July 2019 - Page 2 of 3

Top Kodi Addons

Posted on July 10, 2019September 10, 2021 by Bob Simon

Top Kodi Add-ons

In this article, we are going to explore the top Kodi add-ons to help you have the richest media experience possible. Kodi puts all your home entertainment needs at the click of a remote or mouse. With over 50 million users to prove it, Kodi is the best place to find the latest TV shows, films, and sporting events as well as any other media you can think of no matter how obscure.

But Kodi by itself won’t do much. What really makes Kodi sparkle are the thousands of add-ons that you can download to access great content.

A big problem with add-ons is that they are constantly reappearing, disappearing, breaking, changing, and being created which makes it tricky to keep tabs on the best Kodi add-ons out there.

Here we try and give you a comprehensive list of our top 10 add-ons. Some are newer add-ons for this year that you might want to try, as well as our best in category for things like live streaming, sports, kids, anime, fitness, and music.

Make sure to keep coming back and checking this list as we update it. Like we said, every month the best may be gone, and the list can change a lot week on week.

Top 10 Kodi Addons

Exodus Redux

This is a reboot of the popular Exodus addon that was abandoned in 2018. After a few months without updates, people are not flocking to Redux which is backed by a team.

Popular because of the wide range of content that it offers driven as it’s powered by powerful custom coded scrapers which allows Exodus Redux to find the latest titles as they are released.

Many add-ons are driven by the quality of their scrapers in terms of their ability to find the best and latest content, as well as getting rid of dead links and finding high-quality content instead of low-grade media files.

The design is sleek and intuitive with the scrapers fetching reviews and the latest cover art.

Magic Dragon

Magic Dragon offers a tremendous amount of content from movies and tv shows to live sports and radio channels. It has also become more widely used after another popular addon The Dog’s Bollocks has become less stable in recent months.

The scrapers are always looking for new links meaning that you have always got more links to access. It also serves as a super addon by giving you access to a wide range of content rather than a single category.

The design is easy to use, with well-laid out categories, menus, and options screens.

Grease Lightning

When choosing add-ons we always try to look out for top Kodi addons developed by a team with a pedigree. Grease Lightning comes from the makers of Movie Theatre Buffet which has become popular for finding the best quality content for the latest movie releases.

Grease Lightning is popular because it is multi-device compatible and is powered by cutting-edge scrapers. The main addon searches specifically for films and tv shows. The add one also has an inbuilt autoplay function, which means just like Amazon and Netflix you can set TV shows to continuously play and binge a box set to your heart’s content.

The addon is well laid out and also has easy-to-access categories as well as special sections to see what’s trending and currently hot.

A great addon with some superadded functionality.

I Am Ego

I Am Ego is a relatively new addon which has become a fan favorite. Dedicated specifically for tv shows and movies. The addon is compatible with Real Debrid allowing you to access high-quality media links. You can also get movies in 1080p and HD.

The app has a simple if slightly basic outlay with easy-to-navigate categories and sections.

Scrubs

Scrubs was a popular addon in years gone by but wen dark. Only to return under a different development team with Scrubs v2.

Another addon dedicated solely to movies and tv shows, you can also access multiple categories for a wide range of content, as well as smart and intuitive filters to find content that you are looking for.

Deathstar

Deathstar is actually more like a repository, in that it is a merge of 30 different add-ons including One-Click, Leviticus, and House of Blue. This means you get an enormous library all under the guise of one add one. Their media library is one of the biggest of any addon out there.

Deathstar is also integrated with Real Debrid and Trakt as well as giving you access to a number of paid websites. Meaning you have access to high-quality streams and an endless stream of media.

Numbers

One drawback of many add-ons is that they don’t offer the same kind of search functionality and intelligent browsing offered by mainstream media sites like Netflix.

Numbers put all of that to rest with a really cracking design. The user interface is one of the best of any add-on around for Kodi. You can choose from a massive library of TV shows and movies.

Each category is then further broken down so that you can look by genre, see what is popular of most voted as well as finding the newest content that has been recently added. Or even follow other users to see what they are watching or favoriting. We like the social function which is unique to Numbers.

You can even access ratings in IMDB by pairing your Numbers account with your IMDB account. We love Numbers because a lot of thought has been put into the user and how they would want to watch and browse.

Seren

Seren is unique because it specifically only displays high-quality links and streams. It’s compatible with Real Debrid and Premiumize which allows you to access paid live streams and ultra-high-quality content.

You can access a smaller range of media you could find on other add-ons like Deathstar but there is something to be said for choosing quality over quantity.

Loki

Loki has demonstrated good staying power by being around well over a year now, which is decades in normal time. Add-ons have a habit of being incredibly frustrating when they disappear in a matter of months.

A great addon with a simple interface it also serves as an all-in-one for media offering everything from the latest films to cartoons.

Destiny

Like Seren, Destiny limits itself to offering only high-quality content as well as giving you access to an extensive number of torrent streams meaning that you can find links to the newest released content.

Destiny concentrates on movies and tv shows and also has the M3U8 option which means that you can access live television inside the addon.

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

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Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

A VPN works be replacing your ISP-assigned IP address and creating an encrypted tunnel. We recommend the no log service offered by IPVanish. It works well on a Firestick and offers the fastest possible speeds.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

Newer Kodi Addons

Odin

Odin is a top trending addon that has recently started extending its selections beyond movies and tv shows. They are now rolling out services for anime and even radio stations.

The addon has a newer-looking interface after being revived by a new developer. Though older users of Kodi will remember Odin from the Hell Hound repository.

Original

This new addon is gaining traction because it is full of content that is otherwise hard to find. Bringing together content from Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu all under the same roof. Something that other add-ons have found hard to do.

Though it doesn’t have the biggest library this is expanding rapidly and is gaining a reputation for stability and always having working links.

Gaia

Gaia isn’t exactly new, but it is making a comeback after spending some time being up and down in terms of connectivity.

If Gaia can stay active then it’s sure to re-grow an impressive user base as it is a force to be reckoned with. Gaia has an enormous library of media in all categories and over the past months has been rapidly upgrading and adding content and different types of media.

The UI is fast and intuitive, with a handy watched tab as well as fast performance and responsiveness.

Covenant

One of the all-time favorites add-ons for Kodi is making a comeback, after being shut down earlier this year. Covenant is back fully functional through a working mirror and offers one of the biggest media libraries of any addon.

It is also integrated with Track.TV allowing you to import shows you want to watch from torrent sites. The interface is clean and easy to use, as Covenant has been around many years and its quality stands out from newer add-ons with limited development time.

Movie Theater Butter

Again, another addon that isn’t necessarily new but has had some downtime. Movie Theatre Butter is a clone of Exodus so you might be fooled into thinking it’s the same addon.

But Movie Theatre Butter has made one simple key improvement. In most add-ons when you click on a title you will be presented with a host of different links which you may have to spend 5-10 minutes wading through finding the one that works and then has the highest quality.

With Movie Theatre Butter the best link automatically plays, saving some valuable entertainment time. This is a really neat feature that is well worth checking out, alongside an extensive library of movies and tv shows.

Top Kodi Addons for Obscure Categories

Live Streaming

Mobdro

Mobdro is the go-to addon for anyone who wants to access the live stream and pay-per-view TV. They also have an extensive back catalog of media in terms of tv shows, films, and documentaries.

Finding working links for live streams can be frustrating but Mobdro is an add on that has consistently delivered over the years. Just be aware that it is also a prime target for ISP blocking, and often goes down to be quickly replaced by a mirror site.

It also gives you ad-free viewing through the addon as opposed to the Android version.

Sports

Sports365

One of the main reasons for using Kodi is finding live sports streams. In 2019 this has become increasingly difficult as big cable providers have quickly cracked down on add-ons.

Sports365 is dedicated solely to live sports where you can watch any of the live games being streamed today. Stable and with working links this is a great addon for sports nuts.

For those more into live fights consider PlanetMMA.

Kids

Little Kingdom

With the Summer holidays fast approaching if you are a parent using Kodi you will want to consider getting the Little Kingdom.

This Add on is solely dedicated to Kid’s TV and gives you access to a wide range of programs across a broad range of providers and ages.

Keep the kids quiet all Summer as they churn through endless cartoons and puppet shows.

Anime

Anime Go

If your tastes lean more towards anime, then be sure to check out Anime Go. This addon is dedicated solely to anime with a wide range of content.

Just be aware there are numerous dead links. You can also look into Cypher9 Anime which is a good alternative.

Fitness

Aerobic

There was a time when all you needed to watch the latest fitness videos was YouTube. But with an increasing number of providers monetizing their best content, you can find all the latest crazes on Aerobic.

This addon is solely dedicated to fitness covering broad categories from dance fitness to martial arts and even meditation.

Come here to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.

Music

Muzic

Download Muzic for the latest music videos all in one place.

Their custom scrapers stream directly from YouTube. You get a well-laid-out menu and categories to many different genres.

What makes Muzic different is the intuitive and easy-to-navigate layout. As well as their recommendation engine.

Best Torrent Apps for Mac, PC, Android

Posted on July 9, 2019August 21, 2023 by Bob Simon

Best Torrent Apps for Mac, PC, Android

We can help you find the best torrent apps regardless of what device you are using and if you prefer to download or stream.

A torrent file acts like a key to start downloading say a movie online. The file itself has been fragmented among multiple users and you need a piece of software that can open the file, find the location of the seeders who are sharing that file, and then download and compile the different parts into the final file (movie, TV show, software, game, etc).

When choosing the best torrent client, you want a mixture of speed and functionality. You don’t download a massive piece of clunky software that has tons of functions you will never use. You also don’t want something that is so lightweight you can’t do everything you need to do.

So, let’s look at our top picks for the best torrent applications

Vuze

(Mac, PC, and Linux)

Vuze is built on Azureus clients and is arguably the best free torrent client out there. Still relatively new it is growing in popularity due to its massive library of feature-adding plugins, social features, and intuitive design. The large plugin library allows for the software to come in a lightweight package with maximum customization.

While most people use the free version, you also have the option to pay an annual license fee to enable Vuze Plus if you don’t want to see ads. The list price for the license fee is $39.99, but it is frequently on sale for around $10. Other features include the ability to preview files, and a handy virus scanner function, which is a must-have when downloading unknown files. It is always good to scan a file before you open it.

Vuze offers great functionality, a slick and simple user design that makes it more than amply qualified for our best torrent apps list. For more advanced users you can also integrate Tor. Maybe a bit too complex for a complete beginner but a great package.

You can also connect Vuze to your VPN adapter and search for content, which is a great bonus. Read our article on the best VPNs for torrents if you currently don’t subscribe to a service. This is an area where is better to be safe than sorry. Torrents leave your ISP-assigned IP address visible to the world. This is particularly precarious when uploading as that is what gets you in trouble. ISP’s are legally obligated to send copyright infringement claims when they receive notices from the content owners. If you receive enough of these claims within a given period of time, they will turn off your Internet connection.

QBittorrent

(Mac, PC, and Linux)

QBittorrent was first created in 2006 and remains a great starter option for someone new to torrenting. It’s ideal because it covers the essentials and not much else. Features include magnet links, private torrents, torrent creation, port forwarding, IPv6 support, super-seeding, and bandwidth scheduler. You can also download additional plug-ins if you want to add more features, just be aware that it doesn’t have the same extensive library of Vuze or uTorrent.
What has made Qbit a community favorite is the fact that all of its code is open-source, which makes it hackable and fixable and also allows developers to design better add ons to complement the existing code and overcome problems. Open source code is great for inspiring a community and encouraging people to crowd share fixes to known bugs.

