Top 3 at a glance
1. Best VPN overall
2. Best VPN for beginners
3. Best cheap VPN
4. Honorable mentions
How to choose
FAQ
A virtual private network (VPN) is a security software that spoofs users IP addresses location, while encrypting internet connections. The first skill, especially, makes it the perfect tool to use to boost your streaming experience—even when using your Apple TV.
Downloading the best VPN for Apple TV, you would be able to enjoy watching otherwise geo-restricted content no matter where you are. That means TV shows, movies, and even live sports coverage from services like BBC iPlayer which is only available in the UK, and foreign Netflix catalogs with different exclusive titles.
After the tech giant finally released the long-awaited support for third-party VPN software last September, some providers have already launched dedicated Apple TV VPN apps and others will do so soon. Our experts have been regularly trying and testing a ton of services for the past 15 years to recommend only the best. Here, I've compared the security features, performance, usability, and unblocking power of the industry's biggest names to shortlist my top five Apple VPNs right now.
Today's top 3 best Apple TV VPNs:
In a hurry? Check out today's three best Apple TV VPNs.
Andreas is a digital privacy advocate and VPN expert. After completing a Master of Research degree, he turned his attention to cybersecurity—investigating the use of invasive tracking cookies in the charity sector, and fighting for the preservation of our online freedoms.
The best Apple TV VPNs in 2024
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See how my top picks for Apple TV performed in my most recent tests, and what I liked (and disliked) about each provider.
Recent updates
There has been a massive tectonic shift in our VPN rankings following the most recent round of VPN tests. NordVPN has claimed the top spot, hopping over ExpressVPN, and I've adjusted this page to reflect these results.
The best VPN overall
✔️ You're an avid Netflix streamer: NordVPN is my #1 Netflix VPN, capable of unblocking content from around the world in just a few clicks.
✔️ You want a solid all-rounder: with a long list of features and tough encryption, NordVPN is the total package—and won't break the bank.
✔️ You value connection speed: NordVPN currently tops my list of the fastest VPNs, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and hopping into video calls.
❌ Simplicity is everything: The NordVPN apps have a sleek design, but the map-based interface can be tricky to use on smaller screens.
❌ You want access to content everywhere: servers in 61 countries certainly is pretty impressive and will be more than enough for most, but my other top picks boast an even larger network.
🔒 NordVPN is the perfect blend of functionality, performance, price, and security—all while offering exceptional customization. Put its 30-day money-back guarantee to good use for trying out its streaming power.
Visit our NordVPN review for a deeper dive into the provider's all-in-one security solution.
NordVPN recently claimed the crown as best VPN overall, and it's the same story when it comes to the best VPN for Apple TV. You’re getting a best-in-class provider that is easy to use, offering a great overall performance and now even a dedicated Apple TV VPN app.
With NordVPN, you can unblock Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer and many other streaming services. It's also currently one of the strongest Netflix VPN providers, able to access libraries in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan in our recent round of testing. That's in part thanks to its network of more than 6,000+ servers in 61 countries.
▶ Try NordVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It's also worth noting NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN around, achieving a staggering 950+Mbps of peak with WireGuard during our last round of testing. These results matched the peaks we saw with Surfshark, Windscribe, Hide.me and IPVanish. This kind of performance is ideal if you're looking to stream with a consistent and reliable connection that'll bid farewell to any buffering woes.
One of our favorite features is Double VPN, which encrypts your internet traffic via two servers and means you don’t have to worry about privacy. Handy to know if, for example, you're using your Apple TV over hotel Wi-Fi and want to be sure that your internet traffic is safe. The handy Meshnet tool can also help you stay one step ahead of Netflix's password-sharing ban. By connecting multiple users to the same Wi-Fi at the same time, with a common IP address, it's possible to access services (like Netflix) that roll out IP-based restrictions.
Admittedly, the service has a few downsides—one of them being the relatively stingy amount of simultaneous connections. Six might not be enough to cover a whole household of gadgets, but now that NordVPN has made its Meshnet feature free for all users, it's possible to create a secure private network that secures up to 60 devices at once.
I'm not a huge fan of the interface of its mobile apps either as they can result a bit clunky—I think these could do with a bit of a redesign. Of course, that won't bother you if all you really want your VPN for is to use it with Apple TV.
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Apps look great, but can feel busy on some devices | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Most features are easy to find and use, though the map interface can be off-putting | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | The quickest VPN I've tested | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks a wealth of content via Netflix and more | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Tough encryption, double kill switch, and transparent audits | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | Live chat support is quick to respond and professional | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | Low-cost plans pack a lot of value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The best VPN for beginners
2. ExpressVPN
The best overall VPN—and excellent for Apple TV, too
Top speeds: 750 with WireGuard | Number of servers: 3,000+ |external/go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=trd-us-7503636492556202248&sharedId=trd-us&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Ftechradar-deal" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank" data-url="https://www.expressvpn.com/offer/techradar-deal" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" data-hl-processed="hawklinks" data-placeholder-url="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk-prefix&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Ftechradar-deal" data-google-interstitial="false" data-merchant-name="ExpressVPN" data-merchant-id="298450" data-merchant-url="expressvpn.com" data-merchant-network="ImpactRad">
✔️ You want a VPN you can set and forget: ExpressVPN's auto-connect feature means connecting once, and you're always protected.
