Best VPN for live sports streaming in 2025

Most major sports streaming platforms like ESPN, NBC Sports, Sky Sports, and NBA League Pass have access restrictions due to local or national broadcasting laws. This is because certain broadcasters have exclusive streaming rights, so access to specific content is limited. However, a solid streaming VPN for sports can help you bypass both local and international geo-blocks, giving you access to sports streams that may otherwise be unavailable in your area.

By masking your IP address, a sports streaming VPN hides your real location. It tricks streaming services into thinking you're in a different region, letting you bypass geo-restrictions. After testing 15 VPNs with popular sports streaming platforms, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN emerged as the top 3 VPNs for sports streaming in 2025. These services offer fast speeds and reliable connections, making them ideal for live streaming. With a sports VPN, you can easily bypass blackouts and geo-restrictions on platforms like Peacock TV, Sling TV, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and beyond.

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Top 5 best VPNs for streaming sports online

1. NordVPN

   Overall best VPN for streaming sports in 2025
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Cheapest VPN to watch sports on multiple devices
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Fast VPN for online sports streaming
   8.6
4. TotalVPN

   Top affordable sports VPN for live streaming
   8.2
5. IPVanish

   Best VPN for streaming sports with unlimited connections
   8.4

Is it legal to use a VPN to watch out-of-market sports?

Using a VPN for sports is completely legal in the US and most countries. A reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to bypass blackout restrictions by masking your IP address, making it appear that you’re accessing content from a different state or country. With a VPN, you can unlock an unlimited number of sports events, giving you access to watch your favorite teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and more, without the frustration of regional restrictions.

Blackout restrictions stop streaming services from broadcasting sports games live in specific areas. Local TV networks pay for exclusive rights to show the games in their area. That means you often can't simply tune in and watch matches on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, or Max. These and many other streaming services use blackout restrictions and block international viewers. Therefore, it means that without a stadium ticket or a VPN, you could be blocked from watching due to:

• Local Blackouts: These tend to affect college sports and NBA or NHL games, restricting viewers within a 50 to 150-mile radius around the team's home stadium.
• National Blackouts: Some games are restricted on a bigger scale. MLB blackouts usually have the largest exclusion zone, covering one or more states.

I’ve created a summary of blackout restrictions for each sport and streaming service based on my own experience testing the best VPNs to watch sports:

Since a VPN makes it look like you're located in another region, you can watch any sports streams that are usually inaccessible due to location-based restrictions. However, using a VPN to access illegal content is still illegal, and violating a platform’s terms of service may also be against the law. Always check both local regulations and the platforms' terms of service to ensure compliance when using a VPN for sports streaming.

Get NordVPN for sports streaming

Best VPNs for sports streaming: a detailed list

The best VPNs for sports unblock all mainstream sports sites like ESPN, Hulu + Live Sport, and Sling TV. They also have IP and DNS leak protection to ensure your true location doesn't leak. My tests also focused on VPNs with US servers – a must – and fast speeds, with robust security and privacy. Plus, selected VPNs protect your data with advanced encryption so you can watch sports without interruption.

As of 2025, the top five VPNs for streaming sports are NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, Total VPN, and IPVanish.

Top 1. NordVPN - overall best VPN for streaming sports in 2025

NordVPN is currently the best VPN for streaming sports in 2025. It provides unmatched unblocking capabilities and the fastest speeds for watching sports on any local or international streaming platform. During my tests, I was able to bypass NBA blackouts as this year's season kicked off on October 22. With YouTube TV unblocked via NordVPN, I also accessed NHL season games that are usually blocked to me as a UK resident. All streams loaded without buffering in perfect HD/4K resolution thanks to NordVPN’s blistering speeds, while the kill switch and leak protection ensured I couldn’t be detected and blocked.

Unblocking sports streaming sites: excellent ★★★★★ (5/5)

NordVPN excels at unblocking sports streaming platforms, thanks to its flawless kill switch and zero IP or DNS leaks. Unblocking sports sites is simple because of these features and the abundance of UK and US servers. Additionally, I was able to stream sports on Sling TV, Peacock, and Hulu in the US, as well as YouTube TV. What’s more, with NordVPN, you can easily access the best free sports streaming sites, such as ITVX and BBC iPlayer, thanks to the huge fleet of 440+ UK VPN servers.

