Amazon Prime Video is an online on-demand streaming service that rivals even Netflix with its original content and a large library of movies and tv shows.
Unfortunately, if you’re a Canadian, and want to watch something like Mad Dogs on Prime Video, you’re not going to be able to find it while you’re in Canada.
That’s because it’s restricted to the US Amazon Prime, as is a lot of other content. If you want to be able to watch American Amazon Prime in Canada, you’ll need to use a VPN.
If you try to watch American content such as ‘Mad Dogs’ with a Canadian account and location, you’ll encounter this message:
‘Based outside the US? Some titles might be unavailable in your current location.’
With an American VPN server, you’ll still be able to access amazon.ca, but that will just redirect you to Prime Video.
Primevideo.com works differently. VPNs don’t seem to work with it as the regular amazon.com platform, so you won’t unblock US content like that. Only our recommended VPNs that we have tested will work with Amazon Prime.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice when it comes to watching Amazon Prime in Canada as it easily bypasses its geo-restrictions and keeps your online identity safe while streaming.
Get yourself ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee so use all of its features risk-free for 30-days.
How to Watch Amazon Prime in Canada
There’s only one way around the geo-restriction that Amazon has in place if you want to watch US Amazon Prime content in Canada, and that’s a VPN. Here’s how you use it:
Step 1: Subscribe to your VPN of choice (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and Install it on your device
Step 3: Connect to a US Server (e.g. New York)
Step 4: Open the Amazon Prime website and sign in
Step 5: Enter your email
Step 6: Enter your password
Step 7: Choose a movie/show to watch, e.g., Thirteen Lives
Step 8: Click on “Watch with prime, Start your 30-day free trial”
Step 9: Enter your credit card details
Step 10: Enjoy Streaming
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Note: Though your account will need an Amazon Prime subscription to take full advantage of the service, there is still some free-with-ads content you can access without it!
What are the Best VPNs to Watch US Amazon Prime in Canada?
We tested over 44+ VPNs to see whether they were able to unblock the American Amazon Prime content within Canada. We found the 3 best VPNs were able to access US Amazon Prime content.
Here’s an image showing that you can’t see Mad Dogs on Amazon Prime in Canada:
Here’s an image of my stream of Mad Dogs using ExpressVPN to unblock US Amazon Prime in Canada:
These 3 best VPNs have been listed below:
1. ExpressVPN
A simple but effective product, what makes this VPN worth its 2-year subscription plan price of $6.67/month is its commitment to delivering tight security and unbridled privacy.
But the most interesting fact is its built-in speed test feature. The speed test feature will let you compare the speed of different servers so that you can select the one that will work best when you want to US Amazon Prime in Canada.
There are other countries streaming services and channels as well that can be unblocked from Canada by using ExpressVPN, for instance, Roku Channel, HBO Now, Popcornflix, etc.
ExpressVPN also boasts a huge global presence, with over 3000 servers spread out over 94 countries. And many of these, to our good fortune, are located in 23 US cities.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is also our recommended choice when it comes to unblocking Amazon Prime. If you’re willing to spend just $2.49/month, you can get a 2-year subscription plan that gives you a ton of great features, and a sure way to watch American Amazon Prime in Canada.
This single subscription will let you access the VPN and hence unblock the Prime platform, on an unlimited number of devices, simultaneously.
Its features are understated but powerful, such as the No Borders mode, which unblocks the service where it is otherwise restricted
It also includes a Camouflage mode that prevents your ISP from monitoring your browsing and download activity.
Now, let’s talk about some numbers. Surfshark has over 3200 servers which are in 65 countries worldwide. 500+ of these are based in the US, within 20 different US locations.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is a pretty common brand now and has become extremely popular in the past few years due to its low cost and wonderful service.
Its 2-year subscription plan is currently available for just $3.29/month. A low price when you consider you’ll get access to all that free-with-ads content when you watch Amazon Prime in Canada.
If you’re not impressed by Surfshark’s worldwide spread, you definitely should be by NordVPN’s 1970+ US servers, out of a total of 5441 servers around the world.
That low price is even more enticing when you see its features. Double-protection disguises your IP address twice, and CyberSec mode automatically limits access to malicious sites.
Not one to commit to a product before experiencing it first-hand? NordVPN, as well as most other VPNs, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can give it a test run.
Why is Canadian and American Amazon Prime Different?
This all comes down to licensing issues and geo-restriction. You see, in order for a company to display its contents in a particular region, it has to own the legal rights to be able to do so.
If a company already owns the legal rights to the content in a certain region, Amazon would have to come to a licensing agreement with them in order to display that content there.
Because Amazon is based in the US, licensing is less of an issue than if they were managing their product in a different country, as is the case with Canada.
Because a lot of content is owned by a lot of different organizations in different regions, it’s easier to just restrict that content where a platform doesn’t own the legal rights to it.
That’s what geo-restriction is, and why the Amazon Prime Video library differs between countries.
Why Do I Need a VPN to Watch Amazon Prime in Canada?
Well, VPNs are Virtual Private Networks, and they are built on physical private servers. These allow a user to disguise their IP address (your IP address is your online ID).
Because your IP address carries with it your location information, services can use it to determine where you’re accessing it from. That’s why a VPN works.
