Best FireStick VPNs According to Reddit [Real Feedback, 2025]

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When it comes to streaming on FireStick, having the right VPN can make a huge difference. But with so many options out there, how do you pick the best one?

Since VPN companies boast a lot, I decided to dig deeper and listen to what real users on Reddit are saying about the top three VPNs – Surfshark, ExpressVPN, & IPVanish. 

With unfiltered discussions, Reddit provides honest feedback from users who use these services daily. After reading hundreds of threads, I’ve compiled the good and the bad so you don’t have to sift through it all yourself.

1. Surfshark

Since its launch in 2018, Surfshark has steadily climbed the ranks to become one of the most popular VPN services. Despite being a relatively new player in the market, it offers 3200+ servers in over 100 countries. 

I dug into Reddit to get the inside scoop on how Surfshark holds up for FireStick users, and here’s what I found.

Surfshark’s Strengths:

• Affordable

As for pricing, Surfshark is hard to beat. For $1.99/month (2-Year Plan), it is an excellent option for budget-conscious users.

One user shared:

“I’ve been using Surfshark for three years, and it’s been exceptional and especially cheap. After testing multiple providers, I came to the conclusion that this was the best and cheapest option out there.”

Another user backed up this sentiment:

“I’ve been using Surfshark for over a year solid speeds and way cheaper than Nord.”

• Unlimited Device Connections

One feature that particularly adds to Surfshark’s hype is unlimited device support. You can use it on FireStick, your phone, tablet, laptop, and anything else, all at the same time.

I saw many users on Reddit confirming that they had actually been using multiple connections (as many as 86) on Surfshark:

“Currently, I have 86 devices connected. This has been my standard setup for the last year or so, and I haven’t had any issues.”

“I like Surfshark… no limits on devices.”

However, some Reddit users would take the claim of “Unlimited Devices” with a pinch of salt. As the following comment says, one of the users used “100 devices” but then got “temporarily blocked”. 

So while the term “Unlimited” could be misleading to some, Surfshark is still the best in terms of the number of devices you can use simultaneously. 

• Kill Switch Efficiency

One feature that many users rely on when it comes to Surfshark is its kill switch, which is designed to disconnect your internet automatically if the VPN connection drops. 

Several users shared their positive experiences with this feature:

“I have been using Surfshark for 6 months now. My VPN has dropped twice while I had the kill switch on. It immediately stopped staying active, which is a good thing. Yes, the kill switch is working for me. Edit: just to be clear, I was streaming and yes, the streaming halted immediately.”

Another user confirmed on the same thread:

“Been using Surfshark for a couple of years now and the kill switch has killed my connection as it should.”

“I’ve used Surfshark for twelve months without any kill switch issues”.

Please note that some users have mentioned that their connection drops unexpectedly more often than they’d like, but it is effective in most cases.

Surfshark’s Weaknesses:

• Speed Drops

There’s one major drawback that many Surfshark users have pointed out – speed drops.

“I have a laptop sitting right next to my TV with a Firestick. When I do test with Speedtest.net, the ping times are very similar, but the download speed is way different. The laptop is well over 100 Mbps, but the Firestick is typically 22-25 Mbps. This test is done at the same time. What might be the reason? Surfshark is the reason. I turned it off and I’m up to 200 Mbps on my Firestick. I know a VPN will impact internet speed, but not this bad.”

I noticed another comment that complained about facing a  940 Mbps reduction in speed with Surfshark:

“Just got Surfshark one and my speed goes from 1000 to 60 (!) I’ll refund.”

Get Surfshark

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a big name in the VPN industry. But is it truly the best for streaming? Based on Reddit feedback, ExpressVPN delivers solid performance, but not without a few bumps along the way. 

ExpressVPN’s Strengths:

• Minimal Speed Loss

Unlike Surfshark, ExpressVPN does well on the speed front. I could see many positive comments validating that aspect.

A user measured the performance drop when using ExpressVPN on FireStick and found the speed loss to be minimal compared to other VPNs:

“I typically get 60mbps without a vpn. ExpressVPN gives me 52mbps, Cyberghost gave me 45mbps and Nord gave me 23mbps. I usually use UK servers to gain those speeds. I can’t comment really on USA servers.”

“I’ve been using ExpressVPN on firestick, and its been great for streaming with fast speed and no buffering issues”

“It’s easy and quick to use, you click on the app and you’re taken straight to the on/off button. See very little drop in internet speed, if any.”