Server fleet: huge ★★★★★ (5/5)

NordVPN boasts an impressive network of 7400+ servers across 118+ countries, including key sports streaming locations like the US, UK, Japan, and the Netherlands. This extensive server coverage makes NordVPN the best VPN for streaming sports on US-based services such as ESPN+, Sling TV, FuboTV, and MLB TV. During testing, I enjoyed uninterrupted streaming of the NBA Regular Season on the free streaming service 9Now, with strong connectivity and no buffering.

Sport streaming speed: excellent ★★★★★ (5/5)

NordVPN is the fastest VPN in the industry for streaming sports online, largely down to NordLynx – NordVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol. With this protocol enabled, I saw speeds up to 96% of my original connection speed (376Mbps). Your speed can be impacted no matter which VPN you use, so this is an excellent result, and it’s the best I’ve seen while testing other sports VPNs.

Security and privacy: highest ★★★★★ (5/5)

Based in privacy-friendly Panama, NordVPN has the best security features in the industry, with options like dedicated IPs, double VPN, split tunneling, and a free SOCKS5 proxy. This is all backed by a no-logs policy that a Big-Four auditing firm has audited for several years.

Price: best value for money ★★★★★ (5/5)

NordVPN isn’t the cheapest sports VPN you’ll find, but with so much functionality and the best speeds available, it offers great value for money. At $3.39/month, it’s affordable and comes with a 7-day free trial on Android, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee for all platforms.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

Top 2. Surfshark - most affordable VPN for live sports streaming

Surfshark is the best VPN for sports streaming due to its high-speed connections, extensive server network, and support for unlimited devices. Additionally, Surfshark’s strong security features protect your data, making it a reliable choice for accessing global sports broadcasts and enjoying your favorite games from anywhere.

Unblocking sports streaming sites: excellent ★★★★★ (5/5)

Surfshark successfully unblocks platforms like Hulu, YouTube TV, Fubo, and Peacock, making it ideal for accessing sports content. Using Surfshark, I was able to unblock and watch the NHL on Hulu after connecting to a US VPN server from my location in the UK.

Server fleet: huge ★★★★★ (5/5)

With 3200+ servers across 100+ countries, Surfshark has fewer servers than NordVPN but offers a broader choice of locations, making it simple to find the one you need. Surfshark has a broad server fleet, with X US servers, Y servers in the UK, and Z in Australia – the most popular locations for paid and free sports streams. However, the fleet includes numerous European locations where you can change your IP address.

Sport streaming speed: excellent ★★★★★ (5/5)

Surfshark’s speeds are very powerful, and it routinely comes in just below NordVPN during my speed benchmarking. I retained around 92% of my download speeds when I used Surfshark VPN to unblock and stream US sports on Fubo. However, speeds on distant servers tend to be lower, unlike NordVPN, which remained consistent across its whole fleet.

Security and privacy: solid ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Surfshark has NoBorders Mode in its arsenal, which is exceptional at avoiding detection for VPN traffic – something that can be crucial to bypass anti-VPN measures that some sports streaming sites use. This makes it an excellent choice for people in restrictive countries with strict internet blocks.

Price: one of the cheapest VPNs for streaming sports ★★★★★ (5/5)

Not only can Surfshark be used on unlimited devices under one account – the only sports VPN boasting that claim – but you can get Surfshark for just $2.19/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 7-day free trial. That makes it one of the cheapest VPN providers available for streaming sports, especially if you want your buddies to join the action.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

Top 3. Proton VPN - fast sports streaming VPN with a free version

Proton VPN ranks among the best sports VPNs for its exceptional ability to unblock popular sports streaming platforms like Peacock and Hulu, coupled with its outstanding speeds. You can pick up Proton VPN for just $3.59/month with a 7-day VPN free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee, or go for its solid free version.

