Hola VPN Not Working With Netflix? Here’s What to Do
Reading time: 14 min
Updated on May 28, 2023
If you’ve tried unblocking Netflix with Hola VPN you’ve probably experienced issues. This is frustrating as accessing Netflix is one of Hola VPN’s main selling points.
Even with a premium VPN it’s difficult to access Netflix content libraries. This is because Netflix can detect and block traffic coming from VPNs, and has extensive blacklists of IP addresses used by VPNs.
Hola VPN is very limited in how effective it is at unblocking Netflix. It also has notable safety and security issues. I recommend ExpressVPN as a better way of getting around Netflix’s geoblocks. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN!
Update 2024: Hola VPN has been removed from the Play Store and there’s no news on when it’ll be back. If you’re looking for a VPN that works with Netflix on Android or Chrome OS, check out ExpressVPN instead.
Why You Need To Stay Away From Hola VPN
First of all, Hola VPN is not a VPN service. Instead, it’s a community-powered P2P proxy service that borrows the resources of its users. Everyone shares the use of their IP address with other people on the service.
In theory, everyone benefits from this as you can use an IP address from anywhere around the world. However, both Hola VPN’s free and premium plans have serious drawbacks for its users.
Streaming
Netflix and other streaming sites track which IP addresses belong to VPNs. If the site notices you’re using a blacklisted IP address it blocks you from watching content. Even if you’re using an IP address in your own country, Netflix can still block you from accessing the site or app.
If too many people watch Netflix under the same IP address, it’s likely to get added to the blacklist. Because of this, not many VPNs can reliably unblock Netflix. Hola VPN is actually one of the least reliable VPNs for unblocking Netflix since multiple people try to access the site under the same IP address.
Speeds
Even if you do manage to find an IP address that works, Hola’s P2P-based system causes slow connection speeds, which leads to consistently buffering video content that is beyond frustrating.
Safety
Hola VPN surrenders the control and use of your IP address to strangers from around the world. Whatever those users do on the internet will be linked to your IP address. You have no way of stopping them from committing a crime and, even worse, it could even be traced back to you.
Hola VPN also has a history of being used by hackers. Once, a premium user used the website 8chan to create a malicious botnet attack using free users’ IP addresses. There is no way of protecting yourself from hackers if you use Hola VPN.
The company itself even got caught selling its free users’ bandwidth to sister company Luminati.
Privacy
Obviously, a company that sells its users’ bandwidth and offers no encryption protocols isn’t the best at protecting your privacy. The P2P-based architecture enables other users to intercept your data, and Hola VPN does not offer any protection against hackers you might be exposed to while browsing.
I recommend you use an actual VPN so you don’t have to worry about your data privacy. While there are many to choose from, there are several that stand out for their ability to access streaming sites like Netflix, strong security, and tried-and-tested privacy features.
Quick Guide: Alternatives to Hola VPN
- ExpressVPN — #1 VPN with super-fast connection speeds, plenty of features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try ExpressVPN now!
- CyberGhost — Highly private and secure NoSpy servers, but doesn’t always bypass censorship in stricter countries.
- Private Internet Access — Huge choice of servers, but not the best user interface.
Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN
Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
The Best VPNs to Stream Netflix — Updated 2024
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Netflix with the Fastest Connection Speeds
Key Features:
- Over 3,000 servers in 105 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth and super-fast connection speeds for streaming
- Watch Netflix on up to 8 devices at once
- 24/7 live chat, email support, and online help guides.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Netflix as it can access the US and other international libraries easily. There are plenty of international servers to choose from, and the servers are highly reliable. You can unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN while traveling and still watch your favorite shows.
This VPN’s advanced Lightway encryption protocol gives extremely high connection speeds. VPNs almost always reduce connection speeds due to rerouting your internet traffic, but during my tests, there was no noticeable reduction in speed at all when using ExpressVPN. I streamed a show on Netflix while using ExpressVPN and experienced no buffering or loading times.
As well as excellent speeds, ExpressVPN has advanced DNS and IP leak protection features that stop Netflix from knowing you’re using a VPN at all. There is also Perfect Forward Secrecy, which replaces your encryption key every hour for additional security. This is certainly preferable to Hola VPN which uses no encryption at all.
