The Best VPNs for Roku

1. ExpressVPN - Best for Non-Techie Users

SecurityScore:

9.1 /10

Get ExpressVPN Links to ExpressVPN

Product Specs

Server locations	105 countries
Average Speed Loss	37% download & 14% upload
Apps	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, tvOS
Best Monthly Rate	$4.99/mo with a 2-year plan
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days full refund

Get ExpressVPN Links to ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN for Roku

ExpressVPN is an excellent option for streaming on devices that don’t have native VPN support like the Roku. Setting up a VPN on the Roku can be tricky. You either need to mount a VPN onto your router or route your Roku connection through your computer. To make this easy, ExpressVPN sells Aircove routers with their VPN pre-installed.

That’s why I’ve included it on this list. A lot of folks might be a little intimidated when it comes to using a VPN for the first time, especially on a device like the Roku that lacks VPN apps. That makes sense. All the talk of networking and protocols and upload and download speeds might go right over a less-than-tech-savvy person’s head. My sister, for example, is not a big “computer person” — her words, not mine. I set her up with ExpressVPN last summer, and she’s used it ever since. Its streamlined approach makes the service simple to use, from its automatic protocol selection tool to its couldn’t-be-easier “on/off” switch user interface.

>> Learn More: Best VPN for Disney+

That said, don’t be fooled by the simplicity. ExpressVPN is still a really powerful tool and checks a lot of the boxes necessary for me to call it a great Roku VPN. It has a pretty extensive server list of about 3,000; it offers server obfuscation; and, like NordVPN, it also has a proprietary protocol you can use to sneak past most streaming platform filters: Lightway. It’s also based on the WireGuard protocol and really helps dial in ExpressVPN’s performance.

Additional bonus, ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries, just slightly smaller than NordVPN and Proton VPN. This broad server reach makes ExpressVPN a great travel companion and a good streaming partner. It has servers in almost half of the world’s countries.

ExpressVPN’s Performance

Regardless of whether you’re using Windows or Mac, ExpressVPN does a pretty decent job of keeping your speeds where they should be for streaming. Here are the results of my latest speed test, which really demonstrate that:

Mac Download Speeds

Windows Download Speeds

Mac Upload Speeds

Windows Upload Speeds

Learn More: Best VPNs for Windows

Remember, you can’t really make blanket statements based on one speed test, but after working with ExpressVPN for as long as I have, I can definitely tell you that it’s going to get the job done.

ExpressVPN’s Price

Unfortunately, for all of the pros there has to be a con. That would be ExpressVPN’s price. There are no two ways about this: It’s the most expensive VPN on the list and one of the most expensive on the market today. I’d argue that it’s worth the price, but here’s the breakdown to help you decide for yourself:

ExpressVPN Pricing

2. NordVPN - Best for International Content

SecurityScore:

9.7 /10

Get NordVPN Links to NordVPN

Product Specs

Server locations	126 countries
Average Speed Loss	6% download & 4% upload
Apps	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, tvOS
Best Monthly Rate	$3.09/mo with a 2-year plan
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days full refund

Get NordVPN Links to NordVPN

NordVPN for Roku

NordVPN gets my recommendation for the No. 2 Roku VPN for a few reasons, but it can be boiled down to versatility and having the most widespread server infrastructure.

No matter the application, Nord is going to get the job done. Need to stream the UFC fight at your next party? It’s got you covered. Want to access the Tor network to browse in complete anonymity? It’s got you covered. Want a VPN that’s going to work to protect you while you go about your day-to-day browsing? You guessed it. NordVPN is one of those few services that really is almost everything to everyone — and I don’t say that lightly.

What makes it good for Roku specifically? I’ll highlight three reasons in particular.

The first is its server obfuscation function. This basically tricks your streaming platform into thinking that you’re not using a VPN, even if you are. That comes in handy with platforms like Hulu and Disney+ that have better-than-average VPN detection. NordVPN does this in one of two ways. The first is that it can add additional SSL/SSH packages to your data which hides the VPN metadata. Think of this like encryption for your encryption. The second is that your data will be scrambled so effectively that the packet header’s metadata will be unreadable. Since the streaming platform’s VPN blockers won’t be able to understand it, your data will go through.

This is kind of the nuclear option. Most of the time, you’ll be able to access your streaming platforms simply by using NordVPN’s proprietary protocol, NordLynx.

Built on the WireGuard protocol, NordLynx is fine-tuned to be extremely fast and extremely secure. And, since it’s proprietary, it’ll be really difficult for streaming platforms to flag it. I’ve been able to watch libraries from all over the world on Netflix through NordVPN as long as the NordLynx protocol is selected — no other tactics needed.

>> Learn More: Best VPNs for Hulu

Finally, NordVPN has one of the largest server lists. The most recent verifiable number is over 8,600 servers. That means it’s rare that you’re going to run into overcrowding and slowdown issues. Plus, NordVPN offers IP addresses from 129 countries – that means more catalogs for you to enjoy.

