Best VPN for Nvidia Shield in 2024: Unlimited streaming

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, securing your online presence is no longer a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity. This is where Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) come in. They effectively conceal your identity and location with military-grade encryption and reroute you through a global network of servers.

Now, envision combining this security with the versatility of Nvidia Shield. Suddenly, geo-restrictions become a thing of the past. While journeying abroad, you can effortlessly access the extensive American Netflix library or the exclusive UK’s BBC iPlayer, empowering you with unrestricted content access.

Too pressed for time? We get it. Jump straight to our expertly curated summary of the best VPN service providers tailored for Nvidia Shield:

1. NordVPN: Our top recommendation for Nvidia Shield! Tons of servers and excellent connection speeds. Zero logs and strong encryption. Works with Netflix and other content streaming sites. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.TIP: In our testing, we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Nvidia Shield.
2. Surfshark: Great budget choice for Nvidia Shield. A fast and versatile VPN that keeps no logs and provides a wealth of online security features. Unlimited simultaneous connections are supported.
3. IPVanish: Strong security, decent connection speeds, and works great with Kodi. Strict no-logs policy with military-grade encryption.
4. ExpressVPN: A great VPN with fast servers in 100+ countries. Has robust security, a strict no-logs policy, and is capable of securely accessing a wide range of popular streaming platforms.
5. CyberGhost: Huge network of servers perfect for accessing geo-blocked content on Nvidia Shield. Works with Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, and plenty of other streaming sites.
6. PureVPN: Servers in 65+ countries and a choice of IPs across the US. Works to watch international TV platforms on Nvidia Shield. Allows 10 connections. 
7. ProtonVPN: Impressively fast and advanced VPN.Perfect for streaming Netflix US and many other platforms. Ideal for secure torrenting. 
8. PrivateVPN: Fast connections and great for streaming. Strong encryption and a no-logs policy make this a great VPN for secure internet traffic on Nvidia and other devices.

How we selected the top Nvidia Shield VPNs

There are many VPNs on the market, but they don’t all offer the same level of service. They aren’t all as safe or secure and won’t all have the ability to access the services you want. But don’t worry, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it for you.

Since Nvidia Shield runs on Android TV, we’ve mainly looked at VPNs with Android TV apps on Google Play. In addition, we tested the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield based on the following criteria:

• Works with Nvidia Shield (Android TV)
• Fast download speeds for HD streaming
• Works with popular streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime
• Strong encryption
• No online activity or connection logs
• Excellent customer service and a money-back guarantee

You can read more about this testing process and the results of those tests in the methodology section below. But first, let’s take a closer look at the VPNs that impressed us.

Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield: Our hands-on review

We’ve researched and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Would you prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Nvidia Shield.

Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield Streaming

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield:

1. NordVPN

Dec 2024 Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

NordVPN is our number-one choice VPN for Nvidia Shield. This veteran provider makes an Android TV app available from the Google Play Store along with the alternative option to download the Android APK directly from its website. It’s also available on the Amazon App Store if you happen to use that as an alternative.

We’re pleased to reveal that NordVPN offers exceptional performance, making it well-suited to tasks like streaming. Its well-optimized servers delivered an average speed of 204.45 Mbps – roughly 13 times what you’d need to watch 4K video without interruption. Our expert reviewers noted a high degree of consistency too; there was less than a 3 Mbps difference between NordVPN’s fastest and slowest results. Here’s how well it performed at different times of day:

NordVPN operates more than 6,200 servers in 111 countries, and it’s great for securely accessing video streaming content like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu. It offers download speeds fast enough to stream video in HD and strong encryption to keep your internet traffic private. NordVPN adheres to a strict zero-logs policy, so it doesn’t record any information about what you do while connected.

You may connect up to ten devices at a time on a standard subscription. NordVPN is also available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux.

BEST VPN FOR NVIDIA SHIELD:NordVPN is our number one VPN choice. It’s versatile, fast, and security-conscious, making it ideal for Nvidia Shield users. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

Surfshark has an Android app and currently operates roughly 1,000 servers in more than 60 countries. Its connections are fast enough to stream live HD video without any issues at all, which is perfect since this VPN works with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. Surfshark has no connection limit, meaning you can protect every connected device you own with a single account.

