Samsung Smart TVs have become a centerpiece of many people's home entertainment systems in recent years, and their popularity seems to be increasing.
Using a VPN on your Samsung TV will drastically improve your viewing experience. The great thing about VPNs is that they mask your IP address by rerouting your traffic through a private server in a country of your choosing. This means that sites like Netflix see the IP address of the server, rather than your device, and display to you the content available in the region the server is located in.
The result? You can unblock all sorts of geo-restricted content from over the world. This is great if, for instance, you live outside the US but want access to the American Netflix library then you can!
In this guide, we list the best Samsung TV VPNs and give you some top tips on how to get the most out of a VPN service.
The best VPNs for a Samsung Smart TV
Our experts have listed the very best Samsung TV VPNs below. A more detailed analysis can be found further down in this article, but here's a whistlestop summary of the best VPNs for a Samsung Smart TV:
- ExpressVPN - Best VPN for a Samsung Smart TV. Speedy, reliable and unblocks more content than you could ever watch. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - Best budget option for Samsung Smart TVs. Lightning quick with a number of security quirks.
- Surfshark - A cheap, cheerful and increasingly popular VPN that can compete with pricier providers.
- Private Internet Access - An ultra-secure VPN with a huge fleet of servers spanning across the globe.
- CyberGhost VPN - A solid all-rounder with easy-to-follow router set-up instructions.
TIP
In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.
Features we test before listing the best VPNs for a Samsung TVs
If you're looking for a VPN to use on a Samsung Smart TV, try to get your hands on one that has:
- Full router compatibility.
- A track record of bypassing geo-restrictions.
- Excellent security features.
- Fast connection and download speeds for streaming.
- Top-notch customer support.
Best VPNs for a Samsung Smart TV | In-depth analysis
Here is a rundown of everything you need to know about the VPNs that work best with Samsung Smart TVs. Remember, they're all router compatible.
Editor's Choice | March 2024 www.expressvpn.com ExpressVPN is the best VPN for a Samsung Smart TV. It unblocks everything and is easy to set up on a router thanks to clear instructions available online. 49% OFF ExpressVPN is our top pick for installation on a router, and this provider will ensure you Samsung Smart TV viewing experience is both secure and private. The provider concise set up instructions on their website specifically for this purpose, which means getting your VPN up and running won't be any trouble. ExpressVPN is one of the quickest VPNs we've speed tested and will ensure that rerouting your traffic through another server will have a negligible impact on your streaming capabilities whilst other providers might do. ExpressVPN's over 3,200 servers – in an impressive 94 locations – means there's a virtually unlimited amount of geo-restricted content to unblock and watch on your Smart TV. They don't let the high standards slip when it comes to security, either – all their servers are bare metal and run exclusively off RAM, which means that all the data they process is lost forever when a user powers down. ExpressVPN's 30-day trial period – where you can claim your money back – means you can test all this out without incurring any costs. www.nordvpn.com NordVPN combines great speeds with great security features, making it ideal for using with your router and Samsung Smart TV. 70% OFF 59% OFF NordVPN is another top-notch choice to install on your router and is a great option if you're looking for a VPN for a Samsung Smart TV. NordVPN has excellent speeds – whichever of its 5,000 worldwide servers you decide to connect to – and has consistently topped our daily VPN speed tests. NordVPN's track record is great when it comes to unblocking the most sought-after streaming services, and they also provide extensive setup instructions so your installation can get off the ground without a hitch. NordVPN exclusively uses diskless servers that run entirely off RAM, making it much easier to guarantee their no logs policy. The vendor equips users with CyberSec, which blocks adverts, malware, and viruses from infecting your devices. They've even created NordLynx – a technology built around the WireGuard VPN protocol – retaining its incredible speeds but with added protection, so you can be sure they have your back if you're streaming content that might be banned in your country. The provider's 30-day trial period, within which you can claim back all your money, is great if you're not quite sure. www.surfshark.com Surfshark is a great option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly VPN that doesn't force you to compromise on speed or security. 83% OFF 70% OFF Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and is one of our favorites here at ProPrivacy. It's brilliant for streaming, thanks to its speeds (it's the second quickest VPN on this list) and also the fact it has servers in over 65 countries, so there's a lot to unblock. Once you purchase a Surfshark account, there's no limit to the number of devices you can install it on, so you can add it not only to your router but lots of devices elsewhere. Surfshark, as well as providing standard security features, has obfuscated servers that mask your VPN usage from your internet service provider and anyone else who could otherwise see your traffic. They also have a multi-hop tool that reroutes your traffic through not one, but two VPN servers. If you're not 100% sure that is the VPN you want to pair with your Samsung Smart TV, capitalize on Surfshark's month-long money-back guarantee period. www.privateinternetaccess.com Private Internet Access (PIA) is an ultra-secure VPN with an excellent attitude to customer privacy and thousands of servers across the globe. 