An automatic kill switch shuts down your internet connection if any network issues cut your connection to the VPN, and split tunneling lets you apply the VPN only to certain sites.
While Hola VPN’s doesn’t offer any privacy features, ExpressVPN is dedicated to protecting users’ privacy. As well as the encryption and security features, ExpressVPN keeps no logs of user information at all — a policy that has been independently verified by a third-party audit.
ExpressVPN is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. After installation, it’s easy to connect to a server because the user interface is so straightforward. ExpressVPN also comes with a MediaStreamer feature, which lets you install ExpressVPN on your router so you can use the VPN on smart TVs or other devices without a native VPN app.
Although ExpressVPN costs slightly more than other VPNs ($4.99 per month for a 2-year + 6 months free subscription), its rapid speeds and great security features make it worth it. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try out ExpressVPN risk-free. I was able to get a refund with no questions asked, and it arrived within 1 week.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
ExpressVPN unblocks: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, and more
ExpressVPN works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, gaming consoles, and routers
Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN
Get ExpressVPN's Black Friday Deal! You can subscribe to ExpressVPN for as low as $4.99 per month + get extra 6 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 82%)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
2. CyberGhost — Secure and Private Servers For Netflix
Key Features:
- Over 11,670 servers in 100 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth and fast connection speeds
- Watch on up to 7 devices simultaneously
- 24/7 live chat and email support
- 45-day money-back guarantee
CyberGhost is great for keeping you safe while you stream Netflix, because of its advanced NoSpy servers. Not only do these servers unblock Netflix reliably — they are also highly secure and private as they are entirely RAM-based and delete all data on every reboot.
As well as being highly private and secure, CyberGhost offers over 11,670 servers to choose from in 100 countries, so you can easily watch a range of Netflix libraries using CyberGhost.
You can get CyberGhost on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The main advantage of CyberGhost is its extremely intuitive user interface, which is possibly the best of any VPN I have tried. I was able to load up the app and instantly connect to a new server, including pre-configured setups like “unblock streaming”. It really is great for a beginner to VPNs who just wants to click a button and go.
CyberGhost has a firm policy of keeping no user data logs. The company is headquartered in privacy-friendly Romania and publishes regular transparency logs which reveal that it never accepts requests for user data.
Unblocking foreign Netflix libraries works almost every time but I did have the occasional failure. Also, while buffering was very infrequent, ExpressVPN is a faster VPN. However in my tests of CyberGhost’s DNS/IP leak protection, kill switch, and split tunneling features they all worked excellently.
CyberGhost’s 2-year + 4 months plan has a monthly cost of only $2.03. There is also a 45-day guarantee if you want to try CyberGhost out for free. I tested this refund policy and had my money back in under 1 week.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
CyberGhost unblocks: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, and more
CyberGhost works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, gaming consoles, and routers
Access Netflix with CyberGhost
Get Black Friday Deal and Cyber Monday Deal from CyberGhost! You can subscribe to CyberGhost for as low as $2.03 per month + get an extra 4 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 84%)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Choice of Servers for Accessing Netflix
Key Features:
- Over 35,000 servers in 91 countries
- Unlimited bandwidth and fast connection speeds
- Supports up to unlimited devices simultaneously
- 24/7 live chat and email support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Private Internet Access (PIA) offers the biggest choice of servers for Netflix of any VPN tested. You can choose from 35,000+ PIA servers in 91 countries. This means there are many more options if the first server you try doesn’t work, and each one is faster as it is less likely to be crowded with other users.
With PIA, you can access US Netflix, as well as the French, German, and Vietnamese Netflix libraries easily. The streaming speeds were reasonably good in my tests, and I only encountered buffering once or twice, and then only very briefly. PIA’s connection speeds are sufficient for streaming video and much better than Hola VPN’s.
PIA has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Its features include a kill switch, split tunneling features, and DNS/IP leak protection, all of which worked effectively during my tests. The company also has an independently-verified no-logs policy.
