Best VPN For Kodi Review

Kodi has gained a lot of popularity in recent years thanks to its versatility and ability to stream all kinds of online content. And to top it all up, it’s completely free. Back in 2017, the software harnessed over 38 million users across the globe. However, when it comes to the add-ons you get to access, there are some restrictions that’ll spoil your streaming experience. Streaming channels apply geo-blocks, even on the Kodi platform, which brings us to today’s review. In this guide, we’ll be looking at the best VPNs for Kodi in 2020 that’ll help you bypass regional restrictions and protect your privacy in the process. Let’s begin.

Best VPN For Kodi

Best VPN for Kodi Review – Content Index

Are you looking for the best VPN to unlock Kodi’s full potential? Please note that this review will not include any free VPN service. Despite costing you nothing (money), they sure are getting revenue.

If you’re not paying for the product, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT. Free VPNs sell your data to sister companies in exchange for revenue. How else do you think they pay for their servers. Moreover, their service tends to be very poor in terms of infrastructure, speed, privacy, as well as security.

We took some time reviewing and testing premium VPN providers to see which ones are the top contenders to use with Kodi. The results are out and the full review is now yours. Here are the best VPNs for Kodi in 2020:

Virtual Private Networks 101

Commonly known as a VPN, it’s a tool that offers a private connection between users and their devices over the internet. The software uses encryption technology to enhance a user’s security and conceal his/her identity while browsing the web.

It’s the ultimate tool to protect your data from being harvested by cybercriminals, especially if you’re connecting to public networks such as a Coffee shop, restaurant, hotels, and airports.

The VPN redirects your traffic through one of their private servers (you get to choose the server you wish to connect to). Once you establish a connection, the VPN shields your traffic with military-grade encryption and cloaks your IP address, replacing it with a temporary one based in the country where the server is located. As a result, you’ll appear as if you’re a current resident in that territory.

How a VPN Works

For example, if you connect to a server in the United States, you’ll receive a US IP address. Aside from hiding your browsing activities, you get to access geo-restricted content in the United States despite living abroad.

In other words, when you connect to a server in a website/service’s coverage zone, you’ll be able to use/watch it no matter where you reside. To sum it all up, this is what a VPN is capable of:

  • Spoofs your location by connecting to different servers across the globe.
  • Hides your identity by encrypting your data and assigning you a temporary IP address.
  • Masks your online activity by hiding your browsing activities from your ISP, governments, and hackers.

This is everything you need to know about VPNs. They’re just simple tools with a huge impact on your security, privacy, and internet limitations.

Must-Have VPN Qualities for Kodi

While VPN has a lot of benefits for anyone who uses the internet, there are specific features we should highlight since we’re talking about the best VPN for Kodi. When you’re using a VPN to unblock a certain streaming channel, let’s say Netflix, the extra security is just an added value.

Netflix’s website and application are both safe. However, it differs in Kodi’s case. Why? Kodi allows you to install third-party add-ons and some of you might get tempted to use unknown ones for free entertainment.

Also, Kodi is well known to host hundreds of illegal add-ons involved in piracy. We do not recommend those and we’re totally against using a VPN for such acts. So, what does a VPN need to offer in order to be added to the best Kodi VPN list? Let’s take a look:

The Must-Have Features

  • Military-Grade encryption: This one has its and downs. While it might tamper a bit with your connection speed, it does protect your privacy. A credible VPN should offer AES 256-bit encryption, the same one government agencies use to protect their private data. With such encryption, your ISPs and copyright holders won’t be able to know what you’re using Kodi for, even if you stumble upon illegal streams.
  • No-logging Policy: You don’t want authorities to catch you with your hand in the cookie jar just because you accidentally streamed a copyrighted video. A credible VPN should automatically remove sensitive information that might lead to identifying a user’s true identity and location.
  • Blazing-Fast Speeds: What good is Kodi if you can’t stream its content properly. As we mentioned a VPN’s encryption will slow down your connection, but a good VPN will offer optimized servers to avoid at least some of the impact.
  • Kill Switch: This feature is your last hope in securing your browsing activities and preventing them from flowing back through your ISP’s servers if a sudden drop in the VPN connection occurs.
  • A VPN’s Jurisdiction: It’s always a good idea to see where your VPN is based. You better choose one that doesn’t lie within the dominion of the Five, Nine, and 14-eyes. While a strict no-logs policy is more than enough to secure your privacy, it’s an added option to consider.
  • Unblocking Capabilities: Make sure that the service you opt for can and will unblock major streaming services. Nowadays, channels like BBC iPlayer and Netflix have tough VPN blocks. You have to select a provider with the ability to circumvent those blocking mechanisms.

