Key Takeaways: Watch Sports With a Free VPN
- Proton VPN and Windscribe are the best free VPNs for sports streaming, but both services have usage limits. Proton VPN offers unlimited data but has servers in just three countries, whereas Windscribe has servers in 10 countries but offers up to 15GB of monthly data.
- If you want to circumvent usage limits but still use a VPN for free, consider using the free trial of the best VPNs for streaming. ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark offer a seven-day free trial on mobile.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee of premium VPNs isn’t technically a free trial, but you can make the most of it to livestream sports for free.
There’s no doubt that live sports streaming has reimagined the way people engage with their favorite sports. These days, you don’t need to be at the stadium or even in your living room to cheer on your team. With the best free VPN for live sports streaming and a mobile device — such as a smartphone or laptop — you can watch any live sporting events from anywhere for free.
A virtual private network (VPN) helps circumvent streaming geoblocks enabling you to watch live sports that would otherwise be unavailable for streaming in your region or country. You can enjoy a football game at the subway station, airport lounge or while on the move. For example, you can access BBC iPlayer to watch the FA Cup final live on your mobile device.
Sadly, not all free VPNs are cut out for live sports streaming. Some are slow, while others don’t access the most popular live sports streaming websites. If you’re shopping for a free VPN for live sports, look no further. Read on to find the five best VPNs that open any livestreaming services you throw at them and stream without interruptions. If you’re happy shelling out for a premium VPN or using a money-back guarantee instead, check out our best VPN article.
What Makes the Best Free VPN for Live Sports Streaming?
Fast speeds, unlimited data and excellent unblocking ability are essential for the best free VPNs for live sports. We’ll tell you why these features matter in a bit, but before that, here’s a sneak peek at our top free VPN for live sports:
Best Free VPN for Live Sports Streaming
- Proton VPN — Best free VPN with unlimited data
- Windscribe — Best free VPN with fast speeds
Best Premium VPNs With Money-Back Guarantees
- ExpressVPN — Streaming VPN with unmatched unblocking ability
- NordVPN — VPN for streaming live sports with fast connection speeds
- Surfshark — Best sports streaming VPN for multiple devices
When it comes to streaming sports, the following VPN features matter:
VPN Server Locations
Free VPNs limit the number of VPN servers you can access. As you pick your favorite free VPN for sports streaming, choose the one with VPN server locations in countries where your go-to sports streaming platforms are available. Thankfully, most sports streaming services are in the U.S., and most free streaming VPNs have servers in the U.S.
Connection Speeds
The best VPN for streaming sports should offer fast connection speeds to support smooth, interruption-free sports streaming. You don’t want to miss a knockout kick when watching UFC, or a buzzer beater or goal of the season because of video lags or buffering. Luckily, the free VPNs on our list offer good connection speeds — some are incredibly fast.
Data Limit
If a VPN offers the preferred server locations and has impressive connection speeds, the next thing to consider is its data allowance. Free VPNs cap the data you can use in a month, so check if the data limit will be enough to stream sports for the entire month. If possible, pick a free VPN with unlimited data and bandwidth.
Security and Privacy
Lastly, the online landscape is a digital jungle laden with many unforeseen dangers perpetuated by scammers, hackers and other malicious minds. For this reason, whether you’re using a Twitter link or have a live sports streaming service subscription, make sure to pick a free VPN provider with top-notch security and privacy.
The 2 Best Free VPNs for Live Sports Streaming
Not many free VPNs have all the criteria we mentioned earlier. Thankfully, Windscribe and Proton VPN — the overall best free VPN — tick all the right boxes. Still, the two free VPN services offer varying usage limits, and one may be better suited to your needs than the other. Read on to find out how they differ.
