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The Best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video (How to Bypass VPN Blocks)

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Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.

Fact-checked by Simon MiglianoAdditional Testing by David Hughes

Our Verdict

You can use a VPN to watch geo-restricted movies and TV shows on Amazon Prime Video, but you also need to create a new account. The best VPN for Amazon Prime Video is ExpressVPN, which reliably bypasses Prime Video VPN blocks and provides buffer-free streaming.

The Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is available in more than 200 countries, with more than 8,000 movies and 2,000 TV shows on offer. But each country’s Prime Video library is different, and what you can watch depends on where you are.

A VPN spoofs your location and enables you to create an Amazon account that’s registered in another country. This way, you can stream geo-restricted content on Prime Video from anywhere in the world.

However, Amazon Prime tries to detect and block VPN traffic, which means that only the very best VPNs will actually work.

Based on our test results, the best VPNs for reliably unblocking Prime Video are:

  1. ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video
  2. PrivateVPN: The Cheapest VPN for Amazon Prime Video
  3. Windscribe Free: The Best Free VPN for Amazon Prime Video

To watch geo-restricted content on Amazon Prime, you’ll need to create an Amazon account that’s registered in another country, which you can do with the VPN services listed above.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly how to watch geo-blocked content on Prime Video. We’ll detail the best VPNs for Amazon Prime, why your VPN might not work with Prime Video, and exactly what you can do to fix it.

Do VPNs Work with Amazon Prime Video?

Amazon Prime Video detects your location based on both your Amazon account details and your IP address. Unlike Netflix, Prime Video content does not change even if you physically travel to another country.

Fortunately, you can still use a VPN to unblock Prime Video content from other regions. To do this, you need to use a VPN with servers in the country you want to unblock, and then create an Amazon account registered in the same country.

We demonstrate this process in the video below. We used ExpressVPN to set up a US Amazon account and stream a geo-blocked movie from the US Prime Video library, even though we’re in the UK:

We streamed ‘The Electrical Life of Louis Wain’ from the UK, despite US Prime Video geo-blocks.

EXPERT ADVICE: If you use a VPN to access a different Prime Video region but you haven’t set up an account in that region, Amazon will only offer a selection of Prime Original content. This content is not geo-restricted, and you do not need a VPN to access it. But it is limited compared to the full Prime Video library.

Amazon’s licensing agreements only allow it to show content in certain regions. A VPN enables you to bypass these geo-restrictions, so Amazon does not allow VPNs and attempts to block VPN users. This is why only a select few services actually work to bypass the site’s geo-restrictions.

The wrong VPN may actually prevent you from streaming even Prime Originals, because it risks being detected and blocked. You’ll know your VPN is blocked by Prime if you get error codes 4601, 1042, or the HTTPS proxy error message:

“Your device is connected to the Internet using a VPN or proxy service. Please disable it and try again.”

The best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video go undetected and provide reliable access to both Prime Originals and the complete geo-restricted Prime Video library.

To find out how, skip to our section explaining how to watch Amazon Prime Video from anywhere.

The Best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video in 2023 (Free & Premium)

We’ve tested over 56 VPN services to identify the VPNs that actually work with Amazon Prime.

The best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video reliably bypass Prime Video geo-blocks, have fast speeds for Full HD and 4K streaming, and come with functional apps for desktop, mobile, Fire TV Stick, and Android TV devices.

You can compare the three best VPNs for Prime Video in the table below:

1. ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video

The fastest and most reliable VPN for unblocking Prime Video on all devices, including Fire TV Stick and Android TV.

Pros
Cons
  • Reliably unblocks Prime Video
  • Fastest international speeds
  • Apps for Fire TV Stick & Android TV
  • MediaStreamer Smart DNS available
  • Router app available
  • Excellent customer support
  • Expensive subscription
  • Fire TV Stick design could be improved

ExpressVPN Test Ratings

Overall Amazon Prime Video Rating: 9.6/109.6

Unblocks Prime Video & Freevee: 9.9/109.9

Long-Distance Speeds: 9.9/109.9

Fire TV Stick & Android TV Apps: 8.5/109.5

Router & Smart DNS Compatibility: 9.9/109.6

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video. In our testing, ExpressVPN easily bypassed Prime’s geo-blocks with fast long-distance speeds, which ensures you can stream in full HD quality. Importantly, it also has user-friendly apps for every device, including Fire TV Stick and Android TV.

Access to Prime Video 100% of the Time

Throughout all of our testing, ExpressVPN was not detected or blocked by Prime Video on a single occasion. This ensures hassle-free access to geo-blocked content.

It also works reliably with Amazon’s free movie streaming site, Freevee, which is included as part of Prime Video for US, UK, and Germany residents. If you’re outside these countries, simply connect to an ExpressVPN server and stream it for free.

