Apple TV doesn’t have built-in VPN support, but I discovered 3 easy ways to set up a VPN for Apple TV and watch from anywhere. I’ll cover these methods for you in this guide, along with my top 5 Apple TV VPNs for speed, reliability, and ease-of-use. ExpressVPN is my top choice for Apple TV. It’s the fastest VPN I’ve tested and one of the easiest to set up. A reliable 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try ExpressVPN with Apple TV risk-free, and you can get a full refund if you decide the service is not for you. Get ExpressVPN for Apple TV
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Apple TV
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The Best VPNs for Fast Streaming on Apple TV in 2023
1. ExpressVPN — The Fastest VPN For Bufferless Streaming on Your Apple TV
Key Features: ExpressVPN has superfast servers, so you can stream on Apple TV without any interruptions. During my tests, it consistently gave me speeds of around 100 Mbps, even with a long-distance connection. Since you only need 25 Mbps to watch in HD, this VPN far exceeds the minimum needed for lag-free Apple TV streaming.
With thousands of servers across the globe, you can easily find the location you need to keep up with your go-to Apple TV platforms. During tests of ExpressVPN, my team and I found that each server works in seconds and provides stable connections to watch shows for hours without drop-outs or congestion issues.
ExpressVPN is extremely effective at giving you access to your favorite content platforms, including: Smart DNS allows you to stream content with or without the VPN, so you can access streaming platforms on your Apple TV even if your VPN is not connected. This is useful for Apple TV since the device doesn’t let you change its default DNS settings. Follow the simple steps on the website to use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature to send DNS requests through an encrypted tunnel, and enjoy content on your Apple TV. A small downside to ExpressVPN is that its subscriptions are quite expensive. But it really is worth every penny for its reliable and fast servers. You can also get great deals to reduce the price — I found a 49% discount offer, meaning you can purchase its 1-year + 3 months plan for just $6.67 per month. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free to see if it meets your needs. I tested its refund policy by canceling my subscription via live chat on the last day of the trial, and I received my refund in 3 days without any issues. Get ExpressVPN for Apple TV
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers For Better Speeds on Your Apple TV
Key Features: CyberGhost offers streaming-optimized servers to watch hours of shows uninterrupted on Apple TV. These servers ensure you’ll get speedy connections and reliable streams by connecting you to the best locations and lowest ping for high-quality streaming. It’s compatible with the following services (amongst others): Although it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, particularly on distance servers, CyberGhost gave me great speeds in my tests. I got an average of around 80 Mbps, which will allow you to stream your favorite platforms on Apple TV without any annoying buffering ruining your relaxation time.
You can set CyberGhost up on your router and protect all the devices connected to it, including your Apple TV. This is great as it means that you only have to install it once, and then you don’t have to worry about connecting each device individually to a VPN server. If you prefer, you can also set it up via smart DNS for your Apple TV. Each of these methods can be done easily when you follow the detailed online instructions. A small issue is the expensive price of CyberGhost’s monthly plans, but I recommend subscribing to its 2-year + 2 months plan as it’s currently available with a 83% discount. This means you can get CyberGhost for just $2.19 per month, which is a steal for such a great VPN. Its long-term plans are also backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can try CyberGhost with Apple TV and make sure you like it before you commit. The refund process is also quite straightforward. All I had to do was ask the customer rep to cancel my subscription over live chat and answer a couple of questions regarding my experience. The money was returned to my credit card in 5 days. Get CyberGhost for Apple TV
3. Private Internet Access — Massive Server Network To Let You Stream Restricted Content From Anywhere
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has a huge network of over 35000 servers so you can always find a server to unblock Apple TV content, no matter where you are. I tried using its New York, Dallas, and Seattle servers and had fast connections that remained stable throughout my tests. You don’t have to worry about congestion while you’re enjoying watching Apple TV as the network is so vast.
This VPN has superfast speeds for HD streaming on Apple TV. No matter which country I tested, I had enough to watch Apple TV for hours without interruptions. PIA gave my team and I an average of around 75 Mbps in our extensive speed tests. This is way more than you need for lag-free streaming in Ultra HD quality. You have the option to connect up to 10 devices and watch Apple TV platforms on all your favorite gadgets. I set it up on my smartphone, PC, and tablet, and enjoyed catching up with shows while I was traveling as well as at home. You can even set it up on your router to protect all devices connected to it. There is a downside to PIA, and that is that it can’t unblock as many streaming platforms as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. But, you still have plenty of choices — amongst others, PIA unblocks: Its subscription plans are pretty affordable, especially if you go for its long-term plans. It’s currently available with a 82% discount, which means you can get PIA for as low as $2.19/month. Subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is great if you want to try PIA before committing to a long-term subscription. The refund process is also hassle-free. I canceled my plan after 24 days of use through live chat and got my money back in 5 business days. Get PIA for Apple TV
4. PrivateVPN — A Budget-Friendly VPN For Your Apple TV
Key Features: PrivateVPN has a small but reliable network of servers to access Apple TV. During my tests I found that it covers most major cities, so you’re still likely to have a nearby server to connect to. All connections were stable and surprisingly showed little signs of congestion considering there may have been lots of people using each server at any given time.
