By installing a VPN on your smart TV, you can open up a world of streaming possibilities and watch your favorite shows in privacy.
If you have a Google TV and intend to download the VPN app directly from the Play Store, you need to ensure that the VPN is Android compitible. Similarly, if you want to run the VPN on your Amazon Fire TV, it must be compatible with Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, if you prefer to run the VPN through your router and connect your TV that way, it’s crucial to verify that your VPN supports and provides setup guides for your specific router model. Additionally, having a VPN with robust, knowledgeable can be invaluable if you encounter any setup issues. Your VPN should also offer strong to keep your viewing habits private and secure from prying eyes. By ensuring compatibility and robust support, you can seamlessly enhance your streaming experience, access geographically limited content, and maintain your privacy.
Virtual private networks can help in all of those situations, but most smart TVs aren’t compatible with VPNs right out of the box. That said, pretty much any smart TV can be hooked up to a VPN, and even if your TV isn’t of the smart variety, you still might be able to use a VPN with it — provided you have the right equipment.
There are various ways you can set up a VPN to work with your TV. But which route you choose to take will depend on your personal preference, technical know-how, budget and the equipment you have access to. We’ll show you a few of the ways you can set up a VPN on a TV and highlight why you would want to do so.
Why use a VPN on a TV?
Today’s TVs aren’t just for watching local network programming or cable TV. They’re also for streaming video on demand from your go-to streaming providers.
The amount of streaming content available today might seem limitless already, but some content is regionally locked. If you’re itching for more, or if the programming you want to watch isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN on your smart TV to spoof your location to access virtually any of the content you may want.
If, say, you’re in the UK but you want to stream programming that’s only available in the US, then you can hook your VPN up to your smart TV and connect to a server in the US. Since the VPN changes your IP address to a US IP address in the process, the streaming service you’re visiting will assume you’re in the US and serve up American programming, even if you’re across the Atlantic. Just make sure to check with your streaming service of choice to confirm that using a VPN doesn’t violate its terms of service. You don’t want to risk losing access to your streaming account for any reason.
Even if unblocking geo-restricted video content on your smart TV isn’t of particular interest to you, you may want to use a VPN on your TV as a way of preventing your ISP from being able to monitor your viewing habits or keep track of the internet activity being generated by your smart TV.
When you connect to a VPN, you establish an encrypted connection between your device and the internet via a VPN server in a remote location. This means that all of the internet traffic you’re transmitting through that encrypted VPN connection is hidden from any entity with an intent to monitor your activity, including your ISP. When you hook up a VPN to your TV and connect to a VPN server, your ISP won’t be able to see what you’re watching or otherwise decipher any of the internet activity transmitted or received by your TV.
How to set up a VPN on a smart TV
Like any software or service, your first step here is to work backward from what’s available for your operating system. The most VPN-friendly smart TV OSes are Amazon Fire TV and Google’s Android TV and Google TV platforms. That said, if you use Roku, Apple TV or the built-in operating systems for Samsung, Vizio, LG or any other platform, you still have options.
Here are a few of the most practical ways you can go about hooking up a VPN to your smart TV.
If you have a Fire TV
If you have one of Amazon’s new Fire TVs, you’ll be able to download your VPN directly to your TV, provided your VPN offers a Fire TV app. Not all VPNs offer compatibility with Amazon Fire devices, so you’ll need to pick one that does if you decide to go this route. The VPNs we recommend that are compatible with Amazon Fire devices include Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN. If you don’t already subscribe to one of those VPN providers, then go ahead and sign up and download the provider’s app from the Amazon Appstore. (All three offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try each one risk-free to see which one works best for you).
Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed into your VPN account through your Amazon Fire TV, you can connect to a VPN server. As long as you’re connected to the VPN on your Fire TV, you can unblock streaming content and hide your viewing habits from your ISP.
If you have an Android/Google TV
Similarly, if your smart TV runs on Google’s Android operating system, then you can set up a VPN on your TV by simply downloading your VPN’s app from the Play Store directly onto your TV. And even though Google is in the midst of rebranding Android TV as it transitions to a slicker, more user-friendly platform in Google TV, you’ll still be able to access Android apps in the Play Store after you’ve upgraded to Google TV since it still runs Android under the hood.
