That’s why I tested 25+ VPNs to find the best services for Kodi. The VPNs that I’ve listed here hide your Kodi data from surveillance and keep your devices safe without sacrificing speeds. After weeks of testing, I found that ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for fast, safe Kodi streaming. It’s also backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy ExpressVPN for Kodi with confidence. If you find the service isn’t right for you, you can easily get a full refund within 30 days. Try ExpressVPN with Kodi
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Kodi in January 2023
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The Best Kodi VPNs in 2023 — Tested for Speed and Security
1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast Servers for Lagless 4K Streaming on Kodi
ExpressVPN is the top VPN for streaming on Kodi because of its blazing-fast servers for lag-free Kodi content. During multiple rounds of tests, ExpressVPN consistently outperformed every other VPN I tested for Kodi with average speeds over 89Mbps and top speeds of 330Mbps. That was more than fast enough to stream bufferless content in 4K. Even when I had 5 devices connected, there was never more than a few seconds of initial buffering before a Kodi add-on would play a TV show or movie. A huge network of over 3000 ExpressVPN servers means I never got sudden stuttering while watching videos due to congestion with too many users. Plus, I always had reliable connections so I never encountered unexpected drop-outs. To hide your personal information from hackers on Kodi, ExpressVPN uses 256-bit military-grade encryption. A strict no-logs policy also prevents your Kodi activities from being discovered later, as your data is never stored on any of ExpressVPN’s servers. Since its security and privacy policies were audited by a third-party cybersecurity firm, I have peace of mind that I can trust ExpressVPN to keep my Kodi use safe and private. Kodi’s add-ons work with multiple devices, and my tests showed that ExpressVPN’s compatibility is just as extensive. To make it easy for you to set up and try ExpressVPN with Kodi, its website has detailed Kodi-specific installation guides for Windows, macOS, and Android. Installation on iOS is more complicated because it requires a jailbroken device. But if you need help, ExpressVPN’s live chat support always connects me with a helpful live agent fast. The one con to ExpressVPN is that it’s pricier than other VPNs on this list, but it’s a good value for Kodi because of its top speeds and powerful security features. The best deal gives you a generous 49% discount at $6.67/month, but all its plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you can try ExpressVPN with Kodi risk-free. I tested the policy by requesting a refund via live chat. When I told the customer service agent that I wanted a refund, they approved my request within a minute. The money was back in my account in 3 days. Try ExpressVPN with Kodi
2. CyberGhost — NoSpy Network Hides Your Kodi Activities From Third Parties
CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers maximize your privacy so you can watch copyright-free Kodi content anonymously. They’re set up and run directly by CyberGhost, removing the security risks of third-party server farms used by some other VPNs. NoSpy servers are also located in Romania, where the government has no web surveillance or data collection agreements unlike in the US, UK, Germany, and other countries. Even on its 9740+ standard servers outside of Romania, prying eyes won’t be able to see what videos you watch. That’s because CyberGhost’s entire network has a strict no-logs policy that prohibits it from recording any of your data. Plus, your Kodi connections stay invisible to hackers because of CyberGhost’s 256-bit encryption. This provides military-grade protection if you ever download an add-on that contains malware. As a final measure in case you’re on an unreliable network, CyberGhost’s kill switch prevents your identity from being revealed. You’ll get consistently fast speeds between 66-92Mbps, allowing you to use CyberGhost to watch Kodi content in 4K with no annoying buffering. 4K didn’t work reliably when I tried to watch videos on CyberGhost’s limit of 7 simultaneous devices, but having to watch in HD wasn’t a big deal and I rarely need more than 2-3 connections. There’s an easy-to-use CyberGhost app for most devices like PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and other platforms. For less common operating systems that CyberGhost doesn’t have a native app for, you can install it on your router. While this is a bit technical, it protects your Kodi streaming on every device on your network without having to install CyberGhost on each one. The one con to CyberGhost is that its 1-month plan has a shorter money-back guarantee than its other packages. However, the affordable 2-year + 4 months subscription costs $2.03/month and comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. With its NoSpy server network giving me extra peace of mind while I use Kodi, it’s definitely worth the price. I recommend you use the 45-day money-back guarantee to try CyberGhost with Kodi for free. I asked for a refund via 24/7 live chat after a couple weeks of testing it, and my request was approved in seconds. I had my money back in 4 days. Try CyberGhost with Kodi
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — MACE Protects You From Malware in Kodi Add-Ons
