The sports industry’s valuation is at an all-time high, and it’s expected to be worth 90 billion US dollars by 2027. That means 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. There’s a simple fix, though: you just need to use a sports VPN to spoof your location.
A high-quality sports VPN unblocks geo-blocks and blacked-out games by replacing your real IP address with one from its servers in another country. On top of that, VPNs also offer improved privacy and security. More importantly, they can let you subscribe to sports streaming services at lower regional pricing by changing your IP, thus saving you money.
We’ll help you determine what the best VPN option is to help you follow your favorite teams without any slowdowns. We’ll also go through descriptions for several top VPNs, show you how to use a VPN for sports, and cover some FAQs at the end.
Let’s jump right in!
How to Get a VPN to Watch Sports
To watch sports without restrictions, download a VPN and connect to a server in a country where the games you want to see are available. Follow these steps:
- Sign up for a VPN for sports streaming (we recommend ExpressVPN).
- Download and install the VPN app on your preferred device(s).
- Log in to the VPN app and reach its home screen.
- Connect to a VPN server with access to the games you want to watch.
- You can now access your streaming service(s). That’s all!
Best VPNs for Streaming Sports
The best VPN for streaming sports must offer fast connection speeds and no data caps. It should also offer a vast server network, enabling you to access geo-restricted matches and bypass blackouts. It should support multiple devices and different operating systems, offer multiple simultaneous device connections, and have strong security features. Finally, look for VPNs that have good money-back guarantees and reliable customer support.
Taking those criteria into account, here are the 5 best VPNs for streaming sports:
- ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated Sports VPN
- NordVPN - Beginner-Friendly VPN for Sports Streaming
- CyberGhost VPN - Affordable VPN With Tons of Optimized Servers
- PIA VPN - Most Customizable VPN for Streaming Sports
- Surfshark - Most Easy-to-Use VPN
1. ExpressVPN - Our #1-Rated Sports VPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for sports because of its vast fleet of 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries. This network gives you plenty of options for sports streams from the US, Canada, the UK, and more. It also has lightning-fast connection speeds for streaming platforms like ESPN+, SkySports, beIN Sports, and tons more.
With support for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and even Linux, you can use ExpressVPN on many different types of devices. Additionally, it offers 5 simultaneous connections (less than the competition, but still enough). You can also install ExpressVPN on a router to cover all the devices on your network at once.
To ensure optimal, buffer-free streaming, ExpressVPN uses Lightway protocol, built for speed and security. It encodes your data with military-grade 256-bit encryption, ensuring there won’t be any breaches of your privacy. ExpressVPN also offers a solid no-logs policy, further enforced by RAM-only servers (data gets deleted once their servers reset).
Let’s not forget to mention that ExpressVPN 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, they offer 24/7 live chat that’s ready to help with any of your questions.
PROS
- Reliable performance.
- Excellent security.
- Unblocks most streaming services.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
CONS
- 5 simultaneous connections.
2. NordVPN - Beginner-Friendly VPN for Sports Streaming
NordVPN is an ultra-capable sports VPN with 5,300+ servers in 60 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK. That means you can unblock popular sports streaming services and platforms like Sportsnet, NBC Sports, ESPN+, fuboTV, and more.
Also, NordVPN has fast connection speeds that work great for streaming in high quality. It’s not quite as fast as ExpressVPN, but it’s still great for streaming live sports.
As for protocols, NordVPN supports WireGuard and OpenVPN, but we suggest Wireguard because it’s an upgraded version - the NordLynx tunneling protocol. This’ll help you stream even when taking advantage of NordVPN’s limit of 6 simultaneous device connections.
Furthermore, it offers a Smart DNS feature that even unblocks streaming sites on devices that don’t support VPNs. You can also install NordVPN on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Linux devices, and even on routers.
NordVPN’s no-logs policy ensures your personal data won’t ever be collected. Once you install and activate the VPN app, your connection will be protected with military-grade encryption. It also has a kill switch and uses RAM-only servers for maximum privacy.
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.
PROS
- Great for sports streaming.
- Vast server network.
- 6 simultaneous connections.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- No data caps.
CONS
- Highly remote servers can be slow.
3. CyberGhost VPN - Affordable VPN with Tons of Optimized Servers
If you’re looking for an affordable yet best VPN to watch sports, then CyberGhost is a great option. It excels in two areas specifically: it has a vast network of 9,500+ servers in 91 countries and it offers 7 simultaneous device connections.
In addition, CyberGhost has special servers that are constantly tested to make sure they can unblock certain streaming sites. These optimized servers let you connect to top sports streaming services and platforms, including ESPN+, YouTube TV, and others.
Its connection speeds do well for buffer-free sports streaming. However, CyberGhost does lag behind ExpressVPN and NordVPN in terms of how fast it is.
Also, it doesn’t offer any unique tunneling protocols (like NordLynx or Lightway). Instead, it uses WireGuard and OpenVPN to provide a stable and fast streaming connection while you’re watching live games. These protocols have military-grade encryption, offering secure connectivity at all times.
Furthermore, CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country with favorable VPN laws, unlike the standard EU data retention rules. Besides its strong privacy policy, it also has a kill switch that stops accidental data leaks.