Surfshark might be a lower-cost option, but it’s absolutely capable of standing side by side with the other providers in this list. In fact, after a full day of testing, its average speed was a remarkable 204.13 Mbps, very nearly matching NordVPN. Needless to say, this is more than enough for live streaming and is ideal for families who all like to use the internet at the same time. Take a look at Surfshark’s full speed test results below:

This VPN uses AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, maximum protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch to protect you from prying eyes. There’s also automatic ad and malware blocking, and a NoBorders feature that lets you bypass country-wide internet restrictions. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, so your activities can’t be traced back to you. Customer support is available via 24/7 live chat and email.

Surfshark apps are available for Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It can be manually installed on your home router.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is a great value VPN choice that offers high-speed connections, powerful security features, a no-logs policy, and exceptional versatility at a very reasonable price. Best of all, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

IPVanish’s Android TV app is available on Google Play, and an APK file is available as a backup option directly from IPV’s website.

This provider offers robust security and doesn’t keep any logs of what you do while connected to its servers. It operates a vast server network spanning. Connection speeds are decent, and connections are stable. IPVanish is easy to use but comes with a fair amount of customization if you want to delve into the settings options.

IPVanish has long been a favorite of Android users thanks to its sleek, remote-friendly app and steady performance. Of course, its improved reliability when it comes to streaming has only made it an even better option for Shield users. During our latest testing, this VPN delivered an average speed of 189.86 Mbps. In other words, you’re not going to notice any issues while watching TV or streaming games from the cloud. Below, we’ll break down IPVanish’s speeds across a full day of testing:

IPVanish is a fantastic streaming VPN for people who like to enjoy home TV on vacation, or who want to access regional content to enjoy added online freedom. It’s also a favorite among Kodi users and works with all the Kodi add-ons we’ve tested.

You can connect unlimited devices at a time, and apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV.

COMBINE WITH KODI:IPVanish works great with Kodi addons and offers robust security on every connection. No connection or bandwidth limits. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

ExpressVPN makes an Android TV app that can be installed on Nvidia Shield right from the Google Play Store. If that’s not an option for some reason, you can download the APK installer file directly from the ExpressVPN website.

ExpressVPN boasts robust security. You can safely stream content from dozens of countries, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Excellent access to live chat support is available 24/7 should you encounter any issues.

ExpressVPN is a great choice for any Nvidia Shield user, especially if you like to bring your device with you on vacation. Aside from its automatic obfuscation, it offers first-class unblocking ability and ultra-quick connections. As per our latest testing, this service boasted an average speed of 192.79 Mbps with less than 2 Mbps of variance across multiple tests. Simply put, you’re not going to struggle when it comes to streaming, gaming, or browsing the web. Let’s see the full results:

ExpressVPN allows subscribers to connect up to eight devices at a time, so in addition to your Shield, you could make use of some of the apps available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV, and certain wifi routers.

FLAWLESS STREAMING:ExpressVPN boasts high speeds and strong security, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. Works great with popular streaming platforms.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

CyberGhost makes an app for Android TV that allows you to securely stream favorites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. You can either choose a server location or select from a list which content streaming service you want to use. That means there’s no trial and error, messaging customer service, or searching the web to figure out which servers work with a particular online streaming service.

This VPN has a great reputation thanks to its expansive network and streaming-optimized servers. However, even the general-purpose ones are quick enough for most tasks. We tested CyberGhost’s US servers three times and recorded an average speed of 190.13 Mbps. For context, that’s quick enough to download a 1GB file in under a minute, or to stream a dozen 4K videos at the same time. It’s also the most consistent service we saw, with all three tests within 1 Mbps of each other. Check out the full results below:

CyberGhost scores high for both security and internet speed, plus the company stores no logs of your activity or connections. In addition to Android TV, apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. You can connect up to seven devices at a time.

GOOD FOR BEGINNERS:CyberGhost is the fastest VPN we’ve tested this year, and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

PureVPN is a low-cost VPN that is based in the British Virgin Islands. This ensures it is outside the jurisdiction of countries like the US, the UK, and the EU. The VPN service boasts a vast network of over 6,000 servers across more than 65 countries, offering a cost-effective solution for changing your IP address. It also makes it fantastic for accessing foreign streaming services on your Nvidia Shield TV.

