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How to Watch ESPN+ in the UK in 2024

Last updated: October 26, 2021

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ESPN+ is home to all your favourite sports, including basketball, football, soccer, golf, tennis, and more.

The problem is, if you are trying to watch ESPN+ in the UK, you will quickly realize that all your favourite sports are blocked from access. In fact, if you set out to access ESPN+ from the United Kingdom, instead of your sports services, all you will see is this annoying error message:

Because ESPN+ sports content is geo-restricted to users accessing the site from a selected location — the US — it can be tricky to figure out how to watch ESPN+ in UK.

But, for true sports fans, defeat is simply not an answer; nothing will stand in the way of watching ESPN+ in the UK.

Thankfully, it is actually pretty simple to follow your favourite team from anywhere in the world — despite ESPN+’s restrictions. By using a reputable VPN service, you can watch ESPN+ without a US zip code as long as you are connected to the Internet.

Keep reading for details on how to watch ESPN sports using a Virtual Private Network in 2024.

In a Hurry? Here’s How to Watch ESPN+ in the UK

Why You Need a VPN to Watch ESPN+ in the UK

Because content distribution rights vary from region to region, some countries are licensed to air content while others are prohibited.

Since ESPN+ is restricted to user access within the United States, people within the UK will not be allowed to access their American sports, or any other ESPN sports content, from this blocked location.

When you are surfing the web, your IP address is used for identification purposes, giving each user a numeric label and a location on the Internet.

When you use a VPN, your actual IP address and location are masked. If you connect to a VPN server in the US, your IP address and location will then reflect this US server location instead of your real location, slipping under the radar of your service provider and the ESPN IP detection system and giving you access to the sports you were craving.

The problem is, not all VPNs will succeed at getting past these blocks. Only the vetted, reputable VPN services are strong enough to access blocked sites reliably and consistently in 2024.

How to Choose the Right VPN for ESPN+ 

When you are looking for a reliable VPN app for accessing the ESPN+ streaming service, here are some of the most important criteria to keep in mind:

☑️ Security: Anytime you are online, security and privacy should be on your mind. It is vital that you use a VPN that offers military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and a Kill Switch to kill your connection in the event that your VPN cuts out suddenly.

☑️ Speed: Speed is an absolute necessity when watching any sport online. If you choose a VPN that has inadequate connection speed, you will miss the key moments because of annoying buffering or lag.

☑️ Server Network: Your VPN’s network of servers is an important detail to pay attention to if you want to watch content that is restricted to particular regions. If you are looking to access a channel or website that is only available in the US, the VPN you choose must have servers available in the US. It is also important to choose a VPN with servers in other countries that offer services you will want to access.

☑️ Compatibility: Depending on how you are planning to connect to the ESPN+ service, you will want to be sure that your VPN has apps compatible with your devices so that you can easily install these apps and watch your sports with no glitches. It is also good to use a VPN that allows users to connect more than one device to a single user subscription at once.

☑️ Service: If you are ready to watch the big game only to find that you can’t figure out how to find an adequate server, it is important to have a VPN with 24/7 live chat support to troubleshoot this issue quickly so you don’t miss the sports action.

Our go-to VPN for watching any sport online is ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN checks all of the boxes as far as important criteria and consistently allows us to watch our content with super-fast speeds and connectivity.

3 Best VPNs for Watching ESPN+ in the UK  

Here are the 3 top recommended VPN providers for watching ESPN+ sports service from the UK:

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our top VPN service for accessing blocked sites from anywhere in the world.

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers located in more than 94 countries around the globe — including plenty of US servers that will adequately help users unblock ESPN+with ease from outside the United States.

ExpressVPN is known for its super-fast speeds, so it goes without saying that ExpressVPN unblocks ESPN content without annoying buffering and lag during the important moments that you will not want to miss.

ExpressVPN has also been proven to reliably unblock other popular geo-restricted streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

The ExpressVPN app can be used on all major devices and platforms, including MacOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux; and you can download the ExpressVPN app and use it simultaneously on up to 5 devices with a single VPN account, so you can watch your favorite sport channels while your family streams their beloved blocked TV shows all at once.

You may pay a few dollars more for this premium VPN, but, in the end, we feel that this service is worth the extra price. ExpressVPN’s live chat support will also make sure that you never have to search for the best servers for your needs since they can give you their recommendations in seconds.

