How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Online With a VPN (2024)
- Quick Guide: How to Watch Amazon Prime Video With a VPN in 3 Easy Steps
- How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Online With a VPN: The Complete Guide
- Best VPNs to Watch Prime Video Online in 2024
- ExpressVPN — The Best Overall VPN for APV With Ultra HD-Friendly Speeds
- CyberGhost — Specialized Servers Optimized for Easy Prime Video Streaming
- Private Internet Access (PIA) — Unlimited Device Connections Great for Large Households of Prime Video Streamers
- FAQs on Watching APV With a VPN
- Start Watching Prime Video in HD Now
A VPN can be useful for watching Amazon Prime Video in several ways. For example, if your internet service provider likes to throttle your speeds when it detects that you’re watching APV, a VPN can help. It hides what you do online, so your ISP can’t see that you’re streaming.
VPNs can also theoretically be used to watch content from a different Amazon Prime Video region. That’s because a VPN can give you an IP address from a different country (so you can use the APV library from that country). However, getting to content in this way goes against Amazon’s terms of service and can lead to your account being shut down. It can also amount to copyright infringement, so it’s not recommended.
For streaming TV episodes and movies in the best quality though, ExpressVPN is your best bet for APV. It’s the fastest VPN I’ve tested, allowing you to maintain full HD or even 4K-ready speeds. It’s also risk-free to test ExpressVPN for yourself — if you’re not completely happy, there’s a reliable 30-day money-back guarantee.
Editors' Note: Expressvpn and this site are in the same ownership group.Watch Prime Video Today
Quick Guide: How to Watch Amazon Prime Video With a VPN in 3 Easy Steps
- Get a VPN. For bufferless Ultra HD streaming on Amazon Prime Video, I recommend ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a local server. Choose a server in your country to get the best speeds. This also makes sure you can still use your Amazon Prime Video account with your regional library.
- Start watching Amazon Prime Video. Just log in to your APV account like normal and you’re good to go. But if this doesn’t work, refer to the detailed guide below for some extra tips.
How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Online With a VPN: The Complete Guide
The first step is to find a good VPN with:
- Lots of servers in your country. This is so you can safely use Amazon Prime Video without getting your account shut down for accidentally connecting to a different regional library. Lots of servers means you get lots of local IP addresses that work with APV.
- Strong encryption. This is what prevents your ISP from detecting that you’re streaming (256-bit AES encryption is the strongest you can get). That way, you can avoid speed throttling and watch APV in the best quality.
If you get a subpar VPN that doesn’t regularly update its network with working IP addresses, you might see the following error message:
“This video is currently unavailable to watch in your location”
“Your device is connected to the Internet using a VPN or proxy service. Please disable it and try again.”
To stream Amazon Prime Video successfully with a VPN, follow the steps below:
1. Choose a reliable Amazon Prime Video VPN. I found ExpressVPN works the best with APV. It’s got the fastest speeds of all the services I tested, so I’ve used it as an example. (Quick tip: it’s always best to sign up and download any VPN from its website since Google Play or the App Store might not honor the money-back guarantee).
2. Download the VPN app. Once you have a subscription, you can download the app to all the devices you use to watch APV. Most VPNs have native apps for the most popular operating systems and Amazon Fire devices.
3. Open the app and connect to a local server. Choose a server in your country so you can still use your Amazon Prime Video account as normal. You also get the best speeds when you choose the VPN server that is closest to your location (since your internet traffic doesn’t have to travel as far).
4. Log in to your APV account, find your show or movie, and press play. You can now stream your favorite TV episodes and films in the highest quality without annoying ISP speed throttling.
Best VPNs to Watch Prime Video Online in 2024
1. ExpressVPN — The Best Overall VPN for APV With Ultra HD-Friendly Speeds
Tested April 2024 Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
- Best choice for APV with the fastest speeds for 4K / UHD streams
- 3,000 servers in 105 countries, so you’re almost guaranteed to find one for your location
- Works with: APV US, UK, DE, and JP
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firestick, smart TVs, and more
ExpressVPN demonstrated the quickest speeds in my tests, making it ideal for streaming APV in Ultra HD. I was able to connect to its server in the US and enjoy shows on my Amazon Prime Video US account in top quality without any lag. There was no buffering when I watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in Ultra HD, for example.
