The best smart TV VPNs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

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You whitethorn already usage a virtual backstage network (VPN) connected your PC oregon smartphone, but person you installed 1 connected your TV? Using a astute TV VPN helps sphere your privateness and entree streaming services you different wouldn't person entree to astatine home. I usage a VPN connected my ain TV to artifact ads, which you tin bash by choosing the close VPN and server.

My favourite astute TV VPN services see NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. When looking for a astute TV VPN, see its interaction on streaming speed and online connectivity, autochthonal astute TV app availability, server determination availability, and whether the VPN supplier offers specialized servers for some streaming and gaming.

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What is the champion VPN for your astute TV close now?

ZDNET's favourite VPN for astute TVs is NordVPN. This work combines fantabulous speed, server connections, and security. It besides has a plethora of ways to usage it with your Android-based TVs, Apple TVs, Amazon Fire Sticks -- with a imaginable caveat for caller models, arsenic outlined successful our FAQ, and gaming consoles.

Also: The champion VPN services: Expert tested

ZDNET writers person decades of experience testing and reviewing VPN software. I recognize however important VPNs are for improved online privateness and security. To supply the champion recommendations, I perpetually show the market, behaviour my ain investigations and tests for velocity and security, and see idiosyncratic feedback, arsenic good arsenic enactment immoderate caller changes to VPN offerings.

In our February update, we added the latest velocity trial information for download and upload speeds for each of our apical picks.

The champion astute TV VPNs successful 2026

Few astute TVs person autochthonal VPN enactment unless they are based connected the Android oregon Amazon Fire TV operating system. I urge galore VPNs based connected speed, beardown connectivity, and multi-platform support, including router installation. NordVPN rates good successful each of these categories.

Why we similar it: The VPN provider's bundle is compatible with a big of systems and hardware, and NordVPN besides provides useful guides on astute TV setup.

In my Feb. 2026 VPN testing, NordVPN had a download velocity of 704.11 Mbps and an upload velocity of 101.14 Mbps, compared to a starting download velocity of 776.47 Mbps and a starting upload velocity of 108.11 Mbps, making it the fastest enactment connected this list.

If you privation to usage NordVPN connected your astute TV, you person a fewer options. You tin download and instal autochthonal apps for Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV, oregon instal the VPN connected your router. You tin besides stock your net transportation done Ethernet cables oregon acquisition a router with the VPN pre-installed specified arsenic the Privacy Hero 2.

NordVPN is not yet fully available connected Amazon's caller Vega operating strategy owed to Amazon's restrictions connected the Fire TV Stick 4K Select. This caveat affects each the VPNs connected this list.

Also: NordVPN review

NordVPN often earns the apical spot successful my VPN recommendations. It provides fantabulous speeds, a server enactment including 126 countries, beardown stability, and up to 10 simultaneous connections. A caller independent audit and penetration trial recovered that the VPN worked arsenic intended.

NordVPN has refreshed its app idiosyncratic interface successful caller months. This volition marque it easier for beginners to recognize and for experienced users to find the server they privation much quickly.

Who it's for: During testing, this VPN proved itself to beryllium 1 of the fastest disposable alongside ExpressVPN, with fantabulous streaming capabilities, geo-circumvention, and coagulated connectivity. I besides similar the idiosyncratic interface, and truthful I would urge this VPN for the bulk of usage cases. It's besides 1 of the champion VPNs for accessing Netflix.

Who should look elsewhere: My favourite astute TV VPN is costly astatine its higher tiers, truthful it mightiness not suit each budget.

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ExpressVPN provided immoderate of the champion speeds around, with minimal velocity nonaccomplishment recorded successful my predominant tests. In our Feb. 2026 VPN testing, ExpressVPN had a download velocity of 645.77 Mbps and an upload velocity of 95.23 Mbps, compared to a starting download velocity of 776.47 Mbps and a starting upload velocity of 108.11 Mbps.

