The Best VPN for Chromecast in 2022 – Our Top 3 Picks

best VPN Chromecast
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Summary: The Best VPN For Google Chromecast

Streaming to your television is easy with Google Chromecast. However, things will get even better when you also use a VPN on your Chromecast. With a VPN, you’ll be able to:

  • Get around geographical restrictions
  • Stream online safely
  • Use Kodi safely

If you’re looking for the best VPN for Chromecast, you’ll want one that’s fast, reliable, and has enough server locations. Here are our top 3 choices:

  1. ExpressVPN: The fastest VPN for Chromecast
  2. Surfshark: A cheap alternative at high quality
  3. NordVPN: Great Chromecast VPN with large server network

In the article below, we’ve conducted a detailed comparison of each and explained exactly why ExpressVPN is the best choice.

Read on below to find a detailed comparison of some of the best VPNs for Chromecast, and why we recommend paid options instead of free ones.

Google Chromecast is a useful media device that allows you to stream movies, series, sports, and music from your devices to your TV. However, some popular streaming services impose geographical restrictions on certain content, so you won’t be able to use your Chromecast to its fullest potential.

To gain access to this restricted material, you can use a virtual private network. Aside from giving you access to more online content, a VPN connection also makes sure that everything you do online, including streaming content, is anonymous and completely secure.

This article will tell you all about the various advantages of using your Chromecast in combination with a VPN. We’ll also list the best VPN services for using Google Chromecast.

The 3 Best VPN Providers for Google Chromecast

A good Chromecast VPN should be user-friendly, fast, and secure. It’s also important that the VPN you choose is capable of unblocking websites and services. After running extensive tests, we came up with the three best VPN providers for use with your Google Chromecast.


1. ExpressVPN: The best Chromecast VPN for excellent speeds

Express VPN homepage horizontal screenshot with logo

Key Features

  • 3000+ VPN servers in 94 countries
  • Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other popular streaming services
  • Great speeds, even for torrents and P2P downloads
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN has been a top VPN provider for years now. The ExpressVPN team is constantly working on providing its users with thousands of servers in dozens of countries. You’ll never be limited by geographical restrictions again with an ExpressVPN subscription.

The extensive server network, combined with the strong AES-256 bit encryption it uses and its ironclad no-logging policy, makes ExpressVPN an excellent VPN for Chromecast. In fact, ExpressVPN is great on any device you use. If you want to anonymize yourself, you simply can’t go wrong with this one.

In our testing, speeds dipped by 30 percent on distant connections, but closer ones weren’t majorly affected, so streaming movies, shows, and music shouldn’t be a problem. Their applications are user-friendly and easy to work with. Moreover, if you can’t figure out how to get something to work, their customer service will be happy to help you at any time.

Due to these reasons, ExpressVPN is one of our preferred VPN services for Chromecast.

ExpressVPN
Deal:
Great discount on annual subscription + 30-day money-back guarantee!
From
$6.67
8.9
  • Very easy to use VPN
  • Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e. Netflix)
  • 3000+ servers in 94 countries
Visit ExpressVPN

2. Surfshark: The most cost-effective Chromecast VPN

Surfshark VPN homepage horizontal screenshot with logo

Key Features

  • Only 7% speed loss on nearby country servers
  • Works well with torrents and streaming services like Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer using Camouflage Mode
  • Costs only $2.49 a month; 30-day money-back guarantee
  • A NoBorders mode for unblocking content in strict censorship areas
  • 3,200 servers across 65 countries

Surfshark has proven to be a very reliable and affordable VPN service despite being a relative newcomer to the VPN market. They offer a great deal for the low price of just $2.49 a month, and have a reliable server network that may not be as big as some of their competitors, but is still very efficient. As a result, you’ll be able to unblock nearly everything you want with Surfshark.

