Since Sling TV is geo-blocked outside the US, you’ll also need to connect to a VPN server in the US. Many VPNs claim to work with Sling TV but actually don’t. Some slow down your internet speed so much that you can’t stream anything without buffering every few minutes. After testing over 40 VPNs, I recommend ExpressVPN for Sling TV because it’s super-fast and unblocks the streaming platform easily. It’s risk-free to get ExpressVPN for Sling TV as you can get a full refund within 30 days if you don’t feel it’s right for you. Watch Sling TV with ExpressVPN
In a Rush? Here’s How to Watch Sling TV From Anywhere
Watch Sling TV with ExpressVPN
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Sling TV
Sling TV, similar to many other streaming services, utilizes a geo-blocking feature. This feature safeguards Sling TV’s copyrighted content by restricting access to individuals outside the United States. Even if you possess a Sling TV account within the US, both the applications and the website will be inaccessible when you venture abroad. Sling TV knows your location by examining your IP address. Outside the US, you’ll be connected to a local ISP which will assign an IP address from the country. This triggers Sling TV’s geo-block. When you connect to a VPN server in a US city, it will hide your real IP address and assign your device a new one. The VPN will also encrypt and reroute your traffic as if it originated from the US. This will signal to Sling TV that your connection doesn’t need to be restricted. If subscribing to Sling TV from outside the US without an American credit card, both a VPN and a PayPal account are required to buy a Sling TV gift card. Sling TV doesn’t allow using a VPN to bypass geo-blocks just like most streaming services. It’s against the platform’s terms of use and an infringement of copyright laws. Your account can be banned if caught and you can be prosecuted. I don’t condone breaking any rules or laws so always check what’s within your rights before connecting to a VPN server.
Best VPNs to Watch Sling TV (Updated 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN to Unblock and Watch Sling TV Without Buffers While Staying Anonymous
Key Features: ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN for Sling TV as it has many top quality features for seamless streaming on the platform. It showed the fastest speeds during tests and all the US servers connected to unblocked the platform easily. ExpressVPN also has a technology-backed no-log policy to protect your privacy effectively. As a top VPN, it kept my speed above 90Mbps on a local server and ExpressVPN showed the fastest speeds during multiple tests. Even its servers in Phoenix 9,000 miles away only reduced my baseline speed by 12%. It’s the lowest drop I’ve seen among VPNs since distant servers require longer for data to travel. It’s fast enough to watch live sports without missing a touchdown or slam dunk on Sling TV, especially if you’re traveling somewhere far from the US.
You can access your Sling TV account the instant you connect to one of 20+ ExpressVPN servers in the US. But since the VPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries, ExpressVPN can also unblock other US and global streaming platforms from anywhere. Some that were tested include: Privacy is another area where ExpressVPN outdid the other VPNs. Its no-log policy is guaranteed by TrustedServer technology and an audit by PwC Switzerland. It prevents the servers you use in the US from storing your Sling TV streaming data. The RAM-based servers it uses have volatile memories and can’t save information. Both Sling TV and ExpressVPN work on Android and iOS devices among others, so you can watch a few episodes of your favorite show on the go. Plus, you can connect 5 devices at a time, maximize the number of streams Sling TV allows, and still have space for more. When I used all the connections, I could stream movies and watch YouTube videos at the same time without performance issues. If you often use a mobile device to watch Sling TV away from home, ExpressVPN has the Lightway protocol which uses less battery than others like OpenVPN. Lightway also keeps you connected to the same server in the US if your WiFi or internet connection is interrupted. So, you can resume watching Sling TV without exposing your real IP address to the platform. The only thing that’s not great about ExpressVPN is that it’s quite pricey. But I find it fair since it’s better than all the other VPNs I’ve tested. It saves a lot of time from buffering and changing servers to find one that works consistently with Sling TV. For the best value, I suggest getting the 1-year plan for $6.67 per month. Like all other ExpressVPN plans, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like how it works with Sling TV, it’s easy to get a refund. I asked an agent via the VPN’s live chat system and got instant approval. The money was back in my account 4 days later. Get ExpressVPN for Sling TV
2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Sling TV Streaming Server Guarantees Access From Anywhere
