The Best VPNs for Kodi

The Best Kodi VPNs Analyzed

1. 1. IPVanish: Overall Best Kodi VPN

   The best VPN for Kodi, Fire TV and Android-based Kodi devices.

   Ranked #1 out of 65 VPNs for Kodi

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   Pros

   • Very fast short-distance speeds
   • The best Fire TV Stick VPN app we've reviewed
   • No-logs policy & no IP address leaks
   • Effective VPN kill switch
   • P2P traffic allowed on all servers
   • apk file for sideloading on Android devices

   Cons

   • VPN kill switch not enabled by default
   • Not as effective at beating geo-restrictions
   • PC app could be more user-friendly
   • No Linux user interface for LibreELEC
   • Based in privacy-unfriendly US

   Overall Rating for Kodi: 9.5/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the below ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Kodi Device Compatibility:
     9.8/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     8.8/10
   • Speed:
     9.8/10
   • P2P Servers:
     10/10

   IPVanish is our current top choice VPN for streaming Kodi add-ons anonymously, thanks to its no-logs policy, fast speeds, and great compatibility with Android-based Kodi devices.

   The service includes an excellent VPN app for Fire TV Stick, as well as an apk file for using the VPN on Android devices without access to the Google Play store.

   

   Cheapest Price	$2.75/mo over 2 years See all plans
   Download SpeediDownload SpeedCloseBased on 100Mbps local test connection	95Mbps
   Logging Policy	No Logs
   Servers	2,200
   See all features
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more
   Torrenting	Unlimited
   Data Leaks	No

   Fast Streaming Speeds & a Great Fire TV Stick App

   IPVanish keeps delivering fast speeds across its large park of no-log servers, all of which allow P2P traffic.

   In our streaming speed tests, we recorded a mere speed drop of only 5%, which will easily allow for streaming in HD and 4K.

   IPVanish’s fast streaming speeds are partly a result of the WireGuard protocol, which it implemented not too long ago.

   

   What separates IPVanish from the competition, especially when it comes to Kodi, is its Fire TV Stick app.

   It comes with many security settings that you really find in VPN apps for Fire TV.

   Combined with its no-logs policy, this makes IPVanish an excellent choice for using Kodi on your Fire TV device.

   

   The IPVanish homescreen on Amazon Fire TV Stick.

   Working Kill Switch & No IP Address Leaks

   From a security and privacy standpoint, IPVanish is one of the safest VPNs available.

   We can safely say that we’ve never suffered from an IP address or DNS leak while using IPVanish.

   The VPN’s kill switch worked effectively to stop our real IP address from being exposed when we forced the VPN connection to drop.

   The kill switch was recently added to its Fire TV Stick app, which is a big plus for Kodi fans. Having said that, you have to install the kill switch separately, which is annoying.

   IPVanish implements AES-256 encryption across all its software, and it owns all its servers, which is very rare even among the most reknowned VPNs.

   All in all, we consider IPVanish to be the best VPN for Kodi. This is especially true if you want to use Kodi on your Fire TV Stick or Android-based Kodi box.

   You can see how well IPVanish works with Kodi in our demonstration video below:

   We used IPVanish with the Crackle Kodi add-on without issues.

   Visit IPVanish

   or read our full IPVanish VPN Review.

   
   

2. 2. ExpressVPN: Best for Unblocking Kodi Add-ons

   Very fast VPN that excels at unblocking geo-restricted Kodi add-ons.

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   Pros

   • Very fast streaming speeds
   • Bypasses aggressive geo-restrictions
   • No user logs & no IP address leaks
   • Fire TV Stick app includes a kill switch
   • Excellent 24/7 live chat support
   • Offers the best VPN app for routers

   Cons

   • More expensive than many top VPNs
   • Firestick app doesn't have many settings
   • No split tunneling on macOS
   • No Linux GUI for LibreELEC

   Overall Rating for Kodi: 9.2/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the below ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Kodi Device Compatibility:
     8.5/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     9.2/10
   • Speed:
     9.7/10
   • P2P Servers:
     10/10

   ExpressVPN is a very fast and highly reliable VPN that has always focused its attention to accessing geo-blocked websites and apps, including region-restricted Kodi add-ons

   There are not many downsides to ExpressVPN, apart from the rather expensive subscription plans. The Fire Stick TV application could also do with a design refresh and more advanced settings.

