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While smart televisions have become a household norm, that doesn’t mean you can 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 geo-restrictions and grant you access to your favorite content without sacrificing your privacy, regardless of your location.
Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.
When considering the best VPN for Fire Stick, Dave Shackleford from US-based Voodoo Security recommends that you “look for services offering multiple simultaneous connections, excellent streaming performance, scalable and geographically diverse connectivity options and strong security.”
Make sure your chosen VPN provider has these 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.”
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.
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 FMethodology
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:
About Star Rankings
You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial advisor in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.
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:
Featured Partner Offers
1
NordVPN
Plan costs
$7.33 AUD per month or $87.95 for the first year
Number of Servers
5,500
Encryption
AES-256
2
Surfshark
Price
Starting From $3.07 AUD Per Month
Number of Servers
3000+
Encryption
AES with 256 -bit keys
3
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Dedicated IP address
Yes
Number of devices
Unlimited
Starting price
$19.79 AUD
Yes, Australians can purchase and use Amazon Fire Stick to connect to their devices and stream services.
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 geo-restricted 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.
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 geo-restricted content and improve your overall streaming experience.
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.
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.
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