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The Best VPNs for Android TV
Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of apps and his research has been featured on the BBC, The New York Times, and more. Read full bio
The best VPN compatible with Android TVs is IPVanish thanks to its fast and fully secure dedicated app, excellent anonymous streaming performance, and affordable price. Our free Android TV VPN of choice is PrivadoVPN, which unblocks several geo-restricted apps at high speed, although it limits use to 10GB per month.
While there are Android TV apps for every popular streaming service, you’re limited to the content available in your regional library.
To bypass these geo-restrictions, you can use a virtual private network (VPN). By connecting to a VPN server in another country, you can trick apps into thinking you’re accessing them from that location and stream geo-blocked content.
Not every VPN can do this, though, especially on Android TV. Out of 60 VPNs we tested, only 16 have a native Android TV app and of those, only three worked with most popular streaming apps.
Summary: The Best Android TV VPNs
Based on extensive tests on our various Android TV devices, the VPNs below delivered the best experience:
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
VPNs Tested
60
Total Hours of Testing
30,000+
Combined Years of Experience
50+
Contrary to information elsewhere, these Android TV VPNs are also compatible with Google TV devices. Google TV is simply a different user interface built on top of Android TV.
Our findings are based on using VPNs on our Sony Bravia 4K OLED, Nvidia Shield TV Pro, Onn 4K Pro, and Google TV Streamer.
Following our latest tests, IPVanish is now our top-rated VPN for Android TV, thanks to its no-logs policy and much-improved access to geo-blocked apps.
VPNs with a Native App for Android TV
A good VPN service for Android TV must have developed a native app for the platform.
This doesn’t mean just an Android app that can be used on an Android TV, but one specifically built for larger screens.
We found that surprisingly few VPN providers offer a custom app for Android TV: only 16 of the 60 VPNs we’ve reviewed to be more precise.
Here’s the list of VPNs that have an Android or Google TV app:
CyberGhost
ExpressVPN
Hide.me
Hotspot Shield
IPVanish
NordVPN
Norton VPN
PrivadoVPN
Private Internet Access
PrivateVPN
Proton VPN
PureVPN
Surfshark
Windscribe
VyprVPN
X-VPN
VPN Comparison Table
All the VPNs we recommend below have a dedicated Android TV app for easy setup, have reliably accessed geo-blocked streaming apps over a long period of time, and offer a selection of strong security and privacy features.
You can quickly compare our VPN picks in the table below:
IPVanish is an excellent choice for users with Android TVs and Android TV boxes.
To access Kodi and IPTV streams safely, the VPN uses secure encryption and protocols that encrypt any traffic flowing through its no-logs servers.
IPVanish has also dramatically improved its access to region-locked apps, and now works well with most major streaming services.
IPVanish’s Android TV app is suited for large screens.
Android TV App
IPVanish’s UI is tailor-made for privacy-seeking streamers.
The map interface does take up a lot of space, and isn’t for everyone, but the stark green color scheme against the pure black background looked excellent on our Sony OLED.
Having a map element is an interesting decision, since the service’s VPN app for Apple TV doesn’t feature it.
It doesn’t get in the way of UX, though. From the home screen, we quickly connected to the nearest (fastest) server or accessed the full server list by clicking the bottom-left icon.
Countries are listed alphabetically, and you can favorite your preferred server locations for quick access.
Disappointingly, unlike competitors that simplify the login process using QR codes, IPVanish requires manual entry using the TV remote, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Streaming
While IPVanish does work very well for streaming, it isn’t as effective as ExpressVPN for bypassing geo-blocks outside of the most popular streaming services.
The VPN’s access has improved massively over the last few years, and it now streams 17 Netflix regional libraries, HBO Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video and many more apps.
We saw the same performance on our Onn 4K Pro and Nvidia Shield as on our Sony Bravia and Samsung TVs.
IPVanish mainly struggles with geo-blocked apps from non-English countries such as Germany and Spain. It also had issues working with Australia’s Kayo Sports.
Speed
IPVanish is one of the fastest VPNs out of the 60 we regularly test.
On average, we experienced a download speed loss of just 4% on nearby VPN server locations, and a slowdown of 12% while connected further afield.
Privacy & Security
IPVanish’s security and privacy performance results were superb.
On its Android TV app, you have the choice of encrypting traffic using ChaCha20 with WireGuard or AES-256 with OpenVPN, both of which are open-source and safe.
It’s also the only VPN on this list that operates a strict no-logs privacy policy, which has been confirmed by an independent audit.
Like its Fire TV VPN app, the kill switch lives on a separate app and for a good reason: Android TV boxes have memory constraints that can abruptly shut down heavier apps.
By hosting the kill switch on a lighter standalone app, the risk of sudden IP address leaks drops, even when your Android TV’s memory is maxed out.
Yes, it’s more time-consuming to set up the kill switch, but once installed you can control it from the main VPN app.
Pricing & Free Access
IPVanish offers competitive pricing plans, with a best monthly price of $2.19/mo over 24 months.
Month-to-month plans cost $12.99, which is considerably cheaper than Surfshark’s, although they don’t come with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
There’s also a 7-day free trial available through mobile app stores.
RAM-based (diskless) servers that don't log activity
Blocks ads & trackers
Built-in obfuscation & rotating IP technology
2-year plan more expensive than Surfshark's
Pricing Plans
$12.99/mo
$4.99/mo over 15 months
$2.49/mo over 28 months
Money-Back Guarantee
30 Days
Servers
13,360
Countries with Servers
109
Logging Policy
No Identifiable Data
Simultaneous Connections
10
Support
24/7 Live Chat
Compatible with
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Router
Chrome
ExpressVPN is an excellent all-around VPN for Google TV. It recorded the fastest speeds and unblocked the most geo-restricted streaming apps.
Its Android TV app is more streamlined than IPVanish’s, and is better suited to VPN beginners. It does have fewer advanced settings, though, so more advanced users may prefer IPVanish.
ExpressVPN’s streamlined app for Android TV.
Android TV App
ExpressVPN’s dedicated app for Android TV is the most intuitive and easiest to use out of all the ones we tested.
Previously, we had criticized the app for not being optimized for larger screens and for not making it clear which UI element was selected at any time. Thankfully, these concerns are long gone.
The new Android TV app is well-designed and features large buttons and text that are easier to read and use on a TV screen.
You can quickly log in using the on-screen QR code or through your smartphone. Many other VPNs force you to manually enter your account details, which is a pain on a TV remote.
However, there’s no option to use the app in different color modes, unlike the desktop and mobile apps.
We particularly loved the ability to pin shortcuts to our favorite streaming apps from the ExpressVPN home screen.
This made it even quicker to jump to the app we wanted to access whenever we changed server location. This is particularly useful on Android TV, as the OS doesn’t support a quick-switch app feature.
Streaming
ExpressVPN is the best VPN you can get for streaming. Our tests found that it’s able to access most geo-restricted streaming apps from 109 countries.
Using it, we were able to watch our favorite international content from 18 different Netflix regions as well as on Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and many more.
While connected to ExpressVPN servers using its proprietary Lightway protocol, we’ve always recorded speeds fast enough for streaming in the highest resolution.
For most streaming apps, you need a download speed of 5Mbps or higher to stream content in Full HD (1080p) or 15Mbps or higher for 4K content.
With an average speed reduction of 15% connecting internationally, and 2% locally, you won’t notice any real difference using ExpressVPN, as long as you’re on a fast internet line.
Privacy & Security
ExpressVPN is a highly secure and private VPN, encrypting all traffic using AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption depending on the VPN protocol the app automatically selects.
The company also enforces a private logging policy that has been independently audited several times.
Its Android TV app also includes a range of technical features, including split tunneling and an ad and tracker blocker.
The kill switch, called Network Protection, is surprisingly inactive on first launch (unlike ExpressVPN’s other apps) so remember to enable it from the Settings menu, right away.
Pricing & Free Access
ExpressVPN used to be one of the more expensive VPNs on the market, but it’s now priced more affordably. At its cheapest, it will now set you back $2.49/mo over 28 months.
You can also sign up for a 7-day free trial if you create an account through your Android TV’s Google Play Store. Once you’ve created your new account, you can then use it on your other devices, too.
Navigating the app requires a lot of remote clicking
Pricing Plans
$15.45/mo
$3.19/mo over 15 months
$1.99/mo over 27 months
Money-Back Guarantee
30 Days
Servers
4,500
Countries with Servers
100
Logging Policy
No Identifiable Data
Simultaneous Connections
Unlimited
Support
24/7 Live Chat
Compatible with
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Router
Chrome
Surfshark is a very affordable VPN for Android TV, if you’re willing to commit to a multi-year plan.
It offers a dedicated app that’s simple to use on all Android and Google TV devices, although it’s not as beginner-friendly and it unblocks fewer streaming apps than ExpressVPN.
Using Surfshark on a Google TV device.
