Best VPNs for Amazon Fire or Kindle Fire tablet

Fire tablets can face geo-restrictions when trying to access content from other countries. They are also at risk from unsecured WiFi connections. Both of these can be solved with a VPN. 

Amazon’s competitively priced – and consequently incredibly popular – Fire tablet has enabled users around the world to browse the internet and stream all kinds of content. However, like other connected devices, Fire tablets also encounter geo-restricted content. Thankfully, you can overcome this with a Virtual Private Network.

A VPN allows you to connect to any server in the VPN provider’s network before connecting to the internet properly. This encrypts your traffic as well as spoofs your IP address – which becomes that of the VPN server. Your new IP address allows you to access country-specific sites that would otherwise be off-limits.  

We’ll get into more detail about individual VPN providers later. For now, here’s a summary of our top choices.

Best VPNs for Amazon Fire and Kindle Fire tablets in 2023:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for use with an Amazon Fire tablet. Thousands of RAM-only servers worldwide, a proprietary connection protocol, and seamless access to all major streaming platforms. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. CyberGhost: Best budget VPN for Amazon Fire tablets. Massive network of RAM-only servers, notably fast connection speeds, and an audited no-logs policy. Works well with all popular streaming services. 
3. ExpressVPN: Provides market-leading security, together with access to thousands of RAM-only servers in 105+ countries. It has a dedicated router app, Appstore app, and Onion site on the Tor network. Works seamlessly with streaming platforms. 
4. ProtonVPN: Speed-boosting tool for long-distance connections and high-security servers available. Good for both torrenting and streaming and has obfuscation that enables connections in China.
5. IPVanish: Fast connection speeds and owns the majority of the hardware in its server network. Has an independently audited no-logs policy and subscriptions that come with unlimited device connections.
6. PrivateVPN: Works well with all of the most popular streaming platforms and offers port forwarding for torrenting. Has fast connection speeds, customizable apps, and provides access to a SOCKS5 and HTTP Proxy. 

Summary Table

The best VPNs make the most of the Kindle Fire tablet’s functionality while protecting users’ data and hiding their online activity. We used the following list of criteria to objectively judge which VPNs were most suitable.  

• Apps available in Amazon’s Appstore
• Fast VPN connection speeds
• Ability to access streaming services
• Strong privacy and security features, especially important if you're using a public Wi-Fi network
• Good value for money
• User-friendly apps
• Helpful customer support

To be included as one of our top three providers, we also require VPNs to have independently audited software and infrastructure, a RAM-only server network, effective obfuscation, and a location not susceptible to interference by spying alliances. You can read more about our testing methodology later in this article.

Best VPNs for the Amazon Fire tablet 

The following information gives you a detailed overview of the best VPNs to use with Amazon’s Fire tablet:

NordVPN has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire tablets available from the Appstore. Users can seamlessly connect to their favorite streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Connection speeds are fast enough to stream 4K content without buffering – largely thanks to NordVPN’s speedy proprietary connection protocol.

The provider has a wide range of 6,000+ RAM-only servers spread across 60+ countries. Users can create their own private mini-networks with other trusted devices via the MeshNet tool. NordVPN recently made Meshnet free for anyone to use.

Other features include access to a suite of optimized servers. These provide one-click connections to the Tor network, the ability to route traffic through an additional VPN server, more efficient file sharing, and obfuscation that enables connections to countries like China.

The company has a strict no-logs policy and has had both its infrastructure and apps independently audited on multiple occasions. Users’ internet traffic is protected using a combination of 256-bit AES channel encryption, SHA384 for authentication, and a 3072-bit DHE-RSA key exchange.

Well-designed apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. These all come with built-in leak protection, as well as a kill switch, dark web monitor, and split tunneling.

NordVPN upgraded its entire server network to RAM-only following an attack on a Finnish third-party data center in 2018. The company is in the process of buying its own servers and housing them in specially built data centers.

BEST VPN FOR AMAZON FIRE TABLETS: NordVPN is our top recommendation. It has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire devices and provides easy access to all the major streaming services. You can try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full NordVPN review.

CyberGhost combines very fast connection speeds with a massive RAM-only server network. This network – which is one of the largest of any provider – consists of 10,000+ servers in 100+ countries. All CyberGhost servers are accessible via an app available from the Amazon Appstore. 

