Best VPN for Firestick | Money News ad

*Content includes branded mentions of our sponsor, Norton VPN.

In a world where even televisions are susceptible to hacking, it’s a good idea to take measures to safeguard your identity and personal information. A virtual private network (VPN) for Amazon Firestick can enhance the security of your internet connection, keeping malicious third parties out, and may allow you to access content that is only available in other regions.

Because there are so many VPNs on the market, choosing the right one for your Firestick can be confusing. We’ve rounded up the best VPNs for Firestick, detailing everything you need to know about how to get and use one.

Our Top Picks for Best VPN for Firestick

• Windscribe: Best Free VPN for Firestick
• Surfshark: Cheapest VPN for Firestick
• ExpressVPN: Best Jailbroken VPN for Firestick
• IPVanish: Best Firestick VPN for Unlimited Devices
• NordVPN: Best Download Speeds on Firestick VPN

Best VPN for Firestick Reviews

Why we chose it: Windscribe’s free plan shares nearly all of its features with its paid plans and has more server locations than other free VPNs.

Unlike many free VPNs, Windscribe doesn’t log internet activity or limit users to a small subset of features, offering access to over 10 countries, including major locations like the U.S., U.K. and Canada. This makes it a versatile option for those seeking privacy and functionality without the cost of a paid plan.

While Windscribe’s free plan is robust, it does come with limitations, particularly in terms of bandwidth. Users start with 2GB of monthly data, which can be increased to 10GB by confirming their email. Additional bandwidth can be earned through promotions, but the data cap can be quickly exhausted even with these boosts — especially when streaming on Firestick.

Another drawback is the limited customer support options, as Windscribe only offers help via an online form and a knowledge base. Despite this, the VPN has received excellent customer reviews, with many users praising its performance and reliability, making it a strong choice for those who prioritize privacy and basic streaming needs over comprehensive customer support.

Why we chose it: Surfshark’s two-year subscription plan comes with an extensive list of features for one of the lowest prices in the industry.

Surfshark is a paid VPN provider with over 3,200 servers in 100 countries. It offers a wide variety of features to protect your privacy, prevent tracking and secure your identity. This includes a kill switch, which will shut off your internet if the VPN connection drops, and Dynamic MultiHop, a feature that allows you to connect to two VPN servers simultaneously.

Although Surfshark has inexpensive options, you’ll need to subscribe to the service for a lengthy period to access these low prices. If that’s not an issue, then you’ll find Surfshark is one of the most economical choices in the VPN industry. For example, a one-month subscription is $12.95, whereas paying for the annual package will only cost you $47.88 for the first 12 months.

The best deal overall is the VPNs two-year subscription, which costs $59.76 (the equivalent of $2.39 monthly) and includes an additional month. While this may sound like a major commitment, all of Surfshark’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test out the service before fully committing to their subscription term.

Why we chose it: ExpressVPN offers best-in-class encryption and security measures to protect your Firestick, even jailbroken ones.

A jailbroken Firestick lets you install third-party apps without restrictions. While this opens up many streaming opportunities, it’s not risk-free and may expose your device to security vulnerabilities. ExpressVPN uses multiple security features to protect your device, including AES-256, the same encryption the U.S. government uses to protect classified data.

Another reason ExpressVPN stands out for Firestick is its compatibility. The VPN’s app is available directly through the Amazon Appstore, making installation straightforward even for those who have modified their device. Additionally, ExpressVPN’s user-friendly interface allows you to connect to a server with just a few clicks.

In addition to security and ease of use, ExpressVPN is also known for its fast connection speeds. With over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, its network can support a large number of users without a noticeable impact on performance. The VPN’s ability to maintain consistent speeds, even with high-definition streaming, makes it an ideal companion for Firestick users.

On the downside, ExpressVPN can only be used on five devices simultaneously under one subscription, which is fewer than many other VPNs in its price range offer. Moreover, its annual rate ($8.33 per month) is high relative to its competitors, and the company doesn’t offer a free trial period, though it does include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why we chose it: IPVanish allows subscribers to access the internet via their highly secure VPN on an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

IPVanish boasts over 90 VPN locations and more than 2,400 servers. Though these are smaller numbers than those of other VPNs on our list, IPVanish also allows users to connect as many devices to the internet as they wish. For example, you can simultaneously use the VPN to stream content on your Firestick and surf the web on your phone and computer.

