In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose the best VPN for your Nvidia Shield! We’ve also highlighted a pretty simple tutorial on how you can install the VPN on your Shield TV using two methods: “The Google Play Store” and the “APK method”.
Whether you are a newbie or an amateur, you might want to use the best VPN for the Shield.
Connecting to a VPN from Nvidia Shield requires you to sync the VPN from your iPhone, Mac, or any other device you might be using.
However, not every VPN is the best for Nvidia Shield. After testing multiple VPN services for ease of installation, speed and security we have come to the conclusion that the following 6 VPN providers mentioned on our list, are the most reliable for accessing geographically restricted content, cheap games, and much more.
Before moving ahead with the tutorial on how you can use a VPN with your Nvidia Shield, here’s a quick list of the best providers for Shield TV:
| Rank | Nvidia Shield VPN | Play Store Rating | Downloads | Simultaneous Connections | Money-Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ExpressVPN | 4.0 | 10,000,000+ | 5 Devices | 30-day |
| #2 | Surfshark | 4.2 | 1,000,000+ | Unlimited | 30-day |
| #3 | NordVPN | 4.2 | 10,000,000+ | 6 Devices | 30-day |
| #4 | IPVanish | 4.1 | 1,000,000+ | Unlimited | 30-day |
| #5 | CyberGhost | 3.9 | 10,000,000+ | 7 Devices | 45-day |
| #6 | PrivateVPN | 4.3 | 100,000+ | 6 Devices | 30-day |
How to Use a VPN With Your Nvidia Shield TV
For you to download, install, and use the best Nvidia Shield VPN on your TV, you can do so by downloading the app directly from the Google Play Store. Here’s how you can get started:
Download and install the VPN app via the Google Play Store
It’s pretty easy to get started. All you have to is:
- Subscribe and sign up with the best VPN for your Nvidia Shield. We’ve recommended around 6 top providers that are the best for your device and are compatible with Android TV.
- When you’ve signed up with the app, launch the Nvidia Shield TV and go to the Google Play Store.
- Search for the VPN app you’ve signed up with.
- Once you find the app, download it on your device.
- After it’s downloaded, click on install, and follow the onscreen instructions.
- When you download and install the app, launch it, and sign into your account.
- That’s all! Start streaming!
In-Depth Analysis of the Best VPN Services for Nvidia Shield TV
As mentioned above, there aren’t many VPN services that are compatible with Nvidia Shield TV. So, to make things easier for you, we’ve tested and shortlisted 6 of the best VPN providers for your Shield TV. Here’s what makes these providers the best choice for Nvidia in 2020. All the below mentioned services are offering amazing discounts for Black Friday 2020.
- ExpressVPN – Offers native Android TV App for Nvidia Shield
- Surfshark – Offers unlimited simultaneous connections
- NordVPN – Offers the maximum number of VPN features
- IPVanish – Comes with free SugarSync cloud storage of 250 GB
- CyberGhost – Offers the best money-back guarantee of 45 days
- PrivateVPN – USA based VPN with strict no-logs policy
1. ExpressVPN – Offers native Android TV App for Nvidia Shield
| Servers — 3000+ in 94 countries. |
| Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. |
| Torrenting — Offers Network Lock for secure Torrenting. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers 5 simultaneous connections. |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 30-days refund policy. |
| Visit ExpressVPN |
ExpressVPN is by far one of the industry’s best VPN services for a number of reasons, for instance, the fastest streaming speeds, but it’s also one of the best for Nvidia Shield.
This provider offers a native Android TV app that you can download and find directly from the Google Play Store. If, however, you’re not able to get hold of the app for some reason, you can always sideload its APK file. You’ll find a tutorial for that further on.
For the best streaming and gaming experience on your Nvidia Shield, ExpressVPN unblocks a whole plethora of popular, yet geo-blocked services depending on where you’re located. A few of them include Netflix, Disney Plus, HBO GO, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others.
To access these services, you’ll have access to all of its 3000+ optimized servers scattered across 94 countries.
As mentioned above, the speeds are the industry’s fastest, alongside offering its users unlimited bandwidth for unlimited streaming. ExpressVPN allows up to 5 simultaneous device connections.
