Best Free VPN for Firestick in 2024 [Free Plans & Trials]
Amazon Fire TV Stick (or Firestick for short) is a fully featured streaming player that turns your regular TV into a “smart” TV. It lets you access your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube on an easy-to-navigate platform. However, you need the best free VPN for Amazon Firestick to unleash the full capabilities of these apps.
A virtual private network (VPN) spoofs your location, so you can access geoblocked content. Beyond that, Firestick VPNs keep you private and anonymous online. This way, if you’re using media players like Kodi and other apps with pirated content, there’s minimal risk of getting caught and prosecuted for infringing on the copyright act.
In this guide, we’ll reveal the best free VPNs for Amazon Fire TV Stick. We’ll also tell you how you can use ExpressVPN and NordVPN — the overall best VPNs — to stream and torrent with Firestick risk-free. Keep reading.
The Top Free VPNs for Firestick
What Makes the Best Free VPN for Firestick?
In a market flooded with dodgy free VPN services, it can be difficult to find the best free VPN that works with Amazon Fire TV Stick. You have to test numerous services on multiple fronts: speed, security, privacy and ability to unblock geo-restricted content to find one that works with Fire Sticks.
First and foremost, the VPN services must be compatible with your Firestick device. The VPNs on our list are compatible with Fire TV Stick second generation, third generation, 4K and 4K Max. You can install them directly from the Amazon app store or sideload them if you can’t find the VPN app on the app store.
However, compatibility isn’t the be-all and end-all when picking a VPN for Firestick. The VPN must also be able to unblock your favorite streaming platforms for movies, TV shows, music and sports events. Free Firestick VPNs vary when it comes to the ability to access geoblocked content. For that reason, we delved into the details about each VPN’s ability to help you find one that suits your needs.
The VPN should also have good speeds and unlimited bandwidth to let you stream without interruption. The VPNs on our list tick this box, but they vary in terms of their data limits. Some offer enough data for binge-watchers, while others are geared toward casual viewers. We have all the details you need to pick an ideal Firestick VPN free of charge.
Your internet service provider (ISP) can intentionally throttle your internet connection when they notice you’re streaming or torrenting. The VPN for Fire TV Stick offers robust security and privacy to hide your activity from ISPs. Doing so prevents ISP throttling, allowing you to enjoy safe and lag-free streaming or torrenting.
The 3 Best VPNs With Free Plans for Firestick
We begin our guide with three VPNs that are absolutely free. We tested these VPN services and we can vouch for their unblocking ability and top-notch security. However, they come with limits on data and the number of accessible servers. We’ll reveal their specific details, starting with Windscribe — the best free VPN for Firestick.
1. Windscribe — Best Free VPN for Firestick, No Subscription Needed
More details about Windscribe:
- Pricing: Free; $1 per location with build-a-plan option
- Provider Website: windscribe.com
Pros:
- Excellent speeds
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Unblocks popular streaming apps
- R.O.B.E.R.T. blocks ads & malware
Cons:
- Slow on long-distance servers
Windscribe is the first name that comes to mind when we talk about reliable free Firestick VPNs, thanks to its stellar speeds. It also has airtight privacy and security, with AES 256-bit encryption and solid VPN protocols. As a result, you can stream and torrent with Amazon Firestick without fear of ISP throttling or subpoenas from a copyright agency.
In addition, Windscribe is one of the fastest VPN services out there. It doesn’t match the lightning-fast speeds of NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but it gets the job done. It delivers lag-free streaming, especially when connecting to nearby servers, making it a great option to bypass local sporting blackouts. Sadly, inconsistency can get in your way when connecting to more distant servers.
Like other free VPN apps for Firestick, Windscribe comes with service limitations. There’s a 10GB monthly data limit, which is great by free VPN standards. You also get an additional 5GB of data for tweeting about Windscribe. Granted, the data may not last long if you’re a binge-watcher or prefer to watch videos in high definition; still, it’s free.