1. Proton VPN
More details about Proton VPN:
- Pricing: $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes; unlimited data in 3 server locations
- Provider website: protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited data on free plan
- Unblocks big streaming apps
- Solid security & privacy
Cons:
- Sluggish during peak hours
Proton VPN is the overall best free VPN, and it’s not surprising that it snags the top spot on our list. It has server locations in Japan, the Netherlands and the U.S., making it the best free VPN for streaming sports on U.S.-based streaming sites such as ESPN+, Sling TV, fuboTV, DirecTV and MLB TV, to name a few.
During our testing, the U.S. servers proved adept at accessing sports streaming platforms. Regardless of the server we picked, Proton VPN got into ESPN+ and Sling TV without a fuss. If the performance is anything to go by, you won’t struggle to access your go-to sports streaming sites to cheer on your favorite NBA, NFL or other teams.
When it comes to speed, the free servers offer serviceable speeds, though they may not be fast enough to support HD streaming. That said, when you connect to an overcrowded server, the speeds can drop significantly. Luckily, Proton VPN uses a color-coding system to show server load, making it easier to find one that’s not overcrowded.
Enjoy Unlimited Data
Proton VPN offers unlimited data on the free plan — a rarity for free VPN services. This is ideal if you like to binge-watch live and on-demand sporting content. You can watch as many live games as your time allows, and you won’t have to worry about getting cut off mid-month.
Lastly, Proton VPN has excellent device compatibility. Whether you want to watch sports on a big smart TV screen or smartphone while on the move, the vendor has an app for your device. Sadly, the hefty price may be a turnoff if you want to transition to a paid Proton VPN account. We tested the VPN service and detailed the findings in our full Proton VPN review.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
2. Windscribe
More details about Windscribe:
- Pricing: $5.75 per month (one-year plan)
- Free plan: Yes, up to 15GB data
- Provider website: windscribe.com
Pros:
- Solid security & privacy
- Free servers in 10 countries
- Serviceable speeds
Cons:
- Clunky user interface
If you want to access sports streaming sites outside the U.S., Japan and the Netherlands — such as BBC iPlayer — Windscribe is your best bet. The free VPN services offer servers in 10 countries and territories: the U.S., U.K., Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Norway, Netherlands, Switzerland and Romania. You have a large pool of IP addresses to access your favorite sports streaming sites.
Its unblocking ability doesn’t rival that of Proton VPN. During our testing, it unblocked BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video on the first attempt, but it took multiple attempts to access the geo-restricted content on Disney Plus and ESPN+.
Unlike Proton VPN, Windscribe caps its monthly data at 10GB, but you can get 5GB of extra data when you tweet about Windscribe.
From our experience, we’ve found that soccer matches consume 2GB of data in roughly two hours. You could watch roughly two soccer games per week without blowing through the monthly data allowance. However, if you’re watching sports that take longer, such as cricket test matches, you’ll quickly exhaust the data limit before the end of the month.
Enjoy Fast Connection Speeds
Regarding internet connection speeds, Windscribe made it onto our list of fastest VPNs, alongside ExpressVPN and NordVPN. It offers blazing-fast download speeds and unlimited bandwidth — the perfect combination for a lag- and buffer-free sports streaming experience.
Security-wise, Windscribe uses solid protocols and encryption to deliver top-notch security and privacy. The VPN provider’s security and privacy has also been put to test, such as when Ukrainian authorities seized two Windscribe servers in the country. Thankfully, the authorities found no data, thanks to Windscribe no-logs policy. Learn more in our comprehensive Windscribe VPN review.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
The 3 Best Premium VPNs for Live Sports Streaming
Proton VPN and Windscribe usage limits can dilute the fun. Proton VPN offers unlimited data, but can be sluggish at times. On the other hand, Windscribe offers fast connection speeds but only 15GB of data per month. In this section, we’ll reveal three premium VPNs without usage limits, starting with ExpressVPN — the best streaming VPN.
