The best VPNs for streaming

The short answer

Tunnelcheck doesn't say which VPN gets into which streaming service. Nobody can say that reliably. Streaming services buy rights country by country, detect VPNs mostly by IP address, and block addresses as they find them, so what works one week can fail the next. Our explainer on why streaming services block VPNs covers how this works.

What we can rank is the part you can check: what each provider itself says about streaming, which TVs and streaming devices it has apps for, how long you have to ask for a refund, and the provider's overall record. On those points, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN and NordVPN lead, followed by Surfshark and CyberGhost.

How we ranked streaming VPNs

• The provider's own streaming statements. What it says it supports, from its own pages. We report these as claims, not results.
• Apps for TVs and streaming devices. A VPN is only useful on a TV if it runs there. See VPN on a smart TV.
• Refund window. Because results change, a long refund on direct purchases is the only fair way to find out whether a VPN suits your setup.
• Overall record. The audits, ownership and track record in each review. All five picks have Strong or Good verdicts.

1. Proton VPN

Proton's pricing page lists streaming among the paid-plan features and leaves it off the free plan. Proton has apps for Android TV and Apple TV, and its support pages say its Android app runs on Fire OS 7 and later, with a separate app for Fire TV sticks on Amazon's newer Vega OS. It also lists split tunneling on Android TV, which lets a streaming app bypass the VPN while other apps stay protected. Securitum has audited its no-logs claim every year since 2022.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN publishes guides to streaming with its app, and it has apps for Apple TV and routers. A router app covers TVs that can't run a VPN, such as Samsung and LG sets. Its order page lists 10, 12 or 14 devices depending on tier. New subscribers who buy directly get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Ownership by Kape is the main point to weigh.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN has apps for Android TV and Apple TV; its tvOS app arrived in December 2023, after Apple opened tvOS 17 to VPN apps. One account covers ten devices. NordVPN doesn't control what streaming services block, and we couldn't read its pricing or refund pages, so confirm the refund terms before you buy.

4. Surfshark

Surfshark's own overview lists apps for Fire TV, Apple TV and smart TVs, and suggests a router for other devices. It says its speeds meet the requirements of top streaming platforms but doesn't name any service it promises to reach. Unlimited devices on one plan suit a home with several TVs. It shares a parent company with NordVPN.

5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost markets servers for streaming and has apps for Android TV and Fire TV. Its 45-day refund on plans of six months or longer is the longest among the picks. It ranks last because its verdict is Good: three Deloitte no-logs reports, but no published app audit, and seven devices.

When a VPN on your TV makes sense

• Privacy from your internet provider. A VPN hides which services and sites your TV connects to from your ISP.
• Hotel and other shared Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts traffic on networks you don't control. See public Wi-Fi safety.
• Traveling. Many services keep working abroad with the local catalog, and EU residents get their home catalog when traveling inside the EU by law. Some, such as Hulu and Peacock, stop at the border. Check each service's own rules in streaming while traveling.

If a service shows a VPN or proxy error, the honest fix is to turn the VPN off for that app, or use split tunneling so the streaming app goes outside the tunnel. Netflix, for one, says VPNs aren't supported on its ad-supported plans or for live events.

Why other VPNs aren't here

• Mullvad and IVPN make no streaming promises, and IVPN's help page says most services actively block VPNs. They rank high for privacy, not this.
• PrivateVPN markets Netflix unblocking, which no VPN can guarantee, and has no independent audit.
• Windscribe has TV apps and claims you can stream from anywhere, but its refund requires asking within 7 days and using under 10 GB, which leaves little room to check it on a TV.
• Hotspot Shield, PureVPN and IPVanish have TV apps or streaming marketing, but our reviews rate them Weak or Mixed.

For legal free streaming that doesn't need a VPN at all, see the best free streaming sites.