best vpns for android tv
While you can experience digital media content on the big screen through your Android TV, you will need a VPN to access international content that is unavailable in your region. Likewise, smart TVs and Android TVs are vulnerable to threats online. Security and anonymity are two other reasons why you need a VPN for your Android TV as a VPN will keep your identity hidden by hiding your IP address.

All you need to access content securely from across the globe on your Android TV is a trustworthy VPN. There are many VPNs out there that promise to work with Android TV and unblock blocked content. But are they reliable and can they really bypass geo-restrictions? Likewise, you might wonder if the VPN you choose if really worth the money you pay for it.

In order to help you choose the best VPN for Android TV, we tested quite a few VPNs and finalized the following five VPNs for Android TV. We checked if the Android TV VPNs are reliable, offer good speeds for streaming, and if they possess good unblocking capabilities. Likewise, we checked if the VPNs come with native apps for Android TV. Based on our research, our top recommendation is NordVPN, followed by the other VPNs. However, you can check out our list of best VPNs for Android TV and pick the one that you feel is the best.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Android TV?

When you connect your Android TV to a VPN, you will be able to access content that will otherwise be unavailable in your region. Not all streaming services and apps work in all regions due to geo-restrictions. You will not be able to access such blocked apps or services from a region where it is unavailable.

Similarly, streaming services like Netflix also have different libraries in different countries. Series and movies available in one region may not be available in another. To access such blocked content, you will need an IP address from the country where that content is available. Using a VPN, you can get a different IP address using which you can unblock blocked content.

All you need to do is to get a VPN with a good global server network and connect to an international server where the content you wish to access is available. For example, if you would like to access Netflix US, you just have to connect to a US IP address and access Netflix like anyone in the US would access. The same applies to other streaming apps and services, as well.

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How to Set up a VPN on Your Android TV?

There are different ways to set up a VPN on your Android TV. You can either install the VPN app directly on your device or install the .apk file. If your VPN provider offers a VPN app, the process is pretty simple as you can install the app, else you can go for the .apk file. You can check out our detailed article that explains the process of installing and setting up a VPN on your Android TV.

Best VPNs for Android TV

  • NordVPN
  • ExpressVPN
  • Surfshark VPN
  • VyprVPN
  • IvacyVPN

NordVPN – Top all-rounder VPN with an app for Android TV

NordVPN is our top choice for not just Android TV but for most other platforms and streaming services, as well. This VPN service is our top recommendation not only because it offers reliable and fast connections but also because it comes with a native app for Android TV.

You can quickly install this app on your Android TV box and secure your device. This app is very simple to install and set up. NordVPN is sure to offer you the fastest and the most secure streaming experience. While being able to enjoy blocked content, you can also stay safe with its robust encryption algorithm.

NordVPN has a good server network and all these servers are optimized for speed as a result of which you can expect excellent speeds for uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and torrenting. You can stream shows continuously without any limits as there are no bandwidth limitations and your VPN connection will never be limited.

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  • 5200+ servers in 62 countries
  • Use up to 6 devices
  • Next-generation Encryption
  • Double VPN Feature
  • Strict no-logs policy
NordVPN’s Quick Connect feature will let you connect to the best and fastest available server automatically. You can bid goodbye to buffer and long loading times. Likewise, as this VPN will hide all your online activities, your internet speed will not be affected by ISP bandwidth throttling.

You can find the NordVPN Android TV app in the Google Play Store on your TV. This app comes packed with all the premium features, which include Quick Connect, CyberSec, DNS leak protection, and other features.

If you would like to test the VPN service before you decide to subscribe to it for the long term, you can test it out with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you have more questions about the features and money-back guarantee, you can check out our NordVPN review.

ExpressVPN – Fast Android TV VPN with unlimited bandwidth

ExpressVPN, the fastest VPN, comes with a native ExpressVPN Android TV app. You just have to download this app from the Google Play Store to secure your device and to unblock blocked content unavailable in your region.

ExpressVPN allows five parallel connections so that you can torrent files, stream shows, or play games on four other devices in addition to being connected to the VPN on your Android TV. Apart from Android TV, this VPN is compatible with Mac, iOS, routers, browsers, and Windows.

It has servers in around 100 countries that offer unbeatable speeds. By connecting to one of those servers, you can change the location of your Android TV and beat geo-restrictions and access anything of your choice. This VPN works with all popular streaming services like Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more.

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  • 160 server locations
  • Network Lock kill switch
  • Zero-knowledge DNS
  • VPN split tunneling
  • Stream Sports online
You can use ExpressVPN to also change the location of your Google Play Store on your Android TV and download apps unavailable in your region. If the VPN app is not compatible with your Android TV, you can use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature to gain access to blocked content on your Android TV.

ExpressVPN allows users to test their services using the 30-day money-back guarantee. During the 30 day period, you can test all the premium features and binge-watch all your favorite content.

We recommend reading our full ExpressVPN review to know more about its features and its money-back guarantee.

