Reading Time: 9 minutes

Streaming consoles are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Speaking of which, Roku is one such device that can help you stream dozens of quality content from all over the world. But without a Roku VPN, you might have to face Geo-blocks.

Unfortunately, many channels, including VoD services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer are inaccessible in many parts of the world. And in order to unblock such popular content, you’ll need an approved IP address with the help of a VPN for Roku.

Keeping this in mind, I have come up with a super simple guide to help you install a VPN on your Roku devices as well as a list of some of the Best VPNs for Roku.

But first, a brief overview of the Best VPNs…

PureVPN – A super affordable choice for Roku in 2020. Offers massive server parks.

– A super affordable choice for Roku in 2020. Offers massive server parks. Surfshark – A superfast VPN with OpenVPN protocols for Roku.

– NordVPN – NordVPN is a reliable VPN with over 5000+ severs.

– NordVPN is a reliable VPN with over 5000+ severs. ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN is the best Streaming VPN for Roku in 2020.

ExpressVPN is the best Streaming VPN for Roku in 2020. CyberGhost – A good & secure VPN. Has over 6500+ servers and industry benchmark features.

Best Roku VPN for 2020

Here’s a list of the 5 Best VPNs for Roku in 2020.

1. PureVPN – Editor’s choice for Roku

PureVPN is a Hong-Kong based VPN service provider that offers the most advanced VPN features for users around the world. Its 2000+ servers cover more than 140 locations in the world.

A large number of servers and a variety of server locations means that PureVPN is particularly suited for Roku devices. Another reason why you’ll love PureVPN for Roku is because of its PPTP protocol which is optimized for fast speeds.

Aside from protocols, other features like dedicated streaming servers, unlimited Bandwidth, and zero ISP throttling is the prime reason why some many people use PureVPN with Roku.

With tons of servers located within the US, streaming is a breeze through this VPN. Other than that, in terms of subscription rates and quality offered, PureVPN is perhaps the most reliable choice for Roku available out there.

With its cheapest ever pricing plans, it got to be the best low cost VPN for Roku. Check out how we’ve rated PureVPN in our review.

2. Surfshark – Fastest VPN for Roku

Surfshark might be a new provider in the VPN industry, but its comprehensive list of features is quite impressive. It is the fastest VPN service with a download speed of 27.91 Mbps. Speaking of which, you can’t help but admire Surfshark’s ability to unblock almost any streaming channel available on Roku because of its 1700+ servers.

Among its other innovative features, it offers a multi-hop feature that provides twice the security and privacy. it’s one feature I highly admire. One thing I don’t like, however, is the lack of PPTP protocol. I wish Surfshark offered this protocol to ensure fast streaming speeds.

Surfshark for Roku can be availed for $2.49/mo , which is an absolute bargain. With its strong encryption and privacy, you can use this Roku OpenVPN or IKEv2 to safely stream content on the device.

As such, the cheap rates and amazing features make Surfshark VPN Roku a great experience. That said, check out how we’ve rated Surfshark in our review.

3. NordVPN – Popular VPN for Roku

NordVPN for Roku is a highly trusted VPN provider that has proven its excellence through consistent performance. In the United States alone, it has more than 5000+ servers. This is more than the whole number of servers provided by many other VPN providers.

Since you need fast and reliable servers in the US to stream content through Roku, NordVPN is perhaps one of the best VPN for Roku 3.

In addition, the service uses a double VPN, which provides strong encryption to the user traffic flowing through the VPN server. While there’s a lot to love about NordVPN, I still wish the company would have added the PPTP protocol for the sake of seamless streaming speeds.

on the bright side, NordVPN offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee as well, which we’ve applauded in our NordVPN review. Long story short, NordVPN works great with Roku.

4. ExpressVPN – Best for Streaming on Roku

ExpressVPN is one of the leading VPN providers in the market. It has a large customer base from all over the world. The service provides servers in more than 90 countries with over 3000 servers in total, so ExpressVPN on Roku is always full of options when it comes to servers, specially for streaming services.

