Best VPNs for Apple TV & how to set up an Apple TV VPN

Apple TVs are a great way to stream your favorite shows without requiring additional hardware like an Amazon Firestick. Unfortunately, though, they’re geo-restricted, changing available content based on your location. Further, they don’t support traditional VPN (Virtual Private Network) apps. Further, the good news is that there are multiple ways to sidestep this issue. In this post, we’ll reveal the top VPNs to use and provide a beginner-friendly explanation of how to set up a VPN on Apple TV.

So why bother using a VPN at all? First off, you’ll be able to access your usual content, even if you take your Apple TV abroad. Second, VPNs offer a ton of privacy benefits, both by hiding your real IP address and shielding your activities from snoopers. They even help protect against ISP throttling, allowing you to get the speeds you pay for.

We’ll explore the top Apple TV VPNs in more detail shortly, but for now, here’s a quick look at what makes each so worthwhile:

The best Apple TV VPNs:

1. NordVPN The best VPN for Apple TV. Works with all kinds of streaming platforms and has plenty of security benefits. Great speeds make it a solid option for streaming, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Apple TV.
2. Surfshark A great budget VPN for Apple TV with advanced functionality. Has apps for all types of streaming devices and allows unlimited connections. Works with Disney Plus, Netflix, and more.
3. IPVanish Great for online privacy, with strong encryption and a no-logs policy. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Fast speeds, ideal for streaming.
4. ExpressVPN High-speed servers in over 100 countries. Provides strong security and strong unblocking capabilities for Apple TV.
5. CyberGhost Huge server network and speeds fast enough for any task. Allows up to seven simultaneous connections. No-logs VPN with 24/7 support.
6. PureVPN Lets you stream safely, and works well with popular geo-blocked platforms, including Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, Max, and many others.
7. Private Internet Access Strong security and fast speeds. It has over 30,000 servers globally, has no connection limits, and includes 24/7 support.
8. ProtonVPN A privacy-centric VPN boasting fantastic streaming ability and reliable performance. Offers a stealth mode and doesn’t keep any logs.
9. PrivateVPN Small but popular service with fast speeds and excellent unblocking abilities. Has lots of advanced features that are great for Apple TV.

How we selected the top Apple TV VPNs

There are so many VPNs on the market that it can be tricky to separate the good ones from the pretenders. To take the guesswork out of it for you, we curated this list of the best VPNs for Apple TV 5, 4, 3, and 1 based on the following criteria:

• Wide range of servers located in most countries where Apple TV is supported
• High speed and unlimited bandwidth for HD and 4K streams
• Quick and competent customer support if you need help
• Strong privacy policy and encryption suite
• Router support, a Smart DNS service, or apps for Windows (so that you can share your VPN connection from a second device)
• Bonus if a pre-flashed VPN router is available for purchase

This is just a glimpse into our rating process, but if you would like to know more about the criteria we used to put this list together, we explain it further in our methodology section below.

Best VPNs for Apple TV: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Apple TV.

The best Apple TV VPNs

At Comparitech, we aim to give you the most accurate and useful recommendations possible. To do that, our team personally uses every VPN and tests them for compatibility, performance, and ease of setup. The following reviews are based on those first-hand experiences.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Apple TV:

1. NordVPN

Apr 2025 Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

NordVPN is our number-one choice VPN for Apple TV. It has a strong track record when it comes to streaming, working flawlessly with stubborn platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Max, and Prime Video among many others. You can connect up to 10 devices at a time and contact support via live chat at any time. 100+ countries are available to connect to, and each server is guarded by 256-bit encryption.

Speed is an important consideration for anyone buying a VPN. That’s because if your chosen service can’t meet the required thresholds, you’ll notice stuttering, long periods of buffering, or possibly even videos that refuse to play. We tested NordVPN’s American servers throughout a typical day to see what it’s capable of. Here are the results:

Following three tests, NordVPN had an average speed of 201.09 Mbps. This is an exceptional result, and actually means that this is the quickest VPN we saw. It was pretty consistent too, speeds fluctuating by around 8 Mbps from morning to afternoon. In other words, this service is fast and reliable enough to handle whatever you throw at it.