PIA’s integrated MACE feature blocks malicious URLs and stops infected Kodi add-ons from harming your devices. Even if an add-on contains malware, MACE automatically checks it against a threat database to protect you from harmful scripts embedded in add-ons, SRT subtitles, and other Kodi files. In addition to MACE, PIA gives you essential security and privacy features like 256-bit military-grade encryption so that hackers on Kodi can’t see your information. A no-logging policy also prevents your private data from being seen by third parties by ensuring nothing you do while you’re connected is ever recorded. Lastly, in case you’re on an unsteady network, there’s a kill switch that prevents your real location from being revealed by cutting your internet connection if the VPN disconnects. During my tests, PIA’s servers were fast enough for HD streaming Kodi add-ons, with average speeds of 52Mbps. You’ll get the best speeds by using the “automatic connection” button and PIA will find the fastest server for you. This makes it easy to start streaming in HD on Kodi with PIA completely lag-free in just a couple of clicks. I tested PIA’s native app for Kodi on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and other platforms, and it was always easy to install and use. The router setup process was more complicated, but this is true for all VPNs. Router installation is only necessary if you watch Kodi on a device that PIA doesn’t support natively, such as Samsung smart TVs and the Xiaomi Mi Box. The only real con to PIA is that its faraway servers weren’t as fast as nearby servers and couldn’t always stream in 4K, but I still had fast enough speeds to watch without lag so this wasn’t a big deal. Plus, PIA gives you great value for the price because of its affordable plans — I found a 2-year + 4 months plan that costs $2.03/month. If you’d like to try it out for yourself, take advantage of PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee to use it with Kodi for free. To test the process I requested my refund via live chat, and I had my money back in under a week. Try PIA with Kodi
4. PrivateVPN — Stealth VPN Enables Seamless Global Access to Kodi Add-Ons
PrivateVPN has a Stealth VPN mode that allows for anonymous Kodi add-ons even in countries like China and Saudi Arabia that have a heavily censored internet. This feature hides the VPN connection, preventing it from being detected to enable anonymous Kodi streaming from anywhere. Better yet, hackers can’t see anything you do on Kodi when you hide your data behind PrivateVPN’s military-grade 256-bit encryption. Its automatic kill switch protects you from data leaks to keep you anonymous even on unstable networks. There’s also a zero logs policy — PrivateVPN keeps no record of what you did with add-ons, when you were connected, or other data while you use PrivateVPN with Kodi. I used PCs and smart TVs to run multiple speed tests on different PrivateVPN servers, and got an average of 61Mbps. With such solid speeds, I’ve had no trouble with smooth HD Kodi streams. There were only a few seconds of lag when trying to stream content while connected to PrivateVPN’s limit of 10 devices, which wasn’t enough of a drop to affect the experience. The main downside to PrivateVPN is that it doesn’t have such excellent security features like ExpressVPN other than Perfect Forward Secrecy. However, this isn’t a big deal since its basic privacy and security features are still solid. It also has reasonably-priced subscriptions starting at $2.03/month if you sign up for its 2-year + 4 months plan. This was one of the most budget-friendly VPN subscriptions I found. To make sure it’s right for you before you commit, you can try PrivateVPN with Kodi worry-free by using its 30-day money-back guarantee. I asked for a refund via 24/7 live chat, and the agent quickly confirmed my request. I got my money back the following week. Try PrivateVPN with Kodi
5. IPVanish — Enjoy Secure HD Kodi Streaming on All Your Devices at Once
IPVanish secures unlimited devices, making it a good option for users who watch Kodi on multiple platforms. While other VPNs sign me out when I reach a strict device limit, I could connect to IPVanish servers on over 10 devices and still watch videos on Kodi in HD. I’d never have to log out on other devices or get suddenly disconnected while I’m watching on the go. I ran multiple tests on IPVanish servers and always got speeds over 42Mbps, which was fast enough to stream Kodi in HD. Add-ons could even play content in 4K, but not all of them were compatible with IPVanish — it couldn’t unblock Netflix or Disney+ add-ons during testing. Other than those exceptions, it’s easy to use IPVanish to unblock most Kodi content. Like the other top VPNs for Kodi, IPVanish features a kill switch that keeps your data hidden in case the VPN suddenly disconnects. It also uses 256-bit encryption to make your data unreadable to hackers, and its no-logs policy prevents third parties from seeing your streaming activities. Lastly, its integrated protection stops DNS and IPv6 leaks from revealing your real location. One downside to IPVanish is that it doesn’t allow you to pay with cryptocurrency like ExpressVPN does, but you can subscribe using PayPal or credit cards. While these payment methods aren’t anonymous, they’re still convenient. Regardless of which payment method you use, you can try IPVanish with Kodi without risk. It’s covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you decide that it’s not the right choice, just file a support ticket directly from your IPVanish account dashboard. My request was approved later that day, and the money was back in my account after a week. Try IPVanish with Kodi
Why a VPN Is Essential When Streaming on Kodi
1. A VPN Secures Your Personal Data
A VPN makes your data invisible to third parties by encrypting your Kodi traffic. VPNs that use military-grade 256-bit encryption hide your IP address, location, device type, and other personal information while you stream.
