How to Stream Live Sports Online for Free — Updated in 2023
- Quick Guide: How to Stream Live Sports in 3 Easy Steps
- Best VPNs to Live Stream Sports Online for Free in 2023
- ExpressVPN — Blazing Fast Speeds to Stream Live Sports Without Lag
- CyberGhost — Optimized Servers to Stream Live Sports Without Buffering
- Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network to Access Geo-restricted Live Sports Streams
- Where Can I Stream Live Sports Online?
- FAQs on Streaming Live Sports Online With a VPN
- Start Streaming Live Sports Now
Most sites that host free live streams of sports games aren't safe to use. First of all, they don't have broadcast rights for the streams they offer, so you could get in trouble for using them. Second, a lot of these sites aren't regulated — they have a ton of pop-ups that can contain malware that could damage your device or put your privacy at risk.
However, there are a few legit sites that stream sports for free depending on your location. For example, RTE live streams several games for free as long as you're in Ireland. But to watch these games from anywhere else, you need an Irish IP address.
A VPN is a simple app that assigns you a new IP address from a country of your choice. This helps to bypass regional broadcast restrictions so you can access free live sports streams (and bypass regional blackouts) without risk.
Out of all the VPNs tested, my top recommendation for watching free live sports streams is ExpressVPN. It has high-speed servers worldwide, so you can watch games from anywhere without lag. You can also test ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free. If you don't feel it's right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
Quick Guide: How to Stream Live Sports in 3 Easy Steps
- Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN due to its ultra-fast speeds and huge server network that allows you to watch live sports from anywhere.
- Connect to a server in your preferred country. This allows you to access the free games that are being broadcast there.
- Start streaming live sports. You just need to visit a site that streams sports for free on that location to start streaming.
Why You Need a VPN to Stream Live Sports for Free
Legit sports streaming websites are usually geo-restricted due to regional broadcasting rights. The algorithms of these platforms will quickly detect your physical location based on your IP address and block you out if you’re not in one of their allowed countries.
A VPN conceals your actual IP address and assigns you to one of its servers in the country of your choice. So, your actual physical location will not be detected by geo-restricted streaming platforms, and you’ll be able to watch your favorite competitions from anywhere.
However, not every VPN is powerful enough to fly past geo-blocks and let you stream live sports for free. To save you time, I have shortlisted the ones that consistently bypassed detection during my tests.
Best VPNs to Live Stream Sports Online for Free in 2023
1.ExpressVPN — Blazing Fast Speeds to Stream Live Sports Without Lag
Try Risk-Free for 30 DaysTested July 2023
- Lightning-fast speeds
- 3,000 servers in 94+ countries
- 8 simultaneous device connections
- Works with: RSI, DigiSport, RTE, BBC iPlayer, Rai Sport, CBC, NHK, and more
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
ExpressVPN has superfast servers that allow you to stream sports in HD without any lag. When I tested its servers across Brazil, France, Kenya, and Canada, my download speed never went below 38 Mbps, which gave me lag-free streaming. This means you can watch an entire EPL game in HD without missing any action due to buffering delays.
With ExpressVPN’s Switzerland server, I could start to stream sports in seconds
Its global server network, which includes multiple locations in each country, gives you plenty of options for live streaming sports. In my tests, I could easily connect to anywhere my favorite sport is being broadcast and stream it for free. My connections were stable, and I had no issue switching to a different server when one underperformed. This means that you can switch servers as many times as you need, depending on the competition you want to watch.
The MediaStreamer allows you to live stream sports on any WiFi-enabled device. This allows you to enjoy your favorite sports using tech that doesn’t usually support a VPN. By following some instructions on ExpressVPN’s website, I managed to set it up. It took only 10 minutes to live stream DigiSport’s sports on my Smart TV.
A drawback of ExpressVPN is that its pricing plans are expensive. Prices start at $6.67/month, but I used its discount and saved 49% on my subscription and got 3 months for free when I signed up for the longer plan.
You can test ExpressVPN out for yourself, and if you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a refund. I was keen to validate this guarantee, so I contacted customer support on day 28 and requested a refund. The support agent who joined the chat was very courteous and approved my request immediately after answering a few feedback questions. My refund arrived 3 days later.
