How to install Netflix on Kodi

Kodi is a home entertainment management software that allows users to browse all their TV shows, games, and movies from one digital location. 

Using a VPN with Kodi – particularly if you're a bit of a Netflix buff – will open up a new world of streaming possibilities, and this guide will show you how to get one up and running. 

What do you need to get Netflix on a Kodi? 

Although Kodi's user base is increasing by the day – and many people now own 'Kodi boxes' – it's not an official OTT service. This means there's no official Netflix application designed for Kodi and its customers.

Kodi is open-source, however, which means the original coding is available online and ordinary people can create plug-ins, design add-ons, and track issues. A 'plug-in' is just a piece of software code that can be added to a computer program or system, usually performing a specific function. 

To get Netflix up and working on Kodi, you'll need to download an unofficial plug-in available online. The working plug-in is available on a site called GitHub. Make sure you download the one created and posted by CastagnalT, as the other one won't get you anywhere. 

Kodi can be installed on all sorts of devices and you should check out our guide on how to install it on a Firestick if you already have one. You can also get boxes you can install Kodi on, such as Nvidia Shield, a highly rated Android TV box. But remember, Kodi is coded to run on all sorts of electronic devices, be it Smart TVs to PCs to mobile phones – so it's really up to you. 

How to get Netflix on Kodi 

Here, we'll go through the steps of how to install Netflix on Kodi. It's neither a simple nor complicated process, but it doesn't take too long either – plus, it's well worth the pay-off considering the streaming possibilities once you've sorted it out.

Step 1: installing the latest Kodi update

The version of Kodi most users download is Kodi 17. However, the plug-in for Netflix that worked with Kodi 17, which could be found on the 'alelec repository', no longer functions properly. 

Some guides recommend downloading Kodi 18 Leia – it was compatible with a working plug-in which made installing Netflix that much more straightforward – but Kodi 19 Matrix is now available and recommended; as their website states, you shouldn't download old versions unless you have to. Kodi 19 Matrix is also compatible with the plug-in linked above, just like its predecessor. Here's how to install the latest update:

Step 2: Configuring Kodi 19 for Netflix plug-in 

The next stage is making sure your Kodi settings are configured in a way that allows you to install Netflix smoothly. The steps to take are as follows:

Step 3: installing Netflix on Kodi 

Now that your Kodi system is ready to install Netflix, here's how you load the plug-in:

All that's left to do is to log into your Netflix account as usual, and you're good to go – but we also advise you to install and log into your VPN account first to max out your streaming possibilities. 

Advantages of using Netflix on Kodi

Kodi is great for centralizing all your media into one digital space. Using Netflix on Kodi means that flicking between it and any other streaming or entertainment service you use – like video games or sports subscription channels – is much easier. 

Having Kodi is like having Netflix and a bit more – you'll have all your Netflix shows in a single location, as well as local broadcasts and other on-demand media right at your fingertips.

Some Kodi users say they much prefer the user interface on the system to the interface of sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime. It makes sense – after all, Kodi is supposed to help you manage your media, and a straightforward design goes a long way to making this happen.  

Why you really need a VPN with Kodi

VPNs are a great piece of kit that every internet user should invest in – but if you're a Kodi user, a VPN is essential. VPN providers encrypt all your traffic and then funnel it through a private server before it reaches the internet. 

This essentially means that your IP address is hidden from everyone except for your VPN provider – no criminals will see it, and neither will your internet service provider. Instead, they'll see the IP address of the private server your traffic has been funneled through. If you connect to a VPN server in France, for instance, you will be able to get a French IP address. This is useful for two reasons:

Unblocking Netflix shows on Kodi 

Streaming services like Netflix have different titles available depending on what country you're logging in from. People in the UK don't get as many titles as those in the US, for example, and loads of other countries have an even smaller selection to choose from. 

But with a VPN, you can pretend to be anywhere in the world – you can access whichever Netflix region you want. Just make sure to install your VPN software before you log into Netflix via your Kodi system. 

This will increase the number of shows and movies you can stream tenfold, and of course, this handy technique works with other streaming services with regional libraries and geo-blocked titles. For example, a VPN comes in especially handy with OTT streaming services exclusive to the US, like unblocking Peacock or AT&T TV. 

