Proton VPN
The privacy-focused Proton VPN isn’t all work and no play — it’s one of the best VPNs for streaming. Its fast server speeds allow for buttery smooth 4K streaming, and it’s great for unblocking foreign Netflix or Amazon Prime Video libraries. We had great success unblocking some tough-to-access international Netflix libraries, including Netflix Egypt, with Proton. It also supports Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV streaming devices.
Proton has invested heavily in server quality and now has a worldwide selection of 117 countries to choose from powered by a network of over 12,000 servers. These servers power some of its excellent privacy features such as Secure Core, which routes your connection through a hardened VPN server in a privacy-friendly country on its way to your specified destination, making it harder to trace your traffic back to its source (your device). This also makes Proton well-suited for bypassing geoblocking, so you’ll be able to watch content from sites like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus anywhere on the planet. It’s also a little cheaper than other premium VPNs, as Proton only sets you back $10 per month, $60 for the first year or $108 total for the first two years, then renews at $80 annually for the one- and two-year plans.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a user-friendly VPN that’s adequate for streaming and basic privacy (IPVanish is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis). In our testing, IPVanish easily unblocked international Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus libraries. You can install a VPN on your router for use with a smart TV, or use it on Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV and a slew of other platforms.
IPVanish’s straightforward design works fine for VPN beginners. If you just want an intuitive VPN for unblocking content on Disney Plus, Netflix and other services, IPVanish is a decent choice. But its high 44% average internet download speed loss isn’t ideal for 4K or even 1080p video streaming if you’ve got a slower or more unreliable internet connection — for reference, Netflix recommends 15 Mbps or higher for a single 4K stream, so even folks with a 50 Mbps base internet connection should be alright.
Pricing is initially somewhat reasonable, with plans that cost $13 monthly, $40 for your first year or $53 total for the first two years (the one- and two-year plans jump to $90 after your introductory period). There are better VPNs for the price that provide larger server networks and faster internet speeds, IPVanish is fine for casual users simply seeking basic privacy for everyday use.
PIA
PIA is a wallet-friendly VPN that’s cheaper than most competitors at $12 per month, $40 for the first year (renewing at $50 annually) or $79 total for three years of service. PIA also offers unlimited simultaneous connections, a benefit that pricier VPNs like Proton, ExpressVPN and NordVPN don’t have. It’s suitable for streaming service unblocking, provides a solid network of 35,000-plus servers in 91 countries and has highly customizable, albeit a little unpolished, apps. Folks who live in or frequently travel to the US may appreciate PIA’s servers in all 50 of the United States — this can be helpful for streaming regional sports, like NFL games.
We like that its apps are open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the source code for bugs or vulnerabilities, which is solid transparency. Only a few other providers, including Proton VPN and Mullvad, have open-source apps. While PIA largely sticks to covering the basics, it features some neat privacy amenities, including split tunneling on MacOS (which lets you use a VPN for certain apps and services but not others) — a rarity among VPN providers. Notably, Surfshark also has Mac split tunneling.
But unfortunately, PIA was rough around the edges in our latest round of testing. We clocked its internet speed loss at an underwhelming 49% average, meaningfully higher than the 25% average we like to see. Additionally, we encountered many CAPTCHAs while trying to perform basic tasks like running a Google search. Although streaming was largely decent, we had to change servers more often than with other providers, like NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN or Surfshark. You can get Surfshark, which delivers far faster speeds, a better streaming experience and more forward-thinking privacy features, for a little more money. Still, PIA can be good on a budget for folks who need comprehensive US server coverage. Otherwise, your money is probably better spent on Surfshark or Proton VPN, both of which offer faster server performance and robust privacy while charging slightly more cash than PIA.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost VPN doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles as the other VPNs on this list, but it does a good job of unblocking content across a wide range of streaming services. Its implementation of streaming-optimized servers also makes CyberGhost a decent choice if you’re a casual VPN user who just wants to stream content on your smart TV.
CyberGhost isn’t as fast as others like NordVPN or Surfshark, but you should still be able to stream content without worrying about constant buffering. CyberGhost has servers located in 100 countries around the world, making it one of the best in terms of global network coverage.
If you decide to hook a VPN up to your smart TV via a router, CyberGhost provides detailed instructions in its Help center on how to do so — although it doesn’t offer custom router firmware like ExpressVPN does. If you have a Fire TV or Google TV, you’ll be able to download the CyberGhost VPN app directly to your TV. CyberGhost VPN also offers a smart DNS solution that will give you access to its DNS servers in the US, UK, Germany and Japan.
Although it’s a decent VPN for streaming on your smart TV and has a large server network, there’s not too much more to like about CyberGhost. The VPN’s questionable privacy practices, buggy apps and mediocre speeds make it difficult to recommend for most use cases.
CyberGhost costs $13 per month, $42 every six months for the bi-annual plan, or $57 total for the first 26 months with the two-year plan. The two-year plan then renews at $57 annually. CyberGhost offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on the monthly plan and a 45-day money-back guarantee on its longer-term subscription plans. For similar pricing or even cheaper, you can choose from several other VPNs that are far superior to CyberGhost for streaming on your smart TV — or for basically any other purpose.
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