PureVPN has plenty to offer, especially if you’re using a less powerful device like an Nvidia Shield. Its Android app is lightweight and intuitive, plus its servers are quick enough for virtually any task. With an average speed of 154.85 Mbps, it may not be the fastest VPN on the market but it’s still head and shoulders above the majority of other services. Even if your whole family wants to watch TV at the same time, PureVPN can handle it. Here’s how well it performed at three times of day:

Despite being a highly affordable premium VPN, PureVPN does not compromise on privacy and security. It provides robust protection against government censorship, online surveillance, and security risks on public wifi networks. Its features include a strict no-logs policy, AES encryption, various protocol options, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection.

A notable advantage of PureVPN is its compatibility with a wide array of streaming services; and Android TV app, which you can install directly to your Nvidia Shield TV. In our tests, PureVPN efficiently worked with 12 out of 15 streaming platforms tested, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock, as well as British, Canadian, Brazilian, German, Japanese, and French services.

Torrenting is supported across its network, and it offers port forwarding as an optional paid feature. Unfortunately, we found live chat support to be slow to respond. However, this is a minor quibble. You can test the VPN on your Nvidia Shield smart TV firsthand thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

UNBEATABLE VALUE:PureVPN has servers in 65+ countries to let you get an IP address on any continent. A choice of IPs across the US makes it great for bypassing blackout games or watching US services abroad. Strong AES encryption and a kill switch. Works to watch international TV platforms on Nvidia Shield. Fully audited no logging policy. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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7. Proton VPN

works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

ProtonVPN was developed by the creators of ProtonMail in Switzerland. It is a highly trusted and robust VPN that is feature-rich and benefits from Swiss data protection laws. True to its privacy brand and reputation, ProtonVPN upholds a rigorous no-logging policy, which has undergone comprehensive audits. Users can connect to self-owned secure core servers, which offer enhanced security albeit at slightly slower speeds.

The VPN provides advanced apps for a variety of platforms, including an Android TV app you can install from the Google app store directly on your Nvidia Shield TV. It also has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and Linux.

ProtonVPN is perhaps best known for its free offering, but if you’re looking to get the best performance, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan. Our experts tried it three separate times and noted an average speed of 119.98 Mbps. This is well above what you’ll need to stream, play games, or video call without interruption. Our only complaint is that it’s a little less consistent than some of its rivals, leading to speed fluctuations throughout the day. Here’s a chart showing how well ProtonVPN performed:

Subscribers benefit from AES encryption, multiple protocol choices, a stealth VPN, a system-level kill switch, obfuscation, multi-hop connections, split tunneling, and port forwarding, making Proton VPN one of the most sophisticated VPNs on the market.

ProtonVPN’s network now spans over 85 countries, allowing users to obtain IP addresses across a multitude of locations and cities. During testing, the VPN provided access to five different Netflix regions, British TV services, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and many other popular streaming platforms worldwide.

The primary drawback is that it is a touch expensive. Due to its advanced options, it may also have a steeper learning curve for beginners. However, for those who prioritize torrenting or need its advanced features, the cost is justifiable. You can try the VPN on Nvidia Shield or any of your other devices using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

HIGHLY SECURE:ProtonVPN is an impressively fast and advanced VPN. Based in Switzerland, it has a no-logs policy. Robust AES encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation. Works to get an IP address in 85+ countries. Perfect for streaming Netflix US and many other platforms. Ideal for secure torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

Works with Nvidia ShieldTested Dec 2024

PrivateVPN’s Android TV app is the same as the phone app, but it works fine on both big and small screens. An APK file is available from the website in case Google Play is not available for some reason.

PrivateVPN is a smaller provider than the others on this list, but it punches well above its weight class in terms of internet speed. It’s great for streaming and works with more international Netflix libraries than any other VPN we’ve tested. Security is what you’d expect from a veteran provider, and PrivateVPN doesn’t store any logs of your activity or connection.

PrivateVPN is a reliable service that’s ideal for streaming. That said, it’s not the quickest one on the market. During our testing, it delivered an average speed of 95.57 Mbps, impressive when compared to most other providers but quite a bit lower than the rest of our top picks. All the same, it’s up to the task of streaming video and games, so Nvidia Shield users don’t have anything to worry about. The full speed test results are shown below:

You may connect up to 10 devices at the same time on a standard subscription. Apps are also available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV.

