How to Watch the NFL 2024 Season Online With a VPN

Updated on: March 26, 2024
Fact Checked by Hazel Shaw
Eric Goldstein Eric Goldstein
Updated on: March 26, 2024

Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch the NFL 2024 Season Online with a VPN:

  • Step 1. Download and install a VPN that works with streaming platforms that broadcast live NFL games. I recommend ExpressVPN because it works with all of the top NFL streaming services (as well as 100+ other streaming apps), maintains really fast speeds, and is very easy to use.
  • Step 2. Connect to a VPN server. Scan the server menu and choose a server in a location where the NFL is available. If it’s not available in your location, you can theoretically use the VPN to watch the games. However, this may constitute copyright infringement (which we at SafetyDetectives don’t condone).
  • Step 3. Log into your favorite NFL streaming site or app. Now, it’s time to grab your favorite snack and beverage and pick which game you want to watch.

I was really fired up to catch one of the best rivalries in the NFL — the Baltimore Ravens versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I didn’t want to watch the entire game online without protecting my connection, so I started looking for a good NFL VPN.

A VPN secures your traffic by encrypting it and protects your privacy by changing your IP address. This means that, in addition to safeguarding your online presence, a VPN can also help you watch NFL games that aren’t available in your location. But this goes against the Terms of Service of most streaming services and might even be considered copyright infringement, so I don’t recommend it.

There are literally tons of VPNs out there, so how do you know which ones are the best for streaming NFL games? My team and I saved you the work and tested dozens of the top VPNs on the market in 2024 with popular NFL streaming sites in our locations, and we were able to securely watch virtually any NFL game we wanted with all of the VPNs on this list.

Try ExpressVPN Now

Best VPNs for Watching the NFL 2024 Season

  • 1.🥇ExpressVPN — Best VPN for watching the NFL 2024 season (super-fast speeds for streaming in HD).
  • 2.🥈CyberGhost VPN — Fast VPN with dedicated streaming servers optimized for watching NFL games.
  • 3.🥉NordVPN — Secure VPN with very good streaming support for following your favorite NFL teams.
  • 4. Surfshark — Great for large families (with unlimited connections) & good streaming speeds.
  • 5. PrivateVPN — Great VPN for NFL fans who are new to VPNs (with beginner-friendly apps).

Disclaimer: SafetyDetectives neither supports nor condones copyright infringement. The VPNs mentioned below don’t log any of your online activities, including how and where you watch NFL games. We recommend you always make sure to use VPNs in compliance with all guidelines.

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching the NFL

Approved by our experts
ExpressVPN
Approved by our experts
Most readers pick ExpressVPN
Servers in countries
105
Key Features
Industry-leading speeds
Number of devices
8
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
expressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching NFL games anywhere because it works with almost every streaming platform that airs live NFL games, has some of the fastest speeds in the industry, and is very secure.

ExpressVPN is excellent for streaming and works with over 100 streaming services, including sites that broadcast NFL games like Peacock, Paramount+, Fox Sports, Hulu, Amazon Prime, DAZN, and ESPN. Plus, it has servers in 105 countries (including 15+ locations in different regions of the US), so most users can find a server in their location.

In my tests, ExpressVPN barely reduced my speeds. I didn’t miss a single second of NFL action — games loaded quickly, and there was no buffering or interruptions during both live and recorded games in HD.

I like that ExpressVPN lets you stream NFL games from many different devices. Not only does it support major operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, but it also works on smart TVs, Amazon Fire Stick, and even routers, which means any device connected to your router can connect to ExpressVPN’s servers. It also has a feature called MediaStreamer that’s designed for streaming on devices that normally can’t use VPNs, like some smart TVs.

When it comes to security, ExpressVPN is hands-down one of the best. In addition to industry-standard VPN security features, it includes full built-in leak protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and its no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times. You also get RAM-only servers (meaning no data is stored on the hard drive) and perfect forward secrecy, which changes your encryption keys after each session to prevent future and past keys from getting hacked.