Although it doesn’t have as many servers as some VPNs, PrivateVPN unblocks most major streaming platforms. You have access to the following, and more: There are detailed instructions on PrivateVPN’s website to set it up on your Apple TV and other devices. Its possible to connect up to 200 devices simultaneously with each subscription. This is great news if you like to secure all of your household devices without paying extra. Like ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN is dedicated to security. You’ll find the following features on each server:
256-bit encryption to make your information unreadable to hackers An automatic kill switch which cuts your internet in the event the VPN fails, maintaining your privacy A strict no log policy so none of your browsing history or user information can be accessed, even if requested by a government official
You can save big by opting for its long-term plans. The 3-year-year plan is available for an 85% discount, which brings your monthly bill down to $2.00/month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try PrivateVPN for free without any risk. The refund process is also quick and hassle-free. I requested a refund after using it for 12 days through email and received my money back in 5 business days. Get PrivateVPN for Apple TV
5. IPVanish — Connect Unlimited Devices Along With Your Apple TV on a Single Account
Key Features: IPVanish gives you the freedom to secure unlimited devices, including your Apple TV, with a single account. This is extremely handy for me as I like to enjoy media both at home and while I travel around. It gives me peace of mind to know that all of my home gadgets, plus my phone, laptop, and mobile, are protected no matter where I go. Although it doesn’t have the biggest server network, IPVanish is fast enough to give you crystal-clear pictures and lag-free streaming. I got average speeds of around 40 Mbps during testing, which is more than enough to watch the best shows on your Apple TV with no buffering spoiling your fun.
This VPN offers detailed guides for setting it up on your router so you can easily hook it up to your Apple TV. It took me a few minutes to follow the guide and get it working. If you’re not comfortable setting it up yourself, IPVanish also offers a selection of pre-configured routers that come with the VPN pre-installed. I really like how responsive IPVanish’s live chat support is. When I asked them about the different options for setting up IPVanish for my Apple TV, the agent was able to quickly give me a rundown of each option and help me choose the one that was best for me. With a price of just $3.99/month, I wasn’t expecting to have fast access to experts. You can try IPVanish risk-free – thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not impressed with the service then you can request a refund. I wanted to check the refund policy myself, so I logged into my account and canceled the subscription from the dashboard. It immediately discontinued the service and initiated the refund. The money was back in my account within a week. Get IPVanish for Apple TV IPVanish can unblock: Netflix, Showtime, Discovery+, Paramount+, ITV Hub, ESPN, Vudu, and more.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Apple TV
Only the very best VPNs work well with Apple TV. To get the maximum potential out of your viewing experience, you’ll need a VPN with: Get IPVanish for Apple TV
What Else Can a VPN Help Me Do?
Usually, a VPN’s main purpose is to protect the privacy and security of its users. However, when it comes to Apple TV and other similar streaming devices, VPNs are more commonly downloaded for their ability to bypass robust geo-blocks and provide you with an extended content library. In certain instances, a VPN can also help improve your connection speeds. This is because a VPN can bypass throttling from your ISP and give you access to a faster server. So if you’re having trouble streaming HD video or 4K content, a VPN might be able to help. I recommend ExpressVPN when you’re streaming on Apple TV. Its global servers are superfast, so you can enjoy your shows and movies with zero interruptions such as lag or buffering. You can get ExpressVPN risk-free today and have peace of mind since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, just ask for a full refund. Get IPVanish for Apple TV
How to Install a VPN on Apple TV
1. How To Install Apple TV Through a Router
One of the easiest ways to install a VPN on your Apple TV is to connect it through a physical router. However, not all routers support VPN connections. To find out if your router supports VPN, you’ll need to check the specifications or contact the manufacturer. If your router supports VPN, then you can follow these steps to set it up: If your router doesn’t support VPN, you can try installing a VPN-compatible firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato. You can also purchase pre-flashed routers from some VPN providers like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
2. Installing Through a Virtual Router
If you don’t have a VPN-compatible router or you want to use the VPN on more than one device at the same time, you can create a virtual router. This is easy to do with software like Connectify, which turns your computer into a hotspot that can be used by other devices. You will need a spare computer or laptop with two network adapters to do this. Once you’ve installed Connectify, just follow these steps: Now, any device that connects to your hotspot will be routed through the VPN server.