Key Features: CyberGhost makes it easy to access your Sling TV account with an optimized server. It’s tested and updated regularly by the VPN so it’s guaranteed to work. With many other VPNs, it takes several tries with different servers to find one that unblocks Sling TV. CyberGhost has prevented this by optimizing and maintaining a dedicated server. Of the VPN’s 9.500+ global servers, at least 1450 are located in the US. I found out that besides Sling TV, CyberGhost has streaming-optimized servers for other US and non-US-based platforms around the world like: When I tested the VPN’s limit of 7 devices, CyberGhost had no problems handling several high-bandwidth activities simultaneously, including streaming. The VPN also has easy-to-install apps for all major devices. It took me less than 3 minutes to download the app to my Windows computer and connect to the Sling TV server. Free WiFi in airports and cafes is hard to resist when you have a long wait but they’re risky. Hackers could be lurking to intercept your connection and steal your data. If you often stream Sling TV using public hotspots, CyberGhost has WiFi protection to make sure you don’t connect before your VPN is activated. In terms of speed, CyberGhost’s optimized server for Sling TV only came second to ExpressVPN. This is still impressive considering it’s above 80Mbps on a 10,000-mile connection. Since it’s well beyond the minimum speed required for streaming in UHD, episodes of The Last of Us loaded quickly and didn’t buffer throughout. Although several CyberGhost’s regular servers in the US can also access Sling TV, they are sometimes slow. It’s obvious when you’re located more than 3,000 miles away from the US. So, if you plan to watch Sling TV and you’re connected to a standard server, you’ll have to switch to the optimized one, which works great at any distance. Plus, it only takes a few seconds to change servers. If you’d like to get CyberGhost for Sling TV, I recommend the 2-year + 3 months plan. It only costs $2.11 per month and has a longer money-back guarantee period of 45 days compared to the short-term plans. Getting a refund is also hassle-free. I sent a message via live chat and received confirmation within 2 minutes. A week later, I got my money. Get CyberGhost for Sling TV
3. Private Internet Access — Servers in All 50 US States to Watch Local Channels on Sling TV
Key Features: PIA unblocks Sling TV’s local news and sports channels in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and other cities with servers in every US state. The NFL and NBA games are blacked out in some US states and outside the country. Furthermore, Sling TV doesn’t stream FOX and NBC in some places. So if you’re out of town during a major game, you won’t miss them with PIA. The regular servers can access Sling TV’s local channels but PIA also has streaming-optimized servers to unblock international platforms. These are available in the US, UK, Australia, and 5 other countries. Although the streaming servers aren’t dedicated to specific platforms, they unblocked: Both PIA’s streaming servers in the US maintained fast speeds to watch Sling TV. The movie Babylon took a few seconds to load but played without interruptions once it started. PIA also offers unlimited bandwidth so you won’t be restricted to watching just a few episodes. I also didn’t notice slower speeds after a few hours of streaming and my speed stayed above 50Mbps. Additionally, PIA’s split tunneling feature allowed me to use a VPN connection and bypass it simultaneously. So if you’re watching Sling TV from abroad, you won’t have to terminate the VPN connection to get directions to a local destination. The traffic from the Sling TV app will go through the VPN and your browser will direct your searches to the local web. You can use PIA with almost every device you own including mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. Downloading its app only takes about 2 minutes. It allows a maximum of Unlimited connections and it works perfectly even when you’re using all your Sling TV streams. Unfortunately, if you travel to China or the UAE, PIA doesn’t have any obfuscated servers to work in those countries. It’s better to get ExpressVPN, which works everywhere. But PIA works great for all other countries that don’t block VPNs and you can watch Sling TV without interruptions. You can get PIA for just $2.11 per month with the 2-year + 3 months plan. You’ll have 30 days to ask for a refund and commit to the purchase. I put the money-back guarantee to the test by sending an email and received a reply approving the request within 12 hours. PIA returned my money 13 business days later. Get PIA for Sling TV
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 — Stealth Mode Bypasses Anti-VPN Firewalls to Access Sling TV
