Paying for a premium VPN service means you’ll end up with the best available package. However, there are plenty of free VPNs for Apple TV, and I’ve tested over 60 of them. But nothing is ever truly free. You may end up saving some money, but you’ll pay in other ways… Think data leaks, low speeds, and caps on bandwidth and downloading. And with so many low-cost premium VPNs available, why limit yourself to a free VPN? I recommend ExpressVPN for its blazing speeds and limitless packages. You can try out the full service risk-free, with ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. I always recommend choosing a premium service over a free one, but I’ve done some digging to find the best free VPNs for Apple TV. There is no way to install a VPN on your Apple TV. So, you’ll need a free VPN that works with routers, instead. Installing a VPN on your router lets you use it on any device connected to your home network, including your Apple TV.
What’s the Catch With Free VPNs?
When it comes to VPNs, you really do get what you pay for. Free VPNs have more drawbacks than you might think.
Streaming
Because free VPNs offer fewer server locations, you’re often very limited in terms of where you can stream content from. Many free VPNs can’t bypass the VPN blocks that major streaming services like Netflix and Hulu use. This means you won’t be able to stream at all.
Security
A premium VPN uses high-level encryption to protect you from data leaks, identity theft, and data logging. Free VPNs often limit their security features, so you won’t be completely secure online.
Compatibility
Most free VPNs aren’t compatible with routers, so you can’t use them for your Apple TV. Premium VPNs are compatible with a wider range of devices, and most offer router apps.
Limitations
Most free VPNs place caps on data, usually ranging from 500MB to 2GB. If you want to stream a movie on Netflix, for example, you won’t get very far before your data runs out. Plus, there are usually slow download speeds, which means more buffering, lagging, and low video quality.
The Best Free VPNs for Apple TV (Updated October 2019)
I’ve done extensive testing to bring you the best free VPNs for Apple TV. These VPNs allow you to stream, listen to music, play games, or watch videos online safely from wherever you are.
1. Windscribe
Best for data. For a free VPN, Windscribe doesn’t hold back on data. There’s an ample 10GB on offer every month with the free version. You can easily watch several episodes of your favorite TV show back-to-back, or stream a couple of movies. If you want more data, just tweet the company. They’ll give you an extra 5GB for free! Windscribe’s free version can’t unblock Netflix, but it can access other streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer and HBO GO. That is if you don’t mind waiting for it to buffer as the servers on the free version can be pretty slow. The free version lets you connect to servers in 10 countries, including the US, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong. If the server you need isn’t available, you can upgrade to the low-cost, premium service. This will grant you access to servers in 60 countries and 110 cities, including the Netflix-optimized Windflix servers. Windscribe allows torrenting on their free version. You can install the free VPN on an unlimited number of other devices, too. There’s some great security measures too, including its very own built-in ad and malware blocker, R.O.B.E.R.T, which stops you visiting sites with potential malware on them. You can find out even more info about Windscribe in our detailed review. As with the premium version, you can still benefit from AES 256-bit encryption and strict no-logs policy. Get Windscribe for Free!
2. hide.me
Best for watching YouTube and listening to music on your Apple TV. hide.me is another solid choice for Apple TV. With two free GBs, you’ve got enough data to listen to some music or watch a little YouTube. Although it’s not enough for a movie marathon, you can use it to stream the latest episode of your favorite TV show. If you want more data, you could consider signing up for the premium service and taking advantage of hide.me’s 30-day, money-back guarantee. That means you can enjoy all the premium benefits, risk-free. hide.me supports P2P connections, but there isn’t enough data to download large files. The free version allows you to connect to servers in 5 locations: Singapore, Canada, Netherlands, US East, and US West. But if you upgrade, you can access servers in over 57 locations. hide.me won’t throttle your connection speeds either – you’ll enjoy the same great speeds as a premium user. Other free VPNs might draw the line at advanced security measures for free users, but hide.me doesn’t. It offers zero information logging, IP leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and strong encryption. Another great feature is the built-in adblocker. We’ve tested hide.me in every way possible to make sure it’s really a solid, free VPN. Check out the results in our in-depth review. Get hide.me for Free!
