Does Netflix Work with SmartDNS Proxy (Tested 2023)

Last Updated by Benjamin Walsh on September 21, 2024

If you’ve tried to unblock Netflix using SmartDNS Proxy and failed; this is the case for many more users out there despite the company advertising that their VPN service does unblock popular streaming sites.

Even though Netflix is adept at identifying VPNs and blocking them from being used on their site, SmartDNS Proxy claims that they can overcome these geo-restrictions.

In this article, we’ll show you if SmartDNS Proxy does unblock Netflix, why Netflix blocks VPNs and proxies, and alternative VPNs that we’ve tried and tested and can guarantee will work.

Does Netflix Work with the SmartDNS Proxy Free Trial?

After chatting to customer service, they informed us that Netflix could be unblocked on both their full subscription service as well as the 14-day free trial.

The only difference is that on the free trial, Netflix can only be unblocked on PC browsers. Customer service had this to say:

Screenshot of SmartDNS Proxy live support chat window showing conversation with the representative on does its service unblocks Netflix

To test this, we signed up for the 14-day free trial to test this out for ourselves.

Signing up for the Free Trial

Once we signed up to the free trial (without using a credit card), we were prompted to configure the DNS so we can unblock streaming sites like Netflix. When configured, we could see four checks to the right of the page:

SmartDNS Config to work with Streaming Site

With DNS configured; it was time to check whether we can unblock Netflix or not. Check out this article for more information on how to sign up to the SmartDNS proxy free trial.

Does Netflix Actually Work?

The server we selected was located in the US, and when connected, we were able to access the site with no problems:

Screenshot of Netflix user interface showing list of shows that are Popular and Trending on Netflix

Then we chose something to watch:

Screenshot of SmartDNS Proxy unblocking Avengers: Infinity War on Netflix

During our test, we found that we were able to access Netflix and watch a movie from a Windows device with little to no issues.

SmartDNS Proxy Review

Speeds

With the connection speeds of SmartDNS Proxy, we experienced zero interruptions or buffering when streaming movies and shows throughout the site too.

Quality

As well as high speeds, we had no quality issues with the videos we streamed. There were no dips in quality and the TV shows, and movies were able to stream at the maximum spec.

The streaming quality is great as many VPNs on the market sacrifice speed and performance to enhance their security.

Other Sites

Although unblocking Netflix is amazing for SmartDNS Proxy, we decided to test other streaming sites to see whether they can also be unblocked using their DNS services.

First, we connected to a server in Spain and attempted to watch content on Antena 3. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to watch live TV, but we were able to watch clips and highlights from various shows.

Then we tried ZegaTV. On this popular Indian streaming site, we could watch live TV as well as movies and other videos on the site.

Screenshot of ZengaTV streaming service user interface unblocked with SmartDNS Proxy

Overall, SmartDNS Proxy stays true to their claims of unblocking Netflix, even on their 14-day free trial. On your trial, you gain access to 35 DNS servers from a range of different countries.

You can successfully watch your favorite content from all around the world. Finally, if you choose to upgrade to the paid subscription, you can do so without having to break the bank.

Why Does Netflix Block VPNs?

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the world, and for a good reason. There are nearly 200 versions of the streaming service, and depending on which location you’re in, you’ll have a different viewing experience with content unique to that country.

However, if you live or are traveling abroad, you won’t be able to access the same material that you would if you were at home. Individual countries implement geo-restrictions to block content that the government deems unworthy or unsuitable.

For example, Rick & Morty might have the perfect combination of alcoholism, inappropriate jokes, thought-provoking realism, and foul language for US and UK audiences, but for a country like China, this kind of expression is forbidden.

China implements laws governing censorship and assesses content using a different approach [compared to western countries]. Consequently, the Chinese government restricts access to content they consider unsuitable, rendering it unavailable to the public. Numerous other countries adopt similar protocols.

Two Alternatives to SmartDNS Proxy

1ExpressVPN – Super fast and reliable

3,000+ VPN servers in 160 VPN server locations in 94 countries
Amazing speeds and performance
30-day money back guarantee
Zero throttling policy

With dedicated global servers, ExpressVPN will provide you with the opportunity to watch your favorite content from anywhere in the world.

Over long and short distances, ExpressVPN’s performance has shown to be one of the fastest on the market. They also have a zero throttling policy so you can stream without interruptions, buffering, or loss of quality.

With the highest level of security, your device is protected from external threats like malware, ransomware, and viruses. Moreover, 256-bit encryption has never been breached.

Unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN

2CyberGhost VPN – Easy to use interface and streaming optimized servers

Extra speed feature
3,700+ servers
A dedicated streaming section on the app
Simple display and interface

CyberGhosts offers an extra speed feature that can optimize your streaming experience. Combined with the expansive server network, CyberGhost offers an excellent service for Netflix and others.

In addition to 256-bit AES encryption, the VPN provides malicious ad and software blockers, DNS and IP leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.

Benefit from a 45-day money back guarantee, 24/7 customer service, and the capability to protect seven devices simultaneously with one account.

Unblock Netflix with CyberGhost

Final Word

SmartDNS Proxy does have the capability to bypass the geo-restrictions of Netflix and other popular streaming services. However, that’s not to say there isn’t blacklisted or faulty servers still online.

If you’re having issues streaming with SmartDNS Proxy, you can contact live customer support 24/7 to try and diagnose the problem.

If you can’t rectify the situation and you can’t successfully stream Netflix using SmartDNS Proxy, you can consider other options:

Connect to an alternative server
Find the show you want on a different Netflix region
Take advantage of the 30-day money back guarantee
Use a different VPN service