How to unblock and stream Amazon Prime with a VPN (from anywhere)

As the holiday season begins, you’ll indeed have your watchlist ready with you, isn’t it? Perhaps, your preferred choice would be Amazon Prime to watch your favorite media.

But, what if despite having a premium subscription, you get an error while streaming? You realize you’re locked out just because you’re not in the location Amazon Prime wants you to be.

Isn’t it frustrating?

It definitely is! But we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to unblock your favorite movie by merely getting your hands on a quality Amazon Prime VPN.

Using VPN to unblock Amazon Prime Instant Video from anywhere: Quick guide

In a rush to watch Amazon Prime abroad? Here’s a quick guide to help you.

A little about Amazon Prime Video

In short, Amazon Prime Video, or just Prime Video, is another streaming service like US-based streaming giant Netflix that widens the choice of content streaming for the users globally.

The service primarily started off as a US-only service, “Amazon Unbox,” in 2006. Later on, the service expanded its library, adding up Prime subscriptions. The service also expanded its coverage to the UK and other countries, eventually attaining a worldwide reach by 2016 (excluding Mainland China, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea).

This worldwide accessibility is the primary reason for Prime Video’s success globally, despite being a paid service. Anyone from any part of the world can create an account for subscribing to Amazon Prime.

When you sign-up, you initially receive a free online Amazon Prime access (free trial) that lasts for 30-days. After this trial period ends, Amazon automatically renews your subscription by charging the fee from the billing method you shared during account registration.

If anyone doesn’t want to continue Amazon Prime subscription, the user can easily cancel the subscription at any time.

Why you need a VPN for Amazon Prime unblocking

After reading the above section, you might wonder why use a VPN with Amazon Prime if it’s available easily?

Before moving on, let’s clarify that a VPN isn’t only a tool for accessing blocked content or spoof locations. Instead, on top of everything, a VPN is a requisite for ensuring online security.

So, enabling a VPN whenever you connect to the internet isn’t a workaround, rather an inevitable security measure.

Clear? Great! Now, let’s come to why you should use a VPN to watch Amazon Prime Video abroad or at home.

To protect your online privacy

Although, using a VPN is essential to maintain your privacy. But, when streaming on Amazon Prime Video, you need to pay more attention to your privacy.

It’s because Amazon isn’t merely a streaming service, rather a marketplace and a giant advertiser too. So, you can expect Amazon to collect every possible information about you to build your profile as precisely as it can.

Of course, besides asking yourself, the other strategy to know your likes, dislikes, needs, and preferences is to track what you do online. This tracking isn’t confined to your use of amazon services. Rather, the tech giant chases you everywhere across the web.

It then monetizes your data by selling your profile to other companies as well.

However, since this tracking is predominantly possible via your IP address, you can easily protect yourself by changing your IP address to a fake one. For this, nothing else would serve you the best except a VPN. It’s because a VPN doesn’t only hides your IP address but also encrypts all your data, thus ruling out all potential web tracking strategies.

Therefore, to prevent this tech giant from spying on you everywhere, you must make sure to use a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming.

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To unblock your favorite movies and shows anywhere

The other prominent reason for you to use a VPN is to bypass all country-restrictions and access the Amazon Prime international library on your device.

Confused?

Despite being globally available, Amazon abides by various copyright, licensing, and other content regulations, for which it has to block certain media inside or outside a particular location(s).

Sometimes, it’s because the content creators do not want their media to stream inside or outside a specific region. Whereas, in some other cases, Amazon has to segregate content viewership based on certain countries’ media regulations.

Also, there could as well be many more reasons for the streaming giant to block or unblock a certain movie or TV show in a particular country.

Regardless of the reason is, the ultimate sufferer is the end-user who, despite paying for a subscription, can’t watch the desired media everywhere.

It means that when you travel abroad, for instance, from the USA to the Netherlands, you won’t lose access to Prime Video since it is available in both countries.

But, as soon as you sign-in to your account and try to resume the streaming of your favorite TV show, you’ll likely get an error because that show won’t be available in your existing location.

That’s where these restrictions frustrate a user. And that’s what a VPN resolves.

Most good VPNs allow you to change your IP location to the most prominent countries in the world. So, if you install and connect to a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming before signing-in to your account, you can easily watch your desired media.

For instance, if your favorite show is available to US subscribers only, you can spoof your online location to the USA and watch the US version of Amazon Prime.

