Best VPN For Netflix Sweden: Unblock Swedish Netflix, Watch From Anywhere

Netflix Sweden offers plenty of exclusive Scandinavian content, but without a VPN, you won’t be able to stream any of it outside the country. This is due to geoblocking, an obnoxious method of sectioning off the Internet according to geographic boundaries. We’ll teach you how to spoof a Swedish IP address to unlock your favorite content anywhere in the world.

Netflix is a great way to watch unlimited TV and movie content on demand and in high definition. It’s known the world over not only as a streaming service, but also as a producer of high quality shows like Narcos, Orange is the New Black, Jessica Jones, and Altered Carbon.

However, there are limitations to how much content is available on Netflix. Lovers of Scandinavian crime dramas who use Netflix may have noticed that there is some content which is not available to stream from places like the US, even though it is available to stream from Netflix Sweden.

Fortunately, there is a way to get around these artificially imposed regional content blocks. By using a virtual private network, you “spoof” your location to fool Netflix into thinking you’re in Sweden, thereby accessing its full range of exclusive content. Today we’ll explain how this works and then give you our recommendations for the best VPN for Netflix Sweden.

How Netflix Regional Restrictions Work

You might have thought that as an internet company, Netflix would be able to show its content anywhere in the world. But unfortunately, copyright laws have not kept up with the internet streaming age. The rights to stream a piece of content online are still based on the geographic region that the viewer is based in. So if Netflix wants to stream a particular movie in the US, then they have to pay for the rights to stream it. If they want to stream the same movie in Sweden, they have to pay again for the rights to stream in that country. To make it more complicated, many movies or films have different distributors across various countries, so Netflix has to negotiate with numerous companies for rights to the same movies, and the prices charged for streaming rights can vary wildly.

Netflix figures that it is not worth the time or the money to negotiate for the rights to show Swedish content internationally when relatively few people will be accessing it. In practice, this translates into the shows Swedes love to watch only being available in their homeland. When traveling abroad, access to Scandinavian content becomes severely limited.

LEARN MORE: All about geoblocks and how to beat them

Unblock Netflix Sweden Using A VPN

Despite the difficulties in streaming Swedish content worldwide, there is a way to bypass geographic restrictions. You simply need to use a VPN, which is a piece of software that encrypts and reroutes the data passing to and from your computer or phone. The encrypted data is sent to a server in another country where it is decrypted and sent on to its destination. Because of this decryption process, your data appears to originate from the location of the server instead of your actual location.

This means that when you use a VPN to connect to a server in another country, say the US, and then use your web browser to visit netflix.com, it appears to the Netflix website as if you are visiting from the US. Therefore the site will show you all of the American Netflix content, and let you stream any of the movies and shows that are available to US customers. You can use the same process to access content from Netflix Sweden.

However, there are some limitations to this process. Netflix uses VPN blocking software that you can bypass to try to stop people from unblocking the site, and this software detects when you are using a VPN and stops you from watching videos. Most VPNs now do no work with Netflix. The good news is that there are still a few VPNs that do work with Netflix, like the ones we’re going to recommend below.

How To Choose A Great VPN

In order to select the best VPN for your needs, there are a variety of factors that you should consider:

1. VPN that works with Netflix. Not all VPNs work with Netflix due to their VPN blocking software. In fact, the majority of VPNs can’t unblock Netflix. That’s why you need to look for the specific services that do work with Netflix in order to unblock Netflix Sweden.
2. Fast connections. If your VPN is too slow, then you could suffer from buffering issues when trying to watch HD videos on Netflix or when trying to download large files. Look for a VPN with fast connections that won’t slow you down.
3. Large network of servers. When you connect to a server, it’s easiest to find one that works with Netflix if you have plenty of options to choose from. Therefore you should look for a VPN provider with a large network of servers in many different countries.
4. Good security. As well as letting you unblock Netflix, a good VPN will keep you safe from threats like hackers on public wifi networks. Look for a VPN that offers strong 256-bit encryption and a no logging policy.
5. Software for different platforms. To use your VPN, you’ll need to install the provided software. You can protect any device as long as there is software support for it. Check that your VPN provider has software that is compatible with all the key devices that you use, plus subscription policies that cover multiple devices at once.

Our Recommended VPNs To Unblock Netflix Sweden

When we looked at a variety of VPNs in terms of these factors, we came up with the following recommendations for VPNs to unblock Netflix Sweden:

1. NordVPN

NordVPN appeals to advanced users and newbies alike. While their software is simple enough for anyone to use, under the hood lies a vast array of configuration options sure to delight the discerning privacy nut. Of course, the standard complement of VPN features like 256-bit AES encryption, anti logging policy, and fast connections are all present as they would be in any top-tier VPN. However, NordVPN really shines with a killer network of servers, numbering over 5,400 in 59 countries all over the world.

