Best Stremio VPN for 2025: Top Paid & Free VPN Providers For the Open-Source Streaming Service
Stremio does a fine job of aggregating content from streaming platforms and torrent websites. Since some of the content you find using Stremio may be pirated, it’s best to use a VPN to keep yourself safe. Read this guide to learn about the best Stremio VPN.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)
Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)
Last Updated: 2025-02-03T15:16:48+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Best Stremio VPN
- ExpressVPN — Secure, easy-to-use VPN with port forwarding and torrenting on all servers. ExpressVPN’s yearly plan offers 25% off on the first year with three months free.
- Proton VPN — Highly private VPN with P2P servers and port forwarding. You can sign up for Proton VPN with a discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
- Private Internet Access — Cheap VPN for Stremio that allows torrenting on all servers and has a built-in Shadowsocks proxy. Try a discount multi-year plan with a refund guarantee.
- NordVPN — Fast VPN with massive server network. NordVPN is available at a 72% discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- CyberGhost — Budget-friendly VPN with an easy-to-use UI. Lacks port forwarding but has dedicated P2P servers.
Stremio is an excellent media player for watching free movies and TV shows. Stremio works very similarly to Kodi — it’s an aggregator that pulls content from streaming platforms and torrent websites, and therefore warrants the use of a VPN (virtual private network). In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best Stremio VPNs for 2022.
Before you start using Stremio, you’ll also need the right add-ons. Stremio’s add-ons library isn’t that large, but selecting the most popular add-ons will set you up with access to your favorite content. Our guide on the best Stremio add-ons is a great place to get started with Stremio add-ons.
Add-ons like Torrentio, Popcorn Time, and The Pirate Bay source content from torrent websites. While torrenting isn’t inherently illegal, you’ll still be streaming pirated content, which is illegal. You can protect yourself with a VPN, but since there are countless VPN providers out there, we’re going to help you choose the best Stremio VPN. If you want a quick spoiler, ExpressVPN is our top choice.
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09/05/2022
Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2. Also updated Windscribe’s free data cap to 15GB due to it offering 5GB extra permanently when you tweet about the service.
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10/18/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s recent increase of 5 simultaneous connections to 8.
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07/07/2024
Updated the article to reflect latest information on NordVPN’s allowed number of simultaneous connections.
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10/01/2024 Facts checked
We updated the VPN list to incorporate the latest user feedback and expert evaluations.
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11/29/2024 Facts checked
Revised VPN ranking to better reflect torrenting performance.
Top VPNs for Stremio
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- : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, Giropay, Pixpay, Sepa Direct Debit
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Average speedDownload Speed84 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency4 ms - 2
- : PayPal, Credit card
- : 10
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- 3
- : PayPal, Credit card, Amazon, Paygarden, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- : Unlimited
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Average speedDownload Speed87 MbpsUpload Speed8 MbpsLatency3 ms - 4
- : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, JCB, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, X-Coin
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Average speedDownload Speed90 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 5
- : PayPal, Credit card, bitcoin, Amazon Pay
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Average speedDownload Speed81 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency48 ms
What Makes the Best Stremio VPN?
To find the best Stremio VPN you should look for strong security and encryption protocols. The VPNs listed above offer field-tested security and have strict no-logs policies backed by real evidence. They also have necessary security features, like a kill switch to protect your IP address in case the VPN connection drops abruptly.
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In addition to security and privacy, you should also consider the connection speeds, since slow speeds can lead to buffering when you’re streaming. If you’ve got friends or family who also want to use the VPN for streaming on Stremio, you should select a VPN that offers enough simultaneous connections.
Almost any VPN can help you change your IP address by connecting to a VPN server. However, a lot of those VPNs (especially if you’re using a free VPN) lack adequate security and offer subpar performance.
The 5 Best VPNs for Stremio
We’ve identified five VPNs that offer a good combination of features you need in a VPN for streaming via Stremio. We’ll start with our favorite, which is ExpressVPN.
1. ExpressVPN — Best Stremio VPN
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
ExpressVPN has the best possible security with various security protocols to choose from — OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP and Lightway (its proprietary protocol). Your chosen security protocol is used in combination with AES-256 encryption.
ExpressVPN allows P2P traffic on every server. If you install it on a router, you can also set up port forwarding to improve your torrenting speeds. It has a strict no-logs policy, so you’ll never need to worry about anyone getting access to your online activity. Learn more about ExpressVPN’s security and privacy in our ExpressVPN review.
You can install ExpressVPN on pretty much any operating system or device you can use Stremio on, including Windows, Android and iOS devices. ExpressVPN allows eight simultaneous connections, but if you want to use it on more devices, you can also install it on your router.
One of The Fastest VPNs Available
ExpressVPN is one of the best Stremio VPNs because it doesn’t restrict which servers can process torrenting traffic. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs out there and offers unlimited bandwidth, which means you’ll never have to wait for the frame to load when you’re watching movies on Stremio.
ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services, costing $6.67 per month. If you don’t mind spending a little extra for a premium VPN service, ExpressVPN is a good bet. You can also try it out yourself before committing to it with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. Proton VPN — Most Secure VPN for Stremio
Proton VPN is a great ExpressVPN alternative, easily the second-most flexible VPN for any form of torrenting. Its network of servers has grown to over 6,000 and is spread across 100 countries; you can stream over half the world’s Netflix or Amazon Prime Video libraries via Proton VPN and the Stremio app.
The connection speeds are satisfactory, but the real benefit is its optimized P2P features. Like ExpressVPN, Proton VPN allows torrenting on all its servers, but also has some servers built for the best possible seeding and downloading speeds. The only reason Proton’s not #1 is that it isn’t quite as fast overall.
Proton VPN app also allows port forwarding from within the app, so you can bypass the cumbersome router setup process — but only on Windows and Linux. Split tunneling is likewise restricted, only being available on Windows and Android. If you want to get to know Proton VPN better, give our Proton VPN review a read.
Unlimited Free VPN
Proton VPN has one more perk — the only permanently free VPN plan that doesn’t limit your monthly data consumption OR your browsing speed. The catch is that you’re limited to five server locations and can’t choose which one you use.
If you want the premium subscription, Proton VPN’s best value is the two-year plan. Unfortunately, despite how strong the free plan is, it’s not one of the cheapest VPN services you can use. However, the money gets you one of the best torrenting VPNs available, and the free plan lets you test it out without paying.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
- 500 GB storage 1 user 15 extra email addresses for you Support for 3 custom email domains Unlimited folders and labels Unlimited hide-my-email aliases Dedicated customer support Ultra fast and private VPN Encrypted password manager Encrypted cloud storage for photos and documents Advanced account protection
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **Renewal prices differ for the 1-year and the 2-year plans. Price includes all premium Proton services (Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN, Pass, & Wallet)
- Unlimited GB
- 10
3. Private Internet Access — Cheap Stremio VPN with Shadowsocks
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Private Internet Access is one of the cheapest VPNs we consider safe and reliable for torrenting. Not only does it permit torrenting on all its servers (like ExpressVPN and Proton VPN), but it also includes a multi-hop connection with one step being a Shadowsocks proxy — making your torrenting just about impenetrable to your ISP.
The flip side is that speeds aren’t quite as reliable as on our top two options. Private Internet Access struggles with upload speeds sometimes, so your BitTorrent traffic through a PIA client might get treated as a leech. However, it’s highly secure in general, and has a clean bill of privacy health from Deloitte.
Double VPN With Shadowsocks
We explain this a little in our Most Secure VPN article — which features PIA — but to summarize, a Shadowsocks proxy server is very similar to a VPN server, down to the encryption. Running your Stremio downloads through both a VPN server and a Shadowsocks proxy secures them better than just about anything else.
It’s a bit slower, especially since PIA has no port forwarding support anywhere, but still quite valuable for PIA’s bargain-basement prices.
The two-year plan offers the best value, but the one-year option is nothing to scoff at either. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Learn more about PIA in our thorough Private Internet Access review.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
4. NordVPN — Fastest Stremio VPN
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN frequently comes in at first place in our VPN speed comparison. In fact, this speedy, secure and reliable VPN is our favorite service overall, but it slips slightly when compared to the three torrenting champions above.
With NordVPN, you can select from three security protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2 and the proprietary NordLynx protocol that fixes the main security flaw of WireGuard. It’s more than secure enough to hide your torrenting from your ISP, and even includes dedicated servers for P2P traffic.
The catch is that NordVPN doesn’t allow torrenting except on those servers, and also doesn’t support port forwarding. However, it’s got P2P servers in almost all its locations — right now, there are only four where torrenting isn’t permitted. You can learn more about NordVPN in our comprehensive NordVPN review.
Massive Server Network
NordVPN has one of the largest server networks, with 142 locations across 110 countries. In addition to the torrenting servers located in 106 of those countries, NordVPN comes with servers optimized for double VPN connections, onion over VPN and dedicated IP addresses.
NordVPN’s $2.52 per month. Given its feature set, the price looks reasonable. However, if you’re not feeling entirely confident, you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee and try NordVPN yourself.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
- 10
5. CyberGhost — Stremio VPN With Automation Features
Very Fast
Very Fast
Fast
CyberGhost offers decent security and sufficiently fast connection speeds. It combines AES-256 encryption with OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, and you can also use ChaCha20 with WireGuard. CyberGhost also offers a kill switch, but split tunneling is only available on the Android app.
It’s one of the best VPNs for Stremio; however, it’s further down on the list because it suffers from very inconsistent speeds. This shouldn’t be a concern most of the time as you can circumvent it by switching servers, but it’s certainly annoying.
CyberGhost is still one of the best VPNs for Stremio and will usually offer a good, buffer-free streaming experience. The CyberGhost VPN app also has automation features. For instance, you can set the app to automatically connect to a VPN server when you launch Stremio. Learn more about CyberGhost in our CyberGhost review.
Easy-to-Use UI
CyberGhost is a beginner-friendly VPN. Its UI, especially on the Windows app, is easy to get comfortable with even if you’ve never used a VPN before. If you don’t want to bother with navigating through a feature-heavy interface, CyberGhost is a perfect fit for you.
CyberGhost is one of the cheapest services on the list and the market. Its best value, the three-year plan, costs $2.29 per month. Combining that with its generous 45-day money-back guarantee on plans of one year or longer makes it an excellent choice. You can always try it out and claim your money back if you’re not fully satisfied. Read our CyberGhost alternative guide to find other services.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
Why You Should Use a Stremio VPN
When you stream content on Stremio, you’ll need a VPN for two reasons. The first is to remove regional restrictions (or geoblocks) put in place by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
The second reason is to keep your identity anonymous. Being anonymous is important because you’ll essentially be viewing pirated content if you’re using a torrenting website via Stremio. Virtual private networks offer the privacy and security you need when streaming content from Stremio add-ons like Torrentio or RARBG.
Final Thoughts
Using VPNs is helpful in keeping yourself anonymous and accessing blocked content when using Stremio. Choosing the best VPNs can make a great difference in your streaming experience because different providers have different capabilities.
The VPNs we’ve mentioned will help you stream content from Stremio while keeping you anonymous. We recommend getting started with ExpressVPN, which is an excellent VPN not only for Stremio but also Stremio alternatives like Kodi.
Have you used a VPN for Stremio before? Which one did you use, and how was your experience? Do you agree with ExpressVPN as our top choice? Let us know in the comments below, or try out ExpressVPN yourself risk-free with the 30-day money-back guarantee. As always, thanks for reading!
FAQ
Yes, Stremio is completely legal. However, it pulls pirated content from torrent websites, and piracy is illegal. If you want to stream using Stremio, it’s best to use a VPN to keep yourself anonymous online.
Yes. Stremio is a free media player that allows you to watch movies and TV shows online.
Yes, Stremio is perfectly safe. However, if you’re using Stremio to stream pirated content, you should use a VPN to protect your identity online.
Netflix is one of the best official Stremio add-ons, but if you’re looking to stream content using torrents, you should install Torrentio.