SurfShark also offers excellent customer service in case there’s an issue. When it comes to security, Surfshark is a safe bet as well. It uses OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec, and offers AES-256 encryption. All in all, Surfshark is a fantastic VPN for streaming Chromecast for those on a budget.

Surfshark
Deal:
Safe and anonymous internet for only $2.30a month
From
$2.30
9.0
  • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
  • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
  • Cheap with many extra options
Visit Surfshark

3. NordVPN: The Chromecast VPN with a large server network

NordVPN homepage horizontal screenshot with logo

Key Features

  • More than 5,500 servers spanning 60 countries
  • Incredibly fast speeds
  • NordLynx protocol is secure and fast
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Another VPN alternative with a decent price and good quality is NordVPN. NordVPN is known for its robust security, as it supports AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. The download speeds dipped by 35 percent in our testing on distant servers, but the dip was negligible on nearby connections. Moreover, NordVPN is especially convenient if you want to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix or BBC iPlayer.

The decent price tag ($3.29 a month) makes NordVPN an extremely interesting VPN. NordVPN has one of the biggest server networks of all VPN providers we’ve tested, so you won’t face much trouble in unblocking your favorite content. All in all, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Chromecast. Not only that, but it also tops the list as the best VPN for Chrome.

NordVPN
Our pick
Our pick
Deal:
Only $3.29 a month for a two-year subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
From
$3.29
9.3
  • Excellent protection and a large network of servers
  • Nice and pleasing application
  • No logs
Visit NordVPN

What to Look for When Choosing a VPN for Chromecast

What should you look for in a VPN for Google Chromecast?

FeatureDescription
SpeedStreaming movies or music requires a fast and stable connection to the internet. Some VPN providers slow down your computer’s internet connection because of the many layers of security they tack on. However, this usually happens with VPNs that use older security protocols. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, and even CyberGhost are just some of the many that use advanced VPN tunnels like WireGuard to offer security without compromising on speeds.
Server NetworkMost VPN providers offer servers in different countries. The locations of these servers will determine the localized content that you see. It’s practical to have a lot of countries to choose from because most streaming services limit their content offering based on where you access it from. So, with one VPN subscription, you can easily access content from different countries.
Overall ExperienceThe best VPN providers have user-friendly applications and offer snappy customer service. For more information, you can have a look at our reviews of the best VPN providers of the past year.

All of the above features were carefully considered when we decided on our top 3 best VPNs for Chromecast.

Can I use a free VPN for Chromecast?

You can use a free VPN to access Chromecast, though it’s definitely not going to be a good experience. Most people think that it’s a wise option, but for Chromecast, a free VPN won’t be of much use. Here’s why:

  • Most free VPN providers limit the amount of data you get to use every month. Usually, this limit isn’t even enough to stream one movie.
  • Some free VPNs also work with speed limits. This means it can take ages to load a video or song.
  • The server network offered by most free VPNs is also pretty limited. This means that the range of content you can unlock is much lesser than with a premium VPN service.

If you are merely looking to anonymously browse the internet, a free VPN is good enough. Even then, however, you have to be careful to choose a decent free VPN. Many “free VPNs” on the internet aren’t secure at all. Check out our article on the best free VPN services and take your pick.

Why Use a VPN with Your Google Chromecast?

There are several reasons for streaming content on Chromecast with a VPN. First of all, it allows you to bypass geographical restrictions. Besides that, however, it also secures your computer’s internet connection and anonymizes your online activity. You can easily access content from a variety of different regions with a VPN.

Bypass geographical restrictions with a VPN

The most important reason for most people to use Chromecast with a VPN is to gain access to more content. Some content on web-based streaming services like Netflix is not available due to geographical restrictions. This means that specific content is available for some countries, while it isn’t in others.

A person connects to the internet and bypasses an online restriction wall due to the VPN

Netflix US, for instance, has more than three times the amount of content that the streaming service has in most other countries. Other services, like BBC iPlayer and Hulu, become completely unavailable when you aren’t in the right country.

