The 4 Best VPN for Firestick (2023 Update)

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How we test the best VPN for Firestick

We tested 30 free and paid VPNs across different platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows 11, Windows 10, and macOS. For each of these VPNs, we performed the tests below. 

> Test 1: Logging policy

What is a logging policy?

Users tend to think that their privacy is guaranteed when using a VPN. But not all VPNs have your privacy interests at heart. Since your data passes through their servers, some VPNs can choose to track it at best or store and sell it at worst, just like your ISP.

For example, a VPN can track the following: 

• Your current location using your public IP address.
• Your online activities, including the sites you visit and the files you download.

Hola VPN has a reputation for tracking users’ data. But it isn’t the only culprit. Our study discovered that 5% of VPN services track your online behavior, and a staggering 30% trace your IP address. A VPN provider should clearly state whether they keep your data and what they do with it. They should also specify the kind of data they hold. Unfortunately, these policies are difficult to comprehend because they are poorly written.

What do we test for?

We read a VPN’s logging and privacy policy to discover the kind of information they are tracing. Some information, such as bandwidth usage and server traffic, help the service providers improve their services. Plus, this information doesn’t reveal anything about you, so that remains off our “alarming” list.

> Test 2: Ownership

What do we mean by ownership?

Corporate holding structures span many entrepreneurial fields, and VPNs are no different. A VPN service might be owned by a company that another larger company owns, and the hierarchy goes on and on. These parent companies can access your data if they want to.

If these companies are registered in countries like the Netherlands and United States, then your data may be subject to the data retention laws in these countries. It is, therefore, important to know what company owns your VPN provider and where they are registered. 

From afar, it seems like there are many VPN providers. But the truth is, just a few companies own the VPNs. In fact, a single company might own multiple VPNs. Let’s break down some examples:

• Kape Technologies is based in the U.K. and owns multiple VPN giants, including ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost VPN, and ZenMate.
• Ziff Davis is based in the U.S. and owns IPVanish, StrongVPN, Encrypt me, Perimeter 81, SaferVPN, and Buffered VPN.
• Aura, also called Pango, is based in the United States and owns Hotspot Shield, JustVPN, and TouchVPN. The company also provides VPN technology for other VPN companies like Bitdefender, Panda Kaspersky, and others.
• CyberSpace is based in the Netherlands and owns some big names in the industry, including Surfshark, NordVPN, and Atlas VPN.
• Gaditek is based in Pakistan and owns PureVPN, Unblock VPN, and Ivacy VPN.

What do we test for?

We analyze the parent company of a VPN service, the region in which they are based, and the data retention laws of that region. We also examine the company’s history and whether it has been involved in any scandals or controversies.

Here are some of our interesting findings:

• Kape technologies, previously called CrossRider, created a development environment for browser extensions. Sadly, the platform served as a breeding ground for malware creators and ad injectors which ruined the company’s reputation.
• In 2016, IPVanish handed data to Homeland Security. This is controversial because, according to their privacy policy, they were not supposed to have this data in the first place. While the VPN service has already changed ownership twice, users who care about their privacy are still apprehensive about using the platform.

> Test 3: Independent audit

What is an independent audit?

VPN services claim to deliver exceptional results in their advertisement material. Often, you’ll hear buzzwords like “Strict no-logs,” “Military Grade Encryption,” and “Obfuscated servers” being thrown around. But how do we ascertain these claims? Well, that’s why we need independent audit trails.

A VPN service can decide to hire an independent auditor to test certain aspects of its infrastructure and operation. In most cases, an editor might examine the privacy policy or the server infrastructure. So the only way to know whether a VPN company is telling the truth is by looking at independent audit reports.

