Best VPNs for Smart TVs in 2025 and how to set them up

So, you’ve got your new smart TV, and it’s a game-changer. You can enjoy all your favorite shows and movies from the comfort of your couch. No more squinting at a computer screen or dealing with a tangle of cables. But there’s a catch. You’re missing out on a lot of content because it’s geo-restricted. That’s where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) comes in, offering a perfect solution to this problem.

Ready to unlock a world of content? We’re here to guide you on how to securely access geo-restricted content through your smart TVs, whether you’re in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, China, or anywhere else internationally. We’ve handpicked VPNs that are compatible with the most popular smart TV brands like Sony, Panasonic, LG, Philips, Samsung, Vizio, and more, ensuring you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies without any restrictions.

We’ll discuss all of the best VPNs for smart TVs in more detail below, but if you want to cut to the chase, here are our top choices.

Best VPN for Smart TV:

1. NordVPN: Hands-down best VPN for smart TVs. Works with a wide range of streaming sites to watch your favorite content. Fast and secure. Includes a smart DNS proxy service and router support if your TV doesn’t support VPN apps. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for smart TVs.
2. Surfshark: Best value VPN. It can be manually installed on a router. Provides solid speeds and powerful security features. Works with a wide range of streaming apps, including YouTube and Netflix. No limit on simultaneous connections.
3. IPVanish: Can be configured on a router and is popular with Kodi users. Fast speed and strong security, ideal for streaming and torrenting. Good at unlocking, including Netflix US and BBC iPlayer.
4. ExpressVPN: Highly-versatile VPN that boasts custom router firmware and a Smart DNS service. Always-on obfuscation and RAM-only servers. Key features like AES 256-bit encryption.
5. CyberGhost: A huge network of server locations. Works with Samsung Smart TVs and several other brands. Great for streaming and accessing geo-blocked content safely.
6. PureVPN: Provides detailed setup instructions for more than 30 types of router. Exceptional unblocking ability, strong security, and servers in more than 65 countries.
   
7. ProtonVPN: Works with all major streaming platforms and has a huge server network in 117 countries. Capable of blocking ads automatically. Proven no-logs policy and 24/7 customer support.
8. Private Internet Access: This can be manually configured with routers. Also offers an Amazon Fire TV app. Servers in 91 countries and unlimited bandwidth and device connections.
9. PrivateVPN: You can access Netflix and pretty much all other streaming sites on Smart TV, but requires manual configuration on routers.

Our criteria for smart TV VPNs

Contrary to what some may think, a VPN can work with a smart TV. Although most smart TVs don’t natively support VPNs, there are workarounds. You’ll need a VPN configured on your router to enable you to create your own protected wi-fi hotspot through your computer. Aside from that, you’ll want a VPN service that can securely access plenty of streaming sites and deliver in other areas, such as speed, reliability, and security. To find which VPNs could do this, we put them through their paces in multiple areas:

• Speed: We carried out speed tests while connected to each VPN’s servers in the UK, US and Singapore.
• Streaming ability: We scored providers on their compatibility with routers, the availability of a smart DNS service, and which streaming platforms they worked with.
• Security and privacy: We used 16 different criteria for calculating security and privacy scores.
• Ease of use: We used 10 individual metrics for evaluating how easy each VPN service was to use
• Value for money: We used eight unique criteria for gauging whether providers offered good value for money.

We go into more detail about our full testing process later in this article. We’ll also explore the data we generated during testing.

Best VPNs for a smart TV: A snapshot of features

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

Best Smart TV VPNs

Here is our list of the best VPNs for smart TVs:

1. NordVPN

Feb 2025

NordVPN is our number-one choice VPN for Smart TVs. This veteran provider has dedicated apps for Android TV and tvOS. It also works with many routers, which is great if — for example — you have a Samsung smart TV. If you don’t like the sound of configuring a connection, FlashRouters makes pre-configured Tomato or DD-WRT routers, which save you the hassle of manual installation.

Alternatively, the provider’s smart DNS feature enables you to spoof the DNS address of your smart TV so that you can still access geo-restricted content — even if the device doesn’t support VPN software natively.