Server fleet: massive ★★★★★ (5/5)

Proton VPN's has a powerful server network with 13000+ servers across 122+ countries, making it an excellent choice for streaming. Users can easily find servers in sports streaming hotspots like the UK, US, Australia, and beyond. Proton VPN easily unblocks major platforms like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Peacock, all of which are great for NBA coverage. You'll also have access to Premier League soccer, NFL, MLB, and many other sports. I never had any geo-blocks that Proton VPN couldn’t bypass as I enjoyed a smoother, lag-free streaming experience thanks to Proton VPN high-performing servers.

Sport streaming speed: excellent ★★★★★ (5/5)

Proton VPN offers one of the fastest speeds on the market, reaching up to 429 Mbps with an impressive 86% initial speed retention. Powered by the WireGuard protocol, Proton VPN challenges top-performing VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark. In my latest tests, I experienced excellent performance on nearby servers. It also employs a VPN Accelerator, which boosts its performance even further.

Security and privacy: robust ★★★★★ (5/5)

Proton VPN is open-source, ensuring complete transparency as anyone can inspect the code. In addition to internal audits, the app has successfully passed independent third-party security audits with no major issues found. Proton VPN includes top-tier security features such as robust AES-256 encryption, a dependable kill switch, and leak protection, covering all essential areas for your privacy and safety.

Price: more expensive ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

In terms of price, Proton VPN sets a higher bar, coming in at a slightly heavier tag of $3.59/month. It's pricier than NordVPN and Surfshark, but it still has the convenient 30-day money-back guarantee. All in all, Proton VPN is an excellent sports VPN with pricing that’s justified by its feature-rich package and excellent performance.

Top 4. Total VPN - affordable VPN to stream sports securely

Total VPN is a great option for sports streaming, offering strong performance at a very competitive price. While its server count may not be as high as some other providers, Total VPN’s servers are optimized for fast and reliable streaming, including HD and 4K content. Subscriptions start at $1.59/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, plus a 7-day free trial.

Server fleet: modest ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Total VPN strikes a solid balance between performance and price, offering over 50 servers across 35 countries, primarily in North America and Europe. This network provides reliable coverage for streaming sports online, easily bypassing geo-blocks on popular platforms. I experienced smooth HD streaming on both PCs and mobile devices, ensuring a seamless viewing experience on ESPN+, HBO Max, and YouTube TV - home to some of the best on-demand and live tournaments that happen in the US.

Sport streaming speed: okay ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Total VPN provides solid speeds on nearby servers, though connections to distant locations can see a speed drop of up to 40%, which is common with OpenVPN. Overall, it performs reliably for most activities, particularly when streaming sports online from local servers. I achieved an average connection speed of 422 Mbps, maintaining 85% of my initial speed.

Security and privacy: solid ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Total VPN uses AES-256 encryption, which is renowned for its robust security, along with the OpenVPN tunneling protocol. It includes both manual and automatic kill switches to protect your data if the connection is lost. While Total VPN asserts that it follows a no-logs policy, this has not been independently verified. Nonetheless, it offers reliable protection, especially for streaming live sports.

Price: cheapest ★★★★★ (5/5)

Total VPN is an affordable choice, starting at only $1.59/month when paired with the Total AV package. With a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s a risk-free option for anyone looking to stream sports online without overpaying.

Top 5. IPVanish - strong sports VPN with an antivirus

IPVanish is an excellent choice for streaming sports due to its strong unblocking capabilities and reliable speeds, which support streaming in HD and 4K. With IPVanish, you also get unlimited simultaneous connections and a free antivirus, making it an ideal option for active household streaming, all at a reasonable price of $2.19/month.

Server fleet: respected ★★★★☆ (4/5)

I found IPVanish to be a strong option for streaming live sports worldwide as it offered excellent security, features, and speeds. With over 2400servers across 109+ countries, it provides reliable access to platforms like Fubo and ESPN+, where you can watch major sports events such as the Super Bowl. During the Rugby World Cup, I experienced smooth streaming, with an optimized, lag-free connection thanks to IPVanish’s efficient servers.

Sport streaming speed: high ★★★★★ (5/5)

IPVanish offers several tunneling protocols, including the fast and stable WireGuard, which is ideal for sports streaming, gaming, and browsing. For optimal speed, IPVanish automatically connects you to the fastest servers, so you don’t have to worry about selecting a specific location unless you have to. During my tests, the IPVanish maintained about 91% of my original speed, with an good connection speed of 459 Mbps, ensuring smooth streaming and a seamless online experience.

