If you enjoy using apps like Kodi or Terrarium TV, you may have heard a lot about VPN’s. We talk about them frequently, and it’s a great way to keep a level of anonymity online. Streamers looking for the best VPN for Kodi have hundreds of options to choose from although the top options tend to change frequently.

Whether you are still on the fence about getting a VPN or are looking for a new one, our guide to the best VPN for Kodi will guide you along. We’re going to cover the important areas to look for and break down the top options currently on the market in March of 2018.

Why use a VPN?

The most obvious reason to use a VPN is if you torrent or downloading things that could get you pegged for copyright infringement. Those Kodi addons we all love so much can also get you in a pickle in some cases. That is one reason to use a VPN, but far from the only one.

Worried about your browsing history being compromised? Well, that won’t be a problem if you have a good VPN to help erase your tracks. It also allows you to “adjust” your location. If you’re located in Canada but want to temporarily reside in Europe, you just need to choose the right server.

This is handy if you have regional restrictions, something that’s quite common in different parts of the world. Yes, it can still help you watch Netflix or shows that normally don’t air in your region if you put some time into it. It also allows you to download landlocked apps and games as well. Spoofing your location is a definite perk as is the ability to keep your true IP address a secret when using the web in public.

What to look for in a VPN

If you are looking for a new VPN for Kodi or another program, feel free to jump ahead a few sections to our top choices. New users will want to pay close attention to the areas below however as they will help you significantly narrow the field.

Free vs. Paid VPN services

If you travel the net enough, you have probably encountered an ad offering to provide you a free VPN. Is it too good to be true? Occasionally, although there are plenty of services that provide free VPNs with some drawbacks.

The old saying “you get what you pay for” applies in the VPN world, so you won’t get many servers. The number of collections may be limited, and you can probably forget about tormenting as well. With paid providers, it all comes down to the features and how much you are willing to pay for privacy and security.

Ease of Use and Speed

How tech-savvy are you? If networking gives you nightmares, you will want to roll with a VPN that is easy to work with. That means a minimal amount of settings, and fewer headaches on your end if something happens to go wrong. The obvious drawback is you will miss out on some features and may not have the same degree of anonymity as you would with a full-fledged VPN.

While ease is important, you won’t get anywhere if the speed of the VPN is subpar. Browsing websites will be like crawling through quicksand. Streaming media… well, that’s not possible without enough speed. While we didn’t rank our choices individually, all are capable of delivering the goods when it comes to download or streaming speeds.

Data Collection

The point of a VPN may be to keep you safe online, but the companies that provide them can be sketchy. That’s putting it mildly, as it’s not uncommon for those “Free” VPN services to sell your data. They may not steal your personal information, but you will want to key in on their logging policy when using any VPN service.

Even some of the better paid services have been known to keep data longer than necessary, so pay close attention to their logging policies. If you can’t find any information on how long they keep your data, then you may want to move on. Every VPN will keep a measure of data for your sessions, but the best ones do not hang on to it for very long.

Payment

What’s your preferred method of payment online? Are you a Paypal user or a debit card dandy that prefers to keep their debit card at the ready? VPN services are itching to take your money, but you may find that the one you have your eye on does not take certain forms of payment.

The way you pay also affects how stealthy you can be online. Making a payment to a VPN service would be a dead giveaway if you were a superspy. Some users may want to stay very secretive, which rules some services out automatically.

How much information you are required to give to sign up for a VPN varies across the board. Some may require you to use a service like Paypal which is linked directly to you. Others allow you to pay with Crypto or use a fake name to sign up with. The latter is the only way to roll if you want to stay low key online.

Features

All of these areas will help you thin the pack, but features are what separate the contenders from the champs. The main thing you will want to consider is server location. If you need to spoof your locale, this is key as the more locations, the better for some folks. In other cases, the best VPN for Kodi may only need to work in a few regions, not dozens.

You also need to consider your location in some instances as you could lock yourself out of content if a VPN doesn’t have a server in your region. The number of connections allowed is going to be important to some folks and not an issue with others. If you only plan on using Kodi on a single Android device or a set top box, you’re good to go.

On the flipside, if you want to protect multiple VPN connections, you will want to shop around. Do you plan to use torrents? If so, you need to ensure the VPN supports that. Many don’t, so you could end up paying for something you can’t use.

If power outages are a concern, look for a VPN with a Kill Switch. This essentially cuts the cord entirely if the power or internet goes out. If you don’t have a kill switch, your IP will revert and show back up in place of your spoofed one. Those are just a few features to consider; we will get to more of those as we dig into our top choices.

Price & Compatibility

There is a price point for everyone in the VPN world. That includes folks that just want something free and those who want a full measure of control and don’t care to pay for it.

This area simply comes down to your budget. VPNs are like any other subscriber, so you can save a considerable amount of money by going long term. Signing up for a year isn’t ideal for everyone, so you may want to consider VPN servers with a free trial. When going with a long contract, do your due diligence first.

Alternatively, you can pay for VPN’s quarterly or by the month as well. If you’re unsure, this is the best way to go as it allows you to remain flexible. Again, you don’t want to get stuck with something you can’t use. It’s better to sign up for a shorter term if a free trial isn’t available with the VPN you have your eye on.

Every VPN will work on Windows PC, and 99% of them will also work with Macs. If you run Linux, there are several solid options as well, and Kodi users are very familiar with Raspberry Pi. For folks that live on their mobiles, there are hundreds of options if you are willing to pick through the Play Store.

Many of our choices for the best VPN for Kodi work just fine on mobiles, but the app stores have some programs that are built specifically for the platform. That said, you need to tread lightly as there are some sketchy apps you’ll need to dig through to find the gems.

