The best VPNs for streaming live sports in 2025

Every sports fan will understand the frustration of missing out on a big match as it’s unavailable in their current location. That could be because they’ve traveled abroad and can’t access TV content from their home country, or because the match in question is only available in a certain region or country due to content licensing restrictions. 

But if you ever find yourself in such a situation, just download one of the best virtual private networks. It’ll allow you to circumvent geo-restrictions and watch all your favorite international sports, regardless of location. VPNs are tools that conceal your internet protocol address — which is the unique number assigned to every connected device — and route your internet traffic through an encrypted connection between your device and a remote server, rather than your broadband provider. 

By connecting to a foreign VPN server, you can appear to be in a different country. That’s handy if, say, you want to watch the Premier League but live in the US. All you would need to do is connect to a UK-based VPN server and access a streaming platform that shows the Premier League. Then, hey presto, you can enjoy some English soccer. 

VPNs aren’t just handy for accessing geo-restricted sports, though. They can also tackle an annoying tech issue known as internet throttling, which is when your broadband company intentionally slows down your internet connection at peak times of the day or to limit your bandwidth usage. It can cause laggy and buffer-ridden streaming. However, because VPNs change your IP address and encrypt your web data, ISPs shouldn’t be able to throttle your internet speeds. Therefore, a VPN can help you enjoy faster sports streaming. 

Today, there are lots of VPN services that will let you access sports streaming sites in any part of the world. The best ones offer features like large server networks, super-fast VPN protocols, the ability to unblock top sports streaming sites, unlimited bandwidth, support for streaming devices and smart TVs, and more. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up the best sporting VPNs of 2024. 

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The best sports VPN: NordVPN

NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming sports thanks to a large global server network offering fast, reliable connections and a wide selection of features to help you stay safe online. 

With NordVPN, you get access to over 7000 servers across 111 countries. Thanks to a quick-connect button, you can begin using the best available server immediately. But there’s also the option to choose a server in a specific part of the world using an interactive map, making it easy to watch international live sports. NordVPN’s servers can unblock sports streaming services like ESPN+, Sky Sports, DAZN, FuboTV, SlingTV, and MLB TV. 

In addition to a large server network, NordVPN boasts a proprietary protocol called NordLynx. Built on the WireGuard protocol, it’s designed to offer lightning-fast connection speeds—perfect for streaming sports—without compromising your online security and privacy. 

Another great feature offered by NordVPN is SmartDNS, which allows you to use a VPN on devices that don’t support these services by design. These include smart TVs and game consoles. There are also NordVPN apps for iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Its other top features include a kill switch that disables your internet connection if your VPN suddenly disconnects, Double VPN servers that route your internet traffic through two connections, advanced online threat protection, split tunneling to choose which apps require protection from a VPN, and robust encryption. 

What’s more, NordVPN supports up to ten devices on a single subscription, allowing you to stream sports on all your gadgets. NordVPN subscriptions start at $2.99 a month and include a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

The best sports VPN for everyday users: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another feature-packed and easy-to-use VPN service that will enable you to unblock international sports streaming platforms securely. 

Its servers are located in more than 105 countries, and with 80% of them offering 10 Gbps of bandwidth, you can enjoy buffer-free sports. They’re also RAM-only, so your data will always be wiped when you disconnect from a server. 

With ExpressVPN, you can access major sports streaming platforms like ESPN, FuboTV, SlingTV, DAZN, Sky Sports, and Peacock.  It’s also great for streaming international sporting events for free via platforms like BBC iPlayer in the UK, CBC Gem in Canada, 9Now in Australia, RTE Player in Ireland, and many more. 

Similar to NordVPN, ExpressVPN has a MediaStreamer Smart DNS feature that lets you use it on smart TVs and game consoles. It also provides easy-to-use iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux apps. 

Unlimited bandwidth means you can stream sports using ExpressVPN as much as you want. And ExpressVPN’s speedy Lightway protocol will ensure a seamless sports streaming experience. You also get a kill switch, an ad blocker, strong encryption, a no-logging policy, a password manager, and more.  

An ExpressVPN subscription will give you eight simultaneous connections, which should be enough for most people. The cheapest ExpressVPN plan works out at $4.99 monthly for two years, and there’s a 30-day money-back policy.

The best sports VPN for families: Surfshark

Surfshark is one of the only major VPN providers that offer unlimited connections, which makes it the perfect choice for sports lovers who own loads of devices or sporty families. It’s also well known for being competitively priced, with subscriptions costing as little as $1.99 a month. 

With Surfshark, you can connect to over 3200 10GBps servers in 100 countries globally. They are RAM-only for added protection and support a range of super-fast VPN protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. 

You can quickly choose the best-available server using a quick-connect button. Thanks to an auto-connect feature, Surfshark will automatically kick into action when your device connects to the internet, which is handy if you want to stream sports on insecure public Wi-Fi networks. 

Using Surfshark, you can enjoy HD and 4K sports on streaming platforms such as ESPN+, DAZN, FuboTV, CBS Sports, Viaplay, Kayo Sports, and Optus Sport. It can also unblock free sports streaming sites like ABC in the US, SVT Play in Sweden, ITVX in the UK, RTS in Switzerland, ServusTV in Austria, and many more. 

With apps for all major operating systems, smart DNS support, and a router VPN, Surfshark will let you enjoy your favorite sports on any device. There’s also malware protection, strong encryption, split tunneling, a kill switch, and a no-logging policy.

