Best VPNs for sports and sports streaming

Live sport is heavily protected by international broadcasting agreements. A VPN will allow you to sidestep any regional blackouts or restrictions to stream sports from anywhere in the world.

Whatever your preference is for sports streaming, it can be tough to watch your favorite team or event from abroad, even if you’ve paid for a premium subscription. This is typically due to broadcasting restrictions, as you’re normally only allowed to stream content from the country you originally signed up in. We’ll take you through everything you need to know to bypass content restrictions so you can stream live sports with a VPN when traveling abroad.

A VPN is the easiest way to stream sports from a variety of locations worldwide. It works by encrypting all of the internet traffic from your device and routing it through a server found elsewhere. The user is assigned a different IP address to match the new server location, and this can be used to access many blocked sites and streaming services. 

You’ll also benefit from improved security and privacy, as interested parties won’t be able to see what you’re up to while you’re online. Here’s a quick summary of our top VPN picks.

Best VPNs for streaming sports: 

1. NordVPN: Our top recommendation for watching live sports. Access to numerous streaming services, fast speeds, reliable connections, custom protocol, and unique features. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for streaming sports. Unlimited devices, reliable speeds, works with platforms like ESPN+ and TSN. 
3. ExpressVPN: Industry-leading service with quick speeds and unparalleled streaming capabilities. Unique features include parallel connection technology. 
4. CyberGhost: Over 10,000 servers worldwide, many streaming-optimized, affordable subscriptions, and offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.
5. Atlas VPN: Unlimited devices, unblocks a variety of sports streaming platforms, strong performance, and innovative privacy tools.
6. ProtonVPN: Solid free tier, with secure streaming from a range of different locations. One of the more advanced Virtual Private Networks.
7. IPVanish: US-based provider with high-speeds and unlimited device connections.

Summary Table

We've been able to narrow the field with our case-specific inclusion criteria. Here are some of the non-negotiable characteristics we identified when picking out the best providers for streaming sports:

• A large network of servers in countries like the United States and the UK for accessing popular sports streaming services 
• VPN connection speeds that are fast enough to stream in 4K, even if the server isn’t located nearby
• Access to various sports streaming services in different regions is an obvious prerequisite
• Strong privacy and security features, whether it’s proprietary protocols or anything else that is notable
• In order to qualify for one of the top three positions, the VPN must operate a 100% diskless server network 
• The VPN provider must have also had its infrastructure audited by a reputable third party to feature in our top three

For more information about the specific criteria we used for picking the best VPNs for streaming sports, check out the testing methodology section found later in this article.

Best VPNs for streaming sports in 2023: Detailed reviews

Here’s a roundup with detailed information about each VPN that has made it onto this list.

NordVPN has 5,500+ servers found in 60+ countries, which are capable of accessing a range of popular platforms in various regions. Average global download speeds of 196 Mbps are more than fast enough for 4K streaming, and its infrastructure and apps have been audited several times. 

It’s top-of-the-line if you’re looking for streaming access from abroad. For example, it works with the likes of Sky Go and BT Sport, which are two of the toughest sports broadcasters to bypass in the UK. NordVPN will also unblock Peacock, ESPN, NBC, ABC, CBS, Sling TV, and many more American services that are ideal for sports fans. 

Smart DNS (SmartPlay) is built into all of Nord’s apps seamlessly. As well as automatically switching DNS servers to access geo-restricted content, it will cloak your IP and encrypt your internet connection. It’s a step above the average provider in this respect, and apps are especially user-friendly.

NordLynx is a custom protocol that helps to improve connection speeds, while the provider owns all of the servers in its network. Meshnet is a private tunneling feature that allows users to create encrypted tunnels between devices, and it is free to use, with or without a NordVPN subscription. 

You’ll find a range of apps for almost any device you can think of, as well as browser support for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. 

THE BEST VPN FOR STREAMING SPORTS: NordVPN is a streamer's delight, with fast, reliable connection speeds and strong security features. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark is our top budget recommendation. It has 3,200+ servers that are found in 100+ countries in total. It won’t leave you wanting if you’re hoping for streaming support, as it openly advertises the ability to unblock the following platforms:

• ESPN, Hulu, Hotstar, Bein Sports, BBC iPlayer, Peacock, YouTubeTV, Prime Video, FuboTV, DirectTV, Paramount+, and Sling 

Surfshark comes with Smart DNS that can be used to access US streaming services for any devices that don't have VPN app support, like games consoles or smart TVs. It also allows torrenting throughout its network.