   

   Cheapest Price	$6.67/mo over 15 Months See all plans
   Download SpeediDownload SpeedCloseBased on 100Mbps local test connection	97Mbps
   Logging Policy	No Identifying Data
   Servers	3,000
   See all features
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more
   Torrenting	Unlimited
   Data Leaks	No

   Unbeatable at Bypassing Streaming Geo-restrictions

   ExpressVPN is our main recommendation when it comes to streaming with a VPN, even on Kodi.

   Several streaming platforms — like BBC iPlayer — have developed Kodi add-ons, which ExpressVPN unblocked in our latest tests.

   

   We accessed several geo-blocked Kodi add-ons with ExpressVPN.

   Put simply, it is one of the most effective VPN services at getting around video geo-restrictions.

   High Security for Anonymous P2P Streaming

   P2P traffic is allowed on all of ExpressVPN’s servers, which comes in handy with P2P-based Kodi add-ons. These add-ons stream content sourced from sites that host torrent files.

   ExpressVPN protects your internet traffic through AES-256 encryption, RAM-based (diskless) servers, and an independently-verified privacy-first logging policy.

   When we torrented with ExpressVPN, we thoroughly tested the VPN’s kill switch and it worked infallibly.

   ExpressVPN is also based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction — the British Virgin Islands. This protects against third-parties obtaining access to your online streaming data.

   Broad Device Compatibility

   Similarly to IPVanish, ExpressVPN works with all Kodi-compatible devices, including Android-based devices.

   Not only does the VPN come with a very efficient (although simple) Fire TV Stick app, but it also offers an official APK file for devices with no Google Play access.

   

   Head of Research Simon Migliano testing the ExpressVPN Fire TV Stick app.

   Like many VPN services, including IPVanish, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a Linux GUI app for LibreELEC.

   If you run Kodi on LibreELEC, you can set up ExpressVPN on your router by using its best-in-class router app. It’s an actual VPN application, which is a rarity in the VPN industry.

   Visit ExpressVPN

   or read our full ExpressVPN Review.

   
   

3. 3. Proton VPN Free: 100% Free Kodi VPN

   The best (safe) free Kodi VPN with an unlimited data policy.

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   Pros

   • Unlimited data allowance
   • Linux GUI app for LibreELEC
   • Strong encryption & private logging policy
   • Fast speeds on nearby servers
   • Effective kill switch & IP leak protection
   • Fully-featured app for Android TV

   Cons

   • Doesn't work with geo-blocked add-ons
   • Doesn't let you choose your free server location
   • Blocks some P2P traffic
   • One connection per account
   • No live chat customer support

   Overall Rating for Kodi: 7.8/10

   This overall rating is calculated based on the below ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.

   • Kodi Device Compatibility:
     7.0/10
   • Privacy & Logging Policy:
     9.5/10
   • Speed:
     9.4/10
   • P2P Servers:
     0.0/10

   Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Kodi we’ve tested. Unlike all other secure free VPNs, you can use it to watch as much Kodi content as you want thanks to its unlimited bandwidth policy.

   Although there are few free server locations, and you can’t choose which one to connect to, Proton VPN is still the best choice if you don’t want to pay for a Kodi VPN.

   

   Cheapest Price	Free
   Download SpeediDownload SpeedCloseBased on 100Mbps local test connection	98Mbps
   Logging Policy	No Logs
   Servers	200
   See all features
   Compatible with	Windows macOS iOS Android Linux +more
   Torrenting	No
   Data Leaks	No

   No Data Usage Cap But Limited Server Locations

   The free version of Proton VPN lets you use an unlimited amount of data. The other top free VPNs we tested, like Hide.me and Windscribe, limit monthly bandwidth to 10GB, at most.