Pros:

  • Broad server network
  • Fastest speeds
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • Military-grade encryption

Cons:

  • More expensive than competitors

2. NordVPN

Devices compatible with NordVPN

NordVPN is a great VPN choice for unblocking your favorite sports streaming service from the UK, or anywhere outside the US.

NordVPN offers over 5,200+ servers in more than 60 locations around the globe, and it is easy to connect to and use this app whether you are a VPN novice or an experienced user.

If you don’t want to search for the servers that work best with your sporting sites, you don’t even need to pick up the phone to get in touch with customer support. NordVPN offers users free access to 24/7 live chat support with a subscription, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you want to access college football on ESPN while your family watches other popular blocked streaming services, you can do this with NordVPN’s 6-device connections on a single user account, so you can use your app for streaming sports while your family watches Disney+ videos all at once.

Pros:

  • Large number of servers
  • Great speeds
  • 30-day refund guarantee
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 6 simultaneous devices

Cons:

  • Advanced security can decrease speed

Devices compatible with Surfshark

Surfshark is a great virtual private network that is as close to free as you can get. For only $2.49/month, users can sign in and access over 3,200 Surfshark servers in more than 65 countries.

A single Surfshark subscription allows users an unlimited number of connections at once, so you can sign on to all of the blocked service names, like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and ESPN+, all at once.

So, if this service is cheaper than its competitors and allows more devices connections, why is it not in our number one slot?

Well, while Surfshark is a solid option, it will sometimes take more trial and error to find the servers that will work without buffering, or that will bypass geo-restrictions at all.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Unlimited device connections
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons:

  • Slower speeds
  • Less reliable connectivity
  • Some buffering

Can I Use a Free VPN to Unblock ESPN+ in the UK?

While it may sound tempting to use a free VPN, we would strongly urge you not to do so.

While free services may save you a few dollars, they add to your frustration and often waste a lot of your time with futile trial and error.

Free VPNs simply do not have the resources necessary to stay ahead of the blocks imposed by popular sites. On top of this, free services have been known to actually compromise user security and privacy by selling private user information and IP addresses to third parties for a dime.

To watch the games you are craving, our advice is to sign up for a tried-and-tested provider, like ExpressVPN. Because ExpressVPN offers a money-back guarantee for 30 days, you can sign up and use it on a trial basis for the first month.

How Much Does ESPN+ Cost?

Streaming sports on ESPN+ is a luxury that does not come free because the respective owners of the sporting content charge streaming sites to air the content they own.

To use these services, you can either subscribe to a basic plan for $6.99/month, or an annual plan for $69.99/year, which comes out to be a decent saving.

You can also opt for the Disney Plus Bundle option, which gives users access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ at a great bundled price. For this bundle of three services, you only have to pay $13.99 per month, which is a true deal.

In what countries can I watch ESPN+?

While ESPN+ is only available in America, you can actually stream ESPN+ sports from anywhere in the world, as long as you are connected to your VPN’s server in the US.

Content to Watch on ESPN+

There is a whole host of content available on ESPN+.

On this platform, you can catch the best American sports, including MLB, NHL, College Football, Major League Soccer, and both live and pre-recorded shows.

You can also catch Rugby, Tennis, and other international sports programming on ESPN+, as well as original movies.

ESPN+ Compatible Devices

If you are planning on watching football, soccer, basketball, or any other sports streaming content on ESPN+ from the UK, you can watch on your mobile device, tablet, Fire TV, or simply on your laptop or computer.

FAQs

Can you get ESPN+ in the UK?
While streaming is typically restricted to users within America, users in the UK can sign up and stream ESPN+ simply by using a reputable VPN service.
Is ESPN Plus worth getting?
Definitely. If you are looking to watch the best sports from anywhere (using VPN), this service is a great option!
Can you watch ESPN on Amazon Prime?
Sure. When you subscribe to a cable provider, you can catch any of the ESPN channels.

Conclusion

ESPN+ has a whole host of sporting content that appeals to a wide audience of viewers. Although it is not available from everywhere, it can be if you are using a VPN.

If you want to try ExpressVPN, all you have to do is go to the ExpressVPN website and sign up. You can enter your payment details, create an account, and access ExpressVPN for up to 30 days with a money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.

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