That doesn’t mean there’s no way around that problem. Using a reliable VPN is the easiest way to access your home content from abroad. But not all VPNs are created the same. Most have limited unblocking capabilities and can struggle to provide fast speeds. I tested all the major VPNs to see which ones are best for streaming Sky Sports. ExpressVPN is at the top of my list, given its extensive and superior server infrastructure and blazing-fast speeds. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee — if you aren’t satisfied, you can claim a full refund. Stream Sky Sports with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Sky Sports in 2023
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Sky Sports
Sky Sports is a streaming service geo-restricted to the UK and Ireland. If you’re traveling abroad for work or leisure and try accessing your Sky Sports account, you’ll get the following error message: A premium VPN can unblock Sky Sports from anywhere in the world. It can work around the VPN detectors Sky Sports uses and provide easy access to its entire library. A VPN disguises a real IP address behind a virtual one inside the UK or Ireland, making Sky Sports think the user is inside those countries. It also encrypts your internet traffic, keeping your data safe from prying eyes. The best way to stream Sky Sports when you’re abroad is by using a quality VPN. Pick a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN, connect to a server in the UK or Ireland, log in to your Sky Sports account, and start watching your favorite sports. Stream Sky Sports with ExpressVPN
The Best VPNs to Watch Sky Sports From Anywhere (Tested 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Consistently Fast Speeds for Uninterrupted Sky Sports Streaming
Key Features: ExpressVPN’s fast speeds make it my favorite VPN for streaming. Throughout my speed tests, it gave me blazing-fast speeds with no speed drops whatsoever. Even on distant servers, ExpressVPN provides excellent speeds with reductions of only about 5%. So, it guarantees a buffer-free streaming experience on Sky Sports despite the distance to a UK or Ireland server. Apart from consistently fast speeds, ExpressVPN has the most phenomenal unblocking capabilities. It has an extensive server network of over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries, including multiple server locations in the UK and Ireland. This means that ExpressVPN is the perfect choice for accessing Sky Sports from anywhere in the world. All ExpressVPN’s plans support up to 5 simultaneous device connections. It’s compatible with all major platforms, some gaming consoles, and smart TVs. You can even use it on incompatible devices with ExpressVPN’s DNS spoofing feature called MediaStreamer. The only con of ExpressVPN is its premium price, which can be a bit unaffordable to budget-conscious users. However, its 1-year plan offers a maximum discount of 49%, so you can get it for as low as $6.67 per month. You can choose between 3 plans — 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can buy ExpressVPN with confidence. If you’re unsatisfied with its performance, you can claim a full refund. I tested its refund policy first-hand. I requested my refund via its 24/7 live chat and got my money back 4 days after. Stream Sky Sports with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Lag-free Sky Sports Streaming
Key Features: CyberGhost is another great option for accessing Sky Sports from anywhere in the world. It has a list of streaming-optimized servers, each specifically designed for streaming on various platforms, including 1 UK server for streaming Sky Sports (if you watch through Sky Go). Throughout my speed tests, CyberGhost gave me excellent speeds on nearby and mid-range servers. Although I got speed drops of up to 10% on distant servers, this won’t impact your streaming experience if you have a high-speed internet connection or use a streaming-optimized server. You can use CyberGhost on up to 7 devices at a time, which is great if you want to stream Sky Sports on multiple devices simultaneously. I recommend setting up the VPN on a compatible smart TV for a weekend getaway and watching your favorite sports with your family. Alternatively, you can set it up on each of your devices, as CyberGhost works on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more. One drawback of using CyberGhost for streaming Sky Sports is that it only has 1 streaming-optimized server for the platform. I prefer having multiple server options so that if one server drops, I have others as a backup. However, I have never seen CyberGhost’s servers being overcrowded and slow. Of the 4 plans that CyberGhost offers, I recommend its 2-year + 3 months plan because it provides the highest discount of 84%. But subscribing to a long-term plan isn’t cheap — that’s why I recommend you try CyberGhost out risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. Stream Sky Sports with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network Capable of Accessing Sky Sports on the Go
Key Features: Private Internet Access (PIA) has one of the largest server networks I’ve ever seen in a VPN. It has more than 35,000 servers in over 84 countries, with multiple servers in the UK and Ireland for seamlessly accessing Sky Sports. PIA excelled on my speed tests and provided a buffer-free streaming experience. Its fast speeds can be attributed to its superior server network (Next Generation Network) that transports your internet traffic in small IP packets, making data transfer more efficient across longer distances. The only thing that concerned me was that PIA’s headquarters is based in the US, which is part of a data-sharing agreement called the Five Eyes Alliance. But I was relieved that PIA has been audited by Deloitte, who affirmed it doesn’t store its users’ logs and can’t hand over any information about them even if requested. While you can get PIA’s monthly plan, it’s more costly than its long-term plans. I recommend getting its 2-year + 3 months plan, which offers a maximum discount of 82%. Committing to a long-term plan is difficult, especially when you haven’t tried the VPN first. That’s why you can test PIA risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee to see if it’s the right VPN for you. You can claim a full refund if you aren’t satisfied. I claimed mine using its phone support and got my money back in 5 days. Stream Sky Sports with PIA
4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans
Key Features: NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly. I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it worked and unblocked some streaming services, it sometimes had issues unblocking Netflix US and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryptionkill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenlybuilt-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blockerfully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN
In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server. With plans that cost as little as $3.49 per month, it’s easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested this to ensure that you’ll really get your money back. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days. Get NordVPN today NordVPN works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Chromebook, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick, and Android TV
5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds
Key Features: Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out. I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality. When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:
AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android usersWireguard VPN protocol enabled by defaultdiskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)IP and DNS leak protection
Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account. While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming Netflix in UHD, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet. You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.39. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!). Get Surfshark today Surfshark works on: Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire Stick, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, Kodi, and selected routers
6. PrivateVPN — Ultra High-Speed Servers for 4K Buffer-Free Streaming
Key Features: PrivateVPN excels in streaming Sky Sports due to its direct management of all servers, rather than relying on third-party outsourcing. Consequently, its servers offer remarkable, buffer-free, high-definition streaming at exceptional speeds. With high-speed servers in the UK and Ireland, PrivateVPN can easily access Sky Sports. Moreover, the servers are organized by latency, so you can pick the ones that provide the best speeds from your current location.
