Best VPNs for ESPN+ in 2024

Best VPNs for ESPN+ in 2024

If you’re into sports, you’ll want to watch ESPN+. But, the service is not available in all countries so you’ll have to find your way around restrictions that may be on your way to watching that game.

The tool for the task is VPN; it lets you first connect to a US-based server to trick ESPN into thinking that you’re “legit.” From there on, you can watch all the games you want — but you’ll still need a valid subscription to the service.

Beyond accessing ESPN+ from anywhere, a good VPN will also let you watch all other streaming services while enhancing your online protection. It does that by encrypting all communication between your devices and the rest of the Internet. We wrote “devices” as good VPNs come with clients for all popular platforms to let you keep that protection on your phone, tablet, computer, and any other gadget you may have.

But you’re here for ESPN+ – and here are the best VPNs that let you watch it from all over the world (while also covering all your other needs):

1
NordVPN

at NordVPN.com
Our rating:
Price from: $3.39/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • 5,000+ servers in the network
  • Easy to use - install it and forget it
  • One license is good for up to 6 devices
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Chrome extension is just a proxy

Summary

There is a good reason why NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services in the world, and one of our personal favorites, as well.

Its network includes more than 6,200 servers spread across 111 countries, which directly translates into faster speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.

NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — whether it's accessing a banned site from some country that filters out the internet, torrenting, accessing streaming services, or just wanting to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs.

We highly recommend NordVPN to anyone looking for reliable service.
2
ExpressVPN

at ExpressVPN.com
Our rating:
Price from: $8.32/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • Feature-rich yet easy to use
  • One of the best VPNs around
  • Strong no-logging policy
  • Reliable support you can reach 24/7
  • Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
  • Kinda pricey

Summary

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPS services on the planet. There are a few others that come close — and even outshine ExpressVPN in some specific segments — but as far as the majority of users are concerned, this is the best VPN service they could sign-up for. (alongside NordVPN)

ExpressVPN has great desktop apps for Windows and Mac, mobile apps and browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and others.

However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use. We can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a lot of time has been spent making sure even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust.
3
Hotspot Shield

at HotspotShield.com
Our rating:
Price from: $2.99/mo
45-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • It's super fast!
  • Works with Netflix, BBC and others
  • Easy to use apps, browser extensions
  • You can try it for free!
  • Some advanced features are not configurable
  • Not the best for high-censorship countries

Summary

Hotspot Shield could easily be the fastest VPNs out there with its proprietary technology helping the company deliver blazing-fast download AND upload speeds. In fact, it is among our top choices for streaming (Netflix included) and torrenting, and is equally suited for desktop and mobile users.

Furthermore, thanks to the availability of browser extensions - Hotspot Shield is also one of our top choices for Chrome and Firefox VPNs.

Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that help continually improve its service.

There is one caveat though - it won't work in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we highly recommend Hotspot Shield.

As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
4
Surfshark

at Surfshark.com
Our rating:
Price from: $1.99/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • Reliable download and upload speeds
  • Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
  • Low number of servers in Africa and Australia

Summary

Surfshark is a solid all-round VPN offering top-notch security and privacy features. It may not be the best option out there, but it's definitely not the worst. And for the price, it offers a hard to beat package that goes well beyond basic VPN service.

You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.

Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.

The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5
IPVanish

at IPVanish.com
Our rating:
Price from: $3.99/mo
30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

Cons

  • One the best VPNs for torrenting
  • Works well with Netflix
  • Simple setup on all popular devices
  • Strict zero-logs policy
  • Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
  • Doesn't work in China

Summary

IPVanish is fast and especially great for torrenters and Kodi fans. It also works with Netflix though the situation is different with BBC iPlayer — for which we've had a hard time finding a reliable server.

Its desktop apps are not among the prettiest ones, but they get the job done. The important thing is that installation is easy and straightforward, and that no logs are kept by the company.

When it comes to pricing, IPVanish is somewhere in the middle — it's not the most affordable option but also not the most expensive one. As noted, it will be most appreciated by heavy BitTorrent users, and — related — Kodi fans.

What ESPN+ is all about?

ESPN+ or ESPN Plus is a subscription video streaming service available in the United States. Owned by Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution, in partnership with ESPN Inc. — which itself is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (owns a controlling 80% stake) and Hearst Communications (owns the remaining 20%). It is one of Disney’s flagship subscription streaming brands that also include Disney+ and Hulu.

ESPN+ is offered as an add-on to ESPN’s core linear networks, featuring content that was previously offered exclusively to cable subscribers via ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. However, ESPN+ does not include access to these services, as they continue to only be available through television providers. So, some of ESPN’s sports rights are not carried on ESPN+.

Featured content on ESPN+ includes combat sports (including coverage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Top Rank boxing), NFL, college sports, cricket, rugby union, soccer (including out-of-market Major League Soccer matches as well as coverage of few European leagues), golf (including coverage of the PGA Championship) and tennis. The MLB’s out-of-market sports package is sold through the platform as an add-on and the same was true for NHL until March 2021 when a seven-year agreement was announced for ESPN to have broadcast rights for NHL games. This includes an exclusive package of over 1,000 out-of-market games available on ESPN+ that were part of the NHL.TV subscription package prior to the 2021-2022 season.

ESPN+ also features archive content, ESPN original documentaries, and access to premium content on ESPN.com. As of December 31, 2020, the service had 12.1 million subscribers.

You need a VPN for ESPN+

If you don’t live in the U.S. and want to access ESPN+, you will need a VPN to get your sports fix. In order to do that, you will have to connect to a US-based server and that will trick ESPN’s servers into thinking that you’re on U.S. soil whereas in reality – you could be on the opposite side of the globe.

But, as we are always saying, you should not get a VPN to access just one service. You see, a good VPN will unlock all streaming services for you, but even that is just one piece of the “VPN puzzle.”

The most important thing is that a VPN will protect your privacy on the Internet so that the likes of Google, Facebook, and various government agencies can’t follow every step you make.

But wait, there’s more. Here’s a quick snapshot of what a good VPN will do for you:

  • Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
  • Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
  • Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
  • Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals

The top contenders that check all these boxes include the following:

30-day money-back guarantee
30-day money-back guarantee
45-day money-back guarantee