Roku creates and distributes devices that let you access dozens of streaming platforms on your TV. With a Roku device, you have access to all your subscriptions for Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Peacock at once.
Unfortunately, you still have to deal with regional content restrictions — unless you use a VPN. With a good Roku VPN, you can unblock content from all over the world.
In order to find you the best VPN for Roku, we tested 15+ VPN providers and paid specific attention to the speed of different servers, how many streaming platforms the VPN can unblock, and the size of its server network. Read on to see the results!
The Best Roku VPN: Quick Overview
Not every single VPN will work with Roku. For this reason, we recommend only the top-rated VPNs for Roku that have managed to withstand our testing circuit.
Top 3 best VPNs for Roku
- NordVPN: Best VPN for Roku overall
- ExpressVPN: Roku VPN with built-in obfuscation
- CyberGhost: VPN for Roku with dedicated servers
To select these VPNs, we ran extensive speed tests to see how the VPN would affect our Roku streaming, we used the VPN for multiple American and international streaming services, and we assessed overall performance and usability.
Keep in mind that using a VPN with Roku is not always straightforward. You can find the different options for installation below.
Why Use a VPN With Roku?
Streaming services are bound by regional restrictions, due to copyright legislation. For this reason, you may be able to watch a certain Netflix movie or TV show at home, but not while you’re traveling to a different country.
More importantly, some streaming services, such as Peacock or Hulu are not available outside of the United States at all — unless you use a virtual private network (VPN).
With a VPN, you change your IP address to that of an (international) VPN server. This allows you to watch content from a different corner of the world from the comfort of your own couch.
Using Roku with a VPN opens up a world of possibilities:
- You can access streaming platforms that are otherwise not available.
- You can bypass regional restrictions on certain movies and TV shows.
- You can change your virtual location to anywhere in the world.
The Best VPNs for Roku
With Roku, you can enjoy streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Peacock, regardless of your hardware. To optimize your streaming experience, however, we recommend using a VPN.
With a VPN, you can circumvent regional restrictions and unblock content from anywhere. A good VPN for Roku needs a few key features: you need fast servers for lag-free streaming, DNS leak protection to ensure your real location stays hidden, and — ideally — obfuscation to hide your VPN use.
Each of these features make it more likely that your Roku VPN can actually unblock the streaming platform and give you worldwide access.
1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Roku overall
NordVPN is our #1 recommendation for Roku. It’s one of the fastest VPNs in the market and maintains up to 96% of its speeds. During our in-house speed tests, we tested 12 different servers and experienced a lag-free, stable connection on all of them.
Since NordVPN has 9300 servers worldwide, we could unblock dozens of streaming services on Roku. In particular, we were impressed by NordVPN’s ability to unblock America-only services like Peacock and Hulu.
NordVPN’s security features are some of the best in the business. You can use Nord’s obfuscated servers to keep your real location hidden and bypass even the strictest of VPN blocks. NordLynx, which is built around the very fast WireGuard protocol, ensures that you won’t have any buffering.
When it comes to installing NordVPN for Roku, you can find detailed instructions for setting up NordVPN on a router on the provider’s website. Thanks to its user-friendly software, you’ll be streaming on Roku with a VPN in no time. NordVPN pricing starts at $ 3.09/month.
Pros
- High-speed servers for easy streaming
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Router instructions available on website
- Top-notch security features, incl. obfuscation
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
Cons
- NordLynx is less transparent than WireGuard itself
2. ExpressVPN: Roku VPN with built-in obfuscation
ExpressVPN is another great choice for Roku! It has dedicated streaming features, such as the MediaStreamer feature which makes it possible and easy to install ExpressVPN on various systems. Moreover, it performs well in our speed tests and maintains up to 94% in speed.
One advantage to ExpressVPN is the fact that obfuscation is built into every single VPN server. Obfuscation disguises your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, which makes it easier to bypass geo-blocks.
We tested ExpressVPN’s unblocking capabilities with various streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. We were able to access our favorite TV shows and movies in minutes.
Despite the fact that this provider is a bit more expensive than the competition, it’s a great VPN for Roku! It has servers in 105 countries so you can enjoy movies, TV series, and live sport from many places.
Pros
- Built-in obfuscation on all servers
- High-end security features, including AES 256-bit encryption and WireGuard
- Can unblock all major streaming services
- Easy-to-use apps on various operating systems
Cons
- More expensive than other VPNs
3. CyberGhost: VPN for Roku with dedicated servers
CyberGhost is another VPN that works very well with Roku, thanks to its streaming-optimized servers. It’s one of the only VPN that has exclusive streaming servers for Roku. In terms of speed, you won’t be disappointed either. Both on nearby and faraway servers we got great results!
Installing CyberGhost doesn’t take a lot of time, since this VPN is very beginner-friendly. Once the VPN is set up, you get access to a global server network of 11500 servers.
For such an affordable VPN, you also get access to an extensive suite of security features. CyberGhost supports the secure and fast WireGuard protocol, which is great for a smooth connection. While CyberGhost doesn’t offer obfuscation, we’ve managed to unblock streaming services on many occasions.