All servers operate with exceptionally high speeds and provide a stable connection. Part of the reason behind the blazing fast speeds is ExpressVPN’s PPTP protocol. Very few VPN providers offer PPTP protocol which puts ExpressVPN among the best streaming VPN. Security-wise, it uses robust encryption techniques of military-grade standards which is why we rated it so highly in our review of ExpressVPN. So, if you want to stream content through Roku anonymously and keep your activities safely guarded, ExpressVPN is the best Roku VPN services available.

Visit ExpressVPN 5. CyberGhost – OpenVPN Protocols for Roku TV CyberGhost is a Romanian VPN provider. The server infrastructure it boasts is quite impressive, with over 6500+ servers operating in 90+ countries so you can access streaming channels via Roku from anywhere in the world. Not only that but just like PureVPN, CyberGhost also supports the super fast PPTP protocol for HD content streaming. In fact, this is one of the main attractions pointed out in our CyberGhost review. CyberGhost for Roku also offers a free trial for 1-day. Along with a good privacy policy, excellent interface, and security features, and simultaneous access for up to 7 devices at the same time, this is one of the best VPNs for Roku, specially due to its bypassing capabilities. Visit CyberGhost

2 Simple Methods To Set Up Your VPN on Roku

So does Roku work with a VPN? Yes, it does.

First things first, let’s get one thing out of the way, you cannot install a VPN on your Roku device. However, you can install it on your router to use it on Roku through steps mentioned below. But If someone tells you that you can install a VPN on Roku, they’re selling you lies.

Unlike Fire Stick where you can simply side-load the VPN app and install it, Roku doesn’t have such support, at least not for now. Speaking of Fire Stick, if you’re considering using it instead of Roku, make sure you check out our blog on VPN for Fire Stick & Free VPN for Firestick.

Anyways, so how do you use a VPN on Roku? Well, to configure VPN Roku, you’ll have to either install it on your Physical router or share a connection using a virtual router.

Don’t worry though, just follow the below mentioned super simple steps to add VPN to Roku. Let’s start with the virtual router method first since its considerably easier.

Virtual Router Method

You can turn your PC and Mac into virtual routers that your Roku can share a VPN connection with. I will explain the step-by-step methods for configuring your PC and Mac to work as a virtual router below:

Setting up VPN for Roku via Shared PC Internet Connection

Follow the steps below to set up a VPN Roku through your PC (Windows 10):

To use VPN with Roku, you need to first install a VPN software on your system

Click on the monitor icon on the task-bar and click “ Open Network Internet Settings “

“ In the new windows that open up, select Change adapter settings“

Find your VPN connection in the list (PureVPN Roku in this case) and right click it to open “Properties”

On the Sharing tab click check-mark for “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection“

Click “ OK ”

” Now you can use your PC as a virtual router

Connect your Roku device to your PC’s Wi-Fi hot-spot

That’s it!

Setting up VPN on Roku via Shared Mac Internet Connection

Note: This setup shows the sharing of Express VPN Roku through Mac acting as a virtual router. All the major steps will be the same for any provider, except for the minor details involving server addresses, protocols, and login credentials.

Click the Apple logo on the top and open System Preferences…

Select Network in the System Preferences menu

Click the + sign on the bottom left when the new window opens to add a new VPN connection

When the pop-up opens, choose these options: Interface: VPN VPN Type: L2TP over IPSec Service name: [Enter any name]

Press Create

Now enter the following details Configuration: Default Server Address: [Enter the address of the server you want to connect to (for help, see your provider’s website)] Account Name: [your VPN username]

Check “Show VPN status in menu bar” box

Now open Authentication Settings to enter your VPN account password and “ 12345678 ” as Shared Secret. Click OK .

” as Shared Secret. Click . Click on Advanced … and check “Send all traffic over VPN connection” before pressing OK .

