Not all smart TVs have built-in VPN support. You may need to set up the VPN on your router or a separate device like a laptop or phone and then connect your smart TV to that device.
VPNs can also slow down your internet connection. This could be especially noticeable when streaming video, so it’s important to choose a reputable VPN with good speeds.
When using VPNs for an LG Smart TV it’s important to get it right so you can use the equipment to it’s full potential!
Best VPN for LG Smart TV – Top Picks in 2024
Following is our pick for the best VPN if you love to use your LG Smart TV for any type of video streaming!
VPN | Features | Price* |
NordVPN | 100+ countries and 5,200+ servers Best bundled with NordLocker and NordPass The latest spring sale is up, which can save you 71% with an additional three months 10 devices secured at once Blocks Ads 24/7 support Overall Score: 9.3/10 | Limited chance for $3.09/month (2-year subscription + 3 months) $15.99 monthly and for one year $7.49/month with three extra months |
Surfshark VPN | 100+ countries and 3,200+ servers For extra protection, you get a VPN kill switch The latest promo pricing gets you 85% off. Unlimited devices 24/7 customer support | $2.29 per month for Starter (2-year subscription) $3.19 for One $4.97 for One+ |
IPVanish | 75+ locations and 2,000+ servers Unlimited devices Advanced encryption and High-speed VPN 75% discount for a limited time if you take a 2-year plan 24/7 customer support | $2.99 per month (2-year subscription) billed $71.76 $3.99 per month (1-year subscription) billed $47.88 for the first year Monthly – $12.99 |
PureVPN | Supports 10 devices Ultra-fast download speeds 6,500+ servers in 71 countries 24/7 customer support | $3.85 per month (2-year subscription) + four extra months for the Max plan $3.21 per month for Plus and $2.11 per month for Standard plan |
ExpressVPN | 94+ countries with over 3,000 servers All servers support up to 10Gbps speeds Best in the industry Money back guarantee for 30 days 24/7 customer support | $1.17 per month (5-year subscription) |
NordVPN
If you are looking for a VPN for LG Smart TV that prides itself on being a privacy juggernaut, NordVPN is the best bet. It offers tons of privacy features and unique tools to mask your location that aren’t available to others.
Pros | Cons |
Best for premium service for a VPN. The best features include Tor connections, split tunneling, multi-hop, Double Encryption, Onion over VPN, and more. Exceptional UI and a meticulous design for each platform. Provides a built-in antivirus feature. With thousands of locations in more than 100 countries, the VPN allows you more options to use TikTok. It is best used for gaming and streaming because of its Fast and reliable connections. Strict no-logs policy. 24/7 live chat and super customer care. | It is expensive for most regular users when compared to some other VPNs. Even though it supports an in-built antivirus, the malware blocking isn’t that great. It could have been better if it had provided better utility for Meshnet traffic routing. Some users have reported connection drops from time to time. Many advanced features are difficult for a beginner to navigate and understand. |
The good thing about NordVPN on LG TV is that it is considered the best for streaming services. So, if you want to access geo-locked content, you should use it. This speed is possible through its NordLynx protocol, which is fast and secure at the same time. Security at this speed is possible through WireGuard technology.
When it comes to VPN for LG Smart TV, NordVPN has Smart DNS, though it works only if you are a US resident. So whether you want to watch Hulu, Netflix US, or other services on your TV set up as a hotspot, it works flawlessly.
Following are some of its key features that you must know.
Key NordVPN Features
Server Network | Over 6,000 servers in 111 countries |
Simultaneous Connections | 10 |
Average Speed Loss | 11.1% |
Compatible With | iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, Windows |
Encryption | 256-bit AES |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Surfshark VPN
This is an amazing service for households that want to use a VPN service on more than one device. Surfshark LG TV provides unlimited simultaneous connections. The good thing about Surfshark LG TV is that you don’t need to set up a separate hotspot for more than one device. With higher speeds and simultaneous connections with many devices, there is hardly any drop.