A massive upside of Qbit is that it has no ads. As a truly open-source piece of software, you can donate if you want to, but it means you are going to get a simpler experience. The software is updated regularly, and it is fast and lightweight.

Although the interface and website are a bit dated, this is still a powerful option. I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that QBittorent also offers support for IP filtering tools like Peer Guardian and Peer Block. While these tools are better than nothing when it comes to privacy, you should still consider using a VPN or seedbox to be safe.

Deluge

(Mac, PC, and Linux)

Deluge offers an enormous library of plugins making it one of the more powerful pieces of software available for torrents. Just like Qbit it is open source but seems to have gotten a bit more TLC and community support. It was originally released in 2006 and has supported magnet links since 2009. The developers’ goals are to provide a secure, feature-rich platform in a lightweight package. Deluge is well known for creating methods to defeat bandwidth throttling attempts by ISP’s, like Comcast.

You can also enjoy the experience ad-free, and gain access to a host of official and unofficial plugins, as well as extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

The user interface is minimalist, smooth, and really easy to use. The software itself is lightweight and offers the capability to either be a simple torrent client or to be customized endlessly by more advanced users who want to adapt this client for daily use.

You also get the option to encrypt your inbound and outbound traffic. Though one drawback of Deluge is that it has no inbuilt search function for content.

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

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Limited Time Offer

Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.

You can access additional movies and TV streams.

ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.

Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

A VPN works be replacing your ISP-assigned IP address and creating an encrypted tunnel. We recommend the no log service offered by IPVanish. It works well on a Firestick and offers the fastest possible speeds.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

uTorrent

(Mac, PC, Linux, and Android)

uTorrent was once the most popular free torrent client online. A lot of users jumped ship when BitTorrent bought uTorrent. Their main complaint was that the software became inundated with a large amount of advertising which really ruined the user experience.

uTorrent still has a lot going for it. It is one of the most lightweight applications going with a tiny 3MB footprint. Making it extremely fast to run, you can also integrate it with your Android device. As well as having a cool auto-shutdown function, which means it will shut down your computer once your downloads have been completed.

What really holds uTorrent back and why it is losing ground is that there are a lot of ads, no search function built into the client. Also, there is a lot of third-party adware, which slows it down if you look under the hood.

Also, since BitTorrent bought it, it doesn’t seem to be getting much love in terms of updates, meaning the software will get more dated over time. It seems BitTorrent bought it more to kill a competitor than integrate it with its own software. That said, one of the nicest features is the ability to play videos within the client itself. This can create an experience similar to Popcorn Time.

BitTorrent

(Mac, PC, Linux, and Android)

You would expect a lot from the official BitTorrent client. After all, the name is synonymous with torrent. Unfortunately, apart from the ease of use, there is a lot to be desired. It has become bloated as BitTorrent has moved to really monetize it as much as possible. There are a lot of adverts as well as software packages which are pushed on you as you use the application, though you can avoid a lot of it.

The main feature of BitTorrent is that it is extremely light coming in at around 1MB. It also has excellent search features. Other pluses are that the software is simple and easy to use, which makes it ideal for first time users. It is also highly configurable. For the streamers in the group, it is capable of playing video files once they start downloading from magnet links within the software itself. Streaming on the fly requires paying for the Pro version though.

BitTorrent is great for convenience and as expected you can access a wide library of content, so it’s great for beginners but once you get the hang of it, chances are you will look elsewhere for a less ad bloated piece of software. Prices range from free for the ad-filled version all the way up to $69.95 a year for the Pro version with a VPN included. You can also pay just $4.95 a year to remove the ads or $19.95 for the Pro version sans VPN.

Flud

(Android – Tablet and Phone)

Flud is a great addition to the torrent space out of India. It only comes in an Android version, but it is wildly popular with almost 300,000 reviews currently in the Play Store with an average rating of 4.6. It does contain ads, but they aren’t obnoxious and there is also a version without ads for a very reasonable $1.49.

Features include support for magnet links and RSS feeds. It also has encryption support and support for IP filters, like Peer Guardian and Peer Block. Since many users are on their phones, you can select in the settings whether or not to allow it to download from just WiFi or to also use cellular data. The app supports large files for 4GB+. It also has UI features designed for tablets and phones. A start-stop timer also allows users to schedule their torrents. All these great features allowed Flud to gain a well-deserved spot on our list of the best torrent apps.

Our biggest concern regarding this app is that the last update was in 2017. As torrents begin to wane in popularity with the rise of Web-based streaming, it wouldn’t be surprising if developers this talented were able to focus on more lucrative efforts. This would be a shame for the community.

BiglyBT

(Android – Tablet, Phone, Chromebook & Android TV)

BiglyBT is free, open-source, and most importantly ad-free. It is a branch of the open-source Vuze / Azureus clients. The latest update was also just a few months ago, so consider development on this app as highly active. It offers a unique swarm merging feature for faster downloads and repairs without seeds. Users can also pick specific files from within the torrent they want before starting the download. Light and dark themes are available. The app can also be remotely accessed for those in the group who like to control their downloads while they are at work. All these great features combine to make one of the best free torrent apps available.

Other Best Torrent Apps

Transdrone – lets you manage torrents on a home server or seedbox.
LibreTorrent great free Android app based on libtorrent.
aTorrent is another great free Android app.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best torrent apps for your purposes is a daunting process. This is a market that seems to stand still while constantly changing at the same time. In fact, the majority of the clients on our list are more than 10 years old at this point. The good news is most of the apps are consistently adding new features with on-the-fly video streaming becoming an ever more critical component.

Doomsday forecasts about the death of torrents are unlikely to ever be accurate. While popularity has waned from the heyday when it was the most popular way to download movies and music on the Internet, P2P isn’t going anywhere. It is an inexpensive way for the community to share large amounts of data around the world. It is also much vulnerable to the government or other powerful efforts to end the transmission of data.

Whether you are new to torrents or as old school as they come, I say keep it up. I do highly recommend doing it safely though. I strongly recommend using either a VPN or a seedbox to protect your privacy. IPVanish is currently our number one rated VPN service. They offer fast speeds, cheap prices, and zero-logs for maximum privacy. As added bonuses, it can also be used to access geographically restricted content like the BBC, HBO, Hulu, Spotify, etc. Think about it.

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Abroad – Updated 2023

Posted on July 9, 2019January 5, 2023 by Bob Simon

How to Watch BBC iPlayer Abroad

In this article, we will help you on how to stream BBC iPlayer abroad.

BBC iPlayer has been around since 2007 and is the British Broadcasting Corporation’s offering in the UK and a limited number of other countries.

Going for nearly 100 years since 1922, the BBC is synonymous with broadcasting worldwide as a trusted source of unbiased news and entertainment. The BBC is unique because it is state-owned and paid for by subscription from UK license holder who pays an annual “TV License”

Since iPlayer was released it has been widely successful, processing over 3 billion requests per year.

Why is BBC iPlayer has Geo-Restrictrions?

As the BBC is essentially funded by British citizens, iPlayer is only available to UK-based IP addresses.

You are also asked to make an account and confirm whether you have a TV License. In the UK being caught watching TV without a TV license can make you liable for a fine.

This means that if your IP is not based in the UK, you will be unable to access BBC iPlayer.

What Content is Available?

The BBC has a long history of producing world-famous shows, many of which were later syndicated by US cable channels for the American market.

Recent years have seen massive hits in the form of Sherlock Holmes, Killing Eve, Luther, Downton Abbey, Mr. Selfridge, Call the Midwife.

American continues to be the biggest market for UK shows, with many American’s finding British TV offering a different type of show to the ones they are used to in the United States.

BBC iPlayer offers an enormous range of shows and boxsets. Some show only stay on the platform for 30 days due to licensing rights, but because the BBC is so old it has a library rivaling Netflix due to the fact it has been around for much longer.

You could watch the famous Blue Planet series by David Attenborough. Check-in with some sport from Wimbledon. Or watch the hundreds of soaps and crime dramas that the British public love from the world-famous EastEnders to Holby City and London Kills.

Crack Down Efforts?

In recent years due to BBC iPlayer’s growing popularity abroad, the BBC has followed Netflix by making it increasingly difficult for their service to be accessed outside of the UK.

In part because if you can show their servers that you reside within the UK then the service is essentially free as it assumes you are a TV license payer.

iPlayer is very popular in the US, as US Cables threatened to pull BBC America if the BBC released iPlayer in the US so they relented.

iPlayer is felt to be almost as difficult as Netflix when trying to connect from a VPN. In part, because the BBC employers over 20,000 people and has significant resources at their disposal to make it harder for people to connect to iPlayer outside of the country.

So, having a VPN is no longer enough to connect to BBC iPlayer, choose from one of our top VPNs to get your latest fix of British TV.

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

Save 65% Now

Limited Time Offer

Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

Legal Disclaimer: ReviewVPN.com does not encourage or endorse any illegal activity involved in the usage of services and applications referenced on this site. We do not verify the licensing agreements of services. The end-user is wholly responsible for ensuring that any media accessed through these services does not violate copyright and/or licensing laws. ReviewVPN does not promote, link to, or receive compensation from any Apps and IPTV services.

Install Surfshark on Firestick

Best Surfshark Deal

Top 5 VPN’s for BBC iPlayer

All of the providers below have been tested and work comprehensively with BBC iPlayer, the same I also true for Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video.

To connect to BBC iPlayer, simply join one of our Top 5 providers and connect to one of their UK servers, then navigate to BBC iPlayer’s website to access the site, as your IP is now shown to be coming from within the UK.

Surfshark

Our last entry is a newcomer to the VPN industry that is taking off. Surf Shark is one of the fastest-growing VPNs of 2019. Due to its great speeds, a growing number of servers, cheap prices, and great features.

Surf Shark also distinguishes itself by being able to consistently connect to both BBC iPlayer and Netflix with ease.

You get a host of additional features that rivals NordVPN. Including Clean Web, which is an inbuilt adblocker, as well as filtering out suspicious websites and preventing malware injections

You also get several proprietary security protocols. Camouflage Mode makes your traffic look normal by scrambling your metadata. No Borders Mode allows you to circumvent even the strictest firewall and deep packet inspections. You can also route your connection through 2 neighboring countries using MultiHop

What people love most about Surfshark is the price. A 2-year plan starts from $2.99 a month offering unlimited connections. You can also get a 30-day free trial and then a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick

If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.

Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

Learn more about Surfshark and Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Install Surfshark on Firestick

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Other VPNs to Consider

NordVPN (Best for Streaming)

Best Features

5000+ Server in 50+ Countries
Military-Grade Encryption
Fast Connection Speed
Suitable to a lot of devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

Complete $5.89 per month (64% Discount)
Plus $4.59 per month (56% Discount)
Standard $3.69 per month (55% Discount)

AltasVPN

Best Features

750+ High-speed VPN Servers in 43 Locations
Military-Grade Encryption
Fastest HD Streaming and Gaming
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Unlimited Data & Devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

3 Years $1.99 per month (82% Discount)
1 Years $3.29 per month (70% Discount)
1 Month $10.99 per month

IPVanish VPN (Most Secure)

Best Features

1200+ Servers in 60+ Countries around the world
Unlimited Connections
No-Log Policy
Top Notch Military-Grade VPN Protocols and Encryptions
100% Safe and Secured
Most Trusted VPN
Best VPN for Firestick
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Prices

Yearly $3.99 per month (63% Discount) – 30 days risk free + Ransomware & Malware Protection
Quarterly $5.32 per month (51% Discount)
Monthly $10.99 per month

For more VPN discounts, go to ReviewVPN Deals and purchase the best VPN for you.

Click here to get the lowest price on Surfshark through our exclusive limited-time offer.

