Best VPNs for Android TV box in 2023

Android TV is a smart TV service based on the Android operating system, which offers easy access to a wide range of streaming apps such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and the likes. It is a great option for fans of streaming their favorite shows on the big screen.

However, some streaming platforms have shows that are geo-restricted. Moreover, Android TVs are vulnerable to online security threats just like any device that connects to the internet. A quality Android TV Box VPN can help unblock streaming services as well as protect your smart TV and personal data.

Unfortunately, not every VPN is compatible with smart TVs, and it can be difficult to find the right one. But we want you to be able to use your Android TV and stream your favorite shows while keeping your device and data safe and secure. For this reason, we put together a list of the best VPNs for Android TV box in 2023:

Top 5 best VPNs for Android TV box

1. NordVPN – overall best Android TV box VPN with excellent speeds and new-gen security
2. Surfshark – fastest VPN for Android TV with unlimited simultaneous connections
3. Atlas VPN – feature-rich Android TV VPN with high speeds and affordable prices
4. IPVanish – the most secure VPN for Android TV box with excellent unblocking capabilities
5. PureVPN – Android TV VPN with a huge server network and advanced security

What to look for in a VPN for Android TV

Not all VPNs are suited for Android TVs, and the ones that are have a specific set of features that make them the best. Here are some of the most important features of the best Android TV box VPN:

• Apps – for easy installation and use, you want a reputable VPN that has a native Android TV app. Not all of them do, though, and the ones that don’t then usually offer APK (Android Application Kit) files, which require a bit more effort to install.
• Fast tunneling protocols – if you’re gonna be using your Android TV for streaming, you want the fastest VPN. Speedy tunneling protocols such as NordLynx or WireGuard will ensure the best video quality, as well as get rid of any buffering issues.
• Encryption and security features – Android TVs are as vulnerable to online threats as any device that connects to the internet. A secure VPN with industry standard encryption and security features such as kill switch, ad and tracker blockers, and malware protection will not only ensure the safety of your device, but also of your online browsing activities.

Best VPNs for Android TV box – the detailed list

We tested various VPNs with Android TV and ranked them according to how well they work, what features they offer, and how easy they are to use. We also took into account whether there were any installation or usage issues along the way, and last but not least, we tested the speeds (using our speed test tool) and security of each provider. With that said, here are the best VPNs for Android TV box in 2023:

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for Android TV box

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NordVPN is the best VPN for Android TV. Besides a special app, it also is great at unblocking geo-restricted streaming libraries, is very fast, and offers numerous security features for safe and secure browsing.

Apps: NordVPN has a separate Android TV app, which means you can download it straight onto your Android TV box. The app is fully equipped with all necessary features, and offers a very easy installation process. It is also extremely simple to use, and will make your experiences with your Android TV much better. And if for some reason you can’t download the Android TV NordVPN app, there are also APK files available.

Servers and streaming: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming overall. It unblocks every streaming service we’ve ever tested, ranging from the most popular to the most niche ones. NordVPN also has some neat technologies for unblocking geo-restricted content, such as SmartPlay. Besides, the 5,800+ servers in 60 countries also mean that you can access any content from virtually anywhere in the world.

Security and privacy: NordVPN uses advanced ChaCha20 encryption to encrypt your traffic and thus protect it from any interested third parties. It also has quite a few security features, most notable being Threat Protection, which blocks malicious websites, scans your downloads, and blocks ads and trackers. NordVPN also has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and approved.

Price: NordVPN is a very affordable option, with plans starting at just $3.19/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. And if you’d like more time to try out the app and decide, NordVPN also has a 7-day free trial.

To find out more, check out our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – fastest VPN for Android TV

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Known for speed and affordability, Surfshark is also one of the best VPNs for Android TV. Together with extremely fast protocols, there are numerous security and other features that make the VPN a really great tool for your online life.

Apps: Surfshark has a native app for Android TV box – it is easy to install and even easier to use. It has all the most advanced features that you could want in a VPN, and will greatly improve the security of your data when using your Android TV box.