NordVPN works with an impressive array of streaming platforms. During testing, we couldn’t find a platform it didn’t work with, which is about as good as it gets. We were able to access multiple content libraries from the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, as well as content from Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Sky Go.

To find out whether NordVPN was fast enough for streaming, we carried out multiple speed tests using its servers in three different countries: the UK, US, and Singapore. The chart below shows the results for NordVPN’s UK server.

As you can see, NordVPN was very fast in the UK, with speeds consistently in excess of 390 Mbps. Across all three countries, speeds averaged 324.8 Mbps, which is highly impressive and more than 130 Mbps faster than the combined averages of the other providers we tested.

Needless to say, NordVPN is suitable for streaming in the highest resolution available. It’s worth mentioning that VPNs don’t make your connection faster — the high speeds here reflect the fast base connection speed of the testing machine (508.05 Mbps).

The provider has a huge network of more than 7,200 servers in over 118 countries. This means there are always alternative options available if you happen to come across a server that doesn’t work with a particular platform.

This provider offers a strong suite of security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, a process-specific kill switch, and DNS leak protection.

Other features include split tunneling, public wi-fi protection, an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, multi-hop servers, one-click access to the Tor network, and a choice of connection protocols.

NordLynx is the fastest and most suitable for use with a smart TV. It even provides the option of protecting your traffic against future attacks by quantum computers. The NordWhisper protocol is designed to help users navigate VPN blocks by obfuscating their traffic so that it passes as regular internet traffic. NordWhisper is useful if you’re connecting from a restrictive country like China.

A basic NordVPN account will enable you to connect up to ten simultaneous devices. In addition to the apps mentioned earlier, desktop clients are available for Windows and MacOS, and mobile apps can be downloaded for Android and iOS.

BEST VPN FOR SMART TVS:NordVPN is ideal for Smart TVs. It’s extremely fast, includes a huge range of security features, and even offers a SmartDNS fallback. Moreover, you can try it risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our in-depth NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is an excellent choice for streaming while abroad. Not only does it work with services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, but it has some of the fastest speeds on the market.

In the tests for this article, Surfshark was the fastest provider overall. We came to this conclusion after carrying out multiple speed tests using Surfshark servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. The chart below shows the results from the UK server.

As you can see from the above, Surfshark was very fast in the UK (though not quite as fast as NordVPN).

The provider was also notably quick in Singapore, which is reflected in its average overall speed of 335.4 Mbps (which is slightly higher than NordVPN’s). Note that the tests were carried out on a virtual machine with an average download speed of 508.05 Mbps.

Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in its network, which are spread across 100+ countries. The well-designed app makes choosing between them and establishing a connection easy for anyone to manage.

In addition to apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux, Surfshark has apps for Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV. If your smart TV isn’t compatible with VPN software, Surfshark can be manually configured to work with your home router or, if you’d prefer, you can purchase a preconfigured DD-WRT router from FlashRouters.

Surfshark also has a smart DNS feature that can help your change your smart TV’s location to the US for streaming geo-restricted content. Note that smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your connection.

When connected to a VPN server, the software uses 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and a kill switch to keep your activities safe from snoopers.

The provider doesn’t keep any logs that could identify you and only uses RAM-only servers in its network. Users can create multi-hop connections for additional security, or enable Rotating IP so that their IP address changes while connected.

Surfshark lets you connect unlimited devices at once. Despite this, its subscriptions are keenly priced, with a two-year plan starting at the equivalent of $2.19 a month. If you’d like to test drive it, plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark lets you stream just about anything you want on your Smart TV. Better still, it’s a low-cost provider that nonetheless boasts strong security and privacy protections, decent speeds, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish can be configured to work on many home routers, enabling you to spoof the location of your smart TV along with any other connected device. Alternatively, if you want to save yourself some trouble, you can buy FlashRouter wi-fi routers pre-configured with IPVanish.

The provider has apps for Apple TV and Fire TV. These are the easiest options if your smart TV supports them. Note that apps are also available for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS. There’s no connection limit, meaning you can install and use the software on as many devices as you like simultaneously.