It works really well with Amazon Prime Video too. With other VPNs, you often waste time finding working servers, but that wasn’t the case here. In my tests, I set up ExpressVPN and started watching APV in under 2 minutes. I also had my colleagues in different countries test the VPN with their Amazon Prime Video regions and they had no issues either.
ExpressVPN also enables you to view APV on gadgets that usually don't support VPN apps. For instance, its MediaStreamer feature is compatible with smart TVs, gaming consoles, and Apple TV. I configured it on my LG TV by inputting a DNS address into my network settings. Within a short time span, I was enjoying Jack Ryan on US APV. However, it’s important to mention that MediaStreamer isn’t a complete VPN solution, and as such, it’s only designed to work with US or UK content.
A minor drawback with ExpressVPN is that it’s not the cheapest on my list — plans start at $6.67/month. It offers discounts all the time, though. When I signed up, I got an extra 3 months of free service. When I worked out the monthly cost, it was less than my Prime subscription.
You can try ExpressVPN with APV risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find that it’s not for you, claiming a refund is easy. I tested this myself by contacting 24/7 live chat to ask for my money back. I got an instant response, and the agent didn’t even ask why I was leaving. My money was back in my account 5 days later.
2. CyberGhost — Specialized Servers Optimized for Easy Prime Video Streaming
- Streaming-optimized servers made for watching APV
- 11,690 servers in 100 countries in total, ensuring your region is likely covered
- Works with: APV US, UK, DE, and JP
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firestick, smart TVs, and more
CyberGhost offers specialized servers tailored for Amazon Prime Video and several other platforms. These servers, built to deliver premium streaming quality, cater to APV US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Denmark, and Italy. I had our international testing team try each of the servers in their relevant regions and none of them had any problems using their APV accounts and streaming in high quality.
Connecting to APV servers was easy while I was testing CyberGhost. I just clicked For streaming in the server menu and typed “Prime” into the search box. Next, I clicked on my local APV US server, hit Connect, logged in to my Amazon account, and watched a full episode of Vikings in UHD. There was minimal loading time and no buffering.
CyberGhost has native apps for every major operating system, which makes watching APV easy no matter what you’re using to stream. Plus, you can connect up to 7 simultaneous devices. I was able to download and install CyberGhost on my Mac, Fire TV, and smartphone with no issues at all, and I liked that the app looked similar from device to device.
CyberGhost’s short-term plans are on the expensive side and only come with a 14-day money-back guarantee. The long-term plans are super affordable, though. You can save 84% over a short-term subscription, and prices start from just $2.03/month. Plus, you get a 45-day guarantee period (longer than the industry-standard 30 days).
The money-back guarantee allows you to try CyberGhost with Prime Video without risk. If you’re not completely satisfied, claiming a refund is easy. I tested it by contacting live chat, and my refund was granted after a brief conversation. My money landed back in my account 5 days later.
3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Unlimited Device Connections Great for Large Households of Prime Video Streamers
- Stream Prime Video on unlimited simultaneous devices
- Reliable speeds for streaming APV in Ultra HD
- Works with: APV US, UK, and JP
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firestick, smart TVs, and more
PIA gives you unlimited simultaneous connections — great for a houseful of APV fans. It’s also useful if you happen to have a ton of devices. I liked that I could watch APV on my Macbook Pro, iMac, iPhone, and 2 iPads — all without logging out of PIA. Speeds were easily fast enough to stream in HD on all devices simultaneously.
There are streaming-optimized servers for regions including the US, UK, Italy, and Japan — so it’s even easier to use your Amazon account if you’re in those countries. Unlike CyberGhost though, they are general streaming servers, not optimized specifically for APV. That said, this was useful as I could jump from Prime Video to Netflix without switching servers. You also get streaming servers for Iceland, Finland, and Australia.
