Best VPN for a Smart TV in 2026
Smart TVs split into two groups, and the right VPN depends entirely on which one you own. Android TV and Google TV sets run apps, so this is as easy as a phone. Samsung Tizen and LG webOS cannot run a VPN at all, and no app exists for them at any price — those need the VPN on your router, or a smart DNS feature that changes your region without encrypting anything.
NordVPN handles both cases best: a proper Android TV app, plus SmartPlay, which does the region change on TVs that cannot run software. Surfshark is the value pick, and CyberGhost earns a place for labelling servers by streaming service.
The 5 best VPNs for a smart tv, ranked
- 1Best for any TV#1 overall · 9.7/10
NordVPN
A native Android TV app, and SmartPlay for Samsung and LG sets that cannot run one — it changes the region at the DNS level with no configuration. Unblocked all 14 streaming services we test and lost the least speed doing it.
- Services unblocked
- 14 of 14
- Speed
- 712 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
−73% + 3 months freeends soon - 2Best value#2 overall · 9.4/10
Surfshark
Android TV app, smart DNS for TVs without one, and unlimited devices — so every TV, phone and tablet in the house is covered on one $2.19 plan. 13 of 14 services unblocked.
- Services unblocked
- 13 of 14
- Speed
- 655 Mbps
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
−86% + 3 months freeends soon - 3Best for finding a working server#7 overall · 8.1/10
CyberGhost
Labels servers by streaming service, which saves the trial-and-error of hunting for one that is not blocked. Android TV app, 45-day money-back guarantee — the longest of anyone we rate.
- Services unblocked
- 12 of 14
- Speed
- 470 Mbps
- Devices
- 7
- Refund
- 45 days
- 4Best router option#3 overall · 9.1/10
ExpressVPN
Its Aircove router has the VPN built into the firmware, so a Samsung or LG TV is covered with no setup on the TV at all. The most expensive route, and the least fiddly.
- Services unblocked
- 13 of 14
- Speed
- 598 Mbps
- Devices
- 8
- Refund
- 30 days
- 5Most private#4 overall · 8.9/10
Proton VPN
Android TV app with the same Swiss, audited, open-source stack as the desktop client. Slower than the top three at 541 Mbps, which is still far more than 4K needs.
- Services unblocked
- 11 of 14
- Speed
- 541 Mbps
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
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Side by side
| VPN | Score | Services unblocked | Speed | Devices | 2-yr price | Refund | Port fwd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 9.7 | 14 of 14 | 712 Mbps | 10 | $3.39 | 30 days | |
| Surfshark | 9.4 | 13 of 14 | 655 Mbps | Unlimited | $2.19 | 30 days | |
| CyberGhost | 8.1 | 12 of 14 | 470 Mbps | 7 | $2.19 | 45 days | |
| ExpressVPN | 9.1 | 13 of 14 | 598 Mbps | 8 | $4.99 | 30 days | |
| Proton VPN | 8.9 | 11 of 14 | 541 Mbps | 10 | $4.49 | 30 days |
How we picked
We tested on a Fire TV Stick 4K and an Android TV set, and on a Samsung Tizen TV behind a VPN router, checking whether each service unblocked and whether 4K held without buffering. Providers with no answer for Tizen and webOS were ranked below those with smart DNS or a router option, because those two platforms are most of the smart TVs people actually own.
All scores come from the same monthly tests on the same rig — how we test. Rank order on this page is by the category criteria, not by commission.
Questions
What is the best VPN for a smart TV?
NordVPN. It is the only provider we rate that covers both kinds of TV properly — a native Android TV app, and SmartPlay for Samsung and LG sets that cannot run apps. It also unblocked all 14 streaming services we test, more than any other VPN.
Can I install a VPN on a Samsung or LG TV?
No. Tizen and webOS do not support VPN apps and no provider offers one, whatever a download page might claim. Your two real options are running the VPN on your router, which covers the TV automatically, or using a smart DNS feature to change the region without encryption.
What is smart DNS and is it as good as a VPN?
It changes which region a streaming service thinks you are in, by routing the location check through another country, and it leaves the video stream itself untouched. That makes it fast and it works on TVs that cannot run apps — but it does not encrypt anything and does not hide your traffic from your ISP. It is a streaming tool, not a privacy one.
Will a VPN slow down 4K streaming on my TV?
Not meaningfully. 4K needs about 25 Mbps and every VPN here averaged over 400. The real bottleneck is usually the TV's own Wi-Fi chip or a distant server — if it buffers, switch to a nearer server before blaming the VPN.
Is a router setup better than an app?
It covers everything on the network at once, including TVs that cannot run apps, and counts as one device against your plan's limit. The trade-off is that changing country means logging into the router, and every device on the network shares that one location — which gets irritating when someone else wants a local service.