How to watch ESPN and ESPN+ with VPN in 2026
ESPN is a must-have for sports fans around the world. It comes complete with live sports coverage, analysis, and so much more. Despite the fact ESPN is available on cable, many enthusiasts are turning to streaming options to stay up to date.
Sadly, not all countries have access to ESPN+, the channel’s own US-only streaming service. This may be problematic if you're attempting to watch your favorite team play while traveling abroad or just live outside the country. Not to mention the blackouts that prevent you from catching certain games live in specific regions.
Thankfully, there is a simple way around this – use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This tool allows you to change your virtual location to another country. This way, you can get a US IP address and unblock ESPN+ instantly.
How to watch ESPN+ with a VPN from anywhere
- Sign up with a reliable VPN provider with tons of US servers. We recommend NordVPN.
- Download and install the VPN on your chosen device.
- Open your VPN app and select a server in the US.
- Now sit back, relax, and enjoy watching ESPN+ from anywhere!
5 Best VPNs for ESPN+
- NordVPN – the best overall option for watching ESPN+ from anywhere
- Surfshark – wallet-friendly VPN for watching ESPN+ outside the US
- ExpressVPN – good VPN with super-fast streaming
- CyberGhost – reliable VPN with a large fleet of US-based servers
- IP Vanish – super-secure VPN for watching ESPN+
How VPN helps to stream ESPN outside the US
Due to the incredibly strict licensing rights to live sports in the US, you aren’t able to watch ESPN+ on the go. This can be pretty annoying if you’re on holiday and trying to watch your team in the big game. But rest assured, using a VPN can unlock the door for you.
A reliable VPN allows you to connect to a server in the US. This spoofs your IP address to your chosen location and makes it appear that you are actually there. Thus, you won’t be greeted by the annoying message anymore:
Another great thing about changing your region is that it helps bypass blackouts. Really want to stream a match that’s only available in certain US states? Pick a server in that area, and you’re good to go.
Best VPNs for ESPN+ streaming – overview
We tested dozens of the best VPNs out there to determine which was the best for watching ESPN+ outside of the US. To do this, we looked at features like overall performance, speed, security, the number of US servers, and the ability to bypass geo-restrictions.
Below are our top 5 picks for the best VPN to watch ESPN+ from anywhere:
1. NordVPN – excellent all-round ESPN+ VPN
NordVPN boasts over 9,200+ servers worldwide, including over 1900+ in the US alone. It also has some of the best speeds we tested. The provider’s overall reliability makes it a great VPN for watching ESPN+ outside the US.
You’ll be able to watch all the live sport and analysis you desire without annoying buffering. All thanks to NordVPN’s excellent server speeds – some of the best we found in testing. This achievement can mostly be attributed to the in-house NordLynx protocol.
There’s also a superb range of security features to ensure you can always bypass geo-restrictions. For example, leak protection is turned on by default, preventing your IP and DNS from leaking. NordVPN also has a dedicated kill switch should your connection drop at any time.
NordVPN has dedicated apps for all the major OS, like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. There are even browser extensions for Chromium-based browsers, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Firefox. So you can watch ESPN+ on any device you choose, up to 6 connections at a time.
2. Surfshark – good VPN for ESPN+ with no device limit
Surfshark has a decent range of servers, with over 4,500+ in 100 countries around the world. Plus, it’s very affordable, especially when you use the Surfshark discount code "OFFCN". Most importantly, the network includes around 600+ US-based servers in 25 major cities. Coupled with its wallet-friendly pricing, it's a very good VPN to watch ESPN+ outside the US.
In terms of overall performance, Surfshark offers excellent speeds. The connections are powered by a great implementation of WireGuard, so it isn’t surprising. It means streaming your favorite sports in crisp UHD quality without any buffering or irritating lag getting in the way.
You also get a decent range of security bundled in, like the usual kill switch and leak protection. There’s also an ad & malware blocker, split tunneling, and MultiHop. But one useful perk that stands out the most is the unlimited simultaneous connections.
Surfshark unlocks all the major streaming services with ease. And with multi-device support, you can watch ESPN+ on all popular devices like iOs, Android, PC, Macs, and more.
3. ExpressVPN – lightning-quick VPN for streaming ESPN+
ExpressVPN offers some of the best speeds we’ve tested. It also comes with 25 different locations in the US alone, in addition to thousands of servers in 105 other countries. This makes it ideal for those who want to watch ESPN+ from outside the US and avoid regional blackouts.
The server speeds available with ExpressVPN are incredibly fast. It means you can download files, stream HD content, and watch live sports uninterrupted. Of course, make sure to pick the Lightway protocol for this, as it showed the best results from the available protocols of this provider.
There's a solid lineup of security features to keep you safe online and make sure you can always unblock streaming sites. This includes leak protection and a kill switch should your connection falter at some stage. ExpressVPN also includes MediaStreamer (Smart DNS), which lets you change your region on devices that don’t support VPNs.
Like most major players in the VPN market, ExpressVPN is available on pretty much every device from Android to iOS, and Windows to Mac. They also have new and improved router firmware that can protect all devices on your home network.
4. CyberGhost – easy-to-use VPN for watching EPSN+
CyberGhost combines affordable pricing with a huge range of servers and a user-friendly interface. It’s a great VPN for watching ESPN+ outside of the US thanks to the 1419 servers it has in the country, as well as for those who are new to streaming with VPNs.
The speeds on offer a decent as well, especially when given that this is one of the more affordable options out there. You will be able to stream HD content without too much lag or pesky buffering.