Once your smart TV’s traffic is being router through an IPVanish server, you’ll be able to access geo-restricted content from numerous platforms. In our tests, the provider worked with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

IPVanish has more than 2,400 servers available in 140+ locations. Users can connect via the map on the app’s dashboard or browse each country in more detail on the locations page. Unlike most other providers, IPVanish lets users choose between individual servers — available via the drop-down menu next to each location.

To find out how fast IPVanish was, we carried out speed tests while connecting to its servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. You can see the results for the UK server below.

The provider performed well in the UK, with speeds consistently above 210 Mbps. It did less well in Singapore, which dragged its average speed across all three countries down to 185.13 Mbps. Overall, it was a little slower than the combined average of the other providers — though still plenty fast enough for uninterrupted 4K streaming.

IPVanish keeps your information secure and private with 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. It comes with DNS and IPV6 leak protection and a kill switch. The latter will kill the internet connection in case the VPN connection is lost. This provider is completely log-free, so it can’t hand over any information, even if it’s asked to.

Subscriptions start at the equivalent of $2.19 a month for the basic plan. However, the Advanced plan is a great option for those focused on privacy and value for money. It brings together a bunch of useful features designed for online security: Unlimited VPN access, a full terabyte of secure cloud storage, and a sandboxed cloud browser you can use to surf the web without exposing your device to potential risks.

The sandboxed browser is especially valuable for added security. By keeping your browsing isolated, it blocks malicious trackers and malware from reaching your device. This is useful if you need higher levels of privacy or are browsing in regions with strict internet censorship.

In our tests, the browser was reliable for private browsing. However, HD and 4K streaming performance could be better. We also encountered captchas more often when searching on Google. That said, secure remote access remains an advantage for users in highly censored regions.

LARGE NETWORK:IPVanish is great for families. Good for most streaming services.  Recommended for their high standard of privacy. 24/7 live chat support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our in-depth IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another good provider that can securely access a variety of streaming sites. We used it to stream Netflix, HBO, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video without issue.

The provider has apps for all major operating systems as well as apps for Apple TV and Android TV. If your smart tv doesn’t support these operating systems, there are still options available.

ExpressVPN is unusual in that it makes its own custom router firmware. Users can replace their router’s existing firmware with ExpressVPN’s and use it to spoof the locations of all devices connected to the router — including smart TVs.

The firmware is intuitive and simple from a user standpoint. You can choose which devices to connect to the VPN and which go through a normal connection by making changes through an easy-to-use dashboard. If you’re in the market for a new router, ExpressVPN sells pre-configured wi-fi routers.

If encryption isn’t an important factor for you, ExpressVPN includes a smart DNS proxy server in every subscription. If your smart TV lets you change DNS settings, the proxy (called Media Streamer) can be set up independently of the VPN and still enable you to access streaming channels.

Media Streamer only lets you change you change your virtual location to the US. However, using an app or router configuration means you have access to the ExpressVPN’s full network, which comprises more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries.

To find out how fast the provider was, we carried out several speed tests while connected to ExpressVPN servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. You can see the results from the UK server in the chart below.

Speeds were consistent, though not as fast as the previously mentioned providers. ExpressVPN performed steadily in the US, but was slower in Singapore. Its average overall speed was slower than the combined averages of the other providers.

That said, it’s still more than fast enough for 4K streaming — provided you have a decent connection speed to start with (ours was 508.05 Mbps)

Security and privacy-conscious users will be pleased to know that the software uses 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. You also have a kill switch, split tunneling, and built-in leak protection.

The provider has its own connection protocol, and gives users the option to block ads, trackers, malware and adult sites. ExpressVPN maintains very minimal connection logs and never records user activity or IP addresses.

The main drawback is that subscriptions are a little pricey. However, as they come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can decide whether the service is worth it without risking anything financially.

GREAT EVERYDAY VPN:ExpressVPN is a solid performer with a router app, smart DNS service and top-quality privacy features. Great for streaming. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our in-depth ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost has a stellar reputation when it comes to streaming. This provider has more than 10,000 servers worldwide, and a presence in 100 countries. More importantly, it has a list of servers with the names of the streaming platforms that they work best with.