A single Surfshark account works with unlimited devices, so you’ll be able to share with others, while average global download speeds of 188 Mbps are only slightly slower than Nord.

Notable features include split tunneling, rotating IPs, ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware blocking. Surfshark’s applications have been audited independently, and it uses diskless servers that run in RAM.

It is our low-cost VPN recommendation for sports streaming, but the monthly plan could still be a little cheaper. 

TOP BUDGET VPN FOR SPORTS STREAMING: Surfshark is affordable, but matches up to the best in the business when it comes to speeds, security, and streaming. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN is a popular provider that has been around since 2009. One of the more reliable options when it comes to streaming, the custom Lightway protocol offers fast connection speeds (176 Mbps) that can stream multiple sports in 4K at the same time. 

The provider has also aced streaming tests, including many services that are tough to crack, like Sky. Once again, it comes with Smart DNS support, via MediaStreamer. This works to access Netflix US, Hulu, HBO Max, and other American streaming platforms. 

Apps are especially easy to use, with reliable connections and effective unblocking. ExpressVPN has audited both its infrastructure and apps, and it uses diskless servers across the network.

It’s more expensive than the average provider, arguably due to its reputation within the industry, as well as its capabilities when it comes to connection speeds and streaming. It also lacks a few features like ad blocking, tracker blocking, port forwarding, and MultiHop connections. 

PREMIUM STREAMING PROVIDER: Despite a higher asking price, ExpressVPN won’t leave you feeling short-changed. Unparalleled streaming access, works to watch a wide range of sports events, reliable connections, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

CyberGhost will be able to handle accessing content from a variety of popular international streaming services and TV platforms. 

A massive network of 10,000+ servers ensures that you’ll never struggle to find a nearby location, and it’s one of the few providers to label streaming servers within the app, going so far as to tell you which service it is optimized for. 

Servers for streaming can be found in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the US. 

That’s a reasonably comprehensive collection of countries, while average speeds of 289 Mbps during testing is highly impressive. 

As the service is more focused on speeds, streaming, and accessibility, it does lack a few advanced features like obfuscation and port forwarding. However, it does offer DNS leak protection, along with access to services like NFL Game Pass.

10,000+ VPN SERVERS: CyberGhost is an affordable provider with streaming optimized servers and user-friendly apps. Average speeds of roughly 290 Mbps and comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

Atlas VPN might have a smaller network of 750+ servers in 45+ countries, but it does offer streaming-optimized servers that are ideal for watching sports from abroad. It unblocks heavy hitters like BT Sport and Sky Go, as well as a ton of American platforms like YouTube TV and Netflix. 

We’re focusing on the premium version of Atlas VPN in this instance, as you can’t access geo-restricted video content with the free version. There’s also a 5 GB monthly bandwidth cap, which is removed if you pay up. 

The paid version of Atlas VPN comes with a selection of notable features including unlimited device connections, rotating IPs, and speedy WireGuard connections. The global average during testing was 252 Mbps down. It also comes with ad blocking, tracker blocking, and malware filtering.  

If you’re in need of a free provider, it’ll get the job done, but there’s another viable alternative listed below. 

UNLIMITED DEVICES: Atlas VPN unblocks the majority of sports streaming services, has speeds of over 250 Mbps, allows for unlimited device connections, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Atlas VPN.

Proton VPN places a firm emphasis on security and privacy. For example, it’s packed with features designed to improve online anonymity while in use, such as split tunneling, port forwarding, and the ability to block malware, ads, and trackers. It has obfuscated servers, and apps for all major platforms. 

However, it’s still a capable option for accessing blocked sports via a variety of international streaming platforms. It works with the likes of BBC iPlayer, ITV X, and Channel 4 in the UK, as well as Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime in the USA. The ‘VPN Accelerator’ should help to boost speeds, and it had a global average of 303 Mbps during testing. 

