Best VPN for Fire Stick 2024: Speeds tested | The Independent (2024)

Supercharge your smart TV experience with the best VPN for Fire Stick

The Amazon Fire Stick provides access to a vast digital content library, and connecting to a VPN service can enhance your streaming experience.

Our best Fire Stick VPN for geo-unblocking is ExpressVPN, enabling you to unblock geo-restricted content on streaming platforms when you’re travelling abroad. NordVPN provides a cohort of best-in-class security and is our best for privacy, while Surfshark proved itself to be best for speed throughout our testing process.

Most VPN providers offer dedicated apps for Amazon Fire Stick, and are easy to use and set up. Fire Stick VPN services don’t have to break the bank, but we also wouldn’t recommend using a free VPN because they usually come with data caps that would make streaming virtually impossible – our best-value VPN service costs less than £2 per month for a two-year plan.

We’ve extensively researched and tested dozens of providers for their security, speed, and performance, as well as comparing prices to determine the best VPN for Fire Stick.

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Our reviewers are dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and up-to-date information so you can make an informed decision when it comes to buying a VPN for your Fire Stick. We will only recommend a service after hours of testing, head-to-head feature comparisons, and after taking into account verified customer feedback and reviews and the opinions of industry experts.

Our review scores are determined the following categories:

• Privacy and performance (30%)
• Features and functionality (30%)
• Reputation and credibility (25%)
• Plans and pricing/value (10%)
• Customer experience (5%)

We research and test a total of 25 elements within these categories including:

• Number and location of servers
• Streaming service accessibility
• Security features such as AES-256
• Performance (upload, download, latency)
• Value for money, guarantees, and customer service
• Independent server-site security audits

All of our VPN articles are fact-checked by our in-house team, so you can be assured that our content is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Find out more about how we review VPNs here.

To find out which VPN is best for Fire Stick, there are a few important factors to consider.

Internet speed is important when streaming, so choosing a VPN that doesn’t affect your connection too much is crucial for a good streaming experience. Privacy features such as split tunnelling and the use of AES-256 bit encryption are a must. A VPN with a split tunnelling feature also means you can choose to route some apps outside of your VPN, which will free up more bandwidth and allow for faster internet speeds.

Regardless of privacy and security features, a VPN shouldn’t break the bank, so it’s worth checking if another provider offers similar features for a more cost-effective price. It’s important to set your own budget based on what’s available in the market. There are a lot of good, reputable VPN providers that cost less than a cup of coffee when you break the up-front payment into monthly installments. Of course, you’ll find free VPNs listed in the Amazon Appstore, but we would highly recommend avoiding those – more on that later.

• Free version: No
• Maximum number of connected devices: 6
• Number of servers: 5,500+ in 60 countries
• Encryption: AES-256
• VPN protocols: OpenVPN, and NordLynx (WireGuard protocol)
• No-log policy: Yes
• Audited: Yes, by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and Deloitte
• Headquarters: Panama
• Pricing:

• NordVPN 2 year

  £2.79

  /month

  NordVPN 1 year

  £3.99

  /month

  NordVPN 1 month

  £10.49

  /month

  VIEW

  At NordVPN

NordVPN has over 5,000 servers located in 60 countries, and its VPN is particularly effective when it comes to bypassing geo-restrictions and unblocking streaming platforms when travelling abroad – this makes it a good choice for the Amazon Fire Stick. The provider says it takes its users’ privacy very seriously and has a no-logs policy that has been audited. An independently verified privacy policy is something to look for when buying a VPN for your Fire Stick.

Cost

NordVPN on Fire Stick offers three payment tiers: Standard, Plus and Complete, with each offering monthly, 12-month and 24-month payments.

The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all annual and two-year plans, giving you the option to trial it risk-free. You’ll also be able to take advantage of significant savings if you sign up with the service for a longer period. The two-year deal comes with a hefty 67 per cent discount, working out to just £2.79 per month. NordVPN are also offering three extra months for free as an added incentive, as part of a birthday promotion that ends on 20 March.

Security

With NordVPN’s app for Fire Stick, there’s a choice of two protocols – OpenVPN and NordLynx – with the latter being Nord’s in-house version of WireGuard. Its servers are also encrypted with AES-256 and the Meshnet feature allows you to link devices with encrypted tunnels to essentially create your own VPN.

NordVPN’s split tunnelling feature allows you to choose which of your Fire Stick apps to route through the VPN tunnel, and what to run outside of it.

