Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video in 2019: Beating Bezos

Amazon’s streaming platform was once a home for B-movies and reality TV, but over the last few years it has grown into something far better. Whether you want to follow the comedic escapades of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or scare yourself out of sleep with Hereditary, Amazon Prime Video has something for everyone.

It’s available worldwide, too. Outside of mainland China, Iran, North Korea and Syria, Amazon Prime Video is accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection. Unlike Hulu, which is only available to U.S. residents, Amazon Prime Video reaches across the globe (read our best VPN for Hulu guide).

The issue with Amazon isn’t access. Almost everyone can get into the platform. Given Amazon’s urge to data mine, the more pressing matter is privacy.

In this guide to the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video, we’re going to explain why you need a virtual private network for streaming it. Using picks from our best VPN guide, we’ll give you five options that consistently break into Amazon’s streaming platform.

Before we get into the picks, though, it’s important that you understand why you need a VPN for Amazon Prime Video and how we made our selections.

Why You Need a VPN for Amazon Prime Video

When talking about VPNs and streaming platforms, the key concern is usually restricted access. By using distribution geoblocks, streaming platforms identify your location based on your IP address and only allow you to stream content that’s available to that location.

You’ll have access to a different library of content based on where you’re located. By using a VPN, you’ll be replacing your original IP address with a new one, tricking Amazon’s systems into thinking you’re somewhere else. Doing so will unlock the different libraries of content that are available around the world.

That’s all well and good, but finding region-locked content isn’t difficult, especially if you don’t have an issue with torrenting. Plus, a proxy can provide you a new IP address, and there are plenty of free options to get one, though that’s not a good thing, as you can read in our VPN vs. proxy vs. Tor guide.

The more concerning issue is data collection, which a proxy can’t protect against. Kashmir Hill of Gizmodo cut the five tech giants out of her life for a week to see just how data would be collected. During the week, Amazon attempted to track her devices the most at around 100,000 attempts. Google came in second place with only 40,000 attempts.

Amazon trades convenience for information, using its interconnected system of, well, systems to track you across multiple websites, build a marketing profile and sell that information to other companies. That isn’t possible if you’re using a VPN. The VPN will not only provide a new IP address, it’ll also encrypt your initial connection.

Our description of encryption does a good job explaining the specifics, but, in short, encrypting your initial connection means it’s next to impossible for Amazon to track you while you’re streaming. A VPN will allow you to access Amazon’s other libraries of content, but more importantly, it will let you stream in peace.

Best VPN for Amazon Prime 2019

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Choosing the Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video

Information equals money, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Amazon isn’t too jazzed about people using VPNs to bypass its data mining. Because of that, there are blocks in place that will attempt to detect if you’re using a VPN and block your connection if you are.

Though it’s disheartening to see a block message, you can still use Amazon with a VPN. Our first concern when making our picks was access. To be included, a provider not only needed to access Amazon Prime Video, but do so consistently. We’ve tested it across many servers to ensure that you’ll be able to stream no matter which location you’re tunneling to.

Unfortunately, VPNs don’t come without downsides. Most importantly, VPNs will usually take some of your internet speed. Unless you’re experiencing internet service provider throttling, VPNs add another step to the connection process, increasing the network overhead. Though that’s always going to be true, reducing that overhead as much as possible is important.

Privacy is another concern when using VPNs, but it’s especially important here. We looked for providers that offer the best in VPN security, using the top VPN protocols, such as OpenVPN, to mask your traffic and block tracking attempts.

Standard VPN concerns apply, too. We considered ease of use, server locations, customer service and price, but they weren’t as important as speed, streaming performance and security.

Best VPN for Amazon Prime Video: NordVPN

NordVPN is the No. 2 provider in our VPN reviews. If it wasn’t for connection issues, NordVPN would soar above its competition. With a massive server network, long list of features and an incredible ability to break into streaming platforms, NordVPN gives you a little bit of everything.

As for access, there’s nothing to worry about. NordVPN can overcome any VPN block that a streaming platform may have. During our testing, it consistently accessed Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video on every server we tried.

The only downside is speed. NordVPN is capable of fast speeds, but not on all of its servers. Unlike most services, NordVPN allows you to pick the specific server you want to connect to, which can make for headaches while getting set up. Many servers have atrocious speed or fail to connect.

Once you nail down a location, though, the experience is pristine. NordVPN’s tunnel is hard to break, which makes the woes during setup worth it. As long as you’re okay with tracking down a server, NordVPN is the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video.