In our tests, we used these to access multiple content libraries from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus.

CyberGhost has dedicated apps for Android TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. If your smart TV doesn’t support any of these, but allows you access to tis DNS settings, you can use CyberGhost’s smart DNS feature to use the provider’s own DNS servers. These enable you to stream everything from Hulu to the UK and US versions of Netflix — though they will not encrypt your traffic.

If you can’t change your device’s DNS settings, the next best option is to configure CyberGhost on your router. The CyberGhost website has detailed set-up guides for routers running the DD-WRT and Tomato firmware. Once a connection has been configured, you can spoof the locations of all connected devices.

To find out how fast CyberGhost was, we carried out several speed tests while connected to its servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. We used a virtual machine with an average download speed of 508.05 Mbps. You can see the results for the UK server below.

CyberGhost was very quick in the UK, with speeds consistently above 270 Mbps. Across all three countries, it averaged 223.75 Mbps. This was faster than the combined average speed of the other providers. The take-home message is that CyberGhost is a solid choice speed-wise.

The provider offers robust security in the form of 256-AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. It also has a built-in kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection to ensure your traffic never leaves the encrypted tunnel.

The company has a strict no-logs policy, meaning no logs that can be tied to an individual user are kept. It has verified this with multiple third-party audits.

If you want to simplify the streaming process, CyberGhost lets you choose apps that, when opened, will automatically cause CyberGhost to launch and connect. This means, for example, that you don’t run the risk of connecting to a foreign streaming platform without first being connected to a VPN server.

CyberGhost subscriptions are good value, with a two-year plan costing the equivalent of $2.19 a month. Subscribers are permitted up to seven simultaneous device connections, which is less than the average, but sufficient for the vast majority of people.

GOOD VALUE VPN:CyberGhost is a great value choice. Strong on privacy, fast speeds, and reliable with smart TVs. We found it easy to set up and use. Works well with most streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.

See our in-depth CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

Feb 2025

PureVPN has more than 6,000 servers in 65 countries. More pertinently, it has a list of streaming servers that show the streaming platforms that they work with.

In our tests the provider was capable of accessing a huge range of stubborn streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer.

The provider has apps for Android TV, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Unfortunately, some smart TVs run on different operating systems and won’t work with these apps. In this case, you’ll need to configure a connection on your router.

The good news is that the support section of the PureVPN website has step-by-step setup guides for roughly three dozen different types of router. In other words, this service is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to use a VPN on their Smart TV.

To find out how fast PureVPN was, we tested its speeds several times while connected to its servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. The tests were carried out using a virtual machine with an average download speed of 508.05 Mbps. You can see the results for the UK server in the chart below.

PureVPN was slower than the previously mentioned providers, though speeds in the UK were still above 150 Mbps. Overall, its average speed across all three countries was 162.43 Mbps. This makes it fast enough for UHD streaming as long as you have a decent broadband connection.

The software includes a kill switch, a tracker-blocker, split tunneling for apps, a choice of three connection protocols, and built-in leak protection.

PureVPN has been audited four times, proving that it doesn’t keep any logs and that its apps are free from any known vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it obfuscates every connection, making it easier for users in restrictive countries to get online.

In addition to the apps already mentioned, PureVPN has apps — with a full GUI — for iOS, MacOS, Linux, Windows, and Android. Subscribers can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Virtually every VPN provider has an introductory price for its plans. After the initial period has ended, the price jumps up. The longest deals typically last for two years. However, PureVPN bucks this trend by offering a five-year plan. This costs the equivalent of $2.16 a month and is a great option if you’re happy to commit.

SIMPLE SETUP:PureVPN makes it as easy as possible to protect your home network. Not only that but it has robust security and works with just about every streaming service we’ve tried.

Take a look at our comprehensive PureVPN review.

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7. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN operates roughly 11,500 servers in 117 countries. This is one of the largest networks out there, making it a good choice if you’re trying to streaming platforms in less visited countries.

