Top 5 US Netflix Alternatives in 2020 Review Guide

What are the top 5 Netflix alternatives to watch outside USA? Netflix is constantly blocking VPN and Smart DNS proxy services that allow users to change their Netflix region to the USA. Instead, users are now getting the dreaded Netflix proxy error. Given the poor content available in Netflix libraries of the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, or France, many are considering canceling their Netflix subscription. In this article, I will shed light on the best 5 Netflix alternatives in 2020 you can unblock using VPN or Smart DNS. The list includes the likes of Hulu, HBO GO, BBC iPlayer, as well as a surprise addition many have not heard of yet.

Best Netflix Alternatives – 5. BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is without a doubt one of the biggest online streaming services. Its programs cover live and on-demand sports, news, entertainment, and social issues. If you are into British dramas such as Doctor Who and EastEnders, BBC iPlayer is definitely for you.

• Pros:
  • BBC iPlayer is free and requires no paid subscription.
  • It is available on virtually all streaming devices including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PS3, PS4, Xbox, iOS, Chromecast and Android.
  • BBC iPlayer provides live streaming of major sports events including the Olympics, Formula 1, Wimbledon.
• Cons:
  • BBC iPlayer mainly offer British shows. If you are more into American TV series, consider one of the other Netflix alternatives on this list.

Top Netflix Alternatives – 4. HBO GO

HBO GO is relatively one of the oldest online video-on-demand services on the Internet. Being one of the biggest US cable channels made it one of the most sought after channels. Game of Thrones, Sopranos, Entourage, and Boardwalk Empire are all available to stream on HBO GO. After the success of Netflix, HBO decided to launch its own stand-alone streaming services called HBO Now. Initially, HBO Now was only offered on Apple devices. It is now, however, supported on the same devices as HBO Go and offers the same content as well.

• Pros:
  • Game of Thrones!
  • HBO Go is available on all major streaming devices including PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, Xbox, Apple TV, Roku, Smart TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
  • Due to the fact HBO owns most of the content in the HBO Go library, you do not have to worry about a series being removed before you are done watching it.
• Cons:
  • HBO GO requires an American cable subscription. Otherwise, you will not be able to sign into the channel.
  • Neither HBO Go nor HBO Now offer live streaming.

Best Netflix Alternatives – 3. Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime Instant Video offers one of the largest online streaming libraries. At the moment, Amazon Prime is available in USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. The content available on each region does not differ as much as in Netflix’s cases. Amazon Prime’s main focus right now is on producing its own TV shows. The best Amazon Primes shows include Mozart in the Jungle, The Man in the High Castle, Transparent, and the upcoming Top Gear spinoff, Grand Tour.

• Pros:
  • You can rent and even buy your favorite titles on Amazon Prime. The basic Amazon Prime subscription also gives you access to hundreds of movies and TV shows you can stream with no additional cost.
  • Amazon Prime is supported on a wide range of devices including Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, PC, Mac, and Android.
  • It is available in multiple regions.
• Cons:
  • You need to create an American Amazon account using a US credit card and address in order to get access to Amazon Prime. While this step is feasible, it does complicate matters a bit. This is probably the main reason Amazon Prime did not rank higher on this list.
  • Each Amazon Prime region requires a different Amazon account i.e. you cannot use your UK Amazon account to watch American Amazon Instant Video. The Amazon Prime apps also differs from one region to another.

Top Netflix Alternatives – 2. Hulu

Hulu is one of the top three American streaming channels, along with Netflix and HBO Go. It is owned by a consortium consisting of Disney, Time Warner, and Fox. Hulu allows you to watch both movies and TV shows on-demand. Hulu had a two different subscription tiers at first, a free ad-supported version and a paid subscription model with minimum advertisement. Starting this summer, Hulu will only be available via paid subscription. You can still watch many free Hulu shows on Yahoo View.

• Pros:
  • PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, Xbox, Apple TV, Roku, Android, iOS, Smart TV, and Amazon Fire TV are all Hulu compatible
• Cons:
  • A basic Hulu subscription cost 7.99$ a month. You have to shell out an additional 4$ a month to get the ‘ad-free’ Hulu version.  Even then, you still have to watch commercial on selected shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon a Time, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Scandal, Grimm, New Girl, and How To Get Away With Murder.