According to our research, here are a few VPN providers that have successfully done an independent audit:

• In 2023, Private Internet Access VPN(PIA) was audited by Deloitte to examine if the server environment was consistent with the provider’s privacy policy.
• In 2021, SurfShark was audited by Cure53 to examine if the server had any vulnerabilities.
• In 2019, ExpressVPN requested a PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) audit to analyze whether their servers erased all the data whenever the server was restarted.
• In 2020, NordVPN requested an independent audit from PwC to examine the configurations, technical log trails, and server infrastructure. Employees were also interviewed during the audit to verify their professionalism.

What do we test for?

We don’t run any independent audits. However, we investigate whether a VPN provider ordered an independent audit, the audited system parts, and the issues discovered. We also check to see if the company resolved the problems discovered.

> Test 4: Available VPN protocols

What is a VPN protocol?

A VPN protocol is a set of rules that govern how a VPN app and VPN server communicate. These rules specify many aspects of the VPN infrastructure, including:

• How data is transmitted between the VPN app and the server.
• How the encryption between the app and server works.
• How the VPN app and the VPN server identify each other. 
• How the VPN app logs on to the server.

Here are some commonly used protocols:

• OpenVPN: This is perhaps the most common VPN protocol because almost all VPN providers use it. It is customizable, fast, secure, and versatile. OpenVPN is also open-source and supports all the major operating system software.
• WireGuard: Think of this VPN protocol as a better version of OpenVPN. It is Open Source, contains a few lines of code making it easy to customize, and offers faster download speeds. 
• IKEv2: This VPN protocol was designed by Microsoft in collaboration with Cisco. It is secure but not exactly fast. Our speed analysis indicated that it’s slower than both WireGuard and OpenVPN.

Unfortunately, we can’t say that one VPN protocol is better than the other. While most VPN providers use OpenVPN as their default protocol, they usually opt for WireGuard and IKEv2 as the best alternatives.

Some VPN providers have also designed their own protocols. Here are some excellent examples.

• NordyLynx VPN protocol was created by NordVPN and is based on the WireGuard code.
• Catapult Hydra was designed by Hotspot Shield from scratch.
• Lightway VPN protocol designed by ExpressVPN from scratch.

What do we test for?

We identify the protocols provided by a particular VPN service. We also check whether the provided VPN protocol is supported on all operating systems or limited to just a few.

> Test 5: Supported encryption standard

What is an encryption standard?

Encryption is what prevents third parties from understanding data because it transforms it into something like a secret code. On the other hand, an encryption standard defines how computer data should be encrypted. The first symmetric key encryption standard was released in 1977 and was called Data Encryption Standard (DES). This encryption uses a single key to encode and decode data.

In 2002, the U.S. government replaced the DES with Advanced Encryption Algorithm (AES). Unlike DES, AES is asymmetric and uses the same code of 128, 196, or 256 bits for encryption and decryption. AES is so secure that breaking it requires computational powers that exceed the capabilities of modern computers. 

Nearly all VPN protocols encrypt and decrypt their data using AES-128 or AES-256 in CBC or GCM version. But the GCM version is preferred because it is faster and has higher throughput. It also offers better security because every block is encrypted and decrypted independently. 

What do we test for?

We check to see what the default encryption standard of a VPN provider is and the alternatives they provide.

> Test 6: Basic security features

What are basic security features?

Each VPN service we test should have at least the following basic features:

• AES-256 encryption:This is perhaps the most secure encryption standard because it can’t be hacked using brute-force methods.
• Split tunneling:This mechanism allows select programs to connect to the internet by bypassing the VPN tunnel.
• Kill Switch: This security mechanism blocks the internet connection if the VPN’s encrypted tunnel is compromised.
• WireGuard and OpenVPN:These are the top open-source and secure VPN protocols. So a VPN service should have at least both of these in its security infrastructure.

What do we test for?

We examine if a VPN service provides the above primary security features. We also check that the Split Tunneling and Kill Switch features work as the provider claims.

> Test 7: Advanced security features

What are advanced security features?

