- Proton VPN: Best overall
- Private Internet Access (PIA): Best for long-term commitment
- Surfshark: Best for limitless connections
- NordVPN: Best for streaming on multiple platforms
- ExpressVPN: Best for beginners
Updated: May 7, 2024, 5:08pm
While smart televisions have become a household norm, you can’t find all the content you want on them. Now, an Amazon Fire TV Stick can turn almost any TV into a smart TV with access to multiple streaming platforms, live TV and games. But to get the most out of your Fire Stick and maintain your privacy, you’ll need to pair it with a virtual private network (VPN).
We’ve compiled the best VPN for Fire Stick to show you those that can unblock georestrictions and grant you access to your favorite content without sacrificing your privacy, regardless of your location.
The Best VPNs for Amazon Fire Stick of 2024
Forbes Advisor Ratings
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting price | Simultaneous connections | Servers | LEARN MORE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ProtonVPN | ![]() |
4.5 | ![]() |
Free; $4.99 per month (two years) | 10 | Nearly 3,000-plus in 68 countries | Learn More | On ProtonVPNs Website | |
PIA | ![]() |
4.5 | ![]() |
$1.98 per month (three years) | Unlimited | 35,000 servers in 84 countries | Learn More | On Private Internet Access' Website | |
Surfshark | ![]() |
3.7 | ![]() |
$1.99 per month (two years) | Unlimited | 3,200 in 100 countries | Learn More | On Surfshark's Website | |
NordVPN | ![]() |
3.3 | ![]() |
$2.99 per month (first two years) | Six | 5,600-plus servers in 59 countries | Learn More | On NordVPN's Website | |
ExpressVPN | ![]() |
3.0 | ![]() |
$8.32 per month (one year) | Eight | 3,000-plus servers in 94 countries | Learn More | On ExpressVPN's Website |
How To Choose the Best VPN for Amazon Fire Stick
When considering the best VPN for Fire Stick, Dave Shackleford from Voodoo Security recommends that you “look for services offering multiple simultaneous connections, excellent streaming performance, scalable and geographically diverse connectivity options and strong security.”
Essential Features
Make sure your chosen VPN provider has these features:
- Streaming capabilities: Not all VPNs are suitable for Fire Sticks. So, choose a VPN that unblocks the streaming apps or platforms you intend to use with your Amazon Fire Stick.
- Multiple server locations: Choose a VPN with vast server locations across several countries for better speed and performance. Also, confirm that the VPN provider has servers where your streaming platforms are located and can unblock new platforms further. Why? “When a VPN provider has several servers in different countries, it increases the versatility, accessibility and performance of a VPN. It also allows users to enjoy a broader range of content, improves connection speeds and provides options for bypassing censorship and restrictions,” says Harold Li, Vice President of ExpressVPN.
- Money-back guarantee: Some VPNs don’t offer free trials or free versions. Plus, the typical free versions are often limited, and they hardly provide streaming services, so you’ll need to part with your money to access a
- VPN’s premium features. However, a money-back guarantee allows you to explore the VPN to verify that it can unblock restricted content without sacrificing privacy or speed.
Security Features
Before choosing a VPN for Fire Stick, Dave Shackleford, Principal Consultant of Voodoo Security advises to “weigh the security capabilities of VPN providers. You want to be sure that they have the latest encryption technology and security features, and that they’re providing timely patches and upgrades to their service.”
Speed and Performance
You need fast VPNs for a smooth streaming experience, but don’t rely on VPN providers’ promise of ultrafast speeds. Choose a VPN provider with multiple protocols that allow you to choose any to reach faster speeds, whether you’re watching videos in HD or 4K. Our recommended VPNs for Fire Sticks have the technology and features you need for optimum speed.
Ease of Use and Support
Choose a VPN provider that is both easy to set up and use. That way, you can focus on exploring different streaming platforms instead of spending too much time setting up the VPN. Go for one of these best VPNs with native Fire Stick apps, providing direct installation and easy-to-use interfaces, especially if you’re a first-time VPN user or newly setting up a Fire Stick. Also, make sure the VPN offers technical support to users.