This service pays special attention to your privacy. It uses unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a proven zero-logs policy to keep you safe at all times. There’s also a custom protocol called NordWhisper that’ll let you use the service as normal in countries with extreme online censorship like China.

NordVPN sells pre-flashed DD-WRT routers that come pre-configured with all the servers you’ll need to unblock content on your Apple TV. The NordVPN knowledge base also has several detailed tutorials on how to manually set up an existing VPN-compatible router.

BEST VPN FOR APPLE TV:NordVPN is our first choice. A highly versatile service that works perfectly with Apple TV. Strong security features and allows up to 10 devices. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review here, or watch our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

Surfshark offers both a VPN and a smart DNS service as part of its standard subscription. There are more than 3,200 servers (spread across 100+ countries) to choose from, and we’ve had great results using this VPN for streaming. It even works with notoriously tricky platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Best of all, users can connect as many devices as they like, in stark contrast to most other VPNs, which have strict connection limits.

You might be surprised to hear that Surfshark has long been one of the quickest providers on the market, especially given its reputation as a budget-friendly VPN service. To make sure that’s still the case, we performed three tests at various times of day, using its servers in the US. Here’s how it held up:

Overall, Surfshark delivered an average speed of 195.55 Mbps. That’s significantly higher than the 15 Mbps you’ll need to stream 4K video without any issues. Additionally, we were able to torrent, play online games, and video call perfectly well, even during peak times. If speed and price are your top priorities, it’ll be difficult to find a VPN that suits you better than Surfshark.

From a security perspective, there’s a lot to like. This VPN boasts uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption and all the safeguards you’ll need to stream anonymously (a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, tracker-blocking, and an independently verified no-logs policy). There’s even a stealth mode and rotating IP address function if you need even greater privacy.

Surfshark offers a Smart DNS service and VPN apps for all major platforms. It can also be manually configured to work with just about any router firmware.

BEST BUDGET OPTION:Surfshark is great value and lets you connect as many devices as you want. The standalone smart DNS service is compatible with Apple TV, no router setup is required! Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review.

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3. IPVanish

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

IPVanish has more than 2,400 self-owned servers in 100+ countries and has worked hard to improve its streaming abilities of late. It now works perfectly with services that once stumped it, including Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. Further, this is one of the only major providers without a connection limit. While it doesn’t offer a Smart DNS service, it does support most routers and provides 24/7 support in case you need someone to walk you through the setup process.

IPVanish exclusively uses 25 Gbps, which should give it a leg up on its competitors (most of which rely on 10 Gbps servers). To see what speeds it’s capable of, we tested its US servers at three times of day (morning, noon, and afternoon). These were run on a 250 Mbps connection since that’s the average household broadband speed in the US. Take a look at our findings in the chart below:

This provider delivered an average speed of 180.63 Mbps, which is exceptional. In real terms, you’ll be able to download more than 1GB of data per minute, which means flawless performance while streaming, gaming, or video calling. There was almost 20 Mbps of difference between its results, which could be reduced slightly, but all in all, IPVanish did extremely well.

There’s no need to worry about privacy, thanks to this VPN’s powerful encryption, kill switch, audited no-logging policy, and leak/tracker protection features. It even offers obfuscation, though only on the OpenVPN protocol at the time of writing. The newly introduced Advanced subscription also includes secure online storage and a cloud-based browser that’s designed to help you browse truly anonymously.

PROTECT ALL YOUR DEVICES:IPVanish is a great family choice as it allows unlimited connections. A favorite for Kodi users, it also works with a varied catalog of streaming services. 30-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

ExpressVPN has long been known as one of the best options for novice users who want to stream. It works effortlessly with apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and Max and actually offers multiple ways for Apple TV users to stream their usual content. There’s a Smart DNS service, a versatile VPN app for tvOS, and even custom router firmware (which is something no other major provider offers). Naturally, 24/7 support is available via live chat, just in case you run into any issues during setup.