IPVanish

IPVanish offers 40,000+ IP’s across 2,000 servers and 70+ countries. They offer consistent fast speeds and a number of super-fast servers in the UK. As well as Tier 1 architecture meaning they own all their own DNS servers. Ideal for avoiding DNS leaks and making sure your data is secure.

IPVanish had no problem connecting to BBC iPlayer on any of its UK servers.

Prices for their annual plan start from as low as $6.49 per month with a 7-day money-back guarantee. You get limitless data and bandwidth and can connect unlimited devices simultaneously. This means you can connect all of your family’s devices at the same time with multiple people streaming from different locations

They have a trustworthy zero logs policy. This means that none of your browsing or location data is kept on file.

They offer top-of-the-line military-grade security. IPVanish uses 256-bit AES encryption, making your connection unbreakable. You also have the choice of a wide selection of security protocols like OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec.

IPVanish also has great customer service. Lodge a support ticket, speak to someone on live chat or call their toll-free number. Meaning any problems connecting to BBC iPlayer you can contact them directly to the best working server.

Grab your subscription now!

NordVPN

NordVPN alongside ExpressVPN and Surfshark is another Tier 1 VPN provider offering enormous value and ease of use. They have the biggest number of servers of any VPN provider with over 5,000 servers across 60+ countries. Making them the best in the industry.

We have no problem connecting to BBC iPlayer with any of their servers.

NordVPN also offers some cool additional features some other providers don’t. Cybersec is their inbuilt adblocker and malware software which makes browsing the internet a dream. They also offer DoubleVPN which routes your connection through 2 VPN servers making it untraceable.

NordVPN modify many of their servers for streaming and P2P file transfer which means you can enjoy a super-fast connection anywhere around the world. Also, they have a great zero logs policy which has been tested in a criminal court.

Because Nord is so big they can offer all of this for one of the lowest prices in the industry, you can get a 3-year pass from $2.29 per month and the ability to connect 6 devices simultaneously. You also get 30 days to cool off and get your money back if NordVPN isn’t for you.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has been consistent as a market leader in the VPN industry for many years. It has also proven to be effective in accessing content with region-restrictions and also circumventing censorship restrictions in countries like China. You know if a company can be utilized in China they will have no problem getting past BBC iPlayer.

All of the servers we tested for ExpressVPN can access BBC iPlayer easily.

People love ExpressVPN because just like Surfshark it is a Tier 1 VPN provider owning all of its own architecture. Your connection will use their DNS servers which masks your traffic to look normal. The reason why many VPN providers fail to access BBC iPlayer is that their firewall inspects the data packets and can see it is coming from a VPN.

As they own all their infrastructure they are also famous for speed. With 1,700+ servers in 94 countries, they offer truly global coverage and will allow you to access a fast connection wherever you want to watch BBC iPlayer. Even in South America and Asia.

They also have top of the line military-grade encryption and an application both mobile and web which is a simple one-click design that even the least tech-savvy user can get their head around

Their annual subscriptions start from $8.32 per month, and though you pay more than most other providers you will get quality. You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time and get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost

Cyberghost has been around since 2011 and boasts over 30 million users. They consistently deliver great customer service. Reflected in regular updates and a great support team.

CyberGhost’s application is so easy to use. All you have to do is click on the BBC iPlayer tile and you can connect to the best and fastest server.

You can also enjoy super-fast speeds and continuous streaming. 1,000 of their 3,700+ servers have been specially adapted to allow for super-fast download and upload speeds.

As an added layer of protection, Cyberghost uses a similar system to Surfshark where your IP is shared amongst many different users. IP Pooling makes it impossible for anybody to discern who does what. They have a trusted zero logs policy and military-grade encryption offered by all of the other providers.

Just like NordVPN they are also incredibly competitive on price, with their 3-year package starting from $2.21 a month, allowing you to connect up to 7 devices at the same time. They also offer the longest money-back guarantee period of 45 days.

Best VPN App for iPhone

Posted on July 9, 2019October 4, 2022 by Bob Simon

Overview: Best VPN for iPhone

Apple product users always enjoy a higher level of security because of its proprietary software and excellent security features. Many iOS products have the reputation for being resilient and less susceptible to viruses and malware.

If you search for a VPN on the App store, you will be inundated with countless free applications which look too good to be true. So why should you bother to pay for an app if you can just get it for free?

Why Don’t I Just Use a Free App?

Most free applications on the iPhone app store fall into broad categories. These are businesses and they need to make money somehow, so nothing is ever truly free.

Free Trial

Most applications will fall into this category. There is no better way to showcase your service than to deliver a freemium service. You will generally enjoy a 7-day trial with reduced server access and speeds. Also, you may not be able to access additional functionality like ad blockers, multi-hops, or adjusting security protocols amongst others.

After the free trial ends, you will be asked to pay, or the application will stop working on your iPhone. These are great for say a short holiday if you need a VPN.

These types of applications are common and generally trustworthy, but always do some background research on the provider. The VPN provider is incentivized to give you the best service possible so that you start to pay.

Also, try to see if the application is actually produced in-house or has been farmed out to a third-party developer. Running a global VPN is expensive, so you want to get a service that is being monitored and updated. Be wary of applications that are still in Version 1, most apps that have been around some time will be on Version 3-7.

Adverts

The other broad category of free VPN apps for iPhone will be advert driven. Whenever you are connecting, disconnecting, or adjusting a function in the app an advert will pop up.

One thing to be aware of is what type of log policy they are using. These ads will be targeted at you based on your browsing habits but is that information then being passed on in any way that could personally identify you.

Just be aware that your data may be sold in a non-personally identifiable way, this is exemplified by one of the most popular free VPN providers on iPhone.

Also be aware that free VPN apps are a popular way for hackers to track you, farm your data, and insert malware.

FreeVPN.org

4.3/5 with 11K+ ratings

Though FreeVPN state that they do not log your data, they will sell it as part of a package of data to the provider. FreeVPN also can control what adverts you see, and report on engagement and click-through rates. This is why free VPNs are not ideal if you are security conscious or want to retain your anonymity, but if you’re not fussed then crack on.

You can see what data FreeVPN will share from the privacy policy on their website:

We DO NOT sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect our or other rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

Malicious and Insecure

They say online that if the product is free then the payment is your data. The iPhone app store is littered with big and small companies, as well as hackers who use VPN apps to harvest data, inject ads into your browser, or even worse attempt to put malware scripts into your phone.

Below are two prime examples of companies with questionable histories when it comes to protecting their users.

HolaVPN

2.3/5 with 200+ reviews

Hola has long been a scourge of the VPN industry. They have been outed multiple times for having terrible customer service and selling on customer information. Through their parent company Luminati, they sell residential proxies of their unsuspecting customers, as well as logging everything you do through their application to sell to advertisers.

It’s no surprise the majority of their ratings on the App Store are 1 star. Hola VPN is one to avoid if you don’t want your data compromised and potentially have scripts injected into your browser and even your phone.

Luminati has made a name for itself by selling on proxies and spare bandwidth of their users to commercial outfits and even hackers who go to use them to carry out botnet attacks.

Avoid at all costs.

VPN360

4.5/5 with 22K+ reviews

VPN360 will probably appear at the top of your search if you look for a VPN on your iPhone in the app store. Looks pretty good with that rating and number of reviews right?

In fact, it seems to have double the reviews of the biggest players in the market like Surfshark, IPVanish, and NordVPN. We smelt something fishy, so we decided to dig a little bit.

Their software is developed by Infinity Soft, a company with only 1 page on its website. Dig deeper and it turns out they are owned by an old name we are familiar with. Anchor Free.

Anchor Free owns a number of VPN companies including Hot Spot Shield. Hot Spot Shield was investigated in 2017 by the Fair-Trade Commission in the US for maliciously and repeatedly injecting scripts and advertising cookies into their users’ browsers.

When you use a VPN, it passes through their DNS before going onto the target website. Anchor Free was manipulating users’ traffic to put in advertisers’ cookies who had paid them. Since then Anchor Free has always been treated with suspicion.

Also, a number of the reviews looked fake, with one of the developers responding to an angry comment with a charming review entitled “For Blind People”

Why It’s Better to Pay

A VPN essentially handles ALL of your online data and information. Think of them like a bank but for your data. Go with someone that you know and trust who has a reputation. After all, you wouldn’t leave your money with someone just because they were cheaper than a bank. Your data contains valuable information about payments, and browsing history and is a backdoor route into your computer.

A trusted provider will have solid encryption, a tried and tested zero logs policy, a history of keeping people’s data safe, and a whole host of other great features for less than $7 a month.

Also, a paid provider will develop and run their applications in-house, as well as their technology and servers. Gives you the assurance that the app will work, customer service will be responsive, and also that your data is secured from your phone to their servers and then online.

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

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Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

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Install Surfshark on Firestick

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Top 5 Best VPNs for iPhone

Surfshark

Surfshark has been consistent in its support for online rights and privacy. Based in the Netherlands you won’t have to worry about your data being compromised by third parties such as the government. Accordingly, they take their user’s data very seriously and have a solid zero logs policy which has been tested in a criminal trial.

Apart from that, you get access to a wide range of features including advanced security like multiple VPN gateways. Similar to NordVPN’s Double VPN, you can rout your connection through 2 different VPN connections and make your IP untraceable. You can also use a SOCKS5 proxy for VOIP calls and make your FaceTime calls secure.

With its 3,200 servers in 65+ countries, it also helps successfully unblock the most popular streaming apps such as US & UK Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO, BBC iPlayer, DAZN, Hotstar, and more. Furthermore, it has a kill switch functionality that will ensure that there won’t be unexpected data leaks in the event of a sudden VPN disruption.

Surfshark prices start from $2.49 a month giving you the ability to connect unlimited devices simultaneously as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also has fantastic customer service offering 24/7 live chat and email support.

Nord VPN

NordVPN is our most rated of the Top 5, with an impressive 12,000+ reviews. They are one of the biggest and most established companies in the industry. With an industry best of 5,500+ servers in over 60+ countries, their reach is truly global.

Like CyberGhost they give you a 7-day free trial to road test any of the subscriptions with no reduced functionality. Their application is super slick and easy to use, with an intuitive and up-to-date interface, allowing you simple one-click connectivity.

You can also take advantage of their abundant additional functionality. Cybersec is their proprietary ad blocker software which works automatically in the background. Acting like additional anti-virus, it blocks malware and malicious websites. As well as streaming your browsing experience by blocking a whole host of annoying adverts. DoubleVPN gives you increased anonymity; you are able to rout your connection through 2 VPN servers in 2 different countries making your IP untraceable. Just be aware this will slow down your speed.

Their servers are super-fast, and you can get some of the fastest available for any VPN provider, as well as access to a server irrespective of whatever country you travel to around the world.

Subscriptions start from as low as $2.10 per month for their multi-year subscriptions and you can connect 6 devices at the same time. On top of the 7-day free trial, you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

IPVanish

IPVanish is based in the US and is a Tier 1 company that operates all of its own DNS servers. Often cheaper providers will rent from third parties who may in turn leak or sell your data. Not so with IPVanish.

Access 40,000+ shared IP addresses across 2,000 servers in 70+ countries. This means whether you are at home or using their VPN abroad you will never be far away from a fast and stable connection.

The application is intuitive and easy to use. You can set the app to connect automatically when your phone tries to connect to the internet, which also helps to secure your phone abroad when you are accessing untrusted public Wi-Fi sources. You also get a nice diagnostics tab where you can see upload and download speeds for your chosen server. Also, it has a must-have kill switch which cuts your internet connection if for any reason the VPN app stops working. Meaning that your connection is always secured.

