The Roku smart TV platform is a convenient way to centralize your favorite streaming content. It can be built into your TV or you can add an affordable dongle or set-top box to an older TV. One big benefit of the Roku platform is that it offers free software updates to keep it up to date, like a cool new feature that turns your TV into a kind of virtual museum by displaying famous paintings as screensavers. However, Roku isn’t very good at solving one of the common complaints of the streaming era: geographic restrictions that prevent you from accessing popular shows, movies, and sporting events.
A common way to address this issue is to use a VPN, but unlike Fire TV, Apple TV, and other competitors, Roku systems don’t have native VPN support. But that’s not the end of the story. Using a VPN can give you access to a wider range of programming through your Roku. It’s just a workaround. Here’s how.
Benefits of using a VPN
When it comes to streaming, a VPN has one main benefit: it changes your IP address, a unique number that identifies the device and general network location of the network you’re using to access the web. A VPN tunnels your connection through a server, obfuscating your IP and making it appear like you’re watching from a different location. As a result, services like Netflix think you’re located in, say, the US instead of the UK. You then have access to a different set of shows. For example, the TV show Friends is available on Max in the US, but only on Netflix in the UK.
VPNs have several other privacy and security-related benefits: VPN servers have military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, making them more secure than a regular internet connection. Because you browse the internet through a tunnel through the VPN, your internet service provider can’t see everything you go on (and can’t sell your browsing habits to data brokers).
The easiest way to use a VPN with Roku
Roku doesn’t natively support VPNs, but there are some workarounds. For example, you can set up a VPN on your home router. This will protect your entire network and all the devices that connect to it, keeping the whole family anonymous online. However, it can also cause confusion if you want to access local services, requires quite a bit of technical knowledge, and only works with certain routers.
Instead, we recommend a much easier method: connecting a VPN to your Roku via AirPlay or screencasting. To do this, subscribe to a VPN and install it on your smartphone or laptop. Then stream content on that device and AirPlay or screencast to your Roku TV. The icon for doing this looks like a TV with a Wi-Fi ray.
Engadget
We recommend this method because of its overall simplicity: you can access geo-blocked content on your smartphone or laptop first, and then cast it to your smart TV.
You can make sure your Roku model supports AirPlay by checking this resource on Roku’s site. If it doesn’t, you can connect your phone or laptop directly to your TV using an HDMI cable or an appropriate dongle.
Choosing the Best VPN
While you will be using your phone or laptop as the ultimate source for streaming via VPN, the list of services you can choose from is actually wider. Each VPN has the same basic functionality, but the price and extra features vary. Check out what each VPN offers and see what other users have to say before deciding which one is right for your needs and devices. For now, check out our list of the best VPNs and enjoy streaming!