With that out of the way, we round up some of the top VPNs in the industry where all of the aforementioned features are present. Scroll a bit further to the south as the best VPN for Kodi review is next.

Best VPN for Kodi – The In-Depth Review

We take our time assessing certain VPNs according to our strict evaluation criteria. In this review, we’re going to be taking into consideration a VPN’s server network, security, privacy policy, speed, unblocking capability, refund policy, and whether or not it has dedicated apps for the device you’re operating.

We’ve managed to find four of the top VPN providers that will help enhance your Kodi streaming. They all fit the description and credibility we look for in a VPN. So, without further ado, here’s the full Best VPN for Kodi review.

Rank
VPN Provider
Link
1
vpn-provider
  • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
  • Unlimited Bandwidth
  • Apps For All Your Devices
  • 24/7 Live Support
Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN LogoExpressVPN is an excellent choice for those who use Kodi. When it comes to accessing content from all over the world, this provider has it all in terms of servers.

ExpressVPN boasts a server network consisting of more than 128 locations across 94 countries, which gives you a wide variety of options to choose from.

ExpressVPN also excels in the security department as it shields your data with the military-grade 256-AES encryption.

This makes it next to impossible for anyone to harvest your data even if you’re using public networks. So, if you’re using Kodi while in a hotel or restaurant, your data is always safe.

It’s headquarter’s are based in the British Virgin Islands, which is not among the countries included in the Five Eyes Alliance. The service also adopts a strict no-logging policy, which ensures that none of your traffic or activities are being stored. Moreover, there’s an internet kill switch that terminates your internet access if a sudden drop in the VPN connection occurs.

Streaming content using Kodi requires fast speeds, otherwise, it’ll ruin your experience. We performed a few tests using ExpressVPN’s servers, which resulted in excellent results, showing only a 7% speed drop. We were able to stream an episode of Coronation Street using the BBC iPlayer add-on without witnessing any buffering issue.

ExpressVPN is a reliable unblocker of geo-locked channels. We conducted some experiments on the likes of BBC iPlayer, ITV, and DAZN. The provider was able to unblock all of them. You can give ExpressVPN a try, risk-free, courtesy of their 30-day refund policy.

Finally, the service’s clients are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, as well as Fire Stick, all of which you can download Kodi on. and certain wifi routers.

Pros

  • Excellent speed performance.
  • Servers in 94 countries.
  • Strict no-logging policy.
  • Military-grade encryption.
  • Kill Switch.
  • Five concurrent connections.
  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • Access to BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Netflix.
  • Accepts Cryptocurrency.
  • Split-tunneling.
  • Smart DNS.
  • Unlimited Bandwidth.

Cons

  • Higher cost than others.
  • No free trial.

BulletVPN

Bulletvpn logo 2Another top provider for Kodi users comes in the form of BulletVPN. It allows you to connect to more than 101 servers across 50 countries, which is more than enough to access any add-on desired using the Kodi application.

The company 256-bit encryption, along with five different security protocols. As for privacy, BulletVPN is based in Estonia, where no data retention laws apply.

It also adheres to a strict zero-logs policy as it does not store your data or any of your browsing activities.

We dug more into the privacy department and saw that BulletVPN has a kill switch as well. However, one other feature intrigued us, their Bullet Shield.

It’s a technology that works along with the kill switch, preventing users from accessing the internet if they’re not connected to BulletVPN. In terms of privacy, we found that this is an excellent feature.

As we mentioned, speed is very important when you’re using Kodi, so the VPN has to operate an excellent service. Our speed tests showed that BulletVPN doesn’t tamper with the internet connection much.

A server in the UK resulted in a 6% speed drop, which is more than enough to stream content in 4K. In their app, we noticed servers labeled as (Ultra HD Support), these are the ones we performed the tests on, and eventually, they delivered an excellent performance.

