Best VPN for Smart TV: Our Top 5 Choices for 2024 (2024)

Smart TVs quickly replaced traditional TVs that don’t allow for many advanced functionalities. With a good Smart TV from Philips, LG, TCL, Samsung, and other manufacturers, you can enjoy streaming services, browse the web, watch YouTube, and even play some games.

People often use the ability to watch streaming services which are, unfortunately, geo-restricted. As a result, this prevents you from accessing the services you wanted so badly, which makes your Smart TV somewhat useless if that is your primary goal. For this very reason, people search for the best VPN for Smart TVs in 2024. A VPN is a service that allows you to alter your IP address to another country, and in doing so, secure your connection and change your online location.

That’s how you can bypass geo-blocks and access any streaming platform or foreign TV channel on your TV without problems. In today’s article, I’ll talk about the 5 best Smart TV VPNs in 2024, show you how to set up a VPN on a Smart TV, and talk a bit about using free VPNs on Smart TVs.

Best VPN for Smart TV: The Top 5 Providers for 2024

Let’s start with the nitty-gritty of the topic and that’s what you came for – the top 5 VPNs for Smart TV. I want to clarify that I’ll be talking about paid or premium providers if you will. The reason for that lies in their compatibility with a wide variety of Smart TVs and similar systems.

For example, these VPNs will work on Fire TV Stick, which is one of the most popular streaming devices. Also, they offer unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds, both of which are essential when you’re looking to enjoy buffer-free, high-resolution streaming.

Let me now present to you my top 5 choices and talk about why I chose them above all others.

1. ExpressVPN

My favorite VPN for Smart TV is ExpressVPN. This provider works on a huge array of TVs, so if you have one from Samsung, Philips, LG, HiSense, or any other manufacturer, know that the provider will give you top-grade performance and reliability.

ExpressVPN is the fastest provider on the market thanks to 10 Gbps servers and its Lightway VPN protocol. In addition, I have used this service for a decade now and I have no issues with instabilities, disconnections, or downtime, which binge-watchers will appreciate.

One of the best things about it is that it works with ALL streaming services. You can enjoy watching Netflix with a VPN like this but also unblock foreign TV channels and streaming platforms from the US, the UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other countries.

ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, covering 160+ locations around the globe. These numbers are impressive, especially knowing that all of these servers are available to Smart TV users. Now, in terms of compatibility, the provider offers native apps for Smart TVs.

If you have an Android TV, you can find it on Google Play, download it, and enjoy the app fully. If you want to use this VPN on your Samsung or LG TV, for example, the provider offers a feature called MediaStreamer, also known as Smart DNS.

It’s incredibly easy to set up and since Smart DNS is very hard to block by streaming platforms, chances are that it’ll work even better than using a full-fledged VPN. Yet, it can be set up on any Smart TV or even gaming consoles and Apple TV.

ExpressVPN is safe and secure too and with 256-bit encryption and a no-log policy, you can enjoy the internet anonymously. Practically, it has no notable downsides, although some people will tell you it’s more expensive than its rivals.

That might be the case, but keep in mind its annual plan with a 49% discount and 3 free months that you can get through our site. Oh, and a 30-day money-back guarantee is here, as well, so you can always get a refund if you find it lacking.

To find out more, take a look at our ExpressVPN review.

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2. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the cheapest option on this list, yet, it’s also one of the top VPN services for Smart TVs. The provider is trustworthy and you can expect some awesome qualities. One of them is a huge server park of 11,500+ servers in 100 countries.

Not only that but CyberGhost has special streaming servers in dozens of countries, optimized for unblocking particular streaming services! These servers are available for Smart TV uses as well, as the VPN provider offers a native app and Smart DNS.

Users who have Samsung or LG TVs with Tizen and webOS systems respectively can easily set up Smart DNS and enjoy unlimited benefits for streaming. CyberGhost boasts fast speeds with 10 Gbps servers and WireGuard support, so you can expect a level of performance similar to ExpressVPN.