Servers in Popular Streaming Locations
Windscribe’s free account restricts you to 10 server locations. The good thing is that most of the free servers are located in popular streaming hubs, such as the U.S., Canada and Japan. We tested most of the servers and they unblocked Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and Max. The servers also support P2P-sharing, so you won’t encounter any hurdles when using Kodi add-ons for torrenting.
Lastly, Windscribe is compatible with Fire TV Sticks second generation and above. The native app is easy to install from the Amazon app store, or you can sideload it via the Downloader app. Besides, the app has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate for all users. Should you hit a snag, be sure to read our guide to learn how to use Windscribe.
Beyond the data limit and server restrictions, Windscribe’s free version allows unlimited simultaneous connections. If you want to remove the service limitation, you won’t get a smoother transition from a free to paid plan than with the build-a-plan option.
This plan lets you buy a server location for $1 and unlock unlimited data for another $1. However, there’s a $3 minimum spend for the build-a-plan option, as you can read in our Windscribe review.
Free
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
2. ProtonVPN — Free Unlimited VPN for Firestick Binge-watchers
More details about ProtonVPN:
Pros:
- Unlimited data per month
- Solid security & privacy
- Unblocks streaming services
Cons:
- 3 VPN server locations
- Only one connection
- Middling speeds on free servers
- Doesn’t support torrenting
ProtonVPN stacks up well against Windscribe on the security and privacy fronts. It also gives our top pick a run for its money when it comes to unblocking streaming services, making it great option for Fire TV Stick. During our testing, it found a way into Netflix, Max, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus and other sports streaming sites without a struggle.
However, ProtonVPN has a few niggles that relegate it to the second spot. While it doesn’t directly throttle your connection speeds, it places you on the busiest servers — a clever way to soft-limit your speeds. In addition, free users can only access servers in three locations: the United States, Japan and Netherlands, which isn’t as good as Windscribe.
Moreover, in a bid to limit server congestions and decline in performance, the free VPN version doesn’t support torrenting. That can be off-putting, especially if you’re looking for a VPN that can let you use P2P-based apps on Amazon Fire TV Stick. Read our ProtonVPN alternative guide to find a paid or free alternative that supports torrenting.
Enjoy Unlimited Data
ProtonVPN is the only free VPN to offer unlimited data. It beats all other free VPNs and gives paid VPN options a run for their money in that regard. In fact, it’s the best free VPN for binge-watchers — that is, if you can find an optimal VPN server to deliver fast download speeds.
Like Windscribe, ProtonVPN is compatible with second-generation Fire TV Sticks and above. ProtonVPN’s Fire TV Stick app is available on the Amazon app store, but if you can’t find it, there’s an option to install it with the Downloader app. The app is also intuitive and easy to use.
As you have seen, the usage restrictions limit ProtonVPN’s ability to deliver smooth streaming. If you like the service, you can remove the limitations when you subscribe to a paid plan. It’s not as cheap as Windscribe, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee and a seven-day free trial just in case you change your mind. Read our full ProtonVPN review to learn more.
Plus
- Renewal prices are different after the first year for the 1-year plan, and after the second year for the 2-year plan.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
3. hide.me — VPN for Firestick With Good Connection Speeds
More details about hide.me:
- Pricing: Free; $2.22 per month
- Provider Website: hide.me
Pros:
- Torrenting on free servers
- Excellent security & privacy
- Fast connections on close servers
- Free servers in 8 countries
Cons:
- Unreliable at unblocking streaming sites
- Slow over long-distance servers
hide.me is another great VPN for Fire TV Stick. Like our top picks, it delivers excellent security and privacy. It hides your traffic from ISPs, hackers and government agencies so that they don’t know what you’re doing online. This helps avoid ISP throttling while keeping you private and anonymous as you stream content, some of which might be pirated.
However, hide.me couldn’t dislodge Windscribe or ProtonVPN and had to settle for the third spot due to its inability to unblock some major streaming platforms. While our top picks unblock the most popular streaming services, hide.me performance is a mixed bag. It unblocks Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer but struggles with Hulu, Netflix and Max.