What sets IPVanish apart from the competition is its great customer service. Access ticket support and live chat. As well as a free toll-free US number to call the team any time you get a problem.

Prices start from $6.70 per month, and you can connect unlimited devices at a time, allowing you to connect all of your family’s devices with one subscription. You also get 30-day money-back guarantee with the annual package meaning you can get an instant refund if you decide that IPVanish isn’t for you.

CyberGhost

Trusted by over 30 million users, CyberGhost is based in Romania and has been going since 2011. They have established themselves as a leading player in the VPN market. They are also one of the few VPNs that consistently are able to crack the hardest region-restricted content like Netflix, meaning you can watch US Netflix anywhere in the world.

With 3,700+ servers across 60+ countries, they have one of the biggest server parks in the industry. With 1,000+ of those servers configured for high-speed P2P file sharing and streaming. Meaning you are always going to get a speedy connection.

One thing we loved about the app was its recent updates, the fact that the application is on Version 7 in the App Store, and also all of the negative comments had received a response from the developer, which shows that their team is responsive and actively looking to fix problems. Something that is often sorely missing from iPhone Apps. That also shows why it pays to have a trusted VPN with an in-house development team rather than a 3rd party app developer team who have 100 other apps they have to deal with.

You also get a 7-day free trial to road-test the app. They have a solid zero logs policy and a great reputation for security and privacy. As well as 24/7 live chat if you have any problems with your connection or app.

Prices start as low as $2.20 per month for a multi-year subscription. Allowing you to connect up to 7 devices at the same time. You also get an industry-busting 45-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has consistently been rated as the top VPN provider in the industry for years. Like IPVanish they offer a Tier 1 service and own all their own network including their DNS servers. They also have top-of-the-line security protocols, which is why they are commonly used in China which is known to have the strictest censorship policies of any country.

Gain access to 3,700+ servers in 90+ countries. ExpressVPN may not have the most servers in the industry, but they definitely have the widest coverage. Which makes it an ideal VPN for traveling. No matter where you go, you will never be far from an ExpressVPN server.

They consistently offer the fastest speeds of any provider. Many providers struggle outside of the US and Europe to deliver good speeds, but ExpressVPN is consistently fast wherever you go.

Their application couldn’t be easier to use, with simple one-click and connectivity to the smartest server. You can even test server speeds in the application to see if you can find a faster server nearby, or in the country that you wish to connect to.

Like IPVanish and NordVPN you can also use a split tunneling function which white labels certain applications to not use your VPN which shows unencrypted traffic to your ISP. You get an in-built kill switch as well as auto-connectivity. Meaning that your internet won’t connect until your ExpressVPN app is up and running, keeping you secure on unsecured public Wi-Fi.

You get a 7-day free trial to see why ExpressVPN is the best in the industry. Annual packages start from $6.67 per month, allowing you to connect up to 5 devices, and an industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee. If you get any problems you can chat with an agent 24/7.

Use the Best VPN for iPhone

Surfshark is our top pick as the Best VPN for iPhone. It shares with us robust security VPN protocols with excellent encryption.

Here are some benefits of using Surfshark:

Conceals everything you do online.
Encrypts your entire internet traffic making you invisible to prying eyes.
Assign you an anonymous IP address.
Hide your data from hackers.

Note: For more information about Surfshark, please read our Surfshark REVIEW.

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How to Install Surfshark on iOS (With Screenshots)

1. Open the Apple App Store

2. Go to Search

3. Search for Surfshark

4. Click the Get button

5. Then click Install

6. Click Open

7. The app will then launch

8. Tap “Log in” then input your Surfshark account details

9. You may choose to log in with Apple, Google, credentials, or code

10. Click Quick-connect

11. Then click Continue

12. Select Allow

13. That’s it, you’re now connected to the fastest server available

Learn more about Surfshark. Get Surfshark now.

Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Click here to get the lowest price on Surfshark through our exclusive limited-time offer.

FAQs

Are the VPNs above free?

No, but you can try out their free trial versions.

Why use a VPN for your iPhone?

A VPN will encrypt all the online traffic you send with your iPhone. VPNs also make you invisible to hackers, cyber threats, and your Internet Service Provider. You will experience a quick connection without any disturbances.

Our Opinion

The iPhone has the best natural security protocols as an OS. However, there are skilled hackers and cyber threats that can still endanger your device and steal your data. To protect your iOS device, we recommend installing a reliable VPN service.

Final Words

We hope this article shares with you the best VPN for iPhone. Thank you for reading!

How to Get American Netflix – Updated for 2023

Posted on July 9, 2019January 25, 2023 by Bob Simon

How to Get American Netflix

If you want to watch the hottest shows on the planet right now, chances are they are on Netflix. We will show you hoe you can get access to American Netflix even if you are outside the county.

Netflix is a truly global provider available in 190 countries, the problem is not all Netflix are equal. If you want to watch the best shows they may not be available in your country. If the show is primarily English-speaking chances are you will want to connect to American Netflix.

American Netflix has the most available content of any country. They stream all the latest TV shows and Movies in the US first. This is for two reasons, firstly the US is their home turf. It’s a good place to test out content and they have the best penetration in this market. Secondly licensing movies and shows can be expensive, so Netflix will pay for the US license first, before splurging on the other 189 countries.

Most countries only show 30-40% of the content you could get on American Netflix.

So, if you want to get access to the latest shows as soon as they are out, you either need to live in the United States or find something that makes your Netflix think that you do. Netflix will automatically connect you to the country as designated by your unique IP address.

There are two main ways of doing this. Either use a Smart DNS or a VPN.

Smart DNS

A Smart DNS (Domain Name Server) allows you to circumvent geographic restrictions on your IP address. It works by simply changing the DNS of your device when trying to access content that is restricted to a particular region.

The good thing about using a SmartDNS is it won’t affect your internet speed. VPNs can slow your internet speed anywhere from 5-30% depending on the provider (unless you use ExpressVPN which seems to make almost no difference)

Also, a SmartDNS is always preferable over a free proxy, because it comes from a trusted provider. Using a free proxy may sound tempting, but you are liable to get your computer infected with malware if the proxy is being operated by a cybercriminal.

Also, many will come with 14-30 day free trials, meaning if you only intend to use it as a one-off you can even get them free. Prices tend to be around $5 per month or $40 for a year.

Though a SmartDNS will not hide your original IP or encrypt your traffic. So, it is a highly specialized tool only to be used with trusted websites.

Most Smart DNS proxies will work well with Netflix, as essentially your traffic type hasn’t changed just your DNS.

VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) works by encrypting the traffic sent from your computer. This traffic is received by the VPN’s DNS and then transmitted to the target website.

VPN providers will have hundreds if not thousands of servers based all around the world, including the US. You simply connect to a server in the US and then use Netflix as normal.

The advantage of a VPN is that your traffic is encrypted, and your original IP is not revealed, but with some providers, you may see a slow down in your download speed which could affect your streaming quality if your local broadband is bad.

Also, a SmartDNS only has one function. To access region-restricted content. A good VPN provider like IPVanish will allow you to bypass censorship, be accessible all around the world and keep all of your data secure and your identity anonymous.

However, don’t automatically think that every VPN provider will be able to access Netflix. The multi-billion dollar technology giant is always working on ways to block VPNs from accessing Netflix from outside the resident user’s country because it puts their revenue and content at risk.

Best VPNs to Unblock American Netflix

SurfShark

SurfShark is the best VPN to unblock American Netflix. It is the best VPN for streaming because it can unblock not only Netflix but also many great streaming platforms. SurfShark easily unblocks Kodi, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN, DAZN, and many more.

SurfShark has all of the great features and expertise in cybersecurity. Wherever you are located, you can certainly put your trust in SurfShark. It provides top-notch VPN protocols and encryption that unblock geo-restricted content, protect your privacy, secure your connection to public WiFi.

SurfShark has over 3,200 servers globally. It guarantees no logs, provides dedicated RAM-only servers, and offers 24/7 live chat support. And you can use this VPN with all types of devices for streaming.

Features:

Connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously
24/7 customer service support
CleanWeb protects your device from malware infections and prevents phishers from gaining access to your account
Camouflage Mode makes sure that even your ISP won’t be able to detect that you’re using a VPN
MultiHop allows you to connect through numerous countries at the same time to ensure ID protection and footprint masking
Strict no-logs policy
AES 256 encryption will ensure that your data is secured and private
Kill Switch will automatically block your internet connection when your VPN connection fails

For a more detailed review, read our SurfShark VPN review, and also learn How to Install SurfShark on Firestick.

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NordVPN

NordVPN is a great contender as the best VPN to unblock American Netflix. This VPN encrypts your connection, giving you the best privacy while unblocking all major geo-restrictions for streaming American Netflix. It follows a no-log policy and safeguards your data from hackers. You can also unblock tons of websites safely with NordVPN.

NordVPN boasts to have a massive number of servers available. It offers 5,400 VPN servers to its users available in 59 global server locations. You can even use one NordVPN account to link up to six devices at once.

Features:

Access over 5,400 VPN servers from 59 locations worldwide
Ensures to adhere to no logs policy
Connect 6 devices in one account simultaneously including your smart TV and router
All main platforms are supported, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
Enjoy a fast and stable connection anywhere with no bandwidth limits
The advanced CyberSec technology prevents malware from infecting your device by automatically blocking suspicious Websites
24/7 customer support via live chat and e-mail
User-friendly and easy-to-use VPN service

Read our NordVPN review to know more about this VPN

How to Isntall NordVPN on Firestick

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YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

Save 65% Now

Limited Time Offer

Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

IPVanish

IPVanish can also unblock American Netflix. Just like most premium VPNs, IPVanish uses 256-bit encryption that keeps users safe while streaming.

IPVanish can bypass geo-restrictions with more than 2000 servers available. You can use it on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. It is really one of the most secure VPNs out there. With IPVanish, users can browse any website from anywhere, enjoy private online browsing, get access to blocked apps, and watch geo-restricted streaming media.

Features:

Encrypted cloud storage provides secure access to your files from any device
Advanced encryption standards protect your network connection and the data sent from your device over the internet
Secures a Wi-Fi network or public hotspot for risk-free personal data handling
Works with the majority of operating systems
There is no limit to the number of devices you can use for storage and VPN protection
Connect to over 2,000 VPN servers in more than 70+ cities around the world
Ensures zero logs and no IP address leaks
Individual apps and browsers can use the SOCKS5 proxy to hide their IP addresses without encrypting their data
24/7 customer support is available via live chat, email, and phone
30-day money-back guarantee

Read our IPVanish review to know more.

How to Install IPVanish on Firestick

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Best IPVanish Deal

Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN is a newer VPN in the market that can also unblock American Netflix. It is a simple and easy-to-use VPN that bypasses restrictions and access to geo-restricted content from anywhere. It has excellent apps and supports unlimited devices simultaneously.

The VPN offers a one-click connect option to help you choose the best server for your needs. Some of Atlas VPN’s great features are its no-logs policy and limitless bandwidth. It also offers a free service with a limited number of servers.

Features:

Connect to 750+ VPN servers worldwide
AES 256-bit encryption
Automatic kill switch
Uses IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols
Strictly adheres to no logs policy
Enjoy unlimited bandwidth and traffic
Offers the highest possible VPN speed
Protects unlimited devices simultaneously
Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
24/7 live Customer Support
Free service is available too

To learn more, read our Atlas VPN review.

Grab your subscription now!

Best Atlas VPN Deal

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is amongst the best VPNs to unblock American Netflix. Compared to its competitors, it is quite more expensive. Another con of using it compared with others is that it is only limited to 5 devices per account.