CyberGhost works consistently well with all major streaming platforms and has servers optimized for individual services. This makes it easier to quickly find working connections. Once established, CyberGhost is fast enough to stream 4K content without buffering. 

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and Apple TV. These include an automatic kill switch and built-in DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection. 

Split-tunneling is only fully available on the Android app, though Windows users can set up a URL bypass using the Smart Rules tool. The latter feature allows users to automatically connect certain apps to specific servers. So, for example, the Amazon Prime Video app could be set to automatically connect to the server optimized for streaming Amazon Prime Video. 

Internet traffic is protected using 256-bit AES encryption, in conjunction with 2,048-bit RSA keys and SHA256 authentication. The company adheres to a strict no-logs policy and issues quarterly transparency reports detailing any third-party data requests. It has undertaken independent audits of its VPN server network and management systems.

CyberGhost – like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and Zenmate VPN – is owned by Kape Technologies. Kape was formerly known as Crossrider, where it gained some notoriety for selling software that could inject adware into users’ browsers. Now a dedicated cybersecurity company, Kape appears to have performed a neat pivot and left its darker days behind.  

FAST CONNECTIONS: CyberGhost has an app for Amazon Fire devices and an impressively large server network. It provides fast connection speeds and is a great option for streaming. Plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

ExpressVPN has a reputation for robust security which, for many users, is enough to justify its slightly more expensive subscriptions. Examples of the company’s innovations include its TrustedServer Technology, which involves reinstalling every server’s operating system on a weekly basis. 

The company has had several audits of its software and infrastructure, and offers a one-time $100,000 bug bounty for anyone able to compromise its systems. Its server network is RAM-only and the provider has a presence in 105+ countries.

ExpressVPN has a dedicated Amazon Fire app available via the Appstore. Apps are also available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, and Linux. There’s even one for routers – which is a rarity among VPN providers. The router app lets users easily protect every device on their home network, including those that are otherwise incompatible with VPNs.

Other advanced security features include a proprietary connection protocol, a dedicated Onion site on the Tor network, split tunneling, a Threat Manager, leak protection, and a kill switch. Obfuscation is also available for those who want to get connected in restrictive countries, like China. 

ExpressVPN is great for streaming and able to access all of the most popular streaming platforms. Subscriptions include a MediaStreamer tool that spoofs the DNS addresses of devices like smart TVs and games consoles, and thus enables them to bypass geo-restrictions. 

As mentioned in the CyberGhost mini-review above, ExpressVPN is now owned by Kape Technologies. In a press release issued at the time of the acquisition, ExpressVPN said that it would continue to operate as a “separate brand and service”.  

TRUSTED SERVERS: ExpressVPN has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire devices and market-leading security. It’s great for streaming, with fast speeds and a presence in 105+ countries. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Proton VPN is great for those who value privacy and is a popular choice among activists and journalists. It has 100+ Secure Core servers that route traffic through high-security data centers owned by Proton VPN. 

The company also has 3,000+ regular servers that provide fast speeds, even over long distances. Its VPN Accelerator tool uses a modified version of OpenVPN, with an optimized routing process to provide a boost to these connections. 

Proton VPN has an open-source app for Amazon Fire devices available on the Appstore. Apps are also available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Linux. These are open-source and come equipped with built-in leak protection, split tunneling, a kill switch, and an ad, tracker, and malware blocker.

Other Proton VPN features include one-click access to the Tor network, 10 simultaneous device connections, and a stealth mode that can bypass Chinese VPN blocks. You'll also benefit from lightning-fast speeds, and various solid privacy features.

Proton VPN works well with all of the popular streaming services and it’s also a good option for torrenting. It is one of the few providers that allows port forwarding, which enables more efficient seeding and leeching. 

While connected, users’ internet traffic is protected using ChaCha20 for WireGuard symmetric encryption, which is authenticated with Poly1305. The OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols are protected with 256-bit AES encryption, in conjunction with a SHA384 hash and 4096-bit RSA keys. Proton VPN has a strict no-logs policy that’s been verified through independent audits of both its infrastructure and software.

