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The Best VPNs for Kodi
Our Verdict
The best VPN for Kodi is IPVanish, scoring 9.3/10 in our VPN tests. IPVanish’s fast streaming speeds, no-logs policy, and best-in-class Fire TV Stick app are ideal for using Kodi add-ons anonymously.
Many popular Kodi add-ons are either geo-blocked or contain copyrighted content. A VPN for Kodi allows you to change your IP address and bypass these restrictions while hiding your identity from ISPs and copyright holders.
However, not all VPNs are private enough for Kodi. They may log your internet activity or leak your IP address, subsequently revealing your identity to your ISP.
Summary: The Best VPNs for Kodi
Based on our streaming and privacy tests, the safest and most private VPNs for Kodi are:
- IPVanish: The best VPN for streaming Kodi add-ons anonymously
- ExpressVPN: A great alternative for accessing geo-restricted add-ons
- Proton VPN Free: 100% free VPN for Kodi with no bandwidth limits
Why Trust Us?
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
The Best Kodi VPNs Analyzed
The table below compares our top-rated Kodi VPNs based on speed, logging policy, Fire TV support, and price.
To learn how these ratings are calculated, read our VPN testing methodology.
Crucially, these VPNs are highly secure and do not log your streaming activity. They also passed our IP address leak tests, which we performed using Kodi 21.0 Omega and 20 Nexus.
You can easily set up and use these Kodi VPNs on Android TV boxes, Fire TV Stick, and LibreELEC.
1. ExpressVPN: Best for Unblocking Kodi Add-ons
Ranked #1 out of 61 VPNs for Kodi
Pricing Plans - $12.95/mo
- $6.25/mo over 16 months
- $4.99/mo over 30 months
Logging Policy No Identifiable Data Torrenting Yes Local Download Speed 85Mbps (15% loss) Servers 3,000 Compatible with 
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Router
Chrome
ExpressVPN is a very fast and highly reliable VPN that has always focused its attention on accessing geo-blocked websites and apps, including region-restricted Kodi add-ons.
There are not many downsides to ExpressVPN, apart from the expensive subscription plans. The Fire Stick TV application could also do with more advanced settings.
Unbeatable at Bypassing Streaming Geo-restrictions
ExpressVPN is our main recommendation when it comes to streaming with a VPN, including on Kodi.
Several streaming platforms — like BBC iPlayer and France.tv — have developed Kodi add-ons, which ExpressVPN unblocked in our latest tests.
ExpressVPN works to bypass geo-blocks on legitimate Kodi add-ons, like France.tv.
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.
We were impressed by the level of ExpressVPN’s protection: internet traffic is encrypted through AES-256 encryption, it maintains RAM-based (diskless) servers, and it has 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 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 functional Fire TV Stick app, 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 rare in the VPN industry.
2. IPVanish: Overall Best Kodi VPN
Pricing Plans - $12.99/mo
- $2.79/mo over 12 months
- $2.19/mo over 24 months
Logging Policy No Logs Torrenting Yes Local Download Speed 88Mbps (12% loss) Servers 2,200 Compatible with - Windows
- Mac
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Router
- Chrome
IPVanish is our top choice VPN for streaming Kodi add-ons anonymously. With its no-logs policy, fast speeds, and great compatibility with Android-based Kodi devices, it’s the ideal choice for Kodi.
The service includes our favorite VPN app for Fire TV Stick, as well as an APK file for using the VPN on Android devices without access to Google Play.
Excellent User Experience with Kodi
In our use, IPVanish has always paired well with Kodi.
The VPN’s dark and technical interface complements Kodi’s, making it easy to switch between the two without any effort.
IPVanish includes strong privacy and security protections to hide your Kodi activity.
The overall feel is seamless, with IPVanish running quietly in the background without ever disrupting our streams of Kodi content.
Fast Streaming Speeds & Excellent 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 miniscule speed drop of only 5%, which easily allows for streaming in HD and 4K.
When it comes to Kodi, what distinguishes IPVanish from the competition is its Fire TV Stick app, which has lots of security settings that you rarely find.
Combined with its no-logs policy, this makes IPVanish an excellent choice for using Kodi on your Fire TV device.
The IPVanish home screen 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’ve never suffered from an IP address or DNS leak while using IPVanish. We tested its VPN kill switch, too, by forcing a sudden connection drop and were reassured to see it work effectively.
Having said that, you have to install the kill switch separately, which is frustrating.
IPVanish implements AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption across all its software, ensuring strong data protection.
It also owns its entire server network, a rarity in the industry that adds an extra layer of security and control that we find reassuring.
All in all, we consider IPVanish to be the best VPN for Kodi, especially if you want to use Kodi on your Fire TV Stick or Android-based Kodi box.
3. Proton VPN Free: 100% Free Kodi VPN
Logging Policy No Logs Torrenting No Local Download Speed 85Mbps (15% loss) Servers 200 Compatible with - Windows
- Mac
- iOS
- Android
- Linux
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Router
- Chrome
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.
Struggles with Geo-restricted & P2P Add-ons
Like with all free VPNs, Proton VPN comes with a number of limitations that undermine its performance versus paid VPNs.
Proton VPN struggles to beat geo-restrictions given its limited server locations. When 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.