So, along with your Nvidia Shield, you’ll probably enjoy connecting other devices. ExpressVPN offers apps for Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, Android, Firestick, routers, and gaming consoles.
Worried about privacy while streaming on your Nvidia Shield? Don’t be! ExpressVPN follows a strict no-logs policy apart from hailing from a privacy-friendly region in the British Virgin Islands.
Even if you’re not sure about the service, you can test the VPN and its features using the ExpressVPN free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get Started with ExpressVPN Now!
2. Surfshark – Offers unlimited simultaneous connections
| Servers — 1700+ servers in 63 countries. |
| Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. |
| Torrenting — Offers P2P optimized servers for Torrenting. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers unlimited simultaneous connections. |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 30-days refund policy. |
| Visit Surfshark |
Apart from ExpressVPN, Surfshark too is an all-rounder in the VPN industry and is one of the best VPN providers for Nvidia Shield. It’s known for offering user-friendly apps for multiple devices, including Android TV.
You can easily find the Android TV app on the Google Play Store, which can be downloaded on Nvidia Shield.
If streaming the best movies and TV shows on your Nvidia Shield is your main aim, then you’re in luck because Surfshark unblocks unlimited services from anywhere in the world.
It offers around 1700+ servers in 64 countries that you can connect to unblock geo-restricted services and apps. A few of them include Netflix, Hulu, HBO, ESPN, DAZN, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and a couple of others.
We’ve mentioned that Surfshark offers pretty user-friendly apps. With that being said, it offers apps for Windows, Android, iOS, Firestick, macOS, Linux, Xbox, routers, and others.
The best thing about this provider is that besides your Nvidia Shield, you’ll be able to connect to all the platforms mentioned since it offers unlimited device connections.
Online privacy and anonymity won’t be an issue since Surfshark sticks to a strict no-logging policy, and hails from the British Virgin Islands, just like ExpressVPN.
You’ll even find great security features like GPS spoofing, NoBorders, and Camouflage mode that’ll shield you from your ISP or the government. This will come in handy when trying to access restricted streaming services on your Nvidia Shield.
You’ll be able to test the VPN out using its free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get Started with Surfshark Now!
3. NordVPN – Offers the maximum number of VPN features
| Servers — 5000+ in 59 countries. |
| Unblocks — Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. |
| Torrenting — Offer obfuscated and P2P optimized servers. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers 6 simultaneous connections. |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 30-days refund policy. |
| Visit NordVPN |
If you’re looking for the top of line security features, fast speeds, and an app that’s compatible with Nvidia Shield all in one, then NordVPN is the best for that. This provider is on the list of the best VPN services for Nvidia Shield because of its overall performance.
You’ll find the Android TV app available directly on the Google Play Store. Additionally, just in case the app isn’t available from where you’re located, you can still sideload the APK file; available on the NordVPN website. Either way, both work great for your Shield TV!
NordVPN offers around 5000+ servers in 59 countries, all of which are optimized for streaming and P2P activities.
When we tested the NordVPN app on Nvidia Shield, we were able to access the most popular services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, and gaming platforms. The speed results were consistent and fast.
Besides offering an Android app for your Nvidia Shield, NordVPN is compatible with many other platforms. A few of the more popular ones include apps for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Firestick, Linux, routers, and others. You’ll also be able to simultaneously connect on up to 6 devices per subscription.
NordVPN is also great for users looking for online protection or privacy. It has a strict no-logs policy and has also been through several independent audits.
To protect yourself on your Shield TV, there are features like military-grade encryption, CyberSec feature to block ads, and DNS leak protection – securing your data. It’s located in a privacy-friendly location in Panama, away from the 14-eyes regions.
Before investing, you should try the VPN for yourself using the NordVPN free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. They offer a full refund if you’re not happy with the service.
4. IPVanish – Comes with free SugarSync cloud storage of 250 GB
| Servers — 1400+ servers in 75 countries. |
| Unblocks — Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. |
| Torrenting — Offers SOCKS5 proxy for Torrenting. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers unlimited simultaneous connections. |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 30-days refund policy. |
| Visit IPVanish |
If your main goal is streaming on your Nvidia Shield, then IPVanish is the best for it since it offers access to numerous US streaming services. This is just one of the reasons why this VPN is known as one of the best for Nvidia Shield.
