5 Best VPN Services for Nvidia Shield TV
Trying to find the best VPN for Nvidia Shield TV? The Android-based set-top device runs with any HDMI-equipped TV and offers the ability to stream HD and 4k movies/TV shows from popular streaming sites, while allowing you to download apps directly from Google Play Store.
Unfortunately, the content available on Nvidia Shield is mostly limited due to geographical limitations. Despite Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and other VoDs being available, the content you can access varies based on the country you reside in.
To improve your experience with the device, getting a VPN service is recommended. You can shift your location and open a whole new world of streaming. In this article, I’ll provide information on the 5 best VPNs for use with your Nvidia Shield.
How to Install a VPN on Nvidia Shield
Nvidia Shield is built on the Android Platform, which makes it a whole lot easier to download and install a majority of apps, excluding VPN tools. The instructions are really simple:
- Visit any of the below-recommended VPNs websites
- Subscribe to a suitable plan based on your budget
- Launch Nvidia Shield TV and open Google Play Store
- Search for the VPN you signed up with and press “Install”
- A shortcut of the VPN app will be visible on the main menu
- Launch the app and enter your user credentials
In a Hurry? Here are the Best VPN for Nvidia Shield
If you are short on time and don’t want to read the entire guide, refer to this list of the 5 best Nvidia Shield TV VPN to unlock its complete potential below:
- Surfshark: Best Nvidia Shield TV VPN. Inexpensive, good application, and locations. Costs $2.49/mo
- PureVPN: Splendid App for Nvidia Shield. Good protection, great unblocking, speeds. Costs $3.33/mo
- NordVPN: Secure Nvidia Shield TV VPN . Working app, strong security, speeds. Costs $3.71/mo
- ExpressVPN: 4k Streaming on Nvidia Shield. Fast speeds and strong security. Costs $6.67/mo
- CyberGhost: Affordable VPN for Media Devices. Easy-to-use and huge servers. Costs $2.75/mo
Best VPN Service for Nvidia Shield (In-Depth Analysis)
Here is a detailed analysis on the best VPN services for Nvidia Shield after inspecting their servers, multilogins, app support, unblocking capabilities, trustpilot rating, and more:
1. Surfshark: Best Nvidia Shield TV VPN
Number of Servers: 1,700+ | Countries: 63+ | Trustpilot Rating: 4.3 | Maximum Devices Supported: Unlimited | Price: $2.49/mo on a 2-year plan
The affordable yet reliable newcomer, Surfshark does not shy away from competing with names like Nord and Express. In a short time, the BVI-based provider manages to deliver amazing cross-platform functionality, streaming capabilities, and security/anonymity online.
This can be witnessed by installing the Android TV app from the Google Play Store for your Nvidia Shield TV. The overall appearance, styling, and easy-to-access menus, make using the app worthwhile on a larger screen. You can even get a Surfshark free trial for testing.
The best part of all: you only have to pay a low $2.49/mo on a 2-year plan and have access to over 1,700+ servers in 63+ countries, which also includes a list of static IPs. Most of which are capable of unblocking streaming platforms:
- Android TV app on Google Play
- 1,700+ servers in 60+ countries
- Dedicated IPs available
- Strict no logging policy
- Automatic Kill Switch
- DDoS Protection
- No free trial available
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of Surfshark!
2. PureVPN: Splendid App for Nvidia Shield
Number of Servers: 3,200+ | Countries: 140+ | Trustpilot Rating: 4.8 | Maximum Devices Supported: 10 | Price: $3.33/mo on a 5-year plan
The Hong Kong-based PureVPN tends to be incredibly budget-friendly yet reliable. However, this does not stop the VPN from offering a huge list of features and compatible apps for almost all platforms/devices.
If you opt for the 5-year plan, you will only have to pay $3.33/mo and will get access to a huge list of advanced features that include NAT Firewall, Split Tunneling, Ad/Tracker blocking, IPv6 Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, DDoS Protection, dedicated IPs, and the list goes on.
In short, PureVPN is packed with a ton of features for its Android TV box app. This gives you added incentives for bypassing geo-restrictions and content limitations on a myriad of streaming platforms, which include but are not limited to:
- Working app for Nvidia Shield
- DDoS Protection feature
- 3,200+ servers in 140 countries
- VPN Hotspot and NAT Firewall
- Multiple protocol support
- Allows Split Tunneling
- Free Trial Unavailable
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of PureVPN!