You don’t disguise your IP address randomly, a VPN can give you one that resembles an IP address of an actual location in a city where it is based.
If you connect to a US server with a VPN and then open the Amazon Prime Video platform, the service won’t think you’re in Canada, it’ll think you’re in the US.
Once it recognizes you as being in the US, it’ll simply give you access that a US resident would have!
Do Free VPNs Work with Amazon Prime?
Don’t be too quick to jump on that offer. VPNs like that are normally troublesome or are just very limited in terms of capabilities (such as HotSpot Shield Free, which is uniquely a great service).
Apart from experience, there’s a simpler reason why we’d say to be wary of free VPNs. You see, the private servers that VPNs run on have a very high maintenance cost.
There has to be some sort of revenue stream if that cost is to be met, like advertising. If that source isn’t clear, you can be certain that there’s something dangerous in play.
The product could likely be a shell for malware and adware that could harm your work or your laptop, and could even result in sensitive data being stolen.
That’s why we recommend that you stick to trustworthy premium VPNs, like the ones we’ve listed above. They’ve been tested, and are known to work with this service.
How to Watch US Amazon Prime in Canada
Step 1: Connect to the US server through ExpressVPN
Step 2: Install the Amazon Prime app from the Play Store and sign in
Step 3: Choose a category from the top bar, e.g., movies
Step 4: Choose a movie to watch, e.g., Top Gun
Step 5: Enjoy Streaming
What to Watch on US Amazon Prime in Canada?
So, you now have access to US Amazon Prime in Canada thanks to a VPN. However, you might not be entirely sure what you should watch.
We’ve got just the thing for you: a recommendations list! Of course, we have to start with a list of some great Amazon Originals.
- Thirteen Lives
- The Boys
- All or Nothing
- Invincible
- Reacher
- The Terminal List
- Paper Girls
- Don’t Make Me Go
- Shrek
- Deadpool
- Love Accidently
- Madagascar
- The Waltons
- Bewitched
- Hunting Emma
- Hickok
- No Time to Die
Netflix Vs. Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime |
Netflix |
The content library of Amazon’s Prime Video is small but interesting. There are a good number of well-liked television programs and motion pictures as well as a ton of specialized or older works. One of the main draws of Prime Video is its original programming, and some of its shows have received praise from critics and accolades. | In contrast, Netflix offers a significant selection of content, albeit this selection has been declining as agreements with other content providers lapse. Similar to Amazon, Netflix has been putting a lot of emphasis on its original material, and some of these programs have proven hugely successful. Foreign content from countries other than the United States is frequently shown on Netflix. |
You may download material from Amazon Prime Video without paying extra for a variety of devices. | You can only stream to the same number of devices with Netflix. In other words, you can only download and stream content to one device if you have a Basic subscription. |
If you have Amazon Prime Video, everything will be OK. You’ll typically receive HD-quality content, with the option to upgrade to 4K quality for content that is offered in higher resolutions. | With Netflix, that is not the case. With a Basic $9.99 Netflix subscription, you are limited to SD resolution, which tops out at 480p. For the majority of users, SD won’t work on anything bigger than a phone. You must upgrade to the $15.49 Standard plan in order to get HD. Additionally, you must subscribe to the Premium plan if you wish to view content in 4K. |
Amazon Prime costs $8.99 instead of $9.99, which is less than even the cheapest Netflix subscription. | You would require a Standard or Premium plan, which cost $15.49 or $19.99, respectively, for Netflix-like features. Even the standard Amazon Prime membership, which comes with Prime Video, is $14.99 per month. |
How to Cancel Amazon Prime Subscription
Step 1: From your Amazon Prime app, click on the three horizontal lines
Step 2: Now click on “account”
Step 3: Now scroll down and click on “account settings”
Step 4: Locate the “manage prime membership” option
Step 5: Now tap on “end membership” to cancel your subscription
Other Streaming Services to Watch in Canada
Have a look at some of the best streaming services and content you can watch in Canada with the help of a VPN:
FAQs – Amazon Prime
Can I Use My Amazon Prime in Canada?
You will absolutely be able to use your Prime account in Canada no matter which region it is associated with.
However, you may incur extra fees associated with downloading music or books. You may also have a limited Amazon Prime Video library depending on where that account is based.
That’s why you need to use a VPN like ExpressVPN, connected to your account region’s respective server.
How Much is Amazon Prime Canada Per Year?
A monthly subscription to Amazon Prime costs CDN$ 7.99/mo. If you get a year-long subscription, you only have to pay CDN$ 6.58/mo, which is quite a bit cheaper.
Is Sons of Anarchy on Amazon Prime Canada?
All seasons of Sons of Anarchy are available on Amazon Prime Canada, but they each cost the Canadian equivalent of $19.99/mo.
Closing Words
Amazon Prime is great no matter where you are, but there’s no denying that the US Amazon Prime library is bigger and better. With a VPN, you can now access it despite being in Canada.
However, you shouldn’t just leave it at that. A VPN is much more important. It can give you greater security and privacy while you browse the internet.
It can keep you safe from prying eyes and harmful agents as you explore the vastness of the internet your way, knowing that you and your data are safe.