NordVPN’s Performance

When it comes to streaming with a VPN, you’re going to want a provider that prioritizes speed. With its large server fleet and sophisticated protocols, Nord does a great job of keeping things moving — another reason why it occupies the top spot on my list. Like I said above, it’s my go-to VPN for streaming, and I hardly ever experience annoying buffering issues or see those spinning loading wheels.

>> Learn More: Best VPN for ESPN+

My most recent speed test of NordVPN illustrates that pretty well. Keep in mind that a speed test is just a snapshot that informs you how well a particular connection performed at a particular moment in time. With that in mind, here’s the data:

NordVPN Speed Test

To really get a sense of how a VPN performs, you have to work with it over the course of a few weeks to a few months. Lucky for you, I have. And I can tell you that NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs out there. That’s great news for streaming, and if you’re a gamer, it works really well for that too.

Now let’s answer a pretty important question you probably have: How much does NordVPN cost?

NordVPN’s Price

Fortunately, Nord sits in the middle of the affordability scale. It isn’t the cheapest VPN or the most expensive. There are three subscription tiers and three subscription durations. I have more information on all of them in my guide to Nord’s costs, but here’s a quick breakdown:

NordVPN Pricing

The Plus, Complete and Prime packages add on some pretty interesting tangential security features, but if you’re just looking for a VPN to help you stream on Roku, you’re probably going to be fine with the standard subscription.

3. CyberGhost VPN - Best Quick Setup

SecurityScore:

8.9 /10

Get Cyberghost VPN Links To CyberGhost

Product Specs

Multihop	No
Obfuscated Servers	No
Kill Switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes

Get Cyberghost VPN Links To CyberGhost

CyberGhost for Roku

Setting up CyberGhost on my Roku wasn’t as easy as buying a VPN router from ExpressVPN, but they offer the next best thing: SmartDNS. It allows you to set up a connection that runs through CyberGhost on your computer. Then, you can connect your router to that connection so every device, including your Roku, runs through a CyberGhost server. Just note, this setup does not encrypt the connection.

Using SmartDNS, you can access content from the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Japan. It won’t grant you access to all of CyberGhost’s servers as this only provides access to their DNS servers. However, those four countries alone can expand your streaming libraries significantly.

>> Comparison Shopping: CyberGhost vs. ExpressVPN

CyberGhost’s Performance

While CyberGhost offers VPN servers in 100 countries, there are only four DNS servers.

For streaming, CyberGhost works well. I only experienced a five percent drop in download speeds. That means even on my slow 100 Mbps internet, I could still easily stream in 4K without any buffering. However, when it comes to upload speeds, CyberGhost struggles. That can cause issues if you plan to also use your VPN when on video calls or when uploading large files.

Even though NordVPN impacted our download speeds more than CyberGhost, it was only by one percent. Their upload speeds blew CyberGhost out of the water, which is why I generally recommend NordVPN more. You can read more about their differences in our CyberGhost vs. NordVPN comparison.

CyberGhost’s Price

While CyberGhost is not the cheapest VPN available, they’re close to it. At just $2.19 per month with a two-year plan, CyberGhost competes on price with Surfshark. I find Surfshark tends to offer more value for multi-purpose use, but if you only plan to use your VPN for Roku, CyberGhost offers an easier setup. Check out the full comparison on our Surfshark vs. CyberGhost guide. Here’s a full breakdown of CyberGhost’s pricing:

4. Surfshark - Most Secure VPN for Roku

SecurityScore:

9.5 /10

Get Surfshark VPN Links to Surfshark.com

Product Specs

Server locations	100 countries
Average Speed Loss	8% download & 50% upload
Apps	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, Android TV, Fire TV
Best Monthly Rate	$1.99/mo with a 2-year plan
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days full refund

Get Surfshark VPN Links to Surfshark.com

Surfshark for Roku

When it comes to keeping you protected, Surfshark is tough to beat. It offers users some of the best security features and even provides access to identity theft protection components, malware blockers and tracker disablers. Looking for security? Surfshark’s got it in spades.

Why is it great for Roku? For many of the same reasons NordVPN is. First, it offers a great system of obfuscation. You don’t even have to turn it on, since Camouflage Mode (obfuscation) is always active. Second, there’s a feature called NoBorders mode that will automatically connect to the safest server if Surfshark notices a block. I actually used this extensively when visiting my friend at his super-strict private college to bypass the school’s annoying firewall.

One drawback is that its server fleet is about half the size of Nord’s at 4,500. That hasn’t ever caused me any problems when I’m streaming from home or abroad. I most recently used it when I was traveling in Korea to access Hulu from back home, and I had no problems, even when the first server I tried to connect through was acting a little finicky. Switching over to an adjacent server did the trick, and I was falling asleep to “Futurama” in no time.

