Best VPN for Smart TV 2026: The Real Options Explained

Last updated: · By WatchlyGuide Team

#ProductRatingPrice
1NordVPNBest via Device or Router★ 4.6/5from €3.39/mo (2-yr), renews higherCheck Price
2SurfsharkValue + Smart DNS★ 4.4/5from €2.19/mo (2-yr), renews higherCheck Price
3ExpressVPNBest Router Option★ 4.5/5from €5.79/mo (2-yr), renews higherCheck Price

Most smart TVs — especially Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) — cannot run VPN apps at all, so the real fixes are a router VPN, a streaming device with a VPN app, or Smart DNS. Android TV and Google TV smart TVs are the exception, as they run native VPN apps. For everyone else, the simplest solution is usually a cheap streaming device. This guide explains each method honestly and ranks the VPNs that support them.

A smart TV with the three real VPN options — router, streaming device and Smart DNS
Most smart TVs can't run VPN apps — the real fixes are a router, a device, or Smart DNS.

The Reality: Most Smart TVs Can't Run VPN Apps

Let’s be clear up front. Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) smart TVs — the two biggest platforms — cannot install VPN apps. Only Android TV and Google TV smart TVs can, via the Play Store. So for most smart TVs, you need one of three workarounds — not a TV VPN app.

Your Three Real Options

Option 1: A Streaming Device (Simplest)

Plug in a cheap Fire TV Stick or Google TV device that runs a native VPN app. This is usually the easiest and cheapest fix, and it modernises your TV’s apps too. Our top device pick is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

Option 2: A Router VPN (Whole-Home)

Install a VPN on your router to cover the TV — and every other device — at once. More complex, with a bigger speed hit, but it protects devices that can’t run apps.

Option 3: Smart DNS (Limited)

Some VPNs include Smart DNS for devices that can’t run apps. It can change region settings but does not encrypt your traffic, is unreliable as services detect it, and offers no privacy — a last resort, not a real VPN.

A diagram comparing streaming device, router VPN and Smart DNS for a smart TV
The three methods compared — a streaming device is usually the simplest.

Which VPN, and How

VPN Best method for smart TV Smart DNS Speed (tested)
NordVPN Streaming device app or router Yes ~88%
Surfshark Streaming device app or router Yes ~85%
ExpressVPN Router (Aircove) or device Yes ~83%

For an Android/Google TV smart TV, just install the app directly — see the Android TV VPN guide.

Verdict

For most smart TVs, the honest answer is: don’t look for a TV VPN app — add a streaming device instead. A cheap Fire TV Stick running NordVPN or Surfshark is the simplest, cheapest fix and upgrades your apps. Choose a router VPN (ExpressVPN’s Aircove is easiest) only if you need whole-home coverage, and treat Smart DNS as a limited last resort with no privacy. If your smart TV runs Android/Google TV, you’re lucky — just install the app.

NordVPN Pricing → Surfshark Pricing →

Compare devices in smart TV vs streaming device and the best streaming devices guide. Look up any term in the streaming glossary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you install a VPN on a smart TV?

It depends on the TV. Android TV and Google TV smart TVs can install native VPN apps from the Play Store. But most Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) smart TVs cannot run VPN apps at all. For those, you use a router VPN, add a streaming device with a VPN app, or use Smart DNS instead.

How do I use a VPN on a Samsung or LG TV?

Samsung Tizen and LG webOS TVs cannot run VPN apps directly, so you have three options: install a VPN on your router to cover the TV, plug in a streaming device like a Fire TV Stick that runs a VPN app, or use a Smart DNS feature. The streaming-device route is usually the simplest and cheapest.

What is Smart DNS and does it help smart TVs?

Smart DNS changes which region a service thinks you are in without encrypting traffic, and some VPNs include it for devices that can't run VPN apps, like smart TVs. It can help with region settings but is unreliable as services detect it, offers no privacy protection, and is not a substitute for a real VPN connection.

Is a streaming device better than a router VPN for a smart TV?

For most people, yes. Adding a cheap streaming device like a Fire TV Stick that runs a native VPN app is simpler, cheaper and easier to manage than configuring a router VPN, and it also modernises the TV's apps. A router VPN is better only if you want to cover many non-app devices at once.

Which VPN is best for a smart TV?

NordVPN is the best all-round choice, whether via a streaming device app or a router, with strong speeds and good support for both. Surfshark adds value and a Smart DNS feature, and ExpressVPN is easiest at the router level. The right method matters more than the brand for smart TVs.