ESPN is an American sports network owned by The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications. With over 13 million subscribers in the USA, ESPN is an absolute must-have for any sports fan. United States viewers can enjoy unlimited access to NFL, NBA, Major League Soccer, golf, and many more premium sporting events. Unfortunately, EPN is not available outside the US, so if you’re heading out of the country on business, you will lose your access to ESPN.
There are two ways to stream ESPN. A cable subscription can be viewed on your television or the ESPN website, and there’s also an on-demand streaming service called ESPN Plus. Whichever subscription type you choose, the rules remain the same; you can only watch ESPN in the United States.
This guide explains more about how an ESPN VPN works and highlights the very best VPNs for ESPN or ESPN Plus. Keep reading for more information. Show more
Now that we have explained why you need a VPN and exactly what we look for in each product, it’s time to present you with the best ESPN VPNs. Check them out below.
| Max Speed: | 115000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Ultra-fast connection
No-logs policy
5400 servers in 54 countries
Limited payment options
No Split Tunneling on desktop
Only 6 simultaneous connection
Streaming services are not a problem for NordVPN. You can watch ESPN or other streaming services on its reliable servers with absolutely no trouble. It has some of the fastest servers of all VPNs and is often a popular choice amongst power users and experts. If you are not a US resident, don’t worry, as there are server locations across the country.
There are dedicated apps for iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and macOS, and you can enjoy up to 5 simultaneous connections. Pairing NordVPN with your internet provider is the quickest way to enjoy complete privacy, as military-grade AES encryption is included with every connection.
The network kill switch service will end your internet connection if the VPN drops, so you never have to worry about your real IP address being exposed. Secure VPN protocols and private DNS further enhance security.
A subscription with NordVPN comes with many fantastic features, as well as 24/7 customer support. Priced at $11.95 per month, it’s one of the cheapest VPNs for ESPN. A 6-month plan costs $9 per month, and a 30-day money-back guarantee is included with every purchase.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 7 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 4 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Servers in unusual countries
Great support options
Great blog and guide universe
Limited payment options
Poor press area for affiliates
Few Netflix libraries
CyberGhost has the largest server network of all VPN providers, sporting over 7,000 in total. If you’re outside the US, you can choose from 11 different cities to connect to, including Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Vegas, and others. This will instantly change your IP address and grant access to ESPN in just a couple of seconds.
The CyberGhost platform is marketed to streamers and gamers alike because of its incredible connection power and speeds. Not only was it designed for video streams and HD content, but it’s also packed with great features for completely private internet access. We’re talking about a network kill switch that will end your internet connection if your VPN drops, 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and more. Sports fans can utilize apps on almost every device and browser extensions on Google Chrome and Firefox. One plan supports up to 7 simultaneous connections, so you can share CyberGhost with friends and family so that everybody can watch ESPN.
There are three pricing options available, starting with a monthly subscription at $12.99. This is reduced to $7.99 per month for a 6-month plan or just $2.79 over 18 months. CyberGhost also provides a 45-day money-back guarantee.
| Max Speed: | 58000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows |
Tons of payment options
24-hour live chat suppot
30-day money back guarantee
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
ExpressVPN makes the list of the best VPNs for many reasons, but its impressive connection speeds are a real highlight. Not only does ExpressVPN have some of the fastest servers for ESPN, but the in-built speed test will automatically connect you to the very best server every time. In addition, there are many locations available, including major US cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.
Unlimited bandwidth is provided to all users, with a promise of absolutely no throttling, even at busier times. This way, you can stream ESPN without interruption, even during major sports events. Military-grade encryption is just one of the great ways that ExpressVPN keeps your connection safe. Private DNS, dedicated IP addresses, and a network kill switch are some of the other premium security tools available.
All VPN users can enjoy a strict no-logs policy, so ExpressVPN doesn’t hold any information about your location, IP address, or browsing activity, including what you watch on ESPN.
ExpressVPN works with both ESPN and ESPN Plus, costing just $12.95 per month. A 6-month subscription is reduced to $9.99 and 12 months is $8.32. All purchases are eligible for a 30-day money-back guarantee.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 13 |
| Information sharing: | 5 Eyes Member |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, ChromeOS, FireOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Awesome customer support
Netflix approved
Unlimited devices
No free trial unless you buy 24 months
Limited payment options
5-eyes member
IPVanish is one of the best VPNs for ESPN as it has over 40,000 IP addresses to choose from, many of which are located in the United States. It’s a VPN service that comes with fantastic protection for users, including everything from 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, a no-logs policy, a dedicated IP address, and much more. It is marketed as one of the most powerful VPN services out there regarding security, and we agree.
Not only can you watch ESPN with IPVanish; it’s also capable of handling any other streaming service, gaming, or just day-to-day website browsing. Its user-friendly app works great with Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, and browser extensions. Sports fans will love just how easy it is to get connected to the VPN, launch ESPN Plus, and start streaming.
