How to Watch NBC Live Outside the USA (or Anywhere) in 2023

Between SNL, Hannibal, and the latest sports events, there was so much I wanted to watch on NBC. However, geoblocks prevented me from streaming them while traveling outside of the US. But, I know an easy solution that can help you access any NBC show you like from anywhere.

A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to watch NBC outside its licensed region by masking your true location, so you appear as though you are in another country. Once you connect to a VPN, you can log in to your OTT or cable subscription service and start watching shows like Bel-Air right away.

My team and I tested 100 VPNs to find the best ones for watching NBC. ExpressVPN is my favorite because of its fast speeds and a large number of reliable US servers. Since it has a money-back guarantee, you can try it risk-free for 30 days. You can get a full refund if it’s not for you.

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Why You Need a VPN to Watch NBC

Due to licensing and distribution restrictions, NBC uses geoblocks to prevent people with IP addresses located outside the US from streaming its content. Every time you try to log in, NBC checks your physical location by looking at your IP address. If you are not located in the US, you can’t access NBC. Instead, you’ll get the following error message:

A VPN assigns you a new IP address from the country of your choice. That way, you appear as if you're in a different region. So if you connect to a US server, NBC will see the VPN's US IP address and will grant you access to its content.

All of my recommendations have server locations in the US and fast speeds for streaming NBC.

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Best VPNs to Watch NBC From Anywhere in 2023

1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast Speeds to Watch NBC in HD

During testing, ExpressVPN gave me the fastest speeds out of all the VPNs I tried for watching NBC. When I logged into NBC, I had no issues with buffering, no lost connections, and minimal speed drops. From my base connection of 29 Mbps, I got an average of 27 Mbps, which was just a 7% decrease. This means that you can stream shows like Real Housewives of Dubai in HD without interruptions.

It has an extensive server network that makes it easy to connect to NBC. When I tested 6 of its 24 US server locations, each one was reliable for accessing NBC. I found that the New Jersey server was the fastest, but they all worked great for streaming in HD.

I was able to easily watch Real Housewives of Dubai by connecting to ExpressVPN’s Chicago server

ExpressVPN was also super easy to use. When I opened up its Windows app on my laptop, I clicked on the location bar to find a US server. All I had to do was type “US” for all relevant servers to appear. Then, you just need to select your preferred location and double-click on it to connect.

It also offers a Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer, which you can use to watch NBC on devices that don't support VPN apps. These include some smart TVs, streaming sticks, and gaming consoles that allow you to change their network settings. This feature only changes your IP address but doesn't encrypt your data. It took me less than 10 minutes to set up the MediaStreamer on my PlayStation and start watching Love Island on NBC.

ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than my other VPN picks, with prices starting at $6.67/month. However, its fast speeds, reliable US servers, and easy-to-use apps are worth the price. Also, you can get a 49% discount by choosing a long-term subscription, as I did.

Since ExpressVPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it yourself without risk. I tested the guarantee to see if it was legitimate by contacting ExpressVPN’s 24/7 customer support chat. The representative was really polite and only asked me a few questions about the service before accepting my refund request. It took about 5 minutes to complete the whole process and I got my money back in 3 days.

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2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers for Accessing NBC Reliably

CyberGhost offers a streaming-optimized server location for watching NBC, so you don't have to worry about picking the best one yourself. These servers are consistently tested and monitored, and usually offer you better speeds while streaming than the regular ones. In less than a minute, I was able to connect to the NBC-optimized server and watch America’s Got Talent in HD. This means that you can watch your favorite shows in high quality and without interruption.

By connecting to CyberGhost’s NBC-optimized location, I was able to watch America’s Got Talent within minutes

CyberGhost is very easy to use, even if you have never used a VPN before. I liked that it has apps for many different platforms that are all very simply designed and intuitive. To connect, all I had to do was open up its app for Windows and select “NBC'' from the “For streaming” menu.

It also has super-fast speeds, so you can watch NBC without buffering. When I tested out CyberGhost’s speeds, my download speed was 25 Mbps. This was a 14% drop from my base connection, which was still acceptable for HD streaming. With its solid speeds, you’ll have no problems with buffering or drops in quality.