ExpressVPN has plans that start at $6.67 / month. While I know this is a little higher than other competitors, ExpressVPN is 100% worth the money — it often comes with extra months for free, plus it’s ranked #1 on our list of the top 10 VPNs in 2024. ExpressVPN covers each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN: Save 49% on the 12-month plan + FREE months!
Get a full 15 months (12 months + 3 free months) at a 49% discount.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Dedicated Streaming Servers & Very Fast Speeds

Servers in countries
100
Key Features
Special streaming servers
Number of devices
7
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
Up to 45 days
cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost VPN has really fast speeds for streaming NFL games, and it also comes with 100+ specialized servers that are optimized to work with 50+ streaming apps in 20+ countries.

I was very impressed with CyberGhost VPN’s speeds. The HD quality was crisp and there was no buffering or interruptions when I connected to a US server to stream the Giants vs. Cowboys game. However, CyberGhost VPN is not as fast as ExpressVPN.

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers work with many streaming sites that air NFL games, including YouTube, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Fox Sports, and more. That being said, I prefer the convenience that ExpressVPN on distant US servers, as I experienced some minor slowdown when connecting to servers on the other side of the US (it took up to 3 seconds for videos to start but there were no delays once they got started).

As far as security goes, CyberGhost comes with RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and DNS leak protection. Plus, its no-logs policy has been independently audited and confirmed, and it issues regular transparency reports that prove the provider doesn’t store or share user data.

CyberGhost VPN has plans that start as low as $2.03 / month and typically offers free months on its longest plan. The long-term plans are covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee, while the shortest plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost: Save 84% on the 24-month plan + FREE months!
You can save 84% if you act right now.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

🥉3. NordVPN — Great Streaming Features

Servers in countries
111
Key Features
Great malware blocker
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
nordvpn.com

NordVPN works with multiple NFL streaming platforms. I was able to watch NFL games on Fox Sports, ESPN, Peacock, Hulu, and DAZN US. My colleague in the UK tested it with Sky Sports, DAZN UK, and BBC iPlayer and confirmed he had no issues watching NFL games when connected to NordVPN’s servers.

NordVPN isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN, but it still performed well in my tests. NFL games took only a few seconds to load, and I could stream live and recorded games in HD.

I like that NordVPN supports several devices, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and smart TVs. You can even configure NordVPN on your router and connect it to your gaming consoles. All its apps are rich in features and make watching NFL games a breeze.

I’m a big fan of NordVPN’s security and privacy features. The VPN has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and verified several times. It also provides RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection (DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC), and it has Threat Protection, which blocks connections to malicious sites that imitate NFL streaming platforms.

NordVPN offers plans starting from $3.09 / month. It also backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN: Save 69% on the Ultimate plan + FREE months!
You can save 69% if you act right now.

Read our full NordVPN review

4. Surfshark — Reliable and Affordable VPN for Large Families

Servers in countries
100
Key Features
User-friendly apps
Number of devices
Unlimited
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
surfshark.com

Surfshark works with several platforms that stream NFL games, including ESPN, Sky Sports, Peacock, Paramount+, Hulu, DAZN, and more.

It also allows unlimited connections, meaning you can use it on as many devices as you want. I think this makes it a good pick if everyone in your house needs a good VPN for streaming the NFL season.

What’s more, it works on most major devices and offers a smart DNS tool if your smart TV doesn’t support VPN apps.

I was impressed with Surfshark’s speeds. The VPN might not be as fast as ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN, but I was still able to stream NFL games with only limited interruptions and buffering.

I also like that Surfshark’s apps are intuitive and easy to navigate. The interface is simple to navigate, and I like how the features and settings come with helpful explanations. I also like how the desktop apps allow you to easily check your VPN IP address to see whether your location is hidden or not.

Surfshark offers affordable plans starting at $2.29 / month, and all purchases are backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review

5. PrivateVPN — Great for New Users & Good for Streaming

Servers in countries
63
Key Features
Works in restrictive nations
Number of devices
10
OS compatibility
Money-back guarantee
30 Days
privatevpn.com

PrivateVPN has a minimalistic design that makes it great for NFL fans who have never used a VPN. It’s extremely easy to navigate all of the apps and connect to a server, and since there aren’t many options under the settings menu, PrivateVPN is really simple to use.

One of the best things for beginners is the Simple View mode, which keeps functionality to a minimum (the Advanced View gives users more customization options like changing encryption levels and switching protocols).