STRONG ON PRIVACY: Proton VPN has an open-source app for Amazon Fire devices, obfuscation for connections in China, and several high-security servers. It’s also great for streaming and torrenting. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

IPVanish owns the majority of its own server network and is well-regarded for its fast connection speeds. It has an Amazon Fire app available on the Appstore and a network of 2,000+ servers in 50+ countries. 

Subscriptions allow users to connect as many devices as they want simultaneously – which is great for larger households. Other advanced features include built-in DNS leak protection, access to a SOCKS5 proxy, split tunneling, automatic start-up, and a kill switch.  

IPVanish works with the majority of streaming platforms – including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. However, like the vast majority of VPNs, it struggled with BBC iPlayer during tests.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. There’s no dedicated Linux app, but a connection can be configured manually by following instructions available on the IPVanish website. 

IPVanish protects internet data using 256-bit encryption, together with SHA512 for authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2048 key exchange. It has an independently audited no-logs policy, which is just as well given its past behavior. 

In 2016, when owned by Highwinds Network Group, IPVanish provided details of one of its users to the US Department of Homeland Security. This is despite claims that it kept no logs. IPVanish has since changed ownership several times. Its current owners, J2 Global, position IPVanish as one of its core security businesses in its NetProtect service.

FAST SPEEDS: IPVanish owns the majority of its server network and has an audited no-logs policy. It provides notably fast connection speeds and has an app available via the Amazon Appstore. It's a great choice for streaming. Plans come with a 30-day refund policy.

Read our full IPVanish review.

PrivateVPN is a good choice for those mistrustful of larger VPNs that form part of larger-still corporate holdings. Based in Sweden and run by a small team, PrivateVPN offers decent connection speeds and reliable access to the most popular streaming services. It also has an app available on the Amazon Appstore. 

Its other apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. These are customizable, with users able to choose their preferred level of encryption and connection. Options for the latter include OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2. Strong encryption includes protection against DNS leaks. 

Other PrivateVPN features include access to a SOCKS5 and HTTP Proxy, protection against IPv6 leaks and DNS leaks, and app-specific and system-wide kill switches. Its stealth mode enables PrivateVPN to bypass blocks put in place by countries like China, while its customer service team is able to provide remote control assistance for problems like router installation.

PrivateVPN is a good choice for torrenters, and has dedicated P2P servers in Sweden optimized for large file transfers. It allows port forwarding, which enables file-sharers to connect to more peers in a swarm and improve download speeds. 

The company has a clearly defined no-logs policy, but is yet to have it independently audited. This would be of less concern if Sweden wasn’t a member of the SIGINT Seniors Europe international intelligence-sharing alliance – a group which routinely engages in cross-border surveillance.

STEALTH MODE: Provides good access to streaming platforms., fast connection speeds and an app that’s available via the Amazon Appstore. Its stealth mode bypasses blocks in most countries and plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology for choosing the best VPNs for Amazon Fire tablet

Hundreds of VPNs are available on the Amazon Appstore. On the surface, the only way to choose between them is the star-based review system beneath each of their respective icons. For our own recommendations, we used a list of specific criteria from our testing methodology to gauge the relative worth of each provider. The importance of each element is discussed below.   

• Apps available in Amazon’s Appstore: We look for VPNs that have apps available for Amazon Fire TV devices, as well as producing apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux. As VPN providers allow anything from five to 100+ simultaneous device connections per subscription, it makes sense to install the VPN on every device you own.
• Fast connection speeds: If you have paid for a decent base connection speed, the last thing you want is a VPN slowing things down. The best VPNs are so fast that they have negligible effects on overall connection speeds. You’ll be able to game without lag and stream 4K video without buffering. We regularly test VPN providers to ensure that we only recommend those fast enough for day-to-day use. 
• Ability to access streaming services: Those who’ve used an Amazon Fire tablet for streaming will have come up against geo-restrictions preventing access to certain content. Some VPNs are able to bypass these restrictions and allow unfettered access to foreign content libraries. We say some, as streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayers and Disney+ have become adept at blocking VPNs. We regularly perform tests to check which VPNs continue to work with the most popular platforms, as well as considering the server locations on offer. 
• Strong privacy and online security features: It’s vital that VPN providers have the feature sets needed to maintain secure and private connections. To do this, they need – at the very least – to have 256-AES encryption, leak protection, a strict no-logs policy, and a kill switch. Ideally, they should also offer obfuscation, split tunneling, MultiHop servers, and port forwarding. 
• Good value for money: Nobody wants to pay more than is necessary for a VPN subscription. While some VPNs with a surplus of features are understandably pricier, it doesn’t always follow that relatively cheap VPNs have nothing going for them. We try to include a selection of VPNs that represent good value at particular price points.  
• User-friendly apps: There’s little point paying for a VPN subscription if the app that comes with it is difficult, or otherwise off-putting, to use. We look for providers that have put lots of thought into their GUIs and that enable connections to be established with minimum effort. Apps should be available for all major operating systems and be consistent between them.
• Helpful customer support: When a problem arises, it’s nice to have someone on hand with the experience to solve it. We try to find VPNs that offer 24/7 live chat, email support, and a detailed and searchable knowledge base. 