You’ll be able to find the Android TV app for it from the Google Play Store. If however, you’re looking for an alternative, in case the app can’t be found, it offers an APK file that can be downloaded from the website.
Just to give you a glimpse of a couple of the services that IPVanish can unblock, a few of them include Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Disney Plus, HBO Go, and BBC iPlayer. You can test its unblocking abilities for yourself using all of its 1500+ servers in 75+ countries.
Apart from offering a dedicated Android TV app that you can install on your Shield TV, IPVanish also offers apps for Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Firestick.
Do you know what the best part is? Besides using the app on your Nvidia Shield TV, you’ll be able to connect other devices too! This is because IPVanish now allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.
IPVanish isn’t very big on the security front, but it does come with military-grade encryption and a Kill Switch. It even includes other advanced features like the Scramble OpenVPN traffic feature that will allow you to bypass geo-blocks without getting detected for using a VPN.
There isn’t a free trial but you could test the IPVanish app on your Nvidia Shield during its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get Started with IPVanish Now!
5. CyberGhost – Offers the best money-back guarantee of 45 days
| Servers — 6300+ servers in 89 countries. |
| Unblocks — Can unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime & more. |
| Torrenting — Optimized servers for Torrenting. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers 7 simultaneous connections |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 45-days money back guarantee. |
| Visit CyberGhost |
CyberGhost is mainly known in the industry as the VPN that’s big on protecting a users’ online privacy. Its security features aren’t as advanced as ExpressVPN and Surfshark, but it does make a strong contender.
It also made it to the best VPN list for Nvidia Shield mainly because of its ability to access all the popular streaming services.
CyberGhost offers an Android TV app that you can use on your Nvidia Shield to stream movies for hours since this provider doesn’t have any data caps.
You’ll find the app easily available on the Play Store. Sadly, there’s no APK file available, but if that’s an issue, there are other great providers on this list that offer it.
You’ll have access to a massive variety of servers; 6000+ servers in 90 countries to be exact. What’s different about this app is that it labels the various servers according to the services it unblocks or works best for.
During testing, we unblocked BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, ESPN, and others. A couple of its servers are even labeled for P2P access.
Just in case you need to connect other devices besides Nvidia Shield to CyberGhost, this provider allows up to 7 multi-device connections. Meaning, you can connect your Shield TV, Windows, and Android, iOS, macOS, Firestick, and others at the same time.
Need to test the VPN on your Nvidia Shield? You can use its 45-day refund period to run a few tests and ask for a refund if you’re not satisfied. Apart from that, it offers a free trial for Windows, Android, and iOS mobile apps.
Get Started with CyberGhost Now!
6. PrivateVPN – USA based VPN with strict no-logs policy
| Servers — 100+ servers in 60 countries. |
| Unblocks — Can unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime & more. |
| Torrenting — Supports P2P & Torrenting. |
| Simultaneous connections — Offers 6 simultaneous connections |
| Logs — Strict no-logs policy |
| Money-back guarantee — 30-days money back guarantee. |
| Visit PrivateVPN |
Last on the list for the best VPN for Nvidia Shield, we have PrivateVPN. This provider is a little quaint as compared to the other big-league providers on the list, but it works profoundly for a simple VPN.
It offers an Android TV app, which is very similar to the phone app, which can be loaded on your Nvidia Shield TV as well. Just in case you’re looking for an APK file, it’s available on the website.
Compared to the other providers on this list, it offers a smaller network coverage of around 150+ server locations in 60 countries.
However, it does work great to access a couple of geo-blocked streaming services and gaming apps. A few of them include BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and Hulu.
Just like NordVPN, PrivateVPN too allows up to 6 simultaneous multi-device connections. Apart from your Nvidia Shield, it offers apps for Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, routers, Linux, and Kodi.
All-in-all, this provider doesn’t store any logs and offers military-grade encryption and a few other advanced features to protect you online and your Shield TV from cyber-threats.
You’ll be able to test the VPN using its 30-day money-back guarantee and could always contact the support team for a full refund if the service isn’t up to your liking.
Get Started with PrivateVPN Now!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Nvidia Shield support VPN apps?