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Can Amazon block VPN services?

Well, when it comes to using a VPN for Amazon Prime unblocking abroad, users need to remain very careful. It’s because Amazon is one of those few services that actively detect and block VPNs.

Of course, when they have implemented content restrictions, they expect that their users would use various methods to evade such geo-restrictions.

Therefore, they aren’t wrong in protecting the integrity of their policies by blocking proxies and VPNs.

So, if you use a VPN that doesn’t support Amazon Prime Video or that isn’t good at bypassing VPN blocks, you’ll likely see many errors while streaming. And the potential solution to removing those errors would be to disconnect your VPN (and make yourself vulnerable to tracking alongside losing access to your favorite movie).

If your VPN claims to unblock Amazon Prime Video abroad, then you should contact its customer support to report the matter.

Otherwise, you may switch your Amazon Prime VPN.

Which is the best VPN for Amazon Prime streaming?

We understand Amazon Prime can block VPNs, then which one should you use to watch Amazon Prime outside the US? We hear you ask.

Don’t worry, below we list the best Amazon Prime VPNs that bypass all sorts of VPN blocking and provide uninterrupted access to Prime Video anytime anywhere.

1. NordVPN

These guys have made it to our list due to their impressive services and no compromise on user security.

NordVPN has been around for years, and they openly offer premium support for Prime Video streaming. Therefore, you can trust that you can easily use this VPN for Amazon Prime streaming anywhere.

To support this feature, these service providers have established a huge network of 5400+ servers in 59 countries. That means you get plenty of servers to connect and change your online location to your desired country.

Once done, you can enjoy Amazon Prime just like a resident of that country would do. In fact, you open up a lot more libraries as you switch your VPN servers.

Also, NordVPN offers ‘SmartPlay’ – an automatic feature facilitating Prime Video streaming that starts right when you enable your VPN. Whereas its robust security protects you from ISP throttling, thus ensuring a no-lag streaming experience.

The service comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Thus, you don’t have to worry about your money when subscribing to NordVPN. If you aren’t satisfied with its service during the trial period, you can have your money back without hassle.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark supports all major streaming platforms natively. Thus, you can unblock iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, and many more with this VPN.

Of course, you don’t have to worry about the choice of location. Thanks to Surfshark’s huge network, you get 3200 servers across 65 different countries. That means you can access your desired movie or TV show from 65 different regions without relocating anywhere!

The biggest plus with Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous device connections to a single account. It means that whether you wish to watch Prime Video on your smart TV, your laptop, PC, smartphone, or gaming console, you can install the respective VPN client on all your devices.

Besides, it offers all the desirable features that make it the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video streaming without compromising your privacy. These include superior military-grade AES-256-bit encryption, double VPN for top-notch anonymity, whitelisting, camouflage mode, the NoBorders mode to bypass all types of geo-restrictions, and a lot more.

Moreover, Surfshark also comes with the most affordable pricing plans. Thus, it provides you with premium security without blowing your budget.

Still, if you’re hesitant to risk your money, you can try their services and see if it works. Otherwise, their 30-day paid trial with a money-back guarantee is all there to get your money back.

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3. ExpressVPN

The other name that we recommend as the best Amazon Prime VPN is ExpressVPN.

As regards streaming, ExpressVPN works great since it has a huge network of over 3000 servers across 94 different countries. It means that you can watch your favorite movie, TV show, or sports limited to any part of the world on Prime Video. During our tests, we got fast connection speeds on all of its servers.

Besides, ExpressVPN also warrants utmost anonymity to the users by offering military-grade AES-256-bit encryption and kill-switch. It means that it not only protects you from web tracking but also evades accidental exposure of your real IP address to Prime Video. In this way, you can enjoy uninterrupted access to your desire media no matter where you go.

The provider has apps for all the popular devices and operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Also, it not offers a manual installation guide for routers but a router app. Meaning installing a VPN on your router to stream Amazon Prime on any device connected to your WiFi network is a breeze.

If you doubt the feasibility of this Amazon Prime VPN, then you can assess its services by availing yourself of its 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

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How to choose the best Amazon Prime VPNs?

After going through the list of the best VPNs for Amazon Prime streaming, you might wonder what made us list them here.

Is it because we are an affiliate of these VPNs? We hear you ask.

