5 Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield (Fast and Unlimited Streaming)

Many people use Nvidia VPNs with their Shield digital media players. They get a better online experience by securing their traffic and unblocking geo-locked content. This includes Netflix, Hulu, Kodi, Amazon Prime, and more.

But, with hundreds of VPNs out there, it’s hard to choose the right one. We aim to simplify this for you by listing the best VPNs for Shield TV devices.

Best VPNs For Nvidia Shield

1. NordVPN – the best Nvidia Shield VPN.
2. Surfshark – use it to unblock content on unlimited devices.
3. PrivateVPN – easy-to-use VPN for Nvidia Shield.
4. ExpressVPN – very user-friendly and has fast speeds.
5. AtlasVPN – A great budget choice.

How I Tested and Picked the Best VPN for Shield TV

When testing the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield, I considered several factors:

• Android support: The VPN must work on Android, ideally with an Android TV app for a seamless experience.
• Fast speeds & unlimited data: Choose a VPN with unlimited bandwidth and fast protocols (like WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec, or IKEv2/IPSec) for smooth HD and 4K streaming.
• Large server network: More servers mean faster speeds and access to content from various locations.
• Good security: Look for strong encryption (AES-256 or ChaCha20) and a kill switch to prevent data leaks if the VPN disconnects.
• No logs: Pick a VPN that doesn’t monitor your online activities or log your IP address. Consider those that undergo security audits for added trustworthiness.
• Streaming support: Prioritize VPNs that can unblock streaming services beyond Nvidia Shield.
• Money-back guarantee: Consider providers with no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantees to make trusting the VPN easier.

What’s the Best VPN for Nvidia Shield – our detailed list:

We tested 20+ top VPNs to find the best streaming experience on Nvidia Shield. After dozens of tests, we concluded these are the best VPNs for Nvidia Shield:

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the top choice for Nvidia Shield. It offers fast streaming and top-notch security. It uses NordLynx and OpenVPN protocols for a smooth experience on Android TV and other smart TVs.

Security: NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption, like bank security. It has RAM servers, Kill Switch, and Threat Protection. Its Android TV app doesn’t have a Kill Switch, but it’s okay for unblocking content.

Privacy: NordVPN doesn’t log user data and is based in Panama. It’s outside the Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction. It has passed three independent audits, showing its commitment to privacy.

Performance: NordVPN’s speeds in the US are 248.7 Mbps download and 126.7 Mbps upload. It has features like split tunneling for better performance.

Features: NordVPN has obfuscated servers and Double VPN servers. It works well in restricted areas, making it flexible and useful.

Streaming: NordVPN’s SmartPlay technology and access to Netflix libraries make it great for streaming. It unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more.

Pricing: NordVPN is affordable, with prices from $4.99 to $14.99 per month. It accepts Cryptocurrencies for those who value privacy.

Plan	1-year plan	1-month plan	2-year plan
Standard Plan	$4.99/month	$12.99/month	–
Plus Plan	$5.99/month	$13.99/month	–
Complete Plan	$6.99/month	$14.99/month	$5.49/month

2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a top choice for Nvidia Shield. It offers fast streaming and works well with Nvidia devices.

Security: Surfshark has AES-256-GCM encryption and a kill switch. It uses OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard for protection. It also has other features.

Privacy: Surfshark keeps your data private with its no-logs policy and private DNS. It also has IP masking and GPS spoofing on Android.

Performance: Surfshark’s speeds in the US are 235 Mbps download and 219 Mbps upload. It ensures smooth streaming on Nvidia Shield. Its protocols provide reliable performance.

Features: Surfshark offers unlimited device connections and 24/7 customer support. It has Whitelister and NoBorders mode for restricted areas.

Streaming: Surfshark is great for streaming. It unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. It has over 3,200 servers in 65 countries.

Pricing: Surfshark has different packages for different needs. Prices range from $2.30/month to $22.95/month. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a good value for Nvidia Shield.

Surfshark Plans	2-year price	1-year price	1-month price
Starter	$2.30/month	$3.99/month	$12.95/month
Surfshark One	$3.22/month	$4.49/month	$17.95/month
Surfshark One+	$5.99/month	$8.29/month	$22.95/month

3. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is known for its security and unlimited streaming.

Security: PrivateVPN protects you with AES 256-bit encryption and a reliable kill switch. It also prevents IP and IPv6 leaks. You can even choose your encryption level.