Methodology
To determine the best VPN for Fire Stick, the Forbes Advisor tested 20 VPNs and scored them based on privacy and security features, streaming capability, speed and performance and server availability. We also examined their costs, users’ experience with them, how well they support users needing help, what experts say about them and the option to connect to other devices simultaneously. We weighted these metrics to score each Amazon Fire Stick VPN.
Here’s how we determined the best VPN for Fire Stick:
- Pricing and fees (15%): We examined each VPN’s pricing plans and the discounts available for new users and those who choose long-term options. We also considered extra costs related to their streaming services. Then we compared the availability of a free version, free trial or money-back guarantee allowing users to explore a VPN before paying for it. This factor accounted for 15% of our weighted scoring.
- General features (47.5%): We examined the VPN providers’ security, performance and compatibility with the Amazon Fire Stick. We also checked how robust their security provision is, whether they offer must-have features, such as multiple security protocols and reliable streaming servers and nice-to-have features, including dedicated IPs or streaming servers. We also considered whether they provide dedicated apps available on Amazon’s app store, which provides users with a quick and easy installation process. We also considered how fast they are, since a smooth streaming experience requires optimum speed. Our recommended VPNs proved to have adequate download speeds. These factors account for 47.5% of the total score.
- Additional features (17.5%): We also considered the presence of VPN qualities that enhance streaming on Netflix. For example, we recommend only VPNs with more than 400 servers across at least 50 countries. We also considered their logging policies, independent audits and the number of simultaneous connections allowed. Another feature was the availability of support, including live chat, knowledge base, phone support and round-the-clock customer service. These features account for 17.5%.
- Reviews and ratings (10%): Our team further considered the experiences of other Fire Stick users using these VPNs. We turned to third-party review sites, including Trustpilot, G2 and Capterra. Also, we interviewed some users to form 10% of our scoring.
- Expert score (10%): We tested the recommended VPNs for Fire Sticks to get hands-on experience. We also interviewed cybersecurity and information technology (IT) experts to tell us about their experiences with the VPNs. Our experts considered criteria, such as their standout features, ease of use, popularity and value for money. The expert analysis makes up 10% of the total score.
How To Set Up VPN on Fire Stick
First, even the best VPN for Fire Stick won’t work with a first-generation Fire Stick, so ensure you get one that’s at least second generation. Also, if your TV is a 4K, buy a Fire Stick that supports 4K TVs, whether yours is a smart or Fire TV, because a Fire Stick that’s not made for such high-end TVs will tone down your video quality.
There are two ways to install a VPN app on the Amazon Fire Stick. You’ll need to perform a direct installation or manual setup via Android Application Package (APK) for VPNs, which lack dedicated Fire Stick apps. The first requires you to search for your preferred VPN provider’s app on the Amazon app store and then install it. This step takes a minute or two.
Thankfully, our recommended Amazon Fire Sticks are available on the Amazon store. All you need to do is:
- Search for the VPN you want to use.
- Click on “Download.”
- Log in with your credentials (email address/username and password).
- Connect to the VPN.
- Choose a server and start streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Fire Stick work better with VPN?
Because Fire Stick gives you access to Amazon’s app store, you’ll find more streaming apps using your Fire Stick. But with a VPN, you’ll find even more video content, including georestricted content, from streaming apps in foreign countries. That means Fire Stick works better connected to a VPN to give you more content alongside privacy protection.
Should you have a VPN for Fire Stick?
You don’t need a VPN to use your Fire Stick. However, with a VPN connected to your Fire Stick, you’ll protect your online privacy, gain access to georestricted content and improve your overall streaming experience.
How do I hide my VPN on Fire Stick for free?
The best VPNs for Fire Stick are designed to hide themselves. They’ll allow you to connect to the internet through obfuscated VPN servers, so nobody knows you’re using a VPN. That helps you bypass VPN blockers from your government, ISP and any other institution and grants you free access to your favorite content, regardless of location.
Is there a 100% free VPN?
Sure, you can find VPNs that are completely free, but there are several reasons to avoid using them. As with most freeware, you’ll encounter limitations, such as speed, data usage and the number of servers and device connections. Even worse, they often offer weak security and sell your data. If you’re looking to save money, we recommend choosing a free version of one of the best VPNs. Read our guide to learn more about the best free VPNs.