The Amazon Fire Stick can certainly be a great little tool to smarten up your smart TV, but did you know that pairing it with a VPN can take your streaming experience to a whole new level.
That’s because, with a VPN, you’ll be able to access streaming libraries from around the world that would otherwise be geo-blocked. Plus, a top-quality VPN can also offer added protection of your personal information by encrypting your connection and changing your IP address to something more generic.
Not all VPNs are created equal, though, which is why I’ve put together this review of the top 5 VPNs to use with your Fire Stick in 2023. These VPNs offer dedicated Fire Stick software plus they all have a wide range of servers around the world, making it easy to access the content you want, wherever you are.
So, whether you’re traveling and want to access your home country’s streaming services, or you’re looking to watch exclusive content from another country, a Fire Stick VPN can help you get there.
How do I choose a VPN for my Fire Stick?
No matter what you’re planning to watch, a VPN for the Amazon Fire Stick should always include the following features:
- Find a VPN service that offers an app specifically for the Fire Stick. VPN software tailored to Fire TV devices will simplify setup greatly, plus it guarantees the service will work on your set-top box too.
- Strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and an automatic kill switch are just a few examples of the key security features any decent VPN should ideally offer. Stream with ultimate peace of mind, by making sure these safeguards are in place.
- Not all VPNs can unblock streaming services due to rather stringent anti-VPN geo-restrictions. This is important, so choose a VPN that has a history of effectively unblocking your desired services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or Disney+ to get the best results.
- Also be aware that streaming content is often quite data-intensive, therefore it’s important that the VPN company provides fast, stable connections – to that end, find a VPN that has a LOT of servers and has a good track record with regards to connection speeds.
- As avid readers of VPN Hound will know, VPNs can vary hugely in price too, so it’s crucial to think about how much you’re willing to spend. However, the price must be considered in light of the service’s worth – or in other words, a VPN that costs a little more but offers more robust security and faster connections may prove to be more worthwhile in the long run.
Overview: Top 5 VPNs for Fire Stick (2023)
1. ExpressVPN – Hands-Down No. 1 Choice
According to our in-house tests, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for the Amazon Fire Stick right now.
This is because it has a user-friendly UI that makes connecting to a VPN as simple as clicking a button. With ExpressVPN’s unified client experience, users comfortable with the company’s desktop or mobile apps will feel right at home with the Fire TV app. Users can quickly navigate the app with their Fire TV remote, and it displays the recommended location for the fastest connection speed.
Pros:
- Excellent overall Fire Stick performance 🚀
- Easy-to-use Fire TV app interface 🔥
- Reliable unblocking of streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer 📺
- Strong security features and no-log privacy policy 🔒
- Great customer support including 24/7 live chat 🤝
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than other VPN options 💰
- Speeds not as fast as some competitors like NordVPN 🐌
- No ad-blocker or malware protection features ❌
When looking for a VPN for your Fire Stick, speed should be a top priority. ExpressVPN is unparalleled in this sense, always delivering solid overall performance. Although it experienced a decrease in speed during other website’s recent tests, from peak speeds of 630Mbps to 560Mbps, this was typical of the majority of VPN services tested.
ExpressVPN’s speeds are impressive, as the minimum required for 4K streaming on a Fire Stick is a mere 25Mbps, which it’s more than capable of getting from all its servers. Even if NordVPN offers higher speeds (up to 820Mbps), ExpressVPN is still more than up to the challenge.
The reason I’ve picked this as the number one VPN for Amazon Fire Stick is simples: ExpressVPN is also consistently voted as one of the best VPNs for general use here at VPN Hound, and its capabilities in terms of streaming are unrivalled.
ExpressVPN’s apps are intuitive, fast, and really straightforward…
Plus, ExpressVPN’s apps are intuitive, fast, and really straightforward, and the Fire TV app is user-friendly, with prominent “On” buttons and suggestions on where to set up your device for the best possible internet connection. All round it’s just a great, easy-to-use VPN with no unneccessary bells and whistles, and other review websites agree.
