5 Best VPNs for Android TV for Speed and Unblocking (2026)

NordVPN - Reliable User Privacy for Thwarting Speed Throttling

With over 1,800 servers in the United States alone, the second largest on this list, you can unblock restricted streaming apps like Hulu, Sling TV, and Peacock directly on your Android TV.

I’ve also connected to its Japanese server, one of its 5,700+ servers, to smoothly access my favorite anime, Gintama, on Netflix Japan.

The speeds aren’t anything to scoff at, either. I got 35 Mbps on average using different random servers, which is enough to handle up to 4K content without buffering. To get the best speeds, I switched to the NordLynx protocol, one of the fastest in the VPN industry.

NordVPN is also one of the best VPNs for user privacy. With its robust IP masking, your ISP doesn’t stand a chance of seeing the sites or apps you access on its network.

The kill switch is another vital functionality that protects your IP address from leaking whenever the VPN connection drops. So, ensure you have it activated before you start streaming.

Overall, NordVPN for Android TV is easy to use and functions the same as the smartphone version. You can quickly access the servers and activate critical features like the kill switch from settings.

Furthermore, you can install the APK version directly from the NordVPN website through your Android TV browser. Just ensure you have allowed the installation of apps from external sources.

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Surfshark VPN - Affordable Android TV VPN With Unlimited Connections

Surfshark is the joint-fastest Android TV VPN I tested, averaging 38 Mbps (level with ExpressVPN), which translates to a speed drop of only 2 Mbps. This is impressive, considering it doesn’t have the most superior server network, specialized servers, or a unique protocol like NordLynx.

But, while it lacks in server quantity, Surfshark paid attention to quality.

All the 4,500+ servers have been upgraded to between 1 Gps and 10 Gbps, which means they’re always fast. Combine them with a stable internet connection, and overcrowded servers become inconsequential.

Surfshark also offers 600+ servers in the United States for accessing geo-restricted content like Apple TV+, Peacock TV, CNN Go, and more.

I managed to stream NCIS New York, which is currently only available in the US version of Netflix, in HD, using a US – New York server.

Your privacy when using Surfshark to bypass restricted content is assured through its reliable kill switch. You can rest easy knowing your IP address is safely hidden even when the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark has an app you can install directly on your Android TV from the Google Store. It also has a separate APK version you can download through a browser and install on your TV.

But the most significant advantage Surfshark has over other VPNs is that it allows you to connect as many Android TVs as you want.

If you have friends and family members who wish to secure their Android TVs, this is the VPN to go for.

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CyberGhost - Largest Server Network for Unblocking Restricted Sites

On top of having the largest server network at a whopping 9,700+, CyberGhost has streaming dedicated servers explicitly optimized for streaming on Android TVs. So, finding the correct server is more accessible than other options on this list, making it very good for beginners.

The VPN also boasts 1,300+ US servers, enough to unblock US-only content on apps like Crackle or Tubi. This is how I was able to catch up on NFL highlights on Sling TV without being made to feel like I’m from Mars with the usual  “this content isn’t available in your region.” I’m human, goddammit!

CyberGhost tied with NordVPN regarding speeds, averaging 35 Mbps, and that got me through HD streaming on my 65-inch TCL Android TV (I’ve been dying to mention that).

Furthermore, CyberGhost for Android is equipped with a kill switch (activated in app settings) for IP leak protection when your Android TV loses a VPN connection. Your ISP still won’t see your IP address because the internet is shut down immediately.

CyberGhost can be installed directly from Google Play Store to your TV and, like Surfshark and NordVPN, comes with an APK option.

Additionally, you can use the same CyberGhost account to connect up to 7 Android TVs or spend the remaining six slots on your PCs/mobile devices.

This is slightly more than NordVPN offers.

The VPN is also within the affordable range of most Android TV owners, and you can get it cheaper through these exclusive deals.

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PureVPN - Stable Connection Speeds for Buffer-Free Streaming

PureVPN has the second largest global server network after CyberGhost with 6,500+, and the largest US-server network (2,000+). Hence, it’s little wonder that unblocking US content on streaming apps like Disney+ was a breeze on my Android TV.

But while PureVPN doesn’t have specialized streaming servers like CyberGhost, its regular options are well-optimized for speeds like Surfshark.

The advantage is that you can connect to any server and get fast speeds for HD streaming on your Android TV.

I averaged 33 Mbps with PureVPN, which was slower than the first three VPNs, but enough for buffer-free streaming even when handling 4K content.

Besides the speed-optimized servers, PureVPN doesn’t slack on the privacy front. A super-fast kill switch prevents accidental IP leaks when your VPN connection drops while you’re in the middle of streaming.

The same IP masking also ensures your ISP doesn’t tinker with your speeds because they see you’re participating in bandwidth-heavy activities.

Furthermore, the PureVPN TV app is easy to use, eliminating hassles when using the TV remote to navigate the servers and settings.

However, while you can install the VPN directly from Google Play Store, PureVPN doesn’t have a separate APK file like CyberGhost, Surfshark, and NordVPN. But that shouldn’t worry you. The official app works just fine.

You can also link up to 10 devices simultaneously using the same account, beating NordVPN and CyberGhost.

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ExpressVPN - Native Android TV App With Lightway Speeds

ExpressVPN ships a proper Android TV app on Google Play rather than a phone app squeezed onto a big screen. It’s built around the remote: a “Smart Location” button picks the best nearby server, and the full server list is a couple of clicks away when you want a specific country.

It installed on my TCL the same way as the other four, and if your TV or box can’t reach the Play Store, ExpressVPN publishes an APK on its download page for sideloading. Sony, TCL, Nvidia Shield, Xiaomi, and Chromecast with Google TV are all covered.

Speed is where ExpressVPN made its case. On the same 40 Mbps line, its in-house Lightway protocol averaged 38 Mbps, level with Surfshark and ahead of NordVPN, CyberGhost, and PureVPN, so 4K streams had headroom to spare.

Unblocking was just as dependable. The New York server pictured above got me into Hulu and Netflix US on the TV, and with servers in 113 countries you’re unlikely to run out of regions to try.

ExpressVPN doesn’t sort its servers into streaming or P2P categories the way CyberGhost and NordVPN do. You pick a country and connect, which I found simpler with a remote in hand, though it means there’s no dedicated streaming list to lean on.

Own a second TV that can’t run apps? The same subscription includes MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s SmartDNS. It won’t encrypt anything, but it unblocks streaming apps on Samsung, LG, and other non-Android sets.

On privacy, ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, keeps no activity or connection logs (audited by KPMG, most recently in 2023), and runs every server in RAM, so nothing about your viewing survives a reboot. Your ISP only sees encrypted traffic, which takes throttling off the table.

The Basic plan covers 10 devices at once (12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro), which matches PureVPN and beats CyberGhost’s seven, though Surfshark’s unlimited connections remain the benchmark on this list.

Cost is the reason it sits fifth. ExpressVPN charges more than any other VPN here, and the extra money doesn’t buy anything NordVPN’s cheaper long-term plan lacks. One more caveat: the 30-day money-back guarantee only applies to subscriptions bought on ExpressVPN’s website, not through the Play Store on the TV itself.

These ExpressVPN discounts take a fair bit off the 2-year plan if the native TV app and Lightway speeds are what you’re after.

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