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Best VPNs to Watch ESPN+ Anywhere (Outside the US)

Posted on by darion

You’re here because you’re looking for the best VPN for ESPN+. Why? Well, it’s probably because you’re abroad and you’ve discovered the hard truth. You can’t watch ESPN Plus outside the US! Plus, this streaming service is skilled at detecting VPN traffic.

This makes things worse for those who want to quickly unlock the service and access it from anywhere. Does this mean that none of the providers are operational in 2024? Probably not. If you haven’t found any, it simply means that you haven’t been looking in the right direction. This is where our team comes in.

We’ve tested hundreds of providers and almost ALL of them failed to unblock ESPN+ outside the US. However, after some research, we’ve found three that work perfectly in 2024. This guide will cover them and explain how to unblock and access this streaming service outside the US.

How to watch ESPN+ outside the US with a VPN?

Okay, so let’s address the problem. Using a typical VPN for streaming, many times, won’t work here. ESPN Plus detects encrypted traffic and immediately blocks it. When you connect to a virtual private network, the first thing that happens is encryption – oh no!

This causes an error message to appear stating that the page cannot be found when you try to visit the site. If you look in the address bar in your browser, you will see “block=geo” the part that tells you everything. The page could not be found because you are geo-blocked.

If you’re not in the US, your best bet is to get a VPN that works with ESPN+. It turns out that NordVPN is that provider, and that’s great because the service offers so many more features. What’s more, it’s a piece of cake to use and is guaranteed to unblock the platform.

Watch ESPN+ Outside the US with NordVPN

Users also appreciate 30 day money back guarantee making it risk-free. That means you can subscribe on vacation, watch ESPN+ outside the US, and when you’re home, get a refund from NordVPN, no questions asked. Here’s how to make it work.

  1. Subscribe to NordVPN. You can use the button above or this link to get 72% off the 2-year plan and save an incredible amount of money.
  2. We won’t be using its app in this guide – instead, we’ll opt for the browser extension. Go to your browser extension store and search for NordVPN.
  3. Download the NordVPN add-on and log in with your email address and password.
  4. To unblock ESPN Plus abroad, connect to a US server. We found that Denver works fine.
  5. Before entering the site, go to settings (gear icon) and then to the “Security & Privacy” section.
  6. Turn on “Location spoofing“and make sure WebRTC Leak Protection it is on.
  7. Go to ESPN+, sign up (or log in) and watch your favorite sports.
Nordvpn Espn Plus
© Gizmodo

Best VPN for ESPN+ to Unblock It Anywhere

We’ve said that it’s incredibly difficult to find a VPN that works with ESPN+. If you test a mediocre provider, you’ll get disastrous results. The same goes for free providers, which don’t have the “firepower” to safely unblock the site. That leaves you with just a few options.

The good news is that these few options are excellent and will work without problems. They include:

1. NordVPN

Nordvpn Best VPN ESPN Plus
© Gizmodo

Advantages

  • Great VPN extension with geo-spoofing
  • Blocks ads and trackers
  • Fastest VPN for streaming
  • Firestick TV Support
  • Flexible subscription plans

Cons

  • No hidden servers in mobile apps
  • Slower connections Double VPN

Visit NordVPN

We’ve already shown you how well this provider works. The key, though, is to use the VPN Chrome extension, which also works on Edge, Brave, and Firefox. This extension, as well as its full-fledged apps, offers over 6,400 servers, almost 2,000 of which are in the US.

This makes NordVPN the perfect ESPN+ VPN for unlimited streaming. Another thing to mention is performance. It’s important to watch content smoothly and without buffering. With an average speed loss of just around 18%, you will be able to watch sports even in 4K resolution.

NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol stands out for its stability. You’ll also find that its Smart DNS is great for all-round streaming on all devices under the sun. NordVPN’s apps come with Threat Protection to keep ads, trackers, and malicious sites out of your sight.

Users also appreciate its emergency stop switch to prevent IP leakage. Interestingly, there are obfuscated servers that can also unblock ESPN+ abroad. You can use the obfuscation in China or Iran, where censorship is at its peak, to regain online freedom and safely unblock the sites.

When it comes to device support, as said, you get a lot. NordVPN even works on Firestick TV, and its freshly baked Apple TV app is no less impressive. With 10 simultaneous connections, the #1 VPN for ESPN Plus is sure to impress even the cold-hearted.

We invite you to check out the 2-year offers and see which one is best for you. NordVPN offers around 9 plans to choose from, varying in length, price, and features. If you have an Android device, you can even sign up for 7-day free trial and don’t pay anything at the beginning.