… and check “Send all traffic over VPN connection” before pressing . Select Apply to save settings

to save settings Now back on the Network screen, press Connect to start the VPN on your Mac

to start the VPN on your Mac Navigate back to System Preferences and click “Sharing”

and click “Sharing” Click on Internet sharing in the list of options on the left

in the list of options on the left Next, use the following settings: Share your connection from: [The connection you just created ] To computers using: Wi-Fi

Choose Wi-Fi Options and enter the following information Network Name: [Pick any name] Channel : [Leave as default] Security: WPA2 Personal Password: [Set a Password] Verify: [Re-type the Password]



(You will need to enter this password when you connect your Roku to your Mac as a virtual router)

Now go back to the Sharing screen and check the “Internet Sharing” box.

screen and check the “Internet Sharing” box. This should turn on the green light which says “ Internet Sharing: On ”

” Connect your Roku to the VPN configuration you have just created via your Mac (It should appear with the network name you chose)

Congratulations! You have successfully shared a VPN connection from your Mac to Roku.

Physical Router Method (DNS Hack)

In order to install a VPN Roku on a physical router, you will need a custom firmware that supports VPN installation. The most popular firmware available for routers is DD-WRT. This firmware supports most VPN providers out there and it also allows users to configure their routers with greater control and flexibility.

The process of installing a VPN on a DD-WRT, however, is quite technically involved. I wouldn’t recommend this method if you are totally clueless about manually setting up routers.

For those of you that are still interested, here goes:

Note: This VPN setup on a physical DD-WRT router uses NordVPN Roku for demonstration purposes. The method almost the same for all other VPNs, but the specific values and commands used in the process will differ from VPN to VPN.

Open DD-WRT Administrative Interface and visit Setup > Basic Setup .

> . Enter the following DNS addresses under Network Address Server Settings (DHCP): Static-DNS-1 = 103.86.96.100 Static-DNS-2 = 103.86.99.100 Static-DNS-3 = 0.0.0.0 (default) Use DNSMasq for DHCP = Checked Use DNSMasq for DNS = Checked DHCP-Authoritative = Checked

Now Save and Apply settings

and settings Open Setup > IPv6 and Disable it before pressing Save & Apply.

(This step is needed to prevent IP leaks)

Navigate to Service > VPN and set Start OpenVPN Client = Enable under OpenVPN Client

This will open the options you need to access to configure the router. Enter the values as shown in the image below:

Note: Enter your username and password associated with your VPN account and enter a server IP/Name depending on your choice (you can get the server address from the official website of your provider)

Copy/paste the following commands in the Additional Config field:

remote-cert-tls server

remote-random

nobind

tun-mtu 1500

tun-mtu-extra 32

mssfix 1450

persist-key

persist-tun

ping-timer-rem

reneg-sec 0

#log /tmp/vpn.log

#auth-user-pass /tmp/openvpncl/user.conf

Now download TLS and CA certificates from your provider’s official website. You can find NordVPN’s here.

Unzip the downloaded file and open servers folder

Open the CA.crt file of the server address you entered (which is us936_nordvpn_com_ca.crt for the present example), using Notepad

Copy Paste the entirety of this text (from —-BEGIN CERTIFICATE—– to —–END CERTIFICATE—–) in the CA Cert field

Open the TLS.key file of the server you selected (which is us936_nordvpn_com_tls.key for this example) with Notepad.

file of the server you selected (which is for this example) with Notepad. Now paste all of its tests in the TLS Auth Key field box.

field box. Click Save and Apply Settings to finalize the setup

to finalize the setup To confirm that the VPN has been set up on your router navigate to Status > OpenVPN

If it displays Client: CONNECTED SUCCESS, under State, then you should congratulate yourself for setting up a VPN for Roku through your router.

How to Create a US Roku Account?

If you want to run American streaming apps on your Roku such as HBO, US Netflix, Hulu, NBC, etc. you will need to have an American Roku account. The steps below outline how you can achieve this goal:

First of all, use your VPN to connect to a US server

Visit https://my.roku.com/index and click “Create account”

Enter the required information and press “Continue”

Select a PIN and press “Continue” again

Select a payment option of your choice

Enter a valid American address with zip code if you chose PayPal

You must enter your address associated with your credit card if you chose this option Now convert your postal code into a valid zip code by taking the digits from your postcode and adding zero to the end if there are less than 5 digits. For instance, postal code N3K5F7 would mean zip code is 35700 Note down the city associated with this zip code as you would need to enter this when setting up US Roku account

Now open Roku home screen>Settings>Factory Reset and follow the instructions to reset it

Your US account is successfully created, now you’re ready to use VPN and Roku simultaneously.