Moreover, this is a great Nvidia Shield TV VPN provider because it has a great Android app that you can find on Google Play. I also have a Philips TV in my home and since it uses Android, I’m enjoying a native app from Google Play as well, with the aforementioned streaming servers that work flawlessly.

In addition to streaming servers, CyberGhost offers torrenting servers which users on Windows or macOS might find useful. However, I want to specify that the service is very reliable and you’ll have no connection issues for the most part.

Plus, it offers a good selection of protocols with the ability to enable a kill switch and ad blocker. CyberGhost is indeed affordable but it stores absolutely no logs and provides an awesome overall experience with 7 simultaneous connections on a single subscription.

Although it has top-level 24/7 live chat support in multiple languages, I dislike its inability to work in China. It’s not a good choice for bypassing censorship, unlike NordVPN and ExpressVPN. Still, its long-term plans are extremely attractive and will cost you just around two bucks a month.

On top of that, CyberGhost lets you get a dedicated IP address and antivirus, crowned by a 45-day money-back guarantee for all plans longer than one month. I’d say, if you’re on a tight budget, this is the perfect VPN to try out on your Smart TV.

For more details, read our CyberGhost review.

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3. NordVPN

The third provider I want to talk about in today’s guide to the best Smart TV VPN is NordVPN. No doubt, this is a phenomenal VPN for Smart TV in 2024, packing 6,000+ servers in 61 countries, all optimized for high-speed streaming.

NordVPN will unblock all popular streaming services and even foreign TV channels from the US, Australia, Canada, and many other locations. Its apps are one of the best out there and I especially like its Android app that looks and works flawlessly on Android TVs.

In fact, why don’t you check outour article about Android TV VPNs? We listed NordVPN as one of the best choices! This provider comes with an in-house NordLynx protocol based on WireGuard, and with 10 Gbps servers backing it up, the performance you’ll get is unreal.

Much like its rivals, NordVPN has this SmartPlay feature which doubles as Smart DNS – or better said, it IS Smart DNS. This allows you to use this Smart TV VPN on Samsung, Hisense, LG, Xiaomi, TCL, and many other TVs, and not just those with Android OS.

Furthermore, the provider’s apps come with CyberSec, which is an ad-blocker. This will eliminate annoying ads from streaming sites, letting you enjoy them without interruptions. Its apps aren’t compatible only with Smart TVs, though.

NordVPN can be used on Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, and even unusual platforms like Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and Nvidia Shield. In fact, all five services on this list have native apps for Amazon Fire TV Stick, which free providers won’t offer.

NordVPN has a variety of dedicated servers, one of which is called “obfuscated.” These servers allow NordVPN to work in China and even Iran, making the service suitable for circumventing censorship. Overall, this provider is a nice balance between ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

And its price reflects that perfectly. NordVPN packs a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers a 2-year plan with a big discount that you can get below. If you don’t mind value-added taxes and very rare connection issues, this is actually one of the most dependable VPNs for Smart TV in 2024.

For more info, check out our NordVPN review.

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4. Surfshark

Installing a VPN on a Smart TV is simple if you get Surfshark. This cheap option supports a heap of TVs, including Fire TV Stick and Apple TV devices. Moreover, Surfshark packs 3,200 servers in 100 countries, making it among the largest VPNs on today’s list.

Despite the low price, Surfshark is capable of streaming more so than some of its rivals. For example, it can access 30 or so Netflix catalogs and works with services like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Hotstar. Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections are mighty, too.

This allows you to protect every device without additional costs. Streaming-wise, it’s good to know it supports SmartDNS. Plus, there are dedicated IPs that only you can use. The VPN includes NoBorders, which aids in bypassing censorship in China and Russia.

This way, you can still watch your favorite movies and series anywhere. This VPN isn’t better than the previous three in terms of performance. Despite offering WireGuard, its stable performance won’t be the fastest. However, it’s more than satisfying.