Why we similar it: It is casual to usage and compatible with a scope of platforms and operating systems, making it the close VPN for 2nd spot successful my astute TV VPN recommendations list.

To usage this VPN with your astute TV, notation to ExpressVPN's for assistance. This VPN provides autochthonal apps for usage with systems including Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. You tin instal the VPN straight onto your router, oregon opt for an Aircove router with this VPN built in.

Also: ExpressVPN review

If you're inactive having trouble, you tin usage ExpressVPN's DNS-based service. MediaStreamer improves streaming capabilities, but it won't supply the aforesaid extortion arsenic a VPN.

In my velocity tests, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are beauteous good matched, particularly erstwhile I link to section servers. However, ExpressVPN marginally surpassed its rival erstwhile I wanted to link to much distant servers for streaming purposes.

Who it's for: If velocity is king, you mightiness beryllium consenting to wage for this service, particularly arsenic it precocious moved to a cheaper, tiered pricing model. Two-year plans are priced astatine $3.49 per period and travel with 4 months of escaped access.

If you privation to motion up for an yearly contract, you volition wage $5 per period with 3 months free. One period of work costs $13.

Who should look elsewhere: If the monthly outgo is excessively high, effort 1 of my much affordable favorites, specified arsenic Surfshark oregon Private Internet Access.

ExpressVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 10 - 14 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 105 | Logging: No browsing logs, immoderate transportation logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days connected Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.0 | Google Play rating: 4.7 | App Store rating: 4.7

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Surfshark often ranks among my recommendations arsenic 1 of the astir consistently affordable VPNs and 1 of the astir beginner-friendly.

Why we similar it: Surfshark offers fantabulous worth for money, providing a coagulated server network, user-friendly mobile apps, and unlimited simultaneous connections. Its lone existent downside is that it doesn't lucifer the velocity of immoderate of its competitors.

In my velocity testing, I recovered Surfshark's show reasonable, particularly considering the terms point. In my Feb. 2026 VPN testing, Surfshark had a download velocity of 691.27 Mbps and an upload velocity of 93.59 Mbps, compared to a starting download velocity of 776.47 Mbps and a starting upload velocity of 108.11 Mbps.

Surfshark has provided comprehensive guides for mounting up the VPN with astute TVs. Native apps are disposable for systems including Android TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV, arsenic good arsenic Roku and Chromecast.

You tin besides acceptable up Surfshark connected your router if you similar broad VPN sum successful your home, including your TV, PC, and mobile devices.

Also: Surfshark VPN review

There is besides a utile intermission relation if you privation to entree a work temporarily without a VPN connection, which tin beryllium utile if you privation to power your IP backmost to your archetypal determination oregon if you travel crossed a website block.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants an affordable VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections -- thing neither ExpressVPN nor NordVPN does.

Customers similar the VPN's idiosyncratic interface and easiness of use, and I agree. While archetypal connections are often slow, erstwhile you're connected to a server, this is simply a set-and-forget VPN. Surfshark is presently rolling out FastTrack, a web upgrade intended to velocity up transportation times, arsenic good arsenic caller 100Gbps servers successful the Netherlands. We volition spot if this contented disappears successful the future.

Who should look elsewhere: If you're consenting to walk a fewer much dollars each month, you tin instrumentality vantage of amended connections and speeds with ExpressVPN oregon NordVPN.

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IPVanish is different large enactment for astute TV use, particularly if you're a console gamer seeking the champion servers disposable for gameplay and streaming. In my Feb. 2026 VPN testing, IPVanish had a download velocity of 611.23 Mbps and an upload velocity of 86.58 Mbps, compared to a starting download velocity of 776.47 Mbps and a starting upload velocity of 108.11 Mbps.

Why we similar it: When you prime a server to link to, you tin easy entree latency and ping statistics. This reduces lag and ensures privateness without disrupting your gaming session.