ExpressVPN Amazon Prime Video

We used ExpressVPN to unblock ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ on US Prime Video from the UK.

Our speed tests show that ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN for long-distance connections, averaging 83Mbps. Using ExpressVPN to access US Prime Video from the UK, we experienced buffer-free Full HD streaming despite 4,000 thousands miles of distance.

Watch Prime Video on Every Device

ExpressVPN is compatible with every device. We downloaded and tested each ExpressVPN app for Prime Video, including custom apps for desktop (Windows and macOS), mobile (Android and iOS), and Linux. All of them are intuitive and user-friendly.

We also tested ExpressVPN’s app for Fire TV Stick and Android TV, which are useful for streaming Prime Video on large-screen devices.

Connecting to a server in the US in ExpressVPN for Fire TV

ExpressVPN’s Firestick app unblocks Prime Video and includes a kill switch

The Fire TV Stick app design could be refined. Currently the interface stretches across large screen devices in an unattractive way, and there’s no way of knowing which button is being selected.

If you want to watch Prime Video on a device with no ExpressVPN app, you can use the MediaStreamer Smart DNS solution or the ExpressVPN router app. This allows you to block Prime Video on Apple TV, Roku, Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation.

EXPERT ADVICE: Your Fire TV Stick is linked to your Amazon account. To watch blocked Prime Video content on your Fire TV Stick, follow the normal instructions and link it to an account registered in the country you wish to unblock. However, this will mean that all available apps are restricted to the region your account is associated with.

You should use ExpressVPN if:

  • You want to watch blocked Prime Video content on multiple devices.
  • ExpressVPN is the most widely-compatible VPN on the market, so you can watch geo-restricted Prime Video on any device of your choosing.

You should not use ExpressVPN if:

  • You are on a budget.
  • ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN, but it’s also one of the most expensive.

Visit ExpressVPN or read our full ExpressVPN review.

2. PrivateVPN: The Cheapest VPN for Prime Video

A cheap alternative that provides reliable access to Prime Video for just $2.00 per month.

Pros
Cons
  • Only $2.00 per month
  • Reliably unblocks Prime Video
  • Accesses Freevee hub
  • Effective Fire TV Stick & Android TV apps
  • Zero logs policy
  • Safe for torrenting
  • No Smart DNS
  • Manual router setup required
  • Unreliable live chat
  • No free trial available

PrivateVPN Test Ratings

Overall Amazon Prime Video Rating: 9.0/109.0

Unblocks Prime Video & Freevee: 9.8/109.8

Long-Distance Speeds: 8.9/108.9

Fire TV Stick & Android TV Apps: 9.0/109.0

Router & Smart DNS Compatibility: 5.0/105.0

PrivateVPN is a high-quality, affordable alternative for Prime Video. It’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, and it doesn’t have a smart DNS option, but it’s a simple and effective way to unblock Prime Video — especially on desktop and mobile devices.

Affordable VPN for Prime Video Access

Our tests found that PrivateVPN is never detected by Prime Video’s VPN blocks. For $2.00, it’s one of the cheapest premium VPNs on the market — almost four times cheaper than ExpressVPN.

PrivateVPN Amazon Prime Video US

We used PrivateVPN to stream the US-exclusive movie ‘Marry Me’ from the UK.

Our PrivateVPN speed tests recorded an average London to New York connection of 62Mbps. This is more than fast enough for buffer-free HD streaming, but it’s still considerably slower than ExpressVPN.

Available On Most Devices, But No Smart DNS

PrivateVPN has some of the best custom apps on the market due to their simple and consistent design.

You can watch geo-blocked Prime Video via PrivateVPN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. The Fire TV Stick and Android TV apps are very effective at unblocking streaming services, especially Prime Video.

PrivateVPN's app for Amazon Firestick

PrivateVPN’s Fire TV is simple and unblocks Prime Video & Freevee.

However, PrivateVPN is not as effective as ExpressVPN when it comes to watching Prime Video on devices and platforms that aren’t compatible with VPNs, like Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, and PlayStation. This is because it doesn’t have a Smart DNS tool.

There is a way to watch Prime Video on these devices, but it requires you to manually install PrivateVPN on your router.

You should use PrivateVPN if:

  • You want to stream on a budget.
  • PrivateVPN is incredible value and the cheapest top-tier VPN available.

You should not use PrivateVPN if:

  • You want to stream Prime Video on devices that are not VPN-compatible.
  • Unlike ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN has no smart DNS tool to watch Prime Video on devices like Roku, Apple TV, or games consoles. Router setup has to be done manually, too.

Visit PrivateVPN or read our full PrivateVPN review.

3. Windscribe Free: The Best Free VPN for Prime Video

Windscribe is the only completely free (and safe) VPN that unblocks Amazon Prime Video.