Other Reasons We Like NordVPN

It isn’t lost outside of streaming, though. NordVPN’s impressive features set it apart from other VPNs. You get CyberSec, which is a free malware and ad blocking tool that works surprisingly well. It’s no match for the best antivirus software, but as a free inclusion, we see no reason not to use it. Though a neat feature, CyberSec isn’t NordVPN’s best.

NordVPN has four types of specialty servers that will let you tune your connection for different aspects of security. Tor servers help further anonymize your traffic, DoubleVPN servers ensure no one can break your VPN tunnel and P2P servers handle the increased bandwidth that comes with torrenting, which is why NordVPN earned first place in our best VPN for torrenting guide.

NordVPN can be annoying to use at times, but those lows are offset by the extreme highs. It can provide an incredible VPN experience, it just takes legwork to get there. You can read our full thoughts in our NordVPN review or try it yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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ExpressVPN

Make no mistake, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming, but it isn’t necessarily the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video. Though it took the throne in our best VPN for Netflix and best VPN for BBC iPlayer guides, it must settle for second place here.

It could be first, though. It isn’t consistent in access to Amazon Prime — during our testing, it was blocked a handful of times — but it’s consistent in speed. Depending on what you need a VPN for, it could be a better choice than NordVPN, considering it doesn’t have the annoying process of tracking down a server.

In fact, ExpressVPN topped our fastest VPN guide. While NordVPN can get higher speeds when using certain locations, ExpressVPN’s consistency across its network means you’ll get fast speed no matter where you’re tunneling.

That’s a trade-off worth making. Amazon’s VPN block is tough to crack, and ExpressVPN and NordVPN show that you’ll need to dig into the server list to find an option that works. With NordVPN, you’re looking for a server that works. With ExpressVPN, you’re hunting for a server that can access Amazon.

That said, if you want your VPN to do anything else online, ExpressVPN is still the superior choice.

Other Reasons We Like ExpressVPN

While not rich in features, ExpressVPN always rises to the top. Instead of marketing bullet points, it sells itself with a solid core service. Every aspect of it is consistent, with a resilience that’s seldom seen from other providers.

No matter which server you choose, ExpressVPN will connect quickly and provide a stable experience. You won’t have to worry about the connection dropping or slowing down. We’ve tested ExpressVPN many times — some of our writers use it every day — and have had few issues.

All other aspects of the service are solid, too. From the no-nonsense approach to server selection to an excellent customer service section, it does everything the way it should. You can read our ExpressVPN review to learn more or try it yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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CyberGhost

CyberGhost has always been a favorite here at Cloudwards.net, but its update to version 7 made it even better. With an overhauled interface and slew of new features, CyberGhost is better than ever, and given its consistent and quick access to Amazon Prime Video, it’s an auto-include in this guide.

It’s easy to find a server for streaming. CyberGhsot has around 50 servers that are optimized for streaming, with each option catering to a different platform. For example, there may be a U.S. server optimized for Hulu and a UK server optimized for Channel 4.

The same goes for Amazon Prime Video. CyberGhost leaves no question about which server you should select. During our testing, every server we tried worked. Many of the servers work across platforms, too, so the Netflix-optimized location may also work with Amazon Prime.

Speed is an issue, though. CyberGhost uses IKEv2 instead of OpenVPN by default. As a VPN protocol, IKEv2 has upsides in speed but not security. CyberGhost performs well while using it, but the speed takes a significant hit when you move to OpenVPN. If you’re tunneling in a particularly risky location, one of our other options may be a better fit.

Other Reasons We Like CyberGhost

CyberGhost offers a lot for your money. Every plan supports up to seven simultaneous connections, which is why CyberGhost earned second place in our best VPN for multiple devices guide. It can be installed on routers, too, so virtually every device you want to protect is covered under your plan.

It has a lot of features, too. In addition to the streaming servers, CyberGhost includes servers designed for torrenting. Though there isn’t anything different about the security of the torrenting servers, they’re set apart for data-hungry peer-to-peer connections, meaning CyberGhost shouldn’t slow down your torrenting too much.

Considering the features and excellent interface, we’d expect CyberGhost to be around the same price as NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Thankfully, it isn’t. Though the monthly price is the same, CyberGhost offers a significant discount on one and two-year plans, bringing the monthly rate down to below $3.

CyberGhost has a lot to offer for a cheap price. You can learn more in our CyberGhost review or try it risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee.