Security is on point and Surfshark takes pride in having a no-logging policy audited by Cure53 and Deloitte. We shouldn’t forget it’s a business partner with NordVPN, so features like MultiHop, Antivirus, and a Dark Web Monitor (Alerts) are here.

All in all, Surfshark is extremely powerful for the price and it’s no wonder it’s used by millions. As a VPN for Smart TV, it’s impeccable and will work no matter the system you have. Its price is favorable, especially for its One plans that offer a wealth of bonus options.

Using the button below, you can access its exclusive time-limited discount with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t mind its minor downsides, you’ll get yourself one of THE absolute top Smart TV VPN services in 2024.

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5. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is our last pick for today. Rest assured, this VPN’s quality is very high, with apps for Smart TVs that you can install promptly. Its native apps sport an array of dedicated streaming servers that you can use for any streaming platform.

In our testing, ProtonVPN unblocked Netflix and Hulu but we assure you it works with many others. Thanks to WireGuard, ProtonVPN is a powerful performer and there’s a VPN Accelerator to speed things up. On macOS, Stealth VPN is present.

Alas, unlike Surfshark, it won’t work in China. We like ProtonVPN’s security and privacy. The VPN keeps no logs and resides in Switzerland where it holds 3,000+ servers. Its AES encryption does a phenomenal job, while P2P servers allow you to download torrents.

Being one of the top Smart TV VPN providers, ProtonVPN supports HD and 4K streaming. You’ll find its mobile/desktop apps impeccable as well, and each plan comes with 10 simultaneous connections. Better yet, ProtonVPN has a free plan.

However, it’s limited to 3 locations and isn’t optimized for streaming. The paid plan lacks SmartDNS, which we’re not fond of, and compared to ExpressVPN, it’s a bit slower. On the brighter side, features like Secure Core and NetShield are there for added security.

ProtonVPN’s main downside is the high price, which some of you will dislike. Still, it’s an amazing choice based on security alone. Get its discount below and enjoy a 2-year plan with a risk-free 30-day refund policy to back you up if you think it’s worth a shot.

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How to Set Up a VPN on Smart TV

Now that you know what are the best VPNs compatible with Smart TVs, we should talk about how to set them up. You see, the setup process varies from TV to TV. Some manufacturers use proprietary operating systems which VPNs don’t support, while some of them rely on Android, which makes things easier.

Setting Up a VPN on Android Smart TV

Let’s start with the easiest scenario. Android is used as an operating system by manufacturers like:

• Philips
• Xiaomi
• Sony
• TCL
• Nvidia (Shield TV)
• Sharp, and many others

If you have a TV from one of these manufacturers, you also have access to Google Play, which is Android’s app store. Here are the steps to install a VPN on a Smart TV that uses Android.

1. Subscribe to the best VPN for Smart TV using any device you want (Our favorite: ExpressVPN). I recommend doing that on your PC or smartphone since it’s easier to pick a subscription plan and pay for it. Remember the credentials you used for the sign-up process, as you’ll need them in a minute.
2. Turn on your TV and visit Google Play.
3. Search for the VPN app of the provider you’ve chosen. ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN are all available on Google Play and are FREE to download.
4. Download the VPN app and when it’s done, open it.
5. Sign in with the credentials you provided in Step 1.
6. Connect to a server in the country you want. If you want to unblock US streaming services, get an American IP address, and so forth.
7. Visit the streaming platform you couldn’t unblock before and it should work with no problems.

Setting Up a VPN on Smart TVs That Don’t Support VPNs Natively

If you have a Smart TV from Samsung or LG, for example, you will notice that these providers don’t use Android. Samsung has its Tizen OS, while LG relies on webOS. Although these are Unix-based systems as well, they’re not Android or reskinned versions of Android like MiUi in Xiaomi.

In this case, you won’t be able to find any native VPN apps, so you’ll have to manually set up a VPN connection in several ways.

