On different occasions, we have heard about movies and series premiering on a specific streaming platform or on TV channels on a platform. And yet, we went looking for it and we found that it does not exist. Was the publisher wrong? I can tell you straight away that he was not.
The problem is that very often, the platforms and television networks use regional locks. In other words, this means that, depending on where we are on the map, we will have access to different content. And that’s where a VPN comes in.
What is a VPN?
The first thing is to clarify in a few words what is a vpn in case anyone is not familiar with the term. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a service that creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet.
What a VPN does is protect the traffic of our devices create a kind of mask by redirecting all traffic through a specially configured remote server. What it does is hide our real IP address and encrypt all data that goes to and from our devices. In this way, the VPN protects our information and privacy online.
We already know that you can install a VPN on your mobile to browse safely and access content that would otherwise be limited to our location. But what many people don’t know is that You can install a VPN on a Smart TV.
Benefits of a VPN
Images | Ivan Linares
Installing and configuring a VPN on your Smart TV is easy. The best part, in addition to the security we talked about in Hide real IP address and protect traffic by filtering itis that it greatly increases the amount of content we can see.
When installing a VPN We eliminate regional blockades in one fell swoop
What a VPN does is “cheat” the system so that it believes that we are actually in a specific country and thus we can access the content that remains hidden in our location. And the same thing that happens with streaming platforms also happens with television networks.
To give an example, if we travel abroad, we will not be able to watch certain Spanish television channels. It’s all driven by geoblocking. What it does is use the IP address of the device to know its geographical location. If the system detects that we are trying to access Spanish channels from a foreign country and that region is not allowed, it blocks access.
We will not go into the motivations for this practice in this article, whether it is to protect licenses, protect content creators, etc. VPNs allow you to bypass these limitations and these are the most interesting for a Smart TV.
That said, it should be noted that using VPNs does not guarantee 100% effectiveness. We have already seen how in this race access to content is limited at the regional level, streaming platforms tend to block VPN IP. In these cases, there is no choice but to try other IP addresses from different locations or change VPNs.
Choose the best VPN
The first thing to keep in mind is that not all apps that allow you to use a VPN are the same. You have to be careful with those that promise free service. This does not mean that they are all harmful, but it does mean that you should use them with great caution, as these services are not always safe.
At this point you need to be very careful with the application or VPN you choose, because You will have access to information of all kinds on the content you download and everything you watch on your TV.
The ideal is to choose a VPN service with certain guarantees. A platform with a renowned brand behind it is always a better choice. Even if you prefer not to pay, you can look for one that offers a free option, although you should keep in mind that this can penalize you by reducing the speed of your connection. Therefore, if you are going to use it intensively, it is better to take out the card and pay for a quality service.
Best VPNs for Smart TV
There are different alternatives to access protected content from other regions, and also improve security when we use our television, so that large companies cannot track our activity. These are some of the best
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the the most famous and recommended be able to watch TV channels and content from other platforms, eliminating regional blocks.
If, for example, you are traveling abroad and do not have access to Spanish television channels, this VPN allows you to access them without major problems thanks to the fact that it has servers in Europe (and the rest of the world). In this way, you will be able to continue accessing the channels and streaming content available in Europe and from Europe to those of many other countries.
*Some prices may have changed since last review
You can download the app from the Google Play Store and it also offers versions for Xbox, PlayStation, Fire TV, Chromecast, tvOS…
The price to pay is 12.99 dollars if you opt for monthly payment in the basic package. Paying one year per month, it costs 4.99 dollars per month and in two years 3.39 dollars per month. There are also Plus, Complete and Ultra packages.
Express VPN
ExpressVPN is another of the best known and recommended. This VPN stands out for its high degree of compatibility with a large number of televisions and operating services. Works on a wide range of Smart TVs br ands Sony, Samsung, LG, HiSense…
After NordVPN, it is one of those that offers the highest speed. It works with a large number of streaming platforms and also allows you to unblock geoprotected content television networks from a large number of countries thanks to the fact that they have servers all over the world.
Application can be downloaded from Play Store for TVs and devices with Android TV or Google TV, while in case of Samsung LG TVs this VPN uses a feature called MediaStreamer.
If you want to try Express VPN has a 30 day free trial. Therefore, the month costs 12.39 dollars if you pay month by month or 6.38 dollars if you use an annual subscription in which there are also three months as a gift.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is another of the most popular VPN solutions. An option that, thanks to the fact that it has servers distributed in different countries, Allows you to bypass regional blocking of television platforms and networks.
This solution has its own application downloadable from the Play Store if you have a TV with Android TV and Google TV and also has a Smart DNS to connect the VPN if you have a Samsung or LG TV with Tizen and webOS, respectively.
CyberGhost offers good speed for access streaming contentbut without reaching the capacity that NordVPN and ExpressVPN have.
To be able to use CyberGhost, the price to pay is 11.99 dollars per monthan amount that is greatly reduced if you opt for a two-year subscription in which there are also two free months. In this case, the monthly price remains at 2.19 dollars.
SurfShark
SurfShark is another of the best known and the one that offers the most guarantees. It is a VPN that offers a more than notable access speed and that in addition It has a large number of servers which help break regional blockades.
Surfshark lets you connect unlimited devices simultaneously, making it ideal for households with multiple users. Base pricing starts from 5.45 dollars per month if you pay month by month in the SurfShark Starter model (above SurfShark One and SurfShark One+). You can then choose an annual or half-yearly subscription. The first month in SurfShark Starter costs 2.99 and 2.19 dollars respectively.
In addition to Android TV and Google TV (downloadable from the Google Play Store), there is an app for Apple TV, Samsung TV, Xbox or PlayStation, or to configure it on your router.
VPN Proton
Last on the list is Proton VPN, one of the most secure and reliable services you can try on your Smart TV. In this case, it does not have an application for TVs that use a system other than Android TV or Google TV (nothing from Samsung, LG, Hisense…). It can be downloaded from the Play Store at this link
It offers a free subscription and you have the option to pay month by month (9.99 dollars) or choose one. annual or half-yearly subscriptionwhere the price becomes 4.99 dollars or 4.49 dollars per month respectively.
In Xataka Android | Detailed guide to VPN connections on mobile: what they are and why you might need them
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