The answer is no! The reason why we defiantly recommended those three VPNs is that those were the ones that passed our reviewing criteria among the tens of VPNs we tested to unblock Amazon Prime abroad.

Wondering how we assessed those VPNs? Below we quickly describe the key parameters you should evaluate before choosing a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming. Though, if you plan to use a VPN for other purposes as well, then take a look at our detailed guide on choosing the best VPN.

Wide server network

The first thing that you should look for before choosing a VPN is its number of servers. The more servers a VPN has across different locations, the more opportunities you get to unblock the desired library of Amazon Prime Video or any other streaming platform.

Besides, streaming options, a large server network also means that your VPN can evade VPN blocks. Whenever a server faces a block, the VPN quickly connects you to another server in the same location. Hence, you enjoy uninterrupted streaming.

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Fast speed

Most VPN customers often complain about slow connection speeds when streaming with VPNs. That’s because the additional step of data encryption before transmission tends to cause a slight lag in your connectivity. In turn, this lag affects your streaming speed.

However, as an end-user, these technical issues aren’t your headache, right? Of course, if a VPN offers security, it shouldn’t ruin your leisure time, right?

Well, if you choose a reliable VPN, like the ones we listed above, you won’t face this problem. Those VPNs make sure to offer super-fast speeds so that you don’t face any lags, poor video quality, or prolonged buffering times while streaming.

So, before making a decision, double-check that your selected VPN won’t compromise on speed or video quality.

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Multiple simultaneous connections

Today, none of us possesses a single device only. Almost every one of us has more than one device that supports video streaming, be it our smartphones, computers, gaming consoles, or smart TVs. This diversity of gadgets let us watch our favorite movie or sports without hassle.

But, with most VPNs, you lose this choice of devices owing to the limited number of connections offered on a single account. Indeed, this limitation is annoying for avid Prime Video users as your VPN should also respect your convenience. Shouldn’t it?

Thankfully, the credible VPN services of today, like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN, respect your freedom. And so, they offer multiple simultaneous device connections allowing you to unblock Amazon Prime anytime, anywhere.

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Robust security and anti-tracking

Perhaps, using a VPN would go in vain if it doesn’t offer premium security, right? You not only want your VPN for Amazon Prime to support streaming. Rather you also need it to protect you from all sorts of tracking, be it from the web trackers or your ISP.

Thus, make sure that your chosen VPN offers everything to protect your online identity. Generally, you can look for the availability of features like military-grade encryption, Kill-Switch, no data logging, adblocking, malware protection, anti-tracking, secure VPN protocols, preventing IP leaks, and Smart DNS.

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Unblocks Amazon Prime anywhere

Although we have mentioned this point in the last, this is the most important one.

It’s because even if your chosen VPN fulfills all the above criteria, it might still fail when streaming Prime Video. Owing to Amazon’s robust VPN and proxy detection policies, many good VPNs fail with Prime Video despite providing good services otherwise. To bypass this detection, a VPN must change its server IPs quickly to avoid detection by the service. And this change must not interrupt your streaming experience.

So, before you invest your money, make sure that your VPN openly offers support for Prime Video streaming, just like the three VPNs we mentioned above.

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A step-by-step guide to getting Amazon Prime Instant unblocked with VPN

Now that you know which VPNs you should use and how to choose the best Amazon Prime VPN let’s begin with how to use a VPN to watch Amazon Prime abroad just the way you used to do when home.

Don’t be confused since it won’t take you long to set up a VPN for Amazon Prime.

All it takes is a few minutes and a few clicks after which, you can watch your favorite US sport on Amazon Prime outside the US too.

1. Subscribe to your chosen VPN service

We have explained above how to choose the best VPN to unblock Prime Video. So, once you have researched and selected a VPN service provider, subscribe to their service.

For this, you will find the explicit steps on the website of your chosen VPN. Generally, the steps include filling up your details as asked, enter your billing details and payment method, and choose a respective pricing plan.

In case of any problem during registration, you can always contact their customer support to seek a solution.

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2. Download and install the VPN client

After completing the subscription process, you now have to download the VPN on your device.

You can search and choose the VPN app for your device. In most cases, you will find separate apps for your VPN supporting different devices like Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and more. Download the one according to your device and click the setup to complete the installation process.

Often, you will be redirected to the respective VPN client according to your device. You can also sign in to your VPN on other devices to install the VPN on them.

Alternatively, you can instead go for the VPN app for routers. This will save you from the hassle of setting up the VPN separately across every device you own.