While I loved CyberGhost’s NBC-optimized server and high speeds, I didn’t like that its 1-month plan is more expensive and comes with a shorter money-back guarantee. Fortunately, though, its long-term plans are fairly-priced and come with a longer money-back guarantee.

You can get CyberGhost’s long-term subscription for $2.19/month. When you sign up, it also offers you the Security Suite for Windows add-on for a small fee, which gives you additional antivirus protection if you want it.

CyberGhost comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee if you choose a longer subscription. If you’re not satisfied, you can claim a full refund within that time period. When I tested this out by contacting its customer support team, they were friendly and confirmed my request quickly. I had no problem getting a refund within 5 days.

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3. Private Internet Access — Servers in Every US State for Watching NBC While Traveling

Private Internet Access is a great choice for unblocking NBC because of its huge US server network. With server locations in every US state, you’ll never have to worry about a lack of available connections for watching NBC or overcrowded servers. I could easily access the platform with each US server I tested while traveling. My connection stayed stable whether I was watching Late Night With Seth Meyers from its New York server or its California server.

PIA easily unblocked NBC and let me watch its content with all the US servers I tested

With PIA, my whole household could watch NBC’s programming, because it offers Unlimited simultaneous device connections. I tested PIA on several devices at the same time and experienced minimal speed drops and no buffering while watching That ‘70s Show. With this many device connections, you won’t have to disconnect one device to use another, which saves you a lot of time.

Thanks to PIA’s fast speeds, you can binge-watch The 2 Robbies for hours without interruption. I tested 5 of its US servers and the results averaged 24.6 Mbps, which was just a 15% drop from my base speed. That means you won’t have to deal with bad quality or buffering.

If you’re new to Private Internet Access, the multiple customization options can seem complicated. However, it comes pre-configured, so you don’t have to worry about setting it up to stream NBC. If you’re more experienced with VPNs, though, it can give you more security options.

If you get PIA’s long-term plan, its monthly price is a good value, at just $2.03/month. For a small additional fee, you can also get add-ons like extra virus protection or a dedicated IP address.

You can test out Private Internet Access risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find out that it’s not for you, you can get a full refund. When I contacted its live chat, they quickly approved my request. The process was easy and took a couple of minutes. I got my money back in 5 days.

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4. IPVanish — Unlimited Simultaneous Connections to Watch NBC on All Your Devices

What I appreciate most about IPVanish is its provision for unlimited concurrent device connections. This feature eliminates the need to disconnect one device just to log into NBC on another. I tested this functionality by connecting to IPVanish and subsequently streaming Password simultaneously on my laptop, Android, and Fire Stick. My streaming session was uninterrupted and experienced no disconnections.

I watched Password on NBC and my connection with IPVanish was always stable

I was also pleased by the high number of US servers. IPVanish has 20 server locations in the US, so there’s more than enough connection options for accessing NBC. It was very easy to find a fast US server while testing because IPVanish shows the ping and the load next to each server. Also, my download speeds never went below 24 Mbps, which means on average I experienced around 16% drop on all US servers I tested.

Unlike the other VPNs on this list, the 24/7 live chat was not as easily accessible. I tried this out by clicking on the “Support” option, where I could then ask some basic questions about its services. Though I got to talk to a person live within a few minutes, I had to speak with a bot repeatedly before connecting to a real person. Once I did get through to someone in customer service, they were very helpful.

IPVanish’s best deal is for its long-term plan, starting at $2.49/month. You can also get monthly plans which are a good alternative if you want to use the VPN for a shorter time.

You can test IPVanish out for yourself risk-free. If you don't feel it's right for you, you can get a full refund with its 30-day money-back guarantee. When I went to my account dashboard, I just had to select “I wish to cancel my subscription,” to request a refund. I received it within 4 days.

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5. PrivateVPN — Easy-to-Use Apps So You Can Watch NBC in Minutes

PrivateVPN has very simple apps with intuitive interfaces that are great whether you’re a beginner or an advanced VPN user. Just select a US server, click the power button, and you’re ready to start streaming your favorite NBC shows like Saturday Night Live right away. When I tried it, I was able to easily switch between its Simple and Advanced Views. Simple View allows you to quickly connect to a US server, while the Advanced View allows you to adjust options according to your needs.