Servers and streaming: the 3,200+ servers in 100 countries all around the world not only let you virtually travel, but also are a great help in unblocking content. In fact, Surfshark unblocked every streaming service and other types of content that we’ve tested with it. The video quality was also great and buffering didn’t occur once – we suspect it’s due to Surfshark’s insanely fast connection speed.

Security and privacy: to secure your data and online presence, Surfshark employs the AES-256 encryption. It also offers an array of advanced security features, including but not limited to ad and malicious domain blocker, IP rotator, and obfuscation mode. Surfshark’s security infrastructure has also been independently audited twice. The strict no-logs policy also should put you at ease if you’re worried about personal data collection – Surfhsark doesn’t log anything. Plus, the policy was recently audited by the Deloitte firm as well.

Price: besides being one of the fastest and one of the most secure VPNs, Surfsharkis also very affordable. The prices start at just $2.30/month, and there is also a 30-day money-back guarantee. Need more time to decide if you really want it? Then you can use the 7-day free trial.

To find out more, take a look at our Surfshark VPN review or read a Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison.

3. Atlas VPN – feature-rich Android TV VPN

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Atlas VPN is a fast, reliable, and secure VPN suitable for Android TV. It has a lot of security-focused features, good speeds, and is able to unblock the most popular streaming platforms without any issues.

Apps: Atlas VPN has a great Android TV application which includes everything you might need for your smart TV’s security. The installation process is easy – you only need to get the Atlas VPN app from the Google Play Store. The design is simple and easy to navigate. And if for some reason you can’t downloa the dedicated app, sideloading the APK file onto your Android TV is another way of getting the VPN.

Servers and streaming: this VPN doesn’t have the most servers – only 1,000+ servers in 42 countries – but all of them are in quite good locations. Atlas VPN is a little more impressive when it comes to streaming, though – we managed to unblock platforms ranging from YouTube to HBO Max.

Security and privacy: like many other VPNs, Atlas VPN secures your data with AES-256 encryption. It also offers a selection of security features, such as SafeBrowse for blocking ads and malicious websites, and an IP rotator for increased level of security. Atlas VPN also has a no-logs policy.

Price: Atlas VPN has a free version, although it lacks some of the more advanced features such as servers optimized for streaming. It also has a 5GB data limit. However, the paid version is not that expensive – Atlas VPN prices start at just $1.82/month, and you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To find out more, have a look at our in-depth Atlas VPN review.

4. IPVanish – the most secure VPN for Android TV box

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Apps: Unfortunately, IPVanish doesn’t have a dedicated Android TV app. However, the VPN has an APK file, which is another way to download the VPN onto your Android TV, although it requires a few more steps. Nevertheless, the sideloaded IPVanish application is just as functional as a dedicated app – you can use it on your Android TV without any issues.

Servers and streaming: IPVanish is a pretty good VPN for streaming, especially if your goal is to unblock Netflix. We tested other streaming platforms with IPVanish too, and the VPN was able to unblock most of them. The 2,200+ servers in 52 locations worldwide, many of which are also in the US cities, are also instrumental in unblocking online content, including streaming services and even games.

Security and privacy: the security of IPVanish is really good – this VPN uses the industry standard AES-256 encryption to keep your data secure. Moreover, it has numerous security features, including a kill switch, obfuscation scramble, and more to keep you as safe online as possible. In terms of privacy, IPVanish has a strict no-logs policy.

Price: IPVanish is quite affordable – the pricing starts at $2.99/month, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee, too, so you can try it without any risks. And if you want even more time to test the waters – the 7-day free trial is for you.

To find out more, read our IPVanish review.

5. PureVPN – Android TV VPN with a huge server network

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PureVPN is a pretty great VPN for Android TV. It has the app, has a huge number of servers worldwide, and some useful features such as port forwarding.

Apps: PureVPN offers a functional and relatively easy to use app specifically for Android TV, among many other devices. It takes only a few clicks to install it, and the results are very good – the app works as it is supposed to. During our testing, we didn’t encounter any issues.

Servers and streaming: PureVPN has a lot of servers – some of them virtual – all over the world. This allows for speedy connections, as well as good opportunities for bypassing geo-restrictions. Speaking of unblocking, PureVPN lets you access some streaming platforms and their libraries, too, such as Netflix and Hulu.