I found PrivateVPN’s speed test results to be impressive. When testing nearby servers, I experienced minimal speed drops of up to 7% compared to my original speeds. I was able to stream 4K content on YouTube without any buffering issues. Therefore, connecting to PrivateVPN’s UK servers allows you to enjoy uninterrupted streaming of Sky Sports. You can choose between 3 plans — the 1-month, 3-month, or 3-year plan. While its monthly plan is more affordable than some other VPNs on my list, I recommend getting PrivateVPN’s 3-year plan to get the highest discount of 85%. If you’re unsure of subscribing to a long-term plan, you can try out PrivateVPN without risk using its 30-day money-back guarantee to see if it fits your needs. If you aren’t satisfied with its performance, you can easily get a full refund within 5 to 7 days. Stream Sky Sports with PrivateVPN
7. IPVanish — Stream Sky Sports On Unlimited Devices
Key Features: IPVanish supports unlimited devices, so you can stream Sky Sports on as many devices as you want. I appreciate this feature as it lets me travel with peace of mind, and I can connect all my devices without worrying about running out of connections. Throughout my speed tests, IPVanish gave me phenomenal speeds with little to no speed drops. Its WireGuard protocol provides optimal security without compromising speeds, so I never got reductions of more than 15% and could stream content in HD without buffering.
After rigorous testing, I was impressed by IPVanish’s unblocking capabilities. Having more than 100 servers in the UK alone means it can easily access Sky Sports and other geo-restricted platforms in the UK. One downside of IPVanish is that my speeds slowed down when I connected to a distant server in Australia. But since IPVanish manages all its servers in-house, it ensures they’re well-optimized for streaming (even long-distance ones). You can subscribe to IPVanish’s 1-month, 3-month, or 1-year plan. I suggest getting the 2-year plan because it gives you the best discount of 72%. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try IPVanish risk-free to see if it’s right for you. You can claim your refund by going to your dashboard and clicking the cancelation button. Stream Sky Sports with PrivateVPN
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPNs to Watch Sky Sports From Abroad
How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs to Watch Sky Sports
While testing out the best VPNs in 2023 to find the top 5 for streaming Sky Sports in HD without buffering, I considered the following aspects while testing
Servers — I picked out VPNs that have multiple servers in the UK and Ireland since Sky Sports is geo-restricted to only those countries. Speeds — I conducted rigorous speed tests to determine which VPNs gave me the best speeds on nearby and distant servers. Compatibility — I picked out VPNs that are compatible with the most-used platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, smart TVs, routers, and more. Device connections — The VPNs on my list support multiple simultaneous device connections, a feature I looked out for during my testing. Security — I chose VPNs that provide airtight security and have robust privacy policies without compromising on speed.
Quick Guide: 4 Easy Steps to Access Sky Sports From Anywhere
Stream Sky Sports with ExpressVPN
Start Streaming Sky Sports With a Reliable VPN
Sky Sports is a geo-restricted streaming service available to users in the UK and Ireland. If you’re a resident in those countries traveling abroad for work or leisure, you can’t access the service. However, using a VPN is the easiest and most secure way of accessing Sky Sports from abroad. My team and I don’t condone the wrongful use of a VPN or violation of any platform’s terms and conditions. Keep in mind that watching Sky Sports from abroad using a VPN violates its terms of use. We don’t condone violating its terms and conditions. After thoroughly testing various top VPNs in the industry, I concluded that ExpressVPN is the best for accessing Sky Sports. It has an extensive and superior server network that provides blazing-fast speeds even on long-distance servers without compromising on security. You can buy ExpressVPN in confidence as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