Thankfully, hide.me redeems itself with good connection speeds on your nearest servers. Its excellent download speeds deliver lag-free streaming and torrenting. However, inconsistency and high latency issues can crop up when connecting to longer-distant servers. As a result, videos might take longer to load, and when they do, buffers and lags could get in the way of streaming.
Servers in Popular Streaming Destinations
hide.me lets you access servers in eight countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Netherlands, Germany, Singapore and Spain. As we mentioned earlier, these servers are hit-or-miss when it comes to opening streaming platforms. Thankfully, they offer P2P support, and that’s a plus if you intend to torrent on popular Firestick channels.
You get 10GB of data per month, which may not suffice for binge-watching. However, it could last you an hour or two of streaming if you adjust the video quality to standard definition. Like our top picks, hide.me has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV Stick, which you can download from the app store or sideload using the Downloader app.
You can remove the service limitation and unlock features such as specialized streaming servers with a paid plan. It’s not as cheap as the build-a-plan option, but it’s more affordable than ProtonVPN. Plus, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee, just in case you need more time to take it for a spin. Read our hide.me review to learn more.
The 2 Best Premium VPN Services for Firestick
The usage limits of free VPNs can be a nuisance if you’re a binge-watcher or fancy watching 4K and HD videos. In that case, we recommend trying a premium VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. These VPNs don’t offer a free lifetime plan, but they do have money-back guarantees to give you a firsthand feel for their excellent capabilities.
4. ExpressVPN – Best Premium VPN Service for Firestick
More details about ExpressVPN:
Pros:
- Unblocks streaming apps
- Top-notch security & privacy
- Excellent speeds
- Built-in obfuscation technology
Cons:
- No free plan
- Paid plans are expensive
ExpressVPN has made the top spot in most of our categories its own, due to its all-around performance. It’s the best VPN for streaming, thanks to its unmatched ability to unblock virtually any streaming service you throw at it. During our testing, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, ESPN, DAZN and beIN Sports were no match for ExpressVPN.
The VPN service has VPN servers in 105 countries, which is among the best server spreads in the industry. It’s easy to get an IP address to unblock your preferred streaming library anywhere in the world. Plus, if you dread NBA, NFL and MLB blackouts, worry no more. The fleet of U.S. servers helps you bypass blackouts and cheer on your team regardless of where it’s playing.
In addition, ExpressVPN has consistently fast connection speeds. Whether you’re accessing a local streaming library or one across continents, the streams are smooth, with no buffering or video lag. If torrenting on Amazon Firestick is your cup of tea, you’ll be glad to know that ExpressVPN servers are optimized for P2P traffic.
Use Firestick in Restrictive Countries
If you are traveling to restrictive countries where VPNs are banned and still want to keep up with the local news and sporting events, ExpressVPN for Firestick is a safe bet. The service uses built-in obfuscation technology to make VPN traffic look like regular web traffic. Local ISPs and government agencies won’t notice you’re using a VPN.
ExpressVPN works on all Amazon Fire TV devices, from 4K and 4K Max to second- and third-generation Firestick. As is the case with other VPNs, you can install the VPN app from the Amazon app store or sideload it via the Downloader app.
Sadly, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan per se. However, there’s a seven-day free trial, but that only works on mobile devices. ExpressVPN also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you use the VPN for free for a month, as long as you request a refund within that period. Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn more.
5. NordVPN – Fastest Service for Streaming Firestick Content
More details about NordVPN:
Pros:
- Lightning-fast speeds
- Unique security features
- Unblocks streaming apps
Cons:
- High latency on long-distance servers
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are evenly matched in nearly all aspects, as you can read in our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN comparison guide. However, NordVPN has a leg up on ExpressVPN on the speed front — it’s the fastest VPN around. You can use the P2P server to stream P2P-based addons on Firestick, but its regular servers deliver an excellent torrenting experience too.
