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Tina Popielarczyk

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Aug 2, 2024, 9:52:12 AM8/2/24

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Looking for a VPN app for my iPad, so that I can watch Netflix or other US streaming apps in Europe. Any real world experience and recommendations?
Thanks in advance.
Don't need flames or moral judgments about why I want to watch Netflix (or any other streaming app) while in Europe. I am going to be there for 6 weeks and I be won't visiting tourist sites in the late night and would like to catch up on my shows.

Alternatively, can you just download before leaving US? It saves on streaming speeds, and (possibly) eating up someone else's monthly wifi allotment. (When staying in a short let apartment, this used to be a problem).

I had Hulu and Netflix on my phone and tablet if I had internet access I could watch both of them in France, Austria and Germany. I also downloaded a few shows so I could watch off line. Like you said sometimes in the evening before going to sleep you might like to watch a something.

I have my own VPN setup at home. (It's fairly easy if you are a techie.) Consider asking someone to set up a home VPN for you before you leave. If you have to pay someone to do it, at least you won't have to pay for the VPN, and you will not have to rely on a third party for VPN support. Some home routers already support a VPN. If not, a spare router that supports VPN can be set up with VPN and can be added to your home network. Again, I assume the average person is not tech savvy enough to do this so that you'd need to have someone set it up for you. It wouldn't be worth paying $500 to have it set up, but it might be worth $100 - or buy dinner for a tech savvy friend who does it for you.

Me too. I am currently in Spain and watching Netflix on my iPad most nights. My threshold for dubbed episodes of Bonanza, CSI, Rizzoli and Isles and Crossing Jordan is pretty low and the only English language options are CNN and BBC Global.

I watch a lot of travel vloggers and they all pitch Surfshark (obviously because they are paid to do so). Each vlogger also offers a discount code. Try finding one at Paul Lucas Winging It, for example.

Notwithstanding Netflix's machinations over password sharing, a VPN is not going to be necessary to stream Netflix in Europe. The VPN will certainly allow you to get the US Netflix catalog and your saved list uninterrupted. Plus there are US only streaming services that a VPN would work for.

But the problem with streaming in the US is that the market is structured to the point that every little production house believes their catalog is worth being paid for through their own streaming service and are stingy with licensing in the US. It truly becomes a matter of quantity over quality. The US Netflix catalog just blows. On the other hand the European Netflix catalog is superior with content not licensed to Netflix in the US, is licensed to Netflix in Europe.

My NetFlix works fine in Europe. Watched it last night. Sure, what's available is a bit different, but not much, and it gives me the chance to see things not available in the US. So what could be a restriction can also be a benefit.

We were in Europe twice last year for one month each time (Germany and England) and found that most of our streaming services did not allow us to access what we wanted to watch on our iPhones and iPads. After some online research we chose NordVPN, and it worked well. It allows for multiple devises to be connected at the same time (although we hardly ever used that feature), and had a similar annual cost to the other vpn services. Also the download speed was very similar to that observed without using the vpn.

Using a VPN does not technically violate their terms of service. But legally, they are not allowed to show certain content outside of the country where you have an account, so if you are using a VPN to do that, you would be violating their TOS.

I tried to find the service contract on line, but no luck. I did find hundreds of articles about how to watch content that is not being offered .... which I take to mean, take what isn't being paid for (because neither you, nor NetFlix could possibly afford to buy world wide rights to all the copyrighted material on NetFlix).

And I did find where NetFlix has no problem with VPN that is not set up to fool the system, in which case you can watch programming for which NetFlix owns the rights, but not programming for which NetFlix doesn't actually own the rights.

Yeah, it's like discussing driving 57mph in a 55mph zone. Technically illegal but not something anyone, even law enforcement, is really worried about. Netflix and the companies that license their content to Netflix don't care if a US Netflix subscriber is watching content from their US Netflix account while on vacation in Europe. They don't want people who live in other countries watching it - they want those people to pay to watch via local licensing agreements.

Oh geez. NetFlix may have a ToS against the use of VPNs and proxy servers, but its not a matter of legality. It is a matter of Netflix's licensing agreements with the owners of properties meaning the movies or tv shows are supposed to be offered to certain audiences or countries.