Private Internet Access is best known for offering a whopping 35,000 servers in 91 countries, making it super easy to stream the latest sporting events happening in every corner of the globe. And with servers in all 50 US states, it’s the perfect VPN for streaming sports all over America.

But Private Internet Access isn’t just about quantity. Its servers are also of top quality, offering 10Gbps speeds for buffer-free streaming and RAM-only designs for enhanced data privacy. Each of its VPN servers also has unlimited bandwidth, so you can stream sports to your heart’s content. 

You can use Private Internet Access to watch major sporting events and leagues such as NFL, NBA Live, NHL, MLB Live, AFL, Formula 1, Premier League, and lots more. It unblocks sporting streaming services like ESPN, beIN SPORTS, FuboTV, and many others.

What also makes Private Internet Access a great sports streaming VPN is its native Android TV and Fire TV apps. But if you own a smart TV system that doesn’t support VPNs natively, you can install Private Internet Access on your router so any device connected to your Wi-Fi network is automatically covered by a VPN. There are also apps for Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. 

Other great features include top-level encryption, split tunneling, a no-logging policy, and antivirus. With plans starting at just $2.37, Private Internet Access is one of the cheapest premium VPN services on the market. On top of this, you get unlimited connections per account and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

A VPN with a super long refund period: CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a highly respected VPN service that operates one of the largest VPN server networks. As of today, it has more than 11,000 servers in 100 countries, which is perfect for getting around pesky geo restrictions and enjoying any international sport you could imagine. Many of its servers are optimized for 10Gbps speeds, too. 

It also provides a neat tool on its website that suggests the best available server for specific activities, including uninterrupted streaming. Every server comes with unlimited bandwidth for binge-watching sports, strong encryption, and RAM-only designs, ensuring your data is always erased when a server is turned off. 

With CyberGhost, you can watch sporting events like the NBA, NFL, NHL, Rugby World Cup, Premier League, Champions League, US Open, and MLB TV. There are easy-to-use apps for major operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows, and MacOS, and thanks to a smart DNS feature, you can also set it up on your smart TV. 

You can get CyberGhost for as cheap as $2.03 a month, although you are limited to just seven connections per subscription. That said, you do have 45 days to ask for a refund if you feel like this isn’t enough for you, and there’s 24-hour customer support. CyberGhost also boasts a kill switch, a strict no-logging policy, email leak monitoring, split tunneling, and many other great features. 

A comprehensive VPN service that won’t break the bank: IPVanish

IPVanish offers all the hallmarks of a great sports VPN service, including 2400 high-speed servers in 135 locations, thousands of shared IP addresses, unlimited bandwidth for around-the-clock streaming, unmetered connections so you can stream on all devices, and easy-to-use apps for a range of platforms.  You can also personalize your IPVanish connection based on your needs using a large suite of leading protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPsec, and WireGuard. 

IPVanish works on a plethora of streaming devices, which include Apple TV, FireTV, NVIDIA Shield, ONN 4K, Google Chromecast, and Nokia Streambox. That’s on top of the typical iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux apps. Whatever device you decide to use IPVanish on, it’ll allow you to watch live games and matches via streaming platforms like ESPN+, Dazn, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, FuboTV, and many more. 

Aside from its streaming credentials, IPVanish also offers a kill switch, split tunneling, online threat protection, DNS leak protection, a no-logging policy, 24-hour customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can purchase an IPVanish subscription for just $2.19 a month. 

The best free sports VPN: Privado VPN

If you’re looking for a free VPN service that will let you stream sports, look no further than PrivadoVPN. 

Its free plan includes 10GB of monthly data, support for a single device, access to 13 international servers, strong encryption, and a no-logging policy. Most importantly, it’s one of the only free VPNs that offer streaming support. You can use PrivadoVPN to access sports streaming platforms such as ESPN, DAZN, FuboTV, F1 TV, MLB, beIN Sports, and Servus TV. 

Should you sign up for a PrivadoVPN account and decide you want to get even more out of it, you can upgrade to a premium account for just $1.11 per month. It’ll provide more advanced features, including servers in 65 cities, an ad blocker, online threat protection, parental controls, a SOCKS5 Proxy for circumventing internet restrictions, unlimited connections, unlimited data, and more. 

Do VPNs work for sports?

Yes, many VPN companies allow users to access top sports streaming platforms and live matches through their services. If you want to watch international sporting events with a VPN service, you’ll need a provider with a large network of reliable, high-speed global servers and effective IP masking. 

What is the best VPN for live sports?

Our pick for the best VPN for watching live sports is NordVPN. It offers thousands of high-speed international servers, support for top sports streaming sites like ESPN+, a smart DNS feature for using a VPN on a smart TV, the super-fast NordLynx protocol, and lots more. Although it doesn’t offer an unlimited devices policy like Surfshark, NordVPN’s ten connections should be fine for most people and families. 

What is the best VPN to avoid sports blackouts?

Sports blackouts are when you can’t watch a planned match or sporting event in your location because it’s not aired there. That’s usually because your local broadcaster doesn’t have the right to show it. 

Broadcasters, sporting teams, and sports bodies are responsible for creating sports blackouts. These blackouts are typically aimed at preventing local broadcast networks from losing viewers to larger, out-of-market broadcasters and persuading people to attend games in person. 

But with a reliable VPN service that has lots of international VPN servers and IP addresses, you can easily get around the geo-restrictions that result in sports blackouts and never miss out on key sporting action. Again, NordVPN is our choice for the best sports VPN.

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