Free VPNs are also available for Smart TVs, especially Android TV. Since the use of Kodi and various other streaming apps is also possible here, it is worth taking a look at the possibilities with a VPN service.
Free VPNs for Android TV: These providers give you a free VPN
Android TV can be found in models from well-known manufacturers. These include televisions from the Sony Bravia series, but also some Philips models run with Google’s operating system for smart TVs. And even if TV manufacturers have the strange habit of always having to turn the main menu, they all have one thing in common: They support full-fledged VPNs. You can’t do that with a Samsung Tizen TV, Android TV and Fire TV are the systems of your choice here.
How do VPNs work on Android TV?
The VPN apps fully integrate into your smart TV. “Completely” in this case means that
- You don’t have to bring VPN apps to the telly either by sideloading or via insecure sources, the Play Store is enough
- VPN apps stay active in the background and don’t stop due to lack of memory
- You don’t have to make any configurations to your network settings, the apps take care of that
All this in combination with the sheer mass of video streaming apps makes an Android TV the perfect companion. Almost everything runs smoothly. Regardless of whether you want to use Netflix, Amazon Video, Disney+ or one of the countless broadcaster apps, one click in the Play Store and the app is on the box. Here we show you in a simple guide how to set up a VPN on a Smart TV.
It gets more complex with Kodi and with one or the other IPTV app. You can’t avoid a manual installation. If you then want to exploit the maximum of possibilities, it is worth using VPN clients. In addition, you increase your security when using corresponding applications, a VPN is strongly recommended.
A tip in advance: All of the apps presented can also be operated easily with a remote control. Do yourself a favor though and completes the previous registration on the computer. This saves you the tedious task of entering email addresses and the like using the remote control.
Best Free VPN Services for Android TV
So let’s take a look at available VPN services, specifically the free VPNs for your Android TV.
1. ExpressVPN✓ 30 days free to use (Refund warranty)
✓ without restrictions
✘ Registration required
2. CyberGhost VPN✓ 45 days of free use (Refund warranty)
✓ without restrictions
✘ Registration required
3. NordVPN✓ 30 days free to use (Refund warranty)
✓ without restrictions
✘ Registration required
4. PrivadoVPN✓ 10 GB data volume
✘ Only 3 countries
✘ Registration required
Below we list two different ways of getting a free VPN for your smart TV. On the one hand, we introduce you to the providers which gives you a free trial period with full functionality provide. On the other hand, we will show you permanently free VPNsbut these come with restrictions.
In particular due to the restrictions, we also list the apps with a trial period. The restrictions very often relate to bandwidth and/or data volume. These are both points that are extremely important for streaming apps and (unfortunately) keep the list of potential candidates very small.
1. ExpressVPN
A lot of performance at a high price
ExpressVPN impresses with high download speeds and a large selection of servers. The associated software also leaves a positive impression – although a few small additions would be desirable here. If you are looking for a particularly large number of high-speed servers and strong security, you will find it with ExpressVPN. If a few servers less are enough, you will find correspondingly cheaper alternatives in our list of the best.
ExpressVPN is our pick when it comes to streaming, as our review of the best VPN apps for streaming services shows. While the next two contenders can keep up, ExpressVPN has that slight advantage in terms of reliability and performance. You can test the service for 30 days without hesitation. The 30-day money-back guarantee makes this possible.
After that, the service will cost you about six euros per month. It’s not cheap, but it’s definitely worth the money. You are served significantly cheaper with the next candidate.
2. CyberGhost VPN
VPN in the complete package: security for everyone
With a huge selection of servers and good speeds, CyberGhost is a convincing VPN service provider. Its use guarantees maximum security and anonymity on the web. The up to seven devices on which the service can be used in parallel are also positive. This makes CyberGhost’s price-performance ratio particularly strong.
After the trial period, the service costs just around two euros per month in the cheapest subscription. This is extremely cheap for a full-fledged VPN service. Especially since you can use it on up to seven devices and there is an app for almost all operating systems.
Apart from the paid subscription, you also have the option of using a free test phase with CyberGhost VPN. First of all, you can use the service in its entirety for one day free of charge. It used to be seven days, now it’s just one day. However, you also have the option of making use of the 45-day money-back guarantee. You can test the service with full functionality. If you are not satisfied, you will get your money back – without any discussion.
3. NordVPN
The top dog among VPN services with good server selection
With a mixture of security and a beautiful user interface, NordVPN was very convincing in the test. The service also shines with numerous supported end devices. In the area of country selection and server speed, the competition sometimes performs slightly better, but NordVPN is also at the top in these areas. Security fanatics will appreciate the double VPN function and multi-factor authentication.
Another candidate for a full-fledged VPN is NordVPN. This VPN provider also supports Android TV with a native app. The operation has been optimized accordingly and runs just as quickly with the remote control as you are used to with the mouse on the PC. Start app, select country, change IP address, done. If in doubt, a few extras can be selected, although you don’t actually need them on the Android TV.
You can test NordVPN for 30 days and use the money-back guarantee if you don’t like it. If you don’t feel like using one of the first three services because you’re afraid of canceling in time, you should take a look at the next candidates.
4. PrivadoVPN
A VPN with no particular strengths, but no real weaknesses either
PrivadoVPN meets the basic requirements that one can have of a software of this kind. The speeds are okay, but not outstanding. The VPN offers access to international offers from many streaming services, but connecting to remote servers takes a long time. Other VPN services do a better job here. This mediocrity carries over into many areas of the software. Only the security of PrivadoVPN stands out positively.
For PrivadoVPN you only need a user account with the provider. If you use the “Free” package, you have 10 GB of data volume available per month. You can use them at twelve server locations, including the USA. Even if the data volume is not suitable for permanent streaming use, PrivadoVPN still offers an interesting free package. All security mechanisms and – important when streaming – the full bandwidth are available to you. So you don’t get a badly stripped down VPN, but a decent VPN, which is only limited in terms of location and data volume.
Alternative free VPNs for Android TV
First a warning: We strongly advise against installing any third-rate VPN services from the app store. This isn’t an Android TV specific issue, but the Google Play Store lets through a lot of dubious apps. We took a deeper look at the topic in our guide to free VPNs for Android. Don’t just use the Play Store ratings for assessment, also look at relevant magazines.
Otherwise you have to pay attention to the specifications of the VPN services. For example, AtlasVPN is a good and useful service. The service can be used free of charge and with a data volume of 10 GB it is perfectly fine. However, you cannot stream in the free version. AtlasVPN is no exception, this happens with other services too, like hide.me. Windscribe and ProtonVPN, on the other hand, already lack an app for Android TV.
If you only want to change your location, you can also use a SmartDNS on your Smart TV. This does not work with some streaming services and does not give you any additional security. But that can be enough here and there, especially with older TV models.
Free VPNs for FireTV, iOS, Windows
Free VPNs are available for almost all operating systems. Since the providers restrict free use, the services and their use must be weighed up. We make it easier for you and present our favorites for each operating system in individual articles.
If you plan to use a VPN in the long term, we recommend using a full service. It doesn’t cost the earth and can also be used on multiple devices, so you pay once but protect all your devices.
Our comparison of the best VPN providers gives you a very good overview. In a separate guide, we examine the specific use of VPN services for streaming services.
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