This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for a UK audience.
If you’re a movie buff or enjoy nothing more than binge-watching box sets, chances are you’ve heard of Kodi. Kodi is an open source software media player application formerly known as XBMB that serves as a repository for all your music, movies, and TV content, which can be shared across all your devices.
The advantages include being able to turn your gadgets into a digital broadcast hub, access all types of file formats and search content in one place, view geo-blocked content, and add many features that you can do with an add on like iPlayer, which are necessary for streaming content. Yes, there are drawbacks, but most of them can be circumvented with a VPN, which encrypts the data leaving the device and makes it impossible for others to see what you’re downloading.
What is a VPN?
VPNs are security tools that provide security for your information by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. All your activity is untraceable and secure, because all your online traffic goes through an encrypted tunnel. No one can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected from online threats like hackers, viruses, and malware.
The act of hiding your real IP address is what can trick streaming sites into thinking you live in another country.
Do you need a VPN for Kodi?
Having a VPN is important when using Kodi because the media player is popular and open source, so there are security flaws that hackers exploit. These are more commonly found among third-party add-ons – some of which provide human consumption – than those found in the Official Kodi Addon Repository. VPNs provide a virtual IP address to hide your real location from others, protecting you from security scams, viruses, and malware. For example, a VPN can stop malware from infecting your home network from the Kodi box and add an extra layer of protection to your computer or laptop by accessing the connection.
Using a VPN also allows the Kodi user to remain anonymous, which prevents hackers from collecting the personal data needed for the add-on and assigns a unique IP address that cannot be tracked, keeping you safe and keeping your viewing habits private. This obviously means it’s beneficial when it comes to viewing geo-blocked and pirated content (which we obviously don’t recommend).
Whatever you choose to use for Kodi, a VPN will enhance its features while providing much-needed security.
What is the best VPN for Kodi?
When testing VPN providers, we really like NordVPN for Kodi because of its unbeatable security and no logging policy. One of the largest VPN services around, NordVPN has easy-to-use apps for iOS, Android, Mac OS, and more – so all your devices are covered. We’re also fans of ExpressVPN, which we found to be the easiest VPN to use for accessing geo-restricted streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Let’s face it – Kodi isn’t the only way you enjoy your entertainment and if you’re going to invest in a VPN for Kodi, it makes sense that it works well with streaming services. We are all about options.
Whether you’re looking for high speed or a simple interface, we’ve listed all your best options.
These are the best VPNs for Kodi in 2024.