When it comes to speed, ExpressVPN generally ranks very well in our industry-wide testing. That said, it’s vital to retest regularly as even minor updates can cause changes to a VPN’s performance. Our experts ran multiple tests over the course of a day to see just how fast ExpressVPN’s US servers are. See for yourself:

With an average speed of 135.59 Mbps, this provider is quick enough to handle whatever you throw at it, from streaming to torrenting and anything in between. It had a variability of around 10 Mbps, which is effectively unnoticeable, meaning you’re all but guaranteed a quick, stable connection even at peak times.

All of ExpressVPN’s servers are protected using unbreakable encryption, and obfuscation kicks in automatically as needed. There’s also a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a new feature that blocks ads and trackers by default. This provider has an extensive audit history too, so you can trust it when it says it doesn’t keep logs of your activities.

This VPN has apps for all major platforms and boasts its own firmware for routers. Alternatively, you can use its Smart DNS service (called MediaStreamer) to access US streaming platforms without the need to install anything.

GREAT FOR APPLE TV:ExpressVPN is fast and privacy-conscious. This makes it ideal for streaming Apple TV from abroad. It even includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

CyberGhost has a vast network, with more than 10,000 servers in 100+ countries. It’s a great option for anyone looking to stream on their Apple TV, and works with even the most stubborn services. For instance, we were able to access BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Stan, and more while connected. There are plenty of setup guides available on its website as well as 24/7 live chat in the unlikely event that anything goes wrong.

So, how does CyberGhost fare in terms of performance? To find out, we tested its American servers in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. Our connection was calibrated to replicate a typical US household’s so that our results more accurately reflect the speeds you can actually expect. Take a look:

There was about 12 Mbps of difference between CyberGhost’s results, but even at its slowest, this VPN is capable of handling tasks like streaming with ease. Its average speed was 135.74 Mbps, marginally faster than ExpressVPN and firmly among the middle of the pack overall. In short, if you want a reasonably quick service with customizable router and Smart DNS options, this is the one to pick.

While Smart TVs like Samsung and LG don’t support VPN apps, you can use CyberGhost VPN with Apple TV by setting it up on your router. Too complicated? You also have the option of purchasing a router that has CyberGhost pre-installed. Once connected, you’ll benefit from CyberGhost’s comprehensive security in the form of 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. It also operates a strict no-logs policy.

CyberGhost can be manually configured to work with compatible routers. Alternatively, it offers apps for desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and mobile (Android and iOS). Apps can also be downloaded for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV, while browser extensions are offered for Chrome and Firefox.

IMPRESSIVE NETWORK:CyberGhost has more than 10,000 servers in all and provides very fast speeds for streaming lag-free on Apple TV. Compatible with select Wi-Fi routers. No-logs service with 24/7 support. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

PureVPN recently launched its own tvOS app, making it easier than ever to install on your Apple TV. That’s great news given that this service excels at unblocking tricky streaming platforms. There are servers in more than 60 countries to choose from, so you’ll never be short of something to watch, either! While it doesn’t work in high-censorship countries, it’s a great option for users anywhere else and provides 24/7 customer support over live chat as well as a generous 10-connection limit.

Our next task was making sure that PureVPN was actually able to handle data-intensive tasks without any issues. With this in mind, we performed several speed tests throughout the day using its US servers. You’ll find the results below:

PureVPN’s average speed was 130.87 Mbps. For context, that’s significantly faster than you’ll need for most tasks, and will allow you to download a 1 GB file in around a minute. Speeds were fairly consistent too, only varying by around 11 Mbps over the course of our testing. If you’re looking for a reliable VPN to help you stream your favorite shows during a trip abroad, this would be a great choice.

PureVPN has robust AES encryption, meaning it provides watertight privacy and protection against hackers on public wifi. The apps feature a no-logs policy, kill switch, and DNS leak protection. These features mean you can use it to bypass blocks at work without being tracked.

Port forwarding is available for an extra cost, so if you need it for torrenting, it’s available. Apple TV users can take advantage of the 31-day money-back guarantee to check that it works with any streaming services they want to use. The only real drawback is that the live chat support is a bit slow to respond.