KEEP IT SIMPLE:PrivateVPN offers an intuitive and straightforward app with all the powerful features you would expect from a much larger provider. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield

There are thousands of VPNs out there, all competing for your attention. However, most are designed with desktop systems in mind, and as such, their Android versions aren’t always optimized for lower-power devices like Nvidia Shields or Amazon Fire Sticks. We put together an extensive testing process so that we could say definitively which VPNs are best for Nvidia Shield users. You’ll find our five main areas of focus (and the results of our testing) below:

American server speeds

Our readers ask us quite often whether a VPN will slow down their connection. The answer is “almost always, yes”. On the plus side, they’re much quicker than they used to be, and some have even developed their own protocols aimed at minimizing speed loss. As such, you should be able to perform most day-to-day tasks (streaming, torrent, etc) without any noticeable slowdown.

Now, a VPN’s speed can change based on all sorts of things, including your distance to the server, the time of day, or your connection protocol. To get the most accurate results, we ran three tests per day on each VPN’s American servers, then averaged them to get a single representative speed. Our base connection was limited to 246 Mbps too since that’s roughly the average US home broadband speed. After all of this, we normalized the results relative to other providers, giving us a final score out of 10 for each. Let’s see how our top picks stacked up:

The first thing you’ll notice is NordVPN and Surfshark fighting for first place. NordVPN technically won, but only by 0.32 Mbps. With margins as slim as this, it only seemed fair to award both VPNs 10 points. PrivateVPN was bottom of the table despite the fact that its average was well above the industry standard – it just goes to show how tough the competition is in this category!

Streaming ability

If you’re using an Nvidia Shield, it’s pretty safe to assume you’re interested in streaming. Unfortunately, though, most major streaming apps try to prevent VPN users from watching anything. That’s why we personally put each provider up against a series of stubborn streaming platforms, noting down which they could access and which caused them problems. We also looked into whether they offered anything that would help streamline your experience (such as automatic ad-blocking and streaming-optimized servers). Here are our findings:

Just like before, we assigned points based on the table above then weighted and normalized the results. Here are our final standings for the streaming category:

NordVPN took the top spot with an impressive 9.6 out of 10. It worked reliably with every service we tested, could access a wide range of Netflix libraries, and has one of the largest networks around. Plus, we rarely had to try multiple servers to find one suitable for streaming. PrivateVPN worked fairly well too, though it had difficulty with certain platforms and lacked the expansive network of its rivals, leading to a lower overall score.

Security and privacy

If a VPN doesn’t prioritize its users’ security above everything else, it can’t be trusted and isn’t worth using. But how do you determine if a service is really privacy-conscious? Don’t worry: our experts have identified more than a dozen relevant areas of concern and listed them side-by-side in the table below for easier viewing.

We know that this is pretty complicated so to simplify things, we’ve assigned points based on each provider’s security offering, then weighted and normalized them. This resulted in a single score out of 10 for each of our top VPNs. The chart below shows each provider’s security score, with a higher result pointing to a more robust security toolkit.

NordVPN and Surfshark tied for the top spot again, each scoring 9.5 points. ProtonVPN followed closely behind with 9.3, while ExpressVPN took third place, with 9.2. PrivateVPN earned the lowest score, but even that was a respectable 8.6; with a few additional privacy tools and switching the default encryption level to AES-256, it would have scored higher, though.

Ease of use

Here at Comparitech, we believe that everyone should be able to browse the internet safely. That’s why we strongly prioritize newcomer-friendly services and reward VPNs that have been designed with ease of use in mind. For instance, they may have scrapped connection limits entirely, introduced clearly labeled streaming servers, or rolled out 24/7 customer support. The table below lays out everything our team looked at when testing our top picks, as well as how well each VPN performed:

No surprises here, once we tallied up each VPN’s score, we weighted and normalized them. Check out the full comparison of our recommended providers:

We’ve seen stiff competition before but this was the closest category by far. Our top provider (NordVPN) earned 9.6 points, while the one in last place (PrivateVPN) earned 8.6. Simply put, all of our top picks are extremely user-friendly, with very little to set each apart from its rivals. NordVPN just managed to snag the win thanks to its specialty servers and neatly-organized apps.

