The Best VPN For Apple TV in UK [Updated 2023]

Apple Tv VPN

Our best VPN for Apple TV in UK list consists of all the providers that come equipped with the router functionality and the Smart DNS feature.

And if you’re wondering which VPN works best with Apple TV, then we recommend ExpressVPN. It is a top-tier VPN service that offers MediaStreamer and works magically with major routers like Netgear, Linksys, and Asus.

Apple TV is a streaming device that lets you watch content on popular streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and many more. However, because of content distribution policies and copyright agreements, the availability of content varies from country to country. You might not even be able to use Apple TV in some locations.

An Apple TV VPN can help you get around geo-restrictions on your streaming device. However, Apple TV has no support for running native VPN apps. So you’ll either need to set up a VPN on your router and use a Smart DNS feature to watch geo-restricted movies and TV shows on your Apple TV.

Read on to know more about how to easily configure Smart DNS on Apple TV and which shows are available to stream on Apple TV+ in 2023:


Quick Summary: Best VPNs for Apple TV in UK

  1. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for Apple TV
  2. Surfshark: Pocket-Friendly VPN for Apple TV
  3. NordVPN: Largest Server Network for Apple TV
  4. CyberGhost: Apple TV VPN with a 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
  5. PureVPN: Trustworthy VPN for Apple TV

Note: Bear in mind in this guide, we are explaining only those features of the mentioned-above VPN services to access geo-block streaming content such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Crunchy Roll, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more on your Apple TV.


What are the Best VPN for Apple TV in UK? [In-Depth Analysis]

After testing 45+ VPNs, here is an in-depth analysis of the 5 best VPN Apple TV that will provide you with the most value for your money.

1. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for Apple TV in UK

expressvpn

ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN for Apple TV because of its blazing-fast speed on all servers that are optimized to stream on popular VoDs. Based on our testing, we find ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer as the best way to watch your favorite content on Apple TV.

MediaStreamer is a Smart DNS tool that you can use on devices that have no support for native VPN apps, like Apple TV. Other than Apple TV, it can also be used on streaming devices like Roku, Chromecast, Firestick, and more.

However, keep in mind that the MediaStreamer doesn’t encrypt your traffic, it just makes geo-restricted services available to you by changing your location. So if you want an encrypted channel while streaming, configure ExpressVPN on your router with the dedicated router app it offers.

ExpressVPN offers a rich pool of 3,000+ servers servers in 105 countries countries, covering 160 locations, including most servers in 14 US locations, which makes this provider the best VPN for American Netflix.

Upon conducting the ExpressVPN speed test, we achieved a download speed of 89.42 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.64 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection scale.

speed-test-expressvpn-in-UK

Connected to one of the US servers via MediaStreamer, we could easily watch the US Netflix on Apple TV with no buffering issues or server disconnections in 4K quality.

Other than ExpressVPN Netflix, you can also watch BBC iPlayer on Apple TV or other streaming sites like HBO Max, Amazon Prime and more.

ExpressVPN offers dedicated apps and compatibility for all the widely-used devices running on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can easily use ExpressVPN either by its app or MediaStreamer on smart TVs like LG TV, Samsung TV, Sony TV, and more.

In terms of security, ExpressVPN offers industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption with tools like Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, DNS Protection, Threat Manager, and more.

ExpressVPN currently offers 3 plans. A monthly plan that costs $12.95, a 6-month plan that costs $9.99/mo., and a 1-year plan that costs GB£5.28/mo (US$6.67/mo) - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free.

The VPN also offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund anytime under 30 days if you cancel ExpressVPN.

Recommended Servers

  • United States – New York
  • United States – Chicago
  • United States – Dallas

Pros

  • It works flawlessly with Apple TV to stream geo-block content.
  • Offers blazing fast speeds to stream content in HD and 4K.
  • It unblocks all major streaming services on Apple TV as well as on other devices.
  • MediaStreamer feature to stream on devices with no VPN support.
  • 24/7 excellent live chat support.
  • It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • Expensive compared to other providers.
Get ExpressVPN Now! 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

2. Surfshark: Pocket-Friendly VPN for Apple TV

SurfShark

Surfshark is a pocket-friendly VPN for Apple TV offering a long-term plan with a minimal cost of GB£1.97/mo (US$2.49/mo) - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee.

This provider offers a smart DNS service already as part of the basic subscription to set up on Apple TV. With Surfshark, you can use two methods to set up a VPN connection on Apple TV, either setting up on your router or using Surfshark DNS, as it is the best DNS for Apple TV.