The presence of advanced security features differentiates an “okay” VPN service from a VPN service that’s committed to upholding the privacy of its users. Here are essential advanced security features:

• Ram-only servers:These are the servers that don’t contain hard drives. They are perfect for hosting VPN services because they wipe out all the data once rebooted. 
• Dedicated IP address:This distinctive IP address doesn’t change often. It is perfect for websites that require an authorized IP address and online banking websites that don’t condone ever-changing IP addresses. It also comes in handy in avoiding captchas and denylists.
• GPS spoofing:This feature allows you to set the location of your VPN server as your GPS location. With the feature enabled, apps such as Instagram and Google Maps will not know your exact location.
• Obfuscated servers:These servers try to conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN. This can be helpful in countries such as UAE and China, where VPN traffic is highly disregarded.
• Double VPN:Think of this feature as using two VPNs at once. It transmits traffic through two VPNs, thus offering double IP address privacy, security, and encryption.

What do we test for?

We check whether a VPN provider offers advanced security features and whether they work as the provider claims.

> Test 8: IP leak

What is an IP leak?

Every device has a unique private IP address and a public IP address, and the two help identify it on a network. These addresses allow a device to communicate with one another. Devices communicate via the private IP address when connected on the same network, for example, on a home network. They communicate via the public IP address if they are connected over the internet.

Usually, the public address is assigned to you by your ISP. Most public IP addresses are IPv4-based, but they can also be IPv6-based because the latter is slowly taking the internet by storm. 

A public IP address poses some serious privacy concerns:

• Your ISP can see your approximate location.
• It can reveal you personally when paired with your browsing habits.

Fortunately, a good VPN should easily eliminate the above threats because it replaces your public IP address with that of its servers. This is a good thing for multiple reasons. First, the websites and the apps you visit see the IP address of your VPN and not yours. So they have no idea who you are. Lastly, the ISP simply knows you’re using a VPN, but they cannot view or track your browsing habits.

If the VPN you’re using is quirky, then your own IP address will be relayed to websites and ISPs, instead of your VPN’s. When this happens, we say that an IP leak has occurred.

What do we test for?

We connect to a VPN app and perform an IP address lookup test. If the results contain our IP address, the VPN service doesn’t protect users against an IP leak.

> Test 9: DNS leak

What is a DNS leak?

Think of the Domain Name System (DNS) as the phonebook of the web. It translates human-readable domain names into their respective IP addresses that a computer can understand. For instance, if you open your browser and type in “softwarelabs.com,” the DNS won’t send the hostname that you’ve typed to the DNS server. Instead, it will translate it into its respective IP address, in our case, “165.227.148.211,” for the DNS server to process your request. 

DNS servers, in simple terms, are the databases that contain domain names and their respective public IP addresses. In most cases, these servers are managed by ISPs. So your ISP has your browsing history because they get your public IP address from DNS servers. But this can’t happen if you use VPN providers that have their own DNS servers.

A DNS leak is likely to occur if a VPN provider does not own DNS servers. This means your data is transmitted directly to your ISP’s DNS because your VPN providers don’t own a DNS server. If they had, the data would be routed through the VPN’s DNS, and the IP address that your ISP gets is not your own but rather that of your VPN server. 

What do we test for?

We connect to a VPN app and perform a DNS server lookup. If the results don’t return the VPN DNS, then the VPN doesn’t protect you against a DNS leak.

> Test 10: WebRTC leak

What is a WebRTC leak?

WebRTC, also called Web Real-Time Communication, allows web browsers to form real-time communication media. WebRTC is the engine behind services requiring real-time data transmissions, such as streaming and live chats.

Your browser and the website you’re visiting exchange data packets that contain your local IP and public IP address. Sadly, this is how WebRTC works, and there is nothing much you can do unless you have a VPN. A VPN will allow your device to send packets as usual, but the IP address that will be relayed will be that of the VPN instead of yours.

What do we test for?

