How to Watch Friends From Anywhere (Netflix & More): 2025

Finding Friends on Netflix has become increasingly frustrating as the show keeps switching regions. Which country has Friends on Netflix? While Australia still has Friends, most regions lost access when streaming rights changed hands. However, other platforms like Max and Hulu allow you to watch all 10 seasons of the popular show.

You can stream Friends in HD from anywhere with a reliable VPN that offers fast speeds. By encrypting your connection and routing it through private servers, a VPN lets you safely watch Friends while hiding your streaming activity from third parties — even your ISP. This can help you avoid ISP throttling to prevent buffering and quality drops during your binge sessions.

After my team and I tested 40+ VPNs, ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching Friends online. It has the fastest speeds of the VPNs we tested, along with robust security features, so you can stream the show smoothly without interruptions. You can also try ExpressVPN risk-free, thanks to its  30-day money-back guarantee. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Short on Time? Here Are the Best VPNs for Watching Friends in 2025

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

How to Watch Friends From Anywhere With a VPN

Friends can be streamed on a few different platforms, like Netflix, Max, and Hulu. While Hulu and Max are only available in the US, Netflix offers Friends on a few different global libraries, including Australia. VPNs offer robust security features, like encryption, to keep your connections private — so you can safely stream Friends from anywhere.

1. Choose a VPN

Select a VPN with fast servers in countries that stream Friends like Australia, the US, or New Zealand. I recommend ExpressVPN for its impressive speeds and ability to stream in UHD without interruptions.

If you're not satisfied with the service, you have 30 days to claim a refund

2. Download a VPN

Most VPNs offer native apps for mobile and desktop, which take seconds to install. To stream on your smart TV or Playstation, look for instructions on the VPN site for router setup (some VPNs offer custom router firmware) or a smart DNS feature for easy setup.

Choose your device to get guidance through the installation process

3. Configure the VPN App (Optional)

This step is not necessary, but I suggest to optimize your VPN for the best results. For instance, a kill switch and ad blocker can enhance your streaming experience and prevent your persnal data and location from being exposed to the sites you use.

Disconnect from the VPN to change the Advanced Protection settings

4. Connect to a Server

Open the server settings and choose the one that best suits your needs. The closer the server is to your location, the better your streaming speeds will be in most cases.

Click a star to favorite your preferred server to watch Friends

5. Choose Your Streaming Platform

Navigate to your preferred streaming service app or website and log in to your account. Both Netflix and Max require subscriptions, but Netflix is a little bit cheaper. Currently, Netflix's Basic plan with ads starts at $7.99/month, while Max begins at $9.99/month.

Choose the best plan for your needs

6. Start Watching Friends

You can now stream all 10 seasons of Friends in HD. Remember that streaming in Full HD (1080p), Ultra HD (4K), and HDR streaming depends on your internet service and device capabilities. Not all content on the streaming platforms is available in every resolution.

We chose the Lightway protocol for the best speeds

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Where Can I Watch Friends Online?

Friends availability varies significantly by region due to licensing agreements. Netflix still holds streaming rights in Australia, while Max and Hulu are the primary platforms in the US. You can also buy select episodes (or whole seasons) on Amazon Prime. Max and Amazon Prime additionally offer Friends: The Reunion.

Maybe you’re wondering, how can I watch Friends without Netflix for free? All 10 seasons of Friends are available for free on TVNZ and CTV, while Channel 5 has select episodes. Check out the details below:

Best VPNs for Watching Friends in 2025

A reliable VPN with fast servers lets you stream Friends in HD from anywhere while keeping your connection private. These VPNs consistently provide stable connections for uninterrupted streaming and work with popular platforms that offer Friends, like Netflix and Max.

1. ExpressVPN — Fast Speeds for HD Access to Friends Without Buffering

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested March 2025

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol delivers impressive speeds for HD streaming from anywhere. During our tests, ExpressVPN delivered great speeds. We only got an 8% speed loss on local servers. This let us watch multiple Friends episodes without any quality loss. Even distant servers maintained speeds fast enough for UHD streaming — a 22% loss on average.