PrivateVPN works with most NFL streaming sites, like ESPN, YouTube, Peacock, and even DAZN, but I was unable to watch NFL games on CBC and Paramount+ — ExpressVPN works with both of these services.

When I watched NFL games with PrivateVPN, my speeds were only a bit slower than normal. Still, it isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN. That said, I like that PrivateVPN displays the latency of each server, which is how long it takes the internet signal to reach the server. This helps you choose the fastest server — and PrivateVPN uses an easy color-coded system (green for good, yellow for medium, and red for bad) to identify the fastest servers.

PrivateVPN is really cheap — the best-valued plan costs just $2.00 / month. All plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review

Comparison of the Best VPNs for Watching the NFL 2024 Season

VPN Starting Price Number of countries Number of connections Split-tunneling Money-back guarantee
🥇1. ExpressVPN $6.67 / month 105 8 30 days
🥈2. CyberGhost VPN $2.03 / month 100 7 45 days (long-term plans only)
🥉3. NordVPN $3.09 / month 111 10 30 days
4. Surfshark $2.29 / month 100 Unlimited 30 days
5. PrivateVPN $2.00 / month 63 10 30 days

How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching the NFL 2024 Season

  • Find a VPN that works with NFL streaming services. With so many streaming services showing NFL games, the VPN must be able to work with multiple streaming services that broadcast NFL games. In our tests, my colleagues and I were able to watch live NFL games in our locations with all 5 of the VPNs listed here.
  • Look for a VPN that works with other streaming sites. All of the VPNs I recommend also work with other streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. ExpressVPN is my favorite, as it works with 100+ streaming apps.
  • Pick a VPN with fast speeds. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process, and there’s nothing worse than having your game buffer in the middle of an amazing play. However, all of the VPNs on this list maintain fast speeds across all of their servers so you won’t miss a minute of the action (ExpressVPN provided me with the fastest speeds).
  • Confirm that the VPN provides support for your devices. Most premium VPNs support a wide range of devices, and also come with user-friendly apps that make it simple to connect to a server and start streaming NFL matches.
  • Make sure the VPN has strong security. All of the VPNs I recommend include industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch to prevent data leaks, and a strict no-logs policy that prevents the VPN from logging your online traffic.
  • Pick a VPN that’s affordable. All of the VPNs listed here offer budget-friendly pricing plans, accept multiple forms of payment, and back each purchase with a generous day money-back guarantee.

How to Watch NFL Games on Any Device

PC or Mac

  1. Choose a good NFL streaming VPN. My favorite VPN for streaming live NFL games is ExpressVPN — it works with all of the streaming sites that broadcast NFL games (including Hulu, Amazon Prime, and NFL Game Pass), has lightning-fast speeds, and is very easy to use.
  2. Download and install the VPN. Follow the installation wizard’s instructions, and it should only take a couple of minutes to complete the process.
  3. Open the VPN app and connect to a server. Now, open the streaming app and enjoy the live games of your favorite teams.

Smartphone or Tablet

  1. Choose a good streaming VPN with iOS and Android apps. ExpressVPN is an excellent choice because it has top-notch mobile apps.
  2. Download and install the VPN. Simply follow the installation instructions, and the VPN should be installed within minutes.
  3. Connect to a VPN server, and open your favorite NFL streaming app. Now, you won’t miss a single snap, tackle, or touchdown.

Smart TV

  1. Choose a good VPN with smart TV apps and router support. All VPNs on this list work with many popular smart TVs, but ExpressVPN has the best smart TV apps out there and also comes with an user-friendly router app.
  2. On Android TVs: Download the VPN app and install it like any other app.
  3. On non-Android TVs: Install the VPN on your router. Follow the VPN’s instructions to install the VPN on your home’s router (ExpressVPN has an easy-to-use router app). As long as your smart TV is connected to the router, it will use the VPN.
  4. Connect to a server and log into your go-to NFL streaming service. You’re all set to watch all of the games on Sunday, as well as the key matchups on Monday and Thursday nights.