The Best VPN for Kodi

These are ranked in no particular order as they are all good choices that suit a variety of needs. We also feel this batch provides a price point for almost everyone and enough features to suit even the most stealthy web surfer.

IPVanish

While we didn’t give these ranks, finding IPVanish at the top of any list should come as no surprise. The popular VPN is used by millions around the globe. It is also a lock as one of the top options for the best VPN for Kodi.

IPVanish claims to have over 1000 anonymous VPN servers in their arsenal. Those servers reside in over 60 countries, so you should be able to find a soft landing spot wherever you may roam. More importantly, this software allows for torrenting and gives you access to five connections as well. While it’s not “unlimited,” it’s better than a single connection, and five should cover most folks.

Depending on the server and time of day, we found speeds to be solid and above average with IPVanish. We also like the fact it has a Kill Switch, and it’s one of the better options for watching content from outside your region. As for the negatives, there are much cheaper options available.

IPVanish gives you a 7-day trial period, and there are three tiers to choose from. The best value is a full year for $4.87 per month while 3-months of service sets you back $6.74. If you prefer monthly, it’s $7.50 to give it a test run. They also offer a money back guarantee in case you don’t dig their service.

NordVPN

NordVPN has the distinction of being the most affordable VPN on our list. At only $2.75 per month, it’s extremely cheap, but you will have to sign up for a 3-year deal. While that is lengthy, we are pleased to say it is well worth it.

NordVPN is built to work on any operating system under the sun. That includes Android, Windows and iOS handsets along with tablets and PCs. You are able to have six connections under one plan and can sync up to more than 2000 servers located worldwide. It is safe to say your country will be covered along with every other corner of the globe.

It’s top of the class when it comes to the connection count, and nobody will complain about the speed. Do you tend to go the P2P route when you stream? That won’t be a problem with NordVPN, and you’ll get ad-blocking capabilities to boot. The company uses the latest technology on all of its servers and even offers up features like double encryption or a static IP address.

NordVPN is cheap if you go for the 3-year plan, but we can’t say the same for their monthly rate. It’s $11.95, which is expensive unless you only need the best for a short period of time. The only other option is a 1-year contract for $5.75 per month.

VyprVPN

Looking for a cheaper option that still provides the tools you need to stay anonymous without breaking the bank? VyperVPN from Golden Frog can save you a few bucks, and there are two plans to choose from with their regular and Premium VyperVPN services.

Both tiers have the same basic set of features. That means you will get over 700 servers located in 70 different locations and unlimited data with this VPN. The company provides 24/7 support in case you get stuck, and there’s a Kill Switch if your connection lets you down. The software is not as user-friendly as our top two options, but the tools are nice.

As for the differences, the vanilla option comes with access to three simultaneous connections while the Premium tier gives you five. That’s a significant difference if you use a lot of devices, and you don’t get access to VyprVPN cloud or the Chameleon Protocol with the base package either. The former also gives you access to your own cloud server while the latter helps combat VPN blocking services.

If you want to sign up for a year, the VyprVPN Premium is a steal at only $80 bucks ($5 per month), otherwise, it’s $12.95 per month. The basic VPN package is $60 for a year or $9.95 a month, so the value lies in the Premium offering.

PureVPN

PureVPN is another top-notch solution built to set your mind at ease. It’s also highly-regarded when it comes to the best VPN for Kodi due to its combination of features and pricing. While there are a few downsides, it certainly belongs at the top of the heap.

This VPN is packed full of features including split tunneling, a Kill Switch, and well over 80,000 IPs. They have a whopping 500 servers in over 121 countries which is definitely nothing to scoff at. Need unlimited data and 256-bit encryption? PureVPN has that and a whole lot more.

One of the big reasons we dig Pure is the fact it’s compatible with everything. Seriously, the usual OS’s are locks along with Google TV, Apple TV, the Xbox, PlayStation, and even your router. You can essentially turn almost anything into a Kodi box. Military-grade encryption ensures your data will stay safe from prying eyes and it’s among the best in terms of speed.

Pure’s pricing is in line with the rest of the pack and comes with a 7-day money back guarantee. It’s billed as Kodi-friendly as well, something you won’t find with other VPN’s. They have yearly plans at a deep discount as low as $2.87 per month, or you can opt for a monthly rate at close to $11 bucks.

VPN Unlimited

Rounding out our Top 5 is a service called VPN Unlimited. As the name implies, it gives you unlimited benefits including high speeds to let you access the content you need. Privacy and security are at the forefront and considering they advertise streaming services like Netflix and Hulu; it’s safe to say they are a solid option for regional roadblocks as well.

VPN Unlimited has servers located across the globe including all the major regions like Asia, North America, the Pacific, Europe and South America. That said, they don’t have quite as many servers available although there should be an area for everyone. It’s available on as many platforms as our other choices however and comes with a few interesting add-ons.

If you want to pay an additional $18.33 per month, you can get your own personal VPN server. Personal IPS addresses are far cheaper at $12.50 per month, and nice perk as well. Regardless of the additional features, the regular service is easy to use and provides you with privacy and security for five devices for one monthly fee.

VPN Unlimited offers a 7-day trial and has pricing comparable to other services. They have one interesting tier as well with their “Lifetime” plan. It’s priced at $149 compared to $49 for a full year, but you’ll want to read the fine print as always.

Verdict

Like many things in life, choosing the best VPN for you all comes down to your needs at the end of the day. Some users may want top-tier security for political reasons or to simply keep their connection intact when torrenting.

For others, it could be as simple as needed a bit of privacy and security while you are at the coffee shop. If you are ready to install the VPN of your choice but aren’t sure how to proceed, all or our picks have great guides available directly from their respective sites. If you need to install the VPN on a Firestick, be sure to check out our video guide below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQAwhXexX-I