IPVanish works champion connected Android TV and Amazon Fire TV, but an Apple TV autochthonal app is besides available. You tin besides instal the app connected your router oregon stock your net transportation via a PC oregon hotspot done a mobile instrumentality with the VPN installed.

IPVanish is besides 1 of a fistful of VPNs with an app acceptable for Amazon's caller Vega operating system. This volition spell unrecorded arsenic soon arsenic Amazon gives the nod, which volition hopefully beryllium successful November.

Also: IPVanish review

I similar IPVanish's highly customizable service, which lets you take from assorted encryption protocols and different configuration options.

The institution expanded its server web to 108 countries, putting it connected par with competitors including NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and besides launched a new Trust Center. IPVanish's latest audit backed up its no-logs policy, and its caller transparency report reveals it has not stored oregon shared idiosyncratic information owed to DMCA requests.

If you request help, you tin notation to IPVanish's setup guides, though the website could bash with amended enactment astir navigating them.

Who it's for: Customers accidental they admit the nonrecreational work and lawsuit support. For gamers, IPVanish is perchance the champion enactment owed to server and latency data. Unlimited simultaneous connections are connected connection arsenic well, truthful you tin usage this VPN crossed your TV, smartphone, PC, and more.

Who should look elsewhere: IPVanish typically ranks successful the mediate of the battalion successful my predominant velocity tests, truthful if this bothers you, see checking retired NordVPN oregon ExpressVPN.

Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET's genitor company. For much information, spot our Editorial Guidelines.

IPVanish features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Fire TV, tvOS, Kodi, and routers | Logging: None, but billing information | Locations: 108 countries | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days connected Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.2 | Google Play rating: 4.4 | App Store rating: 4.6

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Private Internet Access, besides known arsenic PIA, is 1 of my favourite unfastened root VPNs that puts information and privateness first.

Why we similar it: This VPN stands retired arsenic an unfastened root enactment that benefits security-conscious users. Adopting an unfastened root attack means that 3rd parties tin analyse the VPN's codification for information issues oregon weaknesses that whitethorn interaction idiosyncratic privacy.

Also: Private Internet Access review

In my Feb. 2026 VPN testing, PIA had a download velocity of 511.85 Mbps and an upload velocity of 77.79 Mbps, compared to a starting download velocity of 776.47 Mbps and a starting upload velocity of 108.11 Mbps.

While PIA's interface could bash with an update. It works good connected the large surface and tin beryllium utilized with astute TVs done your router, autochthonal apps for Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV, oregon by sharing your PC's net connection.

Who it's for: During my velocity tests, PIA performed reasonably well, and I similar the usability and flexibility of this VPN service. Customers applaud PIA's Linux enactment and enactment its unfastened root attack arsenic a benefit.

The champion woody close present for PIA entree is simply a two-year contract, which costs $2.03 per period and comes with 4 months of escaped service. This, however, is simply a semipermanent plan. You tin besides motion up for six months for the equivalent of $7.50 per month.

I don't similar that yearly plans person disappeared, but a 30-day money-back warrant is available.

Who should look elsewhere: If a modern idiosyncratic interface is important to you, see 1 of my different astute TV VPN recommendations. In addition, PIA is headquartered successful the U.S., and truthful if U.S. information extortion stances interest you, you mightiness not privation to follow this VPN.

Private Internet Access VPN features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, tvOS, routers, Fire TV, and NAS | Countries: 91 | Logging: No-logs argumentation | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days connected Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.2 | Google Play rating: 4.2 | App Store rating: 4.7

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Also: The champion streaming VPNs: Expert tested

VPN services are designed to amended your online privacy. VPNs make encrypted tunnels betwixt your instrumentality and net services, masking your IP code and making it much hard to eavesdrop and show you. The programs aren't a metallic slug for security, but they are inactive an important instrumentality for america to have.

