Article updated on July 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM PDT

Best VPN for Your Smart TV

These VPNs for your smart TV let you unblock geo-protected content like foreign Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video libraries.

Our Experts

Written by

Attila Tomaschek,

Moe Long

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Attila Tomaschek

Attila is a Staff Writer for CNET, covering software, apps and services with a focus on virtual private networks. He is an advocate for digital privacy and has been quoted in online publications like Computer Weekly, The Guardian, BBC News, HuffPost, Wired and TechRepublic. When not tapping away on his laptop, Attila enjoys spending time with his family, reading and collecting guitars.

Expertise Attila has nearly a decade's worth of experience with VPNs and has been covering them for CNET since 2021. As CNET's VPN expert, Attila rigorously tests VPNs and offers readers advice on how they can use the technology to protect their privacy online.

See full bio

Moe Long Senior Editor

Moe enjoys making technical content digestible and fun. As a writer and editor for over a decade, he has bylines at MakeUseOf, WhistleOut, TechBeacon, DZone, Tech Up Your Life, and Electromaker. When he's not hammering away at the keyboard, Moe enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, listening to vinyl, and watching film.

Expertise Apps | Operating systems | Software

See full bio

Why You Can Trust CNET

1600170018001900200021002200230024002500

Speed Tests

11121314151617181920

Eval. Points

01020304050607080910

VPNs Tested

How we test

We intensively test each VPN, making sure it meets our standards for privacy, speed and usability.

See Price at ExpressVPN

Photo Gallery 1/1

See Price at ExpressVPN

Best Overall VPN

ExpressVPN

Privacy protection and transparency

Show our expert take

49% off with 12-mo plan (+3 free months)

See Price at ExpressVPN

8.8 /10

SCORE

Usability 10 Value 9 Speed 8 Privacy 9 Features 8

ExpressVPN is currently CNET’s pick for the best VPN for smart TVs, in addition to being the best VPN overall with a score of 8.8/10 on our VPN rating scale. It’s a veteran VPN provider that consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency. It’s also excellent for streaming and is the easiest VPN app to use on any platform, including smart TVs. But the best comes at a premium price -- ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN providers currently on the market. The service costs $13 per month, $60 every six months or $100 per year, which is considerably more expensive than the $60 per year that Surfshark charges after its initial introductory pricing. NordVPN is more in line with ExpressVPN on price at $13 per month or $90 annually (after a promotional $69 price for the first year).

Though fast enough for streaming content on your smart TV, ExpressVPN’s speeds are not quite as fast as some of its competitors, based on our latest speed tests. In 2024, we measured a 24.8% average speed loss with ExpressVPN. This is still fast, considering that many VPNs can slash your internet speeds by 50% or more. However, we saw substantially better speeds from NordVPN (11% speed loss) and Surfshark (17% speed loss). Still, ExpressVPN’s speeds were largely consistent and aligned with our expectations across protocols and server locations. Overall, we registered the fastest speeds through ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, which is engineered for speed and security. Speeds were generally faster to relatively closer server locations like New York City and the UK, and slower to distant locations like Australia and Singapore.

Building on its industry-leading audit count, the company’s latest independent audit is slated to be published soon, and ExpressVPN says it collects no logs, a claim bolstered by a 2022 no-logs audit by KPMG. In addition to its transparency efforts, ExpressVPN’s privacy protections are top-notch and forward-thinking. The provider recently upgraded its proprietary open-source Lightway VPN protocol with post-quantum protection to help guard against future threats from quantum computers, along with encryption enhancements to better protect against threats like eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. And ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology elevates the protections of the traditional RAM-only server architecture by reinstalling the entire software stack with every reboot.