Pros
Cons
  • 100% free and safe to use
  • Consistent access to Prime Video
  • Apps for Fire TV Stick & Android TV
  • 10GB data cap restricts streaming hours
  • Limited server list
  • Slow compared to premium version
  • Smart DNS costs extra
  • No human live chat support

Windscribe Test Ratings

Overall Amazon Prime Video Rating: 8.9/108.9

Unblocks Prime Video & Freevee: 9.5/109.5

Long-Distance Speeds: 9.5/109.5

Fire TV Stick & Android TV Apps: 8.0/108.0

Router & Smart DNS Compatibility: 6.5/106.5

Our tests show that Windscribe is the only free VPN that goes undetected by Amazon’s VPN blocks – making it the best free VPN for Amazon Prime Video and Freevee. Its 10GB data allowance is restrictive but still generous considering it’s completely free and safe to use.

Explore Prime Video Libraries for Free

Throughout our tests, Windscribe Free has never been detected by Prime Video. It enables you to explore up to 11 different Prime Video libraries completely free.

Windscribe Free Amazon Prime Video US

We streamed the US Prime-exclusive ‘World War Z’ using Windscribe Free.

You are restricted to the Prime Video regions that are included in Windscribe Free’s limited server list. This includes the US and Canada catalogs, which are the biggest and most desirable.

The drawback of Windscribe Free is its data limit and reduced long-distance speeds. Our speed tests showed an average UK to US speed of 27Mbps, which is nowhere near as fast as ExpressVPN or PrivateVPN, or as fast as the premium version, but it’s unlikely you’ll ever experience lag.

Windscribe’s 10GB of data cap will only allow you to stream Prime Video for a limited number of hours before the data allowance resets in the following month.

The Best Free VPN for Prime Video on Fire TV Stick

We downloaded and tested every Windscribe app. It has easy-to-use custom apps for a variety of devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.

It’s the best free VPN for Fire TV Stick, Fire TV, and Android TV. You can also run an unlimited number of simultaneous VPN connections.

Windscribe's Firestick VPN app

Windscribe’s Firestick app is easy to use and accesses Prime Video.

Windscribe has a very effective Smart DNS tool called Control D, but it is not free and you have to pay separately for it, even if you’re a Windscribe VPN subscriber.

If you want to stream Prime Video on devices incompatible with VPNs, like Apple TV, you can install Windscribe on your router manually. But this is quite technical, and nowhere near as useful as ExpressVPN’s router app.

You should use Windscribe Free if:

  • You don’t want to spend any money.
  • Windscribe Free is the only free VPN that works with Amazon Prime Video, so it’s the best choice for those looking to beat Amazon’s blocks without spending money.

You should not use Windscribe Free if:

  • You want unlimited streaming capacity.
  • Windscribe Free only allows you to use 10GB of its free data. After that, you’ll have to wait until it refreshes next month.

Visit Windscribe or read our full Windscribe review.

Which Free VPN Works with Amazon Prime?

Based on our extensive tests, the only free VPN that works with Amazon Prime Video is Windscribe Free.

Because they do not invest in geo-blocking, these popular free VPNs do not work:

  • Atlas VPN Free
  • Betternet Free
  • FreeVPN by FreeVPN.org
  • Hide.me Free
  • Hola VPN
  • Hotspot Shield Free
  • ProtonVPN Free
  • TunnelBear Free
  • VPNhub Free
  • X-VPN Free

It’s very rare that a free VPN unblocks Prime Video because they do not invest the resources necessary to evade Prime Video’s VPN detection.

Other VPNs We Considered for Prime Video

CyberGhost

What we don’t like: CyberGhost is able to unblock Prime Video and it has a nice Firestick app, so it is a good choice for Prime Video. However, its inconsistent speeds means we caution against it. And while it is cheap, PrivateVPN is even cheaper.

NordVPN

What we don’t like: NordVPN is another top-tier VPN that is able to access Prime Video, but it’s performance is less reliable on Fire TV and so ExpressVPN is the better choice.

PureVPN

What we don’t like: We like PureVPN’s Firestick app, but it has proven unreliable at accessing Prime Video in our tests.

How to Watch Amazon Prime Video from Anywhere With a VPN

Changing your IP address alone will not unblock more Prime Video libraries. However, it’s not impossible as some websites claim.

You can use a VPN to set up an Amazon account that’s associated with any country in the world. If you use your new account while connected to a VPN server in that country, you’ll be able to unblock and stream Prime Video content from that location.

We used a VPN to access the US Prime Video library from the UK. By connecting to a VPN server in the US and setting up a new Amazon account, we bypassed Amazon’s geo-blocks and error codes.

Here’s how to unblock Amazon Prime Video using a VPN:

1. Choose a VPN with servers in the country you want to unblock. We recommend ExpressVPN due to its huge choice of server locations and wide compatibility.