Pros | Cons |
Surfshark also provides optimum security with Wireguard protocol, which also offers fantastic speeds. Works superbly with most streaming platforms. All different platform apps are feature-rich and easy to navigate. You get a 7-day free trial with an amazing money-back guarantee of 30 days. Amazing features such as a kill switch, ad blocker RAM servers, Dark web monitoring, and more. One single account is needed for your household as you get unlimited simultaneous connections. Best VPN for TikTok users. Strict no-logs policy. Affordable pricing plans. MultiHop feature for extra security. | A bit higher on the monthly subscription if you don’t buy the 2-year plan. It may lack some advanced features and issues in the IP rotator. The privacy policy is ambiguous, which might not be clear enough for new users. |
If you are worried about paying premium pricing for a VPN service, know that it is worth it if you have a few devices in your home. The best VPN service offers many connections with a single account.
If you run its free trial and experience its services firsthand, you will understand that it is best to buy a two-year subscription. Longer duration comes with massive discounts, making it worth your while. Still, we recommend using the free trial, then a one-month subscription to see if it is what you want, and then going for the two-year plan.
Surfshark Key Features
Server Network | 100+ countries and 3,200+ servers |
Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited |
Average Speed Loss | 17% |
Compatible With | iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, Windows |
Encryption | 256-bit AES |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
IPVanish
Another pricier option in our VPN for LG Smart TV list counters the price with a massive and impressive server location that is globally varied. Furthermore, unlimited simultaneous connections allow it to be one of the first choices for a big household. The same couldn’t be said for NordVPN on LG TV, and that’s why, for big households, it is comparable to Surfshark LG TV devices.
Pros | Cons |
Unlimited simultaneous connections. Good server support spread around the globe. One of the best and most transparent privacy policies in the industry. You might experience a slight drop in speeds if you choose servers that are a bit far from your location. Fast speeds make it suitable for playing games, watching streams, and using TikTok seamlessly. User-friendly apps that are well-designed for various platforms. Strong security features, including AES-256 encryption and a kill switch. 24/7 customer support. | Located in the United States, which may raise privacy concerns due to surveillance laws. A bit expensive if simultaneous connections are of no use to you. There is no free trial support on desktop, so you have to sign up for one through mobile stores. |
Ipvanish is also an excellent VPN service for users who want to watch the best shorts and shows that aren’t available in their country. So, watching shows from other geo-locked countries works really well. This is possible through minimal loss of speed when streaming from different countries.
Now, with the possibility of choosing from 2,000+ servers, you can always choose another location nearby if one location is working slowly. Most of these locations work with the P2P protocol, thus providing users with enhanced gaming speeds.
When it comes to security, there are many options and features, such as:
- Military-grade encryption
- Advanced Protocols
- Optional kill switch
- Protection from DNS/IP leaks
So, if you want a service with many features that are simple to use for beginners, IPVanish is the best. The great thing is that there are tons of advanced features for experienced users as well, so they can tweak it to their liking.
IPVanish Key Features
Server Network | 2,400+ servers in over 90 |
Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited |
Average Speed Loss | 26% |
Compatible With | iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, Windows |
Encryption | 256-bit AES |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
PureVPN
People hardly go past a few of the top and most well-known VPN solutions online, like NordVPN on LG TV, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN. Most miss excellent services like PureVPN, even though it has been around for more than a decade.
Here are some of its pros and cons to get you started.
Pros | Cons |
There is an extensive server network and server locations, which is quite a lot for most users, but it is good to have an option. Affordable pricing, especially for yearly plans. You get ten simultaneous connections on a single account. New users will get not just the dedicated IP but also dedicated servers and more add-ons. 24/7 customer support. | Speeds may vary depending on the active server location and network congestion. There wasn’t any clarity in their no-logs policy, which they have retracted but damaged their trust. Some features require WireGuard to turn off, which means it will be a bit more vulnerable. Confusing settings and laggy Windows app. |
PureVPN originates from Hong Kong, where the parent company is GZ Systems Limited, which supports over 70 countries for its servers. You can use the service on most devices, and it will have extension support for most popular browsers.
Even though PureVPN is trying hard to attract most users, it isn’t as popular initially because it doesn’t offer what others already do. Most of its features are easily supported by some open-source protocols and are readily available.