Performance

NordVPN demonstrated a strong performance throughout our speed tests on Fire Stick, particularly in local connections. In the UK, it maintained a robust 100 per cent of the upload baseline speed, while the download speed dropped to 48 per cent of the reference value. However, the download speed still supported smooth streaming on our Fire Stick.

When connecting from the UK to the US, NordVPN delivered a more consistent performance, retaining 68 per cent of our reference download speed and most of the baseline upload speed. These test results, exceeding the domestic scenario, could be attributed to the well-established VPN server network in the US and indicated reliable streaming capabilities across longer distances. The connection to Australia was less impressive, with almost identical download and upload speeds at 37 and 38 per cent of the baseline. This, along with considerable ping spikes, may result in buffering when streaming.

Speed test results

Tested February 2024. Protocol: NordLynx

User experience

NordVPN’s app was not the easiest to navigate, especially when compared to ExpressVPN and Surfshark. To connect to a server, you’ll need to scroll through the vertical list of countries, or you can use the search bar – but this also isn’t ideal since you’ll have to painstakingly select the letters one by one using your Fire Stick remote.

However, turning on the privacy features such as split tunnelling, Meshnet and auto connect was relatively straightforward.

Customer service

On Amazon, NordVPN receives 4.1 out of five stars from over 21,000 customer reviews. Many users mention how Nord’s app is easy to use and is good value for money.

“[The app is] very easy to install, [and you] can connect to VPN servers all over the world. [It] works on laptops, phones, and Fire Stick. [You] can also set up a VPN on a capable router, meaning everything on your network is protected. If connecting individually, you can add it to six devices. [I] got a deal for 27 months at a very reduced price. [This is] good initial value for money.”

• Michael Dobson, via Amazon

Verdict

NordVPN’s Amazon Fire Stick app comes with lots of privacy features, such as Meshnet, double VPN and split tunnelling, which makes it well-suited for the privacy-conscious. We did find that connecting to NordVPN slowed our internet speed a lot, and this could interfere with using other Amazon apps simultaneously.

Score: ★★★★½

Read our full NordVPN review.

• Free version: No
• Maximum number of connected devices: Unlimited
• Number of servers: 3,200+
• Encryption: AES-256
• VPN protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN
• No-log policy: Yes
• Audited: Yes
• Headquarters: Netherlands
• Pricing:

• Surfshark 24 month

  £1.79

  /month

  Surfshark 12 month

  £2.29

  /month

  Surfshark 1 month

  £10.29

  /month

  VIEW

  At Surfshark

There’s a lot to like about Surfshark, and its Fire Stick app delivers a premium service for an affordable price. You’ll find Surshark’s Amazon Fire Stick app mirrors those of its VPN for Android and VPN for Mac – which means all the privacy features are included too.

The service provides fast speeds for both download and upload, and a trio of the industry-leading protocols – WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN.

Surfshark’s unlimited device connections allow you to install its VPN app on as many Fire TV devices or streaming devices as you wish.

Cost

Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its annual and two-year plans. Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for Fire Stick.

Security

Surfshark uses AES-256 encryption while adhering to an independently audited no-logs policy that ensures users’ data is never stored or shared. With Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature, you can use the Firestick’s apps while blocking ads, trackers and malware. The Bypasser feature is Surfshark’s version of split tunnelling, whereby you can choose which apps to route through the secure encrypted VPN tunnel and select apps to bypass it.

Performance

Surfshark delivered a consistent performance in our Fire Stick speed tests across both domestic and international connections. When connecting to VPN servers in the UK, it sustained a robust 79 per cent of our reference download speed and 64 per cent upload speed, offering a reliable connection when streaming local content.

In the UK-to-US connection, Surfshark retained around three-quarters of both download and upload reference speeds, ensuring minimal impact on streaming quality. However, the Australian connection experienced a significant slowdown in downloads, maintaining 19 per cent of the no-VPN speeds, whereas uploads remained relatively fast at 64 per cent of the baseline speed. This speed decline, along with a steep ping spike, posed some streaming challenges.

Speed test results

Tested February 2024. Protocol: WireGuard

User experience

Our researchers found Surfshark’s app straightforward to use – an important consideration when choosing which VPN to buy, especially if you’re a novice. The interface consists of a server location list to the left and to the right is the server you’re connected to, along with the IP address.

Surfshark’s features are self-explanatory and come with mini descriptions. You can choose which ones you’d like to toggle on or off and we especially like how customisable the VPN is.

Customer service

On Amazon, Surfshark receives 4.2 out of five stars from more than 44,000 reviews. The provider has been praised for fast connection speeds and minimal video and audio lag.