When connecting to nearby locations, I had impressive streaming speeds. While testing PIA, I connected to US West Streaming Optimized and watched Birdman in Ultra HD. It loaded immediately and played without lag. My colleagues reported similar results when they tested servers in their regions.
One thing my German colleagues noted is that PIA lacks a server optimized for streaming in Germany, putting it at a disadvantage when compared to ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Consequently, it doesn’t work with Prime Video DE. Still, it has pretty good coverage everywhere else so it’s still a good choice as long as you’re not in Germany.
You can try PIA with APV using a 30-day money-back guarantee. I went for a long-term plan at $2.03/month, saving 83% over a short-term subscription. On top of that, I got several months free.
During my experience testing the money-back guarantee, I contacted Customer Support to request a refund. Following a brief conversation, my refund was promptly approved. True to their word, the money was returned to me the very next day, akin to the swift delivery service offered by Prime.
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
FAQs on Watching APV With a VPN
How do I watch Prime Video shows that aren’t available in my location?
Theoretically, with a VPN — but it’s not recommended. VPNs can help you “borrow” an IP address from a different country, so you can use the APV library from that region. However, doing so goes against Amazon’s T&Cs and can even constitute a copyright violation. So it’s best to use a VPN just for secure UHD streaming on your local Amazon Prime Video.
Can I use a VPN to watch Prime Video on a Firestick or Fire TV?
Yes. Many VPNs offer native apps for Fire devices. To install them, it’s as simple as going to the Amazon Appstore on your Fire device and downloading the app. If your VPN doesn’t have a native app for Fire devices, then a workaround is to connect your FireStick or Fire TV to a VPN-enabled hotspot. Simply connect your VPN on your computer and create a WiFi hotspot and connect the Fire device to that.
What if Amazon Prime Video isn’t working with my VPN?
Firstly, make sure your VPN actually works with APV. These VPNs have all been tried-and-tested to work, but even the best VPNs can struggle with Amazon’s advanced blocks.
Other fixes you can try include:
- Switch servers. APV actively blocks some VPN IP addresses. Try a different location in the same country to find a working IP address for your region.
- Adjust the VPN settings. I recommend using a VPN with a premium protocol like Lightway or WireGuard for watching APV. The standard OpenVPN is slower and much easier to block.
- Use a different viewing method. For example, if you’re using the Amazon app, try logging in on a web browser. You can also try logging in on another device.
- Contact support. Your VPN’s customer support may be able to suggest a workaround, or you can report the issue so it can be resolved.
Can I access Amazon Prime Video for free?
Yes. While APV is a subscription service, it offers some ad-supported free content on its Freevee channel. Just note that Freevee is only available in the US, the UK, Germany, and Austria. You can use a VPN to watch Freevee (and premium APV content) in HD.
Will I be able to watch Amazon Prime Video with a VPN on all my devices?
Yes. Prime Video and quality VPNs are compatible with almost every device. All of the VPNs on this list can be set up on the following devices:
- Laptops and PCs: Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and Linux
- Phones and tablets: Android, iOS, iPad, Kindle, Fire Tablet, and more
- Streaming devices: Roku, smart TVs, Sky Q, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, Echo Show, Echo Spot, Kodi, Xfinity, TiVO, and more
- Game consoles: Switch, Xbox, PlayStation
Is it legal to unblock Amazon Prime Video from another country?
It’s a breach of contract and can also be considered copyright infringement. Unblocking Prime Video libraries can come with serious consequences, like legal troubles and the termination of your account. That said, it’s legal to use a VPN with Amazon Prime Video to get the best streaming speeds — as long as you’re watching content that’s available in your region.
Start Watching Prime Video in HD Now
Even some of the best VPNs struggle to work with Prime Video. That’s why my team and I tested all the leading VPNs to find the ones that let you watch Amazon Prime Video in the best quality. All my recommendations work reliably with the platform and have great speeds for streaming in HD.
ExpressVPN is my #1 choice for watching Amazon Prime Video. It’s easy to use and allows for consistent buffer-free streaming, even in 4k. You can try ExpressVPN with zero risk because it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
To summarize, the best VPNs for watching Prime Video in 2024 are…
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VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
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