• Installable Kill Switch on Android app
• HTTP and SOCKS5 proxy for added security

Privacy: PrivateVPN keeps your data private with a no-logs policy. It also has a stealth VPN mode. This makes your online activity anonymous.

Performance: PrivateVPN offers download speeds of 148 Mbps and upload speeds of 190 Mbps in the United States. It uses many protocols for a stable connection.

Features: PrivateVPN has dedicated servers for P2P traffic and supports port forwarding. It also allows ten simultaneous connections and offers a dedicated IP address.

Streaming: Streaming is smooth with PrivateVPN. It loads videos fast and easily bypasses Netflix and other geo-restrictive services. It’s great for users in China and those who want to access different Netflix libraries.

Pricing: PrivateVPN has affordable plans. A 1-month plan is $9.90/month, a 3-month plan is $6.00/month, and a 36-month plan is $2.00/month. It also offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay in many ways.

PrivateVPN Plans	Price per Month
1-Month Plan	$9.90
3-Month Plan	$6.00
36-Month Plan	$2.00

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a top choice for Nvidia Shield. It offers fast speeds and strong security. Its Android TV app is powerful, and it has unlimited data. But, it might be too expensive for some.

Security: ExpressVPN uses AES-256 GCM encryption and a strong kill switch. All servers run on RAM, so your data is safe.

Privacy: ExpressVPN values your privacy. It has a no-logs policy and has been audited by PwC and Cure53. This makes it very trustworthy.

Performance: ExpressVPN is fast, with download speeds of 137 Mbps and upload speeds of 162 Mbps in the United States. It uses Lightway and OpenVPN protocols for high-speed performance.

Features: ExpressVPN works well with many devices and platforms. You can connect up to 8 devices at once. They also offer 24/7 support. You can use browser extensions on Chrome, Brave, Opera, Edge, and Firefox.

Streaming: ExpressVPN makes it easy to access popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. You can also change your Netflix region without needing a special server.

Pricing: ExpressVPN might cost a bit more than others, but it’s worth it. They have different plans: a 1-month plan for $12.95/month, a 6-month plan for $9.99/month, and a 1-year plan for $6.67/month. Plus, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN Plans	Price per Month	Simultaneous Connections
1-Month Plan	$12.95	5
6-Month Plan	$9.99	Up to 8
1-Year Plan	$6.67	Up to 8

5. AtlasVPN

AtlasVPN is a top pick for Nvidia Shield users. It offers fast speeds and unlimited streaming. You can also unblock many platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Security: AtlasVPN uses AES-256 encryption and a system-wide kill switch. It also has WireGuard protocol for fast and secure connections.

Privacy: AtlasVPN keeps your data safe with a no-logs policy. It also has a unique IP rotator, data breach monitoring, and tracker blocker. These features ensure your privacy on Shield.

Performance: AtlasVPN has an upload speed of 309 Mbps. It uses OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 protocols for high performance and stability.

Features: AtlasVPN offers more than just security and speed. It has Dark web monitoring and Email Breach Check features. These add to your data safety.

Streaming: AtlasVPN is great for streaming. It offers stable streaming, unlocks many platforms, and supports Android TV and Amazon’s Fire Stick.

Pricing: AtlasVPN has affordable plans starting at $1.82/month for 2 years. It also has a free version with 5 GB data and access to three locations. This makes it very affordable.

AtlasVPN Plans	Pricing	Additional Benefits
Free Version	0.00$/month	5 GB data limit Access to 3 locations
1-Month Plan	11.99$/month	30-day money-back guarantee
1-Year Plan	3.29$/month Billed $39.48 annually	30-day money-back guarantee
2-Year Plan	1.82$/month Billed $43.68 biennially	30-day money-back guarantee

How to Install a VPN on Nvidia Shield TV

1. Subscribe to a good VPN for Nvidia (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Find the provider’s Android TV app on the Google Play Store.
3. Download and install it. Accept all the permission requests.
4. Connect to a VPN server and start browsing the web.