Security and privacy: the security measures of PureVPN include AES-256 encryption and pretty powerful security features such as a kill switch and obfuscation mode. Besides that, there is also split tunneling and port forwarding available. PureVPN’s no-logs policy has also been independently audited several times.

Price: the prices for PureVPN plans start at $2.08/month. You also get a 31-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the VPN without any risks.

For more information, have a look at our PureVPN review.

How we selected and tested these Android TV VPNs

When deciding which providers to include in our list of the most reliable VPNs for Android TV box, we asked the following questions:

• Does it have an Android TV app? Not all good VPNs have all the necessary apps. We looked for the ones that do have an app specifically for Android TV. We also evaluated the installation process and general ease of use to ensure that the VPNs we suggest are truly compatible with Android TV.
• Is it fast? We used our speed test tool and additional in-house speed testing to see which VPNs are the fastest. We also chose the ones that have WireGuard and other fast protocols to ensure seamless browsing and streaming experiences.
• Does it unblock streaming platforms? Since Android TV is a great tool for streaming, we made sure that our recommended VPNs are capable at unblocking various streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and others. That said, you'll get to choose from only the best VPNs for streaming.
• Is it secure and private enough? A VPN is first and foremost a tool for online security and privacy. We tested the VPNs for leaks and made sure to provide the most secure VPNs that come with advanced protection features. As for privacy, we chose the ones that have strict no-logs policies.

Why do I need a VPN for my Android TV box?

An Android TV box transforms your TV into a smart TV, allowing you to watch all favorite streaming services. But, it will only let you access content in your location.

It will give you access to different versions of international platforms, such as US Netflix, UK Disney Plus, or the Canadian version of Amazon Prime Video. As these platforms have to comply with licensing agreements in each country, their catalogs will differ from region to region. But with a VPN, you can access movies and shows from anywhere in the world.

Sometimes, geolocking might affect not only content, but entire products as well. If you’re outside the US, for example, you will find there are geo-blocks preventing you from watching HBO Max or Hulu. Alternatively, if you’re outside the UK, you won’t have access to BBC iPlayer, or Channel 4.

Luckily, a VPN can help you get around these location restrictions so you can watch content from anywhere in the world. All you need to do is download a strong VPN onto your Android TV box, and use it to connect to a server in a different country. It will then let you access all the streaming services in that region.

Top free VPNs for Android TV box

Sometimes, not everyone wants or can afford to invest in a quality VPN. Therefore, we made a short list of the best free VPNs for Android TV box:

1. Atlas VPN – the best Android TV VPN with free version
2. ProtonVPN – functional freemium VPN for Android TV
3. Windscribe – free Android TV VPN for streaming

These VPNs might not be as advanced in speeds, security, and unblocking content as paid providers. However, they still are quite fast, and their free versions have the most basic features you could expect from a VPN. Besides, you can always upgrade to a paid version and enjoy even more servers, features, and better speeds.

VPN not working with Android TV box – how to fix

Sometimes even the best VPNs have bad days. But if your VPN is not working with Android TV, don’t worry. We have some tips for you:

• Check your internet connection
• Connect to a different server
• Clear cookies and cache of specific apps
• Use split tunneling only for specific apps
• Restart the VPN app

NordVPN for Android TV box

NordVPN has an excellent app for Android TV, exceptionally fast speeds, and numerous features for both streaming and security.

cybernews® score

4.9 /5

• Exceptionally fast
• Very easy to use
• Advanced security

Visit NordVPN

Bottom line

Using a VPN for your Android TV is always a good idea, considering that all devices with an internet connection and your data on them are vulnerable to cyber threats. A VPN will encrypt your traffic and protect it from any outsiders, block ads and malicious websites, and offer an overall safer browsing experience. Besides, since Android TV is a popular device for streaming, a quality VPN can also unblock numerous geo-restriced websites and streaming services.

According to our research, NordVPN is the best Android TV VPN. It has a dedicated Android TV app, which makes it easy to install and to use on your smart TV and other devices. NordVPN is also one of the fastest VPNs, and can unblock virtually any restricted website or streaming platform. Numerous security features, x servers in x locations, and affordable pricing make it truly one of a kind.

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