In addition to the standard proxy servers, you’ll find servers dedicated servers for P2P, double VPN, onion over VPN, anti DDoS, and even obfuscation for hiding the fact that you’re using a VPN at all in countries like China. That may be a lot of options, but you’ll find the user interface plenty friendly across its many iterations on Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS, Chrome OS, Android, and even Chrome and Firefox.

Read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is only a few years old, but it’s already winning converts from lesser providers in droves. This is in no small part due to its ability to “just work” for unblocking Netflix in 17 countries, including Sweden. No hunting for specialty servers, no fiddling with advanced setting–just connect and stream.

Surfshark is able to beat VPN blocks and proxy bans with ease for a number of reasons. First, it uses only the most secure tunneling (OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard) in conjunction with NSA-grade 256-AES-GCM encryption. However, Surfshark offers two more features, which are available on every server: Camouflage obfuscation and NoBorders anti-censorship methods.

Finally, whether it’s unblocking Sweden’s Netflix or just escaping local censorship, Surfshark never keeps logs of your activity.

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a top rated VPN across all key categories: speed, security, and ease of use. It’s also extremely reliable for accessing Netflix. You can use it to access not only Netflix US, but other regional versions of the site too. If you need more information about using ExpressVPN for Netflix, check out their website, or reach out to their helpful customer support.

The service has great security with 256-bit encryption and a solid no logging policy, plus more security options in the desktop software like DNS leak protection and an IP address checker. The connections are super fast, making it perfect for the keen streamer who likes to watch in HD, while the massive server network covers over 3,000 servers in 160 different locations in 94 countries. Dedicated software is available for Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Linux, plus some games consoles and modems.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the VPN that we recommend for new users who are looking for a simple, no stress way to connect to a VPN. The software has an intuitive graphical user interface and is easy to navigate even if you’ve never used VPN software before. For example, to unblock Netflix Sweden you simply open up the software and then select the Unblock Streaming icon. This takes you to a drop down list of streaming sites that you can unblock, and you select Netflix. Then, when you visit netflix.com in your browser, you’ll see that you can access an unblocked version of the site and view any movies or shows that you want.

As well as ease of use the service offers good security, with 256-bit encryption and a no logging policy. If you choose to connect to the servers manually you’ll find a massive network covering over 5,900 servers in 90 countries. The connections are fast and the software is available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

5. PureVPN

PureVPN goes beyond what providers normally offer to include an entire security suite to complement its VPN service. This includes anti malware, anti virus, anti spam, DDoS protection, app filtering, kill switch functionality, dedicated IP address, and a NAT firewall. That’s a lot of features under the hood. But does it unblock Netflix Sweden?

You bet it does. With a massive network of 2,000 servers in 140 countries (including several locations in Sweden), you can spoof your IP address to appear to be from almost anywhere you might want. Beyond device security and the ability to be geo-blocking, you’ll find all the industry-standard features that make a great VPN: 256-bit AES encryption, no usage logs, and fast connection speeds. The software is available for Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Android TV devices, plus there are browser extensions available for the Chrome and Firefox browsers.

You can see more information about using PureVPN with Netflix here: https://www.purevpn.com/netflix-vpn. There’s also a helpful guide to troubleshooting issues with the Netflix proxy error on their website here: https://www.purevpn.com/blog/netflix-proxy-error/

Read our full PureVPN review.

Get a Swedish IP Address easily for other purposes

An easy way to get a Swedish IP address is to use a VPN. This works by installing a piece of software onto your device which encrypts all of the data that your device sends over the internet. This encrypted data is protected so that no one else can see what it contains unless they have the decryption key. The encrypted data is sent through your ISP to a server which is run by your VPN provider. At this server, the data is decrypted and rejoins the rest of the internet.

When this happens, your data is assigned an IP address based on the location of the server. So your real IP address is hidden and instead you are given an IP address from the country that the server is in. Thus, when you connect to a server in Sweden, you will be given a Swedish IP address.

After that, you can continue to use the internet as normal, but your traffic will appear to originate from Sweden and you can get around censorship, unblock websites, or access Swedish regional content like TV channel websites from anywhere in the world.

A VPN Improves Your Security Too

In addition to making it easy to get a Swedish IP address, there are a number of security advantages to using a VPN. When your data is encrypted, it means that no outsiders can observe, track, or interfere with that data. So you don’t have to worry about the government snooping on your internet use or spying on your online messages.