3. Installing Through Smart DNS Proxy
If you want to unblock geo-restricted content on your Apple TV without encrypting your traffic, then you can use a Smart DNS proxy. This will route your traffic through a different DNS server so that it appears to be coming from a different location. Apple TV has built-in support for you if you want to hardcode your DNS to use specific DNS servers. ExpressVPN’s Mediastreamer feature is perfect for this since it works without any apps and automatically optimizes your connection for streaming. To set up Smart DNS on your Apple TV, follow these steps:
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best Apple TV VPNs
Is it legal to use a VPN for Apple TV?
It’s complicated. While it’s perfectly safe and legal to use a top VPN in most places, some countries only allow for the use of specified services or have banned VPN providers altogether. These countries include but aren’t limited to, China, North Korea, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, and Belarus. Another thing to be aware of is the Terms of Use of the platform you want to access with your Apple TV. For example, using a VPN breaches Hulu’s Terms of Use, which can lead to a ban if you are caught. We don’t condone using a VPN for activity that isn’t legal, so always make sure you check the laws for your region and the streaming platform’s regulations before using a VPN to connect outside your country.
Will Netflix work on my Apple TV with a VPN?
Yes, you can access your Netflix account on your Apple TV — but only if you connect to a quality VPN. Netflix and other streaming platforms use anti-VPN technology that only the very best VPNs can bypass. If you want to stay safe whenever you go online, or need to access your home library when you travel out of your usual country, use one of the VPNs recommended in this article for instant, lag-free streaming on Apple TV.
Can I use Airplay with a VPN on my Apple TV?
It depends. In most cases, you can easily use Airplay if you use a top quality VPN connected to your router. However, if you want to use Airplay directly from your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV, then you might have some trouble. The problem is that even the best VPN providers will block incoming Airplay requests if they detect that you’re trying to connect to an Apple device that doesn’t have a VPN client installed. In that case, you’ll have to configure your VPN settings so it allows local network traffic, or disable the VPN entirely when you want to use Airplay.
Is AppleTV+ the same as Apple TV?
No, AppleTV+ is a streaming service, while Apple TV is a streaming device that allows you to watch content from various sources. Enjoy Apple TV shows anywhere with a VPN. Even if you’re traveling outside your country, you can use a VPN to access your usual content. An Apple TV allows you to stream platforms including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. You don’t need an Apple TV device to watch AppleTV+, but if you have one you can use it to access the streaming service.
Why Do I Need A High-Speed VPN For Apple TV?
Installing a high-speed VPN is important for Apple TV users because it allows you to enjoy your favorite movies, shows, and games without any buffering or lag. Your internet speeds can drop by more than half when you connect to a VPN server that doesn’t invest in its technology. A good quality VPN such as ExpressVPN will always provide you with lightning-fast speeds so you won’t notice the difference. I recommend ExpressVPN for Apple TV because it has the fastest speeds of all the VPNs tested, even on distant servers. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can an Apple TV be tracked when I use a VPN?
Yes or no. If you’re using a free VPN, chances are your activities are being tracked. But, if you use a quality VPN like the ones named in this article, your traffic will be encrypted with military-grade encryption. These VPNs also invest in technology that prevents IP and DNS leaks, which means that your ISP or anyone else snooping on your connection won’t be able to track you. All of the recommended VPNs mentioned here have no-log policies, so your online activity is never stored.
Can I Use A Free VPN For Apple TV?
Technically yes, but I don’t recommend it. The reason being is that even the best free VPN providers can come with risks. Some free VPNs are known for their shoddy security protocols, unreliable connections, and selling your data for profit. They also tend to have very slow speeds, which will make streaming movies and TV shows a constant source of stress. Free VPNs often don’t have the resources or manpower to keep up with the strict firewalls put in place by major streaming services like Netflix, meaning they usually can’t even give you access to your Apple TV shows. Instead, it’s better to use one of the VPNs recommended in this article. You might be surprised by the price, especially since they all have current subscription discounts. You can protect your devices and stream without interruptions with our top VPNs for just a couple of dollars a month.
Stream on Your Apple TV With a Quality VPN
To get the most out of your Apple TV, a VPN is a must-have. Not only will a good VPN allow you to access content from popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more, but it will also protect your online activity from prying eyes. You can use any of the above-listed VPNs with your Apple TV and enjoy blazing-fast speeds, military-grade encryption, and around-the-clock customer support. Plus, all of them offer detailed instructions on how to set up a VPN on Apple TV so you won’t have any trouble getting started. The best VPN for Apple TV is ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest VPN on the market and has the most powerful unblocking capabilities. MediaStreamer lets you use its smart DNS settings without a VPN, making it perfect for ultra-fast streaming. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try ExpressVPN risk-free. If you’re not happy with the service, you can easily get a refund by canceling your subscription through live chat. Stream on your Apple TV with ExpressVPN
