Can I Access Roku From Anywhere
With our recommended VPNs, yes. If you purchase a Roku streaming service in the UK, youll only be able to access shows and movies available in the UK – putting US content out of your reach. A VPN is an ideal workaround for this. If youre traveling and have a Roku Stick, you can take that on the go – if the TV in your hotel or friends house is compatible. Just change the network info when youre connecting to a new router or hotspot.
How To Create An American Roku Account
To enjoy US-specific apps and channels on your Roku device, you must get an American Roku account. By doing so, you will be able to access popular US streaming channels such an HBO Go, Showtime, ESPN and more on your Roku device. Simply setup FastestVPN on your PC, Mac, or Router and then follow the instructions given below to create US Roku account :
Connecting A Roku Device To A VPN
Once the link is online, you have the whole Roku catalog at your feet! Yes, US content included all available from your remote with just a few clicks!
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Surfshark Best Overall VPN For Roku
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Surfshark is an excellent choice for Roku for many reasons, including features and speed. First off, it offers the Smart DNS feature. If you have a smart TV that doesnt support a VPN, this feature helps you access geo-restricted content without having to install a VPN app.
Surfshark doesnt cripple your internet speed as much as most other VPNs. In fact, its one of the fastest VPNs for Roku that you can use, thanks to one of the speediest protocols out there WireGuard.
If you decide to get Surfshark for Roku, youll find all the necessary installation guides for many methods. This even includes tutorials on how to set up a VPN on a router. And if you have any issues with making it work, the Surfsharks livechat agents will be a big help.
Its worth noting that Surfshark unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, and more.
Thats not all for as low as $2.30/year, your whole family can enjoy Surfshark thanks to unlimited simultaneous connections. Plus, you can opt for Surfsharks free trial, and youll still have a 30-day money-back guarantee after it.
To learn more about this provider, check out our Surfshark review.
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs for Roku for many reasons. Its fast, it unblocks virtually any streaming service, and its the safest option at hand. Just like Surfshark, it supports the Smart DNS feature . Itallows you to access restricted content via devices that dont support a VPN.
Set Up Your Roku Device
Follow the setup instructions for your Roku device. When asked to connect to a Wi-Fi network, select the VPN router you set up earlier.
You will be asked to create a Roku account to sign in to your Roku device. For streaming purposes, your account location has to match the location of the VPN router that you set up and connected to earlier.
For example, if the server location of your VPN router is the U.S., your Roku account location should also be the same location in the U.S.
- If you already have a Roku account and the account location is the same as the location of your VPN router , sign in to your Roku account and follow the rest of the setup instructions.
- If you already have a Roku account but the account location is not the same as the location of your VPN router , you are recommended to create a new Roku account with a new location.
- If you dont have a Roku account, create a Roku account with the same location as your VPN router .
On the Roku signup page, go to the ExpressVPN app and connect to a VPN server location. This location determines your Roku account location and should also match the location of your VPN router .
Once connected, refresh the page to make sure your VPN location is stored. Fill in the details and follow the on-screen instructions.
When you reach the payment screen:
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Once the setup is complete, you can start streaming on your Roku with privacy and security.
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What Is The Best VPN For Roku In 2022
In order to get the most out of Roku, you need a VPN. In this article, I cover the best VPNs for Roku.
The Roku Streaming Player lineup includes a variety of video streaming set-top boxes and sticks, made by Roku, Inc. The Roku offers a variety of video and audio streaming options via its huge selection of apps and channels, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many more.
Unfortunately, the content of some of those apps is blocked due to governmental or geographical licensing restrictions. Consequently, some of the best content may not be available in your area.
Best Unverified Iptv Services For Roku
Some IPTV services are not available on the official channel store of Roku. These apps are more affordable than legal ones. However, we cant verify whether they are legal or not. To use these apps, youll have to sideload them on Roku. Moreover, remember to switch on your VPN before using unverified IPTV streaming apps to keep yourself safe.
The following is a list of the best-unverified IPTV services for Roku:
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Connecting A VPN To A Router
Because no two routers are created equal, the VPN setup procedure varies depending on the router you have. In most cases, all you need to do is set up a VPN on your router and then join Roku to the wifi network of that router. You may get all the instructions you need to complete that on the websites of the VPNs mentioned above.
Find out what kind of router firmware you have, then check for the instructions on the help or guides page of the VPN youve selected. We advise Surfshark because it supports numerous well-known routers and offers detailed setup instructions.
If your router doesnt already have firmware that supports a VPN when you decide to set one up, you can flash it to get the necessary firmware.
Please note, though, that you must proceed carefully because a botched installation could harm your router.
What Makes The Best VPN For Roku
Before we get into the how-to and debunk sections, though, its a good idea to know which virtual private network service you will use for your Roku connection. To make the best choice, you need to consider the VPNs features and how well they work.
For instance, because you will be streaming, the VPN should have fast speeds so that you dont experience buffering or poor picture quality. Unlimited bandwidth is also important to ensure you dont hit your data limit right in the middle of a show.
A wider server selection will mean you can access a better range of channels and services. However, the VPN will also need to be able to get into your chosen streaming channels, too . After that, you need to consider which connection method youre using and whether the VPN is compatible, such as with your current router.
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How To Use Your Roku With A VPN
Setting up a VPN with your Roku may seem somewhat daunting at first, but its actually reasonably easy to do:
How To Use A VPN On Roku
Unfortunately, I cant go into the process of configuring the VPN on your router because it depends on the type of router. To get the router-specific guide just search How to install a VPN on .
Nevertheless, there are a few things you should know.
For starters, not all routers allow VPN installation by default. If you dont find a VPN installation guide after searching that may be an indicator that your router is not compatible with VPNs.