ExpressVPN is dependable in every way: overall performance is good, although as above you’ll get slightly slower speeds compared to NordVPN (more on this later). It can also unblock top streaming services like Netflix, ITV X, Peacock, Hulu, YouTube TV, All 4, 9Now, and 10Play in addition to popular streaming services like Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
ExpressVPN’s support site has helpful guides that make setting up the VPN on a Fire TV Stick a breeze. You can contact their support team via live chat or email at any time, and of course users have complete anonymity and security with ExpressVPN thanks to the service’s no-log privacy policy and other security measures, such as the app’s auto-connect function for the Fire TV.
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.8 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $6.67/month (12 month plan) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN — today only!
2. NordVPN – A Solid Runner-Up
NordVPN’s dedicated Fire Stick app boasts a user-friendly layout that more or less eliminates the divisive map interface that many people dislike. Here, it proves to be faster and easier to navigate, allowing you to quickly locate your prefered server and establish a secure VPN connection without any fuss.
Our speed tests here at VPN Hound showed that the Nord Fire Stick app reached peak speeds of 810Mbps, which is on par with the best VPNs like TorGuard and Surfshark. This Nord’s app performance has actually improved since earlier this year too when we last tested it.
Pros:
- 📺 Offers dedicated app for Fire Stick
- 🚀 Reliable unblocking and superfast streaming
- 💬 Great customer support with 24/7 chat
- 🔒 Strong security features, including Double VPN and no-logs policy
- 📱 Works on multiple devices, not just Fire Stick
Cons:
- 💰 Cost can increase after the initial plan period
- 🤝 May experience occasional connection issues
- 🤔 App interface could be more user-friendly
Many Fire Stick VPN customers choose NordVPN because of the service’s speed and dependability, which is essential if you want to unblock all streaming services and viewing geo-restricted content. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video are available in other countries, and with NordVPN, you can access them from anywhere in the world on your Fire TV Stick. I recently put NordVPN through its paces with the UK’s ITV X hub and Australia’s 10Play and it performed admirably in every case.
In addition to a user-friendly interface and a plethora of high-quality lessons on its support site, NordVPN also provides an informative live chat service around the clock (even for those within the trial period).
Trust that your data is safe and secure with NordVPN thanks to its so called “Double VPN” functionality (which means you’re effectively using 2x VPN connections in one) and also don’t forget its audited ‘no logs policy’ by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It certainly stands up to scrutiny.
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.7 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $3.71/month (2-year plan) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Get 75% OFF + 3 Months FREE at NordVPN |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Get 75% OFF + 3 Months FREE at NordVPN — today only!
Just a word of caution: keep an eye out for price increases during auto-renewal; the 2-year plan is the cheapest NordVPN offers and I don’t really recommend you choose NordVPN if you’re looking for short-term VPN subscriptions as they can be expensive.
Also – while the 30-day money-back guarantee is customary in the VPN market now and most companies offer similar – it does give you peace of mind while testing out things. It’s a shame there’s no free trial in the literal sense, though.
3. CyberGhost – A Safe Pair of Hands
CyberGhost’s Fire Stick VPN app is straightforward and easy to use thanks to its hugely simplified UI, which uses the same helpful customization options available in the desktop and mobile apps. With an average performance of 722 Mbps, it ranks third on our list of recommended solutions.
Pros:
- 🌍 Over 9700 servers in 91 locations
- 🎥 Capable of bypassing geo-restrictions on many streaming platforms
- 🔒 Uses AES-256 encryption and has an audited privacy policy
- 💨 Uses the fast WireGuard protocol for good streaming speeds
- 📱 Dedicated Fire TV Stick app
- 💰 Affordable prices starting at $2.19/month
- 🤝 45-day money-back guarantee
- 💻 Can connect up to 7 devices on one account
Cons:
- ❗️ May experience occasional connection issues
- ❗️ No traffic obfuscation
To connect to the best servers for the streaming service you wish to unblock, you can use the filters on this VPN’s server list – the specialized servers. However, while it works great with Fire Stick, the reason that we’ve put this as number 3 is because it has difficulty unblocking UK Netflix, Disney+, and a few other services like Crunchyroll when connecting from servers in Australia.
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.5 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 45 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $2.89/month (24 month plan) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Sign up Now for 60% OFF at CyberGhost |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Sign up Now for 60% OFF at CyberGhost — today only!