Smart DNS is our preferred choice to access geo-block content on Apple TV as it is simple to set up and offers high speed to stream in HD and 4K quality. Based on our testing, Surfshark’s smart DNS allows us to stream TBS on Apple TV and other popular streaming services, including Peacock TV, and Amazon Prime on Apple TV without buffering pauses.

The VPN offers 3200+ servers servers in 100+ countries countries, including 600 US servers in 25 US cities.

Upon conducting the Surfshark speed test, we achieved a download speed of 88.18 Mbps and an upload speed of 80.13 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection scale.

speed-test-Surfshark-in-UK

The amazing thing about Surfshark is that it doesn’t impose limits on simultaneous connections. This means even if you set up Surfshark on your Apple TV, you can still use it on your phone, tablet, laptop, or anywhere without worrying about reaching a concurrent connection limit.

Surfshark offers military-grade AES 256-bit encryption with advanced protocols, including WireGuard. You can set up the Surfshark VPN app as the provider is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Along with that, it is easy to configure the Smart DNS feature with many smart TVs, including Samsung TV, Sony TV, and more.

Recommended Servers

  • United States – Las Vegas
  • United States – Denver
  • United States – Charlotte

Pros

  • Offers smart DNS service that comes with a standard subscription.
  • Bypass proxy ban of YouTube TV, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney+ on Apple TV.
  • It offers unlimited simultaneous connections.
  • It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • Sometimes smart DNS service gets slow while streaming content.
Get Surfshark Now! Budget-Friendly VPN

3. NordVPN: Largest Server Network for Apple TV

nordvpn-filmrise

NordVPN offers the largest network of 6000+ ultra-fast servers servers in 61 countries countries for Apple TV, including 1970+ servers in 15 US locations.

There is no Apple TV NordVPN app. However, the service has a stand-alone SmartPlay (encrypted smart DNS tool) service that allows access to geo-lock streaming services from anywhere. You can also set up NordVPN on your Asus, D-Link, Linksys, or Netgear router and connect your Apple TV to the VPN-enabled Wi-Fi network.

You can easily use the NordVPN Apple TV combo along with Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer on Apple TV from anywhere. It is also the best VPN for Disney+ and you don’t need to subscribe separately for its SmartPlay as it comes as a part of the standard subscription.

Nord’s encrypted smart DNS allows us to stream all the geo-block content on Apple TV in HD and 4K. Upon conducting the NordVPN speed test, the service achieved a download speed of 86.39 Mbps and an upload speed of 82.86 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection scale.

speed-test-NordVPN-in-UK

In terms of security, NordVPN offers the AES 256-bit encryption method with its propriety protocol called NordLynx which excels in speed and security, both.

With a single subscription, you get 6 simultaneous connections. And the VPN is compatible with all widely-used devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Currently, NordVPN offers 3 plans. A monthly plan that costs $11.99, a 1-year plan that costs $4.49/mo., and a 2-year plan that costs GB£3.16/mo (US$3.99/mo) - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend.

Recommended Servers

  • United States – #6046
  • United States – #9364
  • United States – #1536

Pros

  • SmartPlay (encrypted smart DNS proxy) works great with Apple TV.
  • It unblocks all the popular streaming services on Apple TV.
  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • Sometimes speed goes down drastically.
Get NordVPN Now! Largest Server Network

4. CyberGhost: Apple TV VPN with a 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is one of the few VPNs for Apple TV that offers a 45-day long money-back guarantee. Top-tier names like Express and Nord only offer a 30-day refund period, whereas CyberGhost goes the extra mile to give users 2 extra weeks to test the VPN service thoroughly.

The VPN offers a built-in Smart DNS feature, making it one of the best VPNs for streaming on Apple TV. CyberGhost with Netflix is an amazing combo, as the VPN unblocks almost 15+ Netflix libraries. Other than that, CyberGhost also works with other streaming platforms like Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more.

CyberGhost offers a vast network of 9274 servers in 91 countries, including 1386 servers in 11 US cities. Connected to the US server, we could easily stream on Netflix US on Apple TV with no buffering issues.

Upon testing CyberGhost for speed, the VPN achieved a download speed of 75.12 Mbps and an upload speed of 39.48 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection scale.

cyberghost-speed-test-in-UK

CyberGhost comes equipped with AES 256-bit encryption with the WireGuard protocol. The VPN also offers dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. With a single subscription, you get 7 simultaneous connections from which you can cover all your devices in the household.

As of right now, CyberGhost is offering 3 subscription plans. A monthly plan that costs $12.99, a 6-month plan that costs $6.99/mo., and a long-term plan that costs GB£0/mo (US$/mo) - Save up to 84% with exclusive 2-year plans + 4 months free.