Nonetheless, ExpressVPN is a great VPN that thousands of server and great features that helps users unblock and enjoy many streaming platforms.

Features:

160 VPN locations in 94 countries
24/7 live chat support that can help you with set-up and troubleshooting
ExpressVPN Speed Test allows you to check the speed of your high-speed VPN server connections
Network Lock kill switch
VPN split tunneling
Uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit keys
No activity logs nor connection logs
Faster DNS queries with no DNS blocking, filtering, or hijacking
Connect to 5 devices simultaneously
30-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN Review Article

How to Install Express VPN on Firestick

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Best Express VPN Deal

Install SurfShark on Firestick with Screenshots

If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

Learn more about Surfshark and Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Conclusion

The best VPNs to unblock American Netflix are SurfShark, NordVPN, IPVanish, AtlasVPN, and ExpressVPN. We recommend using SurfShark, but you can also the other VPNs included above.

We hope that we were able to help you learn which VPN can unblock American Netflix. If you have any questions, just put them in the comment section below. Thank you for your time.

15 Best Alternatives to KickAss Torrents

Posted on July 8, 2019September 29, 2022 by Bob Simon

15 Best Alternatives to KickAss Torrents

KickAss Torrents affectionately known as KAT, exploded from being just another torrent site to getting a million users a day at its peak in 2015. Founded in 2008 it overtook Pirate Bay to become the most popular torrent site.

Over the years KAT has been banned in multiple countries, removed from Google rankings and finally taken offline by the FBI in 2016, who also arrested the alleged owner Artem Vaulin.

KAT still lives on through multiple mirrors and proxies supported by a team from around the world.

What are Torrents?

A torrent is a type of file that comes with the extension .torrent, the file itself contains no information. When used in conjunction with BitTorrent software like uTorrent or BitTorrent to initiate the download of the actual content on a remote server.

BitTorrent is the protocol for P2P (Peer to Peer) file sharing. Commonly used when transferring large amounts of data online. The software works by using a “swarm” of hosts to download or upload. These distributed networks of home computers mean that the more people download the file, the bigger the swarm and the healthier the file is to download.

The BitTorrent software uses the .torrent file to find the corresponding location of the seeder where the file is located (a seeder is a person who downloaded the file or uploaded the seed/file)

In short torrents are a quick and fast way of distributing files. Particularly useful for large media files.

Other common terms are peers and leeches. Peers are those downloading and uploading multiple files at the same time, and leeches are those who only have part of a file. Once you download 100% of a file you also become a seeder.

Are They Legal?

Yes. Torrents are perfectly legal. The illegality arises when someone uses a torrent to either download or upload copyrighted material. Torrents are commonly used for media files because they are large, often 100MB+. Which is time-consuming to download.

Torrents have become infamous as a way for distributing the latest films, TV shows, and music videos which people have to live recorded or copied and then uploaded for others to download for free.

How to Stay Private Using Torrents

Always use a VPN when using Torrents. Though not illegal your ISP will have a record of all the websites you visit and be able to monitor your internet usage. When not using a VPN, they can see spikes in your data usage and that you may be accessing sites where illegal torrents are happening.

If they catch you torrenting you could get a warning letter, have your internet throttled (the speed is limited) or even be liable for a fine or a criminal conviction in extreme cases.

Using a VPN will help to:

Obscure your IP
Encrypt your data
Hide your data usage from your ISP

This is because a VPN reroutes your traffic through a server of your choosing. By changing your IP address this allows you add a layer of anonymity. Also, all traffic from your VPN client to their server is encrypted. Meaning no one can see what you are doing. An ISP can see traffic but has no idea of it’s intended destination and therefore it won’t get flagged by network monitors.

Lastly, most of the main URL’s for the torrent sites in our list will automatically be blocked by your ISP.

Why You Should Use an Ad Blocker When Torrenting

Ads are how torrent sites make money. Every time you click on a new page or go to download a torrent an ad will pop up. Some sites will ask for donations as well.

Increasingly sites may restrict content if they detect an ad blocker. But if you want a smoother experience without endless pop ups, consider using an ad blocker.

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

Save 65% Now

Limited Time Offer

Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

Top 15 Alternatives to KAT

Here is our list of the top 15 torrent sites, if for any reason you can’t get onto KAT or the site goes down. Remember that torrent sites will go down, don’t be alarmed just cycle through the list. Thankfully proxies and mirrors give torrent sites endless URL’s you can be redirected to.

Kat.sx – KAT Mirrors

Though the main KAT site maybe down, thankfully KAT’s team run multiple mirror sites and proxies, which are constantly being updated and can at any time be down, and then go back up. A mirror is just a replica of the original site hosted on a different IP address and URL.

Here is an extended list of KAT mirrors and proxies which were currently working:

https://kat.li/
https://www.kickasstorrents.pw/
https://katcr.co/new/full/
http://proxyindex.net/
https://kickasstorrent.cr/
https://katcr.co/new/
https://katcr.co/
http://katcr.to/
https://kickasstorrents.to/
https://kat.sx/
https://proxyindex.net/
https://thekat.info/
https://kat.am/
https://kickass2.st/

The Pirate Bay

One of the oldest Torrent sites still in existence dating back to 2003, the founders were arrested and jailed in 2009 and released in 2015.

Still one of the Top 200 websites in the world, Pirate Bay exists on a series of mirrors and proxies and has the most comprehensive list of torrents apart from KAT.

The site doesn’t offer torrent links since 2012, instead it gives you magnet links which references the source file but means the server does not need to make them constantly available, thus reducing the load on Pirate Bay’s servers.

Due to its popularity just like KAT, expect servers to be down randomly at any time, if so you can keep moving down through the best of our 15 best alternatives to KickAss Torrents.

Pirate Bay does have a lot of ads, be prepared to close a pop up every time you click on something which can get pretty annoying.

1337x

When KAT went down in 2016 and with Pirate Bay consistently being one of the main targets for ISP blocking. 1337x has risen to become one of the top 400 websites on the internet worldwide.

Offering both torrent files and magnet links. 1337x has a clean and simple to use interface and offers a wide array of media. Their Movies and Television sections are arranged in easy access formats, with quick filters like popular today and this week and what’s trending.

Also, you won’t get as many ads as Pirate Bay which is a blessing. 1337x rates highly if you are looking for obscure files or titles in foreign languages.

RARBG

RARBG is much less well known than KAT or Pirate Bay which is a good thing. The more under the radar a torrent site is, the less likely it is to be blocked.

They tend to be unblocked in most countries and also have consistent up time, the site itself is pretty basic and looks like a blast from the past. So, you want to get the same type of smooth interface and usability as 1337x.

Also, if you want to become a seeder or upload there are some restrictions on registration. RARBG is also well known for being the favored torrent site if you are looking for high quality movies.

Extra Torrent

Extra Torrent is another site under the radar. The lay is super basic and is reminiscent of forums from the early 2000s but it’s a solid choice with a good library of content and has been around for over 10 years.

They also have a solid reputation for providing quality torrent links to high-grade material, as well as offering an enormous library of files.

Supports torrents and magnet links.

YTS

YTS caused some controversy in the torrenting community when it took the name of a previously highly popular website YIFY, meaning that many other big players in the torrent industry refused to work with it. The original YTS/YIFY group shut in 2015.

Primarily focused on films, if you are looking for tv shows and adult content you are probably better off using Pirate Bay, KAT, or 1337x.

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Torrentz2

Torrentz2 is the reincarnation of Torrentz which was shut down last year. The interface is as simple as it gets, a search engine bar allowing you to look for torrents across multiple sites including KAT.

Support Torrents only. If you are looking for a library-style Torrent site you are better off elsewhere, but if you know what you’re looking for then Torrentz2 is fast and snappy with almost no ads.

A drawback is that the interface is so simple, you’ll find you have to click on each link to see the health, downloads, and more information which is pretty time-consuming.

Lime Torrents

Lime Torrents like Extra Torrent is 10 years old and you have probably never heard of them. The site is one of the best looking out there with a nice interface and simple sections.

If you click into a simple section you get a really nice layout with multiple options and can see the health of the file as well as the number of seeds and leeches. Seeing everything on one page is great because it cuts down the time you need to make searching for the best file.

Also, some files link through to sites where you can watch them hosted online meaning you don’t even need to worry about getting the torrent.

Supports torrents and magnet links. LimeWire for us is one of the best sites out there for ease of use.

Zooqle

Zooqle is almost unique in our list, because not only does it support torrents and magnet links, but you can also download files directly. However, always use caution when downloading files as you don’t know what could be on them.

The interface is a bit dated, but it’s got a nice layout and easy to see what’s popular for TV and film, you can also register and sign up for subscriptions and create an RSS feed to get notified when your favorite shows are out.

Torrent Downloads

Torrent Downloads support torrents and direct downloads. The suite is simply intuitive and easy to use. Torrent Downloads have become popular due to their wide range of media. Which includes popular software and more obscure types of media.

You can also easily see the health of a file, as well as the number of seeds and leeches which means easily finding the best file to download.

TorLock

TorLock has become famous as the best torrent site for verified torrents. One big problem with torrents is that a lot are infected, dead, or have malicious malware installed with the file. So, you could download your favorite movie and end up having your CPU hijacked to mine cryptocurrency (if you’re lucky)

The interface is intuitive and easy to use, with a top list for categories, seeds, and peers as well as file health.

Support torrent files only.

EZTV

EZTV looks pretty old school and doesn’t have the same selection as many other torrent providers. But that’s for a reason. It has a reputation for pre-screening for quality and binning unsuitable links.

The interface is easy to use, but not so useful in terms of seeing the health of the file you want to download.

Support torrent files and magnet links.

Popcorn Time

Think of Popcorn Time more like an unofficial Netflix, use the site to stream free movies and tv shows, it does involve downloading their software, and is a good solution for anyone not wanting to torrent but simply watch media directly.

Torrent Hounds

Torrent Hounds gives you a rather basic interface but has an enormous library with almost 9 million files, you can also gain better access using their client.

We advise you to join their binary channel to get increased functionality and access torrent files.

This is not uncommon as torrent sites are regularly targeted for breaking copyright laws and consistently have to think of new and innovative ways to avoid ISP blocking.

ISO Hunt

We suspect that ISO Hunt is run by the same people who run Torrent Hounds, and also requires a client and joining a binary channel to get the best use from their service.

They have a great reputation for high-quality torrents and vetted downloads and offer a wide selection of media in an easy-to-use and modern interface.

Install Surfshark on Firestick

Best Surfshark Deal

How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick

Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

Learn more about Surfshark and Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Other VPNs to Consider

NordVPN (Best for Streaming)

Best Features

5000+ Server in 50+ Countries
Military-Grade Encryption
Fast Connection Speed
Suitable to a lot of devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

Complete $5.89 per month (64% Discount)
Plus $4.59 per month (56% Discount)
Standard $3.69 per month (55% Discount)

AltasVPN

Best Features

750+ High-speed VPN Servers in 43 Locations
Military-Grade Encryption
Fastest HD Streaming and Gaming
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Unlimited Data & Devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

3 Years $1.99 per month (82% Discount)
1 Years $3.29 per month (70% Discount)
1 Month $10.99 per month

IPVanish VPN (Most Secure)

Best Features

1200+ Servers in 60+ Countries around the world
Unlimited Connections
No-Log Policy
Top Notch Military-Grade VPN Protocols and Encryptions
100% Safe and Secured
Most Trusted VPN
Best VPN for Firestick
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Prices

Yearly $3.99 per month (63% Discount) – 30 days risk free + Ransomware & Malware Protection
Quarterly $5.32 per month (51% Discount)
Monthly $10.99 per month

For more VPN discounts, go to ReviewVPN Deals and purchase the best VPN for you.

