Official add-ons (verified by Kodi) are generally safe to use, while unofficial add-ons (third-party add-ons that aren’t verified by Kodi) are riskier to install. However, all Kodi add-ons can be compromised, which is why it’s so important to use a quality VPN. The encrypted connection keeps your data hidden from potential hackers and spies. To ensure your connections are safe, I recommend you try ExpressVPN with Kodi. Its premium security and blazing-fast speeds are ideal for safe, smooth streaming — and if you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get a full refund within 30 days. Stream safely on Kodi with ExpressVPN
Short on Time? Here Are the Best Kodi Live TV Add-Ons in 2023
The 10 Best Kodi Live TV Add-Ons — Full Analysis (Updated in 2023)
iPlayer WWW (BBC iPlayer)
iPlayer WWW is the most recommended add-on for BBC iPlayer. It lets you stream live TV, plus Catch Up TV, and radio directly from the BBC iPlayer website. It’s crucial to note that iPlayer WWW is only available to UK residents, and a valid UK TV license is required to use it legally. If you’re a UK resident traveling abroad for work or holidays, you can use a service like ExpressVPN to access BBC iPlayer’s content library. This ensures you won’t miss out on popular shows like Killing Eve and Doctor Who when you’re away from home.
NewsON
NewsON offers access to local US stations across more than 100 locations. News broadcasts are only available for a limited period of 48 hours, so you can always catch up with the latest news stories. Although NewsON is free to use, using a VPN is essential if you want to access it while traveling abroad — NewsON is only available in the US. PIA is my top recommendation for connecting to the US as it offers hundreds of fast servers that ensure smooth streaming.
france.tv
This convenient add-on lets you stream live French TV shows, movies, news, and more from anywhere in the world. While it’s free to use, you’ll have to sign up for an account to make sure you can watch live TV. france.tv is only available to users with French IP addresses. If you’re traveling abroad for work or leisure, you’ll need a reputable service like ExpressVPN to access your account and stream lag-free.
PlutoTV
PlutoTV is among the most popular Kodi add-ons, particularly for live TV, as it offers a huge range of channels — TV, movies, news, sports, music, and more. The add-on can be safely downloaded from the official Kodi repository, ensuring a secure installation process. Additionally, PlutoTV is entirely free to use, so you can start streaming without creating an account.
RaiPlay
RaiPlay is ideal for streaming live Italian TV shows, radio programs, news, sports, and more. Live streaming is free to access, so you won’t have to create an account or sign up for a subscription to start watching. However, RaiPlay is restricted to Italian IP addresses due to copyright broadcasting rules. If you’re an Italian citizen traveling abroad, you can keep up with your favorite live TV by connecting to an Italian server with a VPN — CyberGhost has 2 optimized RaiPlay servers for fast, easy access.
Sky Go
If you’re subscribed to Sky in New Zealand, you can watch live Sky content when you’re away from home. You won’t have to miss a moment of your favorite TV shows, live sports, news programming, and other entertainment channels. Plus, you can also access box sets and catch up on movies. As Sky Go is only available in New Zealand, you’ll need to use a VPN to connect to a local server to use your account when abroad. This is an unofficial Kodi add-on, but it comes from the reputable Slyguy repository so you can rest assured it’s safe to download.
Catch-up TV & More
With Catch-up TV & More, you can connect to live TV streams from countries around the world, including the US, UK, France, Poland, and more. Each country is marked by its flag, making it simple to access the live TV and content you want to view. This is an unofficial Kodi add-on that is constantly undergoing updates, so I recommend connecting with a VPN before you download it. This way, you can keep your data and devices secure, just in case a malicious actor has compromised the add-on.
Plex
Plex is a great way to access global live TV channels — it’s available in almost every country in the world! There are hundreds of live TV options to choose from, and you can stream them for free, without any subscription costs or even signing up for an account. I particularly like that you can stream all of its content risk-free, as Plex has partnered with top services to ensure all copyright and broadcast regulations are met. While this is an unofficial Kodi add-on, the Slyguy repository is known and trusted to be a reputable source. It’s still a good idea to connect to a premium VPN server before downloading, just in case a third party has tampered with the software.