Users can choose a server straight from the dashboard thanks to a handy map. Those who use the country list can drill down to the server level to make their choice.

In addition to its regular servers, ProtonVPN has a hundred or so Secure Core servers. These are housed in high-security data centers that are company-owned and company-operated. Adding a Secure Core server to your connection ensures that your location isn’t exposed if the primary VPN server is compromised.

For the fastest speeds, it’s best to avoid using Secure Core servers due to the extra routing involved. The same applies to the available Tor servers.

For our speed tests, we connected to servers in the UK, US, and Singapore. For reference, our base download speed while testing was 508.05 Mbps. You can see the results for the UK server below.

ProtonVPN’s UK connection was extremely fast, with speeds of at least 330 Mbps throughout the day. It was less speedy in the other countries, though it still managed an average download speed of 234.93 Mbps. This was comfortably above the combined average download speed of the other providers we tested, making ProtonVPN a great choice for high-definition streaming.

The provider has apps for Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV, making it easy to stream geo-restricted content on compatible smart TVs.

If your smart TV isn’t compatible, then your best bet is to configure a VPN connection on your router. ProtonVPN is compatible with routers that support OpenVPN or WireGuard as a client. You can find configuration instructions on the provider’s website.

If your router doesn’t have a VPN client package, you’ll need to change its firmware — which is risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Once you have a router connection, you’ll be able to take advantage of the provider’s ad-blocking feature. Most VPNs only have this available in their apps. Your traffic will be protected by strong AES-256 encryption.

App features include split tunneling for apps and domains; a kill switch; leak protection; and port forwarding.

This provider has been externally audited to prove it keeps no logs, and if you’d like to register anonymously, you can pay in Bitcoin or cash.

NO MORE ADS:ProtonVPN provides novice-friendly setup instructions and blocks ads across your entire network. It’s fast too, and goes undetected by sites that normally stop VPNs in their tracks. Best of all, every plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Want to know more? Check out our in-depth review of ProtonVPN.

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8. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) provides plenty of options when it comes to server locations. Its network covers 91 countries, and all of its servers are RAM-only. Streaming-optimized servers are available in 11 countries.

The provider has dedicated apps for Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. Smart DNS is available via the Client Control Panel if your smart TV won’t work with these apps. PIA says that the current smart DNS locations are Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, and Japan. This is a decent selection — many providers only offer the US.

PIA can be configured on a home router, though it’ll need to be running compatible firmware — such as DD-WRT, Merlin. Pfsense or OpenWRT. Guidance is available on the PIA site, and the company says it can help with setup if users contact it through the Support Ticket system.

To find out how fast PIA was, we connected to its servers in the UK, US, and Singapore and carried out several speed tests. For reference, our average download speed when not connected to a VPN server was 508.05 Mbps. You can see how PIA’s UK server performed in the chart below.

While PIA consistently achieved speeds above 100 Mbps in the UK, it performed less well in the US and Singapore. Its average overall speed was 98.95 Mbps, which was less than half the combined average speed of the other providers. While this is still fast enough for streaming, it might be wise to opt for one of the faster VPNs in this list if you have a relatively slow internet connection.

PIA offers unlimited bandwidth and imposes no limits on the number of devices connected simultaneously. This makes it a good option for sharing with friends and family.

The software uses 256-bit AES encryption by default, though you can switch to 128-bit if you want faster download speeds. It has a kill switch, an ad and malware blocker, port forwarding, and leak protection.

PIA has an option for routing VPN traffic through an additional proxy server. This can help it bypass VPN blocks. It also has a split tunneling feature that’s more advanced than most.

PIA subscriptions are competitively priced, with a three-year plan costing the equivalent of $1.98 a month. This comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Note that dedicated IP addresses are available for an additional fee.

SECURE UNLIMITED DEVICES:Private Internet Access can be manually set up to work with compatible routers. It allows unlimited simultaneous connections and won’t throttle your bandwidth. Thirty-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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9. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN operates a small network of servers but still packs a competitive punch. Its ability to reliably access lots of streaming sites makes it a top choice for those with a smart TV.