The main downside that I noticed with PIA is that its user interface isn’t quite as intuitive as those of other VPNs. The app also regularly does not appear on the Windows taskbar even when it is running, meaning I had to search around for it to change servers. This was disappointing when compared to the straightforward interface of ExpressVPN.
If you want to get Private Internet Access, the price is very reasonable. A 2-year + 2 months subscription is only $2.19 a month (one of the best monthly plans of any VPN), and the 30-day money-back guarantee works well — I tested it and was refunded in just 4 days.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
PIA unblocks: Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Kodi, and more
PIA works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, gaming consoles, and routers
Watch Netflix with Private Internet Access
2024 Update! You can subscribe to PIA for as low as $2.19 per month + get an extra 2 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 82%)! This is a limited offer, so grab it now before it's gone! See more information on this offer here!
Why Choose Premium VPNs to Unblock Netflix?
While there are plenty of great free VPNs, even the best aren’t perfect. Most free VPNs can’t consistently unblock Netflix, and many of them are unsafe to use. While Hola is not technically a real VPN, it still has these problems. With Hola VPN, your IP address and bandwidth are not protected and can be used by other users for anything (even illegal activities).
The premium VPNs on this list are always one step ahead of Netflix’s complex geoblocks and provide 24/7 customer support should you run into any problems. They even have support staff who keep track of blocked IP addresses and provide new ones within an instant when necessary.
Premium VPNs invest in servers and develop new ways to bypass the VPN blocks. Free VPNs just don’t have the time, money, or resources needed to improve their products so that they can bypass Netflix’s firewalls.
Most premium VPNs offer a range of monthly plans. You can use a premium VPN like CyberGhost for free using its 45-day money-back guarantee. I requested a refund and had my money back within one week.
Unblock Netflix with CyberGhost!
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
How To Cancel Hola VPN in 2024
How to cancel Hola VPN on mobile:
- Open the app store where you purchased Hola VPN.
- Find the app and cancel your subscription. This may look different on different app stores.
- Uninstall the Hola VPN app.
How to cancel Hola VPN on desktop:
- Log into your account on the Hola website.
- Cancel your subscription to Hola VPN.
- Uninstall the Hola VPN program (you can do this via ‘Programs and Features’ on Windows.
FAQ: Why Hola Can’t Unblock Netflix, and What You Should Do
Why does Netflix block VPNs?
Netflix blocks VPNs for legal reasons, because it only has the rights to provide content to viewers in certain countries. Netflix uses geoblocking technology to prevent users from accessing content from countries that they aren’t licensed to provide that content to.
Although Netflix does not want them to, it is not illegal for users to bypass geoblocks — in fact, many VPNs advertise themselves as legitimate ways of accessing foreign content. While not all are successful, the best premium VPNs can unblock Netflix successfully.
Can Hola VPN unblock Netflix?
Is Hola VPN safe?
No, using Hola has many risks. It’s completely unencrypted, leaving your data unprotected. The P2P-based architecture surrenders your IP address to other users, who could use your IP address to commit crimes that could put you into trouble. Even the company itself has sold the bandwidth of its free users.
To unblock Netflix safely and securely, you need a VPN with advanced security features. ExpressVPN uses a state-of-the-art protocol called Lightway and Perfect Forward Secrecy to keep your data safe.
Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN!
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Get a VPN That Works With Netflix Now!
Hola VPN is not reliable at unblocking Netflix. In the past, Hola VPN was effective in circumventing geoblocks on Netflix. However, due to advancements in Netflix’s technology, Hola VPN is facing difficulties in keeping pace. Moreover, there are numerous concerns related to safety, security, and privacy that make the use of Hola VPN unadvisable. It fails to provide any form of protection, thereby exposing users to the risk of cyber attacks.
A real, reputable VPN is a much better choice for unblocking Netflix. VPNs like ExpressVPN are constantly improving their features to bypass geoblocks, and come with the security features needed to keep your data protected.
ExpressVPN also offers super-fast connection speeds for a smooth streaming experience. Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN now. if you’re not satisfied you can get a refund using its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN!
Summary: Best 5 Alternatives to Hola VPN in 2024
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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