With industry-standard technologies like OpenVPN and 256-bit AES encryption, CyberGhost meets or exceeds all expectations for safety. Another bonus for safety is that it underwent a ‘no logs’ policy examination by Deloitte.
If you’re unsure whether or not CyberGhost is right for you before installing it on your Fire Stick, you should know that you can take advantage of a 45-day money-back guarantee and 7-day free trial. However, the one caveat is that free trial is only available on mobile.
Additionally, CyberGhost uses strong encryption and has a no-logs policy that is independently audited, ensuring your online activities remain private and secure. Finally, it’s an affordable option, with prices starting from just $2.19/month, and a 45-day money-back guarantee is available. Read the full CyberGhost review here for more.
Comparison of the best VPNs for Fire Stick
A side-by-side comparison of the best VPNs for watching and streaming Fire Stick TV:
VPN Provider | Price/month 💰 | No-logs policy | App for Fire Stick | Sim. connections 🔗 | Streaming? 📺🌎 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ExpressVPN | $6.67 | ✅ | ✅ | 5 | 📺🌎 Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer |
NordVPN | $3.71 | ✅ | ✅ | 6 | 📺🌍 Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer |
CyberGhost | $2.19 | ✅ | ✅ | 7 | 📺🌏 Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer |
What’s this about Simultaneous Connections, you ask? Well, the number of simultaneous connections is significant since it indicates the max. number of devices that can access the VPN service from a single user account.
In short, with a higher number of simultaneous connections, you’ll be able to use the same VPN account to safeguard many devices at once, including your Fire Stick TV, laptop, tablet, and your phone. This can save money and streamline management of the VPN service, making it ideal for households or even businesses with several devices in need of VPN protection.
4. ProtonVPN – Most Secure VPN Around
Proton VPN is one of the newest VPN options for the Fire Stick, but it’s already garnering praise for its speed, security, and other noteworthy qualities.
While the Fire TV software for Proton VPN is still in beta, it has already won over fans with its smooth unblocking of various Netflix libraries plus its support for additional streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Prime Video. Impressive!
Pros:
- 🔒 Excellent security features, including no-logs policy and unhackable data encryption.
- 🌍 A large server fleet with 1800+ servers in 66 countries for global streaming access.
- 🚀 Fast connection speeds using the market-leading WireGuard tunneling protocol.
- 📱 Native app for Amazon Fire TV devices with easy setup and helpful guides.
- 💻 Allows connection of up to 10 devices simultaneously.
Cons:
- 🌐 Limited settings compared to some other VPNs, such as NordVPN.
- 🔌 Connection inconsistencies may occur with distant server locations.
- 💰 More expensive than some other VPNs, especially for long-term plans.
Our most recent speed tests (see below) showed a little decrease in performance for Proton VPN, from a peak of 670Mbps down to 510Mbps, but the service still provides a robust and dependable performance.
Proton VPN’s novel design for its app UI includes a world map that users may tap to instantly connect to the fastest and closest server. A wonderful touch is the carousel of flags, organized by continent, that users may scroll through. After picking a region, users can zero in on a particular server within that region; the ‘Server Load’ metre provides a quick glance at how busy each server currently is. Here, Proton shows the services its users in that nation can unblock, and it also allows users to mark a country as a favorite and compile their own list of unblocked countries.
What are the drawbacks, you ask? Well, Fire OS 6 or later is required for Proton VPN, which may not be compatible with older versions of the Amazon streaming device. There is also a lack of customization choices compared to more well-known VPN services like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost. However, Proton VPN provides a reliable connection and powerful unblocking capabilities, allowing users to access streaming services even when traveling overseas .
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.3 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $4.20/month (From) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Click here for 85% OFF at Proton VPN |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Click here for 85% OFF at Proton VPN — today only!
5. IPVanish – Don’t Overlook It!
Last but not least, IPVanish is yet another excellent VPN choice for Fire Stick users, as it has a specialized interface for Fire TV devices and allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
IPVanish can bypass geo-restrictions on streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube TV, and HBO Go. Users can access their material from any of our more than 2,000 servers located in 50 different locations.
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.3 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 31 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $2.08/month (24 month plan) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Click here for 81% OFF at IPVanish |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Click here for 81% OFF at IPVanish — today only!
IPVanish offers a rigorous no-logs policy that has been verified by an independent audit, and it uses robust encryption to secure user data.