For astute TVs, a VPN tin halt your net work supplier (ISP) from monitoring what you are streaming, and from where, and tin besides beryllium utilized to alteration your location. In immoderate cases, this tin assistance you debar throttling oregon springiness you the quality to bypass geolocation blocks, but the second is simply a legally grey area.

How to acceptable up a astute TV VPN

Once you've chosen the astute TV VPN you want, you should cheque whether a autochthonal app is available. The astir communal TV operating strategy with autochthonal apps is Android TV, though you tin often usage a VPN connected your Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV.

Find your app successful your TV's repository, typically successful its centralized astute hub. After installing the app, unfastened it and log successful to the work with the username, email, and password you created erstwhile you subscribed. Alternatively, immoderate VPNs let you to log successful done a QR codification oregon a one-time passcode.

Once your VPN has been installed, prime a state oregon preferred server, and you're done.

If the VPN you privation to usage is unavailable for your TV, you whitethorn person to acceptable up a VPN work connected your router instead. Most VPN providers person extended FAQ sections connected their sites detailing however to implicit a manual setup.

Choose this VPN...	If you want...
NordVPN	The champion astute TV VPN overall. NordVPN is compatible with a assortment of TV platforms including Android TV and Fire TV, and provides you with precocious speeds, security, and stability. You besides person an fantabulous enactment of servers to take from, making it a large streaming solution.
ExpressVPN	A speedy astute TV VPN. While it is much costly than galore competitors, this multi-platform enactment volition springiness you fantastic speeds for streaming. We'd similar to spot ExpressVPN connection unlimited simultaneous connections, but it's inactive capable to support galore of your devices.
Surfshark	An affordable astute TV VPN. Surfshark has consistently debased pricing, decent speeds, and an charismatic idiosyncratic interface. It's not rather arsenic accelerated arsenic immoderate of its competitors, but Surfshark provides fantabulous worth for money.
IPVanish	A gaming-ready VPN. IPVanish offers tenable speeds for a tenable terms and provides server accusation that allows you to prime the close enactment to trim lag. You tin besides support an unlimited fig of devices simultaneously.
Private Internet Access	An open-source astute TV VPN. Private Internet Access has an unfastened and transparent attack to information for protecting your devices. Unlimited simultaneous connections are connected connection and truthful you'll ne'er person to interest astir simultaneous usage restrictions.

Price: Weigh the wide terms of your caller VPN program earlier committing yourself to a subscription. Take vantage of promotions specified arsenic the existent Black Friday sales, but disregard countdown timers, arsenic they are typically conscionable selling tools. Some of the champion VPNs connected the marketplace are present disposable for the equivalent of a fewer dollars per month.
Apps: When selecting a VPN, effort it archetypal to guarantee you similar its accompanying TV app. Some VPNs, for example, person large desktop bundle but deficiency elsewhere, meaning they are little intuitive oregon casual to use. You mightiness beryllium capable to find a autochthonal astute TV app. Alternatively, you whitethorn person to instal the VPN straight connected your router oregon third-party devices specified arsenic compatible Amazon Fire TV Stick models.
Server selection: If you privation to usage a VPN to entree antithetic streaming libraries oregon artifact ads, server enactment is important. Check whether servers are disposable successful your preferred countries oregon cities.
Security: Choose a reputable VPN supplier that emphasizes idiosyncratic privateness and security. Frequent spot updates, transparent disclosure of information incidents, warrant canaries, and no-logs policies are each important factors. Open root VPN solutions are besides fantabulous options, arsenic they let their codification to beryllium scrutinized by 3rd parties.
Simultaneous connections: If you're paying for a VPN suitable for your astute TV, you volition astir apt privation to usage it crossed aggregate devices. We urge that you motion up for a program supporting astatine slightest six devices. Many paid VPN plans present connection unlimited connections.
Contract length: Decide however agelong you privation to usage a VPN. If you opt for a two-year term, you thin to unafraid the champion prices, but yearly oregon six-month plans are besides available. After you've made a selection, you typically person a 30-day money-back guarantee. Some VPN providers assistance up to 45 days to effort retired their network.
Free VPNs: There are immoderate escaped VPNs that are compatible with astute TVs, but you should hole for limitations oregon restrictions. For example, adjacent if a escaped VPN program isn't throttled successful presumption of speed, you whitethorn beryllium constricted to a tiny enactment of servers -- and a dense postulation load volition interaction the velocity available.

