If you want access to a huge library of free movies, TV shows, live streams, and more on your Fire TV or Android TV box, then the Athena Kodi addon is a must-have. This popular video add-on provides tons of on-demand content and live TV through Kodi.
However, since Athena isn‘t available in the official Kodi repository, getting it installed requires a few extra steps. Don‘t worry though – I‘ll walk you through the full installation process in this guide.
We‘ll also cover everything else you need to know about the Athena addon including:
- Overview of features
- Is it legal and safe to use?
- Alternatives like The Crew and Seren
- Tips for streaming anonymously
- And more!
By the end, you‘ll have Athena ready to start streaming thousands of free movies and shows on your Firestick, Fire TV, or Android TV box.
Is the Athena Kodi Addon Legal and Safe?
Let‘s start by getting the big question out of the way – is Athena legal and safe to use?
The addon itself is 100% legal. However, some of the free streaming content it provides may be uploaded without permission from copyright holders. So accessing certain streams could put you in a legal gray area, depending on your local laws.
Athena is considered a more "grey area" addon versus outright illegal ones that are only used for streaming paid content for free. The developers work to remove any reported illegal sources.
But as the end user, it‘s ultimately your responsibility to avoid copyrighted content you don‘t have the rights to view. For maximum safety and anonymity, use a VPN like IPVanish whenever streaming with addons like Athena.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Massive library of free movies & TV shows | Copyrighted streams may be illegal to access |
| Great interface and reliability | Requires third-party Kodi repository |
| Easy setup with step-by-step guide | No guarantee add-on won‘t suddenly stop working |
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Athena Kodi Addon
Let‘s dive into the installation process now on Fire TV or Android TV box…
1. Enable Unknown Sources in Kodi
Since Athena isn‘t in the official Kodi repository, we first need to enable "Unknown Sources" to allow installing from external repositories:
- Open Kodi and click on the Settings icon (looks like a gear)
- Go to System > Add-ons
- Enable "Unknown Sources"
- Confirm the warning popup by clicking Yes
This just gives you permission to install from outside repositories. You can disable it again after installing Athena if you want to lock add-ons back down.
2. Add the EzzerMac Repository Source
Now we need to add the repository that actually hosts the Athena add-on. This is called the EzzerMac repository:
- Go back to the Kodi Settings menu and click File Manager
- Click "Add source" and enter the following URL exactly:
http://ezzer-mac.com/repo - Name the source whatever you want, such as "EzzerMac" and click OK
This adds the repository file location so Kodi knows where to install Athena from.
3. Install the EzzerMac Repository
With the source location added, let‘s install the actual EzzerMac repository:
- Go back to Add-ons and click "Install from zip file"
- Select the EzzerMac source you just added
- Install the file called
repository.EzzerMacsWizard.zip
After enabling unknown sources and adding the repository source, this will install the EzzerMac repository itself onto your device.
4. Install the Athena Kodi Addon
Now that you have the repository installed, you can go ahead and install Athena:
- Click "Install from repository" > EzzerMacs Wizard Repository
- Go to the Video add-ons section
- Select the Athena add-on and click Install
- Confirm any additional dependency installations
Within a few seconds you‘ll receive a confirmation that Athena was installed successfully! It will now be available in your Kodi addon menu.
How to Use the Athena Kodi Addon
Once installed, here‘s a quick overview of how to use Athena and some of the core features available:
Add-on Sections
The main sections of Athena include:
- One Click Play 24/7 – Live TV streams organized by channel.
- One Click Play Docs – On-demand documentaries.
- One Click Play Kids Zone – Children‘s movies & shows.
- Premium Accounts Lounge – Link premium services like Real-Debrid.
- Movies – Extensive library of on-demand films.
- TV Shows – Huge selection of TV series.
- Authorize Accounts – Connect Trakt and Real-Debrid.
- Settings – Adjust addon settings.
Linking a Real-Debrid Account
Linking services like Real-Debrid provides higher quality streams from file lockers. To authorize Real-Debrid in Athena:
- Get a Real-Debrid account from their official site
- In Athena, go to Authorize Accounts
- Select Real-Debrid Authorization
- Input your account credentials and authorize
You‘ll now have access to much better quality streams from your account!
Enabling Trakt
To keep track of everything you watch, enable Trakt integration:
- Create a free Trakt account at Trakt.tv
- Get your Trakt API key from their site
- In Athena, go to Authorize Accounts
- Input your Trakt API key and authorize
This connects your Trakt profile so Athena can automatically mark items as watched and populate your lists.