Stirr
Stirr is a free-to-use streaming service with access to live channels that include movies, sports, lifestyle and entertainment, and more. You’ll also be able to stream on networks like Comet, Circle, Stadium and The T. Stirr will detect your IP address when you connect, so if you’re traveling outside of the US, you’ll need to use a VPN to access its content. PIA has a huge number of US servers spread across the country, which is ideal for Stirr as the local programming you see depends on your IP address.
LNTV
LNTV’s easy-to-use interface makes it easy to connect to your favorite live TV channels. You can access content from countries around the world, including Australia, France, the UK, and the US. However, this unofficial Kodi add-on is currently blacklisted by Kodi for breaking forum rules — possibly for containing pirated streams. Always make sure you’re aware that the streams you watch are legal in your country, or you may face repercussions.
The Best VPNs for Kodi (Tested in 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast Speeds Worldwide for Lag-Free Live TV Streaming on Kodi
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the best choice for Kodi users who want to stream live TV shows. Its network of over 3,000 servers worldwide boasts lightning-fast speeds, thanks to its exclusive Lightway protocol that also ensures optimal security. My tests showed that connection speeds decreased by just 18% — more than enough for UHD streaming.
With these impressive speeds, ExpressVPN is also the top VPN for streaming on services like Netflix lag-free, torrenting large files (or downloading add-ons!) in just a few minutes, and playing online games without interruption. Alongside fast speeds, ExpressVPN can help you access your favorite Kodi live TV add-ons from anywhere with its top-tier security and privacy features. These include:
Military-grade encryption — keeps your location, data, and online activity securely hidden from Kodi, your ISP, and other potentially malicious third parties. Server obfuscation — hides your VPN traffic to look like regular traffic, reducing the chance of proxy detection. Data leak protection — stops DNS, IPv4, IPv6, and WebRTC data leaks that can compromise your security and expose your true location. TrustedServer Technology — operating on RAM-based servers, your data cannot be physically stored or logged by ExpressVPN while you’re connected — further proven when Turkish authorities seized an ExpressVPN server but were unable to recover any data from it. Audited zero-log privacy policy — confirmed by a third-party audit, you can rest assured your data and activity are secure and anonymous.
Although ExpressVPN costs a little more than other options, I believe that its benefits are well worth the expense. Its fast speeds, seamless downloads and streaming, and top-notch security and privacy make it an excellent choice. You can subscribe to ExpressVPN starting at $6.67 per month for a 1-year plan. Best of all, you can subscribe to ExpressVPN with confidence because it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you change your mind, getting a full refund is simple. I personally tested the process and found it to be easy; it took only a few minutes via live chat to arrange my refund, and I received my money back in just 5 days. Stream on Kodi with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Ideal for Connecting to Kodi Live TV Add-Ons Anywhere
Key Features: CyberGhost’s optimized server connections are a top choice for Kodi live TV add-ons. These servers undergo regular testing by CyberGhost’s staff, ensuring you always get a working connection. Plus, the optimized servers easily mask your true location so you can avoid annoying proxy errors or regional blocks when traveling abroad. For fast and reliable VPN speeds, optimized servers are a great choice. In my tests, I found CyberGhost’s optimized servers are 30% faster than the regular connections on average, making these servers particularly effective for UHD streaming. You may get slowdown when connecting to servers further away if existing speeds are 20Mbps or less. You’ll find CyberGhost has top-tier security and privacy features designed to keep your Kodi connections safe and anonymous, including the following:
AES-256-bit encryption — military-grade protection on all servers ensures your data and activity are always secure and anonymous. Kill switch — cuts access to the internet if the VPN is interrupted, maintaining security at all times. Data leak protection — stops accidental IP and DNS leaks from exposing your data. Malicious ad and tracker blocker — protects your devices from potentially harmful content by blocking shady DNS domains (useful for unofficial Kodi add-ons). Zero-log privacy policy — independent audit and use of RAM-based servers ensure your data is never logged or stored when connected to CyberGhost’s servers.