In addition to offering excellent privacy protections, ExpressVPN delivers the most consistent and streamlined VPN app experience for your smart TV. Its minimalist interface is simple to use, whether you’re an advanced VPN user or if you’ve never used one before. The app settings are easy to navigate, and finding a server location is straightforward. We like how the app always connects in a snap, which isn’t always the case with other VPNs -- like Surfshark -- which often struggle to connect immediately on the first attempt. ExpressVPN effortlessly unblocks all sorts of streaming content, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. During our testing, we were consistently able to stream content in 4K quality without any buffering issues. If you’re not satisfied with the service, you can request your money back within 30 days of your purchase.

See Price at Surfshark

Photo Gallery 1/1

See Price at Surfshark

Best Cheap VPN

Surfshark

Extensive features at a great price

Show our expert take

See Price at Surfshark

8.6 /10

SCORE

Usability 8 Value 9 Speed 9 Privacy 8 Features 9

Surfshark boasts an impressive suite of privacy and security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, an easy-to-use interface and an expansive global network. It's still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. Along with standard VPN features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection, some of the more notable Surfshark features include camouflage mode (which hides the fact you're using a VPN), split-tunneling, NoBorders mode (which lets you use Surfshark in regions where VPNs are restricted) and multihop VPN connections. You'll also get access to Surfshark's CleanWeb technology, which blocks ads and malware and helps you avoid phishing attacks.

One innovation we've appreciated is Surfshark’s Nexus network, which connects the VPN's entire array of servers together and allows you to choose multiple servers to route your connection through. The functionality is somewhat similar to Tor, but Surfshark says it's faster. With its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator functions, the Nexus network can give you a few extra layers of protection while you use the VPN -- which can be particularly beneficial to users with critical privacy needs. Surfshark says it doesn't log any user activity. Although no-logging claims are virtually impossible to prove with 100% certainty, German cybersecurity firm Cure53 declared Surfshark's security to be "solid" in its 2021 security audit of the VPN. Surfshark says a new audit is forthcoming by the end of this year. Deloitte performed a 2023 independent audit vouching for Surfshark’s no-log policy.

Surfshark rates consistently as one of the fastest VPNs available. This is why we were surprised that one of the only issues we had with Surfshark came in our speed test. While it still ranks as one of the fastest VPNs we've tested -- with an internet speed loss of just 8% over the WireGuard protocol -- we were disappointed with the inconsistent speed results we got using OpenVPN. Although its average 28.5% speed loss with OpenVPN isn’t bad, other companies like ExpressVPN and NordVPN delivered better results. Surfshark offers more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries. The continued expansion of its server network could potentially help bring some more consistency to the VPN's speeds. In our tests, Surfshark had no problems unblocking Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content, but we did run into a fair bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus. After trying various servers in the US and other countries where Disney Plus is available, we were able to access the content. You may need to test a few servers yourself before gaining access to Disney Plus content with Surfshark.

Surfshark offers cheaper introductory prices that jump after the first billing cycle. Even so, Surfshark manages to keep its standard prices lower than most other VPNs. Its monthly plan sets you back $15. The yearly plan starts out at $52 for your first 12 months, then jumps to $60 for any additional years of service. If you opt for the two-year plan, you'll pay $67 total up front for the initial two years combined, then $60 per year for any additional 12-month terms. If you're not satisfied with the service for any reason, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although the two-year deal gets you Surfshark’s lowest pricing, we don’t recommend signing up for more than 12 months of service with a VPN. While that fast, secure VPN may be great initially, it could suffer a data breach, experience a speed loss drop or get acquired by a shady company.

See Price at NordVPN

Photo Gallery 1/1

See Price at NordVPN

Best VPN for Speed

NordVPN

Perfect for power users

Show our expert take

See Price at NordVPN

8.6 /10

SCORE

Usability 8 Value 8 Speed 9 Privacy 9 Features 9

Why You Can Trust CNET

1600170018001900200021002200230024002500

Speed Tests

11121314151617181920

Eval. Points

01020304050607080910

VPNs Tested

How we test

We intensively test each VPN, making sure it meets our standards for privacy, speed and usability.