Best VPN for Canada

Posted on July 8, 2019September 23, 2022 by Bob Simon

Overview

Canada in recent years has caused much controversy as it has passed laws that infringe on the privacy of its citizens. Driven by a need to maintain their privacy there has been increasing growth in the demands for VPN’s in Canada. People are asserting their need to keep their browsing history private

Privacy Concerns

Canada is a member of the 5 eyes Surveillance alliance with Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. The 5 eyes is an intelligence-sharing organization that has since extended to 14+ countries and has come into existence during World War 2. During WW2, these 5 countries agreed that pooling intelligence would be the only way they could effectively defeat the Nazis.

In the Post 9/11, Age Canada has stood tall with its closest ally the United States. They have introduced several increasingly invasive Acts which allow for increased surveillance.

2011, Copyright Modernization Act

An update to a previous act gave extended powers to the government to monitor copyright infringements. The most notable addition was that ISP (Internet Service Providers) in Canada must monitor, record, and notify users of any copyright infringements based on their internet usage. This indicated extensive data retention and browsing history information on the part of ISP’s. The Act also actively dissuaded torrenting copyrighted material.

2014, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act

Originally put forward as a veiled attempt to combat cyberbullying. The Act finally passed Congress on the fifth time of asking after extensive push back from members concerned about privacy. Though extensive powers were granted for the government to remove nonconsensual and potentially underage pornographic images. What concerned people was the concept of “legal access”. This gave Canadian authorities far-reaching powers of surveillance on Canada’s online activities with little need for proof.

2015, Anti-Terrorism Act

Extended the previous Act brought in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. With extensive additions for inter-governmental agency sharing. The Act also gave the CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) the ability to hack and wiretap any device that connects to the internet

Canada is becoming like the UK in the wide-reaching powers it has given the government to monitor citizens. Monitoring without explanation, as well as the extensive data retention did by Canadian ISP providers. All on the ground of national security. Millions of Canadian citizens are having their privacy breached and copious amounts of data harvested about them without their permission

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

Save 65% Now

Limited Time Offer

Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

Special Limited Time Offer - Get IPVanish

Install SurfShark on Firestick

Best SurfShark Deal

Best VPN for Canada Lists

Keep your data private, your anonymity secure and access the best Canadian content using one of our Top 5 VPN’s for Canada

SurfShark

SurfSahrk is our VPN of choice for those who want a fantastic user experience, great customer support, and an easy-to-use application. With over 85% of their users giving SurfShark a 5-star rating on Trustpilot. Those 3,000 reviews are enough proof to show they are a company that goes the extra mile for its customers. Based in the US they have a solid no logs policy.

SurfShark is affordable and it owns and runs all of its own server architecture. Often companies will use third parties to run their servers or rent cheap virtual servers which means speeds will be low. Also, you run the risk of a third party leaking your IP or even selling your data. With SurfShark you can trust that you’re using their architecture all the way.

Using IP Sharing you can access 3,200 servers in 65+ countries. IP sharing means that even in the unlikely case that your activities are tracked back to a SurfShark server, there is no possible way to distinguish your traffic from other users. With IP Pooling you all appear to be using the same IP.

Connections are super-fast, and you can use their mobile application to test server speeds and find the optimum connection. In addition, SurfShark’s encryption extends beyond your connection. SurfShark will encrypt any communication any of your applications use which requires the internet including social media, messaging applications, and even your email.

Note: For more information about this VPN, please read our SURFSHARK REVIEW.

Grab your subscription now!

Best Surfshark Deal

How to Install Surfshark on Firestick with Screenshots

If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.

You can download Surfshark directly from the Amazon App store. It will be easy for you to find Surfshark with your Firestick’s Find feature. Refer to our screenshots below.

Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

Learn more about Surfshark and Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Install Surfshark on Firestick

Best Surfshark Deal

Other VPNs to Consider

NordVPN (Best for Streaming)

Best Features

5000+ Server in 50+ Countries
Military-Grade Encryption
Fast Connection Speed
Suitable to a lot of devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

Complete $5.89 per month (64% Discount)
Plus $4.59 per month (56% Discount)
Standard $3.69 per month (55% Discount)

AltasVPN

Best Features

750+ High-speed VPN Servers in 43 Locations
Military-Grade Encryption
Fastest HD Streaming and Gaming
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Unlimited Data & Devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

3 Years $1.99 per month (82% Discount)
1 Years $3.29 per month (70% Discount)
1 Month $10.99 per month

IPVanish VPN (Most Secure)

Best Features

1200+ Servers in 60+ Countries around the world
Unlimited Connections
No-Log Policy
Top Notch Military-Grade VPN Protocols and Encryptions
100% Safe and Secured
Most Trusted VPN
Best VPN for Firestick
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Prices

Yearly $3.99 per month (63% Discount) – 30 days risk free + Ransomware & Malware Protection
Quarterly $5.32 per month (51% Discount)
Monthly $10.99 per month

For more VPN discounts, go to ReviewVPN Deals and purchase the best VPN for you.

FAQs

Are the VPNs above free?

No, but you can use their free trial version.

Is it safe to use a VPN in Canada?

Yes. VPNs are 100% legal in Canada.

Conclusion

Some countries apply strict restrictions when it comes to social media platforms, access to exclusive materials, and copyright laws. Canada is one of these strict countries. To bypass geo-blocks inside Canada, we recommend you use a reliable VPN service.

Top 5 Devices for Kodi and Ones to Avoid

Posted on July 8, 2019September 19, 2022 by Bob Simon

Top 5 Devices for Kodi and Ones to Avoid

Kodi is an all-in-one home entertainment open-source software that can be used with your TV. Using Kodi you can download add-ons, builds, and repositories giving you access to the most popular media known to man. But before you get excited, you’re going to need to find a device to put Kodi on and plug into your TV.

When thinking about what box to pick you should bear in mind the following:

Processor

Your processor is the brains of your computer, allowing it to complete actions in a faster time. From typing something out to pointing and clicking on a title. Also, it means your Kodi box will start faster, load Kodi faster, and generally do everything quicker. Better processor, better speed.

RAM

The bigger the RAM the more tasks you can do at the same time, also the quicker it can transport data to and from the CPU. Bigger RAM is great as Kodi is primarily used for the streaming movie which is graphically complex and requires a lot of short-term memory. Better RAM means a smoother picture and graphics.

Resolution Support

Most boxes will support 1080p, which is the same as say your laptop. A few will support 4K which is only important if you have a 4K TV. This requires a greater number of pixels and colors for a richer picture. Don’t worry about boxes with 4K unless you need to match it to your TV.

Price

Kodi boxes vary widely in price. With some less than $50 and others over $200. This is primarily down to the processor and RAM the box has. Luckily cheaper boxes won’t compromise your streaming, but it may mean starting up and navigation are slower and less smooth.

Durability

Once you get a Kodi box you will never go back. Find a box that is going to be durable as you will be using it a lot. Always read the reviews on Amazon or wherever you buy it from and beware of boxes that are great to start off with, and then quickly fall apart.

Top 5 Devices for Kodi

Nvidia Shield

Nvidia Shield has been the top choice for Kodi for some time, though if you are looking for something with a budget price you are better off looking at getting an Amazon Firestick.

Running on Android 8.0, the Shield differentiates itself from its competition by giving you some serious processing power. Remember that a better processor and RAM will generally mean a faster stream, smoother graphics, and a quicker interface.

The Shield has a Tegra X1 CPU, alongside 3GB of RAM, which considering you are just using it for Kodi is more than enough. You can store up to 16GB on the disk, giving you lots of space for any Live TV you want to record or movies you download while out. Of course, more space isn’t necessary as anything extra you can always download onto a 1TB+ external hard drive.

The Shield comes to Kodi ready and supports 4K HDR, with a quick processor and sizable RAM it also makes it great for streaming and gaming. As with Nvidia you also get a GeForce GTX graphics card, the Kind of all graphics cards.

You also get Google Assistant built into your remote control, making it super easy to browse and play.

Best for those who want the high-end Kodi Box experience.

Firestick

Amazon offers a wide range of TV Android boxes, which pack quite a punch and won’t break the bank. The Amazon Firestick is the basic model, but you can upgrade to a 4K, Firestick TV or Firestick Cube.

Just bear in mind that the Firestick doesn’t come to Kodi ready, you will need to get your hands dirty and load and install it on your computer for it to work.

The Firestick supports up to 1080 p and has a Quad-Core 1.3Ghz processor, while the Firestick 4K will support 4K HDR and come with a 1.7GHz processor. Considering the budget price this is pretty impressive.

Understandably RAM is reasonably small at 1GB with 8GB of internal storage. But what makes the Firestick great is that it has a simple plug-and-play design so is a great starter kit, and of course, comes with Alexa built into the remote to give you voice-activated controls.

If you want to stick with Amazon but want something comparable to the Nvidia Shield you can break the bank and go for an Amazon Fire TV Cube. Packing a Quad-Core 1.5Ghz processor and 2GB of Ram. As well as 16GB of storage and Dolby Atmos support.

Best for those new to Kodi and on a budget. The most popular device for Kodi streamers.

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Xbox

Considering the Kodi was originally designed to give Xbox users the ability to stream media on their gaming console it should come as no surprise that the Xbox makes our list.

This is one that can swing a hardcore game from PlayStation to Xbox, but at our most expensive Kodi Box by some margin, we don’t advise this for anyone who doesn’t also intend to use the Xbox for gaming as well. That just makes no sense.

Dubbed as the “world’s most powerful gaming console” The Xbox One X is a monster. With an 8-core custom AMD CPU 2.3GHz processor, 12GB SDRAM, and 1TB of storage, you are going to get the very best streaming experience money can buy.

Best of all the Xbox One X comes with the latest version of Kodi built-in, leaving you only to get connected with a VPN like Surfshark and start streaming. If you still want Kodi and gaming but don’t want to pay as much, then the Xbox One will do just fine as well.

Though nowhere near as fast as the Xbox One X, the Xbox One still has more than enough firepower to give you a great streaming experience. With an 8 Core custom AMD 1.7GHz CPU, 8GB DDR3 Ram, and 500GB of storage.

Due to the specification of the Xbox and the games it plays you get 4K HDR resolution as well as 1080p, and Dolby Atmos.

Best for gamers who want Kodi as well.

Xiaomi Mi Box S

Xiaomi has taken the world by storm with its phones in Asia and increasingly in Europe and the US. Offering similar speeds and capabilities at a fraction of the price of their competitors like Apple and Samsung.

The Mi Box has won international acclaim and numerous awards and can be bought at prices similar to the Firestick though coming in a tad more expensive.

Under the sleek hood is some serious power with a Quad-Core 1.7GHz processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM and 8GB of storage. You can get up to 2.0Ghz of CPU if you upgrade to the 4K version.

Just like the Firestick, you will need to sideload Kodi, as it won’t be accessible through their application store.

The box does come with a Bluetooth voice remote, but it is nowhere near as sophisticated as Google Assistant or Alexa. You will find some of the functions lacking in the Chinese box.

But speed is not one of them, some have compared it to the Nvidia Shield in terms of responsiveness and start-up speed. But a word of warning. If you are going to buy a Mi Box, avoid cheap Chinese knockoffs and off-brand pre-loaded boxes. Pre-loaded boxes with Kodi Builds and Add-Ons installed may seem like a good idea at the time. But it’s better to do it yourself than have precious little space crammed with useless add ons you are never going to use. Also, brand boxes tend to lack support and updates so over time will begin to stop working.