How to Set Up a VPN on Nvidia Shield TV (Manual Process)

If the VPN doesn’t have an Android TV app, you can sideload it on your smart TV. Here’s how:

1. Use your laptop, Mac, or PC to access the VPN’s site.
2. Download the provider’s Android APK file to a USB flash drive. Eject the flash drive when you’re done.
3. Head to Settings > Security and Restrictions on your Nvidia Shield.
4. Enable Unknown sources. If a warning appears, press OK.
5. Open the app store from the home screen.
6. Install either one of these apps: FX File Explorer or ES File Explorer.
7. Now, insert the USB flash drive into the Nvidia Shield.
8. Use the file explorer app you installed to head to your USB drive.
9. Open the VPN provider’s Android APK file.
10. Wait for the installation to finish and hit Open.
11. Use the VPN app. The interface might feel a bit clunky because this app was made for phones, not TVs.

Can I Use a VPN for Nvidia Shield On My Router?

Yes, you can set up the VPN on your router. This way, every time you use the Nvidia Shield to go online, it will automatically use the router’s VPN connection.

But, we suggest using the Android TV app or the sideloading method instead.

Why?

Because using the VPN on your router will result in slower speeds. The VPN doesn’t just encrypt your smart TV connection. It encrypts all the traffic that goes through your router – your PC, smartphone, laptop, gaming console, tablet, and any other smart devices you have in your home.

Also, setting up a VPN on a router is pretty difficult (yes, it’s much harder than the sideloading method). To find out how to do it, check your provider’s guides. We can’t offer you a tutorial because the setup process varies from service to service and router to router.

Related read: Best VPN for Nvidia GeForce Now

FAQs

We came across many FAQs when researching this topic, so we decided to answer most of them here. If you have more questions, just leave a comment and we’ll get back to you.

Do I Need a VPN for Nvidia Shield?

You need a VPN for Nvidia Shield if you want to unblock geo-locked content on streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. A VPN hides your IP, so streaming services can’t tell what country you are from.

You should also use a VPN for Nvidia if your ISP is throttling your bandwidth. The VPN encrypts your traffic, so your ISP can’t monitor it. If they don’t know what you’re using data on, they can’t selectively slow down your connections.

Does Nvidia Shield Support VPNs?

Not directly, no. The digital media player doesn’t natively support VPN apps.

But, Nvidia Shield runs the Android OS that’s powered by Android TV. If you use a VPN that has an Android TV app, you can use it together with Nvidia Shield. If they don’t have an Android TV app, you’ll need to use sideloading (with APK files) or set up the VPN on your router.

Can I Also Get an Nvidia Shield TV Pro VPN?

Yes, you can. Nvidia Shield TV Pro is just an upgraded version of Nvidia Shield TV. So, Android TV VPN apps that run on Nvidia Shield TV will also run on the Pro version.

Nvidia Shield TV Pro has more RAM, more internal storage, and two USB ports. These are the main differences between the two devices.

Why Is My VPN Not Working on Nvidia Shield?

Common issues include seeing proxy error messages when unblocking sites, the VPN app crashing, or the VPNs being very slow and freezing.

Here’s what Nvidia Shield users recommend trying:

• Uninstall and reinstall the VPN app.
• Update the VPN app.
• Connect to a different VPN server.
• See if the VPN works on other devices (if it doesn’t, the problem is with the VPN).
• Use the VPN on your router instead of the smart TV.
• Reach out to Nvidia and the VPN provider’s support teams.

Can You Use Blokada Together with an Nvidia Shield VPN?

Blokada is a free ad blocker for iOS and Android (so it works on Android TV). It’s efficient, but it doesn’t work well with a VPN. According to some users, Blokada uses the VPN API, and Android only allows one VPN API at a time. This conflict causes VPN connectivity issues.

So, you have to choose between Blokada and an Nvidia VPN.

The good news is many VPNs have their own ad blocker and offer it on their Android TV apps. If the VPN you’re using doesn’t have one, install the Firefox browser and use uBlock Origin (a very efficient ad blocker).

Can I Use a Free VPN for Nvidia Shield?

Yes, but we don’t recommend it. Free VPNs aren’t good for streaming because they have slow speeds. Their servers are overcrowded. Also, free VPNs use bandwidth caps – usually around 500 MB or 2 GB per month. That’s barely enough to watch a few episodes of your favorite shows!

What’s more, some free VPNs can put your data at risk. They log it and sell it to advertisers. Sometimes, they can even expose you to malware.

Stick with paid Shield TV VPNs instead. All the services we mentioned in this article have risk-free money-back guarantees. So, you have enough time to test the VPNs to make sure they work well for you.