IPVanish, with its use of the WireGuard protocol, provides reliable rates and no buffering, enabling HD streaming on Fire TV Stick devices to be done with relative ease.
IPVanish supports Fire TV Sticks of the second and third generation with its own app, and the company provides helpful setup tutorials in its knowledge base. In terms of price, IPVanish is a cheap VPN service, starting at around $3.40 per month and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for customers who aren’t satisfied with the service and want a refund, so there’s little to lose by at least trying it.
Any other VPNs?
Sure. With a monthly price of only $2.30 and support for an unlimited number of devices on a single account, Surfshark VPN is a great value for those who use a Fire Stick.
In addition to competitive pricing, Surfshark has an extensive feature set, including the standard fare of a VPN features (kill switch, split tunnelling, etc.) but also more advanced capabilities like IP rotator and real-time virus scanning. With its extensive set of features, Surfshark is a one-stop shop for VPN optimizers or those who want a little more control.
โญ VPN Hound User Rating: | 4.6 |
๐ No logs policy: | No logs |
๐ฏ Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
๐ฟ Streaming services: | Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV |
๐ต Cheapest price: | $2.49/month (24 month plan) |
๐ฅ Current deal: | Click here for 60% OFF at Surfshark |
Limited Offer: โ ๏ธ Click here for 60% OFF at Surfshark — today only!
While Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections and has a dedicated Fire Stick app, it did not perform as well in other areas, such as server locations or streaming capabilities for Netflix (non-library content) and that’s why I didn’t incldeu it in the main list. Of course, it’s cheap but the fact that Surfshark is a relatively new player in the VPN market is also a factor in its exclusion.
Do I need to use a VPN to watch Fire Stick then?
Of course not ๐
Using a VPN on your Amazon Fire Stick is not required at all, but it is highly recommended to enhance your security levels when accessing streaming services. VPNs also allow you to unlock geo-restricted content and access a wider range of content libraries.
So how does this all work? Well, by encrypting your internet traffic, VPNs can better protect your sensitive information from prying eyes and cyber threats. And don’t overlook another benefit: if you travel abroad with your Fire Stick, you can still access your usual on-demand platforms and local broadcasters by spoofing your location with a VPN. ๐
So what are the reasons to do so, then?
There are many good reasons to pair a VPN with your Fire Stick TV, including increased security, freedom from censorship, and privacy:
- To begin, a VPN makes it more challenging for other parties to monitor your online behavior by encrypting your internet connection. Advertising agencies love to profile you and know what you read or watch online, so using a VPN makes that more difficult.
- Second, you can unblock content that is normally unavailable due to your location when using a VPN. When you’re abroad, you might not be able to watch your favorite episodes, box-sets or movies on Fire Stick TV. But if you use a virtual private network (VPN), you can always connect to a server in your own country and access the content as if you were actually there.
- Finally,V PNs can help you watch a bigger RANGE of online videos by connecting you to servers in other countries. This means you can view TV series and movies on your Fire Stick that may not be available in your location by accessing content libraries that are, and expand your horizons.
Why You Can Trust VPN Hound
We're completely independent from any VPN provider or company. We've spent thousands of hours curating and hand-testing all the big & small VPN services, and have been doing so since 2018.VPNs tested:
82Total hours testing:
602Terabytes used:
300+IPs banned:
3Torrents tested:
1,200+Funds spent on testing:
$8,500+
Which of the top VPNs is the cheapest?
Avid readers of VPN Hound will know that a 1-month subscriptoin will likely be the most expensive way to use a VPN, so here’s a comparison of the 1-month and 1-year costs for your convenience:
VPN Provider | 1-Month Price 💰 | 1-Year Price 💰 |
---|---|---|
ExpressVPN | $12.95 | $99.95 |
NordVPN | $11.95 | $83.88 |
CyberGhost VPN | $12.99 | $47.88 |
Note that these prices are before any discount or promotion.
What are the drawbacks of all this?
The use of a VPN with a Fire Stick TV has many advantages, as I’ve covered here, but there are also some negatives to think about.
It’s a fact of life that some VPNs slow down your connection, which might lead to buffering and other streaming problems. This is because using a VPN increases the number of steps required to establish an internet connection and may cause data to travel further than necessary, slowing down your connection. But this isnt’ always the case thankfully, often using a VPN can speed up streaming. Check out my fastest VPN guide for more information.