About VPNs for smart TVs

Hand holding a remote pointing to a tv screen with tiled streaming service icons overlaid with a VPN shield graphic. — Viva Tung/CNET

Smart TVs feature built-in apps for watching your favorite TV shows on Netflix, binging funny animal videos on YouTube or listening to today's top tunes with Spotify. Using a VPN (or virtual private network) on your smart television can come in handy by allowing access to geographically restricted content, such as foreign Netflix and Disney Plus libraries. Additionally, VPNs can mask your IP address and keep your online activity private, keeping your viewing habits private or avoiding ISP throttling restrictions.

Thankfully, cross-platform compatibility means you can install a VPN on streaming devices connected to your TV such as Android TV boxes, the Apple TV and even on an Amazon Fire TV stick. If your TV runs Android or Amazon's Fire TV OS, you can download a VPN straight on your television. Alternatively, an external streaming device is best. Luckily, you're using a Roku, game console (PS5 or Xbox) or a smart TV that doesn't natively support VPN apps, you can always install a VPN on your router. We put together a guide of the best VPNs for your smart TV by testing apps on different devices, running internet speed tests and unblocking dozens of streaming services.

What is the best VPN for smart TVs right now?

The best VPN for smart TVs overall is ExpressVPN, which is easy to install on a router, works with tons of streaming boxes and offers an off-the-shelf Wi-Fi router with a preloaded VPN.

NordVPN is the fastest and most reliable VPN we tested with, making it a terrific choice for smart television use. If you're a media enthusiast seeking the best possible video quality with 4K ultra-high-definition video, Nord is a solid choice.

Surfshark is also a great VPN for beginners, thanks to its wallet-friendly prices, spectacular speeds and feature-rich apps.

Other VPNs we tested

IPVanish

IPVanish is a a user-friendly VPN that's adequate for streaming and basic privacy. In our testing, IPVanish easily unblocked international Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus libraries. You can install a VPN on your router for use with a smart TV, or use it on Android TV, Fire TV and a slew of other platforms. There’s even an elusive Apple TV app, so you have the option to use streaming boxes instead of your smart TV.

We appreciate IPVanish’s uncomplicated app design. Sporting servers in 56 countries, IPVanish’s network lags behind competitors like NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and PIA which boast around twice that number of countries. We recommend checking IPVanish’s server page for the full list. While IPVanish isn’t packed with options and server locations, its straightforward design works fine for VPN beginners. If you just want an intuitive VPN for streaming videos on Disney Plus, Netflix and other services, IPVanish is a decent choice. However, its high 44% average internet download speed loss isn't ideal for 4K or even 1080p video streaming.

Pricing is initially somewhat reasonable, with monthly plans setting you back $13, $48 for your first year or $72 for your first two years (the one- and two-year plans jump to $90 every 12 months after your introductory period). While there are better VPNs for the price which provide larger server networks and faster internet speeds, IPVanish is fine for casual users simply seeking basic privacy for everyday user.

Read our IPVanish review.

Hotspot Shield

We don’t recommend Hotspot Shield for critical VPN use due to its US jurisdiction, in addition to its use of its proprietary, closed-source Hydra VPN protocol. If security and privacy aren't your primary concern, then Hotspot Shield works decently as a smart TV VPN. Although we may not be completely sold on its privacy protections, we are sold on its speed -- Hotspot Shield is fast.

It's also excellent for streaming content on your smart TV. With servers located in more than 80 countries around the world, you'll have access to a wide selection of geographic regions with Hotspot Shield.

Hotspot Shield's Support section and overall customer service experience leave quite a bit to be desired. The Support section is a bit convoluted and Search doesn't always output exactly what you're looking for, so it might take some work to find what you're after. The live chat feature is only available to premium customers. Once you find what you're looking for, the guides and tutorials are sufficient to get you set up, but the path there isn't as clean as with other VPNs. Like the others in this list, Hotspot Shield offers apps for Fire TV and Google TV, as well as tutorials on how to set the VPN up on your router.