2. Log out of any existing Amazon account you may have.

3. Connect to a VPN server in the region you want to unblock. For our example, we’re using a VPN server in the US.

4. Navigate to the Amazon URL of the country you wish to access. In our case, we went to amazon.com rather than amazon.co.uk. You should see the country’s flag in the top right corner of the website.

How to Unblock Amazon Prime Step One

5. Hover over Hello, sign in and select Start here beside New Customer.

6. Create your new Amazon account, filling in your details when prompted.

How to Unblock Amazon Prime Step Three

7. You will then be prompted to add your phone number for authentication, which is mandatory. You do not need a US phone number to do this. However, it does have to be a number that’s not already associated with an account.

How to Unblock Amazon Prime Video Step Four

8. Once you have confirmed a phone number, your account will be created. To access Prime Video, you’ll also have to insert payment details. This does not have to be a US payment method.

9. While still connected to a VPN server in your chosen country, navigate to Amazon Prime Video. You will now be able to watch content that was previously blocked in your location.

How to Fix Your VPN Not Working with Amazon Prime Video

Due to copyright laws, Amazon uses geo-location technology to detect your location and change its content library accordingly.

It also uses VPN detection methods to block the use of VPNs or proxies that can change your IP address and make it appear as if you’re in a different region.

You’ll know you’re VPN is being blocked by Amazon if you see this error message:

Amazon Prime Video VPN & Proxy Detection Error Message

Amazon uses VPN detection methods to block access outside of permitted regions.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to bypass Amazon Prime’s VPN blocks and fix your VPN not working.

Here’s a list of reasons why your VPN isn’t working with Prime, and what you can do to fix it:

1. You Have Not Changed Your Amazon Account Country

The most common reason why a VPN might not work with Prime Video is because you have not changed the country associated with your account. Even the best VPNs that change your IP address won’t work with Prime Video if you’ve not done this.

Unfortunately, changing your Amazon country isn’t as simple as selecting from the Amazon list of preferred regions. Instead, you have to create a new account in the region you require.

Once this is done, and you’ve connected to a VPN server, you can watch Prime Video content that’s only available in other countries.

2. Your VPN Is Identified & Blocked by Amazon

If your VPN is detected when trying to access Prime Video, it’s likely that the VPN you’re using is simply not good enough.

Not all VPNs bypass Prime blocks. Our testing shows that only 32 VPNs work reliably with Prime without being detected.

That’s because changing your IP address isn’t always enough; you also need a streaming-optimized VPN that unblocks Prime Video routinely.

These VPNs have constantly changing IP addresses or obfuscation technology that makes detection difficult. Because of the investment required to do this, these VPNs cost money.

To ensure reliable access to Prime, you should choose a VPN that has been tested and known to work — like the VPNs we recommend above.

EXPERT ADVICE: Not every top-tier VPN unblocks Prime Video. If you’re unsure about a VPN, email us at hello@top10vpn.com and we can check our testing data to see if it works.

3. Your VPN IP Address Is Blocked by Prime

Streaming sites like Prime Video track IP addresses that are used to access its services.

If a single IP address is used by thousands of different users, it indicates that the IP address is provided by VPN or proxy service. Fortunately, they cannot keep track of them all.

Simply changing your VPN server, and therefore your IP address, may help to bypass Prime blocks.

You can also contact your VPN’s support team and ask for servers that unblock Prime Video or Freevee.

4. Your Cookie, DNS, or Cache Data Is Exposing Your Real Location

Browser cookies and cached files track your internet behavior. These web identifiers may contain traces of your real geo-location.

Amazon can use these to figure out that you’re using a VPN and block you.

Deleting your cookies and cache files in your browser is an easy fix and may help to unblock Prime Video.

How We Test VPNs for Amazon Prime

We tested 56 VPNs to see which offer the best support for watching Amazon Prime Video.

As there are no benefits from using a VPN with Prime shopping, this does not form a part of our evaluation of the best VPNs for Amazon Prime.

The highest-rated VPNs for Prime video consistently go undetected by Prime Video VPN blocks. We also tested each VPN with the free movie hub, Freevee, which is part of Prime Video.

The best VPNs for Prime Video have fast long-distance speeds that guarantee Full HD streaming even when connecting from thousands of miles away.

On top of that, the best VPNs have apps for a wide range of devices, including Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Fire TV, and Android TV. You should be able to watch Prime Video on-the-go or at home.

We give additional points to VPNs that offer Smart DNS and router compatibility for those looking to watch Prime Video on devices that are not compatible with VPNs, such as Apple TV or games consoles.

We calculate the overall Amazon Prime Video VPN rating based on the weighting of each category we test for:

  • Reliable access to Prime Video & Freevee: 50%
  • US speeds (based on London to New York connections): 20%
  • Quality of Fire TV Stick & Android TV app: 20%
  • Smart DNS & Router Support: 10%