Outside the Kodi application, BulletVPN is able to unblock the likes of Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ITV, and DAZN. The add-ons work the same way, and since Netflix is coming to Kodi 19, you’ll be able to watch the best original shows and movies with a push of a button on Kodi.

BulletVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to new users. However, if you contact their support team or sign up from the Android application, you get a 24-hour free trial. That way, you can test their service out before making any decision.

The BulletVPN app is available on almost any device out there, including iOS, PC, Mac, Android, and Fire Stick.

Pros

  • Very fast servers.
  • 100+ servers in 50 countries.
  • No-logging policy.
  • AES-256 encryption.
  • A Kill Switch.
  • Six concurrent connections.
  • 30-day refund policy.
  • 1-day free trial.
  • Unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Netflix.
  • Bitcoin payment.
  • Bullet Shield.
  • Smart DNS.
  • No restriction on Bandwidth.

Cons

  • Smaller server network.
  • No split tunneling.
  • Live chat available during specific hours.

IPVanish

IPVanish LogoIPVanish is well-known to be one of the best VPN providers to use with Kodi. It offers an excellent service complimented with a wide range of server locations. The provider has more than 1000 servers across 60+ countries, which is more than enough to get around geo-restrictions and access your content.

IPVanish uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys to protect your traffic against any online threat out there. It keeps your activities hidden from your Internet service providers, government, and hackers.

As for privacy, we have some mixed feelings about that. Despite having a no-log policy, IPVanish is still based in the United States – one of the founders of the Five Eyes Association. In fact, back in 2016, IPVanish handed over personal information about a customer to the Department of Homeland Security, which goes against what a VPN should represent.

However, in 2017, IPVanish was acquired by StackPath and whole new legit no-logs policy came to place. A kill switch is also available for extra privacy.

Now, when it comes to speed, IPVanish does deliver an excellent performance. It’s not as credible as the ones above, but we only witnessed a 10% drop when we connected to a nearby server. By our standards, these results are very good.

Here’s where the bad news begins. Kodi is mostly used for streaming, and IPVanish does not excel in that department. Although it does unblock US Netflix on select servers, the fact that Hulu, ITV, and BBC iPlayer are not supported makes you question the VPN’s capabilities.

While it does access a hundred more, these streaming services are essential. When we contacted their support team, they even suggested using a sister-company to get around these geo-blocks.IPVanish Support

Furthermore, IPVanish only offers a 7-day refund policy, which pales in comparison to the other VPNs on our list. And finally, if you want to use IPVanish with Kodi, you can download its app on Android, iOS, PC, Mac, as well as Fire Stick.

Pros

  • Good speeds.
  • Servers in 60 countries.
  • No-log policy.
  • AES-256 encryption.
  • Kill Switch.
  • Ten concurrent connections.
  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • Unblocks Netflix.
  • SOCK5 proxy.
  • Split tunneling.
  • Unlimited Bandwidth.

Cons

  • No smart DNS.
  • 7-day refund policy.
  • No free trial.
  • It doesn’t unblock BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Hulu
  • It doesn’t support Cryptocurrency.
  • Based in the US.

NordVPN

NordVPN LogoNordVPN perhaps offers the biggest overall server coverage among all the VPNs on our list today. We’re talking about more than 5000 servers across 60 countries and it has a specific Kodi page on its official website.

NordVPN does a good job security-wise, operating using the latest military-grade encryption and a double VPN feature that reroutes your data through two different servers instead of one. This doubles your security measures and ensures that no online entity can see what you’re doing.

Moreover, NordVPN uses CyberSec technology for blocking intrusive adverts, viruses, malware, and any malicious software that might target your device. As for privacy, NordVPN doesn’t collect user information and store them in their database.

While trying a US server, we noticed that our speed took a 9% drop only, which is great for streaming Kodi. However, other tests showed drastic drops that affected our streaming quality along the way, especially while using their double VPN service.

NordVPN’s unblocking capability is outstanding. We tested a couple of channels on Kodi while connected to NordVPN and the results were positive. It allowed us to access the likes of ITV, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, and so many more.