What you’ll need to do first is to get a VPN that works on Android, if you don’t have one already. Then, navigate over to the Play Store on your Google TV, search for your VPN provider’s app and download it. Once you’ve downloaded the VPN app to your TV, sign in and connect to a VPN server.
If you want to unblock US-only content, then you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in the US, or to a server in the UK for UK-only content, and so on. If all you want to do is protect your TV watching privacy and prevent your ISP or other entities from monitoring your viewing activity, then we’d recommend connecting to a VPN server closest to your physical location, in order to achieve optimal connection speeds through your VPN.
A potentially more difficult (and more expensive) way to add VPN to a smart TV
If your TV doesn’t run on the Android operating system, then one of the ways you can set up a VPN on your smart TV is by running a VPN connection through a router. But proceed with caution. Not all routers support VPN connections, so if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to purchase a compatible router — which can get pricey if you want a router that can handle the VPN connection and deliver a smooth streaming experience. Also, installing a VPN on your router (even if it is compatible) won’t necessarily be plug-and-play, and you risk ruining your router or voiding its warranty if you botch the installation process.
Fortunately, the best VPN providers on the market do offer step-by-step instructions for router installations for a variety of VPN-compatible router models in their help sections and have support staff on hand to help you. So you don’t have to go it alone completely, but the process still isn’t entirely risk-free. If you don’t want to complete the install yourself, some VPNs, through a company called FlashRouters, are happy to sell you routers with VPN compatibility already preinstalled on them. This could be the way to go if you don’t want to risk installing it yourself, but keep in mind that you’ll be paying a premium of probably about $100 to $150 over and above retail for your preconfigured VPN router.
So, once you’ve got your VPN successfully installed on your router and configured it with the servers you intend to use, you can go ahead and connect to a VPN server through your router firmware’s dashboard. You’ll want to make sure your TV is connected to your VPN router to ensure it’s using the VPN connection and you’re able to unblock the content you want and keep your TV viewing activity private.
Read more: The Pros and Cons of Using a VPN on a Router
The resourceful way to share your VPN with your smart TV
If you don’t have a Google TV or a VPN-compatible router, and don’t intend to purchase either, you can use the equipment you have on hand to share your VPN connection with your smart TV.
You could accomplish this by running an ethernet cable from your computer to your smart TV. But on top of stringing a long wire from computer to TV, this method may require additional adapters, depending on what kinds of devices you have. Once you’ve got the connection between your TV and computer established, then connect to a VPN server on your computer and you’re all set. The wired connection may not be the most practical solution, but it’s an option.
The simplest and most practical way to go about this would be to use your laptop or desktop as a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect your TV to your computer wirelessly.
Note that if you’re using MacOS, you’ll need to manually set up the VPN on your Mac using either the L2TP or IKEv2 VPN protocol and connect your Mac to your router via an ethernet cable to share your VPN connection over Wi-Fi. Your VPN provider will have specific instructions on how to manually set up its service on your Mac.
On Windows:
- Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Mobile hotspot.
- Click on Edit to set a network name and password for your hotspot.
- Select Wi-Fi under Share my internet connection over.
- Toggle the Mobile hotspot to the On position under Share my internet connection with other devices.
- Connect your smart TV to the hotspot you just created as you would any other Wi-Fi network and connect to your VPN on your PC.
On Mac:
- Connect your Mac to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable (use an adapter if your Mac doesn’t have an Ethernet port).
- Go to System Preferences -> Sharing.
- Click on Internet Sharing in the left panel.
- Select your VPN connection from the Share your connection from dropdown.
- In the To computers using box, check Wi-Fi.
- Click on Wi-Fi Options in the bottom-right corner.
- Set a network name and password for your hotspot, select WPA2 Personal in the Security field and click OK.
- Click on the box next to Internet Sharing in the left panel and click Start in the dialogue box that pops up.
- Connect your TV to the Wi-Fi hotspot you just created as you would any other Wi-Fi network and connect to your VPN on your Mac.