During testing we had no trouble accessing Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. If you have trouble accessing a particular platform, PrivateVPN’s Stealth mode obfuscates traffic so that it is better able of navigate blocking attempts.

To find out how fast PrivateVPN was, we carried out speed tests while connected to its servers in the UK, US and Singapore. You can see how the provider’s UK servers performed in the chart below. Note that our download speed when not connected to a VPN server was 508.05 Mbps.

PrivateVPN consistently achieved speeds above 110 Mbps in the UK, but it was much slower in the other two countries. Its average speed overall was 70.40 Mbps, which is far below the combined average speed of the other providers. This makes it most suitable for users who can take a speed hit i.e. those with a decent base connection speed.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The provider also has apps for Android TV and Fire TV that you can use with compatible smart TVs.

If you have a VPN-incompatible smart TV, your best option is to configure a router connection. PrivateVPN works with a range of routers, including ASUS RT models, Linksys, QNAP, Synology, and those running DD-WRT and Tomato firmware. Its website provides detailed guides for getting started. In addition, PrivateVPN’s customer support is excellent and offers help via remote control.

Another area where PrivateVPN stays competitive is within privacy and security. It lives up to its name and keeps no logs related to browser activity or session history.

Users can choose the encryption level — either 256-bit or 128-bit — and choose the connection protocol. The software includes a built-in kill switch, automatic start-up, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection.

You can use PrivateVPN on up to ten devices simultaneously. Desktop clients can be downloaded for Windows and MacOS, and mobile apps are available for Android and iOS.

Plans are excellent value, with a three-year subscription costing the equivalent of $2 a month. Users can maintain their privacy while signing up by using a burner email and paying in cryptocurrency.

GOOD FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. A reliable choice for many popular streaming sites and allows up to 10 devices on the same account. A small network of servers but strong on security and privacy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our in-depth PrivateVPN review.

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Finding the best VPNs for smart TVs: Our methodology

Many people use VPNs to watch their favorite streaming services on their desktop and mobile devices. The VPN requirements for smart TVs are a little different, so you may not be able to rely on your existing provider. To find out which VPNs were best for smart TVs, we scored providers on the following:

Speed

Choosing a fast VPN means you don’t have to worry about your connection getting bogged down every time you use it. To find which providers were fastest globally, we carried out multiple speed tests while connected to servers in the UK, US and Singapore. Tests were performed using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon.

The chart below shows how the providers compared when connected to a UK server, and also when an average across all three countries was calculated.

Looking at the UK results, the standout providers are NordVPN, ProtonVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost. However, when we take into account the results from the US and Singapore, the fastest provider is actually Surfshark. This is followed by NordVPN, ProtonVPN and CyberGhost.

Streaming ability

To gauge providers’ streaming ability, we combined scores in a few areas and then weighted them as appropriate. We first scored them on whether they had a smart DNS service, then whether they worked with routers, and then on the number of streaming platforms they were able to unblock. The combined overall scores looked like this:

As you can see, NordVPN is the best option for streaming. It has a smart DNS service, router compatibility, and it excels at accessing all of the most popular streaming platforms. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are both excellent alternatives, though they will work with slightly fewer streaming services.

Security and privacy

A good quality VPN will hide your online activity from third parties — like your ISP — and prevent your true location from being revealed to would-be attackers. To judge which VPNs offer the best available security and privacy features, we compare them against 16 different criteria.

We assign a score to each of the criteria to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to compare providers.

As the above chart indicates, NordVPN and Surfshark are the best options for protecting your connection. ProtonVPN is an excellent alternative.

Ease of use

If you’re going to use a VPN with your smart TV, you no doubt want the process to be as smooth as possible. With this in mind, we looked for VPNs that provided an easy-to-use service. We evaluated this property using 10 individual metrics.

We scored each metric and then combined the results to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to visually compare providers.

According to the above chart, NordVPN and Private Internet Access are the easiest services to use overall. They have a straightforward sign-up/ cancellation process, task-specific servers, and user-friendly interfaces. IPVanish is a good alternative option.