“I’ve tried many VPNs for my 4k Fire Sticks, but they all seemed to limit my speeds greatly. All others limited my internet down to 30 to 50MB per second and did not allow Prime Video channels through it. Surfshark consistently pushes 150 to 200MB per second on any Fire Stick speed test I try. Also, the same speeds on any given location that is close and the Fire Stick operates every app as normal with this VPN on. No limits or issues with buffering or streaming. Truly a lifesaver for buffering haters like me. Safe, fast, has a Fire Stick kill switch, and no logs. This is a must for cord-cutters that still want great streaming.”

• Jason H, via Amazon

Verdict

Surfshark offers a diverse range of privacy features and is the fastest VPN for Fire Stick. We like the provider because its app is easy to use and connection speeds are comparable to non-VPN speeds, making it an excellent choice for unblocking streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ when traveling abroad, and its features offer a good level of security and privacy.

Score: ★★★★

Read our full Surfshark VPN review.

• Free version: No
• Maximum number of connected devices: 8
• Number of servers: 3,000+
• Encryption: AES-256
• VPN protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN
• No-log policy: Yes
• Audited: Yes
• Headquarters: British Virgin Islands
• Pricing:

• ExpressVPN 12 month

  £6.77

  /month

  ExpressVPN 6 month

  £8.12

  /month

  ExpressVPN 1 month

  £10.53

  /month

  VIEW

  At ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the full package when it comes to privacy features, and its dedicated Fire TV app is just as good as its desktop and mobile versions. With the Fire Stick, ExpressVPN gives you access to over 3,000 worldwide servers and the service works well with smart TV apps. The number of servers and their locations are important factors to consider when buying a Fire Stick VPN, especially if you wish to access geo-restricted content and access streaming platforms when travelling abroad.

Cost

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day, no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. The provider’s subscription payments are taken in US dollars.

Security

ExpressVPN has a lot to offer when it comes to privacy and security features. Users have a selection of VPN protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN and its proprietary next-generation protocols – Lightway UDP and Lightway TCP.

The provider’s Fire Stick app uses AES-256 encryption, which is military grade, and the company claims to follow a strict no-log policy that has been independently audited by PwC.

Performance

Throughout our latest speed tests, ExpressVPN excelled locally but lacked in performance across long-distance connections. When connecting domestically within the UK, the service maintained a robust 87 per cent of our baseline download speed and a respectable 73 per cent of the upload reference speed, ensuring smooth experiences for Fire Stick users.

However, long-distance connections introduced challenges for ExpressVPN. When connecting to US VPN servers, we saw a decline in download and upload speeds to 24 and 9 per cent of our base speeds, respectively. The Australian connection experienced further bandwidth degradation, retaining only 15 per cent of the base download speed and 7 per cent of upload speed, likely resulting in considerable buffering when streaming on Fire Stick.

Despite the robust privacy and security features, the significant performance deterioration of ExpressVPN with the increase in the server distance could be a serious concern for Fire Stick users prioritising uninterrupted streaming.

Speed test results

Tested February 2024. Protocol: Lightway UDP

User experience

ExpressVPN’s app is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. When clicked on, the app will open up to full-screen size with a large connect button, as well as options to connect to recent locations, smart location, or to view the entire server list.

Located at the bottom of the screen are the settings, which contain all of ExpressVPN’s privacy features such as protocols, split tunnelling and network protection (kill switch). The dedicated Fire Stick app was easy to use and we found our connection was stable when using other Fire Stick apps.

Customer service

ExpressVPN receives 3.9 out of five stars on Amazon from more than 49,000 reviews. Customers have praised the Fire Stick app for fast connection speeds. When weighing up VPNs, positive customer experiences are crucial factors to consider, regardless of how you plan to use it.

Verdict

ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPN providers and in terms of its privacy features available for Amazon Fire Stick, and we have to agree. However, ExpressVPN’s subscription is expensive and its internet speeds were not as fast as Surfshark in our tests.

Score: ★★★★½

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

• Free version: No
• Maximum number of connected devices: 7
• Number of servers: 9,000+
• Encryption: AES-256
• VPN protocols: OpenVPN and WireGuard
• No-log policy: Yes
• Audited: Yes
• Headquarters: Bucharest, Romania
• Pricing:

• CyberGhost 2 year

  £1.78

  /month

  CyberGhost 6 month

  £6.19

  /month

  CyberGhost 1 month

  £10.89

  /month

  VIEW

  At CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers 9,000 servers located worldwide, as well as a content blocker that blocks ads, trackers and malware, making this a good choice of VPN for Fire Stick apps.

