8 Best VPNs for Sportsnet so you can watch abroad

Traveling abroad is exciting but it comes with all sorts of new challenges. The currency is likely different, you may have to adjust to a new time zone, and you usually can’t access your favorite streaming services. For instance, Canadians looking to catch up on sports will simply see an error saying “Sportsnet is not available in your region.” Luckily, there is a way to unblock Sportsnet Now outside of Canada — just connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

VPNs are privacy tools, first and foremost. They encrypt your internet traffic, protecting you from ISP snooping and throttling, while ensuring you can browse safely on public wifi. However, they also allow you to spoof your location. This stops geo-blocked sites like Sportsnet from realizing you’re actually away from home, meaning you can watch your favorite team’s matches from anywhere in the world.

In this article, we go into detail about each of the VPNs we reviewed for accessing Sportsnet, but here’s a summary if you are short of time:

1. NordVPN: Best VPN for Sportsnet. A good all-rounder with Canadian servers that can provide the speeds you need for Sportsnet. Works with most streaming services and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Sportsnet Now.
2. Surfshark: Our top budget VPN for watching Sportsnet. Quick, reliable, and boasting impeccable security credentials. No connection limit.
3. IPVanish: A speedy, no-logs VPN with an ever-growing network. Works with a wide range of streaming sites, offers 24/7 live chat, and has no connection limit.
4. ExpressVPN: Ideal for live streaming. Works with Sportsnet Now, TSN, and RDF, among many similar platforms. Strong on security and very easy to use.
5. CyberGhost: This beginner-friendly VPN works well with Sportsnet and many other streaming apps. Boasts high speeds and lots of privacy features.
6. ProtonVPN: Highly secure VPN with many advanced features. Large presence in Canada, excellent streaming ability, and 24/7 support over live chat.
7. PureVPN: Fast, reliable, and intuitive, with an impressive security toolkit. Works with Sportsnet, Crave, and many other sites. Very affordable.
8. PrivateVPN: Can unblock pretty much anything and gets good streaming speeds despite a smaller network. Has advanced security features to protect your online privacy.

Our criteria for Sportsnet VPNs

You can get into Sportsnet from the USA, the UK, France, Australia, or anywhere else abroad using a VPN. A Virtual Private Network makes it look as though you are someplace else. However, not all VPNs excel at masking your location. A Sportsnet VPN should meet the following criteria:

• Amazing speeds for live streaming your favorite sports
• Canadian servers to obtain a local IP address
• Compatibility with popular streaming devices
• Unbreakable encryption and a no-logs policy
• Live chat-based customer support
• Apps for all popular platforms
• The ability to access geo-restricted content and streaming sites
• A generous number of simultaneous connections

When you choose a VPN service, you should be particularly careful that it works on your hardware. The descriptions of the providers we recommend include these details. You can read more about our methodology further down on this page.

The best VPNs for Sportsnet: A comparison

We’ve tested and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Sportsnet.

The Best VPNs for Sportsnet

Without further ado, here’s a more detailed look at our top picks:

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025 Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

NordVPN is our top choice for accessing Sportsnet and other sports streaming services. It has more than 7,000 servers across 100+ countries, with hundreds to choose from in Canada alone. Not only that but its apps are easy to use and capable of bypassing virtually any online restriction (even in places with extreme online censorship). There’s a 10-connection limit and 24/7 support over live chat.

The real question is whether NordVPN is fast enough for uninterrupted streaming. To find out, we tested its Canadian servers at various times of day. Our team used a 250 Mbps, which is roughly the average Canadian household broadband speed, to better simulate your connection and show the speeds you can actually expect to get. Here are the results:

NordVPN managed to provide an average speed of 202.14 Mbps, dipping below 200 Mbps in just one test. That’s a fantastic result and actually makes it the fastest provider in this list. We were able to stream 4K video without any noticeable stuttering, buffering, or lag, and it fared equally well when torrenting or playing online games.

This service has several exciting features, including a censorship-beating custom protocol called NordWhisper and the ability to route your traffic through two servers rather than just one. This VPN also offers 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a twice-proven no-logs policy. There’s also automatic ad, tracker, and malware-blocking, plus MeshNet, a tool that facilitates secure file transfers between all of your devices.

Apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS devices. You can also install the VPN manually on supported routers.