Best Netflix Alternatives – 1. iflix

iflix is the only entry on this list which is natively available outside USA and UK. iflix is a relatively new streaming channel. It is currently available in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The first thing that strikes you when you visit the iflix website is its similarity to Netflix. The iflix library is pretty impressive too. American TV shows such as Friends, Family Guy, American Dad, American Horror Story, Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, Fraiser, and Big Bang Theory are all available to stream. iflix is a channel definitely worth looking at if you are looking for a Netflix alternative.

• Pros:
  • You can sign up for a free one-month trial without the need for a credit card.
  • All major US TV shows are available to stream. There is a large section of UK TV series as well. All the movies and TV shows are in their original English language. English subtitles are also available.
  • A one-month subscription only sets you back by about 2 US Dollars.
• Cons:
  • At the moment, iflix is only supported on a handful of devices including PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, and Chromecast. If you wish to watch iflix on your big screen TV, you should consider getting a Chromecast. Alternatively, you can connect your PC/Mac to your HD TV using an HDMI cable.

Top Netflix Alternatives in 2020 – Notable Mentions

• Google Play
• iTunes
• Sling TV
• CBC
• Now TV
• Sky Go
• Channel 4
• ABC iView
• SBS
• ITV
• Showtime
• Vevo
• Crackle
• Bravo
• ABC GO
• Cartoon Network
• Disney Channel

How to Unblock Netflix Alternatives using VPN

If you have watched American Netflix outside USA, you are probably already familiar with how VPN works. VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to spoof your online location and trick geoblocked streaming channels to think you are in a region where they are available. Setting up an American VPN connection, for instances, grants you a US IP address. This allows you to watch US channels like HBO GO, Hulu, Showtime, ABC Go, and NBC abroad.

• VPN encrypts all of your Internet traffic and hides your IP address. This is extremely helpful if you want to keep your browsing activity to yourself. No more eavesdropping.
• You can install VPN apps on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
• Connecting to an American VPN server unblocks all US channels at once.
• VPN does affect your Internet speed. The extend to which it drops depends on the VPN service you are using.

ExpressVPN top the chart when it comes to bypassing regional restrictions. They also offer an unparalleled 30-day refund period. In the table below, you can find the best VPN providers to unblock American channels outside USA.

Rank

VPN Provider

Features

Links

• Best for streaming and privacy
• High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
• Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
• 24/7/ live chat support
• 3 extra months free on annual plan

Visit ExpressVPN Try risk-free for 30 days Read our review

• UltraHD streaming
• Free Smart DNS proxy
• Unblocks all major streaming services
• Limited Time 72% Discount

Visit BulletVPN Read our review

• Unlimited VPN connections
• Over 1000 servers
• Ad-blocking feature available

Visit Surfshark Read our review

4

• User-friendly application
• Exclusive Smart VPN feature
• Standalone Smart DNS subscription available

Visit Unlocator Read our review

5

• Extra security features
• Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
• Split-tunneling available

Visit NordVPN Read our review

Watch Top Netflix Alternatives outside USA with Smart DNS

Some people are more familiar with Smart DNS when it comes to avoiding geographical restrictions. Smart DNS proxies have their pros and cons compared to VPN. For instance, you can directly setup Smart DNS on most of your streaming devices. On the other hand, Smart DNS does not encrypt your Internet traffic like VPN.

• You can configure Smart DNS instantly on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, PS3, PS4, Xbox, Smart TV, Wii, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. No need to change your router settings.
• While Smart DNS does not hide your IP address, it does not affect your Internet speed either.
• With Smart DNS, you can unblock streaming channels from different countries simultaneously i.e. watch BBC iPlayer, iflix, and Hulu using one Smart DNS setup.
• In some cases, an ISP might use DNS hijacking or transparent proxies. Such methods can break Smart DNS’s functionality.

If you are looking for a Smart DNS proxy service that unblocks all of the channels listed above, use Unlocator. They support 218 channels in total. A free 7-day trial means you can test Unlocator without worries. If you are unfamiliar with how to setup Smart DNS, take a look at these tutorial and videos.

Watch the Best Netflix Alternatives with Smart DNS Proxies

Do you think there are other Netflix alternatives you can block with Smart DNS or VPN that should have made the list? What us your favorite streaming channel? Let us know by dropping the comment below.