Recommended Servers

  • United States – Las Vegas
  • United States – Denver
  • United States – Charlotte

Pros

  • Fast-speed server to stream on Netflix
  • Smart DNS for Apple TV
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • Massive server network

Cons

  • Connecting to servers take a lot of time
Get CyberGhost Now! 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee

5. PureVPN: Trustworthy VPN for Apple TV

PureVPN-logo

PureVPN is a trustworthy VPN for Apple TV because of its jurisdiction in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands. The VPN has also been audited by KPMG, one of the big four auditing companies.

The provider offers support for many routers, including Asus, Tomato, DD-WRT, and more. All you need to do is configure PureVPN on your router and connect your Apple TV to the VPN-enabled Wi-Fi network. You can also use PureVPN by creating a Wi-Fi hotspot via your computer.

PureVPN offers a network of 6500+ servers in 78 countries, including servers in 13 US locations. Connected to one of the US servers, we could easily stream Amber Brown on Apple TV with no server disconnections.

Upon conducting the PureVPN speed test, we could easily achieve a download speed of 75.49 Mbps and an upload speed of 72.95 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection scale.

pureVPN speed test-in-UK

PureVPN has dedicated apps for all major devices running on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You can also get the PureVPN Firestick app and watch your favorite movies on a big screen.

You get 10 simultaneous connections with a single subscription to PureVPN. Currently, the VPN offers 3 plans. A monthly plan that costs $10.95, a 1-year plan that costs $3.24/mo., and a long-term plan that costs GB£2.6/mo (US$3.29/mo) - Get 5 FREE Months & 84% Off on 2-year plan.

Recommended Servers

  • United States – Atlanta
  • United States – Dallas
  • United States – Los Angeles

Pros

  • Streaming-optimized servers for popular VoDs, including Netflix.
  • Strict no-logs policy.
  • Built-in Smart DNS.
  • Offers the best value on the 5-year plan.

Cons

  • Connection is not stable sometimes while streaming.
Get PureVPN Now! Trustworthy VPN

What is the Criteria to Choose the Best VPN for Apple TV in UK?

Based on the following criteria, we choose the best Apple TV VPNs in UK:

  • Smart DNS: It is necessary for a VPN to offer the Smart DNS feature as Apple TV cannot run native VPN apps. A Smart DNS can easily make geo-restricted service available to you without installing a VPN app on the Apple TV device.
  • Router Support: As you know by now that Apple TV has no support for native VPN apps. Setting up a VPN on your router will help you cover your Apple TV device without configuring the VPN app on the device. You will also be able to cover all your household devices with a single connection.
  • Large Server Network: To make sure you’re not always connected to a crowded server, a rich pool of servers is necessary so you can have blazing-fast speed with great coverage, including servers in major countries like the US, UK, France, Japan, and more.
  • Streaming Support: Not all VPNs can unblock popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more. Streaming services are constantly on the hunt to eliminate VPN-generated IP addresses. So make sure you choose a VPN that offers streaming-optimized servers for the before-mentioned VoDs.
  • Speed: Your internet faces a certain speed loss percentage when you are connected to a VPN. This is because your traffic has to hop through multiple intervals to reach its destination. However, if you choose a premium VPN, the loss percentage will be minimum to none and you’ll easily be able to watch your favorite content with no buffering issues.
  • 24/7 Customer Support: A vigilant customer support team is necessary in case you need help regarding anything. Most premium VPNs offer a 24/7 live chat option to make sure you don’t have to troubleshoot problems for hours yourself.
  • Money-Back Guarantee: How would you know a VPN is best for your needs? With a trial period right? That’s why most premium VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows users to test the VPN service risk-free. If a VPN doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily get your money back by generating a refund request for the said period.

Easy Steps: How to Set Up a Smart DNS on Apple TV via VPN

How to use a VPN on Apple TV when it cannot run native VPN apps on the device? So since there is no Apple TV VPN app, you’ll need to sign up for a VPN that offers a built-in Smart DNS feature or connect Apple TV to VPN via your router.

Based on our testing, we highly recommend ExpressVPN because of its amazing Smart DNS tool called MediaStreamer. Once the MediaStreamer is configured, you can start enjoying your favorite shows like Best Foot Forward.