   The main problem with Proton VPN is that it only runs free servers in three countries: the US, Netherlands, and Japan.

   

   Proton VPN Free offers servers in three countries: the US, the Netherlands, and Japan.

   Moreover, you can’t even choose which server location to connect to. This makes it very challenging to reach good streaming speeds, and to unblock geo-restricted add-ons.

   Struggles with Geo-restricted & P2P Add-ons

   Like with all free VPNs, Proton VPN comes with a number limitations that undermine its performance versus paid VPNs.

   As we mentioned above, Proton VPN struggles to beat geo-restrictions given its limited server locations. We tried unblocking several US-only Kodi add-ons without success.

   Not to mention the VPN doesn’t officially allow any P2P traffic on its free servers.

   Based on our tests, this no-P2P policy isn’t strictly enforced, since Proton VPN did work with some P2P-based streams. It won’t always work, though.

   On the plus side, you do have access to a free Fire TV app that is easy-to-use and provides the same privacy as its other applications.

   

   ProtonVPN’s Android TV app on our test Firestick.

   Robust Encryption & No Traffic Logs Retained

   At least, the free version of Proton VPN is very private and secure. It uses AES-256 encryption, the WireGuard protocol, and blocks IPv6 leaks.

   Crucially, the VPN’s logging policy is extremely privacy-oriented. In fact, none of the apps track or store personally-identifiable data transferred through the VPN tunnel.

   The only data point Proton VPN logs is when you last logged in, for account security.

   Visit Proton VPN

   or read our full Proton VPN Review.

   
   

Popular VPNs to Avoid Using with Kodi

Because of the risks associated with certain Kodi add-ons, we strongly advise using the most private and secure VPNs.

We thoroughly tested 65 VPNs with Kodi, and below is a summary of the test ratings for five very popular services you shouldn’t use.

These risky VPNs below are very popular on Firestick, the most common device used with Kodi. They either log too much internet data, or they suffer from worrying security and privacy flaws.

Hotspot Shield

Overall Rating: 7.7/107.7

Logging Policy: 3.2/103.2

Speed & Reliability: 10.0/1010.0

Streaming: 9.4/109.4

PureVPN

Overall Rating: 6.9/106.9

Logging Policy: 6.5/106.5

Speed & Reliability: 7.2/107.2

Streaming: 5.0/105.0

VPN Unlimited

Overall Rating: 7.1/107.1

Logging Policy: 3.8/103.8

Speed & Reliability: 8.1/108.1

Streaming: 9.0/109.0

VPN Proxy Master

Overall Rating: 4.1/104.1

Logging Policy: 3.0/103.0

Speed & Reliability: 8.8/108.8

Streaming: 3.0/103.0

Hola VPN

Overall Rating: 4.1/104.1

Logging Policy: 0.1/100.1

Speed & Reliability: 8.5/108.5

Streaming: 6.5/106.5

Why You Need a VPN for Kodi

Here are the two main reasons to use a VPN with Kodi:

1. Hide Your Kodi Activity from Your ISP

Sadly, many Kodi add-ons host copyrighted works. Streaming content from these sources is illegal. The problem is that it’s often hard to tell which add-ons contain files that are not copyrighted, and which ones don’t.

If you accidentally use an illegal Kodi add-on without a VPN, your internet service provider (ISP) can see what you’ve streamed and when. If compelled by law enforcement, your ISP is obliged to pass on this information.

You could be issued a fine, be prevented from accessing Kodi on your network, or even end up in serious legal trouble.

A VPN service prevents this. A VPN encrypts your traffic, changes your IP, and obfuscates your Kodi activity from any third party. As a result, your ISP won’t be able to monitor what you watch on Kodi.

2. Bypass Geo-Restrictions

Some legal streaming services, like BBC iPlayer and Crackle, provide Kodi add-ons. This lets you watch all your content in the same place.

