Smart TVs have revolutionised the way we watch television. Having your TV connected to the internet opens up a world of possibilities. And by using a VPN for smart TV, you can enhance both your online security and your TV watching experience.
In this guide to the best VPNs for smart TV, we will explain the importance of choosing the right smart TV VPN. You can also get some tips on what to look for when choosing a VPN and discover our selections for the three best VPNs for smart TV users.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) works by rerouting your internet connection via different, remote servers. When you are online, it is via a new IP address. In layman's terms, think of a VPN as a tunnel which your online activity travels through. When the data emerges at the other end of the tunnel, your online activity is hidden, as well as your initial IP address.
You’ve got your smart TV VPN and you’re probably perfectly happy with the quality of the app and streaming services you can access - why bother with a smart TV VP? It’s a good question, so to help you out, here are the two main advantages of having a high quality smart TV VPN.
In the interests of fairness, here are a couple of potential disadvantages that come with using a smart TV VPN:
Talking of finding the best VPN providers, before you decide which service to go for, you need to consider your personal requirements and circumstances. To help you out, we have put together a list of the key factors you need to consider:
Are you looking to watch films from a certain country, or access Netflix content from a specific location? If you just want to view content from major countries like the United States, pretty much all VPN providers will meet your needs. However, if you have a niche interest in films from a more unlikely location, you need to find out which VPN services have suitable server locations.
The majority of new smart TVs are Android. This immediately means your TV will be compatible with almost all VPNs. But if you have an older smart TV you may have a different operating system. This can be restrictive when choosing a VPN, as some providers will not be compatible with all systems.
Most of your smart TV activity is done via apps rather than web browsers. And whilst pretty much every VPN will enable you to watch Netflix and Amazon Prime, if you subscribe to any relatively obscure streaming services, you may find that some VPN providers do not cover those apps.
How much can you afford to spend on a VPN? Also, think about how long you need to use the service. Some VPN providers offer monthly memberships, some offer annual or even lifetime subscriptions, whilst many offer a range of different subscription lengths. Of course, you need the VPN to meet the requirements listed above, but once you have found providers that do that, look for the ones that give you the best value for money.
Finally, before deciding which smart TV VPN to use, don’t forget to read our exclusive reviews. Our experts thoroughly test the speed and performance of smart TV VPNs, as well as look at background areas such as customer support and payment options. It is also advisable to check out a selection of user reviews. This will help you establish what other users think of each VPN service.
Now for the good stuff. Our experts have carefully assessed all of the smart TV VPN options out there and put together their sections for the top three providers on the market.
| Provider | Cheapest subscription | Number of countries covered | Number of servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SurfshackVPN | $2.30 for 26 months | 100 | 3200+ |
| Express VPN | $6.67 per month for 15 months | 94 | 3000 |
| NordVPN | $3.29 per month for two years | 60 | 5,500+ |
SurfshackVPN is a great ‘value for money’ option for users operating on a tight budget. SurfshackVPN allows an unlimited number of devices to be connected at the same time. Useful if you have a big family, who all want to watch something different at the same time.
Naturally, the lower price also means a small dip in speed and performance compared to the very best VPN providers. But SurfshackVPN still performs very well in this area. The service is compatible with all major streaming providers and has an excellent Android TV app. Our reviewers were also impressed by the 24/7 customer support. Overall, this is a great option for customers looking for an affordable, high quality, smart TV VPN.
If you want to access content from relatively obscure locations, ExpressVPN represents a great choice. In addition, you can be guaranteed an optimum level of security, thanks to their military grade encryption and extensive security features. What’s more, Express VPN has one of the best VPN mobile apps available and offers 24/7 live chat support.
Unsurprisingly, the high quality of ExpressVPN does come at a cost, and the provider may not be suitable for users on a low budget. However, we can highly recommend checking out their payment plans, as they do have a number of flexible options.
As you can see from our table, NordVPN’s servers only cover 60 countries, but they more than make up for that with the number of servers they use. Speed and performance are the two other big strengths of NordVPN. You will struggle to find a provider who can match NordVPN in either of these areas.
The operator also has an excellent reputation when it comes to their supporting functions. They offer 24/7 customer services, flexible pricing and a top quality smart TV app.
Hopefully, this article has made you realise the importance of finding your ideal smart TV VPN. You may like the sound of our choices for the best smart TV VPN, but it is still important to carry out your own research and carefully consider your bespoke circumstances.
One great way to ensure you find your perfect smart TV VPN is to take advantage of the free trials offered by many providers. In many cases, you can claim a seven day free trial to check out the performances, speeds and reliability of a VPN service. After the trial ends, you should be able to make an informed decision on whether a certain smart TV VPN is right for you. And don’t forget to check out our expert guides before making your decision!
The cost of a smart TV VPN can vary considerably, depending on your subscription term, level of service and provider. So before you go off to find the cheapest smart TV VPN on the market, you need to factor in the quality of the service and establish whether it meets your requirements. The best way of doing this is to read our expert smart TV VPN guides.
In theory, yes. However, free smart TV VPNs do not offer the same level of security and performance as paid equivalents. Therefore, we would recommend looking for a subscription service. The best way to find your ideal smart TV VPN is to read our reviews. They cover all of the key areas relating to a VPN service and will enable you to successfully locate your perfect option.
That may depend on the model of your Samsung smart TV. You need your VPN to be fully compatible with your specific television. If your TV is relatively old, this may restrict your options. Our smart TV VPN guides thoroughly address this important issue, ensuring that you choose a VPN that works on your Samsung smart TV.
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