In addition, NordVPN offers features you don’t get with ExpressVPN. For example, there’s the dark web monitor that notifies you if your data leaks online. You can also use a dedicated IP address to sidestep the bad neighbor effect, whereby a VPN’s IP address can be blocked by an online service for the misdeeds of other users.
Beyond that, NordVPN gets you into streaming platforms without a struggle. It has a nice server spread in the U.S. that makes it a great option to bypass NBA, NFL or MLB blackouts. A variety of specialty servers are also available, including obfuscated servers in 16 countries. The servers let you use VPN for Firestick in restrictive countries.
Lightning-Fast Speeds
NordVPN is the fastest VPN service right now. You won’t notice the VPN is on whether you’re accessing a local or international streaming library. During our testing, videos loaded instantly and the streams didn’t get interrupted: We didn’t experience lags or buffers. You also get unlimited bandwidth and data to watch as many videos as you wish.
NordVPN is compatible with the second generation of Fire TV Stick and above. It should be a cinch to install the native app from the Amazon app store or by using the Downloader app.
Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN doesn’t offer a free plan. The seven-day free trial is available for Android and iOS devices, locking out Firestick users. The only way to use NordVPN risk-free is through the 30-day money-back guarantee, so give it a shot. Read our full NordVPN review to learn more.
Basic
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
Plus
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
Ultimate
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
Free VPNs for Firestick: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Free data
- Free server locations
- Native Fire TV Stick apps
- Good speeds
The best free VPN providers (like the ones we discussed earlier) are quite capable. They are secure, private and most of them easily unblock geo-restricted video content on popular Firestick apps. In addition, they offer native VPN apps for Firestick and are easy to install and use.
On the flip side, they come with usage limits. You’ll find a fast VPN like Windscribe, but its 10GB data cap can be a deal-breaker for binge-watchers. ProtonVPN, on the other hand, comes with unlimited data, but its sluggish speeds are crippling. Luckily, the limits are not born out of any sinister motive; they are imposed to upsell you to paid plans.
However, not all free VPNs are secure and private. Some, like the ones on our worst free VPNs list, don’t unblock geo-restricted content, which rules them out for use with Firestick. What’s more, others could invade your privacy by collecting personal data at different levels, defeating the purpose of using the VPN.
Even worse, some may take their unscrupulous activity a notch higher. They could gather your data and sell it on the dark web marketplace. Besides that, some free VPN services could unload malware onto your device or network, whereas others might feature third-party trackers. These factors should dissuade you from using most free services.
Final Thoughts
If you must use a free VPN for Firestick, we recommend sticking to the free versions offered by reputable providers. Windscribe, ProtonVPN and hide.me are good examples. The free versions offer top-notch security and privacy and most of them are apt for unblocking streaming sites. Sadly, their usage limits could ruin your streaming experience in one way or another.
For an unrestrained 4K and HD streaming experience, we recommend getting started with one of the paid VPN services. ExpressVPN is the pick of the bunch, thanks to its excellent speeds, solid security and privacy and its ability to unblock geo-restricted content. However, it’s pricey; if you want a service that’s easy on your pocket, NordVPN is a reliable alternative.
Did we leave out your favorite free VPN for Fire TV device? What’s the name of that free service? How do you use the VPN and which feature do you like most? We’d like to hear about it in the comment section. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ
-
Yes, there are reliable free VPNs for Firestick like Windscribe, ProtonVPN and hide.me. However, these services come with usage limits.
-
Open the search function on the Firestick home screen and search for the VPN. Select the ideal app and hit “download” or “get.” Follow along with the installation wizard to get the VPN app up and running.
-
Windscribe is the best free VPN for Firestick, thanks to its fast speeds and excellent ability to unblock streaming platforms. It also supports torrenting, but is weighed down by the 10GB monthly data cap.
-
Generally, we recommend using a VPN for any online activity, including watching content on Firestick. The reasons for this are numerous, ranging from making sure your Internet Service Provider can’t see your Firestick activity, bypassing geo-restrictions and being able to access content exclusively available in certain countries and regions, making sure your connection is secure, and protecting your online data.