How to Use a VPN on Samsung Smart TV: Easy Guide (2024)

Samsung TV’s operating system doesn’t support VPN apps, so you can’t just download one from the app store to connect. Fortunately, there are 3 ways you can use a VPN with Samsung TVs. But the methods can be complicated without help.

In this guide, I provide detailed instructions on how to configure a VPN on your router, share your internet connection from a VPN-enabled device to your smart TV, and use Smart DNS. If you have a reliable VPN, you can pick the most suitable method and connect within minutes.

To make sure you have the best experience streaming on your big screen, I also tested dozens of VPNs. ExpressVPN is the easiest VPN to set up on your Samsung smart TV using any of the 3 methods. Plus, it has fast speeds for lag-free streaming and works with all major channels. You’ll be backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

Try ExpressVPN on Samsung smart TV

Quick Guide: Easy Methods to Set up a Samsung TV VPN

Detailed Guides: 3 Ways to Set up a VPN on Samsung Smart TVs

There are 3 ways to set up a VPN on your Samsung smart TV, each of which has its pros and cons. The router setup is the most functional but also the most complicated and potentially the most expensive if you need to buy a compatible router.

If you don’t have a compatible router, then setting up a VPN hotspot with your mobile data or PC is a good solution. To help you choose the best method, I’ve listed the pros and cons of each setup method below. The step-by-step methods to set them up follow.

1. Set up a VPN on a Samsung Smart TV — Router

If you need your Samsung smart TV always connected to a VPN or don’t want to turn on your PC or Mac to stream on your smart TV, configuring a VPN to your router is your best option. But if done incorrectly, installing a third-party firmware (like Tomato or DD-WRT) to allow VPN connections can permanently damage your router.

While specific routers will have differences in how to configure them properly, the basic steps to set up routers with a VPN are as follows:

2. Set up a VPN on a Samsung Smart TV — WiFi Hotspot Sharing Connection

Although your smart TV doesn’t support VPN apps, others like your PC and Mac do. Once you install a VPN on a Windows or macOS device, it can act as a virtual router for your smart TV. You can then share the connection with your smart TV through an ethernet cable or through WiFi hotspot. Ethernet offers significantly faster speeds, while WiFi is more convenient.

Enable hotspot with Windows

1. Go to ‘Network & Internet Settings’
2. Turn on ‘Mobile hotspot’.
3. Select ‘WiFi’ from the ‘Share my internet connection’ dropdown menu.
4. Navigate to ‘Change adapter settings’, right-click your WiFi network, and select ‘Properties’.
5. Click the ‘Sharing’ tab and check the ‘Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection’ box.
6. Make sure your WiFi network is selected under ‘Share my Internet connection from’.

Enable hotspot with macOS

1. Go to ‘System Preferences’ and check the ‘Internet Sharing’ box.
2. Select ‘WiFi’ from the ‘Share your connection from’ dropdown menu
3. Tick ‘WiFi’ in the ‘To computers using’ box.

3. Set up a VPN on a Samsung Smart TV — Smart DNS

Smart DNS changes the DNS server your connection is routed through and masks your IP address, but it doesn’t encrypt your connection. Some VPNs don’t let you pick a location, so this might not be the best method.

The setup process is easy, especially if you use a VPN with its own Smart DNS settings. ExpressVPN has a MediaStreamer feature that’s optimized to work with Samsung and other Smart TVs, with a detailed setup guide available on its help site.

The Best VPNs for Samsung Smart TVs in 2024

1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best VPN for Samsung TVs, Especially for Router Setup

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN has its own firmware for Asus, Linksys, and NetGear routers to secure your Samsung Smart TV easily — the only VPN on this list with this feature. Once you upload the firmware to your router, a dashboard will help you connect to and switch servers. For other router models like DD-WRT, Tomato, and more, ExpressVPN has complete manual setup guides on its site.

If you don’t want to bother with any setups, you can buy a router pre-configured with ExpressVPN from FlashRouters. You just have to connect your Samsung TV to the router, and ExpressVPN will automatically secure it.

The Device Groups feature on ExpressVPN’s router app allows you to group your devices and connect them to 5 different servers at the same time. This is useful if you want to connect your Samsung TV to a local server while using a US server on your laptop for work. Other VPNs’ router setups only allow 1 server location.

Besides this, ExpressVPN also has MediaStreamer or a Smart DNS feature that works reliably. If you’re based in the US or the UK, you should be able to watch Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more on your Samsung TV with MediaStreamer. But this is not the same as using the VPN, as Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic.