Lastly, 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.
PROS
- Unblocks dozens of streaming sites.
- Huge server fleet.
- Specialized streaming servers.
- 45-day money-back guarantee.
- No data cap.
CONS
- Slower than its competitors.
4. PIA VPN - Most Customizable VPN for Streaming Sports
Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the best VPN for sports if you’re a more advanced user. You can stream live sports with no problem through its high-speed 10-Gbps servers that cover 84 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 10 simultaneous device connections, more than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and even CyberGhost VPN. 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.
Advanced users can set up proxies, port forwarding, and DNS, and also play with remote ports. That said, beginners can get started with the VPN quite easily thanks to its out-of-box security and privacy approach. It utilizes two popular protocols, WireGuard and OpenVPN, that use military-grade encryption.
Moving right along, PIA has a strong privacy policy, despite being located in the US. Also, it uses a firewall-based kill switch that kills your internet connection if it drops.
Lastly, PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and responsive 24/7 live chat support.
PROS
- Highly customizable.
- Good security protocols.
- Unblocks major sports services.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
CONS
- US-based.
- Not beginner-friendly.
5. Surfshark - Most Easy-to-Use VPN
Surfshark is a great pick for sports lovers who want unlimited simultaneous connections, fast servers, and powerful unblocking capabilities. It’s a solid all-rounder sports VPN with 3,200+ servers in 100 countries.
Its large server network means Surfshark can unblock almost any streaming site, including Sky Sports, MLB.tv, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and ESPN+, despite its lack of specialized streaming servers.
It isn’t as fast as NordVPN and ExpressVPN, but Surfshark certainly holds its own when it comes to streaming sports. 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, iOS, Linux, Android, and others.
The protocols Surfshark supports are WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, all of which use military-grade encryption. It also follows a robust no-logs policy, meaning that not even the VPN itself will know that you’re streaming sports online.
Surfshark has an industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee and offers responsive 24/7 live chat support.
PROS
- Unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Fast servers.
- Smart DNS feature.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
CONS
- Takes a while to connect.
Why Do I Need a VPN for Streaming Sports?
You need a VPN for sports because many games and matches are region-locked - they’re blocked to local IP addresses. Here are more reasons to use a sports VPN:
- Bypass Blackouts: Local teams blackout games to ensure ticket sales. They see online streaming as a competition and only allow non-locals to stream the event. A VPN easily bypasses this restriction and gives you access to games regardless of where you are in the world.
- Bypass ISP Throttling: A VPN can help you overcome ISP throttling, enabling you to stream as much as you want. Throttling is what happens when your ISP notices that 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.
- Watch 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 geo-restrictions, providing buffer-free live sports streaming.
How to Choose the Best VPN for Sports?
To choose the best VPN for sports, make sure it has servers in many locations, the ability to bypass sports blackouts, and to offer apps for all your devices. Here’s more info:
- Powerful Unblocking Capabilities: The best VPN for sports must have the ability to bypass any geo-restriction or sports blackout. They need to have servers in countries like the US, Canada, and across Europe so that you can unblock platforms like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, ESPN+, and others.
- Fast Connection Speeds: Go for a sports VPN that has fast connection speeds to be able to stream live video without any buffering.
- Unlimited Bandwidth: Streaming sports consumes a lot of data. That’s why the best VPN for streaming sports must not impose any bandwidth or data restrictions.
- Device Compatibility: Your VPN should have native apps for all your devices. You won’t want a VPN that supports manual configuration only.
- Vast Server Network: A VPN with a large fleet of servers means you won’t have to worry about server overcrowding. Also, this will let you unblock most streaming services across the globe.
What Are the Best Sports Streaming Services?
There are tons of great sports streaming services out there, like 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.
The table above shows that most of the best sports streaming services are unavailable worldwide. To access them, you’ll need a sports VPN that lets you bypass geo-restrictions and blackouts.
If you want to read more, we recommend checking out our article to the best sports streaming services.
Can I Use a Free VPN for Streaming Sports?
Yes, you can use a free VPN for streaming sports. However, that’s neither practical nor recommended. That’s because of some key issues with how free VPNs work.
First of all, free VPNs don’t offer unlimited data. So, if you use one to watch live sports, you’ll run out of data pretty quickly. Another issue is that free VPNs are not privacy-focused, and some of them sell users’ data and show ads to monetize their services.
The biggest problem is that you might not be unable to unblock your favorite sports platform with a free VPN. That’s because most free VPNs don’t have servers in many countries and may not have them in the country you need.
In short, free VPNs are unreliable, unoptimized, and slow. But, if you still want to try them, read our free VPN central guide before going ahead.
Final Thoughts
You need a VPN to get around geo-restrictions and sports blackouts, which lets you access games from anywhere, on any device. However, you’ll need to choose one with fast connection speeds and servers in the country you want to stream from. That said, there aren’t too many sports VPNs that are worth your time and money.
If you want the best sports VPN, we recommend ExpressVPN. It bypasses any type of blocks or sports blackouts. On top of that, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN available today, it’s easy to use, and comes ready for streaming “out of the box.”
That’s all for our guide to the best sports VPN services. If you have any questions, let us know via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!