Best for performance on a budget.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

You may not have thought that a Samsung tablet would make for a great Kodi box, but actually, this and many other Android tablets offer good processing power and RAM to be able to meet the demands of resource-intensive applications, games, and streaming.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab will set you back almost as much as the Nvidia Shield, but unlike the Shield when you’re not using Kodi you can use the Tablet for other things, so it gives you the option of being multi-purpose. The same as the Xbox.

Even for a reasonably basic tablet, it packs a punch with a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1.5G of RAM, and 8GB of storage, with Samsung you can also take advantage of the SD Card Holder and give yourself up to an additional 128GB of Ram with a cheap SD card.

One thing to bear in mind with the Tab is that it runs on Android KitKat or version 4 (the current version is Android 8) which means the interface can be outdated. However, you can root it and install the latest version of Android by looking it up online.

You’ll get good speed but no 4K compatibility of Dolby Atmos.

If you want to get a cutting-edge tablet you can invest in a Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, but that will set you back almost as much as an Xbox One X. Alternatively there are other great cheaper options from Huawei, Samsung, Lenovo, and Asus.

Something else worth considering is that if you have an Android phone that can be used to cast Kodi to your TV. As often the most powerful computer we own apart from our laptops or desktops is actually our phone.

For example, my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which was released in 2017, has a 2.3Ghz Octa-Core CPU, 6GB of Ram, and 128GB of storage. Pretty blowing almost anything else on this list away. Amazing when you think that it’s now 2 years old.

Best for users who want more than just a Kodi Box.

One to Avoid –Matricom G Boxes

Released in 2017, the Florida-based Matricom company promised that the G Box was going to change the way that we stream. Quite a tall order considering the stiff competition within the market.

The box itself is nice to look at, and under the hood, it has a similar processor and RAM to most Android boxes. An Amlogic Quad Core 1.5Ghz Processors, 2GB DDR3 RAM, and 16 GB Flash drive. Considering they price themselves between the Amazon Fire Stick and The Nvidia Shield what we are getting is not exactly revolutionary. But it’s good enough.

You also get a Bluetooth remote control and a number of separate add-ons you can buy through Matricom’s website.

So far so good.

Where Matricom really comes unstuck is that it is not an Android TV Box. This is a special version of Android custom-designed by Google to make sure that the Android interface looks nice on your TV, works well, and is snappy. The same goes for what Amazon did with their proprietary software on the Fire series of devices.

Both companies have the money and resources to design custom software that means you get the best user experience. For some reason, Matricom didn’t.

Instead, they use standard Android which treats your TV like it’s a giant tablet. Which means everything is stretched to fit and not proportionate.

One to avoid.

Grab your subscription now!

Click here to get the lowest price on Surfshark through our exclusive limited-time offer.

How to Install Surfshark VPN on Firestick

If your Firestick still has the older interface, read this article to learn how to update it: Update Firestick Interface.

Follow our screenshots below to install the SurfShark VPN app on your Fire TV stick.

1. Go to the Home screen of your Firestick.

2. Navigate towards the Find tab. Press the Search button from the resulting dropdown.

3. Type in the keyword of SurfShark and select from the suggestions that will appear.

4. Click the official SurfShark icon from your search results.

5. Press the Download (You own it) button.

6. The SurfShark VPN installer will download on your device.

7. SurfShark VPN’s app will automatically install itself on your Fire TV stick.

8. Press the Open button after completing SurfShark VPN’s installation process.

9. Please wait for the SurfShark VPN to load its user interface.

10. You can now log in with your SurfShark VPN account credentials.

Learn more about Surfshark and Grab the Best Surfshark Deal Now!

Install Surfshark on Firestick

Best Surfshark Deal

Other VPNs to Consider

NordVPN (Best for Streaming)

Best Features

5000+ Server in 50+ Countries
Military-Grade Encryption
Fast Connection Speed
Suitable to a lot of devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

Complete $5.89 per month (64% Discount)
Plus $4.59 per month (56% Discount)
Standard $3.69 per month (55% Discount)

AltasVPN

Best Features

750+ High-speed VPN Servers in 43 Locations
Military-Grade Encryption
Fastest HD Streaming and Gaming
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Unlimited Data & Devices
No-Log Policy

Prices

3 Years $1.99 per month (82% Discount)
1 Years $3.29 per month (70% Discount)
1 Month $10.99 per month

IPVanish VPN (Most Secure)

Best Features

1200+ Servers in 60+ Countries around the world
Unlimited Connections
No-Log Policy
Top Notch Military-Grade VPN Protocols and Encryptions
100% Safe and Secured
Most Trusted VPN
Best VPN for Firestick
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Prices

Yearly $3.99 per month (63% Discount) – 30 days risk free + Ransomware & Malware Protection
Quarterly $5.32 per month (51% Discount)
Monthly $10.99 per month

For more VPN discounts, go to ReviewVPN Deals and purchase the best VPN for you.

Click here to get the lowest price on Surfshark through our exclusive limited-time offer.

Round-Up

So, there you have our 5 top picks with 1 to avoid. Getting the right Kodi Box means you are going to get the best out of your user experience. If you are looking for sheer single-minded power and being really damn good at one thing. Pick the Nvidia Shield which will really give you the best Kodi experience.

For those on a budget, or maybe if you don’t plan on using Kodi all the time then save yourself some money and get a Kodi Firestick, look out for the regular special offers that Amazon run which mean you can get the Firestick for a fraction of the Shield’s price while still offering a great user interface and good operating capacity.

VPN FAQ – Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About a VPN’s

Posted on July 4, 2019April 14, 2022 by Bob Simon

Everything you need to know about VPN’s

You may have come across VPN’s looking around for ways to secure your data, or to protect your self from malicious hackers online.

Perhaps you just want to watch your favourite show on Netflix, but you can’t get it in this country. Or you want a way to get around content that is blocked in your country.

Whatever the reason, VPN’s have so many benefits when online, in this guide we jump into the burning questions people want to be answered when using VPNs.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Its primary purpose is to encrypt your browsing traffic online and keep your identity and your data safe.

When you connect to an internet provider you use an ISP (Internet Service Provider), you have a unique (IP) Internet Protocol. Imagine that is your home address online. When you type a website into your search bar, your ISP communicates with that website which is set at another IP.

When your data is not encrypted and your IP is not masked, then everyone can see what you are doing. That is how websites track you, ads target you and perhaps even malicious parties online target you with viruses and malware.

A VPN works by routing your traffic through a remote server. This hides your IP and your location as well as encrypting your data. Essentially you can browse freely and anonymously and no one, not even a government agency can see what you are doing.

What Are the Main Use Cases?

VPN’s can be used in so many ways:

Keep your data secure: The biggest reason why anyone uses a VPN is to keep all their data secure. Some more sophisticated providers can even block websites tracking, cookies and malware, meaning you can enjoy websites ad-free. Also, you know that your data is always going to be private
Accessing media abroad: Big streaming providers like Netflix and Amazon, alter their content based upon what country you are in. For example, did you know that most Netflix content is only 30% of what you would find in the US? Using a VPN, you can log into a remote server and access Netflix USA
Bypassing ISP throttling: Many internet service providers limit the speed of their network. Particularly if you are a gamer or a streamer. Meaning you use a lot of data. As ISP’s cannot limit your data, they moderate the speed of your internet. With a VPN you can bypass throttling as your provider thinks you are logging on from an IP that is not your home location
Unlock Geo-restricted content: Some countries ban types of content. For example, China and Iran ban a lot of Western media entirely. The UK blocks certain pornography sites unless you have a credit card. Using an IP, you can log into a site from a different country and circumvent these restrictions
Torrenting: Using a Torrent site, you can download and upload files anonymously including the latest movies and films. You can even live stream live sports events on media software like Kodi. Most ISP’s don’t like torrenting, but using a VPN you can do this all from a virtual location
Save Money: Did you know that a lot of comparison and shopping sites may alter the price of their goods based upon the country you are browsing from?

How Does a VPN Work?

When you first choose a VPN provider you download a client interface. Every time you connect to the internet you first connect to your VPN provider.

Once connected to a VPN server, your traffic is run through your ISP, but now it’s all encrypted. This encryption is usually military-grade and for all practical purposes unbreakable.

So, no one can read your data, which is generated as you browse, including your IP address, browsing history and purchases.

Therefore, a VPN is sometimes known as a tunnel. Your client encrypts the data, which is then unencrypted by the VPN server. You will then be using the IP of the VPN server which could be based anywhere in the world. So, if you are connected to a server in Mexico, to anyone trying to find your IP, who is particularly skilled. They will simply see you as being in Mexico, even though your browsing from the US, or another country.

Which Protocols Are Best?

A VPN protocol is the means by which your client and server are connected. Essentially how the tunnel is created. When you begin looking at different companies, you will see a few different protocols mentioned repeatedly. Namely OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec. So, which one is best?

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Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

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Open VPN

The industry standard and your first choice. Originally released in 2001, it is the primary protocol used by most VPN providers. Because it is fast, secure and stable. It uses the same encryption for HTTPS as OpenSSL which you may see when you are making a purchase online.

IKEv2

Known as Internet Key Version 2. The fastest of all the protocols as it was specifically designed for mobiles. Not all providers use IKEv2 as it is not compatible with all devices. But you would expect to use this protocol with a VPN application on your phone.

SSTP

SSTP stands for Secure Socket Tunnelling Protocol. Running at the same speeds as VPN and used in Windows. Not often used as people tend to veer away from Microsoft software.

PPTP

The oldest security protocols. Rarely used anymore and thought to be the least secure. PPTP stands for point to point tunnelling. It is one of the faster protocols but offers the lowest level of protection. There are known exploited vulnerabilities, so one to be avoided

L2TP/IPsec

Known as Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol, this was originally developed in the 1990’s. This is your second choice and the most widely used alternative to OpenVPN. Some more paranoid, say that the NSA has compromised this encryption because they helped develop it. IPsec is often paired with L2TP as is thought to be faster than SSL but also potentially compromised by the NSA.

Are Any of These Protocols Unbreakable?

For the more security conscious. Some may wonder whether the supercomputers at the NSA can break every protocol. The industry still believes that OpenVPN is secure. A lot of bigger VPN providers will also write their own secure proprietary software on top of the open-source code. Also, for maximum security, you want a provider that has a no-log policy and is based in a country that is not legally bound to handing these logs over to a law enforcement agency.

Can I Use a Free VPN?

Yes, a quick Google search will lead you to literally thousands of free providers. But as the old saying goes, if the product is free then your data is the payment. Big provider charge money for a reason. They use it to run secure servers, develop software and fix security leaks.

We don’t advise using free VPN’s as they are generally no secure, and you may have DNS or IPv6 leaks. This completely undermines the whole point of using a VPN, by revealing your IP and possibly leaking some of your data.

Also, they will probably keep your browsing data to sell to third parties, as otherwise how would they make any money from their service?

What Does No Log Mean?

A no log or zero log policy means that your VPN provider does not keep a record of your browsing history, IP’s used, first location and data usage. This is crucial if you are going to be using VPNs to do things you should not be doing. Few people will use VPNs to commit a crime. But the whole point is keeping your data secure.

Companies which are based in countries known as the 14 eyes. Namely, the 5 eyes (UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand), as well as Spain, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, France, Netherlands and Norway, are generally avoided by the most private of VPN users.

That is because these companies can be compelled by a court of law to share their logs and may be obligated to do so by law. However, some companies like IPVanish based in the US have a great reputation for never letting that happen.

Do All VPN’s Allow Torrents?