Cost

CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is more than most other providers. A solid money-back guarantee, especially one for 45 days, is an important factor when deciding which VPN to use with your Fire Stick.

Security

CyberGhost has two VPN protocols on its dedicated Fire Stick app – WireGuard and OpenVPN – as well as using AES-256 encryption.

As well as this, there is an option to split tunnel your Fire Stick apps and choose which ones to route through the VPN and those to run outside of it.

Performance

CyberGhost’s recent performance on Fire Stick was steady. Within the UK, it maintained a solid 89 per cent of the base upload speed, while downloads dropped to 43 per cent of the no-VPN levels. Although not quite impressive, such bandwidths still cater effectively to the needs of most Fire Stick users.

The same trend persisted in the UK-to-US and UK-to-Australia scenarios. When connected to the US, we registered a further decrease in download speeds, maintaining only 37 per cent of our baseline test results, whilst upload speeds performed noticeably better at 84 per cent. The most dramatic speed degradation occurred when switching to Australia, where download and upload speeds fell to 17 and 26 per cent of our reference values, respectively.

While the longest distances we tested saw performance deterioration potentially causing some challenges, CyberGhost effectively supports Fire Stick activities in domestic and transatlantic connections.

Speed test results

Tested February 2024. Protocol: WireGuard

User experience

CyberGhost’s app for Fire Stick is quite basic compared to other providers. The interface consists of a large connect button and an option to connect to the best location. You’ll find all other privacy and security features within the settings menu.

Customer service

CyberGhost receives 3.9 out of five stars from more than 13,000 reviews on Amazon, and customer reviews have mentioned that the app doesn’t always work well with other Fire Stick apps.

“I’ve heard good things about this, so I bought it for the year. I had it for three days and asked for a refund. I was unable to connect to a lot of stuff. At first, I was able to watch Pluto TV, then on the third day nothing. The only thing I could use it for was Netflix. Disney blocks it and Prime Video doesn’t recognise it, so your videos stay the same.”

• Jaqueline speed, via Amazon

Verdict

CyberGhost’s VPN was not the best in terms of speed and app usability. Its dedicated Fire Stick app did come with a good level of security and its privacy features were useful. However, if you’re looking for a VPN that won’t affect speed too much, we suggest looking elsewhere.

Score: ★★★★

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.

• Free version: Yes
• Maximum number of connected devices: 10
• Number of servers: 2,700+
• Encryption: AES-256
• VPN protocols: IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard
• No-log policy: Yes
• Audited: Yes
• Headquarters: Switzerland
• Pricing:

• Proton VPN 2 years

  £4.27

  /month

  Proton VPN 12 months

  £5.13

  /month

  Proton VPN 1 month

  £8.55

  /month

  VIEW

  At Proton VPN

Proton VPN offers both a paid and free subscription. Its paid plan allows for simultaneous connections, and users can connect up to 10 devices, including streaming devices. Its Fire Stick app uses AES-256 encryption and its VPN follows a no-logs policy.

Cost

Proton VPN offers subscription terms of monthly, 12 months, and 24 months. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Security

Proton VPN uses AES-256 encryption and follows a no-logs policy, which has been independently audited. The provider has a choice of three VPN protocols, although we weren’t able to find an option to change our selection on the Fire Stick app.

Performance

Proton VPN showed a strong local performance for Fire Stick users but faced challenges over longer distances. Within the UK, it maintained 79 and 82 per cent of the download and upload baseline speeds, showcasing an ability to provide a reliable streaming experience with negligible interruptions.

However, when connecting to US servers, we recorded only 47 per cent download speed retention, while uploads outperformed downloads at 65 per cent of the reference levels, suggesting acceptable streaming quality. The connection to Australia saw a more significant decline, with both downloads and uploads sustaining around a third of our baseline, potentially leading to some issues.

Altogether, Proton VPN is a great choice for accessing streaming services on Fire Stick locally.

Speed test results

Tested February 2024

User experience

Proton VPN’s dedicated Fire Stick app was easy to use and the app’s interface clearly displays all of the provider’s server locations. However, beyond choosing a server location there wasn’t much else to the app. There were no options to customise protocols or turn on other privacy features like split tunnelling.

Customer service

Proton VPN receives four out of five stars on Amazon from over 1,000 customer reviews. Many reviews praise the provider for its user-friendly app and how well it works with other Fire Stick applications.

“It works great! [But] I don’t like that it cuts my internet speed in half. Everything buffers now.”

