Best VPNs for iFollow in 2024

For fans of lower-league football in the UK, iFollow has pretty much become a godsend. After all, it provides access to streams of EFL games that were hard to come by in previous years, and means that fans will be able to follow the action from the comfort of their own homes for a reasonable cost.

However, the problem with iFollow is that not all games are available for broadcast via the service. This means that unless you take the necessary steps to get around the restrictions that are in place, you might just struggle to tune into the action. Thankfully, you’ll be able to get around the restrictions that are in place by making use of a VPN.

Which VPN is best for iFollow? Well, let's look into exactly that as we provide our top 5 recommended services.

No time to read? Here are our best VPNs:

1. NordVPN

   All-around leading VPN
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Forward-thinking and highly affordable VPN for iFollow
   9.5
3. Ivacy VPN

   Super fast provider for iFollow
   8.2
4. CyberGhost VPN

   Privacy-oriented VPN
   8.9
5. ExpressVPN

   One of the fastest VPNs for iFollow
   8.4

Top 5 Best VPNs for iFollow

1. NordVPN

As one of the most affordable and highly rated VPNs out there on the market, you can’t go far wrong with NordVPN. With a wide range of server locations at your disposal, you’ll be able to access the full benefits of iFollow with this particular service even if you are based within the UK. Simply choose a server based in an appropriate location, and away you go.

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

2. Surfshark VPN

With over 3200 servers based in excess of 100 countries around the world, Surfshark VPN is a new provider on the VPN scene that's already making waves. With solid security features, 24/7 live chat and a great knowledge base available, getting things up and running should be an absolute breeze.

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

3. Ivacy VPN

Ivacy VPN makes the list due to its excellent speeds which ensure that with the vast majority of their servers, you will be able to stream your favorite EPL games with buffering kept to an absolute minimum. The fact that it is a highly affordable option makes it a great choice for those on a budget too!

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

4. CyberGhost VPN

Great for anyone who has privacy concerns, CyberGhost VPN is an excellent choice for unblocking services such as iFollow, as well as other streaming services such as Netflix. With an extensive list of servers available around the world, it couldn’t be easier to change your location to one which will allow you to view your chosen EPL games.

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

5. ExpressVPN

Known as one of the most highly-rated VPNs available on the market right now, ExpressVPN is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to make the most out of the iFollow platform. With thousands of servers available around the world, you’re most definitely not short of options, and you’ll soon be well on your way to watching every EPL game regardless of where you are in the world!

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

FAQ

What is iFollow?

Introduced in 2017/18 for supporters based overseas, iFollow is an innovative digital live streaming and content platform that was brought in to revolutionize the way football fans overseas can follow their EFL teams which play in either the Championship, League One, or League Two. Shared by the majority of clubs in the EFL, you can pick up individual match passes at a cost of £10 each. This is certainly affordable given the cost of a typical matchday ticket which is often at least double that amount. However, many clubs have decided not to opt in, which includes Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough, Accrington Stanley, Aston Villa, Swansea City, and Sunderland. In spite of this, the aforementioned clubs still have the option to stream games via their own digital services and websites if they so desire. With that in mind, the next section will take a closer look into why the iFollow service was launched.

How to Unblock iFollow in the UK?

With the iFollow service, not all EFL matches are shown in the UK because they are already being broadcast on local TV or via paid services such as Sky Sports. This is very frustrating for those who are based within the nation and do not have a subscription to that particular service. Another issue is that it is not currently possible to watch games that kick off at 3 pm on a Saturday – whether this is in the EFL or Premier League. This means that you will probably have to miss out on your favorite team’s games as this is common kick-off time for EFL matches. This has been an issue for football fans for many years, and it all comes down to broadcasting rights. In order to get around the restrictions which are in place, you will need to make use of a tool that makes geo-blocking practices a thing of the past. As we mentioned earlier, the tool in question is a VPN. It will allow you to effectively change your location and so will allow you to get around the geo-blocking practices which are in place.

Why was iFollow launched?

As we mentioned earlier in the article, iFollow was launched prior to the commencement of the 2017/18 season. It was created to allow fans to keep up to date with their favorite teams and watch games from lower-league teams which often don’t get much TV coverage – particularly within the UK. Some EFL games are available via services such as Sky Sports. However, this requires investing in a subscription which stretches beyond the budget of a lot of people. This is why iFollow was launched, as it offers a simple and convenient alternative for fans to keep up with their favorite teams within the English Football League system without having to fork out for a subscription. However, there are certain restrictions in place for viewers who are based in the UK, which means that making the most out of the iFollow platform is easier said than done. Geo-restrictions are the main cause for this, which we will look into in the next section.

What is geo-blocking and why is it an issue in the UK?

Geo-blocking is essentially a set of rules that prevent you from accessing content based on your geographical location. Widely used services such as YouTube, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer all happen to make use of geo-restriction policies, with the latter only accessible for those who are based in the UK.

In terms of iFollow, you’ll find that because certain EFL games are broadcasted via local TV, you’ll find that it’s not possible to watch all of the games you’d like to. This is because services such as Sky Sports have paid for the rights to broadcast the stream of the game, which means that any other services within the country won’t be able to broadcast certain games.

For that reason, you will need to take the appropriate steps to change your location so that you can use the iFollow platform to its full potential. But, just how exactly is this done? You might ask. Well, this very question will be answered later in the article.

Bottom line

So, there you have it! You should now be aware of exactly what iFollow is and what it is able to offer. Providing an excellent and reliable platform for watching lower league football which would otherwise be hard to access, it’s easy to see why it is so popular.

However, the problems begin when it comes to watching football matches that are either being broadcast on cable/satellite channels or games which kick off at 3 pm as we outlined in this article. This means that anyone who is based in the UK won’t be able to benefit fully from the features which are available via iFollow.

In spite of this, you can easily get around the restrictions which are in place by making use of any of the VPNs we have outlined in this article. As you’ll now know, there are plenty of options at your disposal to suit all budgets and requirements. Using one regularly means that you’ll not only be able to unblock iFollow regardless of where you are based in the world, you will also be able to benefit from enhanced online privacy too!