Updated on: April 26, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the easiest way to install a VPN on a Samsung Smart TV in 2024:
- Step 1: Choose a good VPN. My top choice is ExpressVPN because it has blazing-fast speeds, provides high-end security features, and is the best VPN for streaming.
- Step 2: Download and install the VPN. Samsung Smart TVs run operating systems that don’t work with VPN apps, so the best way to use a VPN with your Samsung TV is to install the VPN on your router. ExpressVPN is my top choice because it has an easy-to-install router app and offers its own router (Aircove) that comes with a built-in VPN.
- Step 3: Configure the VPN on your router. Once done, all of the devices connected to your router are connected to the VPN, including your Samsung Smart TV.
- Step 4: Connect your router to a local VPN server. You’re now ready to start binging your favorite shows on your Samsung Smart TV.
You can’t install a VPN app on most Samsung Smart TV models, as their operating system doesn’t support VPN apps. So, you won’t be able to download a VPN from the TV’s app store.
But there are several quick workarounds — for example, you can configure a VPN on your router. If you do that, all the devices in your home, including your Samsung Smart TV, will use the VPN.
I covered the different ways you can set up a VPN on your Samsung Smart TV. In addition, I also rounded up the best VPNs to use on a Samsung Smart TV — ExpressVPN is my #1 pick because it has a user-friendly router app, excellent streaming support, and the fastest speeds out there.
Get ExpressVPN on Samsung Smart TVs Now
4 Ways to Install a VPN on Your Samsung Smart TV
Samsung Smart TVs lack in-built VPN support, but there are alternative solutions. You can set up a VPN on your router, securing every device that’s connected to the router, including your Smart TV. Alternatively, you can share a VPN connection from a different device or use a smart DNS feature. These methods ensure you can benefit from VPN functionalities on your Samsung Smart TV.
Set Up a VPN on Your Router
- Choose a VPN that works with your router. ExpressVPN is my top choice because it has an intuitive router app, maintains fast speeds, and provides great security features. ExpressVPN also offers its own router, which has built-in VPN features.
- Install the VPN on your router. Download the firmware files for your router from the VPN’s website and install them on your router (ExpressVPN provides great step-by-step tutorials for setting up the VPN on your router).
- Connect your Samsung Smart TV to your router’s network. Once the VPN is installed on your router, internet activity on every device on your network will be routed through the VPN.
Set Up the VPN’s Smart DNS on Your Samsung TV
- Choose a VPN that has a smart DNS. While all of the VPNs in this article have a smart DNS feature, my top choice is ExpressVPN because its MediaStreamer smart DNS feature works great with Samsung TVs (and it’s easy to set up).
- Set up your TV’s network configurations. Start by signing into your VPN account on the provider’s webpage. After signing in, proceed to the smart DNS page in your account settings. From this point, follow the guidelines given by your VPN provider to register your IP address and modify the DNS settings on your Samsung Smart TV.
- That’s it. Once you’ve modified the DNS settings on your Samsung Smart TV, you’re all set. Do note that, unlike a VPN, smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your data.
Use a VPN on Your Samsung TV via Ethernet Connection
- Choose a reputable VPN. My top choice is ExpressVPN for its fast speeds, great security features, and easy-to-use apps.
- Connect your devices via ethernet. Connect an ethernet cable from your desktop device to your Samsung Smart TV.
- Share your PC’s internet connection on Windows. Navigate to Network & Internet Settings > Change adapter options, right-click on your ethernet network, and select Properties. Then, click the Sharing tab and check the box that says “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection”.
- Share your device’s internet connection on macOS. Navigate to System Preferences and check the box that says “Internet Sharing”. Select Ethernet in the “Share your connection from” dropdown menu and check Ethernet in the “To computers using” box.
- Connect to the VPN on your main device. Your Samsung Smart TV should now automatically connect to the internet through your VPN-protected device.
Use a VPN on Your Smart TV via Hotspot Wi-Fi Connection Sharing
1. Choose a top VPN. My favorite is ExpressVPN as it works with popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and more.
2. Share your computer’s internet connection:
- On Windows 10: First, navigate to Network & Internet Settings > Mobile Hotspot, turn on Mobile hotspot, and select WiFi from the Share my internet connection drop-down menu. Navigate to Change adapter settings, right-click your Wi-Fi network, and select Properties. Next, click the Sharing tab and check the “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection” box.
- On macOS: Navigate to System Preferences and check the box that says “Internet Sharing”. Select WiFi in the “Share your connection from” dropdown menu and check WiFi in the “To computers using” box.
3. Connect your Samsung Smart TV to your main device’s Wi-Fi. Connect your main device to the VPN and your Samsung Smart TV will connect to the internet through your VPN-protected device.
Best VPNs for Samsung Smart TVs in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for Samsung Smart TVs:
- 1.🥇 ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Samsung Smart TVs in 2024 (great streaming support & fastest speeds).
- 2.🥈 Private Internet Access — Has really good manual router support and easy-to-follow router setup guides.
- 3.🥉 CyberGhost VPN — Very secure VPN service for Samsung smart TVs that also has fast speeds.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Samsung Smart TVs
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for Samsung Smart TV — it has the fastest speeds in the industry, and it’s compatible with popular streaming sites, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. It has easy-to-use apps that work with most routers and even offers its own VPN router called Aircove. ExpressVPN is also ranked #1 on our list of the top 10 VPNs in 2024.