>> Learn More: Best VPN for South Korea

Surfshark’s Performance

Surfshark is also high on the list because it’s another provider that wants to make sure its users aren’t experiencing any significant slowdowns. All of its servers offer 10 Gbps bandwidth. Some are even going up to 2×10 Gbps per server, meaning their physical connections can handle quite a bit of traffic. Here’s the data from my most recent speed test to demonstrate what I’m talking about:

Surfshark Speed Test

In my experience, Surfshark tends to work a little bit better on Mac than it does PC, but I would still recommend it to users of both platforms.

>> Check Out: Best VPNs for Mac

And now on to the all-important topic of money.

Surfshark’s Prices

Similar to ExpressVPN, Surfshark offers three subscription tiers and three subscription durations. I go into more detail in my breakdown of Surfshark’s pricing packages, but the long and short of it is this: Its month-to-month costs are pretty high compared to others on this list, but once you push that out to a longer-term subscription, the monthly prices are a lot more reasonable. Here’s how it shakes out:

Surfshark’s Prices

Also, it’s no secret that these providers tend to offer sales throughout the year. If you want to learn more, head over to my guide to VPN deals and discounts to learn how to save a couple of bucks.

5. Proton VPN - Best Roku VPN for WireGuard Router Setups

SecurityScore:

9.3 /10

View Plans Links to Proton VPN

Product Specs

Server locations	127 countries
Average Speed Loss	8% download & 4% upload
Apps	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Android TV, tvOS, Firestick
Best Monthly Rate	$4.49/mo with a 2-year plan
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days

View Plans Links to Proton VPN

Proton VPN for Roku

Proton VPN allows manual WireGuard setups on several router brands and firmware, including ASUSWRT, MikroTik, OpenWrt, and pfSense devices. Many VPNs only allow OpenVPN setups — while secure, it’s slower than WireGuard.

The VPN has setup tutorials that you can easily follow. The content is formatted in a reader-friendly manner, and the guides also include helpful screenshots. Overall, it took us less than 15 minutes to configure Proton VPN on our office router and start using it with Roku. For comparison, setting up our ExpressVPN router only took about four minutes and setting up CyberGhost’s SmartDNS took about seven minutes.

Also, if you can afford it, you can get Proton VPN preinstalled on the InvizBox 2, one of the best VPN routers in 2025. However, that router doesn’t support WireGuard, only OpenVPN.

Proton VPN’s Performance

Proton VPN delivers very fast speeds via its WireGuard setup, which isn’t surprising considering that WireGuard is known for its excellent performance.

In our tests, we watched 4K videos on our Roku without any buffering — not even when we skipped through the videos. Also, all 4K videos loaded in less than five or six seconds.

Proton VPN’s Price

Proton VPN offers two tier-based subscriptions: “VPN Plus” and “Proton Unlimited.” “VPN Plus” is the best for streaming on Roku, as it includes all VPN features. “Proton Unlimited” just adds extra privacy services, like a password manager and a secure email provider.

Proton VPN backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it out risk-free. That’s fairly standard for the industry, although we like that proton VPN also offers this guarantee for their monthly plan.

6. IPVanish - Best for Multiple Devices

SecurityScore:

9.3 /10

View Plans Links to IPVanish

Product Specs

Multihop	Yes
Obfuscated Servers	Yes
Kill Switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes

View Plans Links to IPVanish

IPVanish for Roku

Last but not least, we come to IPVanish. Don’t mistake its position on this list as an indictment. It’s a rock-solid VPN service. There’s a lot to like here, from its highly customizable interface to its affordable prices.

>> Learn More: Most Affordable VPNs

Another thing I really love about IPVanish is that it offers unlimited device connections on one subscription. That means you can watch content on your phone, your laptop, your desktop, your TV — wherever you want — without having to pay for additional accounts. This is great for folks with large families or if you’re just a tech geek like me, with a ton of gadgets all over the place.

The one big drawback of IPVanish is that it’s difficult to set up on Roku. You either need to mount it to a router or set up a virtual router on your computer that you connect your Roku through. That takes some technical know-how, but once you do it, you can freely use IPVanish’s full suite of servers while streaming on Roku. This setup typically takes us about 30 minutes.

IPVanish’s Performance

Similar to NordVPN and Surfshark, I’ve found that IPVanish works a little better on a Mac than it does on a PC. That isn’t to say that I wouldn’t recommend it for Windows users; it’s still plenty fast on those machines too. Take a look at the data from my most recent speed test to get a better idea of what I mean:

Download Speeds on Mac

Download Speeds on Windows

Upload Speeds on Mac

Upload Speeds on Windows

Again, your mileage might vary with IPVanish, but you shouldn’t run into performance issues so significant that you’re not going to want to use it with your Roku account and streaming platforms.

IPVanish’s Prices

IPVanish’s prices are pretty similar to Surfshark’s basic subscription plan, meaning that it’s really affordable, particularly if you purchase a two-year subscription plan. And, while two years might seem like a pretty long commitment, IPVanish has a 30-day return policy. That’s more than enough time to figure out whether or not it’s going to work for your purposes.

IPVanish Price Breakdown

One last thing: If you’re interested in trying out a VPN risk-free, you should check out my guide to the best VPNs with free trials. Money doesn’t even change hands with them.