The ‘I don’t have a smart TV’ way to add VPN
Even if you don’t have a smart TV, you’re in luck because you can set a VPN up on it if you’re able to connect a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Firestick or Google Chromecast to the TV. These ingenious little devices essentially turn any TV with an HDMI port into a smart TV, at a much lower cost than an actual smart TV.
Basically, you can use the methods listed above to connect a VPN to your TV — and if you go with Chromecast with Google TV or Amazon Firestick then you can download the VPN directly via the Play Store or the Amazon Appstore, respectively. The only difference is that you’ll use your streaming device’s interface to connect to the VPN instead of directly via your TV interface. You’ll still get all the privacy and unblocking benefits that a VPN offers if you decide to take this route, but only for content you watch through your streaming device.
Next steps for adding VPN to your smart TV
When you’re thinking about setting up a VPN on your smart TV, there are a few things to consider. First of all, you’ll want a VPN that provides fast speeds that are sufficient in supplying a smooth streaming experience free of buffering. You’ll also want to make sure the VPN you select has servers located in the countries you want to unblock content from.
If you have a Google TV and intend to download the VPN app to your TV from the Play Store, then the VPN you go with will need to be Android-compatible. And your VPN will need to be Amazon Fire TV-compatible if you want to run the VPN directly on your Amazon Fire TV.
If you’d rather run the VPN through your router and connect your TV that way, then it’s important to make sure your VPN supports router connections and has router setup guides that include your router of choice. It doesn’t hurt for your VPN to have helpful, knowledgeable technical support, either, in case you need assistance with your setup.
You’ll also want your VPN to provide the privacy protections necessary to keep your viewing habits private and safe from prying eyes.
The VPNs we recommend that fit the bill and check all those boxes include ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN. Any of those options will get the job done for your unblocking and privacy needs on your smart TV.
What is a VPN for Fire TV Stick?
If you have a television you wish would do more, a simple way to give it some smart TV features is by using Amazon’s Fire TV Stick. As long as your TV has the proper input on the side or back panel, you’ll be able to plug in a Fire TV Stick and, upon configuration, access all sorts of TV shows and movies instantly. You’ll get the programs and films you love from streaming services like Hulu, Max, Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, you can find a variety of apps, games, and live TV to keep the whole family entertained.
It’s worth remembering that you’ll be using your internet connection to enjoy all this content, which means your digital information will be available to prying eyes unless you take some protective measures. Installing a compatible virtual private network on the device will keep your data secure. Our CNET experts have tested roughly a dozen of the top VPN providers on the market, implementing a thorough testing process on a variety of platforms, including Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.Setting up a VPN on your smart TV is easy when you use an Amazon Fire TV Stick. The device costs about $30, making it an affordable option. Once you’ve connected a Fire TV Stick to your TV, a paired VPN can prevent your internet service provider from slowing your internet connection. Whether you’re using the device overseas or from the comfort of your own couch, a VPN can help you bypass geographical content blocks. This allows you to stream TV shows, movies, or play video games with friends without needing a VPN-compatible router or reconfiguring your home network. Using a VPN on your Fire TV Stick will encrypt your IP address and keep your browsing behavior hidden from your internet service provider. So, no more data snooping. Just make sure to check local laws and your ISP’s terms of service to verify that using a VPN is permitted.
What’s the best VPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick right now?
We determined that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Fire TV Stick, after running several VPN apps through extensive testing on the streaming device. ExpressVPN’s Fire TV Stick app is easy to use, quick to connect and is the best choice for streaming content through your Fire TV Stick device. Surfshark is a close second and is a solid choice for anyone on a budget or who wants access to multiple Netflix regional libraries. NordVPN is another excellent option for Fire TV Stick users. It was the fastest VPN in CNET’s hands-on testing, delivers a smooth streaming experience and offers a few extra privacy features not available on other VPNs’ Fire TV Stick apps.
How we tested VPNs on Fire TV Stick
Each of CNET’s top VPNs offers a native VPN app for the Fire TV Stick, but a few of them stood out during our tests. In addition to evaluating the usability and features of the Fire TV Stick VPN apps, we prioritized other important factors like security, speed and unblocking capabilities of each VPN we tested.
