Best VPN for Sports in 2025: Streaming Live Sports From Anywhere
Live sports can’t be streamed everywhere due to broadcast licensing issues. Some regions experience blackouts and can only show highlights or replays later on. By using a VPN for sports, you can bypass these restrictions and enjoy games in real time.
Written by Arthur Sabayi (Writer)
Reviewed by Samuel Chapman (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Best VPNs for Sports
- NordVPN — Best VPN overall. NordVPN’s best deal is available at a 72% discount.
- Surfshark — Best for multiple streaming devices. Sign up now to get 66% (plus 3 months free) off the first two years.
- ExpressVPN — Secure VPN with reliable buffer-free speeds. ExpressVPN offers 25% off on the first year for new users.
- CyberGhost — Largest server network.
- PrivadoVPN — Best free VPN for live streaming sports.
Sports live streaming has become popular worldwide, and Americans lead the pack, spending more than 4.17 hours per week streaming sports-related content, according to a 2022 study by time2play.com.1 However, licensing issues prevent many from accessing the live sports they love. The only way around this is to turn to the best VPN for sports.
Virtual private networks bypass the geo-restrictions on sporting events by hiding your IP address, keeping you anonymous while letting you stream sports content from other countries. Furthermore, they circumvent internet service provider (ISP) speed throttling so you can watch the game free of buffering. Yet despite the market being awash with hundreds of VPNs, not all are up to the task.
Our guide covers the five VPNs that impressed us the most for sports streaming. We will explore the size of their server networks, speeds, user privacy, device compatibility and, most importantly, how they handle sports streaming. For those in a rush, NordVPN is our pick for the best sports VPN, but if you want to learn more, read on.
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09/05/2022
Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2. Also updated Windscribe’s free data cap to 15GB due to it offering 5GB extra permanently when you tweet about the service.
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11/02/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s expansion of server presence from 94 to 105 countries.
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01/26/2024 Facts checked
We’ve rewritten the article and adjusted our list to recommend the best available VPNs.
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07/11/2024 Facts checked
We updated the article replacing Proton VPN with PrivadoVPN as the best free VPN for sports.
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10/01/2024 Facts checked
We recalibrated the VPN positions after thorough reassessment of each service.
Cloudwards Editor’s Choice: NordVPN
Fast speeds are vital when streaming live sports, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find many VPNs faster than NordVPN. It consistently tops our fastest VPN list due to its proprietary NordLynx protocol.
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NordVPN also rarely disappoints when it comes to unblocking geo-restricted sports streaming services worldwide. It has over 6,000 servers in 100+ countries. You can try NordVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Choose the Best Sports VPN
The main function of a sports VPN is to change your IP address to the location where you want to stream live sports. We focused on four key factors when ranking the best sports VPNs.
- Streaming: The first consideration was the ability to unblock geo-restricted content. Sports streaming sites like Peacock, SlingTV and CBS Sports are unavailable worldwide. VPNs with more evenly distributed servers give you a better chance of unblocking these streaming sites. Bigger VPN server networks like CyberGhost also improve speeds because there’s less server overcrowding.
- Performance: The second factor we considered was connection speeds. Sports fans can miss critical action if the video buffers when streaming live games, so the ideal VPN needs to be fast enough to avoid that. Streaming services like TiVo Stream offer live content in 4K, but without a fast VPN you won’t be able to get that quality.
- Security & Privacy: Thirdly, we looked at user privacy and security. The best sports streaming VPN should hide your IP address and stop your ISP from monitoring your online movements. The VPN should also maintain your privacy and encrypt your internet traffic, especially if you use public networks to stream.
- Compatibility: The fourth factor we considered was device compatibility. The VPN should work on devices capable of streaming, like Android, iOS, macOS and Windows PCs. An added bonus is if the VPN has alternate ways to work on smart TVs that don’t support native VPN app installations, like ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.
The 5 Best Sports Streaming VPNs
With our criteria for choosing the best sports streaming VPNs settled, which five VPNs made the list? We’ll explain how each VPN performed with different streaming services during hands-on testing. Let’s dive right in.
1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Sports Streaming
sports sites like SportsNet Now in Canada.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs and rates in the top spot in our most secure VPNs piece. It helps circumvent ISP speed throttling by routing your sports streams through an encrypted virtual tunnel that hides your IP address perfectly.