When I pulled the connection from my Windows PC and used WiFi instead of ethernet, I was worried my internet would be too slow. But to my surprise, I only saw a 15% drop when I used its Lightway protocol and watched Stranger Things in UHD without lags.

I also recommend ExpressVPN because it works with many popular streaming services. When my colleagues from other parts of the world tested it, they could watch their favorite content on:

The one issue with ExpressVPN is that it’s a little more expensive than other VPNs, but it’s worth the price if you want a convenient way to install a VPN to your router for your Samsung TV. Plus, it’s the fastest VPN on this list and lets you connect your devices to more than 1 server location. I recommend its 1-year + 3 months plan, which starts at $6.67 a month.

But no matter which plan you get, your purchase will be backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Getting a refund is easy if you change your mind about subscribing. When I contacted ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support and requested my money back, they processed my refund without questions. The money appeared in my bank account in a week.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Effortless Streaming on Samsung Smart TV

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,800+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost has servers optimized for multiple streaming platforms, so you’ll know exactly which server to connect to when setting it up on your router for your Samsung TV. Depending on your location, you can watch Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and more with these servers. During tests, my team and I could access services like:

When I tested its local servers on my Samsung TV, I found CyberGhost was fast enough to watch shows and movies in UHD without any lag. For the best speeds, I recommend using a server within your city.

With most VPNs, it’s difficult to change the settings or server when it’s configured on a router — you’ll have to do it through the router’s dashboard on a computer. CyberGhost has a FlashRouters Privacy App, so you can manage your Samsung TV VPN connections from a mobile device — including blocking malicious ads and sites. You also don’t have to reconfigure your router every time you want to change server locations.

Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost doesn’t have native firmware for routers. However, it supports manual configuration for most routers, like DD-WRT, Tomato, Synology NAS, and more. Alternatively, you can get a router that’s pre-installed with CyberGhost from FlashRouters and skip the installation process for your Samsung smart TV.

You can also share a connection from a CyberGhost-enabled device to your smart TV. If you prefer using the Smart DNS method, CyberGhost has DNS servers in the US, UK, Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands. As with all Smart DNS services, it’s not the most reliable way to watch all your favorite shows on your Samsung TV.

The 1 minor issue I have with CyberGhost is that its monthly plan has a short money-back guarantee duration of just 14 days. But the 2-year + 4 months plan is cheaper in the long run at $2.03 per month, and you’ll have 45 days to ask for a refund. It’s also trustworthy — when I requested a refund via the 24/7 live chat system, I got my money back in 5 days.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Large Network for Speedy Samsung Smart TV Connections

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PIA has the largest network on this list to avoid server congestion that can cause shows to lag on your Samsung TV. Although I never encountered an overcrowded PIA server, you can switch to another server in your location if it happens to you.

Among the PIA servers you can access for your Samsung TV are streaming-optimized options in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and 7 other countries. These are not dedicated to specific platforms like CyberGhost, but they worked with a lot of streaming services when tested:

My teammates found PIA’s streaming servers to be faster and more suited for streaming. But if you don’t have one in your location, pick a server that’s the closest to your city. It’s not the fastest VPN on this list, but my local servers averaged 76Mbps during tests. This is fast enough to binge-watch your favorite series in UHD without interruptions.

To get started, you can either set up PIA on your Windows or Mac and share the connection with your Samsung TV or set it up manually on your router. It has in-depth installation guides for routers, and the customer support agents are available 24/7 via live chat if you need help.

You can also try its Smart DNS function, available in the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Japan. The setup for Samsung smart TVs is fairly easy, with an excellent guide on its support page.

The only issue I have with PIA is that it offers quite a bit of customization options that can overwhelm a beginner. But when I explored the more advanced settings, I was pleasantly surprised by how much faster my Samsung TV connection was for streaming.

This is one of the most affordable monthly VPNs on this list if you prefer a short-term plan until you’re sure it works with your router. But overall, its 2-year + 4 months plan is more economical at $2.03 a month. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, just send a message to support via live chat — I got my money back in 5 days.

4. NordVPN — SmartPlay Smart DNS Makes Streaming Easy on Samsung Smart TV

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	6,300+
📱Devices	10
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

NordVPN has SmartPlay, a Smart DNS technology that works automatically and encrypts your smart TV’s traffic when you select a server on its app. If you’re US-based, you can also configure NordVPN Smart DNS manually to watch streaming platforms like ABC Go, Fox Now, Paramount+, and more.

