How to Watch American Netflix on Apple TV | Updated 2024

To watch Netflix on your Apple TV, you'll need to download the Netflix app and sign in with your account — simple as that. However, Netflix US, with its extensive library, is only accessible from the US.

While you can technically use a VPN to access Netflix US from abroad, this would go against Netflix’s Terms of Service and could infringe on copyright. No one can tell what you do online when you use a VPN, which means it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re abiding by the rules.

If you’re in the US and want to ensure Netflix and Apple don’t track your online activity, my top recommendation for private streaming sessions is ExpressVPN. It offers robust security features and excellent speeds to watch your favorite shows in HD without interruptions. Better yet, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editors' Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Best VPNs for Watching Netflix US on Apple TV in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds for the Best Streaming Experience

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested July 2024

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

You need fast speeds for high-quality streaming, which you’ll get with ExpressVPN. While in the US, I tested a couple of US servers and got an average download speed of 26.64 Mbps. This was only an 8% drop from my base of 28.9 Mbps. Generally speaking, most VPNs drop your speed by up to 20%. The consistently fast server speeds allowed me to watch shows like The Borgias in 4K HDR quality, with no buffering on my Netflix US account.

With fast connection speeds on ExpressVPN’s US servers, you’ll be able to watch in HD and avoid buffering

ExpressVPN has thousands of servers worldwide and over 24 server locations in the US alone. The more servers there are, the less load or crowding on each server (which means faster speeds). While in the US, I tested 15 different US server locations, and my connections were always stable.

To watch Netflix US on your Apple TV with ExpressVPN, you can set it up on your router. There are detailed guides for all supported routers on its website that will walk you through the process effortlessly. But if you want to skip the manual configuration, you can just buy a pre-configured ExpressVPN router and plug it into your network.

ExpressVPN also offers MediaStreamer — a Smart DNS service that is great for when you don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up the VPN on your router. You can get it directly configured on devices that don’t support VPN apps (like Apple TV) — and then you can watch Netflix US (from the US) in no time.

The only slightly negative thing I could say about ExpressVPN is that it’s a little pricier than the other VPNs on this list (a long-term plan costs around $6.67/month). The prices change depending on the length of the plan you choose (monthly or yearly subscription). Sometimes there are offers on its long-term plans, where you can receive a pretty good discount of up to 49%.

The upside is that ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out for yourself at no risk. It’s super easy to get your money back if you're not satisfied. Simply reach out to customer support via 24/7 live chat or email, and they’ll walk you through it. Once your refund is processed, you’ll have your money back in a few days.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Watching Netflix US Without Interruptions

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost’s large global network includes Netflix US streaming-optimized servers to watch Netflix US reliably in great quality. You can easily find them in the "For streaming” menu on its app. When I tested these servers from the US, I was able to instantly access my Netflix US library.

While in the US, you can choose from any of CyberGhost’s optimized servers for Netflix US

Apple TV doesn’t support VPN software, but similar to ExpressVPN, CyberGhost offers a Smart DNS feature that you can configure on it. To watch Netflix US on your Apple TV, simply log in to your account, head to "My Smart DNS", and pick the optimized "Netflix US address” DNS. Then choose your Apple TV from the list of devices.

CyberGhost’s servers had slower connection speeds compared with ExpressVPN. The average download speed while connected to 2 of its US servers (from the US) was 22 Mbps — a 34% speed drop from my regular internet connection. The slow speeds were slightly concerning, but I’m pleased to say that this didn’t seem to cause any connection issues or buffering when I was streaming The Borgias on my Netflix US account. I was still able to watch all the episodes in HD.

There are a number of subscriptions to choose from, either monthly or yearly. The cheapest plan costs $2.19/month. There is also an option to add CyberGhost’s Security Suite (Antivirus and Security Updater) at an additional, discounted cost.

CyberGhost offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on all its long-term plans (yearly plan and above) so you can try it out for yourself. If you’re not satisfied, you can simply request a refund. To do so, I recommend using the 24/7 live chat because it's the easiest and fastest way of contacting the support team.

3. Private Internet Access — Servers in All US States to Reliably Watch Netflix US From the Country

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

PIA has servers across 53 US locations, so no matter where in the US you are, you can watch Netflix US on your Apple TV in HD without interruptions. While in the US, I tested some of these servers and was impressed with how quickly I could access my Netflix US library. I also tried out the US West and US East Streaming Optimized servers, which worked well too. However, unlike CyberGhosts’s dedicated servers, PIA’s are not dedicated to specific streaming sites.

While in the US, I ran some speed tests on the US servers. Although the results weren’t as good as ExpressVPN, I could still watch The Borgias in HD quality on most of the servers. I got an average of 24.48 Mbps, which was a 16% drop from my base speed.

When I connected to some of the regular US servers from the US, however, I occasionally ran into the Netflix proxy error message. If you see the proxy error message, don’t worry — you can quickly rectify this by choosing a different PIA server to connect to, which takes about a second or 2.

PIA has some reasonably priced plans starting from $2.19/month. I’d recommend going for one of the longer-term plans, as they give the best value for money and they come with the same features as the short-term ones.

All of PIA’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free before you decide if it’s right for you. To get a refund, you’ll just need to contact customer support. Once it’s been processed, you’ll have your money back in your account within a few days.

4. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Device Connections for Streaming Netflix US on All Your Devices

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ HBO Max Hulu

BBC iPlayer More

Try IPVanish VPN >

www.ipvanish.com

IPVanish is one of the only VPNs that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can use it on as many devices as you like, under 1 account. This is great for big families or if you just want to share your account with some friends. With IPVanish, you can watch your favorite Netflix US titles on your Apple TV and all your other devices without having to disconnect any of them.