It was easy to watch Saturday Night Live on NBC with PrivateVPN

With 10 simultaneous connections, PrivateVPN offers you a chance to stream NBC on many devices. If you’re sharing a household with others, this means you can all watch NBC at the same time on your own devices. I tested PrivateVPN on my laptop and my phone and I didn’t have any issues with my connection. My average speeds were 23.5 Mbps, which was similar to what I got when I was connected to 1 device only.

The only thing I didn’t like about PrivateVPN is that it has a smaller server network than my other recommendations. However, it has 12 server locations, and I had no problems with overcrowding on its servers. The connections were stable on each US server that I tested.

PrivateVPN has long-term subscriptions available for $2/month. Whether you choose a shorter or longer subscription, you’ll get the same premium features offered.

It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all of its subscriptions. With the money-back guarantee, you can try it out yourself with no risks. If you find that it’s not for you, you can get all of your money back. After I gave them a reason for wanting a refund, my money was sent back to me in just 5 days.

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How to Watch NBC on Your Device

Watching NBC is easy to do no matter what device you are using. Follow the quick guides below and start watching NBC right away.

Computers (Windows/macOS) and Smartphones (Android/iOS)

Smart TVs, Streaming Sticks, and Gaming Devices

To connect to devices like gaming consoles, some smart TVs, Roku, or Fire Stick, you’ll need to configure a VPN on your router. This is because some of these devices don’t normally support VPN apps. Exceptions are some smart TVs and sometimes Fire Stick, too. You should check to see whether your VPN app is available in the app store of your preferred device. If it is, you’ll be able to set up the VPN on these devices using the same steps for smartphones explained above.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to configure ExpressVPN on a router. The steps are similar to other VPNs with some minor differences depending on your router type. To make sure you get it all right, always make sure to check your VPN’s guide for your particular router.

If you don’t want to go through the router configuration process, check whether your VPN offers pre-configured routers. That way, you can purchase one and just plug it into your network.

There’s an alternative to using the VPN on a router — you can use your VPN’s Smart DNS feature if it offers one. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer is one such feature and it’s really practical since you can directly install it on your device just by changing its network settings.

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Where Can I Watch NBC Online?

NBC is available on many different platforms. However, you need to have a cable or OTT subscription to watch NBC online. Due to geo-restrictions on all platforms where NBC content is available, if you’re located outside of the US, you’ll need to use a VPN. It masks your true location by giving you a new IP address. My top pick is ExpressVPN because it is fast and reliable. Here are a few popular services where you can watch NBC online:

• Sling TV — Plans start at slightly more than $30/month with 50% off of your first month; 4 simultaneous device connections allowed.
• Hulu— Plans start at around $7/month; unlimited device connections overall with 2 simultaneous device connections allowed.
• fuboTV — Plans start at around $70/month. Offers a 7-day free trial and 3 simultaneous device connections.
• YouTube TV — Plans start at approximately $55/month; 3 simultaneous device connections allowed.
• Amazon Prime — Plans start at around $15 per month for an Amazon membership. For Prime Video, the cost is around $9 per month and it allows 3 simultaneous device connections.
• DirecTV — Plans start at around $70/month with unlimited device connections if connected to the same network. If you’re using an out-of-home network, the limit is up to 3 simultaneous devices.

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FAQs on Watching NBC With a VPN

How do I watch NBC Sports on Amazon Prime Video?

If you’re looking to watch NBC Sports on Amazon Prime Video, you can find some NFL specials available through your subscription.

If you want to watch NBC Sports Live Extra, which is a separate service, you can do so by going onto the NBC Sports website and downloading their app. The NBC Sports app is available on the Amazon Appstore.

NBC programming is only available in the US. If you’re traveling outside of the US, you can download a VPN in order to appear as though you’re logging in from a US IP address. I recommend ExpressVPN because it’s very fast, reliable, and easy to use.

Is NBC free?

NBC isn’t free — you have to pay for an account. If you just want to watch NBC News NOW, though, it is always free if you’re located in the US. However, to watch all of NBC’s content, you need to have either a cable subscription or an OTT subscription.

Since NBC is not available outside the US, you’ll need to download a premium VPN in order to watch its shows.