3. NordVPN: Secure Nvidia Shield TV VPN
Number of Servers: 5,100+ | Countries: 59+ | Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 | Maximum Devices Supported: 6 | Price: $3.71/mo on a 2-year plan
“The People’s Choice” a.k.a. NordVPN is undoubtedly one of the best Nvidia Shield TV VPNs in the marketplace. I remember, Nord was among the few providers that offered a compatible app when the 4k Android box made its release. You even have a NordVPN free trial available for testing!
Priced at a minimal $3.71/mo on a 2-year plan, Nvidia Shield users of NordVPN get access to over 5,100+ servers in 59+ countries worldwide. The app is also quite user-friendly, free from bugs and errors.
Connections times were also incredibly fast, and I experienced no downtime when streaming movies/TV shows via SmartPlay on my Nvidia Shield TV. This gives you the ability to seamlessly unblock streaming platforms, which include:
- Android TV app on Google Play
- 5100+ servers in 59+ countries
- Dedicated IPs available
- Unblocks US/UK Netflix
- Multi-logins on 6 devices
- Torrenting/P2P is allowed
- No port forwarding
For more information, check out this full 2020 NordVPN review!
4. ExpressVPN: 4k Streaming on Nvidia Shield
Number of Servers: 3,000+ | Countries: 90+ | Trustpilot Rating: 4.6 | Maximum Devices Supported: 5 | Price: $6.67/mo on a 1-year plan
The market leader in the world of privacy tools, ExpressVPN has got it all. An explicitly stated zero logs policy, multiple protocol support, 3000+ servers in more than 160 locations worldwide, and amazing multi-platform compatibility.
It offers a dedicated app available on the Google Play Store for Android TVs and box users like the Nvidia Shield. The app itself is highly intuitive, user-friendly, and comes with easy-to-use navigation for instant unblocking.
The only catch; ExpressVPN’s price tag. A 15-months plan will cost you $6.67/mo , but you can get an ExpressVPN Free Trial for testing. You can also use the provider to bypass geo-restrictions and content limitations on streaming platforms, such as:
- VPN client for Nvidia Shield TV
- Multi-logins on 5 devices
- Torrenting/P2P is allowed
- Unblocks American Netflix
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries
- Round-the-clock live support
- Plans are Expensive
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of ExpressVPN!
5. CyberGhost: Affordable VPN for Media Devices
Number of Servers: 6,200+ | Countries: 90+ | Trustpilot Rating: 4.8 | Maximum Devices Supported: 5 | Price: $2.75/mo on a 3-year plan
CyberGhost is another popular VPN service that has added the capability of working on Android TV boxes like the Nvidia Shield TV. It delivers fast and high quality streaming through the VPN app, combined with great security.
If you go for the 3-year plan, you will only pay $2.75/mo . Apart from this, CyberGhost offers up to 7 simultaneous connections, OpenVPN protocol support, live chat support, and over 6,500 servers in 89 countries (the largest network in the industry)
The app comes equipped with an “Unblock Streaming” option, which lists dedicated servers for a myriad of VoD services in the marketplace, which includes CyberGhost Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.
- Nvidia Shield TV VPN app
- 6,200+ servers in 90+ countries
- Stealth VPN protection feature
- Dedicated Streaming Servers
- Zero WebRTC/DNS/IP leaks
- 45-days refund policy
- Slow customer support
For more information, check out this full 2020 CyberGhost review!
Best Free VPN for Nvidia Shield TV
Most free VPNs adopt shady practices for earning money like ad-based revenue models and points-scoring system Nevertheless, here are some less risky options that work with Nvidia Shield TV:
1. Windscribe: Best Free Nvidia Shield TV VPN
Windscribe might be free but it successfully manages to offer its service across multiple platforms/devices. This includes the Nvidia Shield TV box, which successfully installs the Android app from the Google Play Store.
While you do have a limited bandwidth cap of 10 GB per month, it is a good way to test if you want to purchase a premium plan. This is why I have listed it higher than the Canadian-service, despite that being more popular!
- Works with Nvidia Shield TV
- Unlimited device connections
- 10 GB data cap for a free VPN
- Supports P2P/Torrenting
- Downtime issues
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of Windscribe!