Fortunately, you can overcome this problem by replacing your original router firmware with custom firmware through a process known as flashing. DD-WRT and Tomato are two excellent firmware that supports VPN installation.
I should mention that the flashing process is a little technical and could result in complete failure of your router if not executed correctly. If you are not too sure about your technical skills consider upgrading to a newer model router, preferably one that has a VPN already pre-configured.
ExpressVPN is one of the vendors on our list that sells routers that already have the VPN.
If none of the above work then its time to try another method.
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Why Choose Nordvpn For Roku
Roku compatibility isnt all thats available with NordVPN. The service provides access to a large number of servers around the world. Because of this network, youre able to access local content in many regions.
NordVPN takes privacy seriously, equipping its network with RAM-only servers. Whenever they reboot the server or simply pull the plug, any data there is completely gone forever. Its the perfect way to ensure your information never gets logged.
Thanks to the introduction of the NordLynx protocol, speeds at NordVPN have gone through the roof. You wont ever have to worry about choppy video or buffering on Roku or any other streaming service that you might also use.
If you ever have any problems getting NordVPN to work with Roku, contact their customer support team. They provide live chat support with friendly and knowledgeable agents skilled in the use of their service.
Aside from SmartDNS, another boon for media streaming is NordVPNs server obfuscation capabilities. Most online services arent fond of VPN users. Server obfuscation helps mask VPN traffic, so it looks like regular web traffic.
Surfshark came to market in late 2018 and is one of the fastest-growing VPN brands Ive seen. It offers one of the best value propositions for the quality of what you get, especially if youre a heavy media streaming user.
Sharing A VPN Connection Over Wifi
Did you know you can set up a VPN-enabled virtual router? Its easier than with a physical router. All you need is a laptop that will act as a wifi hotspot. When you connect your Roku to that hotspot, youre protected by the laptops VPN connection.
Now, the process of creating a virtual router differs from one operating system to the other.
Sharing a VPN Connection on Windows 11
Sharing a VPN Connection on macOS
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Connection To A Turned
As I have already mentioned, every time you disconnect a desktop from the Internet , you have to newly activate your Wi-Fi distribution.
There is no complete solution. In this case, its better to use a router that is able to keep a VPN connection active for several months. However, taking into consideration the peculiarities described in the previous section, there is no perfect solution. Anyway, you need a powerful router. Otherwise, you will have a certain inconvenience with your laptop.
Unfortunately, you can set up a VPN neither on Roku nor on Roku TV. As for other solutions, they have significant disadvantages.
Set Up A VPN On Your Router
One of the best ways to get a Roku connected to a VPN is to install the VPN on your router. By doing so, your Roku will benefit from all of the VPNs features simply by being connected to your router and that goes for any other device connected to the router, too.
Once you have each Roku device and account set up for the countries you want to connect to, you can simply switch to a specific country server on your router VPN app and use the relevant Roku device to access content.
Lots of routers are compatible with VPNs straight out of the box, and you can usually upgrade routers that arent. To learn more about adding a VPN to your router, you should read our best VPN for routers guide.
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Will My VPN Subscription Work Only On Roku
No. Itll be unfair if you pay for a VPN subscription that only lets you stream on Roku. So, its great that you can use a single VPN plan simultaneously on multiple devices. For instance, you can use the same VPN subscription on the laptop you use as a virtual router and other devices. Excellent VPNs like ExpressVPN can even work on five devices at once.
Your VPN Connection Works In All Channels
You cannot just set up geo-restriction for a certain channel. If you use a VPN, it is equivalent to your virtual location in the chosen country. The traffic goes through a virtual channel that is connected to a VPN server and you cannot divide it for various countries.
Surfshark is able to disconnect the VPN for certain URLs. I havent tested this feature. I guess it will not work because a streaming video is not passed through TCP/IP. However, this function controls exactly this feature.
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Roku VPN Testing Methodology
Comparitech aims to publish the most accurate and useful VPN reviews and recommendations on the web. To do that, we evaluate each VPN based on real-world experience, a battery of tests, and expert analysis. When it comes to Roku VPNs, we specifically look at:
- Router support: Because Roku doesnt support VPN apps, the VPN will instead have to be set up on a wi-fi router. Most of the VPNs we recommend can be manually configured on a variety of router firmware.
- Streaming: We use real-world tests to find out which VPNs can unblock which region-locked streaming services from abroad, including BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and Disney+, among others.
- Speed: We measure and record connection speeds to VPN servers around the world.
- Security: Each VPN must meet a minimum set of encryption standards. We further test each VPN for a variety of data leaks.
- Privacy: We sift through each VPNs terms of service and privacy policy for any language or lack thereof that could indicate the collection of personally identifiable info or activity while using the VPN.
- Customer support: Our reviewers contact each VPNs customer support department as secret shoppers to assess the quality and speed of responses.
- Server network: More server locations means more options for streaming and unblocking. We favor VPNs with global networks of servers.
This is a condensed version of our methodology. Find more info about how we test VPNs.
How To Connect Roku With A VPN
Well, there are multiple ways to connect the best Roku VPN of your choice to a Wi-Fi router. However, the procedures differ for different models, and some routers might not even support the connections.
- Installing a VPN directly on your Router
To connect Roku with a physical Wi-Fi router, you need to flash it. For this reason, you can take the aid of DD-WRT and Tomato firmware. But unfortunately, this process can harm your router. Therefore, it is more beneficial to get a router that supports VPN.
- Getting a VPN-enabled Wi-Fi Router
You can get an ExpressVPNs VPN-enabled router and use it to connect to Roku. They also have the complete connection method available on their site. This kind of router will also have a much faster speed.
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