Value for money

The best value-for-money providers aren’t necessarily those with the cheapest subscriptions. We take a holistic view with regards to value and evaluate VPNs against eight different metrics.

We score each metric and then combine them to produce a total score out of ten, which we can use to easily compare providers.

Surfshark is the best value provider overall, with unlimited device connections and low-cost subscriptions. IPVanish, NordVPN and CyberGhost are also well worth considering.

Using a free VPN with a smart TV

A free VPN might seem like a good idea, but in reality, these services fall short. To start, it’s less likely that a free service will be capable of working with a smart TV or that the provider will offer solid support to help you set it up. Even if you do get it going, there are more practical issues to overcome.

Free services suffer from slow speeds, a lack of server selection, and long wait times to connect. If you’re trying to stream, a free VPN is more likely to result in a dreaded proxy error.

Aside from the practical issues, free providers typically lack the strong security and privacy features you get with their premium competitors. Many log user activity, insert tracking cookies, inject ads, or sell data to third parties. Some even carry malware.

With providers like the ones we’ve discussed above offering such great deals, it just doesn’t make sense to waste time with a subpar product.

How to set up a VPN with a Smart TV

Since smart TVs and, indeed VPNs are all slightly different, there is no catch-all protocol for connecting. Many large electronics manufacturers have jumped into the smart TV market, including:

• Samsung
• LG
• Panasonic
• Sony
• Philips
• TCL
• Vizio
• Toshiba
• JVC

Some newer TV models by certain brands enable you to install a VPN directly onto it. For example, since many Sony smart TV models are Android-based, they will be compatible with a VPN app. On the other hand, Samsung smart TVs aren’t compatible with VPN apps, so they need to be set up differently, for example, through the router configuration.

When you configure the VPN on your home router, any device, including your smart TV, will be protected. If your router firmware supports VPN configuration, you can follow the setup guides offered by your chosen provider (see below). If not, you may want to look into replacing the router’s firmware with a VPN-compatible firmware, such as DD-WRT or Tomato. Bear in mind that replacing firmware (known as flashing) can damage your router, so it is best left to the more tech-savvy user.

Another option is to buy a pre-configured router such as those we mentioned earlier. ExpressVPN router is recommended as it uses custom firmware and is easy to use. NordVPN and IPVanish have great options available made by third-party affiliate FlashRouter.

Most providers offer step-by-step instructions to help you install the VPN onto a router. Guides offered by some of the providers listed above can be found at the following links:

• NordVPN: Manual router configuration guides
• ExpressVPN: Router app setup guides
• IPVanish: Manually set up a VPN on your existing router
• PrivateVPN: Router setup guides
• CyberGhost: CyberGhost VPN for Routers and other Devices

See also:

• Best VPNs for DD-WRT routers
• Best VPN for Tomato routers
• Best VPN for routers to secure IoT devices
• Best VPNs for Netgear routers
• Best VPNs for Asus routers

Because many smart TV VPN setups require router configuration, instead of searching for the VPN documentation for your particular brand of TV, you’d be better off finding the setup guide for your particular router.

Paid VPN providers are keen to ensure that their service works in the way you need it to and will offer support and troubleshooting assistance when required. If you run into issues, you can contact your provider via live chat, email, or social media, and someone can help walk you through setup or help resolve any problems.

Using a VPN on a smart TV without configuring a router

If you can’t install the VPN directly onto the TV and you don’t want to mess with your home router, you do have a couple more options. The most basic would be to connect your TV to your VPN-protected laptop or PC and view what’s on your computer screen. Although, this really defeats the purpose of a smart TV.

Another option is to create a virtual router from your laptop or PC and turn it into a wifi hotspot. Doing this will let you run your smart TV through the protected network. For PC users, our dedicated guide for setting up a Windows VPN-enabled wifi hotspot can help you out. Similarly, if you’re a Mac user, we have an alternative guide for setting a VPN-enabled wifi hotspot on macOS.

While this is a simpler option than configuring a router, it does require you always to have a computer up and running to act as a router.

Using a VPN with a Smart TV: FAQs