If you're willing to spend $13 per month or $96, you'll get a super-fast smart TV VPN that's great for unblocking content in Hotspot Shield. If you're concerned at all about its US jurisdiction, you'd be better off going with another option like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark or PIA. Because of its middling price and average security with US jurisdiction, it’s tough to recommend Hotspot Shield over VPN rivals for all but the most casual users.

Read our Hotspot Shield review.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN may not offer all the bells and whistles as the other VPNs on this list, but it may not have to because it's ridiculously easy to use. It also has servers specifically optimized for streaming on various services, which makes it a great choice for your smart TV.

It's not the fastest VPN on the block, but you shouldn't run into any trouble streaming content buffer-free. CyberGhost has servers located in 100 countries around the world, making it one of the best in terms of global network coverage.

If you decide to hook a VPN up to your smart TV via a router, CyberGhost does provide detailed instructions in its Help center on how to do so, although it doesn't offer custom router firmware like ExpressVPN does. If you have a Fire TV or Google TV, you'll be able to download the CyberGhost VPN app directly to your TV. CyberGhost VPN also offers a smart DNS solution that will give you access to its DNS servers in the US, UK, Germany and Japan.

CyberGhost VPN can also be quite budget-friendly. You’ll pay $13 monthly, $42 every six months for the bi-annual plan, or $57 total for a 26-month package, after which you’re billed annually. It's one of the cheapest smart TV VPNs, and a very capable one if you're fine with a VPN that's not chock-full of advanced options. There’s even a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. Even for that price, better options are available, like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and PIA.

Read our CyberGhost review.

How we test VPNs for smart TVs

With so many VPN options available, it can be difficult to cut through the advertising to find the right software for your needs. We rigorously tested dozens of VPNs to assess performance, privacy and value. More specifically, we analyzed average speed loss, checked for DNS leaks and tried out apps on different devices. In addition, we compared costs to determine the best price-to-performance ratios. For smart TV use, we looked at streaming service content unblocking, performing hands-on tests with Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and a handful of other platforms. Because some televisions require a router VPN, we consulted each VPN provider’s help guides and also factored in streaming device app compatibility.

Do VPNs work with smart TVs?

VPNs do work with smart TVs, although how you go about setting up a virtual private network on your television depends on its operating system. If you have an Android TV (also called Google TV) or Fire TV, you can install a VPN app directly on your device. For certain televisions running Roku, LG’s WebOS or Samsung’s Tizen OS, you’ll need to use a router-based VPN rather than downloading software on your smart TV. Luckily, nearly every VPN provider delivers whole-home router support, but depending on your hardware the process might be tricky.

Using your VPN on a streaming device may be easier

If you’re using an operating system like Roku, WebOS or Tizen that doesn’t support directly downloadable VPN apps, you’ll need to install software on your router. While some companies like ExpressVPN sell routers preloaded with a VPN, most don’t -- so it’s a do-it-yourself setup. Using a Fire TV stick, Android TV media streamer or Apple TV and a VPN app is the simplest solution, but there are several ways to use a VPN for streaming on your television.

Factors to consider in a VPN for your smart TV

Based on our years of comprehensively testing VPNs, here are the main factors to think about when selecting a VPN for your smart TV.

Platform compatibility

Most VPNs include Android TV and Fire TV apps, so if you’re using a television set with one of those operating systems, you can download a compatible app. Otherwise, you’ll need to run a VPN on your router or purchase a router with a preloaded VPN.

Streaming service unblocking

You’ll want to ensure your VPN provider allows access to the streaming services you want to use. Whether you’re trying to watch US Netflix from abroad or enjoy UK Disney Plus and Netflix libraries at home in the States, it’s crucial to have one of the best VPNs for streaming. Think about the streaming services you use the most and sign up for a VPN that works with those apps.