BEST VPN FOR SPORTSNET:NordVPN is our #1 pick. It pegs amazing speeds and works great with Sportsnet while abroad. Connects up to 10 devices simultaneously. Also works well with most popular streaming services and boasts excellent security features. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for streaming Sportsnet abroad. It offers access to 3,200 servers in over 100 countries and works perfectly with a huge range of stubborn streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. This is also one of the few VPNs that allows an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. Support staff are available 24/7 via live chat.

You might be surprised to learn that this low-cost provider regularly outpaces VPNs that cost quite a bit more. Our team ran three speed tests on Surfshark’s Canadian servers throughout a typical day to see what kind of performance it was capable of. You’ll find the results in the following table:

Surfshark achieved an average speed of 187.06 Mbps, making it the second-fastest provider we tested. So what does this mean for the average user? Well, you won’t have any issues with common tasks like streaming sports or torrenting, and should be able to do both simultaneously if you like!

Surfshark will ease your mind if you’re concerned about security. It uses 256-bit encryption with perfect forward secrecy, provides leak protection, and offers a kill switch in all apps. It goes above and beyond many rivals with automatic wifi protection and a split tunneling feature. Surfshark is a true no-logs provider and has been audited several times to prove that it doesn’t keep tabs on your activities.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. You can configure the VPN with certain wifi routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a worthy contender for a Sportsnet VPN. It employs strong security features and is great for streaming. Doesn’t limit your number of connections. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our full review of Surfshark.

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3. IPVanish

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

IPVanish has recently expanded its network and now operates over 2,400 servers across 100 countries including Canada. It’s an exceptional choice for streaming sports, and can handily bypass regional restrictions on platforms like Sportsnet, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. What’s more, you can protect every device you own with a single account.

IPVanish has performed very well in our previous industry-wide speed tests, perhaps thanks to its extensive network of 25 Gbps servers. All the same, regular retesting is important so we can track any changes to a VPN’s performance over time. The table below shows how quick IPVanish’s servers in Canada were at various times of day:

First off, there was only around 7 Mbps of difference between the highest and lowest result, meaning this is one of the more consistent options on the market. IPVanish’s average speed was 183.17 Mbps, just barely slower than Surfshark and the third-quickest VPN overall. No matter whether you’re looking to live stream sports or play fast-paced online games, this service can handle it.

This service provides 256-bit encryption, a true zero-logs policy, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. Customer support can be reached at any time, day or night. Looking for a little extra privacy? In that case, you might want to try the traffic scrambling feature. This is only available on the OpenVPN protocol but hides the signs that you’re using a VPN at all, which might be helpful in some situations.

The IPVanish app is available for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Firestick. IPVanish can be manually installed on Linux systems and select routers. Its new Advanced subscription tier bundles the VPN with a unique cloud-based browser within and a browser and secure cloud storage.

FAST AND RELIABLE:IPVanish has a large network of servers. An uncongested network achieves good speeds. Strong security and privacy features. Could do with having live customer support. 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

ExpressVPN puts ease of use at the forefront of everything it does, making it a great option for beginners. It has servers in 105 countries and automatically obfuscates your connection if it realizes you’re somewhere with strict online censorship (like China or the UAE). Since it’s capable of this, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it works with CBC, Netflix, Global TV, or most other Canadian TV channels.

To find out if ExpressVPN was fast enough for live sports streaming, we decided to test its servers in Canada using a 250 Mbps connection. To account for variability, we ran tests in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. Let’s see how well this VPN held up:

ExpressVPN was certainly competitive, though a little slower than the providers mentioned above, with an average speed of 140.49 Mbps. That’s still far more than you’ll need to stream live broadcasts or 4K content, even if everyone else in your home is using the internet at the same time. Plus there was only a variance of around 8 Mbps over three tests, so it’s highly reliable too.

Security features include AES 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS leaks, and a network kill switch. Further, the company recently introduced a threat manager feature that blocks ads and trackers while also preventing you from accessing a growing list of dangerous websites. ExpressVPN has had its apps, infrastructure, and privacy policy audited, proving that it’s safe to use and that it doesn’t keep logs.

The company produces apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. It also offers custom firmware for routers, making it as easy as possible to protect all of your internet-connected devices.