Sharing the VPN Connection With a LAN (Ethernet) Cable

Sharing your VPN connection with an ethernet cable is the most reliable way to use it on your Smart TV. A cable will ensure network stability and give you the best connection speeds. Alas, it’s not very practical if you have your PC far away from the TV.

Nevertheless, this method can be done on Windows and macOS. Let me show you how to do it on Windows first and we’ll talk about macOS next.

1. Visit Control Panel on your Windows PC.
2. Click on Network and Internet and then select Network and Sharing Center.
3. On the left side, click on Change Adapter Settings.
4. On the list of network adapters, find your VPN connection that should include the word “TAP.” For ExpressVPN, it’s called an “ExpressVPN TAP Adapter.” With NordVPN, it’s a “TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter”, and so on.
5. Right-click on the adapter, select Properties, and select the Sharing tab in the menu that opens.
6. Check the box next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.”
7. In the drop-down menu below, select Ethernet. Click OK.

   

8. Open the VPN on your PC and connect to the server of your choice.
9. Grab an ethernet cable, and plug one end into your PC and the other into your Smart TV.
10. Your Smart TV will now share the VPN connection with your PC, so you can enjoy all of the benefits with no issues.

If you use a Mac computer, here are the steps to achieve the same effect:

1. If you haven’t, install a VPN on your Mac.
2. Visit System Preferences.
3. Click on Internet Sharing.
4. If your Mac is connected to the internet via an ethernet cable, look for the dropdown menu “Share your connection from” and select Ethernet.
5. Once again, choose Ethernet in the dropdown menu “To computers using.”
6. Connect to the VPN server.
7. Use an ethernet cable the same way – plug it into your Mac, plug the other end into your Smart TV, and enjoy the VPN connection.

Sharing the VPN Connection Wirelessly

If you don’t want to use an ethernet cable for practical purposes, you can share your VPN connection wirelessly. Here’s how to do that on your Windows PC.

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose Network & Internet.
3. Click on Mobile Hotspot and turn it ON.
4. Choose WiFi in the dropdown menu next to “Share my internet connection from.”
5. Find your VPN adapter in Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center/Change Adapter Settings.
6. Right-click on the VPN adapter and choose Properties.
7. In the Sharing tab, allow other network users to connect to this network, and in the drop-down menu, select the network you created in Step 3.
8. Click OK and close the menu.
9. Connect to a VPN server on your PC.
10. On your Smart TV, enable WiFi and scan for the network you created. Connect to that network to use the VPN connection.

You can also do this on macOS and it’s a bit easier if you’re using a Mac. Here are the required steps.

1. Go to System Preferences and select Sharing.
2. On the left side, tick the box next to Internet Sharing.
3. In the “Share your connection from” dropdown menu, select the VPN adapter.
4. In the “To computers” menu, select WiFi instead of Ethernet.
5. Open the VPN on your Mac and connect to the server.
6. On your Smart TV, connect to that WiFi network to enjoy the benefits of a VPN connection.

Installing a VPN on a Router

To use the best VPN for Smart TV in 2024, you can also install it on a router. However, this is the most complicated way, especially if you’ve never done this before. We can’t give you the exact instructions for this process because it differs depending on the VPN.

You need to have a router with VPN-compatible firmware, for one. If you don’t have a compatible router, you need to flash your firmware and install a new one, which, if not done correctly, can break the router and make it non-functional.

Providers like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN all support routers properly and they have detailed tutorials on how to use a VPN for routers. Alternatively, you can always get a pre-configured router with a VPN installed out of the box.

This, however, is an expensive solution and will cost you at least $150 to even $400+ depending on the VPN, the router model, etc. If you’re inexperienced, we don’t recommend going this route. Instead, share the VPN connection using an ethernet cable or wirelessly.

Using Smart DNS

Using a Smart DNS functionality is another way. However, this is NOT a VPN but rather a DNS service that changes your online location and allows you to bypass geo-blocks, with no other VPN-related benefits such as security and privacy.

