With around 200 million subscribers, Amazon Prime Video is one of the biggest streaming platforms today. Looking at the amount of popular shows, movies, and quality originals on there, it’s easy to see why.
However, as with all online activities, your data might be at risk whenever you’re relaxing with your favorite show or movie. Thankfully, you can keep your personal information private by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when watching content on Amazon Prime Video.
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Does Amazon Prime Video work with VPNs?
Yes, you can watch Amazon Prime Video with a VPN. If you want online privacy, you need to protect yourself whenever you’re on the internet, even if you’re just using the VPN for streaming. A premium VPN for Amazon Prime Video will encrypt all your traffic, keeping your personal information away from prying eyes.
Why use a VPN with Amazon Prime Video?
Privacy and security will always be the main reasons for using a VPN. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing more to gain from it. A VPN can improve your surfing experience, keep you connected while traveling, or even help you overcome oppressive government censorship.
Let’s take a look at some of the main benefits that you can get out of using a VPN:
Stay safe and private online
A VPN encrypts all your traffic, keeping it away from any third parties. Without encryption, your ISP, the websites you visit, and even bad actors may be able to see and track your online activity. Encryption hides this information under a code, making it pretty much impossible for anyone to see what you’re doing on the internet.
Hide your location
Your IP (Internet Protocol) address can be used to pinpoint your actual location. You probably don’t want anyone to have access to this information. A VPN hides your actual IP address and changes it to that of a VPN server. As a result, your digital location is changed to the VPN server’s location as well.
Watch your favorite shows while traveling
Ever traveled abroad only to find that your favorite show has disappeared from the Amazon Prime Video library? Some shows or movies can be region-restricted. Thankfully, that’s not a problem if you have a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in your home country and stream content as if you’ve never left.
Block annoying ads
Amazon has recently announced that it will start showing ads on Prime Video in some regions, only adding to the endless ads you already see online. Some premium VPNs, like Surfshark, have implemented an ad blocker feature into their services, cleaning up your viewing experience as a result.
Overcome oppressive censorship
Amazon Prime Video may not be accessible in some countries with authoritarian regimes. You can overcome such restrictions and access Amazon Prime Video by simply connecting to a VPN server outside of those countries.
If you want extra security, you can connect to one of Surfshark’s obfuscated servers. Connecting to one of such servers hides the fact that you’re using a VPN app on top of protecting your traffic.
Why is Surfshark the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video?
Fast speeds | Secure encryption | Vast server network |
|---|---|---|
Surfshark has modern VPN protocols and thousands of servers with 10 Gbps ports. This ensures a stable and fast connection at all times. | A VPN is only as secure as the encryption it uses. Surfshark Uses the industry-leading AES-256 encryption algorithm to keep your data safe. | Server crowdedness and the distance from you to the server are key factors for VPN connection speed. Surfshark has 3200+ servers in 100 countries, ensuring that you’ll always find an uncrowded server nearby. |
No activity tracking | Unlimited connections | No ISP throttling |
Your privacy should not end with the VPN service provider. Surfshark VPN has a strict no-logs policy that ensures no user activity records are kept, maintaining your privacy at all times. | Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, which means you can stream Prime Video and protect all your devices at the same time. | In some cases, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may throttle your connection based on your activity. A VPN hides what you do online, giving the ISP fewer reasons to throttle your connection. |
How to use an Amazon Prime VPN
Step 1: Download a VPN
Choose a VPN provider and download the VPN app. If you choose to go with Surfshark, simply go to the download page and download the app on all your devices. Whether you’re streaming content on Amazon Fire TV, your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV — we’ve got you covered.
Step 2: Create an account
Choose a subscription option that suits you best and create your account.
Step 3: Connect to a server location
Open the VPN app, log in to your brand new account, connect to one of Surfshark’s 3200+ servers worldwide, and stream Amazon Prime Video privately, no matter where you are.
Note: You can also download titles before you travel to watch them offline from anywhere in the world. The titles you can download are marked “Watch While Abroad.”
What if Amazon Prime Video blocks your VPN?
In some cases, you may have issues accessing Amazon Prime Video with a VPN. This can happen if another VPN user doesn’t comply with the Amazon Prime Video Terms of Use. The service typically bans users based on their IP address, which means other people connected to the same server can’t access it as well.
Thankfully, this issue is fairly easy to resolve — all you need to do is follow the steps below:
To unblock Amazon Prime Video with a VPN, try the following tips:
- Close the Amazon Prime Video website and/or app;
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies;
- Connect to a different VPN server;
- Reopen Amazon Prime Video.
In some cases, you may need to restart your device or close and reopen the browser you’re using.
If you’re still experiencing issues, feel free to contact our support team. Our customer success sharks work 24/7. If you need a quick response, drop a message via live chat; otherwise, submit a request, and they’ll contact you via email.
Disclaimer: We prohibit using Surfshark services for any unlawful purposes as it is against our Terms of Service. Please be sure to act in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of streaming service providers.
How can I get the best streaming quality and speed with a VPN?
A VPN will inevitably have some impact on your connection speed. It needs to route your traffic through a VPN server, which is an extra step in the connection process. Thankfully, with premium VPN providers like Surfshark, the impact on connection speed is much lower compared to free VPNs, and most users barely notice a difference.
That said, the connection speed also depends on the VPN protocol used and the server you’re connected to. For optimal connection speeds, you should use WireGuard as your primary VPN protocol and connect to an uncrowded server as close to your physical location as possible.
If your VPN is slowing down the internet connection, you can try some tips and tricks to resolve it. Start with the following:
- Run a VPN speed test to find out if it’s really the VPN that’s causing the issue;
- Switch to a different server location — usually, the closer the location, the better the speed;
- Go to the settings on your VPN app and change your VPN protocol to WireGuard. It’s considered one of the fastest VPN protocols;
- If you feel like using OpenVPN, switch between TCP/UDP and OpenVPN. UDP is faster and better for streaming, while TCP is more reliable but slower.
Improve your Amazon Prime experience with a VPN
Using a VPN is more than just a way to stay private. Surfshark can enhance your Amazon Prime viewing experience by blocking ads, overcoming ISP throttling, and allowing you to watch your favorite shows and movies when traveling abroad. Get Surfshark, sit back, and relax, knowing your privacy is always protected.
FAQ
Why can’t I watch Amazon Prime abroad?
Amazon Prime, much like other streaming services, has different content licensing deals in each country. This results in every market having a unique library of shows and movies to watch. So if you’re traveling, the shows you know and love might not be available.
Can I use my Amazon Prime membership in another country?
Yes and no. Your membership will still be there, but due to licensing restrictions, the library that you can access may change depending on the country you’re visiting. So streaming Amazon Prime Video won’t be a problem, but you may not have access to your favorite shows or movies.
Does Surfshark VPN work on Amazon Fire Stick?
Yes, Surfshark works on Amazon Fire Stick and even has a dedicated Amazon Fire Stick app. So you can simply search for Surfshark on your Fire TV, download the app, log in to your account, and connect to one of Surfshark’s 3200+ servers to stream content privately.
Do free VPNs work with Amazon Prime Video?
While some free VPNs may work with Amazon Prime Video, you don’t want to be using them. Free VPNs tend to have few server locations, and their servers are usually very crowded. This leads to a big drop in connection speed, which will almost certainly impact the streaming performance.
How many devices can I watch Amazon Prime Video on with a VPN at the same time?
The number of simultaneous connections depends on the VPN provider that you’re using. Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which means you can watch Amazon Prime Video on all your devices at the same time if you so desire.
