5 Best VPNs for Streaming Sports in 2024

Sports broadcasters are more restrictive than ever about where they stream their matches, and you might find your favorite team’s games affected by region-based restrictions. Yes, we're talking about sports blackouts, forcing you to either pay for a live TV channel or go watch the game live. There’s a simple fix, though: you can use a VPN to spoof your location.

The best VPN for streaming sports unblocks blacked-out games by replacing your IP with one from its servers in another country. Also, it helps you reach more content by unblocking other countries' libraries, allows you to use streaming apps while traveling, and even lets you deal with bandwidth throttling.

In this guide, we'll talk about the best VPNs for watching sports, and we'll show you how to use one. Then, we'll discuss why you need a VPN, how to choose one, and help you compare the best options before we talk about the best sports streaming services and wrap up with some useful FAQs.

Best Sports VPN - Our Shortlist

1. NordVPN - Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Streaming Sports in 2024
2. Surfshark - User-Friendly VPN for Sports with Tons of Server Locations
3. ExpressVPN - Privacy-First VPN to Watch Sports on Any Device
4. CyberGhost VPN - VPN for Streaming Sports with Specialized Servers
5. PIA VPN - VPN for Watching Sports with Servers in All 50 US States

How to Use a VPN to Watch Sports?

Your first step is to subscribe to a suitable VPN, which is when you can install its app and initialize your VPN session before you can start streaming sports. Just follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN suitable for sports streaming (we recommend NordVPN).
2. Download and install the VPN app on your preferred device(s).
3. Log in to the VPN app and reach its home screen.
4. Connect to a VPN server in a region with access to the game you wish to watch.
5. You can now access your streaming service(s). That’s all!

Using a VPN to watch sports requires you to pick a suitable server location. To bypass sports blackouts, connect to a VPN server in a location where the game you want to watch is available for broadcast. And if you wish to unblock a geo-blocked streaming service, pick a server in its home country.

The Best VPNs for Watching Sports in 2024

Your search for the best option should be based on the criteria outlined in our guide to the best streaming VPN. Your goal should be to find a VPN that unblocks the most popular sports streaming services, including but not limited to DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, ESPN+, YouTube TV, DAZN, and Sling TV. To make that possible, your chosen VPN needs a large server network across the US as well as worldwide.

Next, you'll want fast speeds and streaming-friendly performance. Let's not forget that you'll want obfuscated servers (to hide your VPN data) and a kill switch (to prevent accidental data leaks). There should also be a no-logs policy, robust VPN protocols, and tough encryption. Also, think about how many devices you want to cover and ensure you get enough simultaneous connections.

Speaking of devices, you'll want a VPN for streaming sports with native software across the board. You'll also want reliable customer support, available 24/7. And, to make your purchase as risk-free as possible, go for a VPN with a fair price, a generous money-back policy, and plenty of value overall.

Taking those criteria into account, here are the 5 best VPNs to watch sports in 2024:

1. NordVPN - Our #1-Rated Best VPN for Streaming Sports in 2024

NordVPN is an ultra-capable VPN for watching sports that checks all the right boxes. That's because NordVPN works with any streaming service we tested it with, such as YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, ESPN Plus, DAZN, and countless others.

Also, it has 6,300+ servers in 111 countries in total, and it covers the US with around 2,000 servers in 15 cities. Aside from that, NordVPN has fast and stable connection speeds that work great for streaming in high quality. With this VPN, streaming in HD or even 4K won't be an issue.

As for protocols, NordVPN supports NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec, paired with high-end encryption ciphers (AES-256 and ChaCha20). You can also count on NordVPN's obfuscated servers (not all servers come with obfuscation, but all US-based servers do), a capable kill switch, and there's also an audited no-logs policy.

You can install NordVPN on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and even routers. Furthermore, a SmartDNS feature that even unblocks streaming sites on devices that don’t support VPNs. In total, you get 10 simultaneous connections with this VPN.

In the end, we'll mention that NordVPN comes priced at $3.09/month for its 2-year subscription. If you want to try NordVPN, you can use its generous 30-day money-back guarantee. In addition, you can connect to 24/7 live chat support to get help with any questions.

2. Surfshark - User-Friendly VPN for Sports with Tons of Server Locations

Surfshark is an ultra-powerful VPN to stream Sky Sports, MLB.tv, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and ESPN Plus, among plenty more platforms. In fact, you'll get to unblock dozens of streaming platforms from the US and other countries. That's because Surfshark is known for its sizable server network.

More precisely, this VPN offers 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries worldwide. Around 600 of those are in the US, across 25 cities. We'll also mention that Surfshark certainly holds its own when it comes to streaming sports. It's a fast-performing VPN that offers equally fast speeds across all its nearby and remote servers.

As noted in our extensive review of Surfshark, it supports OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec, paired with powerful encryption ciphers such as AES-256 and ChaCha20. Obfuscation is on board as well, which you can enable when needed, and you'll also find a kill switch that prevents accidental leaks. Without any surprise, Surfshark is also a no-logs provider.