The downside is that CyberGhost is an expensive short-term option — you get much better value when subscribing to one of its long-term plans, which start at as little as $2.11 per month. These plans are also backed by a 45-day guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you change your mind. It took me less than 5 minutes to arrange my refund over the 24/7 live chat, and I had my money back within a week. Stream on Kodi with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Thousands of Global Servers Ensure Easy Connections to Kodi Live TV Add-Ons
Key Features: With over 35,000 servers in 84 locations, Private Internet Access (PIA) has an extensive server network. This wide coverage ensures quick and easy access to Kodi live TV add-ons anywhere. The abundance of servers also guarantees you can locate a server in your chosen destination, making it simple to download Kodi add-ons even when overseas. This large network is also useful for keeping speeds fast. PIA’s local connections are very fast, with some slowdown over long distances. However, PIA has customizable settings that can boost your speeds if your network is slow. You can change your encryption from AES-256 to AES-128 and enable “use small packets” to transfer data quickly. To secure your connections when streaming live TV with Kodi add-ons, PIA has multiple security and privacy features, including:
Data leak protection — prevents accidental leaks from compromising your data or location so you can always stream live TV on Kodi. MACE ad and malware blocker — stops malicious web content from loading, protecting your devices from malware and shady Kodi add-ons. Kill switch — blocks the internet until the VPN connection is restored, maintaining top-tier protection at all times. Audited zero-log policy — PIA has undergone a third-party audit to confirm it never logs your data when you’re using its services.
However, beginner VPN users may find PIA’s apps confusing. The highly customizable interface is great for advanced users, but only if you know what you’re doing — it’s quite easy to turn off the kill switch, for example, which could leave your data vulnerable if the VPN is interrupted. Fortunately, PIA is a low-cost option (it’s one of the most affordable monthly VPNs available) so you can purchase a subscription with confidence. Plans start at just $2.11/month and are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the refund process by sending an email to customer support. I had a response the same day confirming my request, and my money back within a week. Stream on Kodi with PIA
Why You Need a VPN for Kodi
Streaming on Kodi without using a VPN puts your data and devices at risk. Whether you use official or unofficial add-ons, Kodi software is often targeted by man-in-the-middle attacks. These let shady third parties watch what you’re doing online, exposing your personal information to potential hackers and spies. You could also be vulnerable to DDoS botnets that flood your network, making it impossible to connect to Kodi. Not only this, but you could find your connection is throttled due to streaming on Kodi. Some networks prioritize certain traffic over others, reducing streaming quality to free up bandwidth for other users. Your Kodi streaming could drop to SD-quality, even if your connection speeds are fast. While some users sandbox Kodi, it’s much easier to encrypt your Kodi connection with a VPN for safe, fast streaming. A VPN will ensure your personal data cannot be intercepted by anyone watching, and any DDoS attacks won’t affect your network — they’ll be diverted to the VPN server instead. Plus, VPN encryption masks your online activity so you won’t experience throttling simply because you’re streaming on Kodi.
Comparison Table: 2023 Best VPNs for Kodi
Stream Kodi with ExpressVPN
How I Tested and Ranked The Best VPNs for Kodi
I tested more than 30 services to find the best VPNs in 2023 for streaming live TV on Kodi. Each VPN was thoroughly tested and ranked according to the following criteria:
Compatible with Kodi — All of the recommended VPNs are compatible with Kodi and have apps for multiple popular platforms so you can stream Kodi on any of your devices. Strong security — I looked for AES-256-bit encryption, data leak protection, and a kill switch as standard. Additional useful features include obfuscation, split tunneling, and malware protection. Zero-log privacy — To keep your data and activity secure and anonymous, I read all privacy policies to ensure the VPN won’t keep logs when you’re using its services. As a bonus, all recommended VPNs have been audited by independent third parties. Global server network — Thousands of servers worldwide mean you can access your Kodi account and add-ons from anywhere. Plus, more servers keep speeds fast and reduce the chance of user congestion, even at peak traffic times. Fast speeds — For UHD stream quality, you need reliably fast connection speeds at all times. I ran multiple speed tests connected to various servers for each VPN to ensure speeds were fast enough for smooth, uninterrupted streaming. Easy-to-use apps — Each VPN is simple to download and set up, with an intuitive interface that lets you connect to the best Kodi server in just a couple of clicks. Value for money — The recommended VPNs have a variety of top-tier features available at a range of price points, so you can find the best option for your budget. As a bonus, all VPNs are backed by a money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.