The MediaStreamer feature lets you watch Friends on devices that don’t support VPN apps, including smart TVs and gaming consoles. I set it up on my Samsung TV by following the simple instructions on ExpressVPN's website. Its native apps for Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire Stick also make it easy to watch Friends on your big screen.

While it’s slightly more expensive than other VPNs on my list, you can save up to 61% with ExpressVPN's long-term plans. Each subscription supports 8 simultaneous connections and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the refund process through 24/7 live chat and got my money back within 3 days.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Popular Friends Streaming Platforms

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost's streaming-optimized servers provide safe access to platforms showing Friends. These connections get regular updates to maintain compatibility with Netflix, Max, and other services. During testing, we never experienced any issues with CyberGhost’s specialty streaming servers. Finding them is simple — just click For streaming and search for your preferred platform.

While not quite as fast as ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s speed drops stayed under 20% on local servers, which let us watch Friends with no buffering. Monthly plans are expensive and have a shorter refund window. However, long-term subscriptions start at just $2.19/month and let you try CyberGhost risk-free for 45 days thanks to its money-back guarantee.

3. Private Internet Access — Unlimited Connections to Cover Your Friends Streaming Devices

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV HBO Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

Unlike other VPNs on my list, Private Internet Access (PIA) offers unlimited simultaneous devices. That way, you can stream Friends without any interruptions if others use the VPN at the same time — so it’s a great option for large households. While testing PIA we didn’t experience any compromises in streaming quality, even with 5 devices connected at the same time.

You get extensive customization options to optimize your Friends streaming experience. While this flexibility is great for tech-savvy users, beginners might find it overwhelming at first. Plans are cheap, starting at just $2.19/month and include a 30-day money-back guarantee. I had no issues getting a refund through PIA's 24/7 live chat support when I tested the policy. The process was quick and hassle-free.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for Watching Friends

We prioritized testing VPNs with servers in countries where Friends is currently streaming, including Australia, the US, and New Zealand. Speed was crucial — we conducted extensive tests to ensure each VPN could handle HD streaming without buffering or quality loss. Server reliability and connection stability were equally important to prevent interruptions during streaming.

Which Countries Have Friends on Netflix?

Currently, only Netflix Australia holds the streaming rights for the show. Netflix's Friends availability changes frequently as streaming rights shift between platforms and regions. When did Friends leave Netflix UK? Both Netflix UK and Netflix US removed the show back in January 2020¹. Netflix Germany, Italy, Israel, and France lost the license to show Friends in 2024, similar to many Asian countries like India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Thanks to the show’s popularity and past presence in many different Netflix locations, you might be able to get subtitle or dubbing options in your preferred language. If you want to learn more about how to get subtitles for your favorite shows, check out our guide on how to change subtitles on Netflix.

FAQs on Watching Friends From Anywhere

How can I watch Friends in France?

It’s possible to stream Friends in France through Canal+ Max. France is another region where the show was recently removed from Netflix. So, the availability of Friends on French streaming platforms is pretty limited at this point.

Why does Friends keep disappearing from Netflix?

Friends moves between streaming platforms due to licensing agreements and regional broadcasting rights. Warner Bros., which owns Friends, shifts the show between different platforms based on contract negotiations and revenue potential. When Warner Bros. launched Max, they reclaimed Friends from Netflix in many regions to make it exclusive to their platform.

Can I watch Friends online for free?

Yes, you can watch Friends for free on platforms like TVNZ in New Zealand and CTV in Canada. Several streaming platforms offer free trials that also let you watch Friends for free for a limited period.

Remember that using unofficial streaming sites can expose you to malware and poor video quality. The safest approach is utilizing legitimate platforms' free trials or subscribing to services where Friends is available.

Can I watch Friends on Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Max?

Friends is available on Max in the US and select European countries. The show isn't currently streaming on Disney+, but you can purchase individual episodes or full seasons through Amazon Prime Video's store. However, with so many platforms to choose from, you can easily watch Friends in HD from anywhere.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs to Watch Friends on Netflix...

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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References

1. https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/leaving-soon/friends-leaving-netflix-in-more-countries-in-two-waves-in-2024/