BEGINNER-FRIENDLY:ExpressVPN is another great choice. It’s fast and reliable and works with most major streaming services, including Sportsnet. Easy to install. Great security and privacy features and keeps no logs. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

CyberGhost has a large network with servers spanning more than 100 countries. It can help you securely access all of your favorite streaming services abroad and even has special servers designed to work with platforms like Netflix. You can watch SportsNet, NBC Sports, TSN, and any of your other favorite sports channels. Live chat is available around the clock, and up to seven devices can be connected at any one time.

Speed is extremely important if you’re looking to stream live content. For instance, a a sluggish connection will see you contending against lag, stuttering, and low-resolution video. Our team tested CyberGhost’s servers in Canada multiple times to make sure they’re actually quick enough for the job. Here are our test results:

This VPN delivered an average speed of 144.9 Mbps, which is roughly 10 times what’s required for uninterrupted 4K video. Further, there was around 7 Mbps of variability throughout the day, which is well within expected ranges. In other words, you won’t have any issues watching Sportsnet Now, even if you’re doing other things in the background.

It’s a strong choice for security, too. CyberGhost’s apps include 256-bit encryption, leak protection, a kill switch, ad and tracker-blocking, and automatic wifi protection. There’s also the option to connect via a random port, which might help you use this service on networks that normally block VPN traffic entirely. CyberGhost follows a strict no-logs policy and has been audited several times to prove it.

CyberGhost apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can install the VPN manually on Linux computers and also on routers.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:CyberGhost is great for beginners. Another good value choice that works well with Sportsnet. Stores no internet activity logs and streams HD video reliably. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025  

ProtonVPN was developed by the team behind the privacy-centric Proton Mail service. It’s free to use, but if you’re looking to stream, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan. We’d say it’s worth it though: you’ll gain access to 12,000+ servers in over 115 countries, 24/7 support over live chat, and the ability to connect 10 devices at once. Not only that, ProtonVPN works effortlessly with most major streaming sites.

When it comes to speed, ProtonVPN is generally considered one of the better options on the market. It boasts 10 Gbps servers and supports the WireGuard protocol, so theoretically, it should do very well in our tests. Let’s see how ProtonVPN’s Canadian servers performed at different times of day:

Looking at the table above, we can see that its speeds fluctuated by roughly 7 Mbps, which isn’t anything unusual. ProtonVPN’s average speed was 118.66 Mbps, which is a bit slower than the providers above but still well above the industry standard. Whether you’re hoping to stream Sportsnet, download large files, or make video calls, this VPN can take it all in stride.

How does it fare on the security front? Well, this VPN is equipped with AES encryption, a kill switch, obfuscation, split tunneling, multi-hop connections, and its Secure Core servers. These features make it secure against ISP snooping and government surveillance. Most importantly, ProtonVPN refuses to keep any logs of your activities, and we know that for sure thanks to its lengthy audit history.

The VPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It can also be manually configured for use with most popular router firmware.

PRIVACY FIRST:ProtonVPN is highly secure and offers many advanced features. Strong AES encryption and a kill switch. Fast speeds for streaming. Canadian IP addresses let you access Spotsnet Now on vacation. Apps for all platforms with reliable privacy features, including a kill switch, obfuscation, multi-hop, and AES encryption. Allows torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

PureVPN has servers in Toronto, Canada and more than 115 other countries. However, this VPN’s large network is far from the only thing it’s got going for it. It also works with a huge range of streaming services, from Sportsnet Now to Crave and everything in between. Customer support staff are available 24/7 via live chat, plus users can secure up to 10 devices simultaneously. Not bad given this VPN’s very attractive price point.

Nobody wants to deal with low-quality streams, and having a fast enough connection a large part of preventing this. Our experts performed speed tests on PureVPN’s servers in Canada, checking not only how quick they were but also how much their performance varied throughout a typical day. See for yourself:

While PureVPN’s speeds weren’t quite as impressive as its competitors’, it was still significantly faster than is required for live (or even 4K) video streaming. It managed to average 58.47 Mbps, with 7 Mbps of fluctuation, which is still a solid result. Now, if your connection is on the slower side, you may want to consider a different service but if it’s similar to ours (250 Mbps), you’ll be just fine.

PureVPN’s apps are designed to enhance online privacy with AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. An independently verified no-logging policy ensures your online activities remain private, whether at home or on the go. Additionally, PureVPN supports torrenting and offers port forwarding for an extra fee.

