The Amazon Fire TV devices have more than 34 million users around the world and that figure is growing all the time. It is the most popular mobile streaming device on the market and 2023 looks likely to be the year when Amazon cements its place at the top of another growth market.
What makes Amazon Fire TV devices so popular is the huge range of apps that are available to use on it. But some are much better than others.
In this article, we will be looking at the best apps for Fire TV users in 2023.
Some of these apps are already firm favourites while others are up-and-coming apps with a really bright future. The one thing they have in common is that you are likely to find yourself using all of them in the coming twelve months.
Before we start
It is important to remember that not every app highlighted in this article is available to use in every country. Some have geo-restrictions in place which limit their use to certain countries.
Don’t worry. With a VPN, it is possible to get around these restrictions and use all of these apps anywhere in the world.
ExpressVPN is our number one recommended VPN for Amazon Fire TV users. Its huge server network, fast speeds, and great security and privacy protections make it the perfect VPN no matter where you are.
There are other VPNs out there if you want to shop around. NordVPN and CyberGhost VPN are two good alternatives.
Best Amazon Fire TV apps for 2023
1. Disney+
Disney+ looks set to be the biggest thing to happen to the streaming market in 2023. It has already launched in a handful of countries and will be rolling out globally throughout the year.
With all your favourite classic Disney movies, Pixar favourites, and a packed catalogue of Disney TV shows and more, there is so much here for all the family to enjoy.
You don’t have to wait for Disney+ to launch in your country to enjoy it on an Amazon Fire TV stick now.
By using a VPN, you can enjoy the full range of Disney content right now, no matter where in the world you are.
2. BBC iPlayer
The BBC iPlayer continues to be the most popular UK streaming site. Its Amazon app offers everything the online streaming service do, which is a lot.
As well as being able to watch live TV from any BBC channel, you can also access a huge range of on-demand content. Everything from recent TV shows to classic BBC series, sports coverage, news, documentaries, the BBC iPlayer has it all.
It is locked for UK use only, but by using a VPN on your Amazon Fire TV device, you can enjoy all of this great content no matter where in the world you are.
You may need to access it via one of the web-browsers (‘Internet’ or Firefox) as it doesn’t always work correctly via the app when using a VPN.
3. Downloader
Downloader is a nifty little tool which helps you to download unofficial apps onto your Amazon Fire TV device.
While the Amazon app store is growing in size there are still lots of great apps that aren’t yet officially available. But Fire TV devices are built on an Android system, which means they can still handle most Android apps.
Downloader makes the task of downloading and installing these apps quick and simple.
As a result, it has quickly become an essential app for most Fire TV users. This looks sure to remain the case in 2023.
4. YouTube
Great news. The spat between Amazon and Google is at an end and YouTube is once again available on Amazon Fire TV devices.
If you have been looking for an official YouTube app over the past 18 months or so, you will have been disappointed. But now it’s back and bringing everything YouTube has to offer to Fire TV devices once more.
Do note that there is some content on YouTube that is geo-restricted, but a VPN will allow you to watch everything you want, wherever you are.
5. TubiTV
TubiTV is a completely legal and unlimited streaming app that lets you watch tons of hit movies and TV shows at absolutely no cost.
You don’t need to subscribe or input any card details. Just download the app and start enjoying the content.
You will find there is something for everyone on TubiTV.
The content library includes diverse things including comedy, drama, kids shows, classic movies, Korean dramas, Japanese anime, and a decent selection of classic British series too.
6. NBC Sports
If you are into sports, NBC Sports is the app for you.
It features all the major US sports leagues, every Premier League game, and an awful lot more besides including rugby, golf, cycling, winter sports, and motor racing. There is live coverage of all the biggest games and also a huge selection of on-demand content to pick through.
You will need a US cable subscription to enjoy the vast range of content this app has to offer. It is also only accessible in the US, so if you’re outside the country and need to stream, again a VPN is required.
7. Spotify
If you love music, you will already know Spotify, the streaming service that has changed the way many of us listen to the music we love.
With the Amazon Fire TV Spotify app, you can listen to all the music you like for free through your TV. If you don’t mind paying a little to subscribe, you can even get all this without adverts.
No matter what sort of music you are into, be it pop, rock, hip-hop or classical, Spotify has everything you want available and ready to enjoy now.
It is already the biggest music app on Fire TV devices and that doesn’t look likely to change any time soon.
8. Facebook
Facebook needs no introduction but Amazon Fire TV devices are perhaps not the most obvious places to use it.
But, social media has pervaded every internet-enabled device and Fire TV sticks are no different. It is actually a great way to enjoy all those pictures and videos you share with your friends and family at the highest possible resolution on your TV screens.
A lot of people also access regular media content through their social media accounts too, so the Facebook app is an increasingly popular way to enjoy anything from TV shows to current affairs too.
9. Twitch
With the Twitch app, you can enjoy live-stream gaming videos and e-sports coverage directly onto your TV screens.
Twitch has become the platform for gamers to share their own achievements and also watch their peers in action. It is also the place to watch celebrity gamers in action as well as watch the biggest and best professional e-sports competitions from around the world.
If you aren’t into gaming, you may not have heard of Twitch, but if you are it is as ubiquitous as Facebook and YouTube.
10. ExpressVPN
A VPN is an increasingly essential tool for Amazon Fire TV device users and ExpressVPN is the best there is.
Its combination of fast speeds, strong security, and huge server network makes it the perfect VPN for unblocking content from other countries on Fire TV devices. It is one of the few VPNs with a dedicated Amazon app that is on a par with those of other devices too.
You have seen from this article how many top apps can be enjoyed more with the help of a VPN. ExpressVPN is the top VPN to use with all of them.
11. Pac-Man 256
We haven’t included a game on our recommended app list yet so let’s finish off with a classic: Pac-Man.
The Pac-Man 256 game has reinvented this timeless classic for modern devices and it looks terrific on Fire TV devices.
You can control Pac-Man with Fire TV controller as you navigate him around various mazes while all the time keeping away from those pesky ghosts. It’s incredibly user-friendly, there are some fun new power-ups to enjoy and a new super-villain; the Glitch.
We loved it here at VPNCompare so much that this article has only been published now because we got a little distracted playing over Christmas! It’s a great way to pass the time.
Summary
Amazon Fire TV devices look set to grab a growing share of the streaming market in 2023. But there is a wide range of handy apps you can enjoy on them too.
In this article, we have highlighted our pick of the best, which includes everything from streaming services to social media, music apps, sports app, and even a game.
Many of these apps need a VPN if you want to enjoy them anywhere, so we have also recommended ExpressVPN as the top VPN to use on a Fire TV device too.