The only saving grace is that the standard version has one of the lowest two-year subscription plans at only $1.89 per month. Still, it doesn’t offer unlimited simultaneous connections like Surfshark or NordVPN.
It has a marred history because of its ambiguous no-log policy and the loss of its users’ data in the past. Furthermore, if you want to use split tunneling, unfortunately, your WireGuard protocol will be turned off, and others can look in on your traffic, which isn’t safe at all.
Following are some of its key features.
PureVPN Key Features
Server Network | 6,500+ servers in 71 countries |
Simultaneous Connections | 10 |
Average Speed Loss | About 50% on the furthest servers |
Compatible With | iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, Windows |
Encryption | 256-bit AES |
Money-Back Guarantee | 31 days |
ExpressVPN
Many experienced users love ExpressVPN over others, like Surfshark LG TV, because it has a dedicated router app. This allows the user to tweak the app to their requirements and open more hotspots. So, no matter which VPN for LG Smart TV you use, you can easily protect any device in your household.
Pros | Cons |
Best Smart DNS VPN for streaming services. Regular rotational IP address support. Much lower drop in speeds when using many VPN locations. Amazing when you want to use it for torrenting data. Provides one of the best RAM-only servers with the best privacy. The app can easily block online trackers and ads. You can only have eight simultaneous connections. 7-day trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. | Expensive for most regular users when compared to some other VPNs. Many advanced features are difficult for a beginner to navigate and understand. It is one of the fewest advanced features on this list. |
Coming from the Virgin Islands, the company promotes user privacy above all else, and the VPN belongs to Kape Technologies. It has seen its ups and downs, like being removed from the Apple App Store at the behest of the Chinese government. This issue caused the owner to support the VPN Trust Initiative, allowing users to become more secure than ever.
This initiative has allowed ExpressVPN to have many undisclosed locations. Users can choose a country and automatically assign a location. So, no matter the location, you will get the best privacy and top speeds.
Though the simultaneous connections are only 8, they are more than sufficient for a family, but security is paramount. The only issue that we found here was that if you want to start using it via the free trial, you need to go through the mobile app.
Following are some of the best features of ExpressVPN:
ExpressVPN Key Features
Server Network | 94+ countries with over 3,000 servers |
Simultaneous Connections | 8 |
Average Speed Loss | 23% |
Compatible With | iOS, Mac, Android, Linux, Windows |
Encryption | 256-bit AES, ChaCha20/Poly1305 and more. |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
How to Choose the Best VPN for LG Smart TV?
Now that we have shared the best list of VPNs above, their pros and cons, and what they offer, let’s discuss how you can choose the best for you.
Best Features for a VPN for LG Smart TV
You can follow these criteria to get the best solution.
- Smooth Streaming
Most of the users look for a VPN for LG Smart TV because they want to stream their favorite shows and movies that aren’t available in their country. So, if you are in the east and you are using the US as a VPN location, you want minimal speed drops.
If you aren’t able to watch your favorite content using a VPN, there is no point in paying for that tool. So minimal speed loss and smoother streaming are the first things you should look for.
- Faster Speeds
You will choose the best VPN for LG Smart TV if it provides faster speed than other regular VPNs. There is no point in watching something if the show or movie lags repeatedly.
So, when choosing a VPN, the minimum speed you should choose is 25 Mbps, and it should not be lower than that. All of the VPNs on this list have higher speeds.
- Smart DNS
If you have a TV that doesn’t support VPN, then Smart DNS is the best option to accommodate these TV sets. However, you may need to set up a VPN hotspot on your router or a Wi-Fi device so your TV can connect to it.
So, when choosing a service for an older TV, please make sure the VPN service you choose has Smart DNS support. You can still use Smart DNS for streaming on media devices but don’t use it for other traffic, as it isn’t as private.
- Compatibility with Router
This option is essential if the VPN service doesn’t provide a Smart DNS option. Easy compatibility will allow you to configure your router and thus protect any device connected to your network.