• John Davis, via Amazon

Verdict

Proton VPN is a secure and reliable service with a no-logs policy, which has been audited. It comes with lots of available servers located worldwide. However, when we tested its Amazon Fire Stick app, there were no options to customise the privacy features, which was disappointing.

Score: ★★★★

Read our full Proton VPN review.

A Fire Stick VPN has two functions – privacy and unblocking streaming content. With that being said, when our researchers tested VPN services we found ourselves creating a list of VPNs we wouldn’t recommend for Fire Stick.

Windscribe is the first on that list. The service is not great at unblocking geo-restricted content, and some servers that were situated far away from the UK were virtually unusable when streaming. We also wouldn’t recommend HMA, TunnelBear or VPN Secure, all of which are fairly basic, have limited choice of servers and did not cope well with streaming during our testing.

When purchasing a VPN for your Fire Stick, paying close attention to the small print and understanding exactly what you’re signing up for is essential.

• Price transparency: While many VPNs advertise low monthly rates, these are often based on longer-term contracts. Make sure you understand the full cost for the contract duration before you commit, and look out for potential hidden fees
• Contract length: VPNs often offer significant discounts for longer-term subscriptions, but ensure you’re comfortable with the commitment
• Free trials: VPN free trials can be a great way to try out a service without committing fully. However, be sure to read the fine print – some services may require you to cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged
• Automatic renewals: Some VPN services automatically renew your contract at the end of the term, and that renewal price may be higher than you were paying for the first term
• Cancellation policy: Understand the provider’s cancellation policy. Some services might not offer a prorated refund if you cancel your service before the contract ends. A good provider will offer a money-back guarantee so you can cancel for a refund if you’re not happy with the service – this is usually 30 days, but can be as high as 45 days, as is the case with CyberGhost
• Additional services: VPN providers may try to bundle additional services or features for an extra cost, so be clear on what’s included in your package and whether you need the extras

There are more reasons than one you might use a VPN with your Fire Stick, with the main ones being privacy, ISP throttling and geo-restriction. Fire Stick only comes with standard privacy and security features, which means third parties, like your internet service provider (ISP), can still track your online activity. With a VPN, you can protect your IP address as well as make use of other security features, such as ad, tracker and malware blockers.

ISP throttling is when your internet service provider is aware that you’re using streaming platforms such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer or Hulu, and attempts to slow down your internet speed. A VPN for Fire Stick encrypts your online activities and therefore keeps your ISP in the dark.

Fire Stick VPNs can also help you unlock geo-restricted content so you can enjoy all of your favourite shows when you’re travelling abroad.

Our top three recommended best Fire Stick VPN apps also include enhanced features, such as split tunnelling, which would allow you to route your streaming services through the secure VPN tunnel while sending other traffic through your regular internet connection, which could help speed up your VPN while watching films.

Consider the following features when purchasing a VPN to use on your Fire Stick:

• Compatibility: Make sure the provider has a Fire Stick app
• Security: Make sure your VPN service has a good level of encryption – ideally AES-256 – and a variety of protocols such as WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2
• Privacy: Choose a VPN that follows a no-logs policy that has been independently audited
• Speed: Select a VPN with lots of servers available worldwide
• Reputation and reviews: Read customer reviews and compare providers

To set up a VPN on your Fire Stick, follow these steps:

1. Choose a VPN provider: Research and choose a VPN service that has all the features you need.
2. Download the VPN from the Fire Stick Apps menu: Go to the Apps menu and search for the VPN provider you’ve chosen and click download.
3. Install and launch the app: Sign in to your VPN account and follow the configuration process.
4. Connect to the VPN: Choose a server location and any other privacy and security features.

While there are plenty of free VPNs available on the Amazon Appstore, they usually come with limitations, such as restricted data use, and don’t support streaming, which renders them practically useless for a Fire Stick.

Free VPNs most likely won’t be as secure and many have been found to harvest user data themselves. Free VPNs also don’t tend to have as many privacy features as paid versions and are less likely to be encrypted with AES-256.

The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services from the perspective of:

• The quality of the product based on the security it affords the user
• User experience of the application(s)
• Level and quality of customer service

Independent Advisor does not endorse the streaming of content from regions other than where the subscription is held, nor does it endorse the downloading or consumption of illegally pirated content.

Whilst a VPN may enable multiple geo-locations, it should be noted that this is at the user’s own risk. Some service providers, may sometimes detect and restrict access when connected via a VPN, due to licensing restrictions on content being shown within different countries.