2. It Can Help Prevent Hacking and Malware Infections
Although there are many popular Kodi add-ons, it’s easy to download dangerous add-ons by accident and infect your device with malware. Official Kodi add-ons can even get hacked and used to steal your credit card information or account logins. That’s why it’s essential to use a VPN to encrypt your connection. This hides it from hackers who exploit vulnerabilities in Kodi add-ons to plant malware or steal your data.
3. VPNs Keep Your Online Activities Private
Everything you do online is being watched by internet providers, governments, marketers, and other prying eyes. VPNs give you the online privacy you deserve and makes you anonymous while using Kodi.
4. It Can Improve Streaming Speed
Some ISPs restrict the speeds of high-bandwidth users to prevent network congestion, so heavy Kodi streaming can lead to lag from throttled speeds. A VPN prevents ISPs from artificially lowering speeds and causing lag during Kodi streams. Try ExpressVPN with Kodi
How to Use Kodi With a VPN
High-quality VPNs have native apps that work with Kodi on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and other devices. Just be sure the VPN is connected before opening Kodi, and then it will be safe to download add-ons and stream anonymously.
Set up a VPN for Kodi on Fire Stick
Setting up a VPN for Kodi on Fire Stick is easy with my top VPNs — they all have a native Fire Stick app. Before starting this process, make sure you’ve signed up for a VPN subscription.
Download a VPN Add-on in Kodi
Zomboided is a VPN manager that lets you connect to VPN providers like ExpressVPN from right within Kodi. It isn’t as safe or easy to set up as a separate VPN, but gives you the convenience of not having to open multiple apps at once. Keep in mind that Zomboided is only available on OpenELEC (v5 onwards), LibreElec (v7 onwards), Linux (OSMC), and Windows (7 onwards). To set it up you have to enable “install from other sources” in the Kodi settings, then download the Zomboided zip file. Now you can install “VPN Manager for OpenVPN” from the repository menu. Once it’s installed you can choose your VPN, log in, and connect to a server. However, it’s much simpler to just use an app like ExpressVPN for streaming safely on Kodi. All of my top Kodi VPNs also have money-back guarantees of at least 30 days that makes them risk-free to buy, and you can get connected in a few clicks.
Connect to a VPN-Protected Router
Installing a VPN on your router secures every device on your network, so you don’t have to open a VPN app every time you use Kodi.
Install a VPN on Kodi Box/Android TV Box
If you’ve already purchased a plan for ExpressVPN or another VPN with a dedicated Android TV app, this process is easy. Some of the most popular Kodi boxes include the EstgoSZ H96 Pro, Tops MXV Android TV Box, Amlogic S905, Seguro Trongle X4, Matricom G-Box, Emtec Gem Box, Mini M8S II 4K Android TV Box, Nvidia Shield, WeChip V10 Plus, DroidBOX PlayOn GPD XD, Beelink GT1 Ultimate, and Xiaomi Mi Box. Try ExpressVPN with Kodi
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPNs for Kodi
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How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Kodi
I’ve tested the top VPNs in 2023 to find the best ones for Kodi. Here are the essential features I look for during testing:
Fast speeds — I picked VPNs with fast servers to stream Kodi with no lag, especially if they were fast enough to handle content in 4K. Strong security and privacy — All the VPNs on this list have 256-bit military-grade encryption to secure your connection. I also looked for strict no-logs policies and kill switches on all servers to keep your data private. Apps for popular devices — I use Kodi on multiple platforms including desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. That’s why I look for Kodi VPNs with easy-to-use native apps for all the same device types. Customer support — If I need help setting up and using a VPN with Kodi, I like having access to 24/7 live chat or fast-replying email support. Every VPN I tested has helpful customer service agents. Proven money-back guarantee — I tested the refund policies of all the top VPNs for Kodi to make sure I could get my money back quickly and easily. I also found flexible and affordable pricing to determine the VPNs with the best month-to-month plans and longer-term subscriptions.