Latest quality connected VPNs

ExpressVPN precocious launched ExpressKeys and ExpressMailGuard, with ExpressAI--a caller backstage AI assistant--coming soon. The thought down this work is to trim the hazard of idiosyncratic profiling oregon of user-issued prompts being fed backmost into large connection models (LLMs) for AI training.
Windscribe VPN reported that instrumentality enforcement successful Europe had confiscated 1 of its VPN servers without a warrant. The institution told customers it doesn't expect the server to incorporate immoderate idiosyncratic information, citing its "no identifying logs policy."
In January of 2026, Surfshark completed different autarkic audit of its privateness and information practices, and the results showed nary captious oregon high-risk vulnerabilities.

If you privation to instal a VPN is to disguise your IP code and alteration your determination to entree a streaming contented room extracurricular your archetypal location, it's worthy it. However, you volition apt person to wage for the privilege, oregon judge the limitations of a escaped VPN, which could severely interaction your velocity and server selection.

Considering however utile VPNs tin beryllium successful protecting your online privacy, we urge utilizing 1 connected PC, 1 connected your smartphone, and past connected immoderate different device.

While determination are free VPNs and escaped VPN plans, the bulk volition travel with dense restrictions connected velocity and server choice, and immoderate providers mightiness show ads oregon merchantability your information.

As you volition apt privation to entree contented specified arsenic TV shows oregon films, you volition apt request a VPN without velocity limits. These thin lone to beryllium disposable with paid subscriptions, though you mightiness get distant with Proton VPN arsenic a escaped work for your astute TV. Still, I wouldn't urge a escaped program if your main extremity of utilizing a VPN is for streaming purposes.

Free VPNs usually travel with caveats similar the merchantability of your data, highly constricted server networks, oregon throttled speeds.

If you inactive privation to usage a escaped VPN -- earlier taking the plunge and signing up for a paid work -- the lone escaped VPNs I urge trying retired with a astute TV are Proton VPN, Windscribe, and perchance Hotspot Shield.

Samsung devices person Knox, a built-in VPN lawsuit champion suited for concern use, arsenic it requires manual configuration and is highly basic. Most of the time, consumers volition opt for a paid third-party VPN work instead.

Most astute TV models bash not connection VPN services retired of the box, including those from Samsung. Instead, you volition request to find a VPN app successful an Android TV hub erstwhile disposable -- arsenic Tizen OS is improbable to person VPN apps -- instal a VPN connected your router, oregon span the spread by utilizing a instrumentality connected to your TV, specified arsenic done an Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Yes, you can. One of the reasons VPNs are truthful fashionable is that they tin beryllium utilized to entree antithetic geo-locked contented libraries crossed streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+.

Also: The champion VPN for streaming: Expert tested

Keep successful caput that this is simply a legally grey area. You whitethorn beryllium breaking a streamer's presumption of work by switching your determination to entree a room typically lone disposable successful different area. Furthermore, if they observe VPN usage, immoderate services bounds contented libraries to lone media disposable nether cosmopolitan licenses.

Amazon's modular scope of Fire TV Sticks, based connected Fire OS, are typically good to usage with a VPN. Many VPN providers person provided autochthonal Fire OS apps, truthful finding, downloading, and installing them is simply a breeze.

However, determination is simply a imaginable caller caveat. The caller Fire TV Stick 4K Select, a $40 dongle for streaming successful 4K, is based connected Vega OS. This comes with restrictions that Fire OS does not have. It's a occupation for amerciable streaming, but 1 that has besides caught VPNs successful the proverbial net, arsenic this strategy does not reportedly enactment VPNs. Amazon promised a hole successful the future.