Bonus points

To be included in one of our top three positions, VPN companies must also offer the following features:

• Access to China: The Chinese authorities seek to control the flow of information in and out of the country. Traffic identified as belonging to a VPN is blocked, as is access to a great many other websites. Some VPNs employ obfuscation to disguise traffic, but even this isn’t guaranteed to work. Indeed, all but a handful of VPNs now work in the country. Those that do are therefore highly prized.
• Diskless servers: Servers able to potentially store customer information pose a security risk – whether that’s from being compromised by hackers or seized and interrogated by state-sanctioned authorities. To combat this, the better VPNs now use RAM-only servers. These run on volatile memory so cannot permanently store data. As well as being more secure, they improve efficiency by running from copies of the same up-to-date software. 
• Incorporation outside the scope of intelligence alliances: International intelligence-sharing alliances, of the type exposed in the Snowden leaks, work outside of national data privacy laws. They enable member countries to use other members of the alliance to spy on their own citizens. The Five Eyes (FVEY) is the most well-known alliance and comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Other alliances exist, which also carry out cross-border mass surveillance. To avoid being caught up in these activities, some VPNs choose to register their companies in countries not known to be members of any alliances. 
• Audited software and infrastructure: The best way for VPN companies to prove that they don’t log customer activity is to bring in third-party auditors to check their hardware and software. Hardware audits check whether servers can inadvertently collect user data and whether they have any major vulnerabilities. Software audits examine the VPN’s apps for exploits that could be used in a way that compromises privacy or security. The best VPNs submit to both types of audit. 

How to use a VPN with an Amazon Fire tablet

Not sure how to go about using a VPN with your Amazon Fire tablet? Read the instructions below to get yourself set up with a VPN in no time.

Using a VPN with an Amazon Fire tablet:

1. Subscribe to a VPN service with an app for Amazon Fire Tablets. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the app, then restart the device once installation is complete 
3. Tap the “Apps” menu on your tablet’s home screen
4. Type the name of your chosen VPN in the search bar of the Amazon Appstore and tap “Get”
5. Tap “Download” and wait for the application to be installed
6. Tap “Open” 
7. Select “Log in” from the main menu and enter your login details

Not all VPN apps are listed in the Amazon Appstore. If you can’t find your chosen service, then it’s not a problem – you just need to add the app directly to your tablet via a process called sideloading. It’s easy to do, just follow the instructions below. 

How to sideload a VPN app onto an Amazon Fire tablet:

1. Tap “Settings”>”Security and Privacy”>”Apps from unknown sources”. Toggle this on.
2. Go to your chosen VPN’s website and download the APK file directly – don’t be tempted to download APK files from unofficial third-party sites. 
3. Tap the “Apps” menu on your tablet’s home screen
4. Type ES File Explorer in the search bar of the Amazon Appstore and tap “Get”
5. Tap “Download” and wait for the application to be installed
6. Tap “Open” 
7. Find your chosen VPN’s APK file and tap “Install”

Can I use a free VPN with an Amazon Fire tablet?

We’d advise against it. Free VPNs tend to be slow and unsecure – if not downright dangerous. Their limited server networks tend to be heavily loaded with people keen to get something for nothing. This results in sluggish connections unsuitable for all but the most rudimentary internet activity. 

