws that ban VPNs in most other countries, and if you're a Netflix subscriber, you're not breaking any laws accessing the streaming service.

But Netflix does not condone the use of VPNs to access content on their platform. Netflix has firewalls that detect and block VPNs and can, therefore, block users who use VPNs.

Can Netflix Bans Users?

Users can get in trouble with Netflix for using a VPN to access content not available in their region.

According to Netflix, you're only supposed to watch content available in the country you have established your account. These rules are in place because of the license, copyright, and commercial agreements between Netflix and content producers.

When signing up for the Netflix service, users agree not to alter or use other automated means to access the service. This means that Netflix can block you from accessing the content by using a VPN to get around geographic locations on content.

Also, if you go through Netflix's help page, you will find a section that talks about VPN use. The paragraph states Netflix has no way to determine if a VPN is being used for legitimate purposes. Their suggestion is to disable any VPN or proxy when using their service.

So, it's clear Netflix does not allow the use of VPNs on their platform. However, Netflix will not ban or cancel an account for using a VPN. If their firewalls detect you are using a VPN, they will block the IP address, meaning you won't access the content.

Why Netflix Blocks VPNs

As we have seen, people use VPN with Netflix to watch content not available in their region. But Netflix does not own all the content on their platform. Most of the content is licensed by studios and content creators.

So, for Netflix to stream this content in a particular country or region, they have to strike a deal with the content owners. The content you want might be licensed for the US audience only and is, therefore, not available in your region.

But only a reliable VPN can get around the geographical blocks, allowing the user to stream the content, anyway. Netflix has an agreement with studios and content creators to stop this practice.

Final Thoughts

Using a VPN is clearly against Netflix's terms and conditions, but the risk is minimal. The streaming platform has a system that identifies and blocks VPNs, but Netflix will never ban a paying user. There are no laws that prohibit the use of VPNs. All you need is a quality Premium VPN service, and you can watch geo-blocked content on Netflix with ease.