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You might not realize that there are other differences between the US and Canada, besides just a variance in food and culture. For example, even though the two countries border each other and the US is a mere handful of hours away for many Canadians, you might be surprised that streaming services between the two countries also change as soon as you cross the frontier.
Netflix Canada ranks third when it comes to the most extensive Netflix content library, coming in behind the US, which ranks second. This means that you won’t see a very significant difference between the libraries of Netflix Canada and US. Still, let’s look at how they differ and which one you should choose.
US Netflix Vs. Canada Netflix At A Glance
US Netflix Advantages:
- Ranks second in the world with its large content library
- Features a lot more TV shows than Netflix Canada, such as Parks and Recreation, The Office, and Grey’s Anatomy
- Costs less than Netflix Canada
US Netflix Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t stream certain award-winning movies when compared to Netflix Canada
Canada Netflix Advantages:
- Features popular movies such as Pretty Little Liars and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Offers a broad variety of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and anime
- Streams many movies with
Canada Netflix Disadvantages:
- Slightly more expensive than US Netflix
- Doesn’t stream as many TV shows as US Netflix
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is US Netflix.
What’s the Difference Between Them?
Content Availability
With both the US and Canada boasting two of the three largest Netflix content collections, you’re pretty well off using either. You’ll find some titles that are exclusive to each country, though, which means that for some people, one country may seem to have a “better” variety of content.
On Netflix Canada, you’ll find a total of 5,460 titles, 3,998 of which are movies and the remaining 1,462 being TV series. On Netflix USA, you’ll find 5,609 titles with 3,999 movies and 1,610 TV series.
Verdict: As Netflix USA offers more titles overall, it comes out the winner here.
Subscription Costs
Prices also differ. Netflix Canada is consistently $1 USD higher for any of the three streaming plans. The cheapest plan costs $9.99 in Canada, whereas it’s $8.99 in the US. This price difference stays consistent in all streaming plans with pricing at $13.99 and $16.99 in Canada and $12.99 and $15.99 in the US.
Verdict: Although the price difference isn’t that big, Netflix USA does have a slight advantage here. There isn’t much difference, though, so this shouldn’t be a huge factor to consider.
Exclusive Content
If you’re curious about what titles are exclusive to Netflix USA and Netflix Canada, here’s a quick glance.
In the US, you’ll have access to movies like Paranormal Activity, the Wicker Man, Sling Blade, and Sin City. Some TV series that are available on Netflix USA but not Netflix Canada include Criminal Minds, Dexter, the Twilight Zone, the Tudors, and Parks and Recreation.
In Canada, you’ll have access to movies like Fast and Furious 8, the entire Jurassic Park collection, Back to the Future, and all of the Harry Potter movies.
Verdict: US Netflix wins. There are exclusive titles on both countries’ Netflix, but US Netflix tends to have more.
4K and HDR Features
There’s no doubt that price is an essential factor to consider, but these days, most people watch content in 4K and HDR. Hence, this is also a crucial factor to weigh up.
4K is the technology that makes movies appear crystal clear on your screen. It affects your TV’s pixels as well as screen resolution. To this end, it’s worth noting that both Canadian and US Netflix offer 4K resolution.
On the other hand, HDR (or High Dynamic Range) affects the color contrast of your movies. With HDR, you’ll get to enjoy more vibrant and brighter images. Once again, both Canadian and US Netflix offer HDR for the best viewing quality.
Verdict: It’s a tie since they both offer 4K and HDR content. Still, it was an important point to note.
Why Are They Different?
Every country has different laws and regulations surrounding movie distribution rights. Even though the US and Canada are neighbors, the laws are very different, which means Netflix may offer different shows and movies to each country at different times.
For every movie or TV series that Netflix wants to host on its platform, it must work with each individual country and follow its movie distribution rights policies.
In the US, Netflix has to compete with other streaming services like Hulu and HBO, who may have the rights to a movie or TV series before Netflix can ask for them. In Canada, this may not be the case, so Netflix is able to host said show or movie within the country.
How to Watch US Netflix in Canada
Even if you have never traveled to the US, it’s possible to watch US Netflix while in Canada. You don’t even have to change your current Netflix Canada account or upgrade your membership to do so.
The use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) has grown rapidly in the past few years. More and more users are turning to VPNs on their phones, laptops, or other electronic devices in order to access and stream content that may not otherwise be available in their country.
There are tons of different VPN options available, but some are more reliable than others. While you can find free versions, these often come with fewer choices and are more limiting than subscription versions. If you want a VPN you know is trustworthy, check out ExpressVPN.
Quite simply, ExpressVPN stands out with its high level of security, high speed, and ease of use. Some VPNs don’t offer high-speed connections, which will affect your streaming. ExpressVPN not only offers a stable and fast connection, it’s extremely effective in helping you gain access successfully to content from anywhere. They also emphasize privacy a lot, redirecting your traffic to a remote server through a secure connection that’s encrypted while also concealing your data and identity.
Steps To Watch US Netflix in Canada:
- Install ExpressVPN or your VPN of choice on your devices.
- After installation, launch the app and sign in or register.
- Choose a US location on the VPN server, such as Washington DC, New York, or Los Angeles.
- Next, open your Netflix account either via app or website.
- You’re automatically sent to the Netflix USA website!
If you ever turn off the VPN then access your Netflix account, you’ll be sent to the Netflix platform for the country where you’re physically located. If you’re at home in Canada, this will be Netflix Canada. If you’re traveling, this will be wherever you’re currently visiting.
How to Watch Netflix Canada In the US
VPNs allow you to bypass your geographical location so it’s possible to watch Canadian Netflix if you’re in the US too.
Similarly, your VPN service will replace your actual US IP address with one that is located in Canada. This way, you can access Canadian Netflix content in the US.
Steps to Watch Netflix Canada in the US:
- Sign up for your ExpressVPN account and download the app on your device.
- Open the app and sign in.
- Connect to a VPN server that’s in Canada.
- You will now be connected to an IP address in Canada and can watch Netflix Canada.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the difference between both countries’ Netflix isn’t too significant. However, there are more exclusive titles in the US which means you’d miss out on them if you were watching Canada Netflix. Besides, the cheaper price point of US Netflix is just another bonus. At the end of the day, while they don’t differ too much in rankings, US Netflix trumps Canada Netflix. The good news is that even if you live in Canada, you can now bypass the geographic restrictions and still gain access to US Netflix to enjoy its broad range of content.