Android TV App
Surfshark provides a dedicated TV app from Google Play, which means you can quickly download it directly onto your device.
Just like ExpressVPN, logging into the app was easy, as we just needed to scan a QR code using our phone.
The left half of the screen allows you to quickly choose a VPN server location and the right half shows the connection status.
We prefer this to VPN apps, like ExpressVPN, that require you to click through to another screen to change server location.
One downside is that the app requires a lot of scrolling, which was frustrating while using our TV’s remote.
For example, the two options at the top of the screen of Fastest location and Nearest country perform the same function and always connected us to the exact same server. It’d be better to remove them to free up screen space.
Another slight nuisance was the speed it took Surfshark’s app to connect to a server. It hung for enough seconds for us to notice a difference compared to IPVanish and ExpressVPN.
Streaming
Surfshark consistently unblocked all major streaming apps, including US Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Disney+.
It also offers servers in 100 countries, which means you’ll almost certainly be able to get a compatible IP address for the platform you want to access.
That being said, Surfshark unblocks fewer Netflix regions (10), and with fewer US server locations it’s less suitable for streaming local US TV broadcasts.
Speed
For such a popular VPN service, Surfshark’s speed performance was underwhelming compared to IPVanish and ExpressVPN.
We recorded an average download speed loss of 17% when connected to servers in other countries, which is slower than ExpressVPN’s 15%.
That said, Surfshark was always fast enough to access geo-blocked content in high resolution and without buffering. This should be the same for you, as long as you have a baseline internet speed above 30Mbps.
Privacy & Security
Just like its rivals, Surfshark also comes with all the privacy and security essentials to protect your Kodi and IPTV streaming.
We were able to switch between secure and trusted protocols, like WireGuard with ChaCha20 encryption, and OpenVPN with AES-256 encryption.
Automatic protocol selection is the default, and we recommend you stick with it for improved performance.
Adjusting Surfshark’s settings in its Android TV app.
Like our other top-rated Google TV VPNs, the Surfshark app lets you enable its ad and tracker blocker (called CleanWeb), as well as split tunneling (called Bypass VPN).
You can find both tools in the Features icon near the top left corner of the app.
Like ExpressVPN, the kill switch isn’t active by default so you’ll have to toggle it on via the Settings icon in the bottom left corner of the app.
Pricing & Free Access
Surfshark provides excellent value on a long-term basis, costing just $1.99/mo over 27 months.
However, it’s a lot more expensive if you choose to pay monthly, at a steep $15.45 each month.
After researching many free VPNs in the Google Play Store, we were disappointed to find only six with a dedicated Android TV app: PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, Windscribe, Hotspot Shield, Hide.me, and X-VPN.
Of these, PrivadoVPN was the only one that allowed us to connect to 11 countries, unblock US Netflix, and maintain fast speeds across every server.
Over years of use, PrivadoVPN continues to come out as the best free VPN for Android TV.
It’s the only completely free service that provides you with an eye-pleasing dedicated app that works with US Netflix.
The only major downside is its 10GB monthly data cap, but this should be enough for occasional use.
PrivadoVPN’s Android TV app is better designed than other free VPNs.
Android TV App
PrivadoVPN is one of only a few 100% free VPNs that offers a dedicated app for Google and Android TV devices.
The app itself is simple but well designed and easy to use. To save you time having to scroll through the server list, the app allows you to connect to a server by proximity or by favoriting servers.
Like ExpressVPN, you can add a shortcut to a streaming app from the home screen. We added a shortcut to Netflix so we could quickly access the new content library of the app whenever we changed server location.
It also supports split tunneling via the Smart Route feature. There’s a convenient toggle for deciding whether you want to include or exclude system apps, which makes scrolling through and selecting the apps a lot easier.
Streaming
PrivadoVPN’s free app unblocks far fewer streaming platforms than the other VPNs in our list.
Unlike IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and many other paid options, we couldn’t access BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, or YouTube TV while connected to a free PrivadoVPN server.
However, it fares much better than other free VPNs. It worked particularly well with US Netflix, as opposed to Windscribe and Proton VPN’s free services.
PrivadoVPN’s free US servers also unblock Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Peacock.
The biggest drawback of using PrivadoVPN is its 10GB monthly data cap.
While the same is true for other high-quality free VPNs like Windscribe and Hide.me, we could only stream for roughly four hours in HD quality before our data ran out.
Speed
Since its launch in 2019, PrivadoVPN has remained one of the most reliably quick free VPNs.