Staying safe whilst using Kodi 

Although Kodi is completely legal to use – after all, it's a system to manage your media, not a media service in and of itself – the fact it relies on add-ons and plug-ins designed by third parties means that it can be unstable, buggy, and exploited by malware. It also means people can use it to stream illegally by hooking up illegal sites to their Kodi system instead of something like Netflix. 

This isn't a specific fault with Kodi – you have to be careful with third-party apps on the Android store too, for example – it's simply an unfortunate byproduct of making your system open-source and compatible with third-party software. But some of Kodi's features, like the fact that it automatically downloads updates, making it particularly ripe for exploitation. 

If you use a VPN though, all your traffic is encrypted and the IP address that any malicious actor may see won't actually be your true IP address. This puts a major obstacle in the way of anyone trying to view, disrupt or tamper with the data being transferred between your devices and the rest of the internet. 

The Best VPNs for Kodi 

Because Kodi is both a media management system as well as open-source software that houses third-party add-ons, VPNs will vastly improve your experience on all fronts, whether it's entertainment, privacy, or security. This is discussed in more detail later in the article. Before we jump into how to get Netflix on Kodi, here are our top VPN picks to use with the service:

1. ExpressVPN - the best VPN for Kodi. You get a secure, fast and versatile service. Everything you need to stream Kodi safely without any buffering.
TIP

In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

2. NordVPN - a top-tier VPN for Kodi without the top end pricing – we recommend checking out the wealth of features they offer.
3. PrivateVPN - One of the cheapest VPNs out there, but an incredibly good service
4. Ivacy - a VPN with apps for all platforms and a custom Kodi VPN app to make things easy.
5. Surfshark - the cheapest VPN for Kodi on our list. You get excellent speeds to handle HD streaming, and it works with most major streaming services.

What else can I do with a VPN?

VPNs have further benefits than just unblocking geo-restricted content and keeping your traffic secure and private. They actually have a multitude of use cases, and people from all over the world use them for very different reasons.

If I lived in a country with an oppressive, authoritarian government, for example, I might use one to gain access to content wrongly censored by the government. 

If I lived in a comparatively relaxed regime, on the other hand, I might want to spoof my location and unblock video games on steam and other sites that are unavailable in my country or look for car rentals at cheaper prices in various locations. 

Despite what some providers claim, VPNs don't make your internet connection load any faster. A VPN can put a stop to bandwidth throttling, however. This occurs when your internet services provider slows your connection after concluding that you're using too much data, but your ISP can't restrict your data usage if they don't know what you're looking at in the first place!

Can I use a free VPN with Kodi?

If you're convinced of the advantages of a VPN, it's only human to see if there's a free service out there that you can use instead of paying a monthly subscription fee. It's not a bad idea, either – think of all the free software on GitHub you can download for Kodi. 

But VPNs are one sector where you should definitely stay away from free products. This doesn't mean that every free VPN in the world is bad – but if they're not charging a fee, you have to wonder how they make their money. And that's where things get ugly...

• A lot of free VPN services make their money by selling your data to third parties for commercial purposes. To avoid a lawsuit, many free VPN providers hide this secret away in a bulky privacy policy.
• Others just don't have the necessary security features most people are looking for – IP leaks are more common in free services with poorly maintained server networks.
• Some providers even steal your bandwidth when you sign up for their services, slowing you down to a snail's pace. 

These are just a few examples illustrating the plethora of risks associated with the free VPN market – many more exist. Customer retention – and in turn care – is of little importance, at least when compared to download figures. Check out this article on VPN scams for more information on why you should avoid free services.

Final thoughts

This article has shown you precisely how to install Netflix on Kodi, how a VPN can improve your use of both the site and the system drastically, and also some of the other benefits to using one when you head online.

If you're ready to take the plunge and improve your internet privacy significantly, here's a quick reminder of our top picks to pair with Kodi: 

1. ExpressVPN - the best VPN for Kodi. You get a secure, fast and versatile service. Everything you need to stream Kodi safely without any buffering.
TIP

In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

2. NordVPN - a top-tier VPN for Kodi without the top end pricing – we recommend checking out the wealth of features they offer.
3. PrivateVPN - One of the cheapest VPNs out there, but an incredibly good service
4. Ivacy - a VPN with apps for all platforms and a custom Kodi VPN app to make things easy.
5. Surfshark - the cheapest VPN for Kodi on our list. You get excellent speeds to handle HD streaming, and it works with most major streaming services.