NordVPN has more than 6000 servers in over 100 countries, making it the second largest network after CyberGhost. A high number of U.S. servers across 16 locations lets you bypass pesky NBA blackouts to catch live games as they happen rather than waiting for replays the next day.
It also comes with the all-important obfuscated servers for regions and networks that restrict VPN use. These also help on work and school networks that may not want you to mix work with play. Connecting to any of the 16 available obfuscated servers offers you unrestricted access to multiple sports streaming services, including Sling TV, DirecTV and FuboTV.
Speaking of buffering, NordVPN averaged 94 Mbps on our unprotected speeds of 100 Mbps — only a 6% speed drop. These speeds can handle livestream sports at any distance without interference. NordVPN is equipped with a fast proprietary protocol called NordLynx; we touch on it in our NordVPN review, so give it a read.
NordVPN also works with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows and offers a SmartDNS feature for any smart TV incompatible with VPN apps. You can also connect up to six devices simultaneously, which is perfect for large groups and makes it possible for everyone to watch their preferred game on their own screens.
NordVPN Hands-on Testing
NordVPN gave us no trouble as we activated the kill switch, changed protocols and selected servers through the app settings. On the desktop version, you can see the exact number of servers in a location. Navigating is easy even for first-time users, which is why NordVPN appears on our list of best beginner-friendly VPNs.
NordVPN Pricing & Value
NordVPN has three price plans. The NordVPN Standard two-year plan offers the best deal at $2.52 per month and comes bundled with an extra three months.
The next best deal is the one-year plan, which costs $4.99 per month, and last is the monthly plan, which will set you back $11.99 per month. All come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
- 10
2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Sports
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Surfshark is a reliable VPN for streaming sports, with more than 3,200 servers in more than 100 countries. These servers run on 1 Gbps ports that are super fast, so even overcrowded servers won’t be a problem. Surfshark averaged 95 Mbps, a 5% speed drop on our 100 Mbps unprotected connection. That’s sufficient to stream live games with minimal speed reductions and latencies.
Furthermore, its more than 3,200 servers are distributed globally, with a high concentration in the United States and Europe. We had no problem unblocking BBC iPlayer to stream the English Premier League games. You don’t have to worry about broadcasting licenses keeping you from enjoying your favorite games.
Surfshark passed our encryption tests, so rest easy knowing that your streaming traffic is for your eyes only. Furthermore, there’s a kill switch across all the apps that disconnects your internet when your VPN connection drops. That prevents your real IP address from leaking accidentally when you’re watching sports on public WiFi.
If you’re traveling to China and are worried about missing important games, don’t panic. Surfshark has an obfuscation feature called Camouflage Mode that will easily bypass Chinese VPN censorship. To activate it, switch to the OpenVPN protocol. We explain how it works in our VPN protocols guide.
Surfshark Hands-on Testing
The Surfshark app lets you connect to a server of your choice, change the protocols and activate the kill switch. It works with multiple streaming devices, like Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. It also offers SmartDNS for sports fanatics with Samsung, Apple or LG smart TVs that are not compatible with VPN apps.
Most importantly, Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous device connections, so you can find it sitting pretty on our best VPN for multiple devices list. This gives you more flexibility in sharing your subscription with friends and family.
the protocol that fits your streaming needs.
Surfshark Pricing & Value
Surfshark offers three price plans, and the cheapest one is Surfshark Starter. The best deal is the 24-month plan, which costs $2.19 per month and comes with four extra months. The 12-month plan goes for $3.19 per month, and the monthly plan costs $15.45 per month.
All plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our Surfshark review to understand these plans before you pay for a subscription.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
3. ExpressVPN — User-Friendly VPN for Sports
League Baseball on multiple streaming platforms.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
ExpressVPN has 3,000 servers in 105 countries. Though CyberGhost dwarfs this, ExpressVPN still unblocked live sports sites like FuboTV in the U.S., Sportsnet NOW in Canada and BBC iPlayer in the U.K. without issues. It doesn’t matter which corner of the globe you are in; you can stream your favorite team playing live anywhere.
Buffering won’t be a problem with ExpressVPN, as it is one of the fastest VPNs on our list. On six continents, we cranked up the streaming quality to 1080p or 4K and streamed video with no buffering. We recommend switching to the Lightway UDP protocol, as it is the fastest — you can read more about that in our ExpressVPN Lightway review.