Another advantage of IPVanish is its seamless installation and user-friendly experience on Firestick, ensuring that streaming is smooth and hassle-free. Additionally, IPVanish’s strict no-logs policy and advanced encryption make it a reliable choice for those who value privacy and security.

IPVanish offers a monthly plan at $11.99 per month — slightly more affordable than popular VPN alternatives — as well as one- or two-year plans for a one-time fee of $53.99 and $79.99, respectively. Keep in mind that the cost of these subscriptions rises substantially after renewal, and the monthly plan does not come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Why we chose it: With top results on multiple third party tests, NordVPN boasts faster download speeds than nearly all of its competitors.

NordVPN has consistently ranked for years as one of the fastest VPNs — and in some cases, the fastest VPN — in tests from independent IT companies like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. This can be largely attributed to its extensive network of more than 6,000 servers and proprietary NordLynx protocol, which was designed to connect to NordVPN servers faster and improve your connection speeds without compromising security or privacy.

On top of high download speeds, NordVPN comes with a comprehensive suite of online security tools, including a kill switch, ad blockers and double VPN encryption for enhanced data protection. It also provides features like dedicated IP addresses, Onion Over VPN routing for added privacy, and obfuscated servers for accessing VPN in restrictive environments.

The VPN’s Plus plan adds a cross-platform password manager and a data breach scanner, while the Complete plan throws in 1 TB of cloud storage and advanced encryption algorithms. One downside of NordVPN is that its monthly subscription cost is relatively high, starting at $12.99 for the basic plan, which makes it less budget-friendly for month-to-month users.

Other VPNs for Firestick we considered

There are dozens of VPNs available, but only the best made our list. The following are also worth mentioning, but they ultimately fell short of featuring in one category or another.

Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield advertises military-grade encryption, over 115 server locations in more than 80 countries and up to ten devices connected simultaneously. The VPN boasts competitive download speeds and is flexible, offering a free plan on top of its monthly and yearly premium plans.

Why it didn’t make the cut: Hotspot Shield’s high download speeds are held back by slow upload speeds. Moreover, its free plan is severely limited compared to other free alternatives in the VPN space.

VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a secure VPN that works well with Amazon Firestick. The service’s main highlight is its proprietary Chameleon Protocol, which helps users bypass restrictions in regions with internet blocks, such as China, Russia, India, Turkey and more.

Why it didn’t make the cut: VyprVPN has a relatively small network of only around 700 servers located across 70+ countries. This can have a negative impact on users’ connections and limits its use for bypassing geo-blocking.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is a privacy-focused VPN that you can use to unblock content by location on your Firestick. Its interface is easy to navigate and straightforward to use.

Why it didn’t make the cut: Proton VPN’s major downside is that its free version only offers access to a limited number of servers. It has also received poor ratings from third-party sites, with many reviews citing slow speeds and poor connection stability.

VPN for Firestick Guide

Downloading a VPN service isn’t necessary to start using your Amazon Firestick device, but it does have its benefits. If you’re wondering whether you need a VPN, this guide should help you decide by explaining what a Firestick VPN is and how to use one.

What is a Firestick VPN?

A Firestick VPN is the same as any other VPN, only that it’s used to protect and access content via an Amazon Fire Stick instead of a computer or mobile device. The best VPN services allow you to safeguard your personal information online, especially when using a public or unsecured network.

VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and their servers, enhancing your security and privacy when connected to the Internet. They are able to mask your identity from third parties like governments, hackers and your internet service provider (ISP).

Besides protecting your data, VPNs allow you to connect to the internet as if you were in another location. This allows you to access content normally unavailable in your region. A common use case for this is streaming content from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Max and Disney+ that is unavailable in your country.

Keep in mind that using a VPN this way might breach your user agreement with streaming services. Moreover, because VPNs use data all the same, you won’t be able to bypass any data caps from your internet service provider. You might even be using more data since VPNs also have to encrypt your traffic.

How does a VPN work on Firestick?

To connect you to websites, online platforms and other services hosted on the Internet, your ISP must assign devices an IP address so websites can identify you when you visit them. The result is that your internet activity links to your IP address and, therefore, discloses your identity.