Speed loss

All VPNs throttle your internet upload and download speeds, but the amount of speed loss varies. The fastest VPNs only drop your connection marginally, meaning you can stream 4K videos flawlessly. Some companies suffer from greater speed reductions, which might translate to buffering streams or noticeable dips in quality.

Server network

A reliable VPN for your smart TV features a large network of servers. You’ll want to check out the number of total servers as well as the amount of different countries available. The more choices you’ve got, the easier it is to find an ideal location to connect to. For example, if you’re on holiday in London, you’ll ideally want to use a London server rather than one in Stratford-upon-Avon (still in the UK, but further away from your physical location in London). Generally, the closer a VPN server is to your actual location, the faster speeds and more reliable connection you’ll enjoy.

Price

While there are free VPNs, most of CNET’s top VPN recommendations aside from ProtonVPN are paid options. The total cost depends on when you sign up (there are often competitive seasonal deals) and whether you prepay (an annual subscription or multiyear purchase typically saves you a meaningful amount). Although a multiyear package usually gives you the best possible pricing, we don’t recommend shelling out for more than a year at a time. While a VPN provider may be secure, fast and value-packed when you sign up, it could suffer a data breach, go out of business or get acquired by a disreputable organization. Thus, we suggest sticking with a year-long subscription instead for the most savings and the lowest risk.

Help guides and customer support

VPNs aren’t necessarily difficult to install, but running one on a router or setting it up on certain platforms like Linux isn’t as simple. Therefore, you might want to choose a VPN provider with robust help documentation. Live support over online chat, phone and email is great for situations when you have troubleshooting or billing questions.

Privacy and security

One of the main reasons to invest in a VPN is for additional privacy and security. At the very least, we recommend a VPN with a kill switch and strong encryption. You should also make sure your VPN provider has a no-log policy (while this is tough to verify, it’s nonetheless important).

Best VPN for smart TV FAQs

What's the best VPN for your smart TV in 2024?

ExpressVPN received a CNET Editors' Choice Award for best overall VPN. We evaluate VPNs based on their overall performance in three main categories: speed, security and price. Express isn't the cheapest, but it's among the fastest and, so far, is the most secure.
Surfshark, with its lower price, is a close second among our picks, thanks to its impressive performance and unlimited devices.
NordVPN, our third choice, is a die-hard heavy hitter. It costs more than Surfshark but less than Express, has an enormous network that's constantly getting faster and more secure and is easily the most reliable service we've tested.
IPVanish is one of the most user-friendly VPNs available, and even touts an Apple TV app so if you want to eschew using your smart TV’s built-in software, you can still use a VPN for streaming movies and television shows.

Why should you use a VPN on a smart TV?

Today's TVs aren't only for watching cable or local network programming. They're also for video-on-demand streaming, and some content is regionally locked. If the programming you want to watch isn't available in your country, you can use a VPN on your smart TV to spoof your location to access virtually any of the content you may want. Even if unblocking geo-restricted video content on your smart TV isn't of interest to you, you might want to use a VPN on your smart TV to prevent your ISP from monitoring your viewing habits or keeping track of the internet activity generated by your smart TV.

Which VPN works on a smart TV?

Most VPNs work with any smart TV, but the process for setting up a VPN on your television varies based on your device’s operating system. For televisions running Android TV or Fire TV you can download a VPN app directly on your machine. But for Roku, LG’s webOS, or Samsung’s Tizen OS, you’ll need to run a VPN on your router. Luckily, you can always pick up a dedicated media streamer like an Amazon Fire device, Android TV box or Apple TV and install a dedicated VPN app if you don’t want to mess with a router-based install.

Do VPNs work on smart TVs for Netflix streaming?

You can stream Netflix on a smart TV using a VPN either to access US libraries while traveling abroad or to unblock foreign Netflix catalogs.

CNET VPN Coverage

VPN Use Cases

VPN Reviews - Our Top Picks

VPN Reviews - Other Services

Streaming with VPN

VPN Education