Value for money

While not related to a VPN’s performance, price is a deciding factor for a lot of potential users. In our years of testing consumer VPNs, we’ve come to realize that there’s a service for every price point and that you don’t have to break the bank to get a high-quality VPN. Our team examines the overall pricing structure of each provider, checks for ways to reduce the cost, and highlights any features that make the service particularly good for the money. Further, we require that VPNs offer a money-back guarantee in order to earn a spot on this list.

Surfshark came out on top in this category thanks to its unlimited connections and lower-than-average price point. Its single-month plans could be slightly cheaper but overall it represents fantastic value. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, scored just 7.4 points. This is largely because its long-term plans cost a little more than expected, though it’s worth noting that ProtonVPN is the only provider in this list that offers a free plan.

How to download and set up a VPN on Nvidia Shield

Nvidia Shield runs on Android TV, which is a TV-compatible version of the Android operating system used on many of today’s smartphones. Android TV has its own partitioned section of the Google Play Store, which means a smaller selection of apps than you’d get for a phone.

Some of the VPNs we recommend have apps specifically for Android TV that you can use on Nvidia Shield. Others will allow you to download an APK installer file directly from the VPN provider’s website. We’ll show you how to install both below:

If your VPN app is available on Google Play for Android TV:

1. On your Shield, open the Google Play Store from the Apps section of the home screen.
2. Search for the name of your VPN. It should show up in the search results.
3. Select your VPN from the list to open its app page. If there are multiple VPNs with the same name, make sure to check which is the official version.
4. Select Install.
5. Accept the app permissions to complete the installation.

You can now open the app from the home screen and sign in. Just select a location and hit Connect to get started.

If your VPN doesn’t make an Android TV app, or Google Play is not an option, grab a USB flash drive and follow these instructions:

1. On a PC or Macbook, open a web browser and go to your VPN provider’s website.
2. Download the Android APK file for your VPN app onto a USB flash drive. If you cannot find the download page, consult your provider’s customer service.
3. Safely eject the flash drive from your computer once the download is complete.
4. On your Shield, go to Settings > Security and Restrictions.
5. Toggle on Unknown sources. Press OK when a warning appears.
6. From the home screen, open Google Play (or whatever alternative app store you have access to, e.g. Amazon).
7. Search for and select ES File Explorer or FX File Explorer. Either one should work.
8. On the app page, select Install and Accept the app permissions.
9. Insert your USB flash drive into the Shield.
10. Open the file explorer app you just installed and navigate to your USB drive or media card.
11. Open the APK file you downloaded from your VPN provider’s website.
12. When the installation finishes, select Open.

You can now use the Android app on your Shield. Note that this version of the app is probably made for phones and not TVs, so navigating the interface might not be so intuitive. You should be able to sign in and connect to a server, though.

How to stop buffering on Nvidia Shield

Several things can cause buffering on an Nvidia Shield. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to help you find and solve the problem:

• Check your internet speed. You’ll need at least 5 Mbps of download bandwidth to stream video from many services. VPNs can also slow down your internet, so if you find that buffering increases while connected to the VPN, try a different server or provider. An Ethernet connection will usually offer faster and more reliable speeds than Wi-Fi. If you’re using an ethernet connection, be sure to toggle the Ethernet switch on in the settings.
• Update your Nvidia Shield and applications. Older versions of streaming apps and the Nvidia Shield operating system (Android) might struggle to stream efficiently. Be sure your OS and apps are all up to date. If apps aren’t set to update automatically, you can update them through the Google Play Store. Some users have found success in reinstalling troublesome apps.
• Disable or modify apps that affect internet routing. VPNs, pi-hole, custom DNS servers, ad blockers, and other apps that affect your internet connection can interfere with playback. Try turning them off and on again, one by one, to narrow down the culprit.
• Reboot. Completely reboot the Nvidia Shield; don’t just put it into sleep mode. Likewise, you can reboot your wi-fi router and internet modem.
• Reset the Shield. When all else fails, perform a factory reboot on the shield.

Shield TV versus standard NVIDIA Shield

The Shield TV is a newer, more compact version of the NVIDIA Shield. It’s sort of like the Amazon Fire TV stick compared to the Fire TV Cube—a more compact unit at the cost of performance.

Any VPN that works on Nvidia SHIELD should work just the same on Shield TV. But note that the Shield TV’s lower specs could mean it could struggle to encrypt and decrypt data in transit. That could result in more buffering when using a VPN.

VPNs for Nvidia Shield FAQ

See also: Best VPNs for Kodi