VPN vs Proxy vs Smart DNS for Streaming: Which One Do You Need?
A plain-English comparison of VPNs, proxies and Smart DNS for home streaming: privacy, speed, device support and which one fits your situation.
VPNs, proxies and Smart DNS services are often sold as if they were the same thing. They are not. Each one changes a different part of your connection, and choosing the wrong one means paying for features you do not get.
Here is what each one does, in plain English, and how to pick.
The short answer
| VPN | Proxy | Smart DNS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encrypts your traffic | Yes | Usually no | No |
| Hides your activity from your internet provider | Yes | No | No |
| Changes your visible IP address | Yes, for all apps | Only for one app or browser | No |
| Speed impact | Small to moderate | Small | Almost none |
| Works on any smart TV | Not always | Rarely | Yes |
What a VPN does
A VPN (virtual private network) creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a VPN server. Everything you do online travels through that tunnel. Your internet provider can see that you are connected to a VPN, but not which sites you visit or what you stream.
Good for: privacy at home, public Wi-Fi, avoiding provider throttling of video, protecting every app on a device at once.
Watch out for: a small speed loss caused by encryption and the extra distance to the server. On a modern connection with a nearby server, most people do not notice it when streaming.
What a proxy does
A proxy is a server that forwards requests from one app, often just your web browser. Websites see the proxy's address instead of yours. Most proxies do not encrypt your traffic, so your internet provider and anyone on the same Wi-Fi can still see what you do.
Good for: quick, low-stakes tasks inside a browser.
Watch out for: free proxies. Running servers costs money, and free services often pay for it by showing ads, logging traffic or selling data. Never sign into accounts through a proxy you do not trust.
What Smart DNS does
When you type a web address, your device asks a DNS server where to find it. Smart DNS replaces your normal DNS server with one that answers some of those questions differently. It does not encrypt anything and does not change your IP address for most traffic.
Good for: devices that cannot run VPN apps, such as many Samsung and LG televisions and games consoles, because DNS can be changed in almost any network settings menu.
Watch out for: it offers no privacy at all. Treat it as a convenience tool, not a security tool.
Which one should you choose?
You want privacy and protection
Choose a VPN. It is the only one of the three that encrypts your connection. This matters most on public and shared networks, and if you prefer that your internet provider cannot see your browsing.
You stream on a TV that cannot install apps
Use a VPN on your router, or plug in a streaming stick that runs VPN apps. If neither is possible, a Smart DNS service is the fallback, keeping in mind that it does not protect your privacy. Our guide on setting up a VPN on a smart TV walks through every option.
Your provider slows down video in the evening
A VPN helps here, because your provider can no longer see which traffic is video. A proxy or Smart DNS will not hide it.
A note on streaming service rules
Streaming services decide what is available in each country through their licence agreements, and their terms of use describe how their service may be accessed. A VPN is a legal privacy tool in most countries, but check the terms of each service you use and the law where you live.
Summary
If you only buy one tool, make it a VPN: it covers privacy, public Wi-Fi and throttling in one subscription. Browse our VPNs and privacy tools, or ask us in the chat which one fits your devices.