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Is there a built-in VPN for Kodi?
Yes, but Kodi VPN add-ons are technical to use and not as safe as using a separate VPN app. I recommend you choose one of the best VPNs for Kodi to keep your devices safe. They’re easy to install, and come with superfast speeds so you can watch shows and movies with zero lag. For the easiest installation, make sure that you’re using a VPN that is compatible with the same devices as Kodi. Top VPNs like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost have Kodi setup guides online, making it easy to start streaming content as quickly as possible. They also come with tried-and-tested money-back guarantees.
Is Kodi legal and safe to use?
You can download Kodi without breaking any laws, but not every Kodi add-on is safe or legal. That’s why I recommend ExpressVPN for safe Kodi streaming. To avoid getting into trouble with the police or downloading infected add-ons, carefully evaluate every Kodi add-on and do a virus scan before downloading. Also, never use Kodi to watch copyrighted or otherwise restricted content or you could get into trouble with the police even if you use a VPN. Another important part of Kodi safety is to avoid retailers selling Kodi boxes, which are streaming devices preloaded with a selection of Kodi add-ons. Unfortunately, it’s only too easy for shady sellers to secretly install dangerous add-ons onto Kodi boxes to steal your data. To stay safe every time you use Kodi, you need to get a quality VPN. This gives you a powerful defense against malware in Kodi add-ons and hides you from hackers who use Kodi to compromise your devices. Since it has the fastest streaming speeds and strongest security features.
What are the best add-ons for Kodi?
Here are some of the most popular Kodi add-ons for streaming movies and TV shows, and where to find them. Just be sure to connect to a reliable VPN for Kodi before downloading add-ons, and remember that you should never download illegal add-ons or use Kodi to watch copyrighted content. Netflix (CastagnaIT), Disney+ (SlyGuy repository), iPlayer WWW (Kodi repository), Crackle (Kodi repository), Popcornflix (Kodi repository) Deutsche Welle (Kodi repository), and USTVNow (Kodi repository).
How can I make the most out of my Kodi VPN?
To make sure that you don’t encounter any issues while using a VPN with Kodi, here are some tips:
Choose a top VPN — Refer to the list of essential features that make a VPN great for streaming on Kodi and make sure your choice has all of the criteria I listed. Choose a nearby server — The farther away a server is, the longer your data has to travel. This slows down your connection and causes streaming lag on Kodi. Connect to a server near your real location to maximize your VPN’s performance. Research add-ons before installing — A lot of Kodi-related problems are caused by unofficial add-ons. Some can even get you into legal trouble or put malware onto your devices. Always make sure to only use legal add-ons and download them from trustworthy sources, even if you’re using one of the top VPNs.
Can I use a free VPN with Kodi?
There are some free VPNs that work with Kodi, but they aren’t usually safe because they can’t afford to invest in the latest security and privacy technology like the top VPNs can. In fact, some free VPN providers are notorious for selling user data to make money. You’ll compromise private information like your IP address, device details, and internet browsing history, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place. Even though I found a few solid free VPNs that keep your data safe, they restrict your bandwidth, servers, and speeds to save money. These limits make them impractical for streaming on Kodi. That’s why I recommend you just use the money-back guarantee of a top VPN. For example, you can try CyberGhost with Kodi for free. When you’re done, just ask for a refund before its 45-day money-back guarantee period ends. Try CyberGhost with Kodi
Don’t Risk Streaming on Kodi Without a VPN
I avoided Kodi for years because of the security risks — but with a top VPN, you can use Kodi safely and stream local content from abroad anonymously. After testing 25+ VPNs, ExpressVPN had the strongest security features and fastest servers for 4K streaming on Kodi. I could also download Kodi add-ons without compromising my safety. Better yet, you can try ExpressVPN with Kodi with no risk as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find the service doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily get a full refund.
