Want a VPN to unblock ESPN Plus? In this guide we'll show you the best VPNs that work with ESPN and how to use it.
The best VPNs for ESPN Plus at a glance
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for unblocking ESPN Plus. This well known provider is fast and versatile enough to work with the toughest content blocks.
- NordVPN - A large brand offering great value at a cheap price
- Surfshark - A cheap VPN for ESPN. At $1.99 per month, you get a no-logs policy, great speeds and an incredibly user-friendly app.
- Private Internet Access - A secure VPN for unblocking ESPN in the US. What's more it keeps no logs, has apps for all platforms and excellent speeds.
- CyberGhost VPN - A value packed VPN for ESPN. CyberGhost has plenty of US servers that are fast and work well with ESPN Plus.
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If you’ve been paying attention to the news recently, you’ll know that ESPN hass released a TV streaming service for only $4.99 a month. The TV streaming service is dubbed "ESPN Plus” and will include live sports, exclusive originals, and an on-demand library filled with goodies. Sadly, it will only officially be available in the US due to geo-restrictions. The good news is that anybody can unblock ESPN+ using a VPN for ESPN to pretend to be in America.
No matter whether you choose to access ESPN+ on your TV or ESPN’s website player WatchESPN, an ESPN Plus VPN is the ideal solution. Our expert VPN reviewers have tested over 150 VPNs in the last 5 years searching for the best VPNs. When it comes to streaming, you are going to need a fast VPN, otherwise, you will suffer from constant and annoying buffering.
It's important to consider a number of factors when deciding on a VPN provider. For example, the ideal ESPN VPN will offer a variety of server locations (especially in the US) and fast streaming speeds. Let’s take a look at some important factors to consider before purchasing a VPN subscription:
- Amount of server locations
- Server speeds
- Level of encryption
- Privacy policy
- P2P policy
- Easy setup/user-friendly app
- Customer support
Fortunately, at ProPrivacy.com, we make it a point to research the VPNs we recommend before recommending them. All the VPNs listed in this top five guide are ideal for ESPN viewers.
| TEST WINNER ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | CyberGhost VPN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Surfshark | Private Internet Access | CyberGhost VPN |
| Ranking for ESPN Plus | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Performance | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Reliability | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Free trial | |||||
| Total servers | 3000 | 5300 | 3200 | 3386 | 9723 |
| Payment | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency | PayPal Visa/MasterCard Amex Cryptocurrency |
| Unblocks: | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu | Netflix iPlayer Disney+ Amazon Prime Hulu |
| Supported platforms | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android | Windows macOS iOS Android |
Best ESPN VPNs | In-depth Analysis
ExpressVPN the best VPN for ESPN Plus. It is a superb all-round VPN service with outstanding speeds and excellent unblocking capabilities for services like ESPN. ExpressVPN is a very comprehensive VPN service, great for getting around the regional access restrictions at video streaming sites. This VPN has servers in 14 different US cities, plus server locations in 93 other countries. This wide network gives you plenty of scope to sample video services from all over the world, not just ESPN. All of ExpressVPN's servers are ultra-fast, boasting unlimited bandwidth and the ability to bypass ISP throttling. This means you won't get stuck buffering when trying to stream live sports in HD. ExpressVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, making it ideal for privacy-conscious users. On top of that, the company keeps no activity logs, so this is a good service for protecting your identity if you like to download copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Best of all, you can try ExpressVPN completely risk-free thanks to its generous 30-day money-back guarantee! NordVPN has a total of 447 servers in the US, plus servers in 60 other countries. This is a great service for getting around access restrictions at video streaming services, including ESPN. The app of this VPN is very easy to use. The main screen shows a map of the world with markers where NordVPN has servers. You just double-click on a marker to connect. You can install this VPN on routers. Doing so will cover all of the devices in your home, including TV set top boxes. A router install counts as one of an allowed six simultaneous connections. It will cover all of the devices in your home. This generous allowance opens up the option to save money by sharing an account with a friend - NordVPN is fine with that. Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for ESPN on our list. At $1.99 per month it's great value for money and offers excellent for streaming ESPN Plus thanks to fast speeds with servers in over 20 US cities. Based in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark is a no-logs VPN service with great technical security, a bunch of useful features, and superb 24/7 support. With Surfshark, you'll get access to over 500 US servers located in more than 20 cities across the country, so you'll have no issues whatsoever gaining a fast connection to stream ESPN seamlessly! If you're into streaming other stuff too, then you're in luck, because with over 1,700 servers located in 63 countries worldwide you'll also get access to all kinds of other streaming services across the globe, including 15 different countries' Netflix libraries. What's more, Surfshark offers world-class privacy features including DNS leak protection, strong encryption protocols, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Best of all, you can connect an unlimited amount of devices simultaneously! Private Internet Access is a secure ESPN Plus VPN. It's not just about privacy though. It offers blazing-fast speeds, as well as a strong commitment to privacy. Private Internet Access (PIA) may be based in the US, but the provider has proven its zero-logs claims in court on multiple occasions. What's more, PIA was recently acquired by Kape Technologies - a cybersec firm based in London whose primary aim is to help consumers bolster their online protection. PIA VPN has servers in 48 countries, provides strong OpenVPN encryption and is a favorite amongst Reddit users. Another excellent and unique privacy feature PIA offers is that you can pay for your subscription completely anonymously using gift cards from other retailers like BestBuy, Walmart, Starbucks, and more! With PIA, you'll also have access to superb live chat support and Netflix's US library - as well as the ability to unblock ESPN Plus. And if you don't like what PIA has to offer, you can claim your money back within the first 30 days of subscribing. CyberGhost is a value packed VPN that unblocks ESPN. This service offers lightning-fast servers, making it excellent for streaming ESPN Plus in HD. CyberGhost operates in a whopping 88 countries, which is quite an expansive network that also includes hundreds of servers in the US. The app for this VPN is incredibly slick and offers a host of awesome features. Included amongst these is an activity selection screen, which adjusts the VPN's settings according to what you'll be doing online. Streaming is one of these options, and other CyberGhost features include a kill switch and automatic WiFi protection. If you'd like to take CyberGhost out for a trial run, a free version of the service is available - and it's one of our top five free VPNs. The free version gives you unlimited data usage, but there are other limitations to the service. You only get access to servers in 13 countries and you get slower throughput speeds than the paid version offers. Instead, it's worth trying out the premium version using the company's unprecedented 45-day money-back guarantee for subscriptions longer than 1 month. 1. ExpressVPN
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How to use a VPN with ESPN
Using a VPN with ESPN is extremely easy - all you'll need to do is follow the steps below to get connected in a few clicks:
- Choose a VPN provider that fits your needs
- Register with them
- Download the appropriate software for your OS
- Open the client after installation
- Verify the strongest encryption protocol is being used (OpenVPN is recommended)
- Select a server from a country whose ESPN content you want to access
- Connect to the server
- Navigate to the ESPN website or Sling TV
- Enjoy access to ESPN in its entirety!
