Best VPNs for Kodi in 2024

Best VPNs for Kodi in 2024

Developed by the XBMC Foundation, Kodi is one of the most popular media players that is available on multiple platforms. It allows users to play and view most streaming media, such as videos, music, podcasts, and videos from the Internet. What makes Kodi unique is that it can play files from the torrent sources, meaning that a good VPN for Kodi is also a good VPN for torrenting.

However, most users want a universal VPN solution, one that isn’t just good for one thing but can also handle multiple different tasks. So after testing many, many different VPNs, we came up with the following list of best VPNs for Kodi; but again – these VPNs are also great for other use cases, all while offering excellent customer support.

You will hardly go wrong with any of the services on the list, but for the best experience go for the top pick and forget about it. 😉

1
NordVPN

at NordVPN.com
Our rating:
Price from: $3.39/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • 5,000+ servers in the network
  • Easy to use - install it and forget it
  • One license is good for up to 6 devices
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Chrome extension is just a proxy

Summary

There is a reason why NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services on the planet. Its network includes more than 6,200 servers in 110+ countries — which directly translates into faster connection speeds.

NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the super-strong 256-bit encryption that is combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology working for you in the background.

NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — streaming with Kodi being just one of them. You can also rely on NordVPN to access other banned sites and video streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ — or just to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.

We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for a reliable VPN.
2
ExpressVPN

at ExpressVPN.com
Our rating:
Price from: $8.32/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • Feature-rich yet easy to use
  • One of the best VPNs around
  • Strong no-logging policy
  • Reliable support you can reach 24/7
  • Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
  • Kinda pricey

Summary

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPS services and is well suited to bypass any Kodi ban an ISP, your employer, school or country censors throw your way.

There are a few other VPNs that come close — and in some cases can even outshine ExpressVPN — but as far as the majority of users are concerned, this is one of the best VPN services they could buy.

ExpressVPN has great desktop and mobile apps, as well as browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for virtually all streaming services — including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer and more.

However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust. So whether you need a VPN for Kodi or anything else - ExpressVPN won't let you down.
3
Hotspot Shield

at HotspotShield.com
Our rating:
Price from: $2.99/mo
45-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • It's super fast!
  • Works with Netflix, BBC and others
  • Easy to use apps, browser extensions
  • You can try it for free!
  • Some advanced features are not configurable
  • Not the best for high-censorship countries

Summary

Hotspot Shield is one of the fastest VPNs for watching videos with Kodi. The company uses its own proprietary technology to deliver blazing-fast download AND upload speeds.

We have tested Hotspot Shield with multiple locations and it managed to deliver an amazing streaming experience with Kodi, every single time.

In addition to a great desktop app, Hotspot Shield also has fancy mobile apps, which are super easy to use and work out of the box.

As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
4
Surfshark

at Surfshark.com
Our rating:
Price from: $1.99/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • Reliable download and upload speeds
  • Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
  • Low number of servers in Africa and Australia

Summary

Surfshark is a solid all-round VPN offering top-notch security and privacy features. It may not be the best option out there, but it's definitely not the worst. And for the price, it offers a hard to beat package that goes well beyond basic VPN service.

You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience. Also, it will work great with Kodi.

Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.

The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5
IPVanish

at IPVanish.com
Our rating:
Price from: $3.99/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • One the best VPNs for torrenting
  • Works well with Netflix
  • Simple setup on all popular devices
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
  • Doesn't work in China

Summary

IPVanish is fast and especially great for torrenters and Kodi fans. It also works with Netflix though the situation is different with BBC iPlayer — for which we've had a hard time finding a reliable server.

Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.

When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.

Kodi 101

Formerly called XBMC, Kodi is a free and open-source media player software developed by the XBMC Foundation, a non-profit technology consortium. Kodi is available across devices and platforms, allowing users to play and view most streaming media — such as videos, music, podcasts, and videos from the Internet — as well as all common media files from local and network storage media.

One of the things that make Kodi popular is the ability to “make it your own” with skins that can change its appearance, and plug-ins that allow users to access streaming media content via online services such as Amazon Prime Instant Video, Crackle, Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, and YouTube. Also, Kodi could be used to watch live television with an electronic program guide (EPG), access weather forecasts reporting, watch slideshows and more.

The creation of Kodi

Originally created in 2002 as an independently developed media player application named Xbox Media Player for the first-generation Xbox game console. In 2004, the name was changed to Xbox Media Center — abbreviated as XBMC — which was adopted as the official name in 2008. Later on, the application was made available under the name XBMC for Android, Linux, BSD, macOS, iOS/tvOS, and Windows.

Because it is an open-source project with its core code written in C++, modified versions of Kodi-XBMC have been made for a variety of devices such as smart TVs, set-top boxes, digital signage, hotel television systems, network-connected media players and Raspberry Pi-based embedded systems. Derivative applications such as MediaPortal and Plex have been spun off from XBMC or Kodi.

Controversy

Kodi has attracted some negative attention due to the availability of third-party plug-ins that facilitate unauthorized access to copyrighted media content, as well as “fully loaded” digital media players that are pre-loaded with such add-ons. For what it’s worth, the XBMC Foundation has not endorsed any of these uses, and has taken steps to disassociate the Kodi project from these add-ons, including threatening legal action against those using its trademarks to promote them.

On the other hand, this same capability has brought Kodi fans in many parts of the world, especially in countries where access to some of the popular video streaming services is not widely available or is expensive by local standards.

Why do you need a VPN for Kodi?

Kodi could be blocked for any number of reasons and it all depends on what you’re doing with it. For instance, if you’re just using it to watch or listen to files on your computer, no one can and will block you. However, if you’re watching some movie from BitTorrent, your ISP may block you from doing so, or throttle your connection speed to make it impossible to enjoy the video.

With a VPN, your ISP won’t know what you’re doing online. And the same goes for any other party that could be prohibiting you from accessing the Internet in its entirety. It could be your employer, a school or the country’s censors. A good VPN will be able to get around all these restrictions with no one knowing what you’re watching, listening or reading on the Internet.

Look beyond Kodi

You need a VPN for many things, not just for Kodi. A good VPN will:

  • Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
  • Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
  • Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
  • Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
  • Download files with BitTorrent anonymously

The top contenders that check all these boxes — while also letting you stream audio and video files with Kodi from all around the world — include the following:

30-day money-back guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
45-day money-back guarantee