However, these many streaming add-ons geo-restrict their content to specific countries. Without a VPN, you won’t be able to access many or even all the content they offer.

A VPN lets you change your IP address by connecting to a proxy server in another country. For example, we accessed the BBC iPlayer Kodi add-on by connecting to ExpressVPN’s UK server.

ExpressVPN works to bypass geo-blocks on legitimate Kodi add-ons.

How We Test VPNs for Kodi

Every VPN we review for Kodi is subject to the same rigorous scientific testing process. We do this to ensure fair and unbiased rankings.

When we test VPNs for Kodi, we look for the following characteristics:

• Compatible with streaming devices, including Fire TV Stick
• Reliably fast speeds
• No user logs or IP leaks
• Lots of P2P-compatible servers
• Unlimited bandwidth with no throttling

Here is a summary table of how our recommended VPNs for Kodi fared in our key testing categories:

VPNs with a data cap receive a reduction to their overall rating.

Below is a more detailed breakdown of our testing and rating methodology:

1. Kodi Device Compatibility: 30%

Minimum Requirement: Can be installed on Amazon Fire TV.
We Recommend: User-friendly app that’s compatible with Fire TV, Android TV, and LibreELEC.

The VPN you choose must be compatible with the device you stream Kodi on. It’s also key that you can easily use your VPN with Kodi.

We download and test Kodi on several Kodi compatible devices and platforms including:

• FireTV Stick
• PC
• Mac
• Android TV
• Android
• Linux (LibreELEC)

Kodi is most popular on Fire TV Stick and Android-based Kodi boxes. Whether or not a VPN has a good app for these is a key aspect of this rating criteria.

We expect to see these apps designed for easy use. Finding and connecting to servers using a remote needs to be straightforward, and advanced security settings need to be understandable and quick to enable.

2. Privacy & Logging Policy: 30%

Minimum Requirement: A minimal logging policy and a record of following it.
We Recommend: Zero-logs policy with no record of breaking it.

We read each VPN’s privacy policy from start to finish. Then, we research the VPN company’s history. We do this to check whether, and how, the service stores your usage and account data.

The best VPNs operate a no-logs policy. This means they don’t keep any records of your activity, not even anonymous timestamps or metadata.

We also research torrenting policies, to make sure providers have no record of forwarding DMCA requests to users.

3. Speed: 30%

Minimum Requirement: 60Mbps local download speed & 3MiB/s P2P speed.
We Recommend: 80Mbps local download speed & 7MiB/s P2P speed.

If you plan to use Kodi to stream or torrent, then speed is a really important part of finding the best VPN. A fast VPN is vital for buffer-free streaming.

Local download speed is the most relevant to streaming, so we use it as a benchmark to judge performance on Kodi.

We regularly measure the local download speeds of all VPNs on a standard 100Mbps connection.

Unlike many other speed ratings, this ranking criteria also factors in P2P speed, as some popular Kodi add-ons require a P2P connection.

4. P2P Servers: 10%

Minimum Requirement: At least one P2P server in every region.
We Recommend: P2P servers in every country.

If you want to torrent or use certain add-ons with Kodi, you’ll need to connect to a server that allows P2P traffic.

Some VPNs allow P2P traffic on every server in the network, but most restrict you to dedicated servers.

For the best speeds, you need a VPN with multiple P2P servers in your country or region.

Data Cap Penalty: Up to 50% Reduction

Almost all free VPNs come with a data cap. Like with most limitations on free VPNs, this is imposed to encourage users to upgrade to a premium subscription.

Data allowance for free Kodi VPNs is particularly important, though, as streaming video uses a lot of bandwidth. For instance, a standard 10GB data allowance only allows you to watch a few hours of content each month.

If you use up your data cap, the rest of your Kodi activity will be outside of the VPN tunnel. Consequently, your ISP can monitor the streams and torrents you access on Kodi.

We apply a penalty to the VPN’s final overall rating for Kodi based on its data cap:

• Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
• 10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
• 500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
• 5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
• 1GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
• 200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
• 500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating