If you’re traveling abroad this summer, you’ll probably have a full agenda of sun and sightseeing. But if you get bored and flip on Netflix or Hulu, you might find yourself unable to catch your favorite shows or movies. And if you’re using a VPN to protect your Internet connection, you may not be able to stream videos at all. That’s because many streaming services enforce geo-restrictions and VPN blockers.
In this article, we’ll show you how to stream Netflix and Hulu while traveling, keep your Internet connection private, and stay safe even on unfamiliar and public WiFi networks.
Benefits of using a VPN while traveling
A virtual private network (VPN) is a basic online safety tool that you should consider using whenever you connect to the Internet. When connected to a VPN, your Internet traffic is encrypted between your device and the VPN service. This prevents your Internet service provider and potential hackers from monitoring your activity. It also masks your location, replacing your real IP address with that of the VPN server you’re connected to.
For these reasons, a VPN can be especially valuable for travelers. First of all, travelers are more likely to use untrusted WiFi networks, which can put you at risk of public WiFi attacks and monitoring(new window). Second, a VPN gives you a digital portal to your home country. Many news and entertainment sites restrict access to IP addresses from certain locations. You may end up locked out of information because of these blocks unless you connect to a VPN server in your home country. This includes Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and other streaming video services.
How to stream Netflix and Hulu while traveling
A VPN can help you access video streaming websites no matter where you are. Websites may block content for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it has to do with outright censorship because of a government order. Other times it has to do with commercial decisions or data privacy regulations(new window). A VPN allows you to bypass information censorship. Here’s how to stream sites like Netflix and Hulu no matter where you are in the world:
1. Get a Plus or Visionary subscription
The first step is to get a trustworthy VPN(new window) that offers access to video streaming websites. Proton VPN was developed by the same team of engineers that created Proton Mail(new window), the largest encrypted email company in the world.
Follow this link to get started using Proton VPN.
2. Buy a subscription to the streaming site
A VPN can help you bypass blocks while keeping your Internet traffic private and secure. But it can’t get you free stuff. Here’s where you can sign up for a Netflix subscription(new window) or a Hulu subscription(new window) if you don’t already have one.
3. Install Proton VPN
You can stream Netflix and Hulu securely using the Proton VPN applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. (Streaming on mobile devices is not yet available.)
Windows: https://protonvpn.com/download(new window)
For installation help, here’s the Windows support article(new window).
macOS: https://protonvpn.com/support/protonvpn-mac-vpn-application/(new window)
Linux: https://protonvpn.com/support/linux-vpn-tool/(new window)
4. Connect to a VPN server in the US
Once you’ve installed Proton VPN on your device and logged in to your new account, connect to any United States server marked with a “P” icon. This icon indicates a server is reserved exclusively for Plus and Visionary users. (Secure streaming is currently only available via US servers.)
You may find that some servers prevent you from streaming videos. If this happens, try connecting to another server. Typically, servers installed most recently are the most likely to function. You can find new server announcements on the Proton VPN Twitter page(new window).
If you still experience issues watching Netflix, please follow the troubleshooting instructions on our support page(new window).
You can also use Proton VPN to stream Disney+(new window), HBO Now(new window), and Amazon Prime Video.
Stay safe wherever your travels take you
Proton VPN is committed to protecting its users no matter what websites they choose to visit. Even if you decide to sign up for a Proton VPN free plan, you’ll still benefit from the same security and privacy safeguards included in our paid plans. As a community-supported VPN service, our mission is to increase access to a private, secure, and free Internet.
Best Regards,
The Proton VPN Team
You can follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest Proton VPN releases:
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To get a free Proton Mail encrypted email account, visit: proton.me/mail(new window)