1. ExpressVPN
More details about ExpressVPN:
- Pricing: $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: expressvpn.com
Pros:
- Fast download speeds
- Unmatched unblocking
- 30-day money-back return
Cons:
- Pricey
Proton VPN and Windscribe may not cut it for some sports, such as cricket test matches. A test match lasts around seven hours a day and is played over five days; it takes a VPN with excellent speeds and unlimited data to livestream the entire game. Thankfully, ExpressVPN ticks all the boxes and has a one-month refund period.
This gives you ample time to watch cricket on your Android or iOS smartphone. We’ve had cases where users successfully used the trial logins to watch favorite sports with ExpressVPN on Windows, Mac and Smart TVs. Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn what you get with the VPN service.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming — not just sports, but also Netflix and other geo-restricted content. Its proprietary Lightway protocol delivers lightning-fast speeds, and the servers in 94 countries offer unmatched unblocking ability. During our testing, it got us into ESPN+, Sling TV, BBC iPlayer and other sports streaming sites on the first attempt.
Stream on Old Smart TV With ExpressVPN MediaStreamer
MediaStreamer is another arrow in ExpressVPN’s quiver. While MediaStreamer doesn’t offer VPN protection, it unblocks sports websites on streaming devices that don’t support VPN apps. If you want to livestream sports on a gaming console or the old generation of Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV, the smart DNS service will be helpful. Learn more in our full ExpressVPN MediaStreamer guide.
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. While this isn’t technically a free trial, you can leverage the option to watch sports, such as the Tour de France (which is staged over three weeks), for free. We have a complete guide on how to get an ExpressVPN refund.
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
3. NordVPN
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: $3.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Fast download speeds
- Unlimited data & bandwidth
- 30-day money-back return
Cons:
- Server breached in 2018
While NordVPN rivals ExpressVPN in many ways, it settles for the fourth spot because of its streaming ability and limited free trial. This Panama-based provider offers solid security and privacy, and should bypass sporting blackouts and internet service provider (ISP) throttling — in which the ISP intentionally slows down your connection when streaming live sports.
That aside, NordVPN offers server locations in 60 countries, including U.S. and U.K. During our testing, NordVPN servers unblocked popular streaming services — such as ESPN+, Sling TV and YouTube TV — on the first attempt. The VPN may occasionally require multiple attempts to access BBC iPlayer, but it will ultimately get you in.
There isn’t a faster VPN than NordVPN on the market right now — not even ExpressVPN (learn more in our VPN speed comparison article). With blazing-fast download speeds, the VPN loads videos like local sessions and streams in HD without interruptions. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers unlimited data and bandwidth, as you can read in our full NordVPN review.
Access Remote Device With NordVPN Meshnet
One feature that sets NordVPN apart from other premium VPNs is Meshnet, which lets you access remote devices on encrypted tunnels. NordVPN Meshnet is helpful if you stream sports on Hulu or other streaming sites that require you to sign in from your home IP address every 30 days. Learn more in our NordVPN Meshnet guide.
If you’re away from home for over 30 days, you can connect to a home network via Meshnet to stream your favorite sports. This way, Hulu or your sports streaming services will only see the IP of your home device. The system will presume you’re accessing the service from home, so it won’t block your access.
If you need to use NordVPN for free for a month or less, the 30-day money-back guarantee will come in handy. Remember that this isn’t technically a free trial; you’ll still be charged for using the service, but can claim a NordVPN refund within 30 days of subscription.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Surfshark
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Free plan: None; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Fast connection speeds
- Unlimited device connections
- 30-day money-back return
Cons:
- High near-distance latency
Surfshark has come a long way since its launch in 2018 to earn a name as a top-tier VPN. While it doesn’t offer the unblocking ability of ExpressVPN or the speeds of NordVPN, it’s still a safe bet for live sports streaming. Like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The VPN service has server locations in 100 countries. The servers unblocked all major streaming services during our testing without a hitch. Whether you want to watch NBA on ESPN+ or the FA Cup games on BBC iPlayer, Surfshark will get you in on the first attempt. We tested the VPN service and detailed our findings in the comprehensive Surfshark review.