I lived in Liberia, West Africa for two years in the recent past. I watched Netflix almost every day, no VPN. No problem with initial sign-in (I remained signed-in), just a slight difference in what was available to view (for example, I wasn't able to watch The Great British Baking Show, but no problem accessing Seinfeld). Have a great stay!

A US Netflix account works fine in Europe. The lineup is a little different but not drastically different. All the really good stuff us there and you can watch some pretty good content that isn't available in the US.

Netflix has cracked down on the use of VPN's and other location hiders and the software will recognise when one is in use. Netflix will work abroad (I don't know about Hulu) but you won't see the same films and shows that you'll see in your home country due to licensing isues.

I had this same experience last year, but while we lived in Italy, Unblock-US worked. I also found that with any VPN (usually I use HideMyAss on my laptop and hook up to a TV using an HDMI cable) I could stream CBS and PBS.

If you have internet service at home, you can always set up a VPN at home (hire someone or have a tech-savvy friend do it). This is something I did myself and know how to do - I'm assuming you wouldn't. Yes, it would cost you a one-time fee if you have to pay someone, but there would be no monthly fee, and when you connect to it from anywhere you are connecting to your own home network. Netflix and Hulu aren't going to block you on that.

I have been able to use Netflix (via their mobile app) in every country I have visited, even third-world countries; never been blocked. They only catch is that you are limited to Netflix's own shows. The Hollywood studio movies don't show up in the choices.

Alan, For those of us who travel for many weeks, it can be a great pleasure to spend an evening in with a home cooked dinner and a movie. We rent apartments often and cook in about half the time. After an 8-to-10 hour day of exploring and discovery in a foreign language, having my feet up with a glass of wine and a movie hits the spot!

I usually keep my mouth shut when I hear the "You shouldn't be in your hotel room anyway!" thing. I'm not a night owl. When traveling I like to have dinner in or out, maybe go for a walk, and then relax in a hotel watching a movie or a couple TV shows I like.

Don't feel bad. I watch TV shows and movies while traveling abroad as well. If I'm on a train with beautiful scenery, I'll usually look out the window, but often the scenery is nothing special, so I'll sometimes watch something on my phone. If I get back to my hotel early enough in the evening I'll also watch something but usually I am getting back late enough that I just want to get to bed.

I think it should be "to each his/her own" in what they do during their down time. In my most recent trip, I was traveling for 7 months. I spent a total of 4 months in the U.K., Scotland, and Ireland, and 90 days spread between Germany, Hungary, Poland, Belgium and France. I rented apartments as my stays were generally a week or more with a few 2 or 3 nighters. I enjoyed having entertainment in the evenings after long days of being out or on the few occasions I was in "sight-see" overload mode. I did not have any fancy vpn or back door things, just used my travel laptop and my existing Netflix and Hulu accounts. As previously noted I was unable to use HBO Now.

With young children in tow my wife and I have little choice but to spend the evenings in whilst they're asleep. During such times we often do what the locals do (much advocated here on RS) and watch Netflix/browse the internet.

The point is that you don't need a VPN to access Netflix, possibly Hulu as well. If you're in a country served by Netflix you can use the service without relying on a VPN. You can log into your account but you won't be able to see or access those films and TV shows that are not licensed for broadcast in the country you're in. I've been able to use Netflix in all the countries I've been to recently, with or without my VPN being on (I use HMA). What I can't do is set my VPN to a UK address and then try to view the Netflix offerings that are available in the UK.

Of course, no one goes to Europe just to watch Netflix or Hulu. Jet lag can do weird things, and being awake at 3 am with nothing on TV in English except for BBC news is certainly a good reason to use Netflix and/or Hulu. Plus, if you've got a child or teen, sometimes a familiar movie or TV show can be a perfect way to keep the peace after they've been dragged through cathedrals or art galleries all day.

As far as secret VPNS, I think the OP might want to try a tech forum, I"m sure they're out there. My friend in Canada finally gave up as Netflix blocked all the VPNS he was trying to use to get the USA content.

Again, the best solution (not always cheapest for some of you if you have to pay someone) is setting up a VPN on your home network. Netflix can't block you if they think you are on your home network. Yes, I know some of you don't want to mess with it personally. Find a tech friend or relative who can.