LOW COST:PureVPN lets you bypass blocks, torrent safely, and access foreign TV streams with your Apple TV. It works to watch Netflix, ABC, ESPN, Hulu, HBO Max, and many other US services on vacation. Protects you against hackers on public wifi. The VPN is low-cost and offers a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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7. Private Internet Access

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

Private Internet Access is a smart choice for Apple TV customers, with over 30,000 servers spanning 90+ countries, meaning you’ll always find a server nearby. While it won’t work in countries with extreme censorship, it has no problems accessing tricky platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, or Netflix abroad. Better yet, this service recently scrapped its connection limit outright.

Let’s talk about speed. Private Internet Access has historically performed quite well in our tests, though it has had some trouble matching the speeds offered by its competitors. We decided to test its US servers again to see what it’s capable of at the time of writing. Here are the results after a full day of testing:

Private Internet Access managed to provide an average speed of 81.33 Mbps. This is well above what you’ll need for day-to-day tasks like streaming or making video calls. However, there’s no denying that improvements could be made, both in terms of raw performance and consistency. Still, it offers a lot more customization than most other services, so those who value security over speed may not mind at all.

PIA includes many optional settings, including adjusting encryption levels for when you’re streaming, further increasing speeds. It has desktop, mobile, game consoles, and streaming apps. As with most modern VPNs, PIA uses AES encryption, but it also offers a built-in kill switch, an ad blocker, and a malware blocker. It uses DNS leak protection to keep your activities watertight and operates a zero-log policy.

Support is available 24/7 via live chat, and all plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. There are apps for all major platforms, a Smart DNS service, and support for routers (though these have to be configured manually).

ADJUSTABLE ENCRYPTION:Private Internet Access includes an unlimited connection limit, WireGuard support, and apps for all major platforms. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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8. ProtonVPN

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

ProtonVPN has an exceptional reputation, having been created by the privacy-first company behind Proton Mail. Its VPN offers access to around 12,000 servers in 110+ countries and can reliably unblock even the most stubborn streaming platforms. Up to 10 devices can be connected at any one time, and customer support is accessible 24 hours per day over live chat.

The main question is whether ProtonVPN is quick enough for uninterrupted streaming. Based on our previous results, we’d say absolutely but it’s important to retest so that recent optimizations are accounted for. The chart below shows how well ProtonVPN’s servers in the US performed at various times of day:

There’s no two ways about it: an average speed of 142.12 Mbps means this is among the speediest providers on the market. Whether you’re interested in streaming, torrenting, gaming, ProtonVPN will work flawlessly. It was reliable too, with speeds fluctuating by around 11 Mbps, which is functionally unnoticeable.

ProtonVPN’s apps include AES encryption, a kill switch, and multiple protocol options, providing secure streaming on Apple TV. The inclusion of advanced features such as obfuscation and split tunneling enhances its usefulness for torrenting, making it an excellent all-rounder. Its robust security works to protect against ISP snooping, government surveillance, and public wifi vulnerabilities, making it a safe choice for Apple TV users in restrictive countries.

The VPN is versatile, supporting major operating systems like Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. You can also set it up to work with your Apple TV using a virtual hotspot or a router-installed VPN connection. You can test its performance risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

STRONG PRIVACY:ProtonVPN is a fast VPN ideal for streaming on Apple TV. It has a choice of US servers to stream Netflix. Hulu, and HBO Max. Also works with international streaming platforms. Apps come with a kill switch, obfuscation, multi-hop, and AES encryption. Torrenting is allowed throughout its network, and it includes port forwarding. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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9. PrivateVPN

Works with Apple TVTested Apr 2025

PrivateVPN is a smaller provider but one that’s well worth your time. It has a network of 200 self-owned and managed servers spread throughout 60+ countries and is one of the most reliable ways to browse safely in high-censorship countries. It’s also fantastic for streaming, unblocking platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock without breaking a sweat. There’s a 10-device limit, and customer support is available via live chat during business hours.