Perhaps most impressively of all is the price of this VPN service. It’s significantly cheaper than others, despite sporting many of the same tools and features. A monthly plan costs just $10, or you can purchase a 3-month package for $8.99 per month. A yearly plan is also available for $6.49 per month. All subscriptions come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 15 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Full 15 Netflix Libraries
Tons of server locations
Great deal on 24 months
No Apple Pay Payment Option
Very expensive monthly
Allows P2P from all servers
Surfshark is the best unlimited VPN for ESPN. Unlike others mentioned on this list, Surfshark allows you to connect as many devices as you want simultaneously. This makes it very budget-friendly, as one subscription can be shared throughout the entire household. No data caps also mean that you can all stream ESPN at the same time without any interruption.
With over 3,000 servers to choose from and 400+ in the United States alone, access to ESPN couldn’t be easier. Thanks to Surfshark’s strong encryption and dedicated IP address, neither ESPN nor your ISP will detect that you’re using a VPN.
There are apps available on most major devices and operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Although Surfshark has a clear step-by-step connection process, the customer support team is on hand 24/7 to help via live chat.
Surfshark pricing is in line with much of the competition, but it’s worth noting that the unlimited device connections make it the best value. It costs $12.95 per month or $6.49 per month on an annual subscription. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee available.
If you’re outside of the United States, you need to use a streaming VPN to watch ESPN. This is because of geo-restrictions in place that prevent anybody from outside of the country from accessing content. Using a VPN is the quickest and easiest way to overcome these restrictions. Not only will doing so mean you can watch ESPN, but it will also allow you to enjoy Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and many others.
That said, you may actually be based in the US and want to protect your internet connection as you stream on ESPN. Unfortunately, Internet Service Providers only supply fairly basic security and privacy levels, and many savvy browsers want better protection. A good VPN provider will include many great tools to help you stay safe online while still having the best possible streaming experience. Using a VPN also means no cookies, which also means no targeted advertisements.
Location and security aside, speed and connection strength play a huge part when you watch ESPN online. A VPN has speciality servers that have been purposefully built to handle streaming, much more so than your standard network connection. This is another reason why it’s very beneficial to use a VPN, as it will result in less buffering time and frustrating error messages.
We apply the strict assessment criteria during each of our VPN reviews, and we have tried and tested each of these services with ESPN. Before being listed on this page, a VPN must tick many different boxes. Here is just some of what we look at:
Free VPNs are minimal services, mostly designed for casual browsing and nothing more. Streaming ESPN requires high amounts of bandwidth and fast server speeds, both of which you’re very unlikely to find with a free VPN. You also won’t be able to choose a server location, so there is no guarantee that you will get an IP address within the United States. Even if you do manage to connect to a free VPN in the US, it’s going to be very difficult to use for ESPN. For the best experience, we strongly recommend using one of the best VPNs for ESPN outlined in this guide.
This guide is designed to give you options, and our expert team has reviewed each VPN service. So how do you choose? First, you should consider what you will be using the VPN servers for when not streaming ESPN. Next, ensure that the product works well with your other activities to not need multiple VPNs. It’s also a good idea to think about how many devices you need to protect; if you have a busy household, you will want a VPN subscription that can cover everybody.
VPN servers provide a much higher level of private internet access when compared to a standard ISP, but they’re not entirely impenetrable. The VPNs in this list have proven to have the highest levels of security possible, but there is still a risk of viruses and phishing scams. Users are encouraged to be vigilant, even when using a VPN. Avoid clicking unrecognized links or visiting untrustworthy sites, and you shouldn’t have any issues.
Although some VPNs do, all of the services on our list are guaranteed to have a no-logs policy. This means that none of your data is stored, including your IP address, location, or browsing history. It’s worth noting that to register an account with a VPN, you will need to provide your name, email address, and payment method. Basic user data is kept for account purposes, but nothing you do online is tracked.
Don't worry if you haven't used a VPN before. Follow these simple steps to get started with a VPN for ESPN:
ESPN refers to the cable channel which can be watched on TV or the ESPN website. ESPN Plus, however, is an on-demand service. Think of it as a Netflix for sports. You can catch up with past sporting events and watch on the go using your mobile device. It includes a combination of both live and on-demand sports. Unfortunately, both platforms are only available to US residents and require a VPN for anybody outside the United States.
No, it's not illegal to use ESPN with a VPN. Commonly, those with a subscription to ESPN use a VPN outside the country. That said, it is against the terms of use, and most internet service providers don't like VPNs either. Because of this, it's important to choose a service that has strong encryption and a network kill switch so that you can remain undetected.
Hi there! I'm Monique, and I am a writer at VPNSurfers. I live in New York, but I'm originally from Delware. I love traveling, but the US will always be home to me.
I have more than 5 years of experience using VPNs, and I ha...
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