Key Features: PrivateVPN gets past firewalls that block VPNs in countries like China and the UAE. The Stealth Mode makes VPN traffic look like regular connections to anti-VPN mechanisms so you can watch Sling TV from anywhere. Just be sure to download the VPN app before entering these countries. All the servers tested in Phoenix, Miami, and Buffalo unblocked Sling TV without problems. But there are 9 other locations in the US to choose from as well. PrivateVPN’s servers are also strong enough to bypass geo-blocks in other US and international streaming services like: I also like that PrivateVPN automatically connects to its server after I select a location or country. That’s one step less than other VPNs where you have to select a location and then hit the power button. Besides that, PrivateVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. I only tried 8 at a time and the apps coped well with my streaming, browsing, and downloading. Initially, I was concerned by PrivateVPN’s smaller network compared to its peers. With only 200+ global servers and 12 locations in the US, I thought they’d be crowded and therefore too slow for streaming Sling TV. But I was pleasantly surprised when my speed stayed in the 50Mbps range when I connected to the server in Chicago during peak hours. This is fast enough to watch Sling TV without shows lagging. This is one of the best monthly VPNs on this list if you’re looking for a short-term plan. But if you want to pay less per month, the 3-year plan is only $2.00. This is also the cheapest plan you’ll find on this list for Sling TV. If you change your mind after buying, PrivateVPN offers a trustworthy 30-day money-back guarantee. I was refunded a week after sending an email. Get PrivateVPN for Sling TV
7. IPVanish — Watch Sling TV on Unlimited Devices Without Ever Getting Logged Out
Key Features: IPVanish lets you stream Sling TV and work on other things on all your devices. It saved me from getting logged out and forgetting to reconnect all the time. I tested 7 devices with IPVanish and all of them stayed connected the entire time I needed a VPN. The servers in Charlotte and Minneapolis had no trouble unblocking Sling TV from abroad. There were no IP leaks for the duration of the test so the connection to Sling TV was never lost. PrivateVPN’s 200+ servers in the US and worldwide were also able to unblock Netflix’s library in the US and other major streaming services like: Even though IPVanish is not the fastest VPN on this list, it’s capable of streaming UHD shows like Yellowjackets without buffering on Sling TV. Even on a long-distance connection, IPVanish maintained speeds above 30Mbps. This is a good speed to watch live news and sports without missing the important bits. The only thing I didn’t like about IPVanish is that its monthly plan is not entitled to a money-back guarantee. Fortunately, the 2-year plan is IPVanish’s best deal. It’s only $3.33 per month and you’ll have 30 days to decide if you’ll stay with the VPN. If you choose not to, just cancel the subscription on your account dashboard. Mine was processed automatically and I got a refund a week later. Get IPVanish for Sling TV
How To Pay for Sling TV Outside the US (with Paypal)
Subscribing to Sling TV without an American credit card is easy with a PayPal account and a VPN using these steps: Try CyberGhost with Sling TV A VPN is also necessary to encrypt your traffic and keep your real IP address hidden if you often connect your mobile device to public WiFi to stream. This is because public hotspots lack security and hackers often exploit this to steal data from unsuspecting users. I don’t condone using a VPN to break any rules or laws. Always use a VPN to protect your privacy and security to avoid becoming a victim of cyber crimes. Before connecting to a VPN server anywhere, research the risks and laws of the land to avoid being prosecuted. First, free VPNs cap bandwidth so it only work as long as the number of users is small. Once it exceeds the limit, the connection becomes slow for everyone, which affects streaming speed. On top of that, free VPNs don’t have as many servers in the US as the premium VPNs on this list. The few they do have to get overcrowded very quickly with traffic from all over the world. When this happens, the servers become considerably sluggish and shows will begin to buffer every few seconds on Sling TV. Another thing free VPNs limit is how much data you can use. With numbers like 500Mb per month, you can’t get much streaming done to justify what you pay for Sling TV’s subscription. If you must use a free VPN, get CyberGhost for Sling TV and cancel your subscription before the 45-day money-back guarantee is up. This way, you’ll enjoy all the protection and perks of a premium VPN at no cost to you.
How You Can Watch Sling TV Outside America
It’s possible to subscribe to Sling TV outside the US using the streaming service’s gift card. But it requires a PayPal account and a good VPN that can unblock Sling TV. Since the VPN has to be connected to a US server as long as you’re abroad and streaming a show, it also has to be fast. Most of the VPNs I tested were slow and incredibly cumbersome. I had to try several different US servers before one would work with Sling TV. Some VPNs took a long time just to connect to a server, especially when it’s thousands of miles away. This is why I only recommend the VPNs on this list to watch Sling TV outside the US. Of them all, ExpressVPN is the best because of its blazing-fast speeds. If you get ExpressVPN for Sling TV and don’t feel it’s right for you, it’s easy to get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