Why Athena is One of the Best Kodi Addons
There are a few key reasons Athena stands out as a top Kodi addon option right now:
1. Massive Library of Content
Athena provides access to a huge library of free movies, shows, documentaries, live TV, and more. New content is continually added, so there‘s always something to watch.
Some of the trending movies available on Athena include:
- Top Gun: Maverick
- The Batman
- Jurassic World: Dominion
- Bullet Train
- Nope
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- The Black Phone
Plus hundreds of popular shows like House of the Dragon, Andor, The Rings of Power, Abbott Elementary and many more.
2. Great Performance and Reliability
Athena stands out for its speed and reliability versus many other addons. Content loads quickly with minimal buffering or lag.
It‘s designed well without intrusive ads or popups that interrupt your viewing experience. Navigation is smooth and intuitive too.
3. Easy Setup Process
As you saw from this guide, getting Athena installed is quick and straightforward. In under 5 minutes you can be streaming a huge library of movies and shows.
The developer EzzerMac also maintains the repository closely. So any issues with sources get fixed faster than many other addons.
How Does Athena Compare to Other Kodi Addons?
Athena is one of several top video addons for Kodi right now. Here‘s how it compares to some other popular options:
The Crew
The Crew offers a similar wealth of movies, shows, sports and IPTV. However, it sometimes suffers from scrapers going down. Athena seems more reliable for consistent streams.
Seren
Seren is focused completely on premium services like Real-Debrid. It doesn‘t have as many free sources as Athena. But integrates better with Trakt and Debrid services.
Fen
Fen is great if you mainly want movies and shows. The interface is very Netflix-like. But Fen lacks live TV or sports coverage that Athena includes.
In the end, Athena gets top marks for its extensive content library, ease of use, and reliable performance. It‘s worth being in any Kodi user‘s collection of addons.
Next Steps and Additional Tips
Now that you have Athena installed, here are some next steps to get the most out of it:
Enable Real-Debrid for Higher Quality Streams
Integrating a premium service like Real-Debrid unlocks way more high-quality streams from file lockers. Plus, Athena is designed to work great with Real-Debrid authorization.
Create a Trakt Account to Track Your Watch History
Connecting your Trakt account allows Athena to automatically update your watched status and manage lists. This is hugely helpful for keeping track of where you left off.
Install on Additional Devices
Once you have Athena on one device, it‘s easy to install on your other Fire TVs or Android boxes using the same process.
Try New Kodi Skin Themes
Change up the look and feel by installing new Kodi skins like Arctic Zephyr 2 or Titan BingieMOD. Then access Athena from the fresh UI.
Add a VPN for Extra Privacy and Security
I recommend always using a VPN like IPVanish when streaming with addons like Athena. This encrypts your connection and masks your identity for complete anonymity.
A VPN also prevents your ISP from seeing what you‘re streaming – keeping you protected from piracy notices.
For the best Kodi experience, VPN + Athena addon is a winning combination!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Athena replace Neptune Rising and Poseidon?
Yes, Athena is essentially the successor to the popular Neptune Rising and Poseidon addons which are no longer being maintained. It‘s the newest addon from the same developer EzzerMacs.
Is there an Android APK version of Athena?
No, Athena is only available as a Kodi video addon. There is no dedicated Athena APK. You need to install it through Kodi on a supported device like Firestick, Fire TV, or Android TV box.
Does Athena work on Nvidia Shield?
Yes, the installation process is the same on an Nvidia Shield TV. Just enable unknown sources and install from the EzzerMac repository URL.
Will my ISP block Athena Kodi addon?
ISPs can see when you access third-party Kodi repositories and addons. Some may throttle speeds or send warnings if they detect copyrighted streaming. A VPN like IPVanish will hide all Kodi & Athena activity from your ISP.
Is there an Athena app for iPhone/iPad?
There is no official Athena app for iOS. You can install Kodi on iPhone/iPad and then add Athena, but it won‘t work as smoothly as a dedicated streaming box.
Wrap Up
I hope this guide helped explain how to install Athena on your Firestick, Fire TV, or Android TV box!
Athena provides access to a huge library of free movies, shows, live TV, and more. While you should avoid any obviously illegal content, it‘s a great addon for cord-cutters.
Take advantage of features like Real-Debrid integration for higher quality streams. And be sure to use a VPN for privacy and security while streaming.
If you have any issues getting Athena up and running, let me know in the comments below! Enjoy all the best free movies and shows.
