The Best VPN Clients to Use With Android TVs

Boasting over 10 million registered users, NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. It's a versatile platform that runs well on computers, routers, mobile devices, and televisions. NordVPN uses the most sophisticated encryption available, and is one of the only VPNs with a Dark-Web Monitor that continuously searches the Dark Web to see whether you've been hacked or your personal details exposed. You can also sign up for NordPass, which generates and stores passwords under a master password. You'll find you can unlock all the major streaming services using NordVPN: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Disney+. Given NordVPN's impressive speeds, you shouldn't lose any quality when streaming in 4K.

If you're a sports fan, you'll love the "Sports from the Source" feature offered by NordVPN. This features allows you to unlock the official broadcast of your favorite sporting events from around the world. For example, that Real Madrid game you'd love to watch but can't because it's not being broadcast in Tokyo, where you just happen to live. Normally, you'd scour the internet looking for a streaming link. But the sites that offer those links are a hacker's dream come true. Just try running an antivirus while using one of them and see how many alerts you get. Besides, the streaming quality on those sites is usually terrible. Sports from the Source gives you the authentic viewing experience.

If you're not particularly tech savvy, and you don't want to wade through all the complexities of a sophisticated VPN system, consider TunnelBear. This VPN offers an easy-to-use interface with nothing but the basics. That's not to say the VPN is weak. To the contrary: TunnelBear uses state-of-the-art AES-256 encryption protocols supported by SHA-256 hash-functions for authentication. You're not getting an inferior VPN, you're just getting a simpler one.

TunnelBear offers an interesting feature, called "GhostBear," that effectively masks your VPN. In other words, not only does the VPN mask your IP address, but in addition the GhostBear features masks the fact that you're on a VPN. This is important when trying to unblock streaming services on your TV, because many streaming services actively scan for VPN protocols. Then they block the IP addresses produced by the VPN. Having a ghosting mechanism means they're less likely to succeed. Using GhostBear, you should have no trouble accessing region-restricted material on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. You probably won't have as much success with Disney+, so if that's a priority you should look for a different VPN.

ExpressVPN is a feature-rich VPN provider with a reputation for blazing speeds, excellent applications, total security, and a no-logging policy that was successfully tested in court. The service isn't cheap, and a subscription is limited to only 5 devices. On the other hand, ExpressVPN has a loyal following of over 3 million users worldwide, which suggests it's worth the cost. You can also save quite a bit by committing to a long-term contract. ExpressVPN offers apps for computers, routers, mobile devices, and smart TVs, including an excellently designed version for Android TV. It includes a real-time catalogue of all the servers available, listed by protocol. Locating the perfect server doesn't get any easier.

ExpressVPN is also one the fastest VPNs you'll encounter, which is important if you're looking to enjoy all the 4K content available on the major streaming services. The computer version has a built-in speed test, and we hope to see that feature introduced into the Android version soon. Regardless, you're going to enjoy great speeds from most of the servers. Even from as far away as the Middle East and Asia, users enjoy 4K-quality speeds while using US servers that unlock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and all the other major streaming services.

The developers of ProtonVPN boast impressive resumes. They're all experts from the Conseil européen pour la recherche nucléaire (CERN), which houses some of the world's most important nuclear-research facilities, including the Large Hadron Collider. These are the Einsteins of our time, so it's no surprise they managed to design a great product. They're also the brains behind "ProtonMail," which is recognized as one of the most secure email providers one can use. It's a favorite among journalists and activists who can't risk any exposure. Moreover, ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, which remains the world's bastion of personal privacy.

While ProtonVPN is full of features, there's one that deserves a lot of attention: the VPN "accelerator." This proprietary software facilitates speeds very few other VPNs can reach. At its best, it can quadruple speeds while reducing overall latency. That's a huge plus for gamers, streamers, and others who rely on high-speed internet for their work and entertainment. ProtonVPN does offer a free version, but it's speeds are far less impressive and it's limited to only 100 servers in 3 countries. When you compare that with the 1700 servers in 63 countries offered with the paid plan, it's quite obvious the few dollars a month are worth the investment.

There are many reasons to like Surfshark. It's one of the fastest VPNs on the market, thanks to the WireGuard protocol. That's important, because many streaming services offer titles in 4K, and you need a fast connection for that. Surfshark also operates thousands of servers, making it very difficult for streaming services to block them. Surfshark also offers premium features, such as a double VPN called Multi-Hop, a spoofing tool that masks your GPS, and a client specifically designed for Android operating systems.

Whenever you want to access shows only available in other regions, connect to a location within that region and enjoy. Just remember to turn off the VPN when you want to "go back home." On occasion, you might even need to restart your TV before watching local shows again. Surfshark has a proven track record with unblocking Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and even Apple TV. Also, if you've side-loaded a torrent client, Surfshark will keep your TV safe while you download files.

PrivateVPN offers many of the key features users are looking for in an Android VPN app. For example, it's very effective at unblocking Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and the other popular streaming services. That means if the main reason you want a VPN is to stream shows outside your region, PrivateVPN is a great option. In addition, PrivateVPN has a collection of dedicated p2p servers/IPs that make torrenting easy, quick, and convenient. PrivateVPN also allows you to connect to as many as 10 devices on the same subscription, making it one of the least expensive options, in terms of effective cost.

On the other hand, PrivateVPN lacks some of the advanced features one might want from a VPN. For example, there's no WireGuard protocol, which means the speeds won't be quite as good as the fastest VPNs on the market. You should still be able to stream in 4K, but you might experience the occasional buffer. Furthermore, PrivateVPN doesn't have a Smart DNS, which isn't relevant for those using an Android TV, but could become an issue if you purchase a Samsung TV later on. Lastly, PrivateVPN is located in Sweden, so there are some 14-Eyes exposure concerns.

CyberGhost is an excellent VPN for streaming on an Android TV, not only because of the well-designed app, but because they have more servers than most other providers. As a result, you can always find a location from which to connect and stream your favorite shows. Using CyberGhost, you should have no trouble unlocking the US Netflix library, the entire Amazon Prime library, as well as Disney+, Hulu, and more. You'll enjoy lighting-fast speeds, which translates into excellent streaming quality.

If you're interested in a complete protection for your devices, consider the CyberGhost Security Suite. It's compatible with any Windows device, and includes anti-malware, antivirus, a secure-update tool for downloading software updates, a privacy guard to prevent sites from tracking you, and of course the VPN. The entire package can run a little high, and if you're interested in saving money you should consider getting a long-term plan. For example, the difference between the monthly plan and the 3-year plan is around 75%. If you're a commitment-phobe worry not, CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

BitDefender is one of the best-known cybersecurity companies in the world. It's popular with companies looking to avoid hackers and ransomware attacks, and its free version is a good option for those seeking just the basics. In addition, Bitdefender offers VPN services, either in combination with their security suite, or as a separate product. The VPN works well, though it could use more servers. Still, you'll be able to unlock the major streaming sites, and you'll get the kinds of speeds you need to enjoy shows in 4K.

What you won't get are some of the more sophisticated features found on high-end VPN services. For example, there's no multi-hop (i.e. double VPN), and there's no ad blocker. Admittedly, those aren't crucial for a TV client, but they are the premium features users seek. Furthermore, the free version isn't bad at all, though we can't recommend it for streaming due to its 200Mb-daily limit. Still, the paid version isn't particularly expensive, especially when you consider it allows you to connect to 10 devices with one subscription.