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers to Stream Live Sports Without Buffering
- 9,371+ optimized servers for streaming in 91+ countries
- Ultra-fast speeds
- 7 simultaneous device connections
- Works with: RSI, DigiSport, RTE, BBC iPlayer, Rai Sport, CBC, NHK, and more
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
CyberGhost offers servers that are optimized for streaming live sports on various platforms, including CBC (Canada), ZDF (UK), and Global SporTV (Brazil). During my tests, I tried its Global Sportv and CBC optimized servers. My speed averaged 37 Mbps, which was more than enough to stream sports with 4K picture quality. With these speeds, you’ll enjoy hours of buffer-free sports streams without buffering or lag.
With servers in so many locations, you’ll never miss your favorite team’s actions with CyberGhost
Like ExpressVPN, the extensive server network is great for streaming live sports actions. During my tests, I connected to its Switzerland, Italy, and Australia servers and managed to view live sports on RSI, Rai Sport, and Network 10. It took me less than 10 seconds to connect to its servers, and I didn’t experience any sudden failures. You don’t have to worry about disconnects at a crucial point when streaming.
CyberGhost's Smart DNS feature proves useful when aiming to stream on devices that lack VPN compatibility. By following the instructions provided on CyberGhost's official website, I successfully configured it on my router within a mere 10 minutes. This enabled me to enjoy an NFL game on my Fire Stick.
A small issue with this VPN is its pricey short-term plan, which comes with a reduced money-back guarantee. However, the longest-term plan is only $2.19/month, and it comes with all the same great features as the other plans.
Test CyberGhost risk-free with its money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, just cancel before the 45 days are up to get a full refund. I tested this guarantee by asking for a refund on day 20 via live chat. After answering a few questions, the agent I spoke with approved my request, and all my money was back in my account in 4 days.
3. Private Internet Access — Huge Server Network to Access Geo-restricted Live Sports Streams
- 29,650 servers in 84+ countries
- Superfast speeds
- Unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Works with: RSI, DigiSport, RTE, BBC iPlayer, Rai Sport, CBC, NHK, and more
- Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
Private Internet Access features a large server network, allowing you to watch live sports streams from any location. Within each country, PIA has several servers spread in different cities, which helps prevent network congestion. This allows you to easily find a server to access NHK (Japan), GOL (Spain), BBC iPlayer (UK), and more. During my tests, I found Australian servers very reliable as they successfully unblocked Channel 9 and Network 10 in under 15 seconds.
You’ll be able to bypass the geoblocks and stream your favorite game within seconds with PIA
Speeds are blazing-fast for a smooth live sports streaming experience. While its speeds do not surpass ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, I still found them to be good enough. I tested its servers in Australia by streaming several games on Kayo Sports and Channel 9. There was a wait time of about 15 seconds for the streams to load. But after the initial loading time, the video quality remained excellent with no lags. You won’t experience any waiting around while you stream live your favorite sports.
The only drawback with PIA is that its apps have so many customization options. However, this isn’t a problem as they come pre-configured.
Save money with PIA’s available discounts — currently, you can get it for just $2.03/month if you sign up for a long-term plan.
The 30-day money-back policy allows you to try PIA risk-free. I tested this claim by asking for a refund on the 25th day of my subscription. The entire process took only 10 minutes, and the live agent only asked me a few questions about my experience with the VPN. I received the refund on my card after 3 days.
Where Can I Stream Live Sports Online?
Websites that stream live sports for free and don't violate copyright law are rare to come by. Most require you to have a subscription to stream live sports, but I found a few that you can visit to enjoy the full thrill of your favorite sports events for free.
Normally, subscription-based websites feature an extra benefit — they give you access to lots of popular sports. I recommend you try these sites if you're ready to shell out some cash to stream live a wider range of sports on a single platform.
Free Live Streams
Cricket:
- Cricket World Cup — Watch on Channel 4 (UK)
- The Ashes — Stream using 9Now (Australia)
- World Test Championship — Get it on Channel 7 (Australia)
Golf:
- The Masters Tournament — Stream on 9Now (Australia).