We visit a website via a VPN and run a WebRTC lookup. If the results contain our own IP address, then the VPN doesn’t have a mechanism to prevent a WebRTC leak.

> Test 11: Download speed via OpenVPN

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is one of the industry’s leading open-source VPN protocols. Therefore, anyone can analyze, critique, or improve its code. Open-source projects usually improve over time, and OpenVPN is no exception.

OpenVPN has been a go-to protocol for many VPN providers, but WireGuard is slowly taking the spotlight because of its fast download speeds.

What do we test for?

We install the desktop versions of various VPN apps on our Windows computers and the OpenVPN protocol. We then open the apps and examine their download speeds. We also examine the speeds using a 1Gbps internet connection to see how well the apps perform under such strict conditions.

> Test 12: Supported speed via WireGuard

What is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a simple, fast, and open-source VPN protocol. While other VPN protocols have up to half a million lines of code, WireGuard’s code is slightly leaner and contains only 4000 lines. A smaller code makes it easier and faster for developers to customize the code. It is also easier to debug it and run Quality of Service (QoS) checks.

In the beginning, WireGuard was developed for Linux, but later on, the code was customized to include big-name operating systems like macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. We examined VPNs that used WireGuard and discovered that they are 60% faster than those that solely use OpenVPN.

What do we test for?

We install the desktop version of the VPN app on our Windows local machine along with the WireGuard protocol. We then launch the app and examine the download speeds. We also examine the speed using a 1Gbps internet connection to see how well the service performs under such stringent conditions.

> Test 13: (Virtual) VPN servers and locations

What are (virtual) VPN servers?

VPN providers require VPN servers. These servers host VPN software and provide a way for it to create encrypted VPN channels with various VPN clients. Sometimes, the servers are integrated with specialized software for better performance. For example, Ram-based VPNs are used by Surfshark and NordVPN and are specifically designed for VPN services.

Nearly all VPN servers are physical, meaning that the server is situated in the country that’s displayed on your VPN app. When you connect to one of the listed servers, your traffic is passed through the physical server in the stated country, and that’s how you end up with a local IP address.

Unfortunately, not all countries have the resources to set up infrastructure for local servers. Let’s take the example of Andorra. It’s a small country with mountainous terrain and hence lacks the ability to set up physical servers. But that doesn’t stop VPN providers from routing users’ traffic in Andorra, thanks to the concept of virtual VPNs. When using a virtual VPN server, you still get a local IP address of that particular country, even if the server is physically not located in that country.

Most VPN providers with expansive networks have VPN servers across many countries. Sometimes as many as 60 countries. But just a handful of these servers are physical; most are virtual. 

What do we test for?

We count the number of locations and servers that a VPN provider has. We also examine which of the servers are virtual and which are physical. We also test to see if a VPN provider allows users to choose a server based on the country or region.

> Test 14: Streaming compatibility

What is compatibility with a streaming service?

You’ve probably noticed that certain streaming shows are not available on a global scale. Using a VPN is an excellent way of unlocking geo-restricted content on streaming services. But how does it work? When you sign in to your streaming service using a VPN, your device is assigned a local IP address situated where your VPN server is located. Let’s say you’re using a VPN and decide to switch to a server in the U.S.; then, you’ll be able to watch all the local shows in the country.

But streaming giants don’t like the idea of people using VPNs to access geo-restricted content. In fact, they are actively trying to implement mechanisms that detect whether a user is connected to the service using a VPN. If you’re using a VPN, your device will be temporarily blocked until you disconnect the software.

This is a big challenge for VPN providers. It means they have to constantly evolve their software to prevent streaming services from detecting VPN connections. As you can see, this is a brutal cat-and-mouse game, and just a few VPNs can stay on top of the game.

What do we test for?

We test to see if a VPN service can unblock streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and HBOMax in the U.S. Our tests are a bit tight with Netflix. So we check other countries like the U.K., Australia, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany.