Security and privacy: robust ★★★★★ (5/5)

IPVanish offers all the essential VPN security features, including AES 256-bit encryption, robust protection against DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks, and a reliable kill switch, ensuring your data remains secure while you stream sports online. Although based in the US, which may raise privacy concerns for some, IPVanish builds trust with an independently-audited no-logs policy, giving users peace of mind when it comes to privacy.

Price: fair ★★★★☆ (4/5)

IPVanish is quite affordable, starting from $2.19/month. Although there is no trial version available, IPVanish offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans for the ultimate peace of mind.

Comparison of the best VPNs for sports streaming

How did I test and select the best VPNs for watching sports?

Not all streaming VPNs are good for watching sports, which is why I tested 15+ VPN apps to make sure they were suitable to be drafted into the team. In particular, I paid attention to:

• How well they could unblock sports streaming sites: I made sure that every VPN I chose could unblock the best sports sites, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and others.
• Servers: I checked that my recommended VPNs had a large server fleet offering servers in the US, UK, Australia, and other European sports hotspots. NordVPN dominated the competition, retaining up to 96% of my download speeds at nearly 400Mbps on a US server. As I’m based in the UK, this showed that NordVPN could sustain the high speeds needed for HD streaming over distance.
• Security and privacy: It’s no good using a VPN to stream sports if it compromises your online security, which is why I checked that each VPN doesn’t leak your IP address, has a functional kill switch, and has a no-log policy as a minimum.
• Compatibility: Since most VPNs offer numerous simultaneous connections, I checked that each VPN works across major platforms, including iOS and Android, Windows, and macOS.
• Price: I investigated the various pricing plans offered by each VPN and checked if there was a free trial or money-back guarantee that would let you use the service to stream sports for free.

After testing 15+ VPNs, NordVPN exceeded my expectations in all areas as the best VPN for streaming sports. Its speeds barely impact your connection, and you’ll have access to almost 2,000 US servers and over 440 in the UK.

How do I change my VPN location to watch sports: detailed guide

If you want to watch sports without blackouts and geo-restrictions, you’ll need to use a reliable VPN to change your virtual location. It only takes a few minutes to get your VPN up and running and unblock the sports stream you want. Here are the steps I used – you can follow them directly to start right away:

1. Choose a trusted VPN with great unblocking capabilities. I strongly recommend you choose NordVPN because it will give you the best odds of finding high-speed streaming connections in crucial locations like the UK and US – plus NordVPN is currently 76% OFF.
2. Install the VPN client on your desktop or preferred mobile streaming device. This can take a little longer if you install your VPN on a router, as you’ll need to access your router’s firmware via your browser to set up your VPN software.
3. Log into your VPN account and connect to a server where your sport is currently available in the country where your sports streaming service is located, such as the US for Peacock, Fubo, and Sling TV, or the UK for BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
4. Choose your preferred streaming service and enjoy secure, blazing-fast HD sports streaming! Now, you’ve unblocked your favorite sports streams and can keep watching.

Get NordVPN discount OFF the best Sports VPN, NordVPN

Can I use a free VPN for live sports streaming?

While you can technically use a free VPN for live sports streaming, it’s not advised. Free VPNs usually have bandwidth restrictions and don’t allow multiple connections. They are often also missing critical features like data encryption. If your data runs out, your stream stops. If your speed is poor, it might not start in the first place, or you’ll potentially face lag and poor picture quality – not what you want during penalties at the 90-minute mark.

Even worse, some free VPN services set a poor standard by saying they won’t log data when, in reality, they do. They sometimes may even sell your data to third parties. But NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited for several years, as have the policies for other big players I’ve chosen, like Surfshark and Proton VPN.

All the VPNs I’ve recommended also have the speeds you need to stream in HD or 4K, and they all offer unlimited data, meaning you don’t have to close your stream until the game’s over. With a 30-day money-back guarantee and free trial, you can even try the service out risk-free. Get NordVPN's 7-day Android trial and 30-day money-back guarantee for all devices to start streaming sports!