Proton VPN Free lets you stream as much content on Kodi as you want – but it selects the closest server to you automatically.
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.
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 you can no longer cannot select which server you connect to. It runs free servers in 5 countries, but connects you to the closest one. This removes a choice we enjoyed having and stops you from unblocking specific add-ons.
Proton VPN Free offers servers in three countries: the US, the Netherlands, and Japan.
Robust Encryption & No Traffic Logs Retained
Reassuringly, 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.
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 61 VPNs with Kodi, and below are the VPNs you should avoid because they either log too much data or suffer from worrying security and privacy flaws.
Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN, but it logs too much data for us to recommend it for Kodi. It records your bandwidth usage, connection timestamps, and even your original IP address. Additionally, it’s based in the US, which is concerning for a Kodi VPN as US surveillance laws allow authorities to request your data from HSS, and corporate pressure from copyright holders can influence lawmakers.
PureVPN
PureVPN is one of the few VPNs with a Kodi add-on, which we enjoyed using. However, we can’t recommend it for Kodi as it isn’t private enough. It logs lots of information about the date, time, and duration of your connection – as well as your ISP.
VPN Unlimited
VPN Unlimited logs your IP address for the duration of your VPN session and then deletes it afterward. Although this is theoretically safe, we don’t believe any VPN should be logging your IP address at any point. To make matters worse, VPN Unlimited is based in the US, which is one of the worst places for a Kodi VPN to be based.
VPN Proxy Master
VPN Proxy Master is not safe to use for any purpose. We tested it with Wireshark and discovered that it does not encrypt your internet traffic and has a history of injecting malware. Furthermore, it has mysterious links with China and sells its user’s data.
Hola VPN
Hola VPN is free and fast, but it’s logging policy is one of the worst we’ve encountered. It logs almost everything about your online activity and shares that information with third-parties. In addition, we discovered that it lacks rudimentary security features like encryption and blocks torrenting. Nothing about Hola VPN is suitable for using with Kodi.
We tested lots of VPNs with Kodi and most didn’t make the cut.
How to Use Kodi with a VPN
Here’s how to set up a VPN to hide your Kodi activity on a desktop or laptop computer:
- Sign up for and install a VPN that works well with Kodi: IPVanish is our favorite, but many other options are available.
- Download and install Kodi: Visit the official Kodi website and select the appropriate version for your operating system. Then, follow the instructions to install the app.
- Connect to a VPN server: For the fastest speeds, choose a nearby server unless you need to access geo-restricted content.
- Launch and use Kodi: You can now use Kodi as normal, with the added security and privacy of your VPN.
See our dedicated guide if you want to set up a VPN with Kodi on a Firestick, phone, or any other device.
Setting up a VPN with Kodi is quick and straightforward.
Why You Need a VPN for Kodi
There are 2 main reasons to use a VPN with Kodi:
1. Hide Your Kodi Activity from Your ISP
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 end up in serious legal trouble.
A VPN service prevents this by encrypting your traffic, changing your IP, and obfuscating 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, many of these 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 & Choose 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.
You can use the chart below to see which categories we test each Kodi VPN for and what percentage of the overall rating they make up.
Read on below for a more detailed breakdown of our testing categories and what we do to get a score.
1. Privacy (25%)
- Test Conducted: We read each VPN’s privacy and torrenting policy from start to finish. We also researched the VPN company’s history.
- Why It’s Important: Reveals which VPNs will guarantee your privacy and ensures the VPN has no record of forwarding DMCA requests to users.
- Optimal Result: A no-logs privacy policy with a court case or independent audit to prove it.
2. Speed (25%)
- Test Conducted: Measured the local download and P2P speeds of all VPNs on a standard 100Mbps connection.
- Why It’s Important: A fast VPN is vital for buffer-free streaming, with local speed being the most relevant to Kodi streaming, and some popular Kodi add-ons require a P2P connection.
- Optimal Result: A local speed loss no greater than 10% speed and a bitrate of at least 7MiB/s.
3. Kodi Device Compatibility (25%)
- Test Conducted: Inspected each VPN’s suite of apps and downloaded available apps for Fire TV Stick, Windows, macOS, Android TV, Android, and Linux (LibreELEC), using each over a period of time with Kodi.
- Why It’s Important: Identifies which VPNs allow you to stream Kodi safely, how user-friendly the apps are, and which VPNs provide the overall best service for Kodi.
- Optimal Result: User-friendly apps that are compatible with Fire TV, Android TV, and LibreELEC.
4. Streaming (15%)
- Test Conducted: Evaluated each VPN’s ability to unblock popular geo-restricted Kodi add-ons, like BBC iPlayer and France.tv.
- Why It’s Important: To ensure you can always access geo-blocked content from anywhere.
- Optimal Result: Consistent unblocking of every popular Kodi streaming add-on.
5. P2P Servers (10%)
- Test Conducted: Examined each VPNs server network to identify those offering P2P-optimized connections and tallied the total number available.
- Why It’s Important: If you want to torrent or use certain add-ons with Kodi, you’ll need to connect to a server that allows P2P traffic. For the best speeds, you need a VPN with multiple P2P servers in your country or region.
- Optimal Result: P2P servers in every country.
