How to Install a VPN on Samsung Smart TV
Smart TVs provide superior image quality than laptops or smartphones, which makes them a natural choice when you want to enjoy watching your favorite movies and series. Unfortunately, after you have set up your Smart TV, you may discover that you cannot access the shows on your paid streaming service.
The reason behind this lies in the geographical restrictions different streaming services impose. For example, if you have purchased Netflix in the US, you will be unable to watch it in Europe or elsewhere.
A virtual private network (VPN) can help solve this problem.
VPN service providers are companies that have extensive networks of VPN servers. All of these servers have their virtual addresses (IP addresses). When you connect to a certain VPN server, your device takes over the IP address of that particular server so that your actual address remains hidden.
Here is what you need to do to access geographically restricted content with the help of a VPN:
- Choose a VPN that best suits your needs (see our list of suggestions below)
- Download the VPN app and install it on your device
- Choose a server in the same area as your streaming service (e.g., If you wish to access US Netflix, choose a server with a US location.)
- Access the content of your choice
In case you don't want to read the entire article, here’s a quick summary of the best VPN services according to our independent tests and research:
- NordVPN Best VPN for general work and entertainment purposes. I found it to be reliable, high-speed, and easy to set up, and it's one that I use daily for work.
- ProtonVPN (Free Version) Proton is often referred to as the single most trustworthy company in the VPN business. They focus on security over anything else and offer the best free VPN available. This is the company behind ProtonMail.
- CyberGhost VPN was voted as the best gaming VPN for 2023 and is one of the cheapest VPN services among the whole top 10.
Best VPN for Samsung TV
RANK
BRAND
DEVICES
STATS
DOWNLOAD
1
6
6 simultaneous devices.
- ● Fastest VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 5300+
- ● Countries: 60+
WHY I LIKE NORDVPN NordVPN has long been regarded as one of the strongest brands in cybersecurity. With one of the largest server offerings on my list and support for most, if not all operating systems, making NordVPN an obvious choice for many. They have 24/7 customer support if you need help getting started. Their app is one of the most well-designed apps I have ever used. NordVPN even accepts cryptocurrencies as payment for extra anonymity.
2
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Cheap VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 65+
WHY I LIKE SURFSHARK: Surfshark VPN is perfect for those who want a cheap and reliable VPN that also has many extra features. "Camouflage Mode" hides your usage from your ISP, "Kill Switch" suspends your connection and protects your information if you temporarily lose Internet access, "MultiHop" to connect from multiple countries at the same time just to name a few. My favorite feature of Surfshark is "Whitelists" which allow the user to exclude specific apps and programs from the VPN connection.
3
7
7 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Torrent VPN
- ● Servers: 7400+
- ● Countries: 91+
WHY I LIKE CYBERGHOST CyberGhost VPN is the first choice of many other cybersecurity experts, and the reason is clear; they have the most complete VPN service. An incredible number of extra features that are best suited for the more advanced users but also work flawlessly for every-day purposes like P2P-filesharing. Cyberghost VPN also has the longest stretching money-back guarantee at a full 45 days.
4
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Netflix/Streaming VPN
- ● Servers: 35500+
- ● Countries: 84+
WHY I LIKE PIA VPN: PrivateInternetAccess is at the top of my streaming tests, which is a great combination with their easy-to-use UI, Open-Source software and built in adblocker. PIA is also perfect for those who want to be able to pay with PayPal which for some reason, many other VPN services do not support. 30-day money-back guarantee, multiple Netflix libraries, and extremely affordable are the three main selling points for this VPN service.
5
∞
Unlimited simultaneous devices.
- ● Robust/Security focused
- ● Servers: 750+
- ● Countries: 43+
WHY I LIKE ATLAS VPN: Atlas VPN is one of the best new free VPN services. With the free version, you get unlimited data, no ads and zero logging. During my speed tests, Atlas VPN performed very well and could compete with mainstream services. Kill Switch, Ad-blocker, and P2P support all included with a regular subscription, which is incredibly cheap for such a robust service.