- How Useful is a VPN on Shield TV?
- How do I stop buffering on my Nvidia Shield?
- Can I install the APK file on Nvidia Shield?
- Can I use a free VPN with Nvidia Shield?
Does Nvidia Shield support VPN apps?
The Nvidia Shield is powered by the Android operating system and runs on Android TV. Most VPN providers offer apps for Android and Android TV.
This makes it easy for you to directly download the app on your Shield TV. If, however, you’re not able to access the app from the Google Play Store, because the VPN app you chose doesn’t make an Android TV app, you can always sideload the APK file on it.
How Useful is a VPN on Shield TV?
We’d like to say that it’s extremely useful. When you use a VPN on your Nvidia Shield TV, it:
- Encrypts your internet connection, protecting your activities and Shield TV from cyberattacks
- You’ll be able to access unlimited streaming services and gaming content for cheap
- A VPN on your Nvidia Shield will allow you to bypass ISP throttling of speeds and bandwidth.
- It’ll route all your traffic through a virtual IP address, so you’ll be able to maintain your anonymity
- In short, it will heighten the overall Nvidia Shield experience!
How do I stop buffering on my Nvidia Shield?
There have been constant complaints regarding buffering issues on Nvidia Shield. Here are a number of ways that you can fix the issue:
- Restart your Nvidia Shield
- Take note of your internet connection
- Try resetting the Nvidia Shield to the factory settings
- Reset the router you’re using.
- Don’t use a free VPN
- Make sure the VPN service you’re connected to offers strong encryption and security features to prevent ISP throttling.
Can I install the APK file on Nvidia Shield?
The best thing about Nvidia Shield is that it runs on Android TV. All Android TV’s support a Sideloading mechanism. This is especially important for VPN services that don’t offer an Android TV app but offer APK files instead to be sideloaded on your Nvidia Shield.
So, yes, you can install APK files on your Nvidia Shield. This applies to situations where apps aren’t available for download on the Play Store or maybe you’d just like quicker access to a new app that isn’t available on certain devices.
To learn how to install a VPN APK file on your Nvidia Shield (which works for all APK files) you’ll find the tutorial below:
This method is for all those who can’t access the native Android app, or if the VPN you choose doesn’t offer a native Android TV app. This is where downloading the APK file comes in handy.
So, how do you do it? Get yourself a USB flash drive and proceed with the instructions below:
- Choose any one of the VPN services in the list above that are the best for Nvidia Shield and subscribe to the service.
- Once that’s done, head to the VPN provider’s website and download the APK file onto your flash drive.
- Now go to your Nvidia Shield’s “Settings” and click on “security and restrictions”
- Enable the “Unknown sources” and then click on “OK.”
- Launch the Google Play Store or any other app store that you’re using and look for “ES File Explorer or FX File Explorer.”
- When you find the right one, click on “Install” and then accept the onscreen app permissions.
- Now, plug in your USB drive in your Nvidia Shield and launch the File Explorer app you installed.
- Navigate through your USB drive and look for the VPN APK file you downloaded.
- Install it and click on “Open.”
That’s about it! You now have your VPN app for your Nvidia Shield.
Can I use a free VPN with Nvidia Shield?
There are plenty of free VPN apps available on the Google Play Store, some of which offer apps for Android TV. However, a free VPN might not be the best idea especially when it concerns your Nvidia Shield.
A free VPN will slow down your speeds, log/steal/share your data, offer an extremely scanty list of servers, and come with zero encryption. This will cause more harm to your device.
Always stick to a premium VPN that is the best for your Nvidia Shield TV for the best experience.
To Conclude
So, coming to the end of this guide, we’ve highlighted the best VPN services for Nvidia Shield and the two ways for you to download the app onto your device.
We’ve also mentioned that using a free VPN could harm or hamper the overall experience, so sticking to the providers on the list is your best bet for safe and smoother streaming.
With that said, the top two providers for your Nvidia Shield are definitely ExpressVPN and Surfshark. They both offer the best security features and user-friendly Android TV apps.
When tested, they delivered the fastest speed results, and offer great network coverage to access local and international streaming services on your Shield TV. Overall, they performed the best!