Finally, NordVPN offers a 30-day refund policy. So, you can try their service out risking nothing. If the service did not live up to your expectations, you can ask for a full refund (no-questions-asked). Also, you can find NordVPN applications for iPad, iPhone, Android, PC, and Mac.

Pros

  • 5000+ servers in 60 countries.
  • No-logging policy.
  • AES-256 encryption.
  • A Kill Switch.
  • Six concurrent connections.
  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • 30-day refund policy.
  • Unblocks Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Netflix.
  • Bitcoin payment.
  • CyberSec.
  • Smart DNS.
  • Double VPN.
  • Unlimited bandwidth.

Cons

  • Inconsistant speeds.
  • No split tunneling.
  • No free trial.

Installing the VPN and Unblocking Kodi Add-ons

Kodi add-ons apply geo-blocking, which will terminate your access as soon as you launch a video. For example, BBC iPlayer is only available in the United Kingdom. If you try to access the add-on abroad, this error message will appear:

“BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only.”BBC iPlayer Error Kodi

With one of the VPNs above, you can circumvent the issue with complete ease. Despite its job being described as complex, the connecting process can’t be any easier. VPNs provide clients, with those, you can connect to any VPN server with a push of a button. Let us show you how:

  1. First, you need to sign up with a premium service. We’ve explained above how free VPNs might do you more harm than good. Choose one of the reviewed services and subscribe.
  2. Next, download the VPN application on the device you’re using Kodi on. If it doesn’t support VPNs, install the client on your router.
  3. Now, sign in with your VPN credentials and head over to the server list.
  4. Pick a server according to the Kodi add-on you wish to unblock. For example:
    • German server for DAZN.
    • UK server for ITV or BBC iPlayer.
    • US server for USTV Now, etc…
  5. Launch Kodi and activate the service’s add-on.
  6. Stream geo-restricted content on Kodi no matter where you are.

A lot of Kodi add-ons are not subject to geo-restrictions. However, those that are can easily be accessed if you connect to a server in their respective country. Kodi 19 might be adding support to the likes of Netflix and Hulu, which is very beneficial for those who don’t like to stack up apps on their devices.

Top Kodi Add-ons

You saw a couple of add-ons in the steps above, but Kodi has so much more to offer. We’re going to state some of the top add-ons you can get if you’re operating Kodi. Take a look a below:

  • FilmRise
  • Pluto.TV
  • USTV Now
  • Classic Cinema
  • Dailymotion
  • BBC iPlayer
  • YouTube
  • ITV
  • Fox Sports
  • NHL.tv
  • ViaPlay
  • DAZN
  • Rai Play
  • Funimation
  • ZDF
  • Adult Swim

That’s just a small percentage of what Kodi can bring to your small screen. You can check their Video Add-on repository for hundreds of other channels to choose from.

How to install Kodi Add-ons

If you’re new to the platform, you might want an extra helping hand to install the desired add-on on Kodi. As an example, we’ll be showing you how to install USTV Now as it allows you to live-stream top US channels, including ABC and CW TV. Here we go:

  1. Launch Kodi on your device.
  2. Choose Add-ons and click on the package icon on the top left of the screen.Package Kodi
  3. Now, select “Install from Repository.”Install From Repository Section
  4. Hit Kodi Add-on Repository.Kodi Add-on Repository
  5. Click on Video Add-ons.Video add-ons
  6. Search the list until you find USTV NOw.USTV Now Add-On
  7. Hit the Install button and wait for the installation process to finalize.Install USTV
  8. Launch USTV Now and enjoy top US television.USTV Now

We already showed you how you can unblock the Kodi add-ons overseas. But let’s stay on the safe side and do that again. To unblock USTV Now, you need an American IP address, which can be easily obtained by connecting to a US server.

There you have it, you now can watch whatever Kodi add-on anywhere in the world.

Best VPN for Kodi Review – Final Thoughts

In this review, we covered the top VPN providers that’ll enhance your security and privacy while using Kodi without slowing down your speeds and spoiling your streaming experience. Here at WhatIsMyIp.Network, we take a look at every VPN feature to determine its credibility.

Now, with the VPNs mentioned in the review, you can take your Kodi experience to a whole new level. More privacy, more security, and definitely no restrictions on what you get to access. If you have any more questions or even VPN suggestions, you can drop us a line or two in the comment section below.

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