Furthermore, our tests showed that ExpressVPN layers impenetrable encryption on your streaming traffic, protecting you from snooping eyes. That gives you the peace of mind to enjoy your game even when using unsecured public WiFi.
Since internet service providers cannot interfere with your speeds if your IP address is concealed, we’ve found that we actually beat our unprotected speeds for certain activities like torrenting when using ExpressVPN.
Combine all that with how easy the ExpressVPN app is to use across different devices and you can see why it’s the best. Catch your favorite NBA team on NBA League Pass on your Android, iOS, macOS or Windows devices. Plus, you can connect up to eight devices simultaneously when you subscribe to a plan for 12 months or longer.
ExpressVPN Hands-on Testing
ExpressVPN is smooth and easy to configure and navigate. You can activate the kill switch and select protocols from the app settings with a single tap. Finding the server you need is also a breeze, as they are arranged by continent and come with a responsive search bar.
Alternatively, you can use a search function to locate the exact server you need quickly. We tested whether ExpressVPN could unblock Peacock TV sports using a New Jersey server and it worked on the first attempt. We also streamed MLB games and highlights without problems.
ExpressVPN Pricing & Value
ExpressVPN is an expensive service compared to other premium VPNs. The 12-month plan offers the best value at $4.99 per month and comes with an extra three free months.
All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to learn more, check out our ExpressVPN review.
- Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
4. CyberGhost — Best VPN for Sports Globally
Very Fast
Very Fast
Fast
CyberGhost has the largest server network, with 10,000+ servers in over 100 countries and 125 locations. It can unblock U.S. streaming platforms like ESPN+ and stream American college games and more from anywhere in the world without blackouts.
CyberGhost is also pretty fast, averaging 80 Mbps worldwide — a 20% speed drop on our unprotected 100 Mbps connection. Though this is slower than ExpressVPN, Surfshark and NordVPN, it is enough for streaming live 4K games without buffering.
Additionally, CyberGhost is the only VPN on this list with streaming servers for specific services. That eliminates the time you’ll spend searching for a fast server.
We connected to a Japanese server optimized for DAZN Japan to stream J1 League games. It unblocked it on the first attempt. We go into more detail about these specialty streaming servers and what they can and can’t do in our CyberGhost review.
CyberGhost will keep your streaming traffic safe from prying eyes, including your ISP. The kill switch is available across all apps as a failsafe for unexpected moments when the VPN connection drops.
However, CyberGhost doesn’t have obfuscation. We wouldn’t recommend using it in highly censored regions or networks because there’s a high chance that your VPN traffic will be detected.
CyberGhost Hands-on Testing
You can run CyberGhost on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows, plus smart TVs like Apple, LG and Samsung through the SmartDNS feature. Additionally, you can connect up to seven devices simultaneously. Next time you have your friends over, impress them with a CyberGhost connection and stream the game in every room of your house.
As for usability, it’s one of the simplest VPN apps on this list. The server list is comprehensive; you can favorite the servers you use frequently for easy access. Other in-app functions at your disposal include the kill switch, protocols and WiFi rules. The latter feature lets you configure the general behavior of your CyberGhost app on unknown WiFi networks.
CyberGhost Pricing & Value
CyberGhost is one of the most affordable VPNs, offering three price plans, and you can find it among our best cheap VPN recommendations.
The 24-month plan is the best deal at $2.19 per month with an extra four months. The six-month plan is the second cheapest at $6.99 per month, and last is the one-month plan, which goes for $12.99 per month.
CyberGhost provides a 45-day money-back guarantee with the 24-month and six-month plans, whereas monthly plan subscribers have a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
5. PrivadoVPN — Best Free VPN for Sports
PrivadoVPN is the only premium option on this list that offers a free version and it’s the best free VPN on the market. If you’re on a tight budget but can’t stand to miss a live game, PrivadoVPN has you covered.
PrivadoVPN offers free servers in 10 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. This allows you to access streams in those countries without paying for a VPN.
PrivadoVPN’s free version is excellent at unblocking streaming sites. For example, we managed to unblock TNT Sports using a U.K. server and stream highlights of the Euros with no hiccups. It’s also a fast VPN, enabling you to stream without lags or buffering wheels.
Additionally, PrivadoVPN provides excellent security and privacy, keeping your streaming activity from prying eyes. It offers a kill switch and DNS leak protection, ensuring your internet activity stays private.