Yes, astute TV VPN services are ineligible successful the United States, but legality varies from state to country.

Check the laws of your determination earlier utilizing a VPN. Some countries, specified arsenic North Korea and Belarus, prohibition their usage outright, whereas others, including Russia and China, frown upon it.

For a database of countries wherever VPN usage is illegal, cheque retired NordVPN's guide.

To guarantee a harmless and reliable VPN experience, archetypal take a reputable vendor known to person a beardown information background.

Next, comparison your IP code earlier and aft enabling a VPN connection. You tin find this nether your device's settings, typically nether Wi-Fi, or by visiting whatismyipaddress.com. If they some show the aforesaid IP, your VPN whitethorn not beryllium moving properly.

You tin besides sojourn dnsleaktest.com to spot if immoderate domain sanction work (DNS) leaks are detected portion you are utilizing a VPN, which could beryllium a motion that your accusation is being leaked.

VPNs obscure your online enactment by encrypting your connection and masking your IP address. While it whitethorn beryllium much hard to observe amerciable streaming, nary VPN volition wholly fell your net beingness and determination whitethorn inactive beryllium consequences for amerciable activity.

Even erstwhile you are legally utilizing a streaming work you subscribe to -- specified arsenic Netflix -- the usage of a VPN whitethorn besides restrict you to contented libraries lone disposable with a cosmopolitan license. Most contented providers cognize their customers usage a VPN, and portion they don't similar it, they won't prohibition their use.

If VPNs are not supported by your astute TV's operating strategy and nary autochthonal VPN apps are available, you person options. You tin instal a VPN connected your router, oregon you could usage a VPN connected your PC oregon laptop and past reflector a surface to your TV. You tin besides usage an accessory similar an Amazon Fire TV Stick, of which astir models enactment VPN usage.

Latest updates

February 2026: In ZDNET's February update, we added our astir caller velocity trial results to each product's description, arsenic good arsenic successful our examination visualization chart. We besides updated the latest VPN quality section.
November 2025: In ZDNET's November update, we updated our FAQ conception and reviewed our apical picks, adding further accusation and news.
October 2025: In ZDNET's October update, we performed editorial changes and revised our FAQ section.
September 2025: In ZDNET's September update, we checked each of our recommendations with caller fiber-based velocity tests and performed editorial transcript changes.

Other VPNs we've tested

Starting astatine lone $2.03 per period with 4 months escaped during the Black Friday sale, CyberGhost natively works with Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV. It tin besides beryllium installed straight connected your router.

It's a large enactment wide for streaming and gaming, acknowledgment to its dedicated servers for these activities. While it does person constricted simultaneous use, it's inactive a beardown contender for astute TVs.

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Proton VPN is simply a coagulated enactment for Android and Amazon Fire TVs, and a escaped program is available. If you privation a VPN work for usage with your astute TV, this is simply a large solution but expect restrictions connected escaped accounts.

Keep successful caput that server loads connected Proton VPN's escaped servers could effect successful much velocity loss. Still, speeds thin to beryllium reasonable, particularly if you are utilizing a section server.

Paid plans commencement astatine $2.49 per period during the existent Black Friday sale.

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Hotspot Shield boasts large multi-platform compatibility, with its apps disposable connected platforms specified arsenic the Google Play Store and Amazon Fire TV. Free and paid options are available, with subscriptions offered astatine $8 per month.

The escaped program is trustworthy, but it's expensive. If you're consenting to motion up, you volition get entree to specialized streaming services for Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+.

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We anticipation that our usher connected the champion astute TV VPNs has helped you marque an informed decision. However, if you're interested, you tin besides cheque retired our apical picks for the best VPNs of 2026, our favourite mobile VPNs, and trustworthy free VPNs.

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