While there is a lack of quality web browsers on Android TV, it does feature top-of-the-line VPNs and all of them are optimized for the TV platform. You don’t have to sideload VPNs to use them on Android TV. Almost all major VPNs can be installed through the Play Store and they work fine. What’s more, VPNs also remain active in the background and do not get killed due to low RAM. I would say, if you want to unlock geo-restricted content or browse certain apps anonymously then you should be looking at the best VPNs for Android TV. So on that note, let’s go through the list.
Here, we have curated the 8 best Android TV VPNs having a mix of both free and paid services. Be assured, security on all the VPNs are top-notch and we have put special emphasis on privacy before compiling the list. You can click on the link below and move to the corresponding VPN easily.
- ProtonVPNWindscribePrivate Internet Access (PIA)NordVPN Hotspot ShieldCyberGhostVPN SecureLine by AvastIPVanishFrequently Asked QuestionsQ. Is It Illegal to Watch Netflix with a VPN?List of Android TVs that Support VPNs
1. ProtonVPN
If you are looking for the best VPN for Android TV that offers you unrestricted data for free, good speed, and a decent number of servers around the world then ProtonVPN would be my top recommendation. I have been using it for quite some time on my Android device and after its recent release on Android TV, I have fully moved to ProtonVPN.
Similar to the smartphone version, you get multiple free servers from 3 major locations — the US, Netherlands, and Japan. Apart from that, since the company is headquartered in Switzerland, you are protected by the strong privacy laws of the EU.
Install: ProtonVPN (Free, Offers in-app purchases)
Windscribe is another great Android TV VPN that you must use if you want high-speed connectivity for free. Unlike ProtonVPN, it does not offer unlimited data but provides a sizeable data allowance of 10GB and access to over 10 countries across the globe. I think it’s quite reasonable since you get access to high-speed VPN servers without much speed throttling.
However, keep in mind, you will have to create an account on Windscribe to use the free service. That said, Windscribe maintains that it does not log user activity in any manner for both free and premium users so that is great.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA)
One of the oldest VPNs around, Private Internet Access has a reputable name in the VPN industry for protecting user privacy for a decade. And the best part is that it’s officially available on the Android TV platform. Bear in mind, unlike ProtonVPN and Windscrive, PIA is a completely paid VPN service and does not offer a limited free tier.
As for security, the VPN has not seen any major breaches in the past and has constantly implemented different security protocols to guard its 3000+ servers. It uses the two most advanced security protocols, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec to protect your internet traffic. Other than that, PIA has options for both 128-bit and 256-bit AES encryption which can be selected depending on your performance requirement.
Despite NordVPN’s breach in 2019, it’s still ranked among the best VPN services as the hacker could not access user browsing history since it does not log those data in the first place. So if you want to use NordVPN on your Android TV, you can very well install it from the Play Store.
First of all, it’s a paid service and does not have a free tier just like PIA. You get industry-standard security and privacy safeguards to protect you against all kinds of sophisticated attacks. Finally, the company is based in Panama which means the US and other countries won’t have the jurisdiction to obtain your data.
If you want a free VPN for Android TV that offers unlimited data then HotSpot Shield is what you need. Unlike other free VPNs, it does not throttle the speed and the servers are always up which translates to excellent performance. However, bear in mind, under the free service, you have servers only from the US region which could be a bummer for some.
Nevertheless, the best part about Hotspot Shield is that it offers the same level of privacy and security features for both basic and premium users. Further, Hotspot Shield abides by its strict “No Logs Kept” policy which prevents data collection from users’ online activities.
I would say since Hotspot Shield provides unlimited data and the US as a primary server, it suffices most of the users’ needs. All in all, Hotspot Shield is an excellent free VPN app for Android TV and you must give it a try. Not to forget, the VPN is headquartered in Switzerland which means your privacy is well protected.
CyberGhost is another premium VPN for Android TV that truly rivals PIA and NordVPN in terms of servers and region coverage. It has got more than 6000 servers spread across 88 countries around the world. That is more than NordVPN’s 5000 servers and it is simply great. You can also share your VPN network with 6 other devices — apart from your Android TV — without any reduction in speed.
Next, CyberGhost is based in Romania which follows EU privacy laws and rejects the data retention policy. All it means is that your data will not be retained for future compliance by any regulation or government. Further, on the security front, you get OpenVPN protocol support, L2TP-IPsec, and PPTP protocols with Automatic Kill Switch and 256-bit encryption.
Install: CyberGhost (Starts at $3.99/month with the yearly plan)
If you are concerned about your online security and privacy while using Android TV then you can opt for VPN SecureLine by Avast. Avast is a leading antivirus provider, and it offers only paid plans for Android TV users who want enhanced protection. In case, you want to try out the VPN service before buying it, you can do so with its 7 days free trial.
Apart from tunneling the network, the VPN also protects you from hackers and malicious exploits while browsing the internet, in case you wish to use Chrome on Android TV. To sum it up, VPN SecureLine by Avast is a security-driven app for Android TV and you can give it a look.
If you want a premium VPN solely for hiding your identity while playing online content on Android TV then IPVanish is the perfect VPN you can opt for. It has more than 1300 anonymous servers spanned across 55 countries which offer excellent performance and without any downtime.
On the security side of the thing, IPVanish has implemented 256-bit encryption and you can choose your protocol of choice from IKEv2, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP), L2TP, and PPTP, and more. I would say go with OpenVPN protocol for maximum protection and performance.
Q. Is There a Free VPN with Unlimited Data?
Yes, there are several VPN services that offer unlimited data such as ProtonVPN and Hotspot Shield. However, you will get slower internet speed or limited server options.
No, it’s not illegal to watch Netflix with a VPN.
Q. How to Sideload a VPN on an Android TV Box?
You can follow our guide on how to sideload apps on Android TV. The process is also similar for VPNs and Android TV Boxes.
If you are using a free VPN service then you are likely to have a slower streaming speed while using a VPN on Android TV Box. You should go for the paid plan if you want unrestricted internet speed.
Yes, you can use major VPNs on several devices and platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android TV, Linux, and more.
Yes, you can use a free VPN for Netflix but the internet speed won’t be that great. ProtonVPN offers unlimited data whereas Windscribe offers 10GB data for one month.
If you are using a VPN from a reliable and trustworthy company like Proton and TunnelBear then it’s safe to use free VPN services. And yes, it does hide your activities from the ISP.
Q. Can My Internet Provider See My VPN?
Yes, your ISP can see that you are using a VPN, but it can’t check what websites you are visiting or the data you are transferring.
If you are using paid VPNs from major companies that don’t have a zero-log policy then it’s safer to use VPN for online banking.
Yes, Netflix can detect VPNs, but VPNs regularly use new ways to circumvent the detection tools.
No, VPN does not block Chromecast.
The list below shows popular TVs that support VPNs mentioned in this list. The list is by no means exhaustive and is only here to serve an example.