It also offers a Smart DNS feature that lets you use it on almost any type of device. Additionally, it provides native apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and others. You also get unlimited simultaneous connections.

Everything said above is available for $2.19 per month if you pick Surfshark's 2-year subscription plan. Surfshark also has a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers responsive 24/7 live chat support.

3. ExpressVPN - Privacy-First VPN to Watch Sports on Any Device

ExpressVPN is another powerful option because of its vast fleet of thousands of servers spread across 105 countries, including hundreds of servers across 20+ US locations. This network gives you plenty of options for sports streaming, with access to ESPN Plus, YouTube TV, DAZN, Hulu + Live TV, MLB.TV, Sling TV, Paramount Plus, and more.

To ensure optimal, buffer-free streaming, it uses Lightway, built for speed, as well as OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. It encodes your data with military-grade AES-256 and WolfSSL encryption, ensuring there won’t be any breaches of your privacy. As our in-depth review of ExpressVPN notes, it offers a solid no-logs policy, further enforced by RAM-only servers.

We'll also mention that it brings obfuscated servers - its entire network comes with obfuscation enabled by default. Thanks to its kill switch ('Network Lock'), you can rest assured that no data leaks will happen.

With support for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and even Linux, you can use it on many different types of devices. Additionally, it offers 8 simultaneous connections, which seems generous enough.

Lastly, this VPN is priced at $6.67 per month for its annual subscription plan. Let’s not forget to mention that it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can find out if it's a good fit for you at no risk. On top of that, you get 24/7 live chat support that’s ready to help with any of your questions. 

4. CyberGhost VPN - VPN for Streaming Sports with Specialized Servers

If you’re looking for an affordable option, then CyberGhost is a great pick. It excels in two areas specifically: it has a vast network of 11,500+ servers in 100+ countries (2,000+ US servers in 10+ locations), and it offers 7 simultaneous device connections. 

In addition, CyberGhost has specialized servers that are constantly tested to make sure they can unblock certain streaming sites. These servers let you connect to top sports streaming services and platforms, including ESPN+, YouTube TV, DirecTV, FuboTV, and others.

Its connection speeds do well for buffer-free sports streaming. We have to note that it's not the fastest option available, so it would help to have a fast baseline connection. It also doesn't offer obfuscation, but you can still count on secure VPN tunnels powered by OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard. Those are paired with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers.

As per our full CyberGhost analysis, this is an easy-to-use VPN suitable even for first-time VPN users. You'll find its apps on practically any platform, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, streaming devices, and routers.

All that is available for $2.19 per month (2-year subscription). You can try CyberGhost out with complete peace of mind due to their 45-day money-back guarantee. If you get stuck or have questions, you can also connect to their 24/7 live chat and get help instantly.

5. PIA VPN - VPN for Watching Sports with Servers in All 50 US States

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a solid pick if you’re a more advanced user. You can stream live sports with no problem through its high-speed 10-Gbps servers that cover 90+ countries. It can unblock almost every sports service out there, especially if it’s in the US (as it has servers in all 50 US states). This includes YouTube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Furthermore, PIA offers unlimited simultaneous device connections. You can install its apps on many different systems, including Linux, Windows, iOS, and more - meaning that you can watch sports at home on your desktop or through your phone on the go.

It utilizes three popular protocols, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec that use military-grade data encryption (AES-128/256 and ChaCha20). You'll also get to use two types of kill switches, and obfuscation is there as well. PIA also features an audited no-logs policy and open-source apps, meaning that it respects your privacy and has nothing to hide.

We'll also add that PIA can be quite fast, but only if you optimize it. This VPN comes with in-depth fine-tuning, making it suitable for more advanced users. In other words, you'll get to optimize your experience and find the right balance between security and performance.

It comes priced at $2.19 per month for its 2-year subscription plan, which means that it offers plenty of value overall. Lastly, PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and responsive 24/7 live chat support.

Comparison of the Top 5 VPNs for Sports Streaming

Do You Need a VPN When Streaming Sports?

Most sports streaming services employ regional geo-blocks to black out games in specific areas. Also, they tend to be available in certain countries only, based on licensing restrictions. So, by default, you'll be quite limited regarding what you can stream - unless you use a VPN.

Without a VPN, you might see a message saying, "This game is unavailable for live viewing in your area," "Broadcast blacked out," or "There was an error playing this video - Content restricted for geolocation."