✔️ You want access to international content: thanks to a broad network of servers across 160 locations in 105 countries and great unlocking track record, you'll have no trouble unblocking content.
✔️ You need a VPN you can trust: ExpressVPN sets the bar for security, with regular audits and a no-logs policy that ensures your information is always in safe hands.
❌ You're on a tight budget: ExpressVPN is a pricey option, and though it's stuffed with features, you might want to check out Surfshark for a more affordable alternative.
❌ You want a reliable Netflix VPN: despite unlocking every platform we tried (Netflix Included), we found ExpressVPN to be inconsistent with US or UK libraries—though it's perfect with Japan or Australia ones.
🔒 ExpressVPN strikes the perfect balance between security, usability, performance, and unblocking capability. See for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Head on over to our
✔️ You want a VPN you can set and forget: ExpressVPN's auto-connect feature means connecting once, and you're always protected.
✔️ You want access to international content: thanks to a broad network of servers across 160 locations in 105 countries and great unlocking track record, you'll have no trouble unblocking content.
✔️ You need a VPN you can trust: ExpressVPN sets the bar for security, with regular audits and a no-logs policy that ensures your information is always in safe hands.
❌ You're on a tight budget: ExpressVPN is a pricey option, and though it's stuffed with features, you might want to check out Surfshark for a more affordable alternative.
❌ You want a reliable Netflix VPN: despite unlocking every platform we tried (Netflix Included), we found ExpressVPN to be inconsistent with US or UK libraries—though it's perfect with Japan or Australia ones.
🔒 ExpressVPN strikes the perfect balance between security, usability, performance, and unblocking capability. See for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Head on over to our
✔️ You want a VPN you can set and forget: ExpressVPN's auto-connect feature means connecting once, and you're always protected.
✔️ You want access to international content: thanks to a broad network of servers across 160 locations in 105 countries and great unlocking track record, you'll have no trouble unblocking content.
✔️ You need a VPN you can trust: ExpressVPN sets the bar for security, with regular audits and a no-logs policy that ensures your information is always in safe hands.
❌ You're on a tight budget: ExpressVPN is a pricey option, and though it's stuffed with features, you might want to check out Surfshark for a more affordable alternative.
❌ You want a reliable Netflix VPN: despite unlocking every platform we tried (Netflix Included), we found ExpressVPN to be inconsistent with US or UK libraries—though it's perfect with Japan or Australia ones.
🔒 ExpressVPN strikes the perfect balance between security, usability, performance, and unblocking capability. See for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
✔️ You want a VPN you can set and forget: ExpressVPN's auto-connect feature means connecting once, and you're always protected.
✔️ You want access to international content: thanks to a broad network of servers across 160 locations in 105 countries and great unlocking track record, you'll have no trouble unblocking content.
✔️ You need a VPN you can trust: ExpressVPN sets the bar for security, with regular audits and a no-logs policy that ensures your information is always in safe hands.
❌ You're on a tight budget: ExpressVPN is a pricey option, and though it's stuffed with features, you might want to check out Surfshark for a more affordable alternative.
❌ You want a reliable Netflix VPN: despite unlocking every platform we tried (Netflix Included), we found ExpressVPN to be inconsistent with US or UK libraries—though it's perfect with Japan or Australia ones.
🔒 ExpressVPN strikes the perfect balance between security, usability, performance, and unblocking capability. See for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Head on over to our ExpressVPN review for a more in-depth look at this top dog.
ExpressVPN provides an array of impressive features that will improve your streaming experience. Even better as it now offers a dedicated Apple TV VPN app, so you can say goodbye to daunting setting up processes.
One of the best things about ExpressVPN for Apple TV is that it has been developed with 4K HDR streaming in mind, so you can expect fast speeds and a great overall performance. It doesn’t compromise on choice, offering over 3,000 servers across 105 countries.
► Try ExpressVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN provides access to a range of geo-restricted apps and streaming servers, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and YouTube. It adds ITV Hub, All 4, 9Now, and 10Play to its list in our recent tests. It can also unblock Netflix, accessing libraries around the world, though we have found NordVPN to be more consistent with this.
Express is compatible with Apple TV 4K, 4th gen Apple TV, 3rd gen Apple TV, 2nd gen Apple TV and 1st gen Apple TV. The app interface has a clear and straightforward design across the board, making ExpressVPN an excellent choice for beginners.
Speed-wise, we were happy to see its top speeds improved during our last review (from 560 to 750Mbps with Lightway). This doesn't certainly match the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark still, but considering you only need 25 Mbps speeds to stream in 4K, ExpressVPN is more than 30 times faster than what you need for ultra-high definition.
Among my favorite security features are an integrated kill switch, zero-knowledge DNS (its own encrypted DNS for all servers), an audited no-logs policy, 256-bit encryption, a built-in speed test and unlimited bandwidth.
Now supporting eight simultaneous connections, ExpressVPN is a great option for tech-loving households. There's even a special offer for TechRadar readers only...
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Apps are fresh and fun, no matter which device you're using | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of use | Features are easy to find and use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | A speedy provider, but slower than NordVPN | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Unblocking | Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more with ease | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Security and privacy | Packed with security features and robust encryption | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer support | 24/7 live chat support never disappoints | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Price | A pricey pick, but feature-rich | ⭐⭐⭐ |
The best cheap VPN service