3. Hotspot Shield
Easiest VPN to install and use. With super-fast speeds, Hotspot Shield is one of the quickest free VPNs available. With military-grade encryption, Hotspot Shield is a great choice for secure mobile browsing. Hotspot Shield can unblock Netflix and other streaming services, but the free version has a 500MB per day data limit. This is definitely not enough for streaming. If you upgrade to premium, you’ll have unlimited bandwidth and data to binge-stream all the shows you want. It allows torrenting too, but the restrictive data allowance means you might not get very far trying to download a large file. You can listen to some music and watch some videos on your Apple TV, though. If you want more data, you could sign up for the premium version and take advantage of its generous 45-day, money-back guarantee. That way, you can try it risk-free for up to six weeks. Hotspot Shield offers a strict no-logs policy and perfect forward secrecy that constantly changes your encryption key. So, if your connection ever fails, your location and activity remain hidden. If you’re trying to get past censorship laws with your Apple TV box, then this feature helps you remain untraceable. Unfortunately, there are quite a few limitations with the free version of Hotspot Shield. You’ll experience pop-up ads while streaming and you can only connect to the US server location. We’ve put Hotspot Shield to the test ourselves. Read more in our detailed review. Get Hotspot Shield for Free!
4. Proton VPN
Secure free VPN with unlimited data. Proton VPN’s free account offers unlimited bandwidth and data, but it won’t allow you to stream or torrent. If you just want to listen to some music, watch YouTube, or bypass censorship laws, though, it’s more than sufficient. Free users can connect to servers in the US, Japan, and Holland. If you upgrade, you can connect to servers in over 36 countries. You can only connect one device with the free plan. If you upgrade, you can connect five devices simultaneously. During my tests, I noticed the free version’s speeds are deliberately throttled, but upgrading to premium boosted my speed. Both versions offer 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, ad-blocker, and secure VPN protocols. We ran every test you can imagine on Proton VPN to make sure it stood out as a quality free VPN. Check out the results in our comprehensive review. Get Proton VPN for Free!
Our Premium VPN Recommendations for Apple TV
Are VPNs legal?
Yes and no. They’re legal in most of the world, but not everywhere. VPNs can be used for illegal activities, and some countries are banning them because of this. Read more about the legality of VPNs in our guide.
How do I set up a VPN on my Apple TV?
Apple TV does not support built-in VPNs. To install a VPN on your Apple TV, you’ll need to configure your router. Most VPN providers offer guides to help you with this. You can also use our guide to help you.
Will my Apple TV VPN work with my other devices?
It depends on which VPN you choose. You’ll need to check which devices are compatible with your VPN. I’ve included a list of compatible devices next to every vendor. Unlike premium services, most free VPNs only allow you to connect one device per account. This means you may not be able to protect all of your devices at once.
What are the top features I should look for in a VPN for Apple TV?
To make the most of your Apple TV, look for VPNs that offer quick speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and maximum security. The VPN you choose should have a large server network, and be able to unblock popular streaming services and websites.
Summary
Although a free VPN might seem like a more convincing option at first, the risks and limitations mean they aren’t always worth it. You want a quality VPN with unlimited, high-quality, and fast streaming and browsing. Many free VPNs will keep some form of data trail too, so you can’t be sure that your activity or personal data won’t accidentally be shared, even just for marketing purposes. However, the VPNs on this list are safe and reliable. A limited free VPN can be a good choice if you only need a VPN for a short time. Consider choosing a premium VPN and taking advantage of free trials and money-back guarantees. You’ll have access to the very best features for your Apple TV, risk-free. Swaying towards a premium VPN? Take a look at our coupons and deals before you sign up to get the best prices. If you’re security conscious and want to use a VPN that keeps you private and anonymous, read our guide to the 5 Best No-Log VPNs. The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
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