In general terms, PrivadoVPN’s free app will affect your streaming speed by 3% on short distances, and 8% globally.
It’s faster than many of the leading free VPNs. For example, its average global download speed is 91Mbps faster than Hide.me’s free VPN and 7Mbps faster than TunnelBear’s.
While using it on our Sony TV, we didn’t encounter any buffering or low resolution video.
Privacy & Security
For a free VPN, PrivadoVPN is sufficiently private and secure. It doesn’t log any sensitive user data and it’s based in the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Iceland.
By contrast, many of the popular free VPNs listed in the Google TV Play Store, like X-VPN, log personally-identifiable data.
The only major qualm we have with PrivadoVPN’s free app is that the kill switch is only available as a premium feature for paid customers.
A kill switch is an essential security component of a VPN and should also be made available to free users.
PrivadoVPN also doesn’t offer an ad and tracker blocker, nor other advanced features like multi-hop servers or RAM-only servers.
There’s no getting away from the fact that your internet activity is less secure when using PrivadoVPN’s free service compared to the other premium alternatives.
Pricing & Free Access
PrivadoVPN is completely free and only requires an email address and password to use. You don’t need to provide any payment details to access it.
As long as a VPN provider has a dedicated app for Android TV, it’s simple to set it up and use.
Simply search for the VPN’s name in Google Play, install it, sign up or log in, and select the server you want to connect to.
Here’s a video demonstrating how easy it is to install a VPN on an Android TV.
We’ve outlined the key steps from the video in the instructions below.
Instructions: How to Set Up a VPN on an Android TV
Choose a VPN with a native Android TV app: See the full list here.
Search for the VPN in Google Play: Scroll to the Apps tab at the top of the screen and enter the name of the VPN in the field labeled Search for apps and games. If your remote control has a Google Assistant button, we found it quicker to hold it and say the name of the VPN out loud.
Download the VPN onto your Android TV device: Press the Install button and wait for the download to complete. Then, press Open.
Log in using your account credentials: Many of the best VPNs will allow you to scan a QR code on your mobile device, saving you from having to enter your email and password using the TV remote.
Go to your VPN’s settings and enable the kill switch: This will prevent your real IP address from being visible if the VPN connection suddenly cuts out.
Connect to the VPN server location you want to appear in: For instance, connect to a UK server to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad. Click your remote’s OK button when the country is selected.
Launch your streaming app and start watching.
If you want to install a VPN on a Chromecast that’s running Google TV, this video shows you exactly what you need to do.
EXPERT ADVICE: When your VPN’s kill switch is on, and you disconnect from a VPN server, your entire device’s internet connection will be interrupted. If you don’t want this to happen every time you turn off the VPN, you’ll have to keep the kill switch deactivated.
What Can You Do with a VPN on Android TV?
1. Download Apps from Other Countries
For us, the most impressive aspect of using a VPN on Android TV is that it allows you to download region-specific apps simply by changing your IP address.
On the Play Store on Android, you have to go through the cumbersome process of changing your account region to achieve this.
We downloaded JioHotstar with a US Google account by using a VPN.
Notably, all these apps remained in our app library even after disconnecting from the VPN, unlike on Fire TV where the device only displays apps from your current region.
2. Stream Geo-Restricted Content
Without a VPN, you’ll only be able to access content that’s available in your location. This is because streaming services geo-block content to honor the licensing agreements they have with rights holders.
By changing your IP address using a VPN, you can appear to be in a different location in the world. You can then access international libraries of streaming apps you already have access to, like Netflix, or access ones that are only available in one or a few countries, like HBO Max.
Accessing the French Netflix library on Google TV using a VPN.
3. Hide Kodi Activity from Your ISP
When using an Android TV box for Kodi, you’re unfortunately likely to encounter Kodi add-ons that host copyrighted content. If you accidentally stream such content on your regular connection, your ISP can monitor your activity and pass it on to law enforcement.
By connecting to a VPN server, you can conceal all your network activity from your ISP. This ensures that your viewing habits on Kodi remain private and unmonitored.
The Risk of Using Generic Android TV Boxes
Generic Android TV boxes, typically sold on Amazon and AliExpress for under $50.00, often come with preloaded malware.
For example, the BadBox botnet, uncovered by Human Security, was found running on hundreds of thousands of these devices.
As such, make sure you buy a reputable Android TV device from vetted manufacturers like Sony, Nvidia, Google, and Onn.
Popular VPNs That Didn’t Meet Our Criteria
We reviewed 60 VPNs with our Android TV devices. Of the 16 with a dedicated app for the platform, many failed to access popular streaming apps, or were too slow to stream in HD.
