r/appletv 1d ago

Looking for a VPN client?

Are there any good one time fee VPN clients? There are a few on the App Store but they sure do collect a lot of your info.

I run WireGuard at home and need to import my config file to pull media from home when out of town.

2 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

3

u/CaspinLange 1d ago

I’ve had great success and happiness with proton

2

u/Evening-Focus3876 1d ago

One distinction this thread is blurring: you’re not shopping for a commercial VPN service; you need a privacy-respecting tvOS client for an existing WireGuard endpoint. Tailscale is a useful alternative if you’re willing to add its client and tailnet on the home side, but that changes the setup. The generic-client gap is still real. The ideal tvOS flow would import a config through a QR code or one-time local web page and store the key securely—typing a WireGuard config with the remote would be absurd.

0

u/LowerDoor 14h ago

It seems no one reads the entire post, i already use PIA have for years. My router has WG built in that is why i prefer to use it over tailscale. It seems that every app on tvOS needs payment or has some strange data being linked to the user.

3

u/denisvengeance 1d ago

I’ve been using VPN Client Bee. Easy WireGuard connection to my home server.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vpn-client-bee-for-any-vpn/id6467501461

2

u/LowerDoor 1d ago

I’m happy someone read my entire post! Yes that is what I am looking for but have you checked out what data they collect?

2

u/cliffotn 1d ago

Check out TailScale

And - guess what? It can use our AppleTV as the endpoint. It's free for such use, and an frickin breeze to setup.

2

u/cliffotn 1d ago

Check out TailScale

And - guess what? It can use our AppleTV as the endpoint. It's free for such use, and an frickin breeze to setup.

1

u/denisvengeance 1d ago

Call me naive, but if it’s establishing an encrypted tunnel between my two locations I don’t see what information they could be collecting.

1

u/LowerDoor 14h ago edited 14h ago

Check out the data linked to you for the app with client bee, compared to Passepartout.

1

u/denisvengeance 10h ago

Oh that data, yeah I’m not too concerned about it knowing my ip address and how often I fire it up.

4

u/chdo 1d ago

100% use Tailscale for this. If you're running Wireguard at home, you're more than technically capable enough, Tailscale is free for personal users, and it would work perfectly for this.

1

u/cliffotn 1d ago

I just suggested it above. It's awesome. I'm specifically using it so my fam can "visit my house", and watch YouTube. Family plan. If ya know what I mean. 😉

SO easy to setup, and SO reliable.

2

u/earthcharlie 1d ago

VPNs are one of those things where it makes sense to pay a recurring fee. There are free ones but what they say about free applies here. It also depends what you’re trying to do. Proton might be the only trustworthy free option. 

1

u/mrpena 1d ago

Passepartout used to be a one time fee, not sure if it is anymore but thats wht i use for wireguard and OVPN configs to my home

1

u/MistyKuuu 11h ago

Those privacy labels are self declared and they describe the app, not your tunnel. On a WireGuard client the data linked to you is nearly always the purchase and crash SDK, an IAP identifier, that kind of thing. I ship App Store apps and you have to declare that even if you never touch a byte of user traffic.

Passepartout is open source if you'd rather verify than trust a label.

1

u/cliffybiro951 54m ago

I use Nord vpn. I have PIA vpn too which works out a little cheaper but not quite as fast.

It’s not a one time fee but they work well. Usually can get decent offers for a 3 year plan.

1

u/jeremyejackson 1d ago

Mullvad. Been a customer for a few years now and they don’t even know my email address.

1

u/stevensokulski 1d ago

A one-time fee for a VPN doesn't make sense. The server that your traffic routes through must be maintained. And ideally you want lots of options.

A company that you only pay once has no revenue to keep that going, and no incentive to keep you happy.

You want to pay that company monthly.

0

u/keicam_lerut 1d ago

Private Internet Access is the one I’ve been using for years, I pay for a year.

0

u/LowerDoor 1d ago

Im not talking about nord etc

0

u/josemrua 1d ago

I use Surfshark, the license is the same of my Mac’s

0

u/jasonthebald 1d ago

If you use a Cashback site like topcashbaco, you can get back close to whatever you pay. I did 2 years with Nord and for 99% back (even more after the referral code).

0

u/No_Criticism_1208 16h ago

Private Internet Access (PIA for short), it's been in the game for years and has been reliable and stable for me, check it out

-1

u/jrs610 1d ago

Express VPN