• User-Friendliness

ExpressVPN is the best of the lot when it comes to ease of use. A Reddit user, who is far from a tech expert, shared their experience with ExpressVPN:

“I’m one of the least techy people you’ll encounter. I got a VPN because I lived in China from 2015-2019. Since China, I’ve kept Express and it works for me. I don’t watch Netflix, so I don’t know about that. But when I want to connect, it connects. Lots of connection options. From a very simple user using it for very simple things, I’d vouch for it.”

Many others also shared positive feedback regarding the ease of use and setup of ExpressVPN:

• Proven No-Logs Policy

If you use IPTV services, sideload APKs, or access geo-restricted content, a strict no-logs VPN is a must – and ExpressVPN has a solid track record of painting a solid no-logs policy.

Between January and June 2024, ExpressVPN received over 259,000 DMCA requests, 170 legal inquiries, and 2 government-issued warrants. However, as clearly noted in their transparency report, none of these resulted in any disclosure of user data.

One Reddit user shared that ExpressVPN has undergone 18 independent audits by respected firms like KPMG, PwC, and Cure53, which verified that the service does not store IP addresses, browsing history, or any activity logs.

Another user added:

“NO. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction without data retention laws.”

ExpressVPN’s Weaknesses:

• Issues with Amazon Prime Video
  

FireStick users are increasingly reporting that Amazon Prime Video is not working while connected to the VPN. One user described the issue in detail:

“Been using expressvpn for years on firestick with no issues but amazon prime video will not work anymore…” He further added: “if i turn vpn off it works. have tried multiple vpn servers in usa and canada.”

This isn’t an isolated complaint. In the replies to that post, several users chimed in with the exact same experience, suggesting the problem is widespread and unresolved:

• Overpriced

ExpressVPN’s price (costing $4.99/mo. for a 2-year plan) remains another sticking point for many users, even those who’ve had generally positive experiences with the service.

As one Redditor put it plainly:

“The only real issue for expressvpn now is the price is significantly higher than competitors.”

This kind of feedback is common. The extra features are nice, like the ad blocker that works better than alternatives for mobile users, but they don’t completely make up for the high cost.

“Yeah, just chimming in as another “it’s fine for me”. The price is still too high of course, but aside from the recent adapter change that forced me to use OpenVPN to get binding to work, I’ve had no issues.

Try ExpressVPN

3. IPVanish

Comparatively, IPVanish is a lesser-known player than giants like ExpressVPN and Surfshark, but it has its own loyal following. 

Among other things, IPVanish boasts unlimited device connections and solid security. I have found a mixed bag of user experiences on Reddit regarding their service.

IPVanish’s Strengths:

• Kill Switch Feature

Security is top of mind for me whenever I connect to a VPN, especially when I’m streaming or browsing on a public network.

IPVanish offers a kill switch feature that protects your privacy by cutting off your internet if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. 

One Redditor had this to say about the feature:

“IPVanish works well, kill switch is available on pretty much anything, including Android TV boxes and Fire TVs too. Pretty easy to use.”

Another user said you can rely on their kill switch feature:

“Honestly if you’re not doing anything real sketchy I use ipvanish and it has a DNS and kill switch.”

• Unlimited Device Connections

If you have multiple devices like I do, IPVanish offers unlimited device connections, which is incredibly convenient. 

“I use up to 30 devices and have had no issue. When I signed up, they told me I could use as many devices as I own, and that has not been an issue for me.”

IPVanish’s Weaknesses:

• ISP Blocking

Some users report that their ISPs have started blocking IPVanish, which could limit its use for more advanced users trying to bypass network filters. 

“Nope. My ISP now blocks IPVanish. Why? Because their technology has fallen way behind. IMHO better VPNs now can operate in stealth mode or camouflage mode to make it more difficult for your ISP to block them.”

Get IPVanish

Side-by-Side Comparison: Surfshark vs ExpressVPN vs IPVanish

In this comparison, we’ll break down the performance, features, and pricing of Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and IPVanish to help you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Reddit offers a rare kind of honesty you don’t usually find on polished marketing pages.

Based on what real users are saying, Surfshark stands out for affordability and unlimited connections, ExpressVPN wins on speed and user-friendliness, and IPVanish holds its ground with strong security features and multi-device support.

That said, none of them are perfect – ExpressVPN has Prime Video issues, Surfshark can suffer from speed drops, and IPVanish isn’t ideal if you’re trying to bypass aggressive ISP restrictions.

In the end, the best VPN will depend on what matters most to you: price, number of servers, privacy, or simultaneous connections.

If you’ve used any of these VPNs, I’d love to hear how they worked for you. Drop your thoughts in the comments.