2. ExpressVPN

Expressvpn Apps
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Advantages

  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Over 3,000 servers in 105 countries
  • MediaStreamer (smart DNS)
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Flawless Streaming Optimization

Cons

  • Expensive monthly plan
  • No Double VPN support

Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN works with ESPN+ quite well. Unlike NordVPN, it doesn’t rely on a browser extension. This means you can subscribe to the service, download its app, and connect to one of its many US VPN servers. After that, watching ESPN+ outside the US is a piece of cake.

This provider focuses on simplicity and ease of use. Its apps seem quite appealing. They are identical across all platforms and offer the same amazing features. Streaming ESPN Plus abroad, watching Netflix, and torrenting won’t be a problem for this giant.

Additionally, ExpressVPN uses 10Gbps servers which you can connect to using Lightway. This protocol makes ExpresssVPN fast and speed-oriented. ExpressVPN offers a few extras, such as MediaStreamer and Advanced Protection. The latter is useful for dealing with ads and trackers.

ExpressVPN’s security is one of the best. In addition to 256-bit encryptionrelies on Private DNS plus a no-logging policy to provide a truly anonymous experience. In a recent Mullvad VPN test, we praised this VPN for this feature, which ExpressVPN also boasts.

This provider is a bit less impressive than NordVPN, as it offers fewer simultaneous connections – eight. However, its apps also work on all devices, and its 24/7 live chat service seems to be a tad more responsive. When it comes to unblocking ESPN+, it’s perfect.

If you see a white screen, don’t worry. Just wait 5 to 15 seconds and the page will load normally. ExpressVPN is available below for a solid 49% off with 3 free months of the provider’s annual plan. That’s a pretty good deal if juicy savings are your top priority.

3.Surfshark

Surfshark VPN Unblock ESPN Abroad
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Advantages

  • The best site unblocking options
  • NoBorders (blackout)
  • Affordable 2-year plans
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections

Cons

  • For advanced features you have to pay more
  • Dutch jurisdiction (9 Eyes)

Visit Surfshark

In 3rd place, we have Surfshark as one of the best VPNs for ESPN Plus. It’s incredibly good for streaming, unblocking over 30 Netflix catalogs, Hulu, Prime Video, and hundreds of other platforms. If you ask us, it’s probably the best VPN for Hulu and streaming in general.

We’ve placed it at #3 because it’s slower than the previous two providers. However, its 3,200+ servers in 100 countries are more than enough for most users. It also has over 600 servers in 22 US cities, so you can use it to watch live NFL streams or games outside your market.

Surfshark uses WireGuard, which ensures the stability and reliability of the connection. This is improved by the use of RAM-only servers, the performance of which is commendable. Surfshark runs on unlimited number of devices at oncewhich gives it an advantage over many expensive competitors.

Like the other two, it works on all devices and offers amazing features that are worth checking out. MultiHop, IP Rotation, kill switch, and NoBorders are just a few of them. If you pay a dollar or two more for the mid-range plan, you get an antivirus that provides 360-degree protection.

There is another add-on called Search, though. It’s a nifty little incognito browser without the tracking and other crap from your ISP. Surfshark also comes with static and dedicated IP addresses What you won’t find in Proton VPN or ExpressVPN, however, they are more expensive.

Surfshark makes it easy to watch ESPN+ outside the US. Simply connect to any US server in the app – no additional setup required. At just $2.20 per month for a 2-year plan, you get an affordable product that screams quality on a deafening scale.

My VPN Can’t Unblock ESPN+ Abroad: What Can I Do?

Choosing one of the three providers we’ve outlined will ensure that everything goes according to plan. If you’re using a provider not on this list, consider switching to NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark. Let’s say you’re using one of these three and things aren’t quite right.

Then what?

Here are some solutions that we tested and that worked for us:

  • Disabling ad blocker.
  • Using a VPN browser extension (specifically NordVPN)
  • Clearing cache and cookies. This is VERY important because they store information about your original location, which is contrary to a VPN.
  • Using a browser window in incognito mode.
  • Switching to another server in the US. We’ve also found this to be effective, with some servers working better than others for streaming and accessing ESPN+ abroad.
  • Enabling obfuscation (blacked out servers in NordVPN or No borders in Surfshark)
  • Contacting customer support. This has worked for us many times, as the support team explained which server to use and what to do to unblock specific streaming sites. NordVPN helped us with ESPN Plus by explaining that its geo-spoofing browser extension worked.

summary

In short, finding a VPN that works with ESPN+ is incredibly difficult. Not to mention free providers are a complete no-no, as NONE of them work with this streaming service. The three we found and tested are currently the best options that work reliably.

NordVPN’s browser extension is particularly good as long as geo-spoofing is enabled. ExpressVPN and Surfshark work directly from their apps, for example. All three offer sufficient performance and speed to stream live sports in full HD without buffering.

That said, if you’re determined to regain access to your favorite sports streaming service, you know what to do and what tools to use. Go ahead and give it a try.

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