82% OFF 38% OFF Private Internet Access is the final VPN on our list, but it's definitely a case of last but not least. PIA is extremely privacy-conscious, and have quite impressively had their claims to keep no logs verified in US court. Like Surfshark, PIA wants to give its customers more mileage from purchases, which is why they doubled their simultaneous connections limit two years ago to ten devices. This ensures your friends and family who might not be using your router – or indeed your Samsung Smart TV – will be able to benefit from the enhanced privacy PIA provides. PIA isn't just for the security or privacy conscious – the provider has more servers in North America alone – over fifteen thousand than some of the others on this list have worldwide. This means there's a lot of geo-restricted content you can unlock – their fleet spans 77 countries – but also that speeds aren't an issue, as you can quickly reconnect to one of the many servers on offer. PIA, like the other providers, has a four-week long money-back guarantee. www.cyberghostvpn.com CyberGhost has slick apps for all the platforms you can think of, and has a long history of working its way around geo-restrictions to the delight of its customers. 83% OFF 42% OFF CyberGhost has had skin in the VPN game for a long while now, and they've earned an excellent reputation amongst their 36 million customers. It has a huge fleet of over 6,000 servers in 88 countries, meaning unblocking Netflix catalogs from around the world is no trouble at all. CyberGhost is really easy to set up on your router, and they have excellent live chat support available 24/7. Like the two VPNs before it on this list, CyberGhost's setup instructions are expansive and easy-to-follow. Although CyberGhost has no obfuscation function as of yet, it does provide its users with a kill-switch, AES-256 bit encryption, and access to their Romania-based NoSpy Servers. CyberGhost is confident enough in their product to give you an additional 15 day grace period on top of the standard 30-day money-back guarantee, so you've got even longer to get to grips with how it works. 1. ExpressVPN
Pricing
Available on
Unblocks
Website
2. NordVPN
Pricing
Available on
Unblocks
Website
3. Surfshark
Pricing
Available on
Unblocks
Website
4. Private Internet Access
Pricing
Available on
Unblocks
Website
5. CyberGhost VPN
Pricing
Available on
Unblocks
Website
Can I install a VPN straight onto my TV?
Unfortunately, Samsung Smart TVs do not have native VPN support, which just means you can't install one directly onto your television. However, there are a couple of ways to get around this, check out our guide on how to get a VPN on a Samsung TV for more information.
You can simply install the VPN on your router and it will start to encrypt and reroute your Samsung TV traffic. Most good VPNs – and all the VPN in this article – are router compatible. This has its advantages – any traffic that passes through the router is also encrypted, so this means other devices on your home network will be protected.
However, not every router is VPN-compatible, so you may need to purchase one or 'flash' your existing router with firmware.
Flashing your router
If you don't have a router that already supports VPNs, you'll need to 'flash' your router, which refers to the procedure of reconfiguring it with VPN-supporting firmware. The three most common types of firmware you can flash your router with for this are DD-WRT, Tomato, andOpenWRT.
If you're new to the whole router flashing process, OpenWRT might feel a bit complicated, and the other two options are a lot easier to use. There are also brand-specific firmware options for routers (such as AsusWRT for Asus routers).
Tomato firmware is the better one to pair with the OpenVPN protocol and it's marginally more user-friendly, but DD-WRT can be installed on a broader variety of router models. Firmware-specific instructions for setting this up can be found on their respective websites.
It's important to make sure you have the right iteration for your router – flashing can damage your router beyond repair (often referred to as 'bricking') if you don't do it correctly.
Investing in a new router
The average lifespan of a router is about five years, so it might actually be a better option to invest in a new one if yours isn't a recent purchase, especially considering many are surprisingly affordable.
Want to purchase one?
Check out FlashRouters – They have a number of pre-flashed routers at excellent prices, as well as plenty with pre-installed VPNs. You can visit their website to check out their products or just download their app instead. If you want more information, check out our
Visit FlashRouters
Other advantages of having a VPN on your router
Getting a VPN on your router allows you to bypass provider restrictions on the number of devices one account can be used on, letting you protect absolutely everything on the network.
Naturally, this means other devices that don't support VPNs – like games consoles, for example – can be easily protected with a VPN on your router.
The other main advantage is not having to worry as to whether your VPN is actually on or not – if it's on your router, it'll be on constantly.
Use a Smart DNS service on your Samsung TV
Another way to unblock TV shows and movies that aren't available in your region is to use a smart DNS service. By using a Smart DNS service you gain an IP address in a different country, so you appear to be in a country of your choice when logging into a TV app. Just like with a VPN. The only downside is that you don't get the privacy benefits that VPNs give users. The following VPN services offer a Smart DNS as a part of their service so you can get the best of both worlds:
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- CyberGhost VPN
- Surfshark
Check out our how to change your DNS settings on a Samsung TV page for the steps you need to take in order to set up a Smart DNS service.
Best Samsung TV VPNs - Conclusion
Hopefully, by now, you're a bit closer to deciding on what VPN is best for you and your Samsung Smart TV. But if you're still unsure, here's a little reminder of our top recommendations:
- ExpressVPN - Best VPN for a Samsung Smart TV. Speedy, reliable and unblocks more content than you could ever watch. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - Best budget option for Samsung Smart TVs. Lightning quick with a number of security quirks.
- Surfshark - A cheap, cheerful and increasingly popular VPN that can compete with pricier providers.
- Private Internet Access - An ultra-secure VPN with a huge fleet of servers spanning across the globe.
- CyberGhost VPN - A solid all-rounder with easy-to-follow router set-up instructions.
TIP
In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.
