Key Takeaways: How to Watch Netflix France
- Subscribe to a VPN Service: Subscribe to a reputable VPN provider and download the VPN’s app.
- Connect to a French Server: Open the VPN’s app and connect to a server in France.
- Launch Netflix: Open Netflix and log in to your account to start streaming.
Best VPNs to Watch Netflix France
- ExpressVPN — The best streaming VPN overall with great speeds and server spread.
- NordVPN — One of the fastest VPNs available with affordable plans
- Surfshark — Budget VPN with great streaming capabilities
Given French cinema’s well-earned reputation for excellence, it’s no surprise that film fans around the world are looking for a piece of it. If you’re a French film fan but are outside France, let us show you how to watch Netflix France from anywhere.
The French Netflix library is brimming with gems, from blockbusters and family favorites to the gritty, hard-hitting social realist dramas — like ‘The 400 Blows’ (1959) and ‘Divines’ (2016) — that France is renowned for.
Since Netflix content differs by country, the full French Netflix library is inaccessible outside France. The good news is that you can use a VPN like ExpressVPN to stream Netflix France securely. Let’s explore this further.
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02/16/2024 Facts checked by Igor Kurtz
We’ve rewritten this guide to include current information on the VPN providers we recommend for watching Netflix France and how to choose the best one for you.
How to Watch French Netflix in 3 Easy Steps
Though Netflix content is different in every country, regional restrictions don’t matter when you’re equipped with a reputable virtual private network (VPN) service and have a Netflix account.
A VPN lets you connect to servers in various countries, which changes your IP address to one in the country you’ve connected to. This makes it appear — at least virtually — as though you’re in that country instead of the one you’re physically in and allows you to bypass geoblocks. Here’s how to use a VPN to get a French IP address and watch Netflix France.
Using a VPN does not give you free access to Netflix. You still need to pay for a Netflix subscription to be able to use the service, regardless of whether you use a VPN.
- Subscribe to and Download a VPN
Pick a VPN service — ideally one with a 30-day money-back guarantee like ExpressVPN — and sign up for a plan on the provider’s website. Then, download the app from the website or the Google Play store (Android) or App Store (Apple devices).
- Connect to a French Server
Open the VPN’s app on your device and navigate to the server list. Select a French server and click “connect.”
- Launch Netflix
Open Netflix and pick a title to start streaming. If you encounter any difficulties, connect to a different French server and refresh the page.
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The Best VPNs to Access Netflix France
If you want a smooth experience when you access French Netflix or want to access other French content (like the French Amazon Prime Video library), you’ll need to opt for a tried-and-tested, fast and secure VPN like one of these providers.
1. ExpressVPN
the ideal VPN to access multiple Netflix libraries.
Pros:
- Strong streaming features
- Diverse country selection
- Very beginner-friendly
Cons:
- Expensive
ExpressVPN lets you connect to servers in a wide variety of locations, including several in France. This means you’ll be spoiled for choice in terms of the Netflix libraries you can stream when connected to the VPN.
In addition to boasting an impressive server selection, ExpressVPN is the most secure VPN provider of all the ones we’ve tested. The VPN has never experienced a server breach and has aced all independent security audits. It’s also a great choice for beginners, as detailed in our ExpressVPN review.
All this comes at a price, though. ExpressVPN’s best-value plan (12 months) is $6.66 per month — much higher than average in the VPN world. However, the 30-day money-back guarantee provides a safety net.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. NordVPN
Pros:
- Excellent speeds
- Inexpensive long-term plans
- User-friendly desktop app
Cons:
- Modest country selection
NordVPN is an alternative to ExpressVPN for getting a French IP address without breaking the bank. In terms of streaming performance, there’s very little to set NordVPN apart from ExpressVPN. NordVPN even edges slightly ahead in the speed department. As our best fast VPN recommendation, NordVPN shows the most consistent upload and download speeds.
Two reasons why ExpressVPN edges out NordVPN as our overall top VPN recommendation is that it’s easier to use and offers more locations to connect to. NordVPN’s server selection is decent, but the provider only covers 61 countries, whereas ExpressVPN covers 105. Check out our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN comparison for more on this.