2. TunnelBear: Protection for Nvidia Shield TVs
While a data cap of 500 MB/month in the free plan by TunnelBear might turn off many people, the free provider more than makes up for this stinginess in bandwidth with incredible commitment to security and privacy.
Its Android app on the Google Play Store successfully works on Nvidia Shield TV too. Although torrenting is not allowed, you do receive good compatibility for bypassing geo-restrictions around the world.
- Easy-to-Use Nvidia Shield App
- 20 servers on paid plans
- Connect to 5 Devices
- Powerful encryption
- Just 500 MB/mo. data cap
- P2P/Torrenting not enabled
For more information, check out this full 2020 review of TunnelBear!
Criteria for Selecting the Best VPN for Nvidia Shield
To help you choose an Nvidia Shield VPN, I have created a list of recommendations after testing them on the following criteria:
- Offers a working application for Nvidia Shield TV
- Android APK available for download via Play Store
- Fast download speeds for streaming in 4K quality
- Does not store any logs and has been audited
- Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video
How to Setup a VPN Nvidia Shield via Sideloading
Sometimes, the dedicated Android app from your VPN provider might fail to run on your Nvidia Shield TV directly. However, you can still setup a VPN on your Shield TV through the sideloading method:
- Visit any of the above recommended VPNs website
- Subscribe to a suitable plan based on your budget
- Download the apk file from the VPN website
- Extract the APK file onto a USB drive from your laptop/desktop
- Open your Nvidia Shield TV now and head over to settings
- Go to “Security and Restrictions” and turn on “Unknown Sources”
- If you are confronted with a warning, click OK and proceed forward
- Now go to the Google Play store and installES File Explorer File Manager
- Plug the USB containing the APK file into your Nvidia Shield TV box
- Give permission to access the USB drive through the ES File Explorer.
- Click on OK to open the drive and navigate to the APK file
- Hit the “Install” button and approve all permissions required
- A shortcut of the VPN app will be visible on the main menu
- Launch the app and enter your user credentials
Nvidia Shield TV VPN Reddit
For Nvidia Shield TV VPN, you can find multiple threads on Reddit with hundreds of users commenting and providing advice regarding the most recommended VPN services to use with the 4k Android box.
And not to anyone’s surprise, I found Surfshark among the comments. One user was of the opinion that this provider has the best service and does not experience any hiccups when paired with Nvidia Shield TV.
Nvidia Shield VPN: FAQs
What is Nvidia Shield TV?
Nvidia Shield TV is not your regular streaming box. It uses the Android OS and provides you with access to all kinds of Google services like Smart Home integration, voice control, media casting, and Nvidia powered gaming on-demand feature.
Do I need a VPN for Nvidia Shield?
By using the best VPN, Nvidia Shield TV users can finally bypass geo-restrictions on streaming apps like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, while unblocking restricted apps on the Google Play Store.
What are the best apps for the Nvidia Shield?
Since Nvidia Shield TV comes equipped with the Android OS, you have access to the millions of apps available on Google Play Store. Some must-have options for Nvidia Shield TV specifically, include:
- ES Explorer
- Sideload Launcher
- Netflix (no-brainer)
- Plex (another no-brainer)
- Kodi (limitless streaming)
Does Nvidia Shield support VPNs?
Yes, Nvidia Shield does support VPN applications. In fact, you can directly download most VPNs from the Google Play Store, as the platform utilizes the Android OS. This allows you to leverage security and unlock a whole new world of entertainment!
How do I stop buffering on my Nvidia Shield?
To stop buffering issues, you can consider opting for a faster internet connection from your ISP. The only way to speed up your internet, after all, is to get higher bandwidth.
Wrapping Things Up
Whether you want to access local IPTV streams or bypass geo-restrictions on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and other streaming platforms, using a VPN with your Nvidia Shield TV has become vital.
With all factors taken into consideration, Surfshark is the undisputed winner for the best Nvidia Shield TV VPN. However, if you are looking for another budget-friendly alternative, do consider PureVPN.
If you have any questions or have better recommendations, do not hesitate on dropping a comment below. Also, feel free to share this guide to those looking for a suitable VPN for their Nvidia Shield TV. Adios! 🙂