By downloading a VPN and choosing a US server, you will appear as though you are back in the US. ExpressVPN is my top choice because it has lightning-fast speeds and is consistently reliable.

Is it possible to watch NBC Live without a cable provider?

Yes, it is. If you don’t have a cable provider, you can watch NBC on other platforms online, such as Sling TV, Hulu, fuboTV, and YouTube TV.

With an OTT subscription, it’s really easy to log in to NBC. If you aren’t in the US, though, you’ll need to download a premium VPN. It’s a simple app that assigns you a new IP address, so you appear as though you’re located in the US when traveling abroad. All of my recommendations are easy to sign up for and use, even if you’re new to VPNs.

Can I watch NBC on Fire Stick or Roku?

Yes, you can watch NBC on Fire Stick and Roku. You just need to download the app on your device and log in to it. However, if you’re traveling outside of the US, there’s another step that you should take to access NBC on these devices. Since the platform places geo-restrictions on viewers outside the US, you’ll need to use a premium VPN like the ones I’ve recommended above. This will mask your physical location and make you appear as though you’re in the US.

To watch NBC on Fire Stick or Roku outside the US, you should configure your VPN on a router. This is because they don’t support native VPN apps. There might be some exceptions with Fire Stick since you can find some VPN apps there, so make sure to check whether yours is available on its app store.

Is NBC available in India and other countries?

NBC is only available in the US. If you’re in India, Canada, England, or any part of the world, don’t worry. You can still stream your favorite NBC series online.

To connect to NBC from outside the US, you’ll have to use a VPN to make you look as if you’re in the US. A VPN can mask your true location and give you a US IP address, so you can watch NBC from anywhere in the world.

I'm connected to a VPN, why can't I access NBC?

If you’re having trouble connecting to NBC once you’re logged in to a VPN, there are a few things you can try. Sometimes, NBC blocks certain server IPs. First, make sure you’re connected to a reliable VPN. Then, try disconnecting from the server you’re on and connecting to another US server.

If that doesn’t work, it could be that NBC is still recognizing your true location. In that case, try clearing out your browser’s cache and cookies and restarting the VPN app.

Finally, be sure to check if there are any software updates you need on your VPN. Outdated software can cause issues with connecting to NBC.

Can I use a free VPN to access NBC?

Using a free VPN might sound like a good way to save money, but I don’t recommend using them. With a free VPN, you get a lower-quality streaming experience. They usually lack the infrastructure to support a lot of users, so when their servers get crowded you will experience speed drops, buffering, and low resolution. Sometimes, it can even be difficult to connect to a US server.

Also, a lot of free VPNs are loaded with malware and viruses. Some of them sell your data and track your internet activity. That’s why I recommend a premium VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee instead. If it’s not for you, you can easily get a refund.

What’s the easiest way to sign up for NBC?

The easiest way to sign up for NBC is by using your email address to create an account. You’ll either need to have a cable subscription or an OTT provider to do so.

However, to start watching NBC outside of the US, you’ll need to use a VPN like ExpressVPN or any of my other recommendations above to make it appear as though you’re in the US. VPNs work by masking your true IP address and assigning you a US IP address instead.

You can also use a PayPal gift card or American Virtual prepaid card to gain access to NBC from outside the US. For the first option, just buy a PayPal gift card. After providing them with an email address, a code will be sent to you. Then, your card is activated, and you can sign into a premium VPN of your choice to start watching NBC.

To use the American Virtual prepaid card to access NBC, just sign up on the StatesPay website. Create an account by providing some basic information about yourself. Once the account is created, you can transfer funds into it. Then, connect to a US VPN server and watch all of your favorite NBC shows.

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Start Watching NBC Now

Due to licensing agreements, NBC uses geo-restrictions to keep people outside of the US from watching its content. A VPN masks your true location, making it appear as though you’re in the US. Getting a premium VPN is the best way to watch NBC overseas from India or anywhere else in the world.

All of my recommendations above can get you watching NBC in no time, but my favorite was ExpressVPN. It has, by far, the fastest speeds out of all the VPNs I tested, so you can watch all of your favorite NBC programming without having to worry about buffering or bad quality. Best of all, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee so you can feel confident in trying it out risk-free. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can get a full refund within the first 30 days of signing up.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching NBC are…