Trackers are common and most free VPNs have some form of logging policy. As most are reliant on advertising revenue, the gathered data can be sold on to third parties. The worst apps do nothing to prevent leaks and can act as vectors for malware. 

Best VPNs for an Amazon Fire tablet: FAQs

Do I need a VPN for an Amazon Fire tablet?

While not necessary for the functioning of the tablet, a VPN does have other benefits that make it a worthwhile investment. For one, it allows you to access geo-restricted content from your favorite streaming platform. If, for example, you’re traveling abroad, a VPN will enable you to connect to the content library of your home country.

To continue the traveling example, a VPN will protect your device when using free WiFi of the sort found in airports, hotels, and cafes. The encryption between the tablet and VPN server prevents man-in-the-middle attacks when using unsecured networks. 

A VPN will also enable you to connect in countries where internet use is restricted. Obfuscation disguises VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, thus bypassing country-imposed blocks. Other VPN benefits include hiding your online activity from your ISP and preventing bandwidth throttling.

Is an Amazon Fire tablet the same as a Kindle Fire?

Yes, it is. The Kindle Fire tablet was first released in 2011. This was followed by the Kindle Fire HD 2012, and the Kindle Fire HDX in 2013. When Amazon released the fourth generation device in 2014, it dropped the “Kindle” prefix. At the time of writing, Amazon has released 12 generations of Fire tablets, with more on the way.

Can you download apps on Amazon Fire tablet?

Apps are available for download via the tablet’s pre-loaded Amazon Appstore. However, there isn’t as much choice as you get with Google Play. In fact, according to Statista, the Appstore has just under half the number of apps available.

Apps that aren’t available on the Appstore can be sideloaded onto the Amazon Fire tablet. Because the tablet runs on a fork of the Android OS, it will work with Android Package Kit (APK) files. APK is the file format used for applications designed for the Android OS. The files contain the compiled code that enables the software to do its thing. 

Using APK files is safe, provided that you obtain them through a trustworthy resource. Any APK file can be sideloaded onto your Amazon Fire tablet by following these instructions.

1. Tap “Settings”>”Security and Privacy”>”Apps from unknown sources”. Toggle this on.
2. Open the tablet’s browser and navigate to apkmirror.com
3. Enter the name of the app you want in the search field and press “enter”
4. Download the relevant result by tapping the downward arrow icon next to it.
5. When it’s finished downloading, tap the “Apps” menu on your tablet’s home screen
6. Type ES File Explorer in the search bar of the Amazon Appstore and tap “Get”
7. Tap “Download” and wait for the application to be installed
8. Tap “Open” 
9. Find the APK file previously downloaded and tap “Install”

Can I unblock TV on vacation with a VPN for Amazon Fire tablet?

Yes. If you are on vacation or traveling for work and want to watch your home TV services, you can do so by connecting to a VPN server. A VPN conceals your real IP address (location) and lets you connect to a server elsewhere. As a result, you can make your Amazon Fire tablet appear to be in a different country, which allows you to watch any region-locked TV services while traveling overseas.

The only caveat is that many VPNs have been blocked by popular streaming services and TV networks. This means that you must stick to one of our recommendations. The VPNs we have listed have all been tested with popular services like Netflix US. And you can test them with any international streaming service yourself risk-free thanks to their money-back guarantee.

What is a VPN for Amazon Fire tablet?

A VPN is an online privacy tool that is designed to encrypt your internet connection and conceal your IP address from the websites you visit. It works by securely tunneling your data to a remote server, which prevents local networks, ISPs, government agencies, hackers, and other eavesdroppers from being able to monitor your web visits and intercept your private data. 

The VPNs we have recommended in this guide all have apps that you can use on an Amazon Fire tablet, which means that they are easy to install and use to gain privacy on your Amazon device.

Do I need a fast VPN for Amazon Fire tablet?

Yes. Many VPNs have slow speeds, which makes them frustrating to use. If you want to watch HD videos, play games, listen to music, or make video calls, we recommend that you choose a reliable VPN that has fast servers and fast protocols like OpenVPN UDP and WireGuard. The VPNs recommended in this guide all provide speedy connections that are ideal for doing data-intensive tasks without buffering.