PrivateVPN prides itself on its security and the fact that it’s its own ISP. However, these factors, combined with its smaller network, do mean that there’s a bit of a tradeoff where speed is concerned. Below, you’ll see how quick its American servers were over the course of a typical day:

At first glance, PrivateVPN’s average speed (54.97 Mbps) might not seem all that impressive. However, it’s important to remember that this is more than is required for most tasks. In fact, it’s quick enough to stream 4K video, have a video call, and play games simultaneously. This provider’s consistency is exceptional too, with just 8 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest speeds.

PrivateVPN keeps your activities hidden using 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. There’s also a strict zero-logs policy in place and a stealth mode capable of bypassing internet censorship in places like China and the UAE. If you’d like to go even further, it’s also possible to configure split tunneling and port forwarding tools.

PrivateVPN’s website posts tutorials on how to configure the service on a Tomato or DD-WRT router. There are also apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

GREAT SPEEDS:PrivateVPN is easy to use. Allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Fast VPN connections but could do with having more servers to choose from. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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How we found the best VPNs for Apple TV: our methodology

Unfortunately, not every VPN is a good fit for Apple TV users. Some may not offer the speeds required for uninterrupted streaming, while others can’t be installed on routers, for instance. Our exhaustive testing process examines each candidate in five key areas. Below, we’ll lay out exactly what we look for and explain why each of these areas are so important:

Speed

One of the most important things to think about is a VPN’s performance. Every VPN will have some impact on your speeds, but a poorly optimized service will see even the quickest base connection slow down until even browsing basic websites becomes a chore. So, how do we measure VPN’s performance here at Comparitech?

First off, we ensure our connection is as similar to the typical user. This means using a 250 Mbps connection since that’s the average household broadband speed in the US. Next, we used American servers and performed three tests per day (one each in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon). These results were then averaged and normalized, giving us a score out of 10 for each candidate, as shown below:

NordVPN delivered the highest average speed and therefore took the top spot. Surfshark was close behind, scoring 9.6 points, while IPVanish came in third with 8.6. It’s worth noting, however, that every service in this list delivered speeds high enough for most day-to-day tasks.

Versatility

Next, we tried to get a feel for how capable each service was. For starters, we looked into how many countries their servers covered and how many simultaneous connections they allowed. More relevant to unblocking content on your Apple TV, we then considered how reliably they worked with popular streaming services and whether they offered a Smart DNS service. Here are the final standings:

As you can see, Surfshark came in first place, closely followed by NordVPN. Each of these providers boasts an expansive network, exceptional unblocking ability, and a Smart DNS service, but Surfshark came out on top as it doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect.

Ease of use

The best VPNs are the ones that are welcoming to novices, but that doesn’t mean forgoing more advanced functionality. Instead, we prioritize providers that strive to make day-to-day operations as seamless as possible. They might have streaming-optimized servers, 24/7 customer support, or even just settings that are explained in a way that’s accessible to complete beginners. You’ll find a full list of our criteria below:

NordVPN and Private Internet Access both scored an impressive 9.6 in this area. These two services boast a high degree of customization but present it in a way that doesn’t alienate novices. It also helps that their signup and cancellation processes are about as straightforward as they come.

Streaming ability

Your goal is to access geo-blocked content on your Apple TV. For that reason, it’s important we only recommend services capable of bypassing the VPN-detection systems used by major streaming apps like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Max. Our experts put each VPN up against a gauntlet of popular platforms to see first if they worked, and second, how reliably they did so. Here are our main areas of focus:

We actually have a tie between three services here: NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. These providers were able to access every streaming app we tried on the first attempt, so it’s hard to fault them here. If we had to find an issue, it’d be that they don’t tell you which servers are optimized for a given service but that’s hardly a problem considering how reliable they were.