Something that many people don’t realise is that without a VPN, your ISP can see every site you visit and can track exactly what you do online. This means that if you visit an illegal streaming site or use direct downloads, then your ISP can see. Worst of all, if you use torrents then it is extremely easy for your ISP to identify the traffic and to alert copyright holders or law enforcement. If you are going to download files then you absolutely must use a VPN to keep yourself safe.

There are risks of cyber crime online that you should be aware of too. For example, did you know that when you use a public wifi network this the ones you find at cafes, that other users on the network can see your data and may even be able to steal your personal information? To avoid having your identity stolen when on public wifi, you need a VPN to encrypt your data even from other users on the same network. A VPN can also help to keep you safe from other online threats like phishing or vishing.

Should You Use A Proxy Or VPN?

A different method for getting a Swedish IP address is to use a proxy service. A proxy works by leaving your data as is, but changing the server that is used to identify the origin of the data from your real location to a location chosen by the proxy service. This means that your data is not encrypted and is simply passed through a “tunnel” so that is appears to have originated in Sweden.

Proxy services used to be popular as they were historically cheaper and faster than a VPN service. However, because a proxy does not encrypt your data, you do not get any of the security and privacy benefits of a VPN. Now that VPN services are both very affordable and much faster thanks to cheaper server availability, we think it’s clearly more beneficial to use a VPN rather than a proxy.

Bypass Censorship

If you want to use file sharing sites, or torrents in particular like The Pirate Bay or Limetorrents, they are blocked in many countries due to copyright infringement, meaning that you cannot access these sites from these countries. But you can access these sites with a Swedish IP address, as copyright laws are much more liberal in Sweden than most other places in the world. Fans of file sharing sites will appreciate how much easier it is to access these sites with an IP based in Sweden.

Finally, you may need to get around government censorship or web blocking. Governments can decide to completely block a website from their country, because they disagree with the content or because it is embarrassing to those in power. Sweden has a strong anti-censorship approach, and as such very few sites are blocked within the country.

Do I need a VPN if I live in Sweden?

Even when you are located in a country with as few restrictions on Internet access as Sweden, a VPN can be useful for a variety of reasons. In 2012, the Swedish government adopted the EU’s 2006 Data Retention Directive, which requires ISPs to store data on all online communications, including P2P activities, for six months. This meant that the ISPs had no choice but to keep users’ data in case law enforcement agencies ever needed to analyze it with a court’s permission. Furthermore, ISPs are obligated to cooperate with government officials, including the police, should they ever want to investigate anyone’s online activity logs. While Sweden was late to ratify the law due to internal resistance and public protest, the measures are still strongly advocated for by law enforcement officials and certain political groups.

For users in Sweden, this means that no one is truly safe from ISP snooping. In a nutshell, this means that if you ever pop up on the radar, a court can force your ISP to hand over all of your information, including your address. In order to prevent your data from being exposed or even stored in the first place, use a VPN and establish a secure, encrypted connection.

Another major reason for using a VPN service is overcoming any regional blocks without having to leave the comfort of your home, office, or hotel room. If you use any streaming services such as Netflix, you must know by now that most media providers either restrict or block content for users outside of a certain location, such as the USA. This is a result of contracts between copyright holders and media providers. For example, if you are located in Sweden and want to watch content on Hulu or HBO, the only way to do it is with a VPN service. A VPN can manipulate your IP address without physically moving your computer, enabling you to appear as though you are in a completely different, restriction-free location.

Whether you live in Sweden permanently or are simply traveling there, a VPN will be one of the most useful tools you have on hand. Say you are traveling to Sweden for work, but all your personal accounts are in the United States. Many credit card companies and banks block foreign IP addresses, which means you will not be able to access your personal accounts until you are back to your home land. This, of course, can be avoided with a VPN. With this invaluable digital tool, you can have access to all your personal data regardless of where you are traveling, therefore you will not encounter any regional restrictions while located abroad. A VPN helps beat these blocks with encryption protocols like PPTP and SSTP.

Conclusion

Netflix users typically only have access to a limited catalogue of TV shows and movies to stream, and may miss out on great TV shows that aren’t available outside of Sweden. This is because of licensing restrictions which mean that the rights for different properties have to be acquired separately for different countries.

Fortunately, users can unblock the Swedish version of Netflix (or other regional versions) with a VPN. Due to Netflix’s ongoing VPN blocking efforts, though, you can’t rely on just any provider to do the job. Our four recommendations have a great track record with staying a step ahead of the game, and offer the best chance to enjoy Swedish TV and movies to your heart’s content.

Do you use a VPN with Netflix? Which VPNs have you found to work with Netflix, and which don’t? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below.

Read Full Bio

Georgina Jones

Latest from Author

Best Kodi Adult Addons in 2024 for Uncensored Content How to Update Kodi Library Both Automatically and Manually