In addition, Surfshark is one of the fastest VPNs, delivering interruption-free HD streaming. The only niggle with Surfshark is that its near-distance latency is high, but the opposite is true for long-distance latency. As a result, livestreaming could take a little longer to start when connecting to nearby servers.
Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it ideal for large families or roomies who need to watch different sports simultaneously. You can watch live football on the smart TV, while others catch up on an NBA clash on their mobile devices. Regardless of the number of connected devices, speed doesn’t dip, thanks to Surfshark’s unlimited bandwidth.
Like the top two premium VPNs, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use the refund period to watch your favorite sports free of charge for 30 days. If you choose that option, be sure to read our guide on how to get a Surfshark refund.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Is It Safe to Use Free VPNs for Streaming Sports?
It depends on the free VPN you use. For example, you can use Proton VPN and Windscribe to stream live sports and have no worry about the services jeopardizing your online security and privacy. Remember that these free VPNs come with solid VPN protocols and encryption, and during our DNS tests, neither VPN showed any internet traffic leaks.
That said, not all free VPNs are safe to use for streaming live sports. Some free VPNs (like the ones we reviewed in our worst free VPN guide) are ticking time bombs. Some gather and sell your data to third parties, whereas others are honeypots for hackers and scammers.
Best Sports Streaming Sites
There are too many sports streaming services to list them all on one page. We compiled a list of sports streaming sites in various countries in the table below.
| Country | Streaming Site | Sports Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
 U.S. |
ESPN+ fuboTV DirecTV YouTube TV |
NBA  NFL  Cricket  UFC  Football  Tennis  |
 U.K. |
BBC iPlayer ITV |
Football Cricket Tennis |
 Canada |
TSN Direct DAZN Sportsnet NOW |
Football Racing  Rugby  Pool  |
 Germany |
DAZN | Football Boxing  Wrestling  MMA |
 Australia |
Kayo Sports Foxtel NOW Optus Sport |
NBA Formula 1 Cricket UFC Tennis Football |
 Africa |
SuperSports | NBA Football Cricket Tennis Rugby UFC Boxing wrestling |
 Asia |
Premier Sports JioCinema Disney+ Hotstar |
Football Rugby Cricket |
Just bear in mind that even if there are sports streaming services in your country of residence, you don’t need to limit your options to local streaming sites. You can access streaming sites outside your region with the best VPN for live sports.
Final Thoughts
The best free VPNs for sports enable you to access streaming services that would otherwise be unavailable in your country. The VPN services also help you bypass sporting blackouts and cheer on your team regardless of where they play. Sadly, there are not many free VPNs that can reliably unblock streaming sites and stream without interruption.
Thankfully, Proton VPN and Windscribe are apt at streaming live sports. Proton VPN is great for bypassing sporting blackouts or accessing streaming sites in the U.S. On the other hand, Windscribe is great for unblocking BBC iPlayer outside the U.K. However, the VPNs have usage limits, which may compel you to consider a premium VPN.
ExpressVPN is the best premium VPN for sports, with a free trial on mobile. It offers unmatched unblocking ability and boasts blazing-fast speeds — the ideal combination for interruption-free sports streaming. NordVPN is a great alternative, but its free trial is available to Android users only.
What did you think of our selection of free sports VPNs? Have you used any of them to stream live sports? Did you go for a truly free service like Proton VPN or Windscribe, or did you use the money-back guarantee from a premium service instead? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ: Best Free VPN for Live Sports Streaming
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Yes, you can watch live sports with a VPN. However, the ideal VPN service should have excellent unblocking ability and fast connection speeds for uninterrupted streaming.
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for football streaming because it easily unblocks all football streaming sites. It also offers fast speeds and negligible latency, so football streams load almost instantly and run without lags or buffering.
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If you want to stream sports for free, you should get a free sports streaming service and the best free VPN for sports streaming. For example, you can watch football games on BBC iPlayer outside the U.K. with Windscribe — both services are free.
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