You’ll find just over 3,000 servers in 70+ countries. Proton VPN is arguably best known for a free version that has no limits on bandwidth. Free servers are available in a trio of locations, but they don’t support streaming without the user upgrading to the premium version. 

SECURE STREAMING: Proton VPN is a trustworthy provider offering a mix of security and access to popular streaming sports sites. Plenty of advanced features, including protection against DNS leaks. Decent free tier. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

IPVanish has been around for over a decade, and offers a huge range of 40,000+ IPs spread across a total of 75+ locations. Its network consists of 2,200+ servers, including 20 in various cities and states across the USA - perfect for getting an American IP in a location of your choice.

A provider that is mainly focused on the US, it’s able to access lots of American streaming services, including DirecTV Stream, HBO Max, Prime Video USA, Disney Plus, CBS, and NBC. It’s not as reliable when looking at platforms in the UK or elsewhere, but it’s still a decent result for US expats who are currently abroad, and would like to access popular sports streams. 

Apps are user-friendly, and the VPN recorded average global connection speeds of 268 Mbps. That’s a solid result and means IPVanish is quick enough to stream sports with no issues, as long as it’s able to access the site or service in the first place. 

You’ll find apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV devices.

TOP SPEEDS FOR STREAMING SPORT: IPVanish should be on your radar if you need the fastest speeds possible for streaming sports from USA-based sites or services. Powerful security features. Allows for unlimited connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Methodology: How we chose the best VPNs for streaming sports

The majority of VPN providers will claim to be able to unblock almost anything. In reality, results will differ drastically depending on the platform you want to access and the VPN you’ve chosen. Here are some of the key criteria we considered when using our testing methodology to determine what are the best VPNs for the job.

• Network strength: Servers from multiple locations are an obvious prerequisite for accessing sports streaming platforms found in locations in the United States, the UK, Europe, and elsewhere. 
• Streaming access: Does the provider work reliably with popular sports streaming services? Are there any notable features, such as streaming-optimized servers or Smart DNS?
• Speeds and performance: Connection speeds of 25 Mbps are necessary for 4K streaming. Each of the VPNs listed above has average speeds of at least 150 Mbps. 
• Privacy and security: The provider must be able to boost online privacy, ideally with a range of handy features. 
• Third-party audits: Trust is the foundation of the value that VPNs provide. You are essentially placing more faith in your VPN provider than you are in your ISP. Almost every provider says they are a ‘no logs' VPN. The only ways to test this claim are either through the courts or through audits. We will only consider providers for our top three positions if they have undergone infrastructure audits from a reputable third party. While this isn't foolproof, it's the closest the industry has to a verification process for logging policies.
• Diskless infrastructure: Again, this is a prerequisite to be considered for one of the top three positions on BleepingComputer. While the data stored on a VPN server should be minimal, it could, theoretically, be accessed if the servers were seized or hacked. Moving processes to RAM means that no information can be physically taken from servers and it is wiped on shutdown. It can also easily be wiped as a part of regular security procedures.

How to unblock sports streaming services abroad

If you’ve never used a VPN before, here’s a quick guide taking you through the necessary steps to get started:

1. Sign up with a VPN that can access the service you want to watch. NordVPN is our top pick for unblocking sports streams.
2. Download the relevant VPN app to your device/s.
3. Open the app, and log in. 
4. You’ll now be prompted to select a server. Pick one that can access the sports streaming platform you want to access. For example, a UK server will work with Sky Go, while the US is ideal for NBC. 
5. Once connected, open the streaming app or website you want to use and log in.
6. You should now be able to stream sports from the app you’ve selected. 

If you run into any issues, clear cookies from your device, and try a different server. It’s also worth testing a desktop version of the streaming service if possible, as you may have more success. Otherwise, it’s worth getting in contact with the VPN support team to see if they can suggest a server to use.  

Sports streaming channels

It feels like there are new sports streaming services popping up all of the time. We’ve put together a list of sports streaming services for the UK and the USA, but it’s far from comprehensive: 

UK sports streaming services:

USA sports streaming services: 

VPNs for sports streaming: FAQs

Is using a VPN to stream sports legal?