Below is a selection of popular VPNs we don’t recommend for use on Google TV devices:
VPN services that didn’t make our recommendations list.
VPN Service
Why We Don’t Recommend It for Android TV
CyberGhost
Works with 8 fewer Netflix libraries than ExpressVPN
NordVPN
Android TV app interface is less user-friendly than alternatives
Norton VPN
Doesn’t unblock a lot of geo-locked content on Netflix and Disney+
Private Internet Access
Works with 4 fewer Netflix libraries than Surfshark & 12 fewer than ExpressVPN
PrivateVPN
Difficult to see which UI element is selected at any time
Have to manually enter account details using the remote
Hide.me (Free)
Doesn’t work with streaming apps
Slow download speeds
Hotspot Shield Basic
Logs personally-identifiable user data
Proton VPN (Free)
Didn’t work with any streaming services
Can’t manually select a server location
Windscribe (Free)
Frustrating to use on Android TV due to the magnified interface
Doesn’t work with US Netflix
Cumbersome login process
How We Test VPNs for Android TV
We extensively used all 16 VPNs that have a native Android TV app and assessed their performance in several key areas.
You can quickly see our criteria and how much each area contributes to a VPN’s overall Android TV rating in the chart below.
Below, you can read a more detailed explanation of our methodology and ranking system.
1. Android TV App (30%)
Test Conducted: We used each VPN’s Android TV app and documented our experience. This included evaluating ease of access to desired server locations and the presence of additional features, like streaming service shortcuts. We also noted whether each app offered a kill switch and other functional features.
Why It’s Important: A user-friendly VPN app allows for simple and quick setup, even while using a cumbersome TV remote.
Optimal Result: An app that’s available from Google Play, allows you to log in via a QR code, is intuitive and simple to navigate, and includes a kill switch and split tunneling.
2. Streaming (30%)
Test Conducted: We attempted to access 120 streaming services while connected to the VPN’s servers from around the world. These tests are always ongoing to assess the VPN’s reliability.
Why It’s Important: This is essential for accessing geo-blocked streaming content on a TV from anywhere in the world.
Optimal Result: A VPN that consistently unblocks more than 10 Netflix libraries, Disney+, Hulu, Max, BBC iPlayer, and all other popular streaming apps.
3. Speed (20%)
Test Conducted: We used our self-hosted speed testing tool to determine the connection speed loss of each VPN while connected to servers in eight countries.
Why It’s Important: Fast speeds are necessary to watch geo-restricted videos in Full HD or 4K without buffering. This factor is particularly significant on Google TV, where technical limitations of the device, such as lower RAM, can influence performance. For example, our Sony Bravia set has only 1GB of RAM, compared to 16GB on our test laptops and 6GB on our test smartphones, leading to slightly reduced speeds.
Optimal Result: A connection speed loss below 10% on nearby VPN servers, and 20% over longer distances.
4. Privacy (10%)
Test Conducted: We read through each VPN’s privacy policy from top to bottom to understand the data they collect and for how long they retain it. We also checked for privacy-enhancing features and performed a series of IP address and DNS leaks.
Why It’s Important: To ensure you don’t sacrifice your online privacy when using a VPN to access streaming apps on Google TV. Many VPNs, especially free ones, log and sell user data to make money.
Optimal Result: A clear no-logs policy that’s been audited and proven in the real world, alongside encrypted and diskless VPN servers that have a proven track record of safeguarding user data.
5. Security (10%)
Test Conducted: We examined each VPN’s security standards, including the encryption strength, the choice of protocols, and the effectiveness of its kill switch.
Why It’s Important: Strong security standards in place will prevent your ISP and copyright trolls from monitoring your streaming activity.
Optimal Result: No IP or DNS data leaks, a reliable kill switch, and correct implementation of the latest security standards.
Data Cap Penalty
We apply the following penalties to the VPN’s overall Google TV rating based on its data cap:
Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
1GB or 2GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating
FAQs
Can I Use a Mobile VPN App on Android TV?
Google Play on Android TV only surfaces apps developers have explicitly marked as TV-compatible.
Mobile Android VPN apps usually won’t appear in TV search at all.
The fallback is sideloading the APK file of a VPN, but this is a lengthier process and you’ll still have a worse user experience.
That’s because mobile VPN apps assume touch input, and therefore are usually harder to navigate and use with a TV remote.
We strongly recommend you use a native VPN app for Android TV to enjoy the smoothest user experience.