Best VPN for ESPN FAQs
ESPN Plus Overview
After being in development for some time, ESPN Plus was released on April 12th, 2018, and has amassed 8 million users since that time. This TV streaming service includes many of the things that WatchESPN offers, only without the expensive cable/satellite TV subscription. Better still, an ESPN Plus subscription is available at a superbly affordable price!
On the other hand, many news outlets are reporting that ESPN Plus is not for "cord-cutters” (people that don’t use cable/satellite TV), as ESPN Plus will not include nearly the amount of content that its cable/satellite TV counterpart offers. However, for people living outside of the US that can't get ESPN at all, this service might be just the ticket!
What is a VPN for ESPN Plus?
A VPN or virtual private network is a service that lets you pretend to be in a different country, thus gaining access to the geo-restricted content of many TV streaming services and websites. Additionally, a VPN provides you with an encrypted connection that will keep you safe and secure online.
VPNs are the ideal tool for maintaining digital privacy. By using one, nobody will be able to tell what you're doing online - not your ISP, the government, or anybody else. A VPN for ESPN Plus also needs to be extremely fast - you don't want to be stuck waiting for your sports streams to buffer instead of actually watching them. Unfortunately, most VPNs have slow servers because fast servers can be very expensive to maintain. However, for streaming ESPN, slow servers simply won't do. For that reason, all our recommended ESPN VPNs have been carefully selected to provide lightning-fast server speeds.
Why do I need a VPN with ESPN?
Like many services, ESPN is plagued with geo-restricted content due to copyright and licensing restrictions. In other words, you can only access the content that ESPN provides for your specific country. This can be annoying, especially if you're a US resident on vacation that pays for the content back home.
If you’re paying for a service, you deserve everything that service offers. This is where a VPN comes in. When you combine ESPN with a VPN, you can access all of its content regardless of where you’re located. Moreover, if ESPN isn’t offered in the country you reside in, a VPN will let you gain access.
How to Watch ESPN
In order to subscribe to ESPN, you have to reside in a country where ESPN is available. If you travel abroad to a place that doesn’t offer ESPN, you’d normally be out of luck. Fortunately, there is a solution.
The first step is using a third-party service like Sling TV or Xfinity to access the ESPN network and/or WatchESPN. With a subscription to a third party streaming service, you can access your favorite TV channels without a cable or satellite TV subscription.
Virtual Cards
Unfortunately, you might need a valid US payment method to get Sling TV (and other US streaming services). The good news is that you can get a virtual US payment method online. By using a virtual credit or debit card, you’ll be able to purchase a Sling TV subscription like every other person in the US.
Although we haven’t had the chance to test out the services ourselves, we’ve researched the virtual cards with the best reviews and come up with a few results. The first website is Entropay – an online credit card provider that lets you pay for products and services online like a US resident. Money Polo is another that is rumored to be a little cheaper than Entropay. If you don’t want the hassle of an actual virtual card, you can use a website like EcoPayz for a onetime payment.
Remember, before you purchase a virtual card, it's important to do your research on the site you intend to use - just to be sure that it's safe.
Best VPNs for ESPN: Conclusion
There are a million reasons why you should use a VPN with your ESPN subscription, and even more reasons why you should use a VPN in general. Now that ESPN Plus is available at such a cheap rate - using a VPN - ESPN just suddenly became an excellent option to indulge in a lot of US sport from overseas!
The VPN providers recommended in this top five guide are a perfect fit for anybody looking to access ESPN without restrictions. Better yet, they’ll also help you access the blocked content of a variety of other services like Netflix and Hulu. For more information about using a VPN for Netflix or if you want to watch hulu outside US, check out our guides.
So, what are you waiting for? Try one of our top 5 VPNs for ESPN today and get easy access to ESPN or ESPN Plus!
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for unblocking ESPN Plus. This well known provider is fast and versatile enough to work with the toughest content blocks.
- NordVPN - A large brand offering great value at a cheap price
- Surfshark - A cheap VPN for ESPN. At $1.99 per month, you get a no-logs policy, great speeds and an incredibly user-friendly app.
- Private Internet Access - A secure VPN for unblocking ESPN in the US. What's more it keeps no logs, has apps for all platforms and excellent speeds.
- CyberGhost VPN - A value packed VPN for ESPN. CyberGhost has plenty of US servers that are fast and work well with ESPN Plus.