How To Choose a VPN for Roku?

Since there are over 850 VPNs available on the internet, choosing the right VPNs for Roku can be quite confusing. Here’s what you should check to choose the right VPN for your Roku:

Massive global server coverage to unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and other VoD services.

Streaming and security protocols like PPTP, OpenVPN and more.

Excellent customer support.

Device compatibility for all major platforms.

Powerful IP masking, VPN leak protection among other security mechanisms.

Best Free VPN for Roku A free VPN for Roku is a big NO. Most of the times, free VPNs sell your data to third party companies in exchange for money. Other than that, free VPNs come with bandwidth caps and won’t let you consume too much bandwidth. And since your main use case would be streaming, we do not recommend users to use free VPNs with Roku TV because you would need unlimited bandwidth. To enjoy unhindered streaming for hours, make sure you use a premium VPN for Roku. Benefits of Using a VPN with Roku A VPN unlocks the full potential of your Roku streaming stick by unblocking any streaming service not available in your country. You see, Roku uses Geo-IP tracking to identify which country you are located in. This is done by the reading of the country code of your IP address. Your IP address is your virtual identity card and is shared with every server you connect to. While every IP address is usually unique, the first few digits represent the country you are sitting in – much like a country code at the start of the phone number. Coming back to the subject… When you use a VPN on Roku, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed through a super-secure third-party server that takes responsibility for protecting your data when it is transit while making your intended website believe that you sitting in the same country as the VPN server. This means that you can be sitting in Korea but make it look like you are sitting in the US and watch Roku with ease. American Netflix on Roku As we all know, Netflix ‘s American Content library is the most extended and contains a lot of quality streaming content. With a VPN, you can also access Netflix US on your Roku Device. For that you’ll have to create a U.S account on Roku. Set up a VPN on your router by following the above mentioned steps

Create an American account on your Roku

Add U.S. Netflix or any other Geo-blocked channel to your Roku

Enjoy unlimited streaming! How to Create a British (UK) Roku Account? If you are a fan of UK streaming apps like BBC iPlayer, iTV, Now TV, etc. then you must have a UK account setup on your Roku. These are the requisite steps to get a UK Roku account: Start your VPN and connect to a UK VPN server

Open https://my.roku.com/index and select “ Create account ”

” Enter the information asked and press “Continue”

Make a PIN and press “ Continue ”

” Choose a payment option (preferably PayPal since the PayPal country has no effect on Roku account)

You can use a false UK address and use the postcode M2 4WU

Reset your Roku device to factory settings

Now you can access Roku with a UK account Frequently Asked Questions Which Channels are Free on Roku? Some of the most popular free channels on Roku are Pandora, PBS Kids, Crackle, Twitch, The Weather Network & The Roku Channel Can you Watch Live TV on a Roku? There are various channels available on Roku that offer live TV coverage such as Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and DirecTV NOW. So yes you can actually watch live TON on a Roku, which is great news for cord-cutters. Will Roku Work Outside US? Your Roku device itself will face no problem functioning outside of the US and display channels. However, there are Geo-restrictions imposed on most US-based channels so it is these specific channels that won’t work outside the US. Thus, you will need to use a VPN with US servers to access America-only channels on your Roku. Wrapping up! Roku is a pioneer in entertainment and it doesn’t get better than this if you want to watch US TV shows and movies. So it is a shame that only US-based subscribers can get the best out of their Roku devices. Fortunately, using the best Roku VPN, you can watch all channels irrespective of your location. Entertainment shouldn’t be discriminatory! In the end, I hope you found this article helpful. Hopefully, you now know how to set up a Roku VPN on your router. And if you’re not looking for spending a lot of money, do check out our best VPN deals and best christmas VPN deals 2020. Moreover, for all other streaming devices apart from Roku, you can visit our best VPN guide for detailed information.