Your other options are to share a network with another device or configure NordVPN on your router to stream safely on your Samsung TV. These will allow you to watch content on many other services like:

With NordVPN, you’ll also have access to Threat Protection, which blocks ads and trackers. During tests, even those with Netflix ad-supported plans could block the ads with Threat Protection. It also deletes any malware you accidentally download — useful if you use Kodi with your Samsung TV.

I had good speeds for streaming without lags every time I connected to a NordVPN server. If you’re in the US, you can select from almost 2,000 NordVPN servers in 16 major US cities. Selecting a distant server will still provide your smart TV a fast enough connection to watch shows in UHD without buffering.

Since NordVPN has many specialty servers, I was hoping it’d include streaming servers but unfortunately, it doesn’t. Still, none of my teammates had any issues streaming with their accounts — all NordVPN servers tested worked.

If you want to get NordVPN, its 2-year + 3 months plan is only $3.09 a month. If you no longer want it for your smart TV, just claim a refund with the 30-day money-back guarantee. I contacted support via live chat and was asked why I was canceling. Once I explained I no longer wanted it, the agent approved my request. I had my money 5 days later.

5. Surfshark — Static IPs Reduce Streaming Errors on Your Samsung Smart TV

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	3,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Surfshark’s Static IPs make sure you connect with the same IP address from your Samsung TV to avoid being blocked by streaming platforms. Constantly changing IP addresses can trigger suspicions in streaming platforms, so this is a good free feature to make sure you can always access your accounts.

Besides having apps for Windows and macOS for shared connection, Surfshark also has Smart DNS functionality. Plus, you can configure it on your router to stream with your smart TV. During tests, Surfshark worked with all major streaming platforms, such as:

If you want a VPN with decent speeds for your smart TV, Surfshark is a good option. My connection was around 40% slower with Surfshark, but it was still a lot faster than the minimum 25Mbps Netflix requires for smooth streaming. As a result, none of the shows I watched in UHD on my smart TV lagged.

The only thing I didn’t like about Surfshark is that it takes a while to connect to a server for the first time. Sometimes, I had to wait for 30 seconds. Fortunately, subsequent connections were faster. Additionally, Surfshark offers unlimited connections without router setup, so you can leave your smart TV connected at all times to avoid delays.

With Surfshark, plans start from as low as $2.29 a month with the 2-year + 2 months plan. If you don’t like how it works with your Samsung TV, just request a full refund within 30 days. I got my money in 7 days after reaching out via 24/7 live chat.

How to Find the Best VPN for Samsung Smart TV

I tested many criteria to find the best VPNs in 2024 for Samsung smart TVs:

• Works with Samsung smart TV — All the VPNs I’ve selected support all 3 methods of connection: router configuration, shared network, and Smart DNS.
• Fast speeds — The VPNs on this list are fast enough for UHD streaming, so you won’t encounter any buffering problems even if your baseline speeds are only moderately fast.
• Work with top streaming sites — I only picked VPNs with servers proven to work reliably and consistently with major streaming services.
• Large server network — Since the VPNs on this list have a global network of servers, they prevent overcrowding, which can slow down your streams and cause annoying buffering.
• Ease of use — Connecting a VPN to a Smart TV can be a little tricky, so I only selected VPNs that have detailed setup guides and are easy to navigate.
• Good value for money — My recommended VPNs are worth the cost with extra features, security and privacy, and a money-back guarantee.

FAQ: Using Samsung Smart TVs With VPNs

Start Using Your Samsung TV VPN in Minutes

Samsung smart TVs require a bit of manual tinkering to secure with a VPN. But you should be able to watch your favorite shows with protection in no time with the detailed step-by-step guides above. If you want a more long-term solution, configure the VPN on your router. But if you want an easier solution, try sharing your network from a VPN-enabled device.

No matter which of the 3 methods you choose, make sure you get the best VPN for your Samsung TV. I recommend ExpressVPN as it’s the easiest to set up, has fast speeds, and works with all streaming platforms tested. It’s even backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, just ask for a refund — it’s hassle-free.

Summary — The Best VPNs for Samsung Smart TV in 2024

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked Top Choice

1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.03 / month Save 83%

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4.

9.4

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$3.09 / month Save 76%

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5.

9.4

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$2.29 / month Save 85%

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