5 Features to Pursue while Purchasing a VPN for a Streaming Device

Last updated on June 23rd, 2022 at 04:25 am

Are you wondering as to which VPN would be a good fit for your streaming device? Fret not, as I just have the right topic for you to read and draw insights from. 

Finding the right VPN isn’t akin to purchasing the best one. Sound counterintuitive? Well, it’s not, as best doesn’t always entail the right set of features. A VPN can have the best encryption protocol but the extent to which it promotes an unperturbed streaming experience might make it less of an option for content connoisseurs. 

Therefore, making a choice with the features in mind isn’t always the prudent way to go. Instead, you should trail the features that I would mention in the subsequent sections, to find a felicitous ally for the streaming device that you have at home. 

1. Speed

Regardless of the bells and whistles you seek, a streaming-centric VPN should primarily focus on rendering content at the best possible speeds. There is no point in purchasing a feature-packed VPN that underwhelms when the content streaming tempo is concerned and makes the video buffer, unreasonably.  

2. Ease of Usage

If you are planning to get a VPN for your streaming device, you should weigh heavily on the user experience. First things first, you wouldn’t want to spend a hell of a lot of time configuring the same or learning to use it. All you want is a snappy UI that responds within minutes and voila, you are good to go with content unblocking and IP masking. 

 3. P2P Functionality

While this feature usually shows up later in any VPN-specific list, it deserves one of the top spots if you want to pair the same with a streaming device. P2P downloads aren’t perceived well by the ISPs, who then end up throttling the bandwidth from their end, thereby ambushing the entire internet usage experience.

A good VPN can make things easier for you if you own something like a Fire TV stick that allows you to initiate P2P processes without breaking a sweat. Once the P2P downloads start, the split tunneling feature of a relevant VPN is put to use, which then redirects a certain portion of your traffic via a secured, private network.

But that’s not it as you need to invest in a VPN that comes with a dedicated Kill switch, as it instantly sabotages the online connection in case the VPN stops working for a moment. This way, you can avoid coming into the radar of the ISP as the peer-to-peer link snaps immediately and there is no P2P traffic movement to raise concerns.

According to FireStickTricks.com, ExpressVPN is the top VPN for Fire TV devices and might even make sense to other streaming devices that support sideloading. Also, ExpressVPN has each of the mentioned P2P functionalities in play that make it an indispensable streaming ally

4. Encryption

I was supposed to talk about encryption sooner than this but found P2P functionality a better streaming-specific trait to discuss. Nonetheless, now that you are reading through this point, make sure to get a VPN that takes encryption seriously. 

While VPN encryption is a technical realm, I would make this explainer a bit lucid for you to understand better. First of all, take note of the encryption key in place and make sure that it is long enough, i.e. at least 128-bit. Plus, you would want to rely on a VPN client with reliable exchange protocols like RSA-2048, ECDH, and more. 

Plus, resilient ciphers like Twofish also make sense when it comes to securing data better. Lastly, it is the encryption protocol that is of the essence and determines how secure the encryption path is, in terms of its impact on security, capabilities, speed, and existing vulnerabilities. 

5. Security

The last resource that every streaming-compatible VPN should have is the highest level of security, which includes a no-log policy, improved anonymity, sizable server coverage, and better IP hiding strategies. 

While these are some of the most important features to look for, you can also set aside a few pointers for better accessibility, improved versatility, top-notch tech support, provisioning for static IP, and competitive pricing. Also, it might not be possible to get one VPN that comes equipped with each of the mentioned traits. Therefore, you should focus on procuring a client that strikes the perfect balance between power, performance, productivity, and price.