PureVPN has its own apps for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You’ll have to follow manual setup instructions to get it running on routers, though.

LOW COST:PureVPN is a cheap and fast VPN, with servers in Canada and 115+ other countries. It works to access Sportsnet, Crave, and other popular services. It also works to access British and American streaming platforms. Provide a no-logs policy, AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. 24/7 live chat support. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

Unblocks Sportsnet NowTested Jun 2025

PrivateVPN has a fairly small network (roughly 200 servers in 63 countries). However, it manages these in-house and is actually the only major provider that acts as its own ISP, giving it full control over who has access to user traffic. Not only that, it’s able to access just about every service we’ve tried it with and permits up to 10 simultaneous connections. Live chat is available during European business hours.

Network scale isn’t the only indicator of speed, but there’s no denying it does have an impact. After all, having more servers allows a VPN to spread the load of its users, leading to fewer overloaded or busy servers. To see what PrivateVPN is capable of, we speed tested its Canadian servers at three different times. Here’s how it did:

With a variance of around 6 Mbps, this was one of the more reliable options tested. PrivateVPN’s average speed was a little lower than those of providers higher in this list, at 56.5 Mbps. That said, it performed flawlessly during data-intensive tasks like torrenting, streaming, and playing online games, so you don’t have anything to worry about, provided your base connection is relatively quick.

This provider includes great privacy features like a kill switch, automatic Wi-Fi protection, AES 256-bit encryption, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. We’re big fans of its stealth mode too — with the flick of a single switch, you can bypass the world’s strictest online blocking and access Sportsnet in countries like China. PrivateVPN also follows a strict no-logs policy but hasn’t been audited at the time of writing.

This VPN service provides apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS operating systems. You’ll have to manually install it on Linux systems and supported routers.

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice for connecting up to 10 devices. Unblocks Sportsnet while abroad. Also good for secure and private browsing and torrenting. Could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

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How to watch Sportsnet Abroad

Is this the first time using a VPN? Getting set up couldn’t be simpler. Just follow our step-by-step guide below, and you can be watching Sportsnet from abroad in a matter of minutes.

Here’s how to live stream Sportsnet from the US or anywhere else:

1. Choose a suitable VPN provider with servers in Canada. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Sign up for your chosen VPN (or make use of their free trial) and download the appropriate VPN app for your device.
3. Open your VPN app and select a server in a Canadian location. This will give you a Canadian IP address.
4. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then load the Sportsnet website.
5. Sign in to your account (or create one), and you should now be able to live stream Sportsnet from anywhere!
6. If you’re still having issues streaming with Sportsnet, contact your VPN provider’s customer support. It’s advisable you test out your VPN and solve any issues before any big sports events.

Our methodology: How we tested and found the best VPNs for Sportsnet

We know that you’re looking for a VPN that is able to unblock Sportsnet regardless of your location. In deciding the best VPNs for streaming Sportsnet, we used that as a starting point. However, it’s still just one part of our methodology, which we’ve outlined below.

Speed

Slow speeds are always frustrating but particularly so if you’re trying to stream. Videos might refuse to play at all, or may only work at very low resolutions, while live broadcasts could skip, lag, or stutter, causing you to miss a crucial moment. The problem is that the inherent randomness of the internet makes it difficult to provide an accurate idea of a VPN’s speeds.

With this in mind, we created a process to standardize tests and remove some of the variability when determining which were the fastest VPNs. We ran three tests per provider (one in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon) on their Canadian servers, using a 250 Mbps connection since that’s roughly the average household broadband speed in Canada. Finally, we averaged and normalized the results to get a final score out of 10 for each VPN. Let’s see how our top Sportsnet VPNs compared:

NordVPN was the quickest service we saw by a reasonable margin, so it earned the top spot. Surfshark and IPVanish were fairly close behind, and roughly 40 Mbps faster than the service in fourth place (CyberGhost). It’s important to note, however, that all of our top VPNs are fast enough for uninterrupted 4K streaming.

Versatility

Our next job was to get a feel for how versatile each candidate was. This was fairly straightforward and involved looking at how many simultaneous connections they permitted and whether they permitted split tunneling. We already know that they work with Sportsnet but we also wanted to see how many other streaming platforms they worked with. That’s why we tested each provider against a gauntlet of popular services including Netflix, