Should you be using a VPN with your Smart TV? We think that the answer is yes! So we have put together a list of the best of the best VPNs for smart TV if you aren’t already using one.
Using a VPN on a smart TV can significantly expand your viewing options as you can gain access to geofenced content, such as Netflix USA or BBC iPlayer UK. It can also protect your anonymity if you are doing anything slightly dubious, such as using Kodi to stream copyrighted content without permission.
But more than that, a VPN is about protecting your personal data. And don’t be fooled—just because you don’t do online banking on your TV doesn’t mean that you’re not transmitting personal data. What about your (valuable) Netflix password or your Amazon Prime payment details?
You can read more about why you should definitely be using a VPN on streaming devices here. But in this article, you will find our recommendations for the best VPNs to use with smart TVs.
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CyberGhost VPN  |
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Ivacy VPN  |
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ExpressVPN  |
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IPVanish  |
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NordVPN  |
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AtlasVPN  |
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BlufVPN  |
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VyprVPN  |
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CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost is one of our favorite VPN services no matter what kind of device you are using, including smart TV. It has compatible apps for most smart TVs and an Android app in the Play Store.
- 8,000 servers in 100 countries
- $78 for one year and up to 6 devices
CyberGhost has cornered a good section of the market to become one of the most popular VPN services. It achieved this by offering quality at a competitive price. The speeds are fast, and there are loads of servers, many dedicated to specific activities such as steaming and torrenting. The latter is not a common feature of all VPNs and will appeal to many users.
They’re also doing more to optimize their services for streamers than other VPNs and are looking at a broader range of streaming providers. They have special servers for Netflix US, DE, and FR, BBC iPlater, Hulu, YouTube, and Cruncnhyroll, to name a few.
Pros
- Large network of servers
- Competitive rates
- Dedicated servers for major and more niche streaming services
- P2P dedicated servers
Cons
- Front end could use some work
- Does not work in mainland China
This is the most affordable of the big name VPN services that offer the most trust and the best server coverage.
Ivacy VPN
If you are looking for a large network VPN service at a lower price, then look at Ivacy. They don’t have the name recognition of some of the other big brands, but that means that access to their more than 5,000 servers is currently available for a quarter of the price.
- 5,700 servers in 100 countries
- $29.99 for one year for up to 10 simultaneous devices
Not only does Ivacy have a large fleet of servers, but they also cover parts of the world underserved by many other services, including South America, Africa, SouthEast Asia, and Russia. This will probably matter less to streamers than other types of users, but considering you can use up to 10 devices simultaneously, you will probably be using this VPN on all your devices.
Ivacy has dedicated streaming servers that unlock all the most popular geofenced content, but you will want to access these specific servers when streaming or speeds can be too slow. This is not a problem, but something that streamers should be aware of when setting up Ivacy on their smart TV.
Pros
- Highly competitive prices
- Servers in rarely serviced areas
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Dedicated streaming servers
Cons
- Interface needs updating
- Speed issues on some servers
It’s often a choice between going for a big name brand or something new and more affordable, but most Ivacy users are very happy with this up-and-coming VPN service.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of our top picks for the best VPN service for smart TV because it dominates the market with excellent speeds and useful features for streamers.
- 3,000 servers in more than 90 countries
- $99.95 per year for five devices
ExpressVPN is one of the more expensive services and offers a smaller number of devices than many of its competitors, covering just five devices with a subscription. But the quality of their service cannot be denied. They are particularly good at keeping ahead of streaming services and maintaining access despite blocking efforts.
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 90 countries, giving you lots of options and lots of bandwidth. But you don’t even have to connect to a VPN to access major streaming services such as Netflix USA or BBC iPlayer UK. They have a dedicated Media Streaming DNS that can unlock content without actually being connected to the VPN, giving even better speeds.
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Extensive server network
- Media Server for streaming
- 24/7 support
Cons
- More expensive than other services
- Only covers 5 devices per subscription
If you want a reliable VPN service for your smart TV that will work every time without you having to do much at all, then ExpressVPN can be worth the cost.
IPVanish
If you’re looking for fast speeds, especially if your internet connection is not always strong, then IPVanish is an affordable option with great speeds.
- 2,000 servers in more than 75 countries with more than 40,000 IP addresses
- $44.99 for one year and unlimited devices
IPVanish uses Wireguard protection for maximum security while eating up the minimum of your internet connection. Ther service always recommends the best connections for the best speeds and has options specially optimized to grant the best access to streaming services.
IPVanish also comes with malware and ransomware protection included, making the price tag of the service even more attractive.
Pros
- Affordable for unlimited devices
- Excellent speeds
- Unlocks major streaming services
- Includes malware protection
Cons
- Fewer features than other services
- Interface could use some polish
IPVanish is excellent in terms of affordability and for being lightweight, which means it won’t eat up as much speed as other services.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another big-name VPN, and they work hard to maintain the quality of their service for a wide range of devices, including smart TVs
- 5,500 servers in 60 locations
- $84 per month for up to 6 devices
These bigger services with large networks—NordVPN has more than 5,500 servers—tend to cost a little bit more, but in exchange you get a quality and trusted service, and access to new features that are being released all the time.
Testing shows that NordVPN unlocks all of the most desirable streaming services including Netflix USA, BBC iPlayer UK, and Hulu. The user interface isn’t as slick as some of the other services, but hopefully it’s just a matter of connecting and forgetting about it.
NordVPN offers lots of additional features including free anti-malware protection, double-encryption if you think that’s necessary, and split tunneling if you want to choose which of your apps run through the VPN and which don’t.
Pros
- Large network of servers
- Unlocks major streaming services
- Includes malware protection
- Various additional features such as split tunneling and double encryption
Cons
- User interface can be a little buggy
- Fewer streaming-specific features than other services
If you are highly security conscious and keen on additional features that enhance your security, you’ll enjoy playing around with NordVPN.
AtlasVPN
Atlas VPN is new to the market, and while they are still trying to make a name for themselves, they’re also offering the best VPN price for a very good service.
- 750 servers in 32 locations
- $1.99 per month for unlimited devices
Atlas VPN is a fraction of the cost of other services, and this is partially because they’re offering access to a much smaller network of servers—only 750. But they also have a smaller client base than their bigger competitors, so you’ll still get excellent speeds that are more than good enough to stream 4K. Atlas VPN is expanding their network as they expand their business.
They useWireguard Protocols and have a strong no-logs policy and privacy policy that puts the customer first. They are also very transparent, allowing users to monitor the performance of the service.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Excellent speeds
- Unlocks major streaming services
- Includes malware protection
Cons
- Small network of servers
- New service
If affordability is your principal concern, but you still want a good-quality service, you won’t find a better option than Atlas VPN.
BlufVPN
BlufVPN is another relatively new service that’s trying to break the market with low prices and a highly user-friendly interface. This can appeal to users who just want click-and-go protection for streaming.
- 500+ servers in 60+ countries
- $2 per month for up to 5 devices
Based in Estonia, this is a great part of the world for new technology companies and for strong personal data protection, like you want with a VPN. The service is relatively new, so they have a limited number of servers—only 500—but they are catering to many fewer users than the bigger services, so there is still plenty of bandwidth to go around.
But the smaller server fleet does mean less capacity for creating custom servers. While they do maintain streaming specific servers, they aren’t as reliable as some of the bigger companies, and you can have a few days of outage on major streaming services such as Netflix and Bluf tries to get ahead. Connecting to their servers in more distant countries can also be on the slow side.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- User-friendly interface
- Based in a country with strong personal privacy laws
Cons
- Inconsistently unblocks Netflix
- Speeds slow on distant servers
If you are looking for an affordable and easy-to-use VPN service to protect your day-to-day streaming activities, BlufVPN is certainly an option.
VyprVPN
VyprVPN is a solid service that will offer you very good protection and unblock your favorite streaming services, with speeds capable of delivering 4K. It is also one of the few services that currently works in mainland China.
- 700+ servers in 60 countries
- $100 per year for up to 30 simultaneous connections
This affordable Swiss-based VPN offers access to 700 servers in 60 countries, many optimized for streaming. It works effectively to unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITV Hub, All4, HBO Now, and more. It also allows torrenting, and although it is not as fast as services like ExpressVPN, it is fast enough for 4K streaming and non-painful P2P transfers.
They use strong encryption protocols, a no-logs policy, and lots of security features including a kill switch. You also have the security that Vypr owns all the servers in their network, so you’re always dealing directly with them and there are no hidden third-party issues.
Pros
- Unlocks most major streaming services
- Speeds good enough for 4K
- Work in mainland China
- Generous connection limits
Cons
- Relatively small network of servers
- There are faster options out there
Those serious about security and serious about streaming, who like to know exactly who they are dealing with, will appreciate VyprVPN.
The Verdict
There are lots of great VPN services out there, and more important than what service you use is that you use one on all your connected devices to protect your anonymity and data.
Streamers should be looking for reliable services (which usually means paid services) that have good speeds and servers dedicated to streaming to ensure that you can actually get access to the content you want while using your VPN.
For more information on how VPNs work and what to look for in a good VPN service, go here.
What’s your favorite VPN for streaming? Share your recommendations with the community in the comments section below.
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