Get NordVPN for uninterrupted sports streaming >

Best sports streaming sites in 2025

The best site for streaming sports depends on your location and the sport you want to watch. For example, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are solid platforms for all sports. However, they're only available in the US. To watch the Premier League and Champions League, plus NHL, NBA, and NFL, unblock the best sports streaming sites with a VPN.

Right now, the cheapest way to stream sports is with Paramount Plus, coming in at just $7.99/month. It won’t include all the bells and whistles in the Paramount Plus SHOWTIME plan, but you do get a 7-day free trial that extends to the SHOWTIME plan too, so you can check out everything the service has to offer. Customers of Sky TV in the extended regions beyond the US, listed in the table, also have access.

But remember, you’ll need a strong VPN like NordVPN to access this website if you’re outside the US, or outside the wider coverage area but don’t have Sky TV.

Unblock free and low-cost sports streams with NordVPN

2025 sports event calendar

Looking for something new to watch? Below, I’ve summarized some of the biggest 2025 sports events happening throughout the year with their start and end dates.

Conclusion

To access sports streams from other countries or maintain access to your content while traveling, a VPN is essential. It lets you bypass the restrictions of streaming platforms, giving you smooth access to international sports events in regions like the US, the UK, and around the world.

Right now, NordVPN is the best sports streaming VPN, offering top-notch speeds that support HD and 4K streaming buffer-free. With over 7400 servers globally, NordVPN ensures you can enjoy worldwide sports coverage all year long. Plus, the unlimited data feature means you can stay connected to major sporting events with zero interruptions.

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FAQ

Which VPN protocol is best for live streaming?

WireGuard is currently considered the fastest and most efficient VPN protocol available. However, major providers like NordVPN have created their own fast, in-house protocols, such as NordLynx, which is built on WireGuard. NordLynx combines the speed of WireGuard with additional privacy features. IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN follow closely behind, with OpenVPN offering greater flexibility in terms of configuration and compatibility across various devices.

Can you use NordVPN to watch sports?

Yes, you can use NordVPN to watch sports, connecting to a server in the region where the stream is restricted. Let’s say you're unable to access YouTube TV while traveling; simply connect to a VPN server located in the US. This will bypass the restriction and let you enjoy sports streaming without any issues.

Can I watch local sports with a VPN?

Yes, you can watch local sports with a VPN. A VPN allows you to stream sports from any region by changing your virtual location whenever you're blocked. This helps you bypass blackouts or access US sports while abroad. Based on my thorough testing of more than 15 VPN services, NordVPN came out as the top choice for streaming sports.

What is the best free VPN for sports streaming?

Proton VPN is the best sports VPN for streaming, as it’s one of the few free options that offer fast speeds and prevent lagging during streams. However, premium ProtonVPN users further benefit from accessing more servers and faster speeds. That said, I would suggest opting for NordVPN, as it stands out as the top VPN choice for streaming sports.

How to watch sports for free with VPN?

You can stream sports for free with ProtonVPN, connecting to a server in a location where the stream is accessible. Keep in mind that free VPNs may offer slower speeds and pose security risks. Opt in for NordVPN, which is considered the top choice for sports streaming. It also provides a limited free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee for peace of mind.

What is the best VPN to watch out-of-market sports?

NordVPN is the best VPN to watch out-of-market sports games that are not available in your region. Its powerful global server fleet has the fastest speeds, robust security, and unlimited data, ensuring seamless HD sports streaming. Surfshark is a strong runner-up, while Proton VPN and ExpressVPN are also solid alternatives.

How to watch football with a VPN?

To watch a football stream, simply get a VPN and connect to a server in the country where the stream is available. This method works if you're traveling and can't access your usual streaming service or if you're in a different country from where the stream is offered. If it's for a short-term need, like a vacation, you can take advantage of NordVPN's 30-day money-back guarantee to avoid any costs.

How to watch sports without cable?

You can watch sports without cable by using Hulu + Live TV. This streaming service offers ESPN+ along with regular TV programming, giving you access to major NCAA, NBA, NFL, and NHL games, as well as sports channels like CBS Sports, FOX, and the NFL Network.