Security and privacy

Let’s not forget that the primary purpose of a VPN is to keep your online activities private. That’s why we’ll never recommend a service with subpar security. As a prerequisite to being included in our list, we make sure each VPN has unbreakable encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy at a bare minimum. Naturally, we prefer services with advanced security features too — you’ll find our full list of judging criteria in the table below:

Don’t worry if the jargon and technical terms are a little confusing. We simply assigned scores based on each area where the VPN’s security offering could be strengthened. The higher the score in the following table, the more privacy-conscious it is:

NordVPN and Surfshark tied for first place, each scoring an impressive 9.5 points. Surfshark lost out due to being based in a Nine Eyes country, while NordVPN has authentication that was slightly below the gold standard. Nevertheless, both providers (and every other on this list) performed well in other areas, meaning there’s minimal risk of anyone ever getting their hands on your data.

In order to find out if a VPN offers the above, we spend extensive time with it. As part of our VPN testing methodology, each VPN is tested in areas such as server speed, security, and even customer support.

VPNs to avoid with Apple TV

VPN Book

VPN Book is a free VPN service that offers free OpenVPN configuration files for its network of servers. The company is extremely opaque in its privacy policy, and it’s not clear who is behind the service. Not long ago, hacking collective Anonymous warned that VPN Book is a honeypot for law enforcement. At any rate, the VPN servers you find here aren’t going to be fast or reliable enough to use with an Apple TV.

Hola

Hola is a peer-to-peer proxy service that uses the idle bandwidth on users’ devices to power its network. So, instead of connecting to a VPN server owned by the company, you connect to other Hola users’ computers. Likewise, other users connect to your computer when you’re not using it. This has serious privacy and security implications, and Hola itself exploited its users in the past. It once hijacked every user on its network to create a massive botnet and used it to carry out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on websites. If that’s not an abuse of user trust, we’re not sure what is.

How to set up a VPN with Apple TV

Because Apple TVs don’t natively support VPN connections, the next best thing is to install the VPN on your home router and then connect the Apple TV to that router’s Wi-Fi network. How you do this depends on your router’s firmware and level of expertise. You have two main options: a physical router and a virtual router.

Setting up an Apple TV VPN on a physical router

Some routers support VPN connections, and some don’t. You can log into your router dashboard by opening a web browser, typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and entering your user credentials. If you’re not sure what your credentials are, consult your ISP, router manual or Google the default username and password for your particular router model.

Once you make it to the dashboard, look around for a way to set up a VPN connection. If none exists, you can potentially replace the firmware with an open-source alternative that does support VPNs. Our two recommendations are DD-WRT and Tomato. We’ve got setup instructions for DD-WRT here. But be warned: you must use the correct version of firmware that is compatible with your specific router. If done improperly or with incompatible firmware, you could permanently damage the router.

If that sounds intimidating or your router isn’t compatible with Tomato or DD-WRT, consider purchasing a pre-flashed router from your VPN service provider. Pre-flashed VPN routers come configured with all of your VPN providers’ servers right out of the box. From our list above, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and IPVanish all sell pre-configured routers, and NordVPN is probably the best.

Setting up an Apple TV VPN on a virtual router

Setting up a VPN on a virtual router is much less daunting than doing so on a physical router, but you will need a spare laptop lying around to get it working. A virtual router uses your laptop’s existing hardware to create a Wi-Fi hotspot for other nearby devices. By connecting to a VPN and then broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal, your Apple TV can share the laptop’s VPN-protected internet connection.

We’ve got tutorials on how to set up a VPN-enabled virtual router on Windows and MacOS.

A third option: DNS proxy

Another option for Apple TV users who want to unblock geo-locked content is a DNS proxy, or smart DNS. This doesn’t provide the security or online privacy of an encrypted VPN tunnel, but it does work if you just want to unblock certain streaming video content services.

DNS, or domain name system, translates the domain names for apps and websites into server IP addresses. Whenever you open a website in your browser, for example, a DNS request is sent to a DNS server, and that DNS server finds the appropriate IP address for the web server hosting the site. By default, DNS requests are usually sent to your ISP’s servers, which are located in your home country. Many video streaming websites check where DNS requests come from to identify a user’s location.

By forcing your Apple TV to send DNS requests to a different server in another country, the content on these websites can be unblocked. It won’t slow down your connection like a full-on VPN, but it’s not quite as private or foolproof as a VPN, either.