- App Quality and UI
The VPN service should have apps available for all platforms, and the quality should be the same, though more intuitive for mobile devices. Many modern VPNs have one of the best mobile apps but hardly any advanced features for PC users. So, there shouldn’t be any features missing.
- Customer Support
All the VPN services on this list have 24/7 support, which allows you to communicate with CS if you are having an issue. A simple chat is also great for resolving your issue. If you have a bigger problem, initiating a ticket through email is the best option.
Furthermore, each VPN service should have ample online resources for users who want to tweak their settings better. This approach also works for new users who wish to learn more about how to set up and manage a VPN properly.
- Free Trial and Money Back Guarantee
A minimum 7-day free trial should be the norm for your VPN so that you can try all the premium features before making the payment. Furthermore, sometimes seven days aren’t enough, so you can try the service for more than that and see how it works.
You might encounter a more prominent issue later on, or some servers aren’t as fast with one service that you use but work on the other. In that case, a 30-day money-back guarantee can save you the trouble of losing your money.
How to Setup a VPN for LG Smart TV?
It isn’t easy to set up a VPN on LG Smart TV because the webOS doesn’t work well or support VPNs. If you want to watch content from another country, you have to go through other routes.
The Router Method
First, your VPN service provider must support Smart DNS. Second, as it is a technical process, you should know how to tweak the settings. You might have to call your internet provider to make changes in the settings.
If your service supports Smart DNS, you should check its website to see the list of supported routers and see if yours is supported.
You can download the router firmware for the VPN and install it on your router by connecting to the internet. Next, connect to the router using Wi-Fi or LAN cable. Save the password and router information.
Now, stream your favorite shows and shorts on your LG TV.
The Smart DNS Method
You can go to the settings of your LG TV, turn off the IPv6 option, and edit the DNS server field. Add the addresses provided by your VPN provider and connect with these addresses. Once connected, you can easily stream there.
HotSpot Method
Go to Nwetork and Internet Settings on your computer and customize connection settings using your Mobile Hotspot option. Once the hotspot is active, connect your TV to it, and you can use the VPN service connected to your PC.
What is the TikTok Ban and How Does it Affect Me?
President Joe Biden’s primary reason for banning TikTok in the US is some bad practices from ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. According to the US government, Bytedance was involved in gathering user data. It then retained that data and might have been disseminating that information to the Chinese government. Now, this ban can block all IP addresses within the USA from accessing the TikTok app.
Though ByteDance has the option of allowing another company to take over its operations on US soil, its CEO doesn’t want that. Instead of listening to these demands, he wants to shut down the service for US users.
According to ByteDance, the biggest user base is from China and globally, while the US has only 25% of its user base. Most of the company’s revenue is generated in the Chinese market.
Will VPN for LG Smart TV and TikTok Work?
Unfortunately, if the TikTok app is banned, you can circumvent the ban and access it from other locations. However, you won’t be provided with regular feeds from US users. You have to add favorites and manage your feed to get more local shorts.
The second aspect to consider here is that none of the VPN services, especially the ones in this list, have commented on this ban. So, if these services don’t ban TikTok, you can easily watch your favorite shorts and shows.
Can I Use VPN for LG Smart TV on Any LG TV?
Yes, you can use a VPN. One thing to remember here is that not all LG TVs support VPN, so you have to go through the Smart DNS route. You have to set up your router with Smart DNS settings to allow your LG TV to connect to it.
The second method is to set up a VPN hotspot on your computer and allow your TV to connect to it using Wi-Fi.
Does Using a VPN Affect Streaming Speeds?
The reality of using a VPN is that you will first have a higher latency. Secondly, there is a speed loss when connecting to any location in the service that you use.
Before committing to any service, check the average speed loss and overall speeds of the service support. 25 Mbps as a minimum that will give you superb speeds and streaming even if there is latency. All of the services that we shared in this list have much higher speeds they provide.
So, if latency isn’t an issue, then you have a few of the best services at your disposal.
Final Words
In general, a VPN isn’t essential for everyone who uses a smart TV. But if you’re interested in accessing geo-restricted content or want some extra privacy while using public Wi-Fi, it can be a helpful tool. Just choose wisely – for cost, quality, and online safety!