No. At worst, you could be breaching the terms of service you agreed to when signing up with the streaming platform. It’s not illegal, but in rare cases, your account could be blocked. 

However, VPNs are banned or blocked in some regions, such as Russia and China. Make sure you learn the local rules. 

Why are some sporting events geo-blocked?

International broadcasting deals tend to relate to specific regions. For example, Sky, BT, and Amazon have the rights to show live Premier League games within the UK. Streaming rights are sold to different broadcasters in other regions, so platforms are forced to block users from abroad. 

Can I use a VPN to bypass blackouts in the US?

Yes. A number of providers will have numerous US locations to choose from, in different regions of the country. If a game is subject to a blackout in one area, you can switch to a VPN server in a different state to resume access. 

Will using a VPN reduce my connection speeds?

Possibly, as a byproduct of the encryption process. This was more prevalent a few years ago, but the majority of premium services now come with speeds that are perfect for streaming in 4K. 

What type of sports streaming services can you unblock with a VPN?

You can unblock free-to-air providers like the BBC, or premium cable services like Sky or ESPN. Some VPNs even work with dedicated sports streaming apps like BT Sport.

Why is my VPN blocked by a sports streaming service?

Streaming platforms are obliged to block the use of VPNs if they are detected. However, services like NBC tend to go after the VPN, rather than the user. 

In practice, streaming services will block the IP addresses used by VPNs. It’s extremely unlikely that your account will be banned for accessing content from abroad, but there is a slight possibility. 

Can I use a free VPN to stream sports?

There might be a few ‘free’ VPNs that can access sports streaming sites, but it’s inadvisable for several reasons. Many cap speeds or bandwidth, and may limit streaming access to paid users, as is the case with Atlas and Proton. 

Unreputable companies may sell user data to fund the VPN, or may lack the necessary encryption to provide anonymity. Others have been found to contain malware, so it’s always risky to rely on a free service for anything involving your personal data. 

Can I watch UFC with a VPN?

Yes. you can use a VPN to connect to any country where the UFC has a broadcast. For example, you could connect to the US to watch UFC events on ESPN+. Alternatively, you could connect to the UK to watch UFC on BT Sport or any other country where UFC is available on a streaming platform. Below, we have included some of the international broadcasters for watching UFC:

• United States: ESPN, ESPN+
• Canada: TSN, RDS
• United Kingdom: BT Sport
• Brazil: Globo, Combate
• Australia: ESPN, Fight Pass
• France: RMC Sport
• Russia: Match TV, UFC TV
• Mexico: UFC Network, Fox Sports
• Sweden: Viaplay
• Netherlands: ESPN
• Poland: Polsat Sport
• New Zealand: Sky Sport
• South Korea: SPOTV
• Japan: WOWOW, AbemaTV
• Singapore: Fox Sports, ESPN
• Ireland: BT Sport
• India: Sony Ten, Sony LIV

What is the best sports streaming service in the world?

This is a hotly debated topic but ultimately depends on which sports you like to watch. If you like Premiership football you may want to get a Sky Sports subscription in the UK – or some other international service that carries soccer. If you love UFC, you may want to subscribe to ESPN+ or BT Sport. Those who want to watch Formula 1 may have another preference such as F1.tv. 

To help you get a head start we have included a list of the best sports streaming services from around the world:

• ESPN+ (United States)
• Sky Sports (United Kingdom)
• BT Sport (United Kingdom)
• beIN Sports Connect (Global, available in multiple countries)
• Kayo Sports (Australia)
• Optus Sport (Australia)
• Hotstar (India)
• SonyLIV (India)
• fuboTV (United States)
• Peacock (United States)
• Viaplay (Nordic countries)
• SuperSport (South Africa)
• RMC Sport (France)
• Spark Sport (New Zealand)
• Eleven Sports (Global, available in multiple countries)
• Movistar+ (Spain)
• TSN Direct (Canada)
• Sportsnet Now (Canada)
• Sport TV (Portugal)
• ESPN Player (Global, available in multiple countries)

No matter which of those services you subscribe to, you will be able to use a VPN to watch it if you are outside of the licensed region. This is perfect if you have to travel for work or are going on vacation but want to be able to watch your favorite sports.