We opened each app on the Fire TV Stick and first tried to get a sense of the usability and the features available. Is the app easy to navigate and are the servers accessible? Are the features useful, organized and simple to access?
We then evaluated the overall performance of the app to see if the servers connected quickly, whether or not the connections were stable and how well the features performed. Finally, we tested how each VPN was able to provide access to various popular streaming services. Did the streaming services load up and start playing content quickly? Was the streaming experience smooth and absent of buffering? Was the VPN able to provide access to each streaming service we tested, and from multiple server locations? The VPNs that consistently passed these tests earned a spot among our top picks.
Other VPNs we tested on the Fire TV Stick
We also tested ProtonVPN and IPVanish on the Fire TV Stick. While both providers have native Fire TV Stick apps and are excellent options for various VPN use cases, they didn’t perform to our standards during our Fire TV Stick tests.
Proton VPN’s Fire TV Stick app is very basic and offers no options beyond connecting to a server or reporting an issue. It’s slow to connect, and the overall app experience was clunky and awkward. Once we were finally able to connect to a server, we weren’t successful in our attempts to stream content from any streaming service. Oddly enough, it’s not optimized for streaming, so it may not always work for accessing geoblocked content.
IPVanish was a little better — the app includes various settings and features to tool around with, but we had trouble trying to stream UK Netflix on Fire TV Stick, which could’ve been due to speed issues we encountered through the VPN’s UK servers. Netflix also detected the VPN and blocked our access to content when we were connected to IPVanish’s Canadian servers. The automatic app launch feature that allows users to select an app to launch automatically after a successful connection is a handy feature and worked well in our testing when we set it to auto-launch Netflix. But besides that, there wasn’t much more to like about IPVanish’s performance on the Fire TV Stick. We decided we couldn’t enthusiastically recommend it as a viable VPN solution for the Fire TV Stick.
We’ll continue to test these and other VPNs on the Fire TV Stick, so be sure to check back often.
Factors to consider in a Fire TV Stick VPN
Privacy
If you want to keep your viewing activities on your Fire TV Stick hidden from your ISP, then you’ll want a VPN that delivers on privacy. Be sure to check the VPN provider’s privacy policy to see what personal information may be collected, who it’s shared with and how it’s protected. Do some research into any privacy or security incidents that the VPN company may have dealt with in the past. Look into the provider’s no-logs policy and check for any third-party no-logs audits or real-life cases where the provider’s no-logs claims were put to the test. Also, you’ll want to make sure the VPN has a kill switch and DNS leak protection to ensure your traffic doesn’t leak unencrypted.
Speed
Nothing’s worse than constant buffering when you’re trying to stream movies or shows with your Fire TV Stick. You’ll need a fast VPN to ensure a smooth streaming experience, especially if you’re streaming in 4K. Keep in mind that a VPN will slow your internet speeds, sometimes by 50% or more. But with a VPN that cuts your internet speeds by 20% or less, you’ll probably hardly notice the speed reduction and your speeds should be sufficient for streaming on your Fire TV Stick (provided your base internet speeds are fast enough, to begin with).
Streaming and unblocking capabilities
Some VPNs are better than others when it comes to streaming. Because you’ll most likely be spending the majority of your time streaming content on your Amazon Fire TV Stick, you’ll need a VPN that can handle your streaming activities. And if you’re looking to unblock streaming content from other regions, you’ll want a VPN that can capably unblock geographically restricted content.
Usability
Table of Contents
Just because a VPN has a dedicated app for Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good VPN for the device. You’ll want your VPN to be easy to use on your Fire TV Stick. The app should be similar to its desktop and mobile counterparts and should be just as simple to navigate, apply settings and connect to a server. It should also connect quickly and remain connected throughout your streaming sessions.
Cost
If you’re on a budget, cost will be an important consideration in choosing a VPN for your Fire TV Stick. VPN prices can vary from provider to provider, but you’ll typically save more money over the long-run when you commit to a longer timeframe. You can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $100 per year for an annual VPN subscription, and anywhere from $5 to $13 for a monthly VPN subscription, depending on which VPN you go with.
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