In theory, all VPN providers allow Torrents, but some will advertise that more than others. The fact is your provider can’t see what you are doing. Though some VPN’s may limit the amount of data that you can use.

While others based in countries outside of the 14 eyes will emphasise that they are Torrent friendly, and some even have servers specifically used for P2P file sharing. Always read the privacy statement for your chosen provider, there may be clauses in their service where they will hand over your information to law enforcement agencies or ban your service if they catch you uploading unsuitable material, which could be criminal or simply breach Copywrite.

Do All VPN’s Work for Switching Netflix Regions?

No. Netflix is one of the hardest sites to access with a VPN. Their business plan is built on people only being able to access content in their country, so they are always working against VPN providers.

Most big names will be able to connect to Netflix in any region. But you will see a lot of smaller provider with fewer servers and locations denied access.

What is the Highest Level of Encryption?

VPN Encryption is how your data is transmitted backwards and forwards between your client and the remote server you are using. Encryption simply means an encoded message.

You always want to pick a provider that uses AES 256-bit encryption keys. These are unbreakable. Even a supercomputer would literally take quadrillions of years trying to brute force this key. The key when used unscrambles your data so it can become readable again.

The AES 256-bit key is the highest level of encryption and used by the US Military

How Many VPN Providers Are There?

Thousands. The market is growing every day with new providers. But there are probably only 100 or so worth talking about, some of whom were started in the 1990s. Most of the big names in the VPN industry like IPVanish, NordVPN and ExpressVPN have been around since 2010.

What Should I Look For When Choosing a VPN Provider?

So now you know a little bit more about VPN’s and how they work, let’s think about the criteria that you want to use before choosing one.

Primary Concerns

These should be key when choosing a VPN, otherwise, you may as well browse unencrypted.

Security: This must be of paramount importance. Namely, does the VPN provider have a good track record of keeping data secure? Check out reviews and comments on Trustpilot, as well as testing a free trial and seeing if you get any DNS, IPv6 or ROTC leaks
A number of Servers and Countries: The more servers a provider has, the faster the connection in general. Also, the more countries and location that are on offer means the more easily you will be able to access a remote server close to you. Using a VPN may slow down your connection, and the further away from the server the slower it’s going to be
No Logs Policy: We recommend choosing a provider with a clear zero logs policy with a proven background of withholding data from law enforcement, or based in a country outside of the 14 eyes
Encryption and Protocols: Choose a provider that uses 256-bit AES encryption and OpenVPN or IKEv2 protocols for maximum security
Speed: There is no point using a VPN if your speed is too slow to do anything. Check reviews and find out what speeds you will be getting from different servers in the US, Europe and Asia. You want at least 20Mbps. This should go up to 40-60+ MBps in Europe and the US

Secondary Concerns

If all the above concerns are met, you can consider the following to choose what to buy.

Connectivity: You may want to use a VPN in China or may have to use it abroad in a remote country. Check internet speeds and look for successful use cases in your country
A number of devices and connections: If you are buying a VPN for the whole family, then make sure you have enough connections and devices. The industry standard is 5 devices, but many go higher
Customer Support: Choose a provider that at the very least has 24/7 chat support and helpful user guides. It’s rare to find a provider that has a 24/7 phone line like IPVanish, but don’t settle for any less.
Price: You should pay more than $9.99 a month for a VPN, and a yearly price plan can cut that down to $7 or less. You want to pay, but don’t pay over the odds

VPN vs SmartDNS

Posted on July 3, 2019September 21, 2022 by Bob Simon

VPN vs Smart DNS

You’re probably here because you want to watch content that is blocked in your country and you are wondering what’s best.

Some content online like Netflix or Kodi can be GeoIP locked. This means that only IPs from that country can access the content. Netflix USA is a great example; most countries only get 30-50% of the content offered by Netflix in the US. The trick is you would need to live in the US and have a US IP to access it, otherwise, you will be redirected to the site specific to your country.

So, let’s get into it, break down the terminology and figure out what’s best when it comes to VPN vs Smart DNS.

What is a VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN creates a private connection between the VPN client that you install on your computer or mobile phone and their server. The connection is known as “tunneling” where your requests to visit an internet site are encrypted by the application and decrypted by the server before being sent to the target site’s DNS (Domain Name Server). The same process happens in reverse with incoming data.

VPNs mask your IP (Internet Protocol) address. This address is like a home address. It tells any website where you are trying to access the site. They also encrypt your data to help to keep it secure. Many VPN providers have a host of additional features to increase your anonymity, privacy, and security online.

What Are They Used For?

Think of a VPN as an all-in-one package for software that keeps your online identity safe. You would commonly use a VPN to:

Browse online anonymously
Access content that is restricted in your country
Protect yourself from hackers and malicious third parties, particularly when using public Wi-Fi
Torrent
Hide your true location
Bypass censorship laws in your country to access restricted content

What is a Smart DNS?

A Smart DNS (Domain Name Server) allows your ISP’s (Internet Service Provider) DNS IP address to be replaced by your Smart DNS IP address. This means that you can change what location your traffic is seen to be coming from.

When your target sees that you are trying to access their content from a country indicated by your Smart DNS’ IP they give you access to say Netflix USA from France.

What Are They Used For?

Smart DNS’ is primarily used for accessing GeoIP restricted content. As they change the IP that is being received by the target website’s DNS. Note they do not change your home computer’s IP. They just change it on their server and any relating meta-data.

Smart DNS’s primary function is to change any information in your data that may reveal you’re true geographic locations.

VPN vs Smart DNS – Pros and Cons of Each

So now we get the gist of the technical jargon what are the Pros and Cons of using either a VPN or a Smart DNS?

YOUR INTERNET ACTIVITY IS BEING WATCHED

ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi.

Currently, your IP 18.97.14.84 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider.

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Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN:

Your activities are hidden from your ISP, the government, and from the apps you are using.
You can access additional movies and TV streams.
ISP attempts to throttle are thrwarted thus reducing buffering issues.
Geographically restricted content like Netflix and Hulu can be unblocked.

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VPN Pros and Cons

Pros

VPN’s allow you to carry out a wide array of functions. Not only can you access GeoIP restricted content, but you can also Torrent use Kodi and access censored websites within a highly restrictive country like China
They will change your home IP address. Meaning that your identity is safe from the moment you browse using their application.
All your data is encrypted. Any data this is sent or received using a VPN usually is encrypted using at least a 128-bit AES encryption, which means that even if your data stream is intercepted it just looks like gibberish
An ISP cannot see that you are using a VPN. Some Internet Service Providers will deliberately slow down or “throttle” your connection, if say you are doing a lot of streaming or torrenting, using a VPN all your data is encrypted so it looks just like all the other packets
VPN’s go to great lengths to protect your identity online, through encryption and ensuring that your original IP is not leaked. They are effective against DNS, Ipv6, and WebRTC leaks
Due to their popularity and increasingly accepted use, VPN’s tend to cheap and easy to use. With simple plug-and-play applications which means that you don’t need any technical know-how to use them. Just simply click On/Off and leave it to do the rest
Increasingly you can a host of added functions with VPN’s including more secure ways to connect, having your IP routed through multiple VPN servers, ad and website blockers which help give you a clean browsing experience
As the VPN industry is so big, and still growing rapidly. The market is competitive, which means that VPN prices are now cheap for yearly plans, plus providers are constantly being driven to release new features and improve their service

Cons

You will see some slow down in your internet speed. A VPN connection can slow your connection by 5-30%, though you may see your speeds go up if your ISP already throttles your connection
Due to their widespread use, some smaller VPN’s may find it difficult to connect to big-name media providers like Netflix and BBC iPlayer or use Kodi. As these companies are actively trying to block VPN’s.
Some VPN services may sell your data to advertisers or third parties. Make sure you join a trusted and well-reviewed VPN provider. We avoid using free VPN service, as generally when the service is free online then the product is your data

DNS Pros and Cons

Pros

If your sole purpose for using some sort of IP Masking service is to say access Netflix in another country, then a Smart DNS works well in unblocking media that is only locked by Geographic IP
Your Smart DNS provider is less likely to get blocked because media providers tend to concentrate their efforts on VPNs
You will enjoy similar internet speeds to your original connection, as there is no encryption tunnel

Cons

Nothing you do on a Smart DNS is encrypted. There is no security as such for your connection, your data when it is sent or received
A Smart DNS won’t be able to hide your original IP, nor does it make any attempt to, which means you will still be able to have your original IP traced
DNS’ can be quite complex to set up manually, and will involve some level of technical expertise in IP addresses
They tend to be the same price as a VPN while offering a fraction of the functionality. This is driven in part by the fact that the VPN industry is growing rapidly, and highly competitive so prices keep coming down
A Smart DNS’ sole function really is to give the impression of a different geographic location, apart from accessing GeoIP locked content it has no real utility

When to Choose a Smart DNS over a VPN?

The only reason we could think of where you would want to choose a Smart DNS over a VPN, is if getting the maximum speed out of your connection is your top priority and you want to access specific GeoIP locked content.

Apart from that it makes more sense and is probably cheaper to get a VPN that offers the function of a Smart DNS plus so much more.

Why a VPN is Better

Apart from the above reason of wanting to stream content at the maximum possible speeds. In every other way, a VPN really is better.

Though some would say that you can eke a bit more speed out of a Smart DNS< the biggest names in the VPN industry like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are used by millions of users every day to stream from sites like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO without incident. We can’t see any particular use for having more speed. As long-time users of VPN’s ourselves, we have never come across buffering problems.

If anything, our connection tends to be faster, as our VPN can circumvent ISP throttling, which is particularly useful in the evening when providers will see a spike in usage when everyone is sitting back for a “Netflix and chill”

Apart from that, a VPN simply winds hand down every time.

Price

A Smart DNS will cost you about $4-5 a month, while a good VPN provider now will set you back as little s $2-3 a month for a yearly plan. We are even starting to see some providers driving their prices below $2 a month like Surf Shark. This does mean a bigger upfront payment, but an absolute bargain if you are committed to privacy and VPN’s. You’d expect to pay about $10 a month if you are just using your VPN monthly.

Censored Content/Firewalls

Smart DNS’ can get around GeoIP locks but not firewalls. Countries with higher levels of censorship like China and Iran will have network sensors inbuilt into their internet. If they detect an IP that is trying to access an outside banned website that is not encrypted, they will block the request. Only a VPN using a specialized security protocol like Stealth would be able to avoid these types of Hi-Tech firewalls.

Torrenting

Torrenting is not illegal. But if you plan on uploading and downloading the latest Marvel movie then you wouldn’t want to do it on a DNS.

Because your home IP could be easily traced by anybody with a little bit of know-how. Any malicious party would be able to see what DNS server you are using and the originating IP request from your home computer.

Downloading torrents can also leave you liable to malware. With a VPN you will get the added security of malware protection, IP masking, and encryption.

With a Smart DNS your ISP will be able to see from your file sizes that you are torrenting as nothing is encrypted. An ISP could pursue possible legal action or throttling your IP to ensure you take up too much bandwidth. Many VPN providers embrace P2P and have specially designed P2P servers to enable high-speed uploads and downloads.

Security

Smart DNS offers no security whatsoever. Most modern VPN’s use 256-bit AES encryption for all their communication. That is the same level of security as the US Military.

You can also choose from a wide range of security protocols, depending on how much security you want. If you are streaming from a trusted site then you may reduce the level of encryption to eke out some extra speed.

Privacy

A Smart DNS will only obscure your IP to a DNS Server. An informed snooper can easily trace back your location and other details about you and your browsing.

Using a VPN, you can access a host of additional functions. Functions like Double VPN and Tor over VPN giving you absolute security that your privacy and security remain intact.

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