Will Netflix Work in USA if I Buy It in India?

You’re in India, you’ve got a Netflix account, and you’re wondering-will it still work when you land in the USA? You’re not alone. Thousands of travelers, expats, and digital nomads ask this exact question every month. The short answer? No, your Indian Netflix account won’t give you the same content in the USA. But here’s what actually happens-and how to fix it without breaking any rules.

Why Netflix Shows Different Content in Different Countries

So when you’re in India, you see content licensed for India. When you’re in the USA, Netflix checks your location and shows you content licensed for the US. It’s not about your account. It’s about where your device says you are.

This isn’t a glitch. It’s called geo-blocking, and it’s built into every major streaming service. Netflix uses your IP address, GPS, and even your device’s language settings to figure out where you are. If you’re in the US, you get the US library. If you’re in India, you get the Indian library. Simple as that.

What Happens When You Travel from India to the USA

What do you see?

You still see your Indian account. Your profile, your watch history, your saved shows-all still there. But the content? It’s gone. Instead of 1,200 Indian titles, you’re now looking at the US library: around 5,500 titles, mostly Hollywood movies, American TV shows, and Netflix originals like Bridgerton and The Crown.

Here’s the catch: You won’t see Scam 1992 anymore. Not unless Netflix has licensed it in the US (which it hasn’t). Same goes for Panchayat, Delhi Crime, or any other Indian show that’s exclusive to the Indian catalog.

It’s not that Netflix blocked you. It’s that the content you loved simply doesn’t exist in the US licensing pool. Your account is fine. The shows you want? They’re locked behind regional deals.

Can You Use a VPN to Access Indian Netflix in the USA?

Many people use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to make Netflix think they’re still in India. You install a VPN app, connect to a server in Mumbai, and suddenly Scam 1992 reappears. It works. For a while.

Netflix has spent over $1 billion on anti-VPN technology. It knows the IP addresses of every major VPN provider. If you’re using ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark, Netflix will likely detect it and show you a message: "You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy." Then it blocks your connection.

Even if you find a VPN that works today, it might not work next week. Netflix updates its blocklist constantly. You’ll spend more time troubleshooting than watching shows.

And here’s the legal gray area: Netflix’s Terms of Service say you’re only allowed to use the service in the country where you signed up. Using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions violates those terms. Netflix doesn’t sue users-but they can and do suspend accounts for repeated violations.

What You Can Legally Do Instead

• Download shows before you leave. Netflix lets you download content for offline viewing. If you know you’re going to the US, download your favorite Indian shows while you’re still in India. They’ll stay on your device for 30 days, even if you’re abroad.
• Use a local streaming service in the US. If you’re staying long-term, sign up for a US Netflix account. It costs $15.49/month. You’ll get access to a bigger library, including shows you can’t get in India. You can even keep your Indian account for when you visit home.
• Check if the show is available elsewhere. Some Indian shows are licensed to international platforms. Delhi Crime is on Netflix globally. The Family Man is on Amazon Prime Video in the US. Search the show’s name + "streaming US"-you might find it legally.

For short trips, downloading is your best friend. For long stays, getting a local account is the cleanest solution.

Why This System Exists (And Why It Won’t Change)

Because studios won’t let them.

Movie studios and TV networks make billions selling regional rights. A single movie might sell for $5 million in the US, $500,000 in India, and $200,000 in Brazil. If Netflix offered global access, studios would lose control-and revenue. They’d rather sell to multiple platforms than let one service dominate everywhere.

Netflix is stuck in the middle. It can’t ignore regional licensing. If it did, it would lose access to everything. That’s why even Netflix originals like Sacred Games are only available in certain countries.

There’s no global Netflix. There are 190 regional Netflixes. Each one has its own rules, its own catalog, and its own price.

What About Buying a Netflix Subscription in India for Use in the USA?

Whether you paid with an Indian credit card, a PayPal account linked to Delhi, or even a gift card bought at a Mumbai store-it doesn’t matter. Your location is what counts.

So if you’re thinking, "I’ll just get the cheaper Indian plan and use it in the US," that won’t work. You’ll pay less, but you’ll get less content. And if Netflix catches you using a VPN to bypass region locks, you could lose access entirely.

It’s not worth the risk. The Indian plan costs ₹199/month (about $2.40). The US plan costs $15.49. That’s a $13 difference. But if you want the full US library, you’re better off paying the difference than risking your account.

Final Answer: No, But Here’s How to Make It Work

Your best options:

1. Download Indian shows before you leave India.
2. Sign up for a US Netflix account if you’re staying long-term.
3. Check if your favorite Indian shows are available on other platforms in the US.

There’s no magic trick. No loophole. Just smart choices based on how the system actually works.

Frequently Asked Questions