The platform is user-friendly and offers adjustable configurations to connect you with the most appropriate server for your requirements. I recommend sorting the servers by country (United States), followed by ping (lower values are preferable), and lastly by load (the lower, the better as well). By applying these filters, you will be linked to the US server with the quickest connection speeds, allowing you to prevent buffering and lag when streaming Netflix US from the US.

With over 20 server locations in the US, IPVanish makes it easy to watch Netflix US without interruptions. While in the US, I tested all server locations and was impressed that every single server worked well with the US Netflix library. I watched episode after episode of All American: Homecoming with no delays or buffering. I was quite pleased with the speeds too — when I connected to the San Jose server in the US, my download speed only dropped by about 10%.

IPVanish’s plans come at a reasonable price, and you can choose between the monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan. Depending on the current offers, you can save up to 83%. The lowest costing plan is priced at $2.19/month.

The downside to IPVanish is that its 30-day money-back guarantee is only available with its yearly plan. So if you’d like to try it risk-free, you’ll need to sign up for that specific plan (you’ll pay for one year upfront). If you’re still not happy with IPVanish after your purchase, you can ask for a refund.

5. PrivateVPN – Intuitive Apps That Are Super Easy to Use for Watching Netflix US

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try PrivateVPN >

www.privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN delivers easy-to-use apps for an array of devices. When I tried it on my Windows machine, I was impressed by its efficient performance. The software comes with two distinct interfaces: an Advanced View for customizing settings and a Simple View for easy server selection. Connecting to a server in the US is remarkably fast and hassle-free when you’re in the US; simply pick one from the list and you'll be online securely in no time. Additionally, you can use the app on your iPhone or iPad to AirPlay content from Netflix US to your Apple TV.

While in the US, I ran some speed tests and was pleased with how fast the PrivateVPN’s US servers were. The Atlanta server, in particular, gave me some good speeds — my download speed only dropped by about 29% compared with my regular connection.

With only a few hundred servers around the world, PrivateVPN’s network is smaller than that of the other VPNs mentioned. In saying that, there are still more than 10 US servers you can connect to in order to watch Netflix US while in the US. The servers that worked for me were Los Angeles and New York — I streamed All American: Homecoming in HD with little to no buffering.

PrivateVPN currently has yealy and monthly subscription plans, with prices starting as low as $2/month.

All of PrivateVPN’s plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can see if it’s right for you. If you’re not 100% satisfied with it, getting a refund is super easy.

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to strict testing methodology.

Where Can I Watch Netflix Online?

You can watch Netflix in over 190 countries, so it’s easier to list locations where Netflix isn’t available — China, Crimea, North Korea, Russia, and Syria.

However, due to licensing restrictions, Netflix restricts some of its content depending on which country you’re accessing it from. This is referred to as geoblocking. The reason why you’re unable to watch American content on Netflix is that the US Netflix library is geoblocked to people outside of America.

For example, if you’re trying to watch Netflix US content from Australia, the platform will pick up your location by looking at your IP address and, therefore, won’t grant you that access. Instead, you’ll come across this error message:

You can’t view Netflix US library when you’re abroad

Note: Theoretically, you could use a VPN to obtain a US IP address while you are in another location. However, this may violate Netflix’s terms and conditions and could potentially be viewed as copyright infringement.

FAQs on Watching Netflix US on Apple TV With a VPN

Will Netflix allow me to stream its content while I’m using a VPN?

Most likely, yes. Netflix has a policy against the use of VPNs to circumvent geo-restrictions, as it violates their content licensing agreements. However, if you are already in the US and you use a VPN for security reasons but still connect to a US server, in most cases, you should be able to access US Netflix content securely without any issues.

Do I need a US payment method for US Netflix?

If your Netflix account is set to the US, you’ll need a US payment method for it. But there’s an alternative to the regular credit card payment — paying in gift cards. These gift cards need to be in USD and can be bought online or in-store (if you’re in the US). You can then use them on your Netflix account as you usually would for gift cards.

Note that if you’re traveling or staying abroad for longer periods, you’ll still be paying for Netflix with your set US payment method. However, your content library will differ, and you’ll see titles that are available in the country you’re currently in.

Can I use a free VPN to access Netflix US?

It’s possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The reason why premium VPNs charge for their product is that they need money and resources to run their software and services. This is what makes them safe and reliable.

100% free VPNs can be very unsafe. They may save you the cost but will often compromise your privacy and safety by selling your data and personal information to whoever’s willing to pay the most for it. This is how they make money. Plus, their limited number of servers most likely won’t work that well for Netflix US, meaning more server loads and slower connection speeds. Not to mention that you’ll almost always see the proxy error message.

Securely Watch Netflix US on Apple TV

If you wish to enjoy your beloved Netflix US shows from the US without worrying about streaming sites tracking your online activity, a top-notch VPN is essential. All VPNs on my list offer robust security features and fast speeds for buffer-free streaming.

After extensive testing of various VPNs, my top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It comes with military-grade encryption to stream Netflix US with peace of mind while in the US. The best thing is that you can test ExpressVPN risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not too happy with it, don’t stress — just get in touch with customer support to request a refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching Netflix US on Apple TV are...

Rank

Provider

Our Score

Discount

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1

9.9 /10

9.9 Our Score

Save 49%!

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2

9.7 /10

9.7 Our Score

Save 83%!

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3

9.5 /10

9.5 Our Score

Save 82%!

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4

9.2 /10

9.2 Our Score

Save 83%!

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5

9.2 /10

9.2 Our Score

Save 85%!

Find Out More

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to strict testing methodology.