Some streaming services may also restrict your access to their library if they discover you are using a VPN – this is because many streaming services have regional distribution agreements, for example we know that Hulu does, but it still works with NordVPN.
Additionally, some VPNs may not have Fire Stick TV apps, requiring manual installation and configuration. This can be a technical challenge and a time sink. Also, not all VPNs are equally secure, even if the vast majority do offer robust encryption and privacy protections. Inadequate encryption or data collection and sharing by some VPNs is a real concern for the privacy-conscious; careful investigation of potential VPN service providers is essential for selecting a trustworthy and reliable supplier!
Can I use a free VPN to watch Fire Stick TV?
Not really.
I know it’s tempting to think about trying a free VPN to watch, for example, Netflix on your Amazon Fire Stick, but there are some serious drawbacks to doing so. Data consumption is a major constraint, and free VPNs don’t include much of it. For example, Windscribe only gives you a few GBs per month. Given that video streaming consumes a lot of bandwidth, and if you often stream videos, you’ll quickly exceed the data limits that many free VPN services impose.
Furthermore, in order to entice users to upgrade to premium/paid plans, many free VPN companies disable “advanced” features which reduces the overall quality of the service. Or in other words, it’s highly possible that you won’t have access to as many options as you would do with a premium VPN service, if you go down the free route. Sorry!
The prevalence of ads is another major drawback of using a free VPN…
The prevalence of ads is another major drawback of using a ‘free’ VPN: users should be aware that free VPN services frequently display advertisements because they rely on this revenue to keep their service running (the costs of running a VPN have to be recovered somehow!). This can be very frustrating if you’re using a Fire Stick to watch a streaming video.
Using a free VPN service raises security concerns. However, there have been situations where free VPN companies have been detected gathering user data and selling it to third-party advertisers, despite claims to the contrary: this is why it’s crucial to do your homework on any potential VPN service you want to use.
Finally, free VPN providers typically don’t have Fire TV apps available to download, so you’ll either need to set up a VPN on your router or find another way to get the VPN to function on your Fire Stick. Installing a VPN app on your Fire Stick is a much simpler and quicker process in comparison – particularlyt if you’re not techncally-minded.
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How we arrived at these results
Here at VPN Hound, we used a thorough testing & research technique that encompassed a range of analyses to determine the best VPNs for Fire Stick.
Obviously, our first test (of over 30 VPNs) was to see if it could access geo-restricted content on popular streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video via Fire Stick. But we didn’t stop there. After that, we checked the VPN’s download and upload speeds. We checked the VPN’s server infrastructure and server locations to make sure it could supply a steady connection to different parts of the world.
We looked at the VPN’s encryption methods, such as OpenVPN and WireGuard, to make sure they were adequate for protecting customer privacy and security. We also checked the VPN’s log policy to see if it recorded any information about its customers.
We also evaluated the VPN’s user friendliness and accessibility, checking its performance on the Fire Stick and other devices. We also tested each VPN’s customer service to see how quickly and helpfully its agents responded to our inquiries.
Finally, we considered the various subscription and pricing choices provided by each VPN. We assessed each service provider based on their pricing structures and the value they promised to their customers. Our research technique was comprehensive enough to identify the best VPNs for Fire Stick in terms of speed, security, and cost.
Conclusion: Which VPN is recommended?
So there you have it.
The best VPNs for Fire Stick are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN, according to my testing and analysis. Unblocking major streaming services is possible with many major VPNs, and the top three here all include dedicated Fire Stick apps, fast and consistent speeds, and strong security features.
In comparison to NordVPN’s extensive server network and cutting-edge capabilities like Double VPN and Onion over VPN, ExpressVPN is the superior all-around VPN. CyberGhost VPN, on the other hand, stands out due to its extensive server network and straightforward UI.
Which VPN is ideal for use with a Fire TV Stick will ultimately come down to your preference, but rememebr the golden rule: There’s a VPN for everyone, one that will suit your needs with regard to streaming, security, and most importantly on cost. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN are my top picks due to their exceptional performance and consistency, so give them a go, and let me know in the comments below how you get on!