- Presidents Cup — Watch on Channel 9 (Australia).
- Women’s British Open — Available on Kayo (Australia).
Motorsports:
- F1 – Find it on Channel 4 (UK) and Network 10 (Australia)
- MotoGP World Championship – Stream on Network 10 (Australia)
Soccer:
- Coppa Italia — Get it on RAI Sport (Italy)
- English Premier League — Access using BBC iPlayer (UK).
- Europa League — Watch on RSI (Switzerland).
- UEFA Champions League — Watch on RSI (Switzerland).
Tennis:
- Australian Open – Available on 9now (Australia).
- Wimbledon – Watch on ESPN (US) and NHK (Japan).
Affordable Subscription-Based Live Streams
American Football:
- College football — Stream on ESPN (US), NBC Sports (US), and Fox Sports (various countries)
- NFL — stream on Fox Sports (various countries) and TSN (Canada)
- Super Bowl — Available on CBS Sports (US).
Baseball:
- Major League Baseball — Stream on Fubo TV (US), Sling TV (US), and MLB TV (various locations).
- MLB World Series — Available on Philo (US), Hulu (US), MLB.TV (US), and DAZN (various locations).
- World Baseball Classic — Watch on Fox Sports (various countries)
Soccer:
- Laliga — Stream on ESPN (US), beIN sPORTS, and Fox Sports (various countries)
- English Premier League – Get it on Fox Sports (various countries), and ESPN (US)
- Coppa Italia — Find it on Fubo TV (US), Fox Sports (Various countries), and SuperSport (Africa).
- UEFA Champions League — Watch it on beIN sPORTS, Eurosport (Europe), and CBS Sports (US).
- Bundesliga — DAZN (Germany) and Eurosport (Europe).
Tennis:
- Australian Open — Available on FBCTV (Fiji), SkyTV (Various locations), Fox Sports (US), and Wowow (Japan).
- Grand Slam — Stream on Eurosport (Europe) and ESPN+ (US)
- Wimbledon — Watch on SuperSport (Africa) ESPN (US), Sling TV (US), and FuboTV (US).
- US Open — Find it on ESPN (US), SuperSport (Africa), and Eurosport (Europe)
FAQs on Streaming Live Sports Online With a VPN
What sports can I watch live with a VPN?
You can watch almost all sports streams from anywhere in the world with a VPN. These include Europa League, Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, NBA playoffs, NFL, NHL, MotoGP, UFC, ICC Cricket, Formula 1, and a lot more.
How can I bypass regional blackouts on live sports in the US?
You can bypass them by connecting to any server in the US. A good quality VPN will give you fast speeds, robust security features, and a wide server network so you never have to miss your favorite teams’ crucial games.
I strongly urge you to always check your local laws regarding the usage of VPNs before accessing any location-restricted content. Based on where you live, it could get you in trouble with the law. My team and I don’t condone the consumption of copyrighted material with or without the use of a VPN.
What is the best way to watch live sports for free?
You can enjoy live sports for free from anywhere when connected to a VPN. This app will change your digital location by assigning you a new IP address from a country of your choice. That way, no matter where you really are, you’ll be able to connect to anywhere your favorite sports are being broadcast. Luckily, the VPNs on my list have lots of servers across the globe, allowing you to stream live sport from any location.
Start Streaming Live Sports Now
Using a VPN is the best way to stream live sports online for free from anywhere. Several platforms give you the opportunity to watch live streams without a subscription. But since many of these are geo-restricted, a VPN can help you get past these restrictions while you travel.
I highly recommend ExpressVPN as the best choice for live streaming sports. It has lightning-fast speeds and lots of servers that allow you to bypass geo-restrictions on all streaming platforms. You can test ExpressVPN out completely risk-free as it's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee — if you don't like it, you can easily get a full refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for streaming live sports online are…
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
Your IP Address:
Your Location:
Your Internet Provider:
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 49% off.
About the Author
Shummas is an avid cybersecurity researcher, writer, and advocate for internet anonymity/privacy. As an AI enthusiast, he aims to broaden the horizons of technology. He also loves gaming on the side to get his creative writing juices flowing.