Doing so will make internet traffic of all the devices on your WiFi network travel through VPN. Please note though, this process differs depending on your router’s firmware. For details about this facility, please refer to our guide on installing VPN on routers.

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3. Turn on your VPN connection

After completing the installation, it’s now time to sign in to your VPN client. You should use your VPN account credentials for that.

Once done, you will now see a list of servers from different countries. Connect to the location where your desired media is available.

For example, if you want to stream the Prime Video US library, you should connect to a US server. Likewise, to unblock the UK library anywhere, connect to a UK server.

After the connection establishes, check your VPN for any possible IP leak. If everything looks okay, proceed to the following step.

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4. Proceed to stream Amazon Prime Video

Now that you own a new IP address, head on to Prime Video, sign in to your account, and start streaming your desired media from the now unblocked content library.

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What about the VPNs that don’t unblock Amazon Prime?

Most of the VPNs that face blocks from Amazon Prime Video are free ones.

It’s because these VPNs do not offer superior anonymity as the paid VPNs. Also, they fail to implement a thorough evasive protocol. Therefore, when they encounter robust tracking measures by Prime Video, they get blocked.

If such VPNs do not possess a huge server network (that they often lack), they are likely to get failed in unblocking Prime Video at your place.

Prime Video’s tracking mechanism is so strong that even some paid VPNs also get blocked.

So, the key to avoiding such VPNs is to perform thorough research before subscribing to a service. On top of everything else, check whether the VPN offers dedicated support for Amazon Prime Video streaming. If it does, then see if the VPN offers a free trial or a paid trial with a money-back guarantee. If it does, then you have to subscribe and see if the VPN unblocks Prime Video at your place.

Also, check for customer reviews to see whether that VPN has succeeded in unblocking Prime Video for other customers.

An alternate method to watch Amazon Prime abroad – Smart DNS

Although, we strongly advise you to stick to a VPN for Amazon Prime Video streaming.

But, if you’re looking for other workarounds, you can try using a Smart DNS.

Briefly, a Smart DNS works similar to a VPN. That is, it reroutes your traffic from its own servers, thereby presenting the IP address from its own servers to the respective service. Since it offers no data encryption, you get the superfast streaming speed with Smart DNS.

However, this workaround often fails with unblocking rigid services like Prime Video, as these services eventually detect your IP spoofing strategy. Thus, they block your access to your chosen media.

So, even if you try this workaround instead of using a VPN, the chances of you getting uninterrupted access for long are pretty scarce.

Though, if you go with a VPN service that also comes with Smart DNS, like the ones we listed above, rest assured to enjoy no-lag streaming with complete privacy.

Is it legal to use a VPN for Amazon Prime streaming?

Yes. Although doing so may be a violation of Amazon’s terms of service, but it won’t make you suffer legal issues. However, make sure that VPNs are legal in your country. Otherwise, you’ll surely land in hot water.

Can I use a VPN for Amazon Prime on Firestick/Fire TV?

Of course, you can. In fact, if you install a VPN on your Firestick, Fire TV, or Fire TV Cube, you can not only unblock Amazon Prime but can also unlock your desired media on all other streaming platforms as well, including Netflix, Hulu, iPlayer, and more.

Sounds great? Check out our guide to setting up a VPN on Firestick/Fire TV to learn the entire installation method.

Though, if you face trouble downloading a VPN on your Firestick, you can jailbreak it to gain explicit access to the device. Check out this guide to jailbreak Firestick to prepare your Fire device for VPN installation.

Conclusion

So, this was all about how to use the best VPN for Amazon Prime streaming to watch your favorite media anywhere.

Certainly, the variety of content and the easy availability of Prime Video globally has made it one of today’s most desirable streaming platforms. But, their content specifications and geo-restrictions are really annoying for the users, particularly for frequent travelers.

Nonetheless, you have now learned to watch Amazon Prime Video abroad in the same way you do at home. Hence, you no more have to worry about missing your favorite TV show or sports in the middle. Also, your Amazon Prime VPN will also protect you from hackers and other risks, such as man-in-the-middle attacks over public WiFi hotspots, while connected to the internet.

We hope our guide will surely help you in unblocking your desired movie, TV show, or sports within a few minutes. Yet, if you face troubles, especially with any of our recommended Amazon Prime VPNs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark), feel free to share your concern with us via your comments.

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