6
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best Free VPN 2023
- ● Servers: 1713+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PROTONVPN: ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland and is most known for their e-mail service ProtonMail. They currently offer the safest free VPN services on the market. There is also support for TOR usage and P2P file sharing. I highly recommend ProtonVPN if you are intending to do some extensive online sharing. It goes without saying that Proton does not collect logs of any kind and is completely safe to use.
7
10
10 simultaneous devices.
- ● Best VPN for Gaming and Streaming
- ● Servers: 200+
- ● Countries: 63+
WHY I LIKE PRIVATEVPN: PrivateVPN is the strong underdog in the world of VPNs. With a shy number of servers, it is evident that they are focusing on quality over quantity. Overall, PrivateVPN is a very decent choice of VPN, especially if you had enough of the excessive advertising by some of the other more known brands in this list. Setting up the VPN requires extremely little intervention, and you can even pay with Bitcoin.
8
49%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best Mobile VPN app
- ● Servers: 3000+
- ● Countries: 94+
10
77%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
45 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Fastest free VPN
- ● Servers: 3200+
- ● Countries: 80+
11
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Great free VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 26+
12
68%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
10 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best reputation
- ● Servers: 91+
- ● Countries: 17+
14
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
15 day money-back guarantee.
- ★ Great adblocker included
- ★ Servers: 1800+
- ★ Countries: 20+
15
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices simultaneously
- ● Unlimited usage
- ● 50+ locations
16
70%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Unlimited traffic
- ● Up to 1 Gbps
- ● Free trial
17
85%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Unlimited bandwidth
- ● Countries: 60+
19
$5.00 /user
14 day free trial/money-back guarantee.
- ● Simple Cloud VPN Setup
- ● Site-to-site VPN Tunneling
- ● Easy Server & User Management
21
67%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
7 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 5 devices
- ● Locations: 65+
- ● 24/7 live support
22
80%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● 10 devices
- ● Countries: 20+
- ● P2P Optimization
23
66%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
Basic, advanced, and pro plans.
- ● Countries: 22+
- ● Locations: 36+
- ● 24/7 live support
24
79%
DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
30 day money-back guarantee.
- ● Best multi-device VPN
- ● Servers: 1000+
- ● Countries: 200+
Using a VPN on Samsung Smart TVs
VPNs work well on Smart TVs which operate on Android OS. However, Samsung Smart TVs use Tizen OS, with which VPNs are incompatible.
To access your streaming service via a Samsung Smart TV, you need to either set up the VPN on your router or enable your VPN’s Smart DNS.
Setting up a VPN on your router has its good and bad sides. One of the advantages is that all your devices connected to that router will be protected, even if they do not support VPN technology. On the other hand, having a VPN on your router will make it harder to manage your VPN settings.
Although all VPNs have the same function, their features frequently differ. This is why you need to carefully consider all the available services and choose one which meets your requirements.
The most important VPN features for streaming via your Samsung Smart TV are:
- Unblocking ability
- Speed
- Size of a server network
- Smart DNS feature
- Customer support
Top 5 VPNs for Samsung Smart TV in 2023
Check out our top 5 VPNs for accessing streaming platforms via Samsung Smart TV in 2023:
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- Surfshark
- CyberGhost VPN
- Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
ExpressVPN
| Headquarters: British Virgin Islands | Simultaneous connections: up to 5 devices |
| Servers: 3000+ | Logging: strict no-logging policy |
| Countries: 94 | Plans: 1-monthly, 6-monthly, 12-monthly |
| Torrenting: supported on all servers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days |
ExpressVPN is one of the most reliable global VPN providers. It possesses not only an extensive server network, great unblocking ability, and fast speeds but also many advanced features (e.g., Media Streamer Smart DNS, VPN split tunneling, Lightway protocol, the kill switch, etc.). The VPN also provides live chat customer service 24/7.
| ExpressVPN Advantages | ExpressVPN Disadvantages |
| Great speed on all servers | Varying speeds |
| Excellent unblocking ability | Pricey plans |
| Supports torrenting |
NordVPN
| Headquarters: Panama | Simultaneous connections: up to 6 devices |
| Servers: 5500+ | Logging: strict no-logging policy |
| Countries: 59 | Plans: Basic, Plus, Complete (monthly, annual, biannual) |
| Torrenting: supported on P2P file-sharing servers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days |
NordVPN is another highly trustworthy provider with a large server network, top encryption, excellent speeds and no buffering. Its SmartPlay Smart DNS gives you access to many premium global streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney. If you wish to contact customer service, live chat support is available 24/7.
| NordVPN Advantages | NordVPN Disadvantages |
| Top security and privacy | Not the most affordable option |
| User-friendly apps | Torrenting is not supported on all servers |
| Smart DNS, SmartPlay, Onion over VPN, Dedicated IP address |
Surfshark VPN
| Headquarters: The Netherlands | Simultaneous connections: unlimited number of devices |
| Servers: 3200+ | Logging: strict no-logging policy |
| Countries: 99 | Plans: 1-monthly, 12-monthly, 24-monthly |
| Torrenting: supported on all servers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days |
Although speed-wise Surfshark does not perform as well as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, it will allow you to stream your favorite content without buffering. It also has its own Smart DNS you can easily enable through account settings. Live chat and e-mail support are available 24/7.
| Surfshark Advantages | Surfshark Disadvantages |
| Good value for money | Slower speeds |
| 7-day free trial on Android, macOS, and iOS | |
| Top encryption, private DNS, and leak protection | |
| Kill switch, protection against malware, ads, trackers, and phishing attempts |
CyberGhost VPN
| Headquarters: Romania | Simultaneous connections: up to 7 devices |
| Servers: 9200+ | Logging: strict no-logging policy |
| Countries: 91 | Plans: 1-monthly, 6-monthly, 24-monthly |
| Torrenting: supported on special P2P servers | Money-back guarantee: 45 days |
CyberGhost VPN has a large server network and can unblock popular streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and HBO NOW. It also has a way of bypassing Samsung’s Smart TV restrictions by changing your DNS settings. To do that, go to your DNS settings, activate the DNS setting on your IP, enter the DNS in your router settings and connect your Samsung device to that router.
| CyberGhost VPN Advantages | CyberGhost VPN Disadvantages |
| 24h free trial | Somewhat slower long-distance speeds |
| 24/7 live chat and e-mail support | |
| Unlimited bandwidth |
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
| Headquarters: United States of America (Denver) | Simultaneous connections: up to 10 devices |
| Servers: N/A | Logging: strict no-logging policy |
| Countries: 30+ | Plans: monthly, annual, triennial (3 years) |
| Torrenting: supported on servers outside the US | Money-back guarantee: 30 days |
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is a cheaper alternative that allows you to access your streaming content on Samsung Smart TVs by setting up PIA’s Smart DNS. This improves the streaming process, although it does not provide the protection ensured by a VPN. In addition, PIA VPN has a 24/7 customer helpline.
| PIA VPN Advantages | PIA VPN Disadvantages |
| Large server network | PIA’s Smart DNS does not encrypt traffic or hide your IP |
| Reasonably priced | |
| 100% open source | |
| Easy configuration |
In Summary
While it is easy to install a VPN on Smart TVs operating on Android OS, Samsung Smart TVs work on Tizen, an operating system VPNs are not compatible with. To access popular streaming services on your Samsung Smart TV, you can either set up a VPN on your router or enable the Smart DNS feature. While a VPN may be a bit slower, it encrypts your traffic and keeps your IP hidden, which makes it a much safer option.
FAQ
How do I set up my VPN on a router?
You can either set up your VPN on your home router or get a special, pre-configured VPN router. To set up the service on your router, follow the instructions on your VPN’s website.
What is the best VPN for streaming on Samsung Smart TV?
The best choice is a VPN with great unblocking ability, a large server network, and fast speeds. Although ExpressVPN and NordVPN are on top of our list, reliable and somewhat less expensive alternatives include Surfshark VPN, CyberGhost VPN, and PIA VPN.
Is it better to install a VPN on a router or to use Smart DNS?
Both options have their good and bad sides. Smart DNS may allow streaming without any loss of speed, but it does not provide any online protection.
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