Stream Kodi live TV with ExpressVPN
How to Install Kodi Add-Ons
How to Download Kodi Add-Ons Through the Official Kodi Repository
How to Download Kodi Add-Ons From an Exterior Repository
Get the Best Kodi Live TV Add-Ons Today
Finding reliable and functioning Kodi add-ons for live TV can be a challenge due to the threat of malware, trackers, and other risks to your devices. This is why it’s crucial to use a high-quality VPN to safeguard against compromised add-ons. You should note that it’s not legal to stream copyrighted content when using Kodi. Unofficial Kodi add-ons may contain streams that are pirated or not permitted for broadcast in your location. Make sure you are aware of what the Kodi add-ons contain before downloading and streaming.
Double-check the repository name: If you get an “Unable to Connect” error, the repository name may be incorrect, so check the URL spelling. This error can also be due to your network connectivity — if it keeps happening, contact your ISP. Clear your Kodi cache: If the “Failed to install a dependency” error occurs, you may need to clear your cache. You can do this with an add-on called Indigo from the Fusion repository. With Indigo, you’ll find a setting called “Maintenance Tools” and the “Clear Cache” tab. Disable Hardware Acceleration: Should your streaming be glitchy or lagging, you can try disabling a setting called Hardware Acceleration. Click the cog icon and choose “Player,” then click “Basic” 3 times to change it to “Expert.” Click “Videos” and disable “Allow hardware acceleration VTB Decoder.” Use Log Viewer: The official Kodi repository contains an add-on called “Log Viewer for Kodi.” If you get the “Check log for more information” error, install Log Viewer. The add-on will check for issues with your add-ons and tell you how to fix them. Reinstall Kodi: If these fixes don’t work, your best option is to uninstall and reinstall Kodi altogether. A clean install will often fix any bugs or issues with the service as you’ll get the latest software version.
Some Kodi add-on content is copyright and broadcast restricted, so you’ll need to connect to a VPN server to continue streaming on your live TV accounts when traveling abroad. You can check if add-ons are secure by reading user reviews and scanning add-ons with malware software before installing them to Kodi. Always make sure you’re connected to a VPN server first, as this will ensure your data and devices are secure even if you download a compromised unofficial add-on. You can also find other sports add-ons for Kodi, including ESPN, Fox Sports, and SportsHD. Some of these will need a subscription to use. A Kodi build is a quicker way to install Kodi with pre-selected add-ons, repositories, and usually a new skin. The benefit of using a build is that it saves you time since you don’t have to install items individually. However, Kodi builds can cause the system to slow down, increase user problems, and pose a risk of malware infections. Therefore, it’s better to install add-ons manually so you can stream the content you want without compromising your system’s performance or security. However, it is important to be cautious when using unofficial addons as they may not have the proper licensing for the content they provide. Streaming or sharing copyrighted content on Kodi is illegal, so make sure you’re aware of local laws and regulations before using Kodi. Free VPNs typically have limited bandwidth, a small number of servers, and slow speeds due to user congestion, which can make for a frustrating experience. Furthermore, many free VPNs aren’t secure, and can even be dangerous — some install malware on your devices, while others sell your browsing data to third parties. Even the best free VPNs in 2023 aren’t ideal for streaming on Kodi. Instead, I suggest using a premium VPN like CyberGhost, which has a long money-back guarantee. With unlimited access to its features and security benefits, you’ll be able to watch the content you want without any worries. Plus, if you’re not satisfied, you can cancel with no questions asked within 45 days.
My experience with getting a refund was easy, taking just a couple of minutes using the 24/7 live chat to request my money back. I had my full refund within a week. After testing more than 30 services, I found ExpressVPN is the top choice for Kodi. With ExpressVPN, you can enjoy safe and seamless Kodi streaming with its premium security features and fast speeds. Moreover, if you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get a full refund within 30 days — making it a trustworthy option for protecting your Kodi live TV streaming. Get ExpressVPN for Kodi