Other reasons why VPNs are beneficial include the following:

• Get Around Sports Blackouts: A VPN can easily bypass sports blackouts and give you access to games regardless of where you are, and this works for bypassing NBA, NHL, and NFL blackouts.
• Access Geo-Restricted Content: Broadcasters can own particular sports brands (like how Liberty Media owns F1). They’re in complete control of where their games are streamable. A VPN can help you get past these restrictions, providing buffer-free live sports streaming.
• Stream Content While Traveling: Since sports streaming services are geo-blocked, you won't be able to watch local sports when traveling unless you use a VPN. The trick is to connect to a VPN server back home to regain access to your local teams.
• Block Ads and Trackers: Certain VPNs come with ad blockers that prevent ads from loading. They can also fight against trackers that follow what you watch online.
• Use Streaming Apps on Public Wi-Fi: With a VPN, you can turn any public Wi-Fi into a safe network, allowing you to watch sports events when on the go.
• Sidestep ISP Throttling: Throttling is what happens when your ISP notices you’re engaging in bandwidth-intensive activity like streaming. With a VPN, they can’t know what you’re doing online, and they won’t throttle your connection.
• Hide Your Web Browsing History: Your ISP sees everything you do online, and it can retain that data for 6 to 12 months. If you'd like to browse the Web without anyone knowing what you do online, a VPN is the answer.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best VPN for Streaming Sports

You need to focus on finding a VPN that has servers in many locations, the ability to bypass sports blackouts, as well as apps for all your devices. Here’s more info:

• Ability to Unblock Sports Streaming Apps: Your chosen VPN must have the ability to bypass any geo-restriction or sports blackout.
• Server Network Size and Spread: A VPN with a large fleet of servers means you won’t have to worry about server overcrowding. Pay attention to how many servers you'll get while also paying attention to the locations of those servers.
• Fast and Stable Performance: Go for a VPN that has fast connection speeds to be able to stream live video without any buffering. 
• Obfuscation: Obfuscation will let your VPN use smaller data packets, which are much harder to detect. As a result, you'll get to unblock streaming services more easily.
• Kill Switch: A kill switch shuts down your Web connection if your VPN session drops for any reason. That way, it prevents your data from leaking on the Web.
• Privacy and Security: Pick a VPN powered by OpenVPN and WireGuard, which should be paired with AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption. There should also be a no-logs policy.
• Simultaneous Connections and Native Apps: Your VPN should have native apps for all your devices. Also, ensure your chosen VPN offers a sufficient number of simultaneous connections.
• Fair Pricing: There's no need to overpay for a VPN. They all offer multiple subscription plans, so pay attention to their long-term subscriptions, as those typically offer steep discounts.
• Money-Back Guarantees and Support: You can make your purchase risk-free by picking a VPN with generous money-back guarantees. There should also be 24/7 live chat support.

What Are the Best Sports Streaming Services?

Some of the best sports streaming services are fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and ESPN+. These platforms let you watch sports matches and PPV events without cable — you just need an Internet connection. We’ve listed them with their availability in the table below.

Streaming Service	Availability
fuboTV	Available in the US, Canada, and Spain.
Hulu + Live TV	Available in the USA only
YouTube TV	Available in the USA only.
Sling TV	Available in the USA only.
ESPN+	Available in the USA only.
DirecTV Stream	Available in the USA only.
Paramount Plus	Available in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, and South America.
Peacock	Available in the USA only.
Sky Sports	Available in the UK only.
Sportsnet NOW	Available in Canada only.
BBC iPlayer	Available in the UK only.
NBC Sports	Available in the USA only.
Prime Video	Accessible across 200+ countries. However, regional content can vary.

The table above shows that most of the best sports streaming services are not available in all countries. To access them, you’ll need a sports VPN that lets you bypass geo-restrictions. To learn more, we recommend checking out our article on the best sports streaming platforms.

Can You Use a Free VPN for Live Sports Streaming?

No, you can't use a free VPN service for streaming live sports, and we don't recommend it. Free VPNs cannot unblock sports streaming apps or bypass blackout restrictions.

Furthermore, free VPNs don’t offer unlimited data. Most of them put you on a monthly/daily allowance. Another issue is that free VPNs are not privacy-focused, and most of them sell their users’ data and show ads to monetize their services. Also, free VPNs tend to offer a handful of servers. Those servers are overcrowded, which is why free VPNs are generally quite slow.

What you do is take advantage of a VPN free trial offer, which is how you'll get a sports VPN for free for a limited time. For example, a free trial of NordVPN can be activated on Android and lasts for 7 days. This VPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all its other supported devices.

Once you go through a couple of trials, you can check our guide on the best VPN options. And if you're set on using a free VPN, try Proton VPN. It comes from a reputable brand and won't steal your data. However, you'll encounter a limited network and slow speeds.

Final Thoughts

Sports streaming services are geo-blocked, and most of them impose blackouts, which can make streaming local sports events quite frustrating at times. But there's an easy way to fix that. A VPN can give you access to any streaming service while also allowing you to bypass geo-blocks, use streaming apps while traveling, and even bypass bandwidth throttling.

If you want the best VPN for sports, you should go for NordVPN. It can bypass any geo-block or sports blackout. Also, NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs available today; it’s easy to use and comes ready for streaming out of the box.

That’s all for our guide on using a VPN to stream live sports events. If you have any questions, let us know via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!