Online region-blocking is a primitive annoyance that attempts to restrict Aussies from accessing overseas content — even if you’re willing to pay for it. Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to circumvent. One of the latest outfits to offer a sneaky backdoor pass is Getflix; an Australian-run service with its own DNS servers. It’s one of the fastest solutions available and also surprisingly cheap, with prices starting at just $2.45 per month.
If you’re familiar with Unblock-US you’ll have a good idea of how GetFlix works — it uses virtual private network (VPN) to ‘trick’ Netflix and other geo-blocked services into thinking you’re streaming from the US.
“Getflix allows users from Australia and New Zealand to easily access Netflix and Hulu Plus, both of which are currently blocked,” explains the Getflix website.
“Only a small number of connections to Netflix and Hulu Plus get re-routed via our servers. The actual video is streamed from Netflix or Hulu Plus directly to you so Getflix is much faster and more reliable than an alternative VPN or tunnel solution.”
The chief advantage of GetFlix other than speed and reliability is the cost — at $2.95 per month, it’s easily one of the cheapest VPN tunnel-through services available. By contrast, Unblock-US’s pricing starts at $US4.99 per month. You can also sign up for a free 14-day trial without giving up any financial details.
Users who ‘like’ Getflix’s Facebook page will get an additional 17 per cent off, which brings the total to just $2.45 per month. The discount will last indefinitely or until you cancel your subscription. For more information about Getflix, check out the video below:
So is all this legal? The laws surrounding geo-blocking are complex and ill-defined, but there’s no denying that the practice is frowned upon. On the other hand, you’re still paying for the content you access on Netflix and the like, which has got to be better than illegally pirating movies. The usual caveats about using at your own risk apply (but we wouldn’t be too worried).
See also: The Lifehacker Guide To Streaming Blocked Overseas Content | Why You Need A VPN (And How To Choose One) | Are Australians Being Rorted By Online Movie Services?
Comments
31 responses to “Getflix Is A Fast, Affordable Gateway To Geo-Blocked Movies And TV Shows”
Hola is free though
That is like responding to someone who says “Orange juice is good” with “Water is free though”.
Hola may be free but it’s a pretty blunt tool. It only works inside a Chrome browser window.
Personally I want something a bit more sophisticated, I want to be able to watch Netflix via the Windows Media Centre interface while sitting on the couch with a remote control (not a keyboard and mouse).
Water isn’t free and hola works with browsers other than chrome. Please don’t spread misinformation.
Water is free. Ever heard of rain?
Do you not pay a water bill then?
Sure, I pay for the infrastructure I use.
And bottled water? You can get orange juice free too you know.
Unlike money they grow on trees :OShe’s so… Orange…
She moved to Australia to swim in Twisties
Best comment I have ever read on LH hands down
How does this compare to (or how is this better than) free services like Hola unblocker?
Theres no comparison a DNS offers supreme benefits, if your purely streaming from a computer its Ok . But for anything else (iPad, Android, Apple TV, Roku etc.) use a DNS service.
Supreme benefits like what, though? I’m not meaning to be thick – I’m honestly interested in finding out. I do only stream from a computer. I have unblock.us at home, and Hola at work, and I notice no difference (except the price tag).
In your particular case there wouldn’t be any benefit. For others who want to use Netflix or Hulu on other devices, then Hola isn’t a viable option.
http://tunnelto.us also free.
Do you need a US Credit Card as well, to join Netflix or whatever?
Nope
Yes, and aren’t there security issues in entering credit card details via VPN? Aren’t you giving the credit card details to a third party, and then the third party forward that to the destination?
If the site you’re entering your credit card details into uses SSL/TLS, then you’ll be sending encrypted data through the VPN. The VPN operator should have no more ability to snoop on the data than your ISP does.
Incorrect- Firewalls/Proxies have this option now, Cisco IronPort, Sophos UTM, Checkpoint, WatchGuard Red & Fortinet all have options of SSL decryption and Forwarding. It takes a higher level of processing on the Firewall/Proxy but it is possible. It is not possible for an ISP because of the amount of TCP/UDP packets being sent though a node, but for a VPN service it is more then possible.
If they are making you login to use their service then they are more then likely using one of these systems or a custom Squid(M0n0wall, PfSense, etc…) based alternative.
Don’t need a US credit card for netflix. I signed up with my australian one. Funnily enough it wouldn’t let me use paypal as it recognised my paypal account was based in Australia. I also created a new gmail account just for netflix to be on the safe side.
Nope. Just put your address as 123 Whatever St, Beverley Hills 90210. As long as the address is American, you’ll be fine.
I used my Australian address. The only thing I had to change was to put a 0 in front of the zipcode to make it 5 numerals. Netflix doesn’t check the addresses – it only checks the IP address.
removed duplicate!
Some need you to enter a 5 digit post code/zip code for your billing address. Add a zero to the start of it, e.g. 02035.
“it’s easily one of the cheapest VPN tunnel-through services available.”
It’s not a VPN, as you outlined earlier in the article…
Signed up. I’d been using a script to generate gmail addresses and then unblockus accounts, which worked pretty well – although sometimes unblockus was just sketchy and barely allowed HD streaming (from Netflix). Hopefully this is a little smoother.
Ok, I’ll bite. I’m assuming you created the script etc just to avoid paying the $5 per month to unblock-us. Why? You were obviously happy to use the service, and $5 per month doesn’t seem to be a large price to pay when you can obviously afford a computer, internet connection and TV. Apologies if I misunderstood your point.
Step 1: Use Google Chrome
Step 2: Install the MediaHint extension
Step 3: Enjoy Netflix without needing to pay for a VPN.
mediaHint doesn’t work with consoles. http://tunnelto.us works just like getflix and unblock.us and is also free.
Most people don’t have chrome available on their televisions, and plugging a computer into your TV is, even to this day, still a disastrous thing to do.
I cannot understand people who watch movies or TV on a tiny computer display.
I got this last night so i could use the DNS to make my WD Live Streaming Media player be able to access Netflix.
Worked perfectly, now i can sit back and either watch my shows from my hard drive, or use the remote and switch to Netflix. Goodbye, Hola + HDMI+ mouse controls to TV.
This is great if you have a device like roku, WD Live.
If you only use on PC, then Stick to HOLA. Simple
I only want it on a pc so I’m using Hola, but my issue is that it Netflix won’t accept any credit cards details. It doesn’t ask for an address, just a zip code, and I’ve tried a lot of different ones. Anyone else have this issue?
90210
Drop that towel cause we ain’t listening anyway.
That’s a good article . I personally prefer UnoTelly. It’s similar to Getflix but they offer a DNS server close to physical location and I can achieve better performance.
Great article. The DNS option is better than using a VPN regarding content streaming because you can achieve direct connection with the media station ex. Netflix and avoid the “middle-man”. Personally, I am using UnoTelly which is similar to Getflix. Perhaps you should check UnoTelly as well if you haven’t done so.
Any tricks to stabilising IP address? Getflix works fine until the dynamic IP address changes and then you need to relink your IP to your Getflix workaround. Optus doesn’t offer a static IP address on NBN so how can you keep IP address static or at least stable for longer periods?? Didnt find that in getflix review.