Video on Demand Streaming services revolutionized binge-watching but, it was Netflix that took it to the next level.
Instead of waiting for shows to be viewed on cable TV before making them available to their subscribers, Netflix started producing its own original shows. And the best part? All the Netflix original shows get full season releases.
House of Cards, Narcos, Stranger Things, Big Mouth, these are just some few examples of Netflix big-name releases.
It’s, therefore, not surprising that Netflix is the leading streaming service with over 148 million subscribers worldwide.
But for all its perks Netflix has one major shortcoming. Their content library varies depending on the country you are accessing it from. Netflix US has the best collection of shows and movies and it makes sense considering that America is home to more than 60 million Netflix subscribers.
If you are in Singapore, you will still have access to a decent number of titles but nothing compared to the American library.
You are in luck though. In this post, I am going to be showing you a trick of how you can access the American Netflix library regardless of where you are.
The Easy Way to Watch Netflix US in Singapore
To be able to access American Netflix normally, then you need to be physically in the US. But that would be too much trouble so instead, I recommend that you use a VPN software.
It allows you to spoof your IP address and trick Netflix into thinking that you are indeed in the US.
But here is the tricky part. There are more than 60 VPN solutions that all claim to unblock Netflix. How do you know which one to use? By following our recommendation.
We have tested all the popular VPNs and we have found one that works best. Express VPN. It has a dedicated application for any device you may consider using to stream Netflix and it has multiple server locations in the US that you can use.
There are several other reasons we recommend Express VPN and we will highlight them later in the post.
Netflix Singapore vs Netflix US
According to Unogs, an unofficial platform where you can search for Netflix titles, Singapore has a total of 4,889 titles. That is impressive but the US library has 5,810 titles. That’s a difference of 921 titles.
Also, you have to consider that a significant number of titles in the Singapore library are only available in Singapore. This then means that the number of titles that are available in the US Netflix but blocked in Singapore is more than 921.
Why Does Netflix Block Content in Singapore
It’s part of the agreement they signed with the content owners.
Netflix does not own most of the content they show on their platform. They only buy the right to stream the content and this limits them in two ways.
The first is that the content owners may already have restrictions in place that prevent their content from being viewed outside the US. This is usually due to the varying content licensing and copyright laws in different countries.
And the second is that the content owners may already have sold the right to stream the content in other regions to another streaming service.
So, it’s possible for Netflix to have the rights to stream a movie in the US but cannot stream the same movie in Singapore because another provider like Prime Video already owns the exclusive rights to stream the movie in the country.
Also, if a title has no demand in Singapore, it makes no economic sense for Netflix to buy the rights to stream it in the country. Therefore, it will be available in the US Netflix library but blocked in Singapore.
Finally, a title can be blocked if it is against a country’s laws and regulations. Case in point, an episode of the comedy show, Patriot Act, was blocked in Saudi Arabia after it was deemed to be in violation of the country’s cybercrime laws.
Is Unblocking Netflix Using a VPN Illegal
It’s against their terms of service but unlike video piracy, you won’t get arrested for doing it. Netflix could close your account but that would be too drastic.
So instead, they have come up with an algorithm that detects when you are using a VPN and restricts your access to their platform.
To gain access again you need to disconnect from the VPN in which case you can no longer view the American Netflix.
A lot of VPN vendors have been affected by this ban and have since been unable to unblock Netflix US. So now you understand why you can’t just pick any VPN.
How Does a VPN Software Unblock Netflix
By discarding your original IP address and assigning you a new US address. And this is how it happens exactly.
When you connect to a VPN software, the first thing you do is select the server you will be connecting to. Since you want to view the American Netflix you will choose an American server.
The server now acts as the middleman between you and the internet. Instead of your connection request being sent directly to Netflix, it first goes through the server and that’s where the new IP address allocation takes place.
The server then sends your connection request to Netflix and by this time, anybody trying to check you out on the Internet will see that you are in the US.
Why is Express VPN the Best for Accessing American Netflix in Singapore
- Unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee
- No activity logs and no connection logs
- Easy-to-use apps for all devices
It has been the most successful in avoiding the Netflix VPN detection algorithm.
In those instances when Express VPN has been discovered they either have a backup server or they will quickly update their IP addresses to ones that have not yet been blacklisted by Netflix.
These are some other reasons why I recommend Express VPN.
Multiple Device Compatibility
Any device that you plan to use to stream Netflix is probably compatible with Express VPN. It comes with an Android and iOS application and is also available for computers running on Windows, Mac or Linux OS.
Moreover, it can be installed on Amazon Fire Stick, Roku devices, Xbox, Playstation and other similar devices.
Or better yet, you can configure it on your router allowing it to work on all your other connected devices.
Excellent Streaming Speeds
A VPN connection is guaranteed to slow your connection due to encryption and the additional routing of data through the VPN servers. But some can just be impossible to work with.
In our tests, Express VPN had very minimal effects on my connection speeds and I was able to get uninterrupted streaming at full HD.
The VPN also comes with a speed test feature that allows you to choose the best performing server.
Multiple Server Locations
Express VPN has 28 server locations to choose from. This is important because it gives them more IP addresses to play to allocate to their users which consequently decreases the chances of Netflix flagging the VPN down.
30-day Money-back Guarantee
Express VPN allows you to test their services risk-free for 30 days. This is a great time to test which servers are working best with Netflix and also how the VPN affects your internet speed. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the product, you are free to ask for a refund.
Although I recommend you raise the issue with their support team first. Which brings me to my next point.
Extra responsive Customer Support
I am always amazed by how quickly the Express VPN support agents respond. The VPN has a live chat option that’s available 24/7 and their agents get back to you in less than a minute.
Therefore, if you are having trouble unblocking Netflix then you can be assured that it will be resolved immediately.
Unblocks Other Streaming Services in Multiple Locations
If you are subscribed to any other video streaming service like Prime VIdeo then you are also aware that their Singapore library will be different from the US library. With Express VPN you can also unblock these services.
The VPN also includes servers in countries such as the UK, Canada, France, and Australia and it will allow you to access the restricted content in these regions.
Encrypts Your Internet Traffic
Unblocking Netflix is just one use of a VPN. Security and Privacy is the other. Express VPN uses OpenVPN protocol combined with AES 256 bit encryption to ensure that no one can access your personal data.
This is including hackers who are after your financial data and advertisers who are interested in your browsing activity to target you with their ads.
Conclusion
Netflix is putting a lot of effort to provide quality entertainment globally and it would be unfair not to acknowledge this. Almost all of their original content released after 2016 can be streamed from anywhere in the world.
But it will take a while before the libraries in other countries match the American library. And until then, we are stuck with using unblockers.
VPNs are the best solutions and if you are in Singapore there is no better VPN to use than Express VPN. Of course, we are always trying new solutions and if the situation changes we will definitely update you.