However, we have to give kudos to NordVPN for its flexibility and its affordable long-term plans. You can get a two-year subscription for around $3.99 per month (the Essential plan), but you get more features with the slightly more expensive plans. Learn more about NordVPN in our NordVPN review and try it out with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Cheap 24-month plans
- Impressive country selection
Cons:
- High U.S. & U.K. latency
Though it hasn’t been around for as long, Surfshark has truly earned its stripes as a member of our “top three” club along with ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
If you check out its long-term plans (30-day money-back guarantee included), the first thing you’ll notice is that Surfshark is packed with features for a very low price. The Surfshark Starter 24-month plan costs around $2.29 per month and comes with an ad blocker and cookie pop-up blocker. You can upgrade for more features like antivirus protection and identity protection.
In addition to being dirt cheap and feature-rich, Surfshark is an easy-to-use service with stellar upload and download speeds. It does show high latency in the U.S. and the U.K., but its worldwide latency is good. You can find out more in our Surfshark review.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Netflix France
If you hadn’t heard of VPNs until now, it’s normal that you’d still be a bit confused as to why you need one for Netflix. Here are the top three reasons why a VPN is invaluable for streaming Netflix.
Netflix content isn’t the same everywhere. Netflix has a different content library in each country, and what’s available depends on licensing agreements. This means you can’t stream your home Netflix library outside of the country unless you use a VPN.
A VPN gives you a new IP address. A VPN can change your IP address to connect you to any Netflix library you want to access. For example, if you want to access Netflix France from abroad, you can connect to a French server to get a French IP address.
A VPN keeps you secure and anonymous while streaming. VPNs protect your data from ISPs, hackers and the like. This is especially important if you travel often and use public WiFi networks in places like airports, cafes or hotels.
How to Choose the Best VPN to Watch Netflix France
When you’re new to a certain type of software, it can be hard to know which providers are worth your while. Here are some things to look for in a VPN to watch Netflix France:
- French servers: Since you need a French IP address to watch Netflix France from outside France, make sure your chosen VPN has servers in France.
- Tight security: Do thorough research on any VPN you have your eye on — not every service is truly secure. Cloudwards regularly tests and evaluates a wide variety of VPNs, so check out those reviews if you need to know how secure a service is.
- No-logs policy: If a VPN has a no-logs policy, it means the provider doesn’t keep data on your browsing history, online activity, IP address or DNS queries.
- Fast: Speed is all-important when it comes to streaming with a VPN. Using a slow service is sure to result in lags and buffering.
- Easy to use: You don’t want to waste valuable streaming time trying to navigate a badly organized app. Pick a VPN with easy-to-use apps and a responsive customer support team.
The Best Free VPN for Watching French Netflix
Unfortunately, some free VPN services’ security and privacy policies are full of holes, which goes against the very grain of what a VPN is designed for. That said, some free VPNs are the exception and are perfectly private and secure. If you’re looking for a free service, we recommend Windscribe for streaming Netflix France.
Windscribe: The Best Free VPN to Stream Netflix France
Windscribe is the best free VPN for Netflix France because it’s secure and has a generous selection of free servers in diverse locations. There are two free servers in Paris, so you have a bit of leeway to play around and see which one works best for you. Furthermore, Windscribe made it into our best fast VPN roundup just behind NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark.
However, the 15GB data cap on Windscribe’s free plan — 2GB on signup, an additional 8GB when you confirm your email and an extra 5GB if you post on X (formerly Twitter) about Windscribe — means you won’t be able to stream for very long. Check out our Windscribe review to learn more.
Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees
Many VPN services don’t offer free trials but most offer money-back guarantees. This means there’s a grace period — typically 30 days, but this can vary — during which you can claim a full refund if you don’t want to continue with the service.
In our experience, most providers honor the money-back guarantee and issue a refund quickly, but some drag their feet. HideMyAss, for example, refunded us only after several months. Moreover, some VPNs are scams — learn more about this in our worst VPNs guide.
Final Thoughts
You can unblock French Netflix from anywhere and explore new TV shows and movies with a reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark or Windscribe. These reputable providers are also adept at keeping your data completely private and secure, offering you peace of mind when you’re not sure who could be snooping around.
Do you use a VPN to unblock Netflix or other streaming services and stay secure online? If so, what has your experience been like with that VPN? Let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading.
FAQ
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Yes, but the content library will change depending on the country you’re in. To access French Netflix like normal, connect to a VPN server in France.
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ExpressVPN is the best and most secure VPN for streaming Netflix France.
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Try switching to a different French server and refresh the browser. Sometimes you need to try a few different servers to find the one that works best.
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