Pros
- Specialized servers for streaming, incl. Roku
- Beginner-friendly apps that are easy to use
- Large server network: 11500 servers worldwide
Cons
- No obfuscation (VPN has a higher chance of being detected)
Best VPNs for Roku Compared
Below, we have compiled a short table with the main features of each of the VPNs we recommend with the Roku stick.
| Editor’s Pick | |||
| VPN |  |  |  |
| Servers | 9000+ | Unspecified | 5000+ |
| Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, NordLynx | OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard |
| Compatibilities |        | | |
| Money-back guarantee | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days | Money-back guarantee, 30 Days | Money-back guarantee, 45 Days |
| Price | $ 3.09 | $ 2.79 | $ 1.75 |
| Visit NordVPN | Visit ExpressVPN | Visit CyberGhost |
What to Look for When Choosing a Roku VPN
When choosing a VPN for Roku, there are a few important considerations you should take into account:
- Connection speeds: You need a VPN with fast servers to avoid lagging and buffering while streaming. To give you the best recommendations, we run in-house speed tests on multiple servers (nearby and faraway) to ensure the VPN does not negatively affect our streaming experience.
- Server locations: A VPN’s server network determines what geographically restricted content you’ll be able to see on Roku. The more servers, the better, since streaming services are less likely to block a recognizable server.
- Dedicated streaming features: Functionalities that can bypass VPN blocks are a must-have when using Roku. This includes dedicated streaming servers and obfuscation tools (to make your VPN traffic look like normal traffic).
- An easy installation process: You can’t install VPNs on a Roku device directly, so any VPN that has extra support for router installation can be a good pick to use with Roku.
How to Install Your VPN on Roku
You can’t simply install a VPN on Roku: you will need to install it on either your Wi-Fi router or your PC (after you’ve turned your PC into a virtual router).
Important!
While a VPN will change your IP address, your Roku account will still be connected to the location you signed up from. This is why you need to create a new Roku account for each country you want to access. You can do so after you’ve set up your VPN and connected to the server you want to stream from.
For installation, you’ve got a few options:
- Run your VPN connection via PC/laptop (difficulty: easy to medium)
- Run your VPN connection via your phone (difficulty: easy to medium)
- Set up a VPN on your router (difficulty: advanced)
We have a dedicated guide on how to use a VPN on Roku that goes into every detail you need to know and includes clear step-by-step instructions. However, we’ll go over a few important details here.
VPN connection via PC/laptop
Depending on your operating system, sharing your VPN connection with Roku TV via your PC or laptop is one of the easiest solutions. It doesn’t require too much technical know-how and can be done relatively quickly.
On the downside, your host device (your PC or laptop) needs to be available every time you want to use a VPN for Roku. On top of that, the steps you have to take on macOS are less straightforward than on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
VPN connection via your phone
It’s also possible to run your VPN connection for Roku via your mobile phone. The steps for Android are a bit easier to undertake than iOS, but overall this is an easy solution.
The main downside of this option is that, as with running your VPN connection via PC, you might have to repeat the steps every time you want to unblock content. Want a permanent solution? In that case you need to set up a VPN on your router.
VPN connection on a router
This option is a permanent solution, but it’s very technical. On top of that, keep in mind that you might experience internet issues if the VPN doesn’t get up properly.
You can find out more in our guide on how to install a VPN on your router.
Can I Use a Free VPN for Roku?
While there are some good free VPNs out there, we don’t recommend you use one for the Roku streaming stick. Typically, free VPNs can’t offer the same level of security. On top of that, Roku doesn’t really work with a free VPN for the following reasons:
- Not enough servers: A free VPN usually only offers a few server locations. These can quickly get overcrowded, which means they are easily flagged and blocked by streaming servers.
- Speed limits: Most free providers reserve their fastest servers for paying customers while throttling speeds for free users.
- Data caps: With the exception of a few free VPNs, you’ll likely be stuck with a data limit of 1 – 2 GB/month. This will let you stream a maximum of 3 hours of HD content.
- Security vulnerabilities: Lastly, free VPNs can’t compete with premium security and may even carry malware.
Final Thoughts: Use the Best Roku VPN
Roku offers a way to enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies without having to pay for a smart TV. Add a VPN to the mix, and a world of entertainment opens up.
The best Roku VPN, based on our in-house testing, is NordVPN. This VPN can easily circumvent regional restrictions and help you watch all the content you want. Just make sure you create a different Roku account for all the countries you want to stream content from.
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Do you have any questions about using a VPN with Roku? Have a look at our FAQ below for some quick answers!
Yes, it’s possible to put a VPN on Roku. However, it’s not a very straightforward process. You have to install your VPN either on your router or on your PC/laptop/phone.
We have a dedicated guide for how to use VPN on Roku.
Roku itself doesn’t support VPNs, but you can still use a VPN on Roku by installing one on your router, PC or phone.
It’s not possible to install NordVPN directly on your Roku stick. NordVPN is compatible with routers, though, so you can set up NordVPN on your router. Alternatively, you can run your VPN connection via your PC or phone.
Yes, you can use ExpressVPN on Roku. You have to set up ExpressVPN on your router or run a VPN connection via your laptop, PC or phone.
