The Best VPNs for Roku

1. NordVPN - Best for Seamless Streaming

SecurityScore:

9.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Multihop	Yes
Camouflage Mode	Yes
Kill switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes

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NordVPN for Roku

NordVPN gets my recommendation for the No. 1 Roku VPN for a few reasons, but it can be boiled down to this one word: versatility.

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 around 6,100 servers. That means it’s rare that you’re going to run into overcrowding and slowdown issues. Plus, NordVPN offers IP addresses from 111 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 and Complete 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.

2. Surfshark - Most Secure VPN for Roku

SecurityScore:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Multi-hop	Yes
Camouflage Mode	Yes
Kill switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes

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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 3,200. 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 have at least a 1 Gbps port connected, while many are already upgraded to 10 Gbps. 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 NordVPN, 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.

3. ExpressVPN - Most User-Friendly Roku VPN

SecurityScore:

9.1 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Multihop	No
Camouflage Mode	Yes
Kill switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes

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ExpressVPN for Roku

ExpressVPN is another excellent service for streaming and for overall internet security. It’s fast, it’s reliable, and, as a bonus, it’s really easy to use.

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. 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, similar to Surfshark’s at around 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. That second only to NordVPN’s 111, as I mentioned earlier. 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

4. IPVanish - Best for Multiple Devices

SecurityScore:

9.3 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Multi-hop	No
Camouflage Mode	No
Kill switch	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes
Netflix	Yes
Torrenting	Yes, with uTorrent

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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 service that makes streaming through Roku a breeze. 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 lacks server obfuscation, meaning that you might get stuck trying to switch between multiple servers if you encounter a particularly tenacious VPN blocker. It can be frustrating, but once you find a server that works, it’ll usually work for at least a month or two — at least in my experience.

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.