When you use a VPN, you connect to the internet through a secure connection via a VPN’s remote servers. The websites you visit cannot identify your IP address. Instead, they see the VPN server’s IP address. The VPN’s IP address changes frequently and is shared with other users, making it extremely difficult for hackers or others to access your information.

Using a VPN on Firestick works the same way as on any other device. Your internet connection on Firestick runs through a VPN which conceals your real identity and location.

How to install a VPN on Firestick

Amazon Firestick allows you to access thousands of hours of streamable content by plugging it into your TV’s HDMI port. Using a VPN to alter your digital location gives you access to even more content, as many shows and movies are geo-locked to specific regions or countries.

Here’s how to get started.

1. Choose and download a reliable VPN app from the Amazon Appstore on your Firestick device

There are many VPN services to choose from, each with different functionality and prices. Consider the speed, price, available server regions and number of simultaneous device connections supported.

Once you’ve settled on a VPN, log into the Amazon Appstore with your Firestick. Select “Categories,” then “Utility,” or search for “VPN” to find the VPN of your choice. Click on “Get” to download the VPN app.

2. Open the VPN app on your Firestick and sign in with your VPN provider’s credentials

After downloading the VPN, you’ll need to log in. If you don’t have an account with this VPN provider, create one online. If you already have an account with the provider, you can simply enter your account details and log in.

3. Choose a server location from the available options and tap “connect”

You should have multiple server locations to choose from in your VPN window. Pick the region you’d like to use and tap the connect button. The VPN should connect to your desired location in under a minute.

4. Verify your new IP address to confirm the VPN is working properly

Enter the Settings menu on the home screen to check your Firestick IP address. From there, click on “Systems” and then “About.” Once you’ve accessed the About menu, select “Network” to find the Firestick IP address on the first line.

To ensure your VPN is working, check your Firestick’s IP address before you turn on your VPN and write down the number. After you turn on your VPN, navigate to the Network page to ensure the IP address has changed.

5. Customize your VPN settings to your liking within the VPN app

If you have advanced VPN knowledge, you can customize some settings, like split tunneling or changing the protocol used to connect to the VPN network. Not all VPN services provide these options, nor are they necessary for the software to function properly.

6. Test the VPN connection by accessing geo-restricted content or conducting an IP address check

Once you’ve set up your VPN the way you want it, you can re-check your IP address to make sure your actual IP address is not displayed. Another way to test the VPN is to change your location to an area with geo-restricted content. If the content changes based on your location, you can be sure the VPN is working.

How to turn off a VPN on Firestick

You may want to turn off your VPN on Firestick for several reasons, including connectivity issues and problems with streaming. Whatever the reason, turning off a VPN on Firestick is a straightforward process.

First, navigate to the home screen of Firestick and choose “Settings” with your remote. Click on “Applications” and then “Manage Installed Applications.” Select your VPN and then choose “Disable.” At this point, your Firestick will no longer be connected to the internet through your VPN.

How We Chose the Best VPN for Firestick

To decide on the best VPN for Firestick, we considered the following factors:

• Download speeds: We compared the download speeds of each VPN and considered how they ranked against each other.

• Pricing and plans: We looked at each VPN’s monthly, annual and two-year subscription prices, along with any additional fees, to see which ones offered the most features for the lowest price.

• Available locations: We considered how many servers each VPN service had and the number of locations a subscriber could access with a plan.

• Additional features: We looked at any special aspects of the VPN, such as VPN protocol types, the number of simultaneous device connections, additional security, kill switches and ad blockers.

• Customer service: We considered the quality of the support offered through the VPN service’s representatives and any additional available resources like guides, blogs and tutorial videos.

• Third-party ratings: We checked how other sites rated the VPN services.

• Customer complaints: We looked at various online sites that allowed customers to leave reviews and complaints to gauge customer satisfaction and identify common issues.

Summary of Money’s Best VPN for Firestick

• Windscribe: Best Free VPN for Firestick
• Surfshark: Cheapest VPN for Firestick
• ExpressVPN: Best Jailbroken VPN for Firestick
• IPVanish: Best Firestick VPN for Unlimited Devices
• NordVPN: Best Download Speeds on Firestick VPN