Once again, this feature depends on the VPN provider, so the setup process can be different. Since ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and NordVPN offer in-depth instructions on how to use Smart DNS, I recommend visiting the site of the provider you subscribed to and reading more about it.

It’s not very complicated and revolves around entering a Smart DNS IP on your Smart TV via the Settings menu.

Are Free VPNs for Smart TVs Any Good?

Before we wrap up this article, I want to quickly glance over free VPNs for a Smart TV. You noticed that I talked about premium providers for the reasons I already mentioned – unlimited bandwidth, great speeds, streaming capabilities, and overall compatibility.

Free providers usually have apps for “basic” platforms such as Windows or macOS, but the majority of them will not work on Smart TVs. That’s not a big issue, however, as they offer Android apps that you can download from Google Play and use on your TV.

In fact, some free VPNs will function on Amazon Fire TV as well. The main issue is that these providers fail to unblock 99% of the streaming platforms as they’re easily detected and blocked. And to make things worse, they limit your bandwidth and performance, resulting in a lackluster experience.

Usually, we’re talking about a bandwidth limit of 5 GB but some providers like TunnelBear won’t offer more than 2 GB a month. Free services also use slow 1 Gbps servers, which don’t allow you to maximize your internet speed and achieve great performance.

Moreover, these providers don’t have advanced functions like Smart DNS support and they can’t be used on a router. This severely limits their usability on different platforms like LG Smart TV, Apple TV, and many others.

Above all, most free providers are unsafe and that’s my main gripe with them. I know for a fact that they tend to store logs and sell your personal data to third parties, jeopardizing your privacy. Coupled with just a few security features and weaker encryption, using a free VPN isn’t something we recommend.

In this exact case, using them is pointless since they’re not capable of streaming. Why use a VPN on a Smart TV for streaming if it doesn’t work? It makes no sense, right?

Bottom Line

Having clarified everything, it’s time to end this guide and summarize everything you’ve learned. You know what are the best VPNs for Smart TVs in 2024 and we recommend ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, NordVPN, Surfshark, and ProtonVPN – in that order.

These providers will give you thousands of servers, unlimited bandwidth, uncapped speeds, and rock-solid security necessary for staying anonymous online. The whole setup is really simple and if you don’t have an Android TV or Fire TV Stick, you can set up a VPN using our in-depth guides.

Don’t forget that these VPNs offer special discounts and deals that you can get through our site. Despite not being free, you can at least save a good amount of money and enjoy commodities like a money-back guarantee that allows for quick and effortless refunds in cases of dissatisfaction.

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FAQ

Let’s address a few important questions related to this topic.

Can I use Smart DNS instead of setting up a VPN on my Smart TV?

Yes, but these are two different things. Smart DNS basically changes your DNS server settings and helps you bypass geo-restrictions but it doesn’t allow you to choose as many countries as you can while using a VPN.

With a VPN set up on your Smart TV, you can choose the exact country you want and unblock a particular streaming platform or TV channel. In addition, it secures your connection and adds encryption, making it a more privacy-friendly solution.

In terms of unblocking capabilities, using a VPN is better but in some cases, Smart DNS can bypass some geo-restrictions that a VPN can’t. It’s better to experiment if one doesn’t work and see if the other solution will fix the problem.

How to install a VPN on a Fire TV Stick?

The same way you install it on Android TV. Simply visit the Amazon app store, find the app of the provider, and install it on your Fire TV. The providers we presented have native apps for Fire TV Stick, so you won’t have to use any workarounds.

Why should I use a VPN for Smart TV?

To secure your connection and unblock restricted streaming services. It’s been proven that VPNs are very efficient at unblocking geo-restrictions, which allows you to access your favorite movies, shows, and entertainment programs regardless of your location.

Not to mention that the service works on all of your devices, which gives you more benefits such as anonymous torrenting, lag-free gaming, and the ability to save money on flight tickets and hotel rentals by changing your IP to another country.