You’ve got the sleekest smartest Android TV installed, but imagine the frustration when you can’t connect to Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming providers. Instead of venting out your frustration, getting a VPN for Android TV Box will do the trick.
It’s no secret that streaming providers have been zealously guarding their content to respective regions. Call it a measure to protect corporate interest or respecting the rights or local laws but for many viewers, it means being deprived of their favorite TV shows while some are enjoying the content with ease.
If you are in the UK, you might like to read: How to Get American Netflix
Why Use a VPN with Your Android TV Box?
With a VPN, you shouldn’t be a victim of your geographical location. A VPN, which allows your Android TV to take on a foreign public IP, enables access to content that is usually blocked. For example, if you’re located in South Korea, but connect to a VPN server in the US, you’re able to watch Netflix US TV shows.
However, bypassing geographically-blocked content isn’t the sole reason for getting a VPN for your Android TV. Android TV Box is connected to the Internet for as long as it’s operational. This means your TV is vulnerable to cyberattacks and breach of privacy.
Talks of having your Android TV Box hacked isn’t scare-mongering. In 2018, a malware named ADB.miner infected thousands of Android smart TVs, which turned the TVs into cryptocurrency mining devices.
The fact is, Android TV is notorious for its vulnerabilities to attack. A VPN can offer better protection for an Android TV Box as it encrypts the communication between the TV and the streaming server. An encrypted communication channel leaves no chance for attackers to decipher the information that’s being transmitted from the TV.
Best Premium VPNs for Your Android TV
Forget about getting a free VPN as they are either flawed with security issues or aren’t fast enough to cope with streaming needs. Only premium VPNs are worth considering for your Android TV and here are some of the best.
NordVPN
NordVPN is a well-established VPN with more than 5,700 servers in 59 countries. It offers top-notch security protection with AES-256 and is one of the few VPNs that are able to access Netflix US. You’ll also be impressed with the streaming-quality speed on its servers.
Available Plans:
- 3-year plan: $3.49/month.
- 2-year plan: $4.99/month.
- 1-year plan: $6.99/month
- 1-month plan: $11.95/month
You can try NordVPN risk-free for 30 days as it’s backed by money-back guarantee policy.
Read more about NordVPN: Does NordVPN Work With US/UK Netflix?
IPVanish
With over 1,300 servers in 75+ locations, IPVanish provides uninterrupted experience on its remarkably fast servers. Secured with AES-256 encryption, it blocks potential cyberattacks on your AndroidTV while you’re streaming from providers like Netflix, Fox, and SlingTV. IPVanish supports up to 10 devices and is one of the cheapest VPNs around.
Available Plans:
- 1-year plan: $3.25/month.
- 3-months plan: $4.50/month.
- 1-month plan: $3.25/month
Each plan has a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark
Surfshark has gained a reputation for being a trustworthy VPN, despite being a relatively new player in the industry. It’s network spans over 61+ countries with over 1040 servers spread across the locations. You’ll have access to Netflix US and enjoy high-speed streaming connections on your Android TV with Surfshark.
Available Plans:
- 24-months plan: $1.99/month
- 12-months plan: $5.99/month
- 1-month plan: $11.95/month
You’ll get unlimited devices with Surfshark and a 30-day refundable period when signing up.
How to Choose a Good VPN for an Android TV Box
While there are dozens or more VPNs available, not all of them are a good fit for an Android TV. Instead, only a handful of them makes the cut in ensuring you’ve got the best entertainment from your device.
Consider these factors before signing up for any VPN.
1. Unblocks Netflix
Theoretically, masking your TV’s IP should grant you access to Netflix. But this isn’t the case anymore as Netflix has ramped up its firewall that blocks incoming connections from VPN servers. It has become a cat and mouse chase where only a few VPNs are getting the upper hand.
A good VPN should unblock Netflix US as it has the largest library ever. If you’re streaming on Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or other providers, make sure that the VPN is capable of unblocking the content.
2. High-Speed Connection
Blazing-speed servers are non-negotiable when choosing a VPN for your Android TV Box. You’ll want to stream in HD resolution and nothing but the fastest VPNs will be enough. Usually, you’ll want to go for a VPN that has more than a dozen servers in the country that you’re connecting to. A high server count spreads out the user load at peak hours.
You’ll also need to consider the underlying technologies, such as the protocol used as it affects the speed of the VPN connections.
3. Secure Encryption
A VPN is as good as the privacy and security it offers. In this sense, the VPN needs to have at least an AES-256 encryption, which is used by governments, banks, and the military. Also, there shouldn’t be instances of DNS or IP leaks, which may unknowingly expose the TV’s IP address when connected to a VPN.
Best Free VPN for Your Android TV Box
A free VPN for your Android TV box can provide the protection you need at no cost. If you want to test the water first to see how a VPN works, we recommend the following:
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, a country outside the 14 Eyes Surveillance Alliance. This means that your data traffic, including browsing history, will not be stored and shared with the government intelligence of the 14 Eyes countries. The free service offers unlimited data, no ads, and no logs. Limitations include very few coverages (only three countries) and support of only one device.
Windscribe
The free Windscribe subscription offers a 2GB data cap which can be increased to 10GB if you sign-up using your email. The speed can go as fast as 30Mbps. Windscribe has a zero-log policy and supports P2P traffic for torrenting. Limitations include having ten servers only, 10GB/month data caps, and slow speed.
Hide.me
This VPN offers a data cap of 2GB per month, Kill Switch, no-logs, and supports P2P traffic. It only has three server locations. The main drawback of Hide.me is its slow connection with minimal coverage.
Summary
Having a smart Android TV should give you the opportunity and luxury of watching your favorite TV shows. We’ve shown you the best VPNs that work for Android TV and, at the same time, ensure your privacy is protected at all times.
Sign up for a VPN now and start watching your favorite movies on Android TV.