> Test 15: Torrenting compatibility

What is compatibility with a torrent network?

Torrenting is the act of downloading files that other users have uploaded to a site or a network. You can think of it as peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading. The process doesn’t require a dedicated server because users download files from one another.

Torrenting isn’t illegal, but the shared files are usually copyrighted; hence the practice is often associated with piracy.

What do we test for?

We test whether a VPN provider supports torrenting on their servers. It’s good if the provider allows the practice on all their servers, but it is still acceptable if they only support it on a few servers.

> Test 16: Annual price and price per device

What is the annual price and price per device?

While a few VPN providers offer the service for free, the most reliable ones are those that charge customers monthly or yearly. Usually, VPN providers will break the subscriptions into various durations, ranging from a month to a year.

A closer look at a one-year contract price and the price per device from different providers reveals that the price is almost similar across various providers. However, ExpressVPN stands out from the crowd because it is the most expensive provider. 

Some VPN providers generously allow you to log in to the service with unlimited devices. This makes them perfect for those who want to share the service with other family members and friends. Some options that allow logins from unlimited devices include IPVanish and Surfshark.

What do we test for?

We determine the yearly price of a one-year contract. We also calculate the cost per device by dividing the annual fee by the number of allowed connections.

What VPNs for Firestick have we tested?

We have tested 30 paid and free VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). Proton VPN is the best free VPN service. But if you have the money, we recommend getting a paid VPN service.

In the best case, the free version allows you to protect only one device and doesn’t offer you unlimited bandwidth / unlimited data. And in the worst case, the free VPN providers show you ads or secretly sell your browsing history to advertisers and your internet service provider.

And should you be strapped for cash, don’t opt for an expensive VPN like ExpressVPN. Instead, get a cheap VPN, like Surfshark, that allows you to install it on an unlimited number of devices and share the cost with a friend.

• Astrill VPN
• Atlas VPN
• Avast SecureLine VPN
• Betternet VPN
• Bitdefender VPN
• CactusVPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• ExpressVPN
• HideME VPN
• HMA VPN (HideMyAss VPN)
• Hola VPN
• Hotspot Shield VPN
• IPVanish VPN
• Ivacy VPN
• IVPN
• Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection
• McAfee Safe Connect VPN
• Mozilla VPN
• MullVad VPN
• NordVPN
• Norton Secure VPN
• Private Internet Access VPN
• PrivateVPN
• Proton VPN
• PureVPN
• StrongVPN
• Surfshark VPN
• Tunnelbear VPN
• VyprVPN
• Windscribe VPN

The best are: CyberGhost, NordVPN, and Surfshark.

Frequently asked questions

Languages, comparisons and Sources

Other comparisons on SoftwareLab.org:

• Best Antivirus of 2023
• Antivirus for Windows 11
• Antivirus for macOS
• Antivirus for Android
• Antivirus for iOS
• Antivirus with a VPN
• Best VPN of 2023

VPN privacy policies and independent audits:

• CyberGhost – Privacy Policy
• CyberGhost – Transparency Report
• ExpressVPN – Privacy Policy
• ExpressVPN – PWC Audit
• ExpressVPN – Lightway Audit
• ExpressVPN – Browser Extension Audit
• IPVanish – Privacy Policy
• NordVPN – Privacy Policy
• NordVPN – Privacy Policy Audit
• Surfshark – Privacy Policy
• Surfshark – Infrastructure Audit

VPN testing tools:

• BrowserLeaks – Data Leak Test
• Fast – Speed Test
• Speed Test – Speed Test
• Exodus – Privacy Audit Android

Custom VPN protocols:

• ExpressVPN – Lightway protocol
• NordVPN – NordLynx Protocol

VPN mergers and acquisitions:

• NordVPN and Surfshark merger
• Kape technologies buys CyberGhost
• Kape Technologies buys ExpressVPN
• Kape technologies buys Private Internet Access