Apple TVs come with built-in support for users who want to hardcode their own DNS servers. NordVPN’s SmartDNS or ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature is perfect for this, as it lets you use the VPN service’s DNS servers separately from the VPN itself.

Here’s how to set DNS servers on Apple TV 4 and later:

1. On the Main menu, click Settings > Network
2. Find your current network. Select Configure DNS > Manual
3. Enter the DNS address from MediaStreamer or whatever DNS provider you’re using. It should be a string of numbers and decimals.
4. Select Done
5. Restart Apple TV

And that’s it! This method works particularly well for bigger players that use CDNs to provide content. But how successful it is depends on your DNS provider. We recommend SmartDNS, which comes at no extra charge with every NordVPN subscription.

Smart DNS proxy on Apple TV 3rd gen or older

Setting up a smart DNS proxy on older models of Apple TV is slightly different than newer models. First, you may need to change your location settings.

1. Go to Settings > iTunes Store > Location
2. Select the United States or whatever country you want to unblock content from

Once that’s done, it’s time to set up the DNS servers.

1. Go to Settings > General > Network
2. Select your current network interface: Wi-Fi or Ethernet
3. Select Configure DNS > Manual
4. Enter the DNS address from MediaStreamer or whatever DNS provider you’re using. It should be a string of numbers and decimals. Confirm with Done.
5. A restart is required for changes to take effect. Go to Settings > General > Restart.

Note that the smart DNS proxy service you use may require additional steps to register your device’s IP address with the service. The exact setup process varies from service to service but is generally not that difficult; just follow the instructions on your VPN provider’s website.

What to do if your Apple TV VPN isn’t working

Having trouble getting your VPN to work on your Apple TV? No problem: there are a few simple steps you can take to resolve the most common issues. The guide below will explain how to troubleshoot your VPN and get up and running as soon as possible.

1. First, it’s a good idea to ensure your VPN is working properly. Begin by visiting our IP address checker with the VPN turned off. Then, connect to a server in a different country and refresh the page. You should find that your location has changed. If not, try a different server or reinstall the VPN.
2. If you’re sharing your VPN connection from another device using a virtual router, ensure your Apple TV is connected to the newly created network, not your regular one.
3. Your Smart DNS service may also cause your problem. These usually only work with US streaming services and won’t help you access platforms from other countries. If that’s what you want, you’ll have to use one of the other methods discussed earlier in this post.
4. Sometimes, settings won’t fully take effect until you restart the device. Just turn your Apple TV off and on, then check again to see if this fixes the issue.
5. If none of the above steps have helped, we’d recommend contacting your VPN’s support team directly. Staff will be able to walk you through the installation process from start to finish over live chat.

Installing Kodi on Apple TV

Kodi can be installed on Apple TVs 2, 3, and 4. The free and open-source home theater software requires a bit of work to get up and running, but it can be done. We’ll show you a few different ways to do it in our tutorial on how to install Kodi on Apple TV.

We strongly recommend the use of a VPN whenever using Kodi on any device, be it an Apple TV or some other set-top box. This will prevent your ISP from snooping on your activity and throttling bandwidth. A VPN will also help prevent hackers from carrying out common attacks on the Kodi platform.

Apple TV countries

Apple TV offers the most features and functionality to US users by far. The search function, for instance, will scan about 98 content providers in the US. When in Canada, a distant second, it only scans 36.

Apple TV+ is available in the following countries, but available content varies from country to country:

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia. Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan,
Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

Siri is also limited to the following countries and languages:

• Australia (English)
• Austria (German)
• Brazil (Portuguese)
• Canada (English, French)
• Germany (German)
• France (French)
• Ireland (English)
• Japan (Japanese)
• Mexico (Spanish)
• Netherlands (Dutch)
• New Zealand (English)
• Norway (Norwegian Bokmål)
• Japan (Japanese)
• Spain (Spanish)
• Sweden (Swedish)
• UK (English)
• US (English, Spanish)

You can find out what apps, features, and content providers are available in your country on the official Apple website.

See also:

• Best VPN for iPhone
• Best VPN for Mac

VPNs for Apple TV: FAQs