Amazon Fire Stick

  1. Choose a great streaming VPN with an Amazon Fire Stick app. I like ExpressVPN because it has an easy-to-use Amazon Fire Stick app.
  2. Download and install the VPN. It should only take a few minutes to complete the process.
  3. Open the app and connect to a server. Now all you need to do is invite your friends over to watch a full slate of NFL games on Sunday.

Gaming Console

  1. Choose a VPN compatible with your router. You can check the list of supported routers on most premium VPN providers’ websites. ExpressVPN provides a user-friendly router app and step-by-step installation instructions.
  2. Install the VPN on your router. Follow the VPN’s instructions, and connect to a local server. Once the VPN is configured on your router, all of the devices in your home that are connected to the router will use the VPN.
  3. Log into your favorite NFL streaming app. That’s all — now you’re ready to watch your favorite NFL teams battle each other.

What Streaming Services Stream Live NFL Games?

  • NFL Game Pass International. The NFL’s official streaming service offers streaming of live games for international users (US viewers are only able to watch replays of games).
  • Hulu. In addition to its other movies and shows, Hulu includes live NFL streams from Fox, ESPN, CBS, NBC, FS1, and other regional networks.
  • Paramount+. This is CBS’s official streaming platform that offers live NFL games through its Live TV streaming service.
  • BBC iPlayer. Residents in the UK can watch live games for free.
  • DAZN. This is a popular streaming site where you can get the NFL Game Pass International and watch all playoffs and season games. You can check out our top VPN recommendations for DAZN here.
  • YouTube TV. Offers streams from networks such as CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC, and also has an add-on package for NFL Redzone.

Disclaimer: A VPN could, hypothetically, help you watch NFL games available in other regions, but this action is against most streaming services’ Terms and Conditions and might even be seen as copyright infringement. The VPNs listed here uphold strict no-logging policies, leaving it up to you to use the VPN responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best VPN for Live Streaming NFL Games?

The best VPN for live streaming NFL games is ExpressVPN. It works with all NFL streaming sites, has the fastest speeds on the market, excellent security and privacy features, and very intuitive apps.

Where can I watch all NFL Games?

There are many streaming sites that broadcast live NFL games, but the best platform for international viewers is NFL Game Pass International. Other top streaming sites include ESPN, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, DAZN, FoxSports, Paramount+, and NBC/Peacock. ExpressVPN is the best for watching NFL games, as it works with all of these streaming sites.

Can I watch NFL games with a free VPN?

Maybe, but most free VPNs don’t work with the streaming services that air NFL games. Also, I typically don’t recommend that you use a free VPN, as they are slow, have buggy apps, have small server networks, and lack essential security features.

Instead, you should purchase a premium VPN like ExpressVPN — it works with all of the major streaming apps that air live NFL games, has servers in 105 countries, maintains very fast speeds, and provides excellent security features.

How can I watch NFL outside the US?

If you’re not in the US, you can watch the entire 2024 NFL season on DAZN. It’s currently the only streaming site where you can purchase the NFL Game Pass International and watch all playoffs and regular-season games in your location.

If you want to secure your connection while watching the NFL games, I recommend getting a good VPN. ExpressVPN works with DAZN and has excellent speeds, so you’ll never have to deal with any buffering or slowdowns during your favorite matchups.

Best VPNs for Watching the NFL 2024 Season — Final Score:

Our Rank
Our Score
Best Deal
1
9.8
save 49%
2
9.4
save 84%
3
9.2
save 69%
4
9.0
save 81%
5
8.8
save 85%
The listings featured on this site are from companies from which this site receives compensation and some are co-owned by our parent company. This influence: Rank and manner in which listings are presented. 
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About the Author
Eric Goldstein
Eric Goldstein
Chief Editor
Updated on: March 26, 2024

About the Author

Eric Goldstein is Chief Editor at SafetyDetectives. As an internet security researcher and IT journalist, he has over 2 years of experience writing and editing articles and blog posts about VPNs, antiviruses, password managers, parental controls, and identity protection products and tools. In addition, Eric writes and edits news stories focused on cybersecurity issues for SafetyDetectives. He also spent 20+ years as a sportswriter for multiple media outlets and served in a communications role for a national corporation. When he's not working, he can be found spending time with his family, working out, and watching his favorite sports teams.