Surfshark VPN – Secure and reliable VPN for Android TV and all other devices

Surfshark VPN is one of the best VPNs for Android TV that will let you access all your favorite streaming services no matter where you are in the world. It has an app for Android TV, which is compatible with all major Android TV boxes.

Surfshark VPN has thousands of servers worldwide and all these servers are optimized for speed. At great streaming speeds, you can stream videos and movies unavailable in your region. Most of all, you can connect all your devices to the VPN without any limits.

Surfshark VPN comes with strong unblocking capabilities and it can unblock Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ESPN+, YouTube TV, DAZN, Sky TV, and more. Surfshark VPN’s Android TV app comes with a user-friendly interface. While smart gadgets, including smart TVs, are vulnerable to cyber attacks, this VPN will prevent your device from getting hacked. You can make your device more secure with this VPN.

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  • Connect unlimited Devices
  • AES-256-GCM encryption
  • IP & DNS leak protection
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Free Browser Extensions
  • Strict no-logs policy
Likewise, you can secure your laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and routers with Surfshark VPN. Its premium features like Whitelister, CleanWeb, kill switch, DNS leak protection, Camouflage Mode, and more will keep your connection secure.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can use the service for 30 days without being billed. You can test all the premium features during this period, which is quite similar to a free trial. If you wish to know more about Surfshark VPN, you can check out our expert review.

VyprVPN – Comes with an app for Android TV and powerful features

Our next recommendation for Android TV is VyprVPN. Apart from offering apps for mobile phones, computers, and tablets, VyprVPN comes with an app using which you can connect your Android TV to the VPN.

It has hundreds of servers in over 70 countries and all servers offer impressive speeds. With VyprVPN’s app for Android TV, you can gain access to geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world by connecting to one of its secure servers.

VyprVPN is one of the top VPNs for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, ITV Hub, BBC iPlayer, Eurosport, and more. Apart from Android TV, this VPN is compatible with routers, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and more.

VyprVPN is a feature-rich VPN that offers a lot of powerful features like VyprDNS, kill switch, and more. It also allows you to check your connection speeds and customize your VPN connection.

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  • 160 server locations
  • Network Lock Kill switch
  • Zero-knowledge DNS
  • VPN split tunneling
  • Stream Sports online
Unlimited server switches and bandwidth make it one of the top streaming VPNs. Similar to the other VPNs mentioned above, VyprVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use this to test its premium features for 30 days. Take a deep dive into our VyprVPN review to know more about its features.

Ivacy VPN – Offers fast network speeds and robust security features

With a native app for Android TV, Ivacy VPN is one of our top recommendations for Android TV. You can quickly download and install the Ivacy VPN Android TV app from the Google Play Store on your Android TV.

Ivacy VPN encrypts data with 256-bit encryption, which is unbreakable. This way, it assures that your data will remain secure. Secure DNS, IPv6 leak protection, and DDoS protection are among its top security features.

You no longer have to worry about geo-restrictions as Ivacy VPN will let you access blocked content from anywhere in the world. Likewise, you can simultaneously connect five different devices to the VPN without any hassle. Ivacy VPN is sure to protect you even when you are connected to a free public WiFi network. It will keep you protected from hackers and malware.

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  • 3500+ Servers in 100+ Locations
  • 10 Devices Simultaneous Logins
  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Malware Protection
  • P2P Support
By connecting your Android TV to the VPN, you can enjoy buffer-free streaming. Your ISP can no longer throttle your speed as they cannot see what you do online. To know better about its features, you can check out our detailed review of Ivacy VPN.

How to Use a VPN With Your Android TV

From the list above, choose a VPN service that you think will suit your needs. We recommend NordVPN and Surfshark VPN for Android TV.

  • On your Android TV, go to the Google Play Store and search for NordVPN or Surfshark VPN. If you choose a different VPN, you just have to type the name of the VPN and hit search.
  • Once you find the app on the Google Play Store, install the VPN app on your Android TV through Google Play Store.
  • You can then launch the app, sign in.
  • You can now connect to a server in the country of your choice and unblock all your favorite content.

Free VPN for Android TV?

We do not recommend a free VPN for Android TV as they are not reliable. Free VPNs may not be completely free, as even they need funds to keep their servers running. Likewise, such VPNs cannot be trusted as they may not have the funds to offer strong encryption and security features. In order to maintain their servers, many free VPNs sell their users’ data. This shows that free VPNs cannot offer complete privacy and cannot keep your data safe. Many such free VPNs log their users’ data and they also post advertisements to make money to run their services. These are a few reasons why using free VPNs is not recommended.

Summary

A premium VPN is all you need to unblock blocked content on your Android TV. You just have to change your virtual location by connecting to a server in a different country to access content unavailable in your region. However, this may not be possible with free VPNs and only a handful of VPNs come with native apps for Android TV. Based on our research, the VPNs mentioned above are the ones that are compatible with Android TV. If you still are not able to finalize a VPN for your Android TV, you can either go for NordVPN or Surfshark VPN and try the VPNs using their 30-day money-back guarantee.