Setting up the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer on Apple TV

Step 1: Go to the ExpressVPN website and click on “My Account”

 

Step 2: Log in with your ExpressVPN credentials

 

Step 3: Navigate to “DNS Settings”

 

Step 4: Under the IP address registration section, click on “Register my IP address” and enable the toggle button for “Automatically register my IP address”

 

Step 5: Navigate to Dashboard again and click on “More” under Set up your devices

 

Step 6: Select “Apple TV” and note down the MediaStreamer IP address on the right panel under the section ExpressVPN for Apple TV

 

Step 7: On your Apple TV, go to the Settings

 

Step 8: Navigate to “Network”

 

Step 9: Select “Wi-Fi”

 

Step 10: Select your Wi-Fi network

 

Step 11: Select “Configure DNS”

 

Step 12: Now select “Manual”

 

Step 13: Enter the DNS IP address that we obtained in Step 6

 

Step 14: Restart your Apple TV device

 

Step 15: Start streaming your favorite content on Apple TV!

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In Which Country Apple TV is Available?

Apple TV Plus is available in the following countries:

Anguilla British Virgin Islands El Salvador India Micronesia Portugal Trinidad and Tobago
Antigua and Barbuda Bulgaria Estonia Indonesia Moldova Qatar Turkmenistan
Argentina Cambodia Eswatini Ireland Mongolia Russia Uganda
Armenia Canada Fiji Israel Mozambique Saudi Arabia Ukraine
Australia Cape Verde Finland Italy Namibia Singapore United Arab Emirates
Austria Cayman Islands France Japan Netherlands Slovakia United Kingdom
Azerbaijan Chile Gambia Jordan New Zealand Slovenia United States of America
Bahamas Colombia Germany Laos Nicaragua South Africa Venezuela
Bahrain Costa Rica Ghana Latvia Niger Spain Vietnam
Belarus Cyprus Greece Lebanon Norway Sri Lanka Zimbabwe
Belgium Czech Republic Grenada Luxembourg Oman St. Kitts and Nevis
Belize Denmark Guatemala Macau Panama Sweden
Bermuda Dominica Guinea-Bissau Malaysia Paraguay Switzerland
Bolivia Dominican Republic Honduras Malta Peru Taiwan
Botswana Ecuador Hong Kong Mauritius Philippines Tajikistan
Brazil Egypt Hungary Mexico Poland Thailand

Apple TV provides US users with by far the most features and functionality. For instance, the search function will scan 98 US content sources. It only scans 36 when in Canada, which is a close second.


What VPNs to Avoid for Apple TV?

Based on our testing, we found the following VPNs to be dangerous and you should not use them with Apple TV:

VPN Book

VPN Book is a free VPN service that provides free OpenVPN configuration files for its server network. The company’s privacy practices are incredibly ambiguous, and it’s unclear who is responsible for the service.

Hola

Hola is a peer-to-peer proxy service that powers its network with unused bandwidth on users’ devices. As a result, you connect to the computers of other Hola users rather than the company’s VPN server.


FAQs: Best VPN for Apple TV in UK

Unfortunately, Apple TV doesn’t support VPNs. However, you can still install a VPN on your router and connect your Apple TV to it. Additionally, you can configure the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer on your Apple TV to watch geo-restricted content.

Windscribe free is the best free VPN for Apple TV. The VPN can be configured on DD-WRT, Asus, and Tomato routers. Additionally, there is also the option of using Smart DNS with the ControID service.

Here’s how to change your Apple TV location services settings:

  • Open your “Settings” app
  • Tap on “General”
  • Navigate to “Privacy”
  • Choose “Location Services” and use the toggle button to ‘On’

Now use the “About location services and privacy” option to change your Apple TV location.

Apple TV doesn’t have VPN apps because it wants to attract developers and content providers. Apple doesn’t develop apps for Apple TV / tvOS but they have to attract developers and content providers to develop apps for them.

For example, if Apple starts developing VPN apps that can bypass geo-restrictions on streaming sites, then companies like Netflix or Hulu would be less enthusiastic about providing apps for Apple TV.


Wrap UP!

Based on our testing, ExpressVPN qualified as the best VPN for Apple TV in UK because of its support for major routers that can easily be configured with the dedicated router app.

The provider also offers a Smart DNS tool called MediaStreamer that allows users to set up ExpressVPN on devices that have no support for native VPN apps, like Apple TV.

Our MediaStreamer setup guide should be enough for you to easily configure this feature with your Apple TV device. However, if you face any difficulties, you can use the 24/7 live chat option to seek assistance from ExpressVPN.

Ellison Shirley

Dive into the world of TV, sports, and cinema with Ellison Shirley, your guide to the latest in entertainment. From gripping sports matches to blockbuster movies, Ellison's insights illuminate the screen, making your favorite shows and events come alive. Discover the thrill of the small screen and the big game through her expert eyes.

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