With a VPN you can access your streaming service as though you were in another country. If you are in France, for example, simply connecting to a VPN server in the USA could already help you access the American version of Netflix.

This is useful when you live in a country where a lot of international content is blocked, but also when you want to watch your usual shows while on holiday. In short, there is simply more to cast to your Chromecast device with a VPN!

Online safety with a VPN

Laptop With LockA VPN encrypts your data traffic and secures your internet connection. This way, no government, hacker, advertiser, internet service provider, or company can see what you do online. You will have greater anonymity and your personal information, like login data and passwords, will be protected.

You may think you have nothing to hide on your Google Chromecast. However, companies could use information gained from watching your streaming behavior to bombard you with targeted ads. This way, they decide what you get to see online, which means you lose part of your online freedom.

Using Kodi safely with a VPN

Kodi is a popular, open-source multimedia player. It places all of your favorite streaming services together on one platform so you don’t need to switch between them. This is especially useful on your Google Chromecast. Luckily, Chromecast and Kodi work together perfectly. Your VPN will help you access Kodi safely.

That’s why we’d advise you to first add VPN protection to your Chromecast before you access Kodi. That way, you’ll have everything in one place, be able to cast it to your television in a heartbeat, and be able to safely stream even more content because of the VPN.

Install Your VPN on Your Chromecast

There are different ways to set up a VPN so it’ll work on your Chromecast. It isn’t possible to install a VPN directly on a Chromecast device, but you can install it in other ways. The two options are:

  1. Install a VPN on your physical router
  2. Set up a virtual router and connect your Chromecast to it

The safest option is to install your VPN on your physical router so all devices connected to your home network connection through that router will be protected. To learn how to do that, you can read this step-by-step plan for installing a VPN on a DD-WRT physical router.

Google Chromecast Set Up Illustration

The second option is to create a hotspot on your PC or Mac. This will turn your computer into a VPN-enabled virtual router. If you activate the VPN on that computer and then connect your Chromecast to the hotspot, your Chromecast will also be protected.

Installing a VPN for your Chromecast can be challenging, but we’ve prepared a guide that will take you through the process step-by-step.

Final Thoughts

Using a VPN server in combination with your Chromecast comes with many advantages. It allows you to bypass geographical restrictions and access content from all over the world. Furthermore, it protects your connection against third-party involvement, making you more anonymous while streaming.

ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN are great VPN providers that’ll help you get the most out of your Google Chromecast. They all score well on speed and server location, meaning you’ll be able to watch whatever you want, whenever you want on your Chromecast. There’s also BlufVPN, which is relatively new but is decent for streaming, though it’s a long way from the big leagues.

Looking for a VPN that works with other Google products? We round up the best VPNs for Chromebook here.

Best VPN for Google Chromecast: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question on the best VPN for Chromecast? Have a look at our FAQ below. Click on a question to see the answer.

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN providers at this moment. It has thousands of servers in dozens of countries, making bypassing geographical blockages easy. Moreover, ExpressVPN is very fast, user-friendly, and has excellent customer service. Are you looking for a cheaper option? Go with Surfshark. Or read the full article for more information.

We don’t recommend using free VPNs in combination with Chromecast. Many free VPNs aren’t secure and have data and speed limits. It’s very frustrating when you want to watch a movie that keeps loading or cuts off halfway through. A free VPN is ideal if you want to try out a VPN, but it won’t work as a long-term solution. If you want to try one out, make sure you choose a reliable and good free VPN.

If you connect your Chromecast via a VPN, you can access geographically blocked content and stream online more securely and anonymously. A VPN protects your browsing data against hackers, governments, or companies that are after your data. You can also use Kodi securely with a VPN.

Tech journalist
Tove has been working for VPNoverview since 2017 as a journalist covering cybersecurity and privacy developments. She has broad experience developing rigorous VPN testing procedures and protocols for our VPN review section and has tested dozens of VPNs over the years.