ExpressVPN’s Aircove VPN router is really convenient, as it provides built-in VPN protection that is extended to every device connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network, including your Samsung Smart TV. Aircove offers really fast speeds and reliable connections, but it should be noted that it comes at an extra, one-time purchase and requires an active ExpressVPN subscription for the VPN features to work.
If you don’t want to purchase the provider’s router, you can install the VPN on your router. ExpressVPN provides step-by-step tutorials on its website for installing the VPN to your router and setting up device groups. It even lets you create up to 5 groups of devices that each connect to a different VPN server. This let me group my Samsung Smart TVs together and connect them to a local VPN server ideal for streaming while grouping my PC and smartphone together and connecting them to a different server.
ExpressVPN has flexible plans starting at $6.67 / month. It’s a bit more expensive than other top VPNs, but it’s well worth the value you receive in exchange. All ExpressVPN plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great Router Support & Easy-to-Follow Guides
Private Internet Access (PIA) is really easy to set up on a wide range of routers. The provider has helpful step-by-step tutorials on its site that make the router setup process pretty simple — on average, it only took me about 9–10 minutes to set up the VPN on my router. That said, I think ExpressVPN’s dedicated router app is much more convenient.
The provider is also one of the top streaming VPNs you’ll find. I never had an issue watching my favorite movies and shows on Netflix US, Hulu, and Amazon Prime US, and it works with 30+ other streaming apps like Crunchyroll and more. I also like that it comes with a smart DNS.
Private Internet Access offers very affordable plans starting at $2.03 / month and backs all of the plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Secure VPN for Samsung Smart TVs With Fast Speeds
CyberGhost VPN works on many router models and also has great tutorials — the guides explain all the steps you need to take to set up the VPN on your router very well (and some even include screenshots).
The only downside is that setting up the VPN on your router won’t allow you to use its streaming servers — you can only use its regular servers (located in 100 countries) or gaming servers. Fortunately, the vendor has a smart DNS that’s good for streaming, which you can easily set up on your Samsung smart TV.
CyberGhost VPN has flexible plans starting at $2.03 / month. There’s a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on the long-term plans, while the shortest plan is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Quick Comparison Table
How to Choose the Best VPN for Your Samsung Smart TV in 2024
- Get a VPN that works on routers. Samsung Smart TVs don’t support VPN apps, so you need to get a VPN that you can configure on your router — ExpressVPN is my top pick because it has a user-friendly router app.
- Pick a VPN with fast speeds. All VPNs slow your speeds because of the time required to encrypt your data, but top VPNs can minimize this slowdown and maintain fast speeds. All the VPNs on this list provided me with fast streaming speeds and limited buffering, but I had the fastest speeds with ExpressVPN.
- Go for a VPN with good streaming support. The VPN needs to work with all major streaming sites in your location so you can always watch your favorite content on your Samsung Smart TV. I only recommend VPNs that work with the most popular streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
- Look for a VPN that’s easy to use and set up. Each VPN on this list has intuitive apps and is simple to set up, providing multiple ways to connect your Samsung Smart TV, including router setup, device connection sharing, or a smart DNS tool.
- Select a VPN with strong security. The VPN should protect user data with industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption (the same encryption used by banks and governments), a no-logs policy so that the VPN won’t record the websites you visit or the content you stream, leak protection, and a kill switch that will disconnect you from the internet if your connection to the VPN server drops.
- Find a VPN that’s affordable. I only recommend VPNs that have affordable plans and back each purchase with a generous money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best VPN to install on my Samsung Smart TV?
ExpressVPN is my top choice for a Samsung Smart TV — it comes with a user-friendly router app, has the fastest download speeds on the market, it has great security features, and it works with all of the major streaming services.
Can I use a free VPN on my Samsung Smart TV?
Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it — most free VPNs don’t work with streaming sites, don’t support routers, or don’t allow you to connect your device with a smart DNS. Free VPNs may also have strict data limits and some even keep logs of your online activity.
Instead, I recommend only using premium VPNs like the ones on this list because they all work on routers and have a smart DNS, provide fast streaming speeds with unlimited data, have great security features, and never keep logs of what you’re watching.
Are Samsung Smart TVs compatible with VPNs?
No, as Samsung Smart TVs use operating systems that don’t support VPN apps. So, you can’t find and download VPNs from your TV’s app store.
But there are several workarounds, like setting up the VPN on your router, using the VPN’s smart DNS tool, or sharing your VPN connection to your Samsung Smart TV via an ethernet or Wi-Fi connection.
Are Smart DNS Tools and VPNs the same?
No, a smart DNS is completely different from a VPN. A Smart DNS connection will only change your DNS settings and make your Samsung TV appear as if it’s connecting from the location of the server you’re connected to. A smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic (like a VPN does).
A VPN is a service that changes your IP address and encrypts your traffic. This way, it hides your location and prevents anyone from spying on your online activities. All the VPNs I recommend provide access to a smart DNS, making it very simple to switch between the two tools depending on your needs.