CyberGhost offers the next-gen WireGuard protocol, as well as leak protection and a kill switch to keep your connection safe and secure at all times. Furthermore, you can connect to streaming-optimized servers for the best ESPN+ viewing experience.
Apps are available on all the usual devices, and they are incredibly simple to use. So even if you’re completely new to VPNs, you will be able to set up CyberGhost and watch ESPN+ in no time.
5. IPVanish – good feature-rich VPN for watching ESPN+
IPVanish is another user-friendly VPN with an excellent fleet of servers around the world. 1106 of them are located in the US alone. The service offers decent speeds and an excellent support team, making it a solid VPN to watch ESPN+ outside of the US.
You shouldn't experience any issues watching ESPN since the network has received a major speed increase. The implementation of WireGuard is doing wonders for IPVanish, thus streams won’t stutter or take too long to load. The best part is that you can simultaneously secure all of your devices.
Despite being based in the US, this provider offers a strict no-logs policy. It goes alongside the usual leak protection, kill switch, and military-grade encryption. Furthermore, there’s a free antivirus if you want to protect your devices from malicious software.
You can run IPVanish on all major devices and platforms like Android, Windows, and iOS. Plus, there is also Linux support. There is router support available, though, but you configure the VPN on it manually.
How we tested the best ESPN+ VPNs
To make sure we only select the best VPNs for ESPN+, we test using vigorous criteria. Some of the aspects we look at include speed, performance, security, geo-block bypassing capabilities, etc. Below is a list of attributes we look for when selecting our top VPNs:
- Bypassing geo-locked content. To make sure you can access ESPN+ and all your other favorite streaming sites, we test to make sure our VPNs can bypass these.
- Speed and performance. There is nothing worse than lag interrupting the big game. So, we only include the fastest VPNs that score high on our speed tests. Thus, you get the best viewing experience possible.
- Server range. ESPN+ content varies depending on your location, so we only select VPNs that have a large fleet of US servers. And other major countries around the world. Due to the US’s state-specific blackouts, it is imperative to have a good number of US servers in different cities and states.
- Security features. A VPN must also keep you safe online, as well as hide your true location to avoid being blocked from sites like ESPN+. Therefore, we only pick VPNs with leak protection, a kill switch, and a solid range of security features.
- User-friendliness. You may be new to the world of VPNs, and it can sound a little intimidating. That’s why we carefully explore how user-friendly a VPN is before putting it forward as a suggestion.
- Cost. VPNs cary massively in price, and no one wants to be ripped off. We compare the feature list and speed alongside the price to make sure you're getting value for money. We also look for free trials and long money-back guarantees.
How to bypass ESPN blackouts with VPN anywhere?
If you see a message that reads, "This content is subject to blackout", this is usually because the game that you requested is not available on ESPN+ in your current location. As your whereabouts are determined by your IP address, you need a VPN to change it to a suitable one.
Just follow these simple steps:
- Load up your VPN app. We recommend using NordVPN.
- Change your server to one outside of the blacked-out area
- Load the ESPN+ app or website again
- Watch the game – it’s as simple as that!
How to watch ESPN without cable for free
There are multiple ways in which you can stream ESPN without cable if you want to watch all the live action unfold. Below is a list of providers:
- ESPN on Sling TV – you can watch ESPN on Sling TV with the Sling Orange add-on, as well as a host of other sporting shows and live events. Sling is only available for those in the US, unless you use a VPN.
- ESPN on fuboTV – fuboTV is a popular channel that features live sports streams, as well as access to the NFL Network and ESPN. Although primarily available in the US, you can sign in while traveling within other countries of the European Union.
- ESPN on Vidgo – A new contender to the market, but a very attractive one is Vidgo. Here, you can watch ESPN and other live channels that rival other streaming platforms. Vidgo can be watched from anywhere on the go on smartphones, laptops, Roku, and other streaming devices.
Is it legal to watch ESPN with VPN?
VPNs are really useful tools that are perfectly legal in most nations. It’s because they are primarily designed to increase your online privacy.
Nevertheless, streaming providers blacklist certain VPN servers. Attempting to unblock geo-restricted content violates their Terms of Service after all.
As a result, if you subscribe to ESPN, you can watch without restriction while using a VPN. Simply put, there is no reason for you to get into trouble as long as you aren't utilizing a VPN to commit crimes online.
Summing up
For sports lovers out there, ESPN+ offers some of the top sporting events, analysis, and documentaries on all things sports. It really is the go-to place.
Sadly, due to copyright laws, it’s only available in the US, unless you use a VPN. ESPN can be enjoyed without cable by using a VPN, you can connect to a US server and stream all the sports you want. It’s even useful for getting past the ESPN+ blackouts by connecting to a server in another state.
We believe that NordVPN is the best provider to watch ESPN+ outside of the US. All thanks to its excellent speed, top-notch security, and a huge range of US-based servers.
FAQ
Can I WatchESPN without a TV provider?
ESPN can be enjoyed without cable by using a VPN to unblock any of the following streaming services: Sling TV (Sling Orange), Hulu with Live TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, and AT&T TV. You can also watch all ESPN content on-demand with ESPN+.
What free VPN works with ESPN+?
We would avoid using a free VPN to watch ESPN+ as they often have tiny data caps, which means you can’t stream much content. Instead, we recommend using a premium provider like NordVPN. You can take advantage of the 7-day free trial or a 30-day money-back guarantee if you sign up for a plan.
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