PrivadoVPN Hands-on Testing
We found PrivadoVPN easy to download and install. The signup process is smooth, mainly requiring your email. You can use PrivadoVPN on mobile and desktop devices: Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. PrivadoVPN’s apps are well-organized and clutter-free, enabling you to connect to a server easily or find the various settings.
PrivadoVPN Pricing & Value
PrivadoVPN’s best deal is the two-year plan, which costs $1.11 per month (two-year plan + three months) per month. Next up is the one-year plan, costing $1.33 per month (15-months plan) per month, and the monthly plan, which costs $10.99 per month (one-month plan) per month. All premium plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you need to know more, read our PrivadoVPN review or take the VPN for a test run by subscribing to the best deal.
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
How to Use a VPN for Sports Streaming
Setting up a VPN to live stream games on multiple platforms is easy. Here are the steps to follow.
- Subscribe to a VPN
Your first move is to go to nordvpn.com and sign up for a discounted plan at 72% off. Remember, you can get your money back within 30 days if it’s not for you.
- Download and Install the VPN
Open the VPN download page and choose the app that is compatible with the device you intend to use for live sports streaming.
- Launch the VPN and Connect to a Server
Open the VPN list and connect to a server in a region where the streaming service you want to unblock is unrestricted.
Why You Need a Sports Streaming VPN
You need a sports streaming VPN to unblock geo-restricted content. The internet has opened up the world, but licensing issues still restrict access to sports broadcasting. This leads to streaming blackouts that prevent some regions from watching live games. The best they can do is wait for the replays when the game ends.
A VPN lets you change your location and trick the streaming platforms into thinking you’re physically in a region that has a license to show the game. It also keeps you safe from cyber threats and unwanted surveillance.
By hiding your actual IP address and replacing it with a virtual one, no one can track your online activity. Another advantage is the ability to bypass the speed throttling that internet service providers impose.
Therefore, if you want to enjoy unlimited sports anonymously from anywhere in the world, get a VPN.
The Best Sports Streaming Sites
Countless streaming services broadcast live sports, and it’s hard to include them all here. Here’s a table showing the most prominent ones from different regions worldwide.
| Site: | Sport | Country |
|---|---|---|
| BBC iPlayer | ⚽Soccer 🏏Cricket 🏉Rugby 🎾Tennis 🥊Boxing 🏌️Golf | 🇬🇧 UK |
| DAZN | ⚾MLB 🥋MMA 🏈Football ⚽Soccer 🤼Wrestling 🤾Handball | 🇺🇸 US 🇯🇵 Japan 🇮🇹 Italy 🇦🇹 Austria 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇪🇸 Spain 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Sling TV | 🏈NFL 🏀NBA 🏒NHL 🏈NCAAF 🏀NCAAB | 🇺🇸 US |
| Kayo Sports | 🏎️Motorsport 🏏Cricket 🏀Basketball 🏉Rugby ⚽Soccer | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| Sky Sports | ⚽Soccer 🏎️Motorsport 🎾Tennis 🏈NFL 🥊Boxing | 🇬🇧 UK 🇮🇪 Ireland |
Final Thoughts
NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming live sports, including watching Formula E for free. It’s one of the fastest VPNs in the game, unblocks many streaming services worldwide, keeps you completely anonymous and can be used on multiple devices. There’s no need to hesitate — NordVPN’s 30-day refund policy allows you to experience its benefits firsthand without any long-term obligation.
If that’s not your cup of tea, you can try Surfshark for something more affordable. If you’re a fan of the Olympics, we have a separate guide on how to watch the Olympics for free.
That’s it for today. How often do you watch live sports? Which streaming platform do you use the most frequently? Have you had streaming issues when using a VPN? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts below. We appreciate your continued readership.
FAQ: Best VPN for Unblocking Sports
PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for sports. It comes with free servers in the U.S., the U.K, Germany, Canada and France, which can unblock most streaming sites. Plus, PrivadoVPN offers good download speeds to help you stream buffer-free.
NordVPN is the best VPN for sports betting. It has over 6,000 servers to unblock geo-restricted betting sites like DraftKings, and it encrypts your betting traffic, protecting you from potential hackers or betting account bans.
You can use a VPN to watch NFL games from anywhere in the world. Simply subscribe to a VPN with U.S. servers to unblock streaming sites like Sling TV and FuboTV that broadcast live NFL games.
You can watch Fox Sports with a VPN by downloading and connecting to a U.S. server that lets you unblock and stream Fox Sports from anywhere.
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