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TorGuard

TorGuard trades usability for security, which pays off in the long run. Though not the most inviting client, TorGuard has a level of customizability that no VPN can match. Leaving the service as default works fine, too, allowing even those who don’t have a degree in computer science to protect themselves.

It works with Amazon Prime Video, too, but not in its base configuration. It sells dedicated streaming IP addresses that are meant to work with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Unfortunately, the locations in the stock build struggle to break through.

A dedicated IP address will run you an extra $8 per month, which, though expensive, isn’t too bad considering how cheap TorGuard is. Even so, the fact that you’ll be spending a few dollars more and that you’ll have to buy two products bumps TorGuard down a few pegs.

If it wasn’t for that, TorGuard would be much closer to the top. The streaming IP addresses consistently access streaming platforms and do so quickly. TorGuard is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, taking the smallest possible amount of download speed when you connect. In most cases, you won’t notice a difference between the VPN being on or off.

Other Reasons We Like TorGuard

TorGuard excels in configurability. It not only allows you to set what protocol and encryption you use, but also the specific cipher, message authentication method and key size. As for protocols, TorGuard installs with OpenVPN, but its servers also support L2TP, PPTP, SSTP and SSL via Cisco AnyConnect and stunnel. Unfortunately, you’ll need to configure those protocols manually.

The customizability doesn’t stop there, though. TorGuard also includes “app kill,” which allows you to use the killswitch on specific applications. For example, if you want to ensure data doesn’t leak from your torrenting client while not interrupting your browsing experience, app kill is great.

That said, the most unusual feature is support for custom scripts. You can set scripts to run before connection, after connection and after disconnection. The possibilities of what you can do are endless. For instance, you could tell TorGuard to launch Chrome in Incognito Mode after a successful connection.

You will need to write the scripts, but TorGuard doesn’t need them to run. Though dated, its client is simple enough for newbies to get the lay of the land while still providing options for power users to churn through. You can learn more in our TorGuard review or see how you like it with its Torguard.

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VPNArea

We like VPNArea, but we don’t often get the opportunity to talk about it. Though the core service is solid, it doesn’t do anything special, which makes it difficult to include in many of our roundups. Its access to streaming platforms is great, though, and given how few providers can get into Amazon Prime Video, now is VPNArea’s time to shine.

Like CyberGhost, VPNArea has dedicated streaming servers. It made easy work of the Netflix VPN ban, as well as the blocks from Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and the BBC iPlayer. That said, though its access to streaming platforms was excellent, it takes last place here because of spotty speed results.

It’s slow and inconsistent. Our results ranged from 14 megabits per second to 52 Mbps, and that’s with a 168 Mbps unprotected download speed. Based on that, it’s clear that VPNArea’s speeds are influenced by your tunneling location, so moving across any major body of water will cause serious issues.

For Amazon Prime Video, in particular, that’s less of a concern because the streaming platform is available around the globe. That said, in the far more likely scenario that it’s just one of many streaming platforms you want to access, VPNArea will cause headaches when it comes to speed.

Other Reasons We Like VPNArea

Outside of the speed issues, VPNArea is a solid service. Its plans are inexpensive, with one year costing around $60 and one month costing around $10, and support up to six simultaneous connections. It isn’t the cheapest, but compared to top-tier providers, it’ll save you a few bucks.

You get a lot for your money, too. Like NordVPN and CyberGhost, VPNArea has specialty servers for torrenting and streaming. There are also 10 locations that use stunnel, which is a TLS encryption wrapper that helps disguise traffic. If you’re trying to bypass strict censorship, the stunnel servers are a solid choice.

Additionally, there are double-hop servers, which will bounce your connection across two VPN servers before releasing you to the open internet. Double-hop connections effectively double your security, stacking one VPN tunnel on top of another. It doesn’t do anything for deep packet inspection, but it can ensure that your tunnel can’t be cracked.

VPNArea is a decent service, and while we’d recommend using the other options first, you could do a lot worse. You can learn more in our VPNArea review or try it yourself with a seven-day money-back guarantee.

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Final Thoughts

Amazon’s VPN block is difficult to get past, but our picks above have proven they’re up to the challenge. With NordVPN, not only will you be able to browse the region-locked content that Amazon Prime Video has to offer, you’ll also be able to protect your privacy from the data-hungry behemoth that is Amazon.

Before going too deep down the streaming rabbit hole, we recommend taking a look at our streaming archive. There, you’ll find the best ways to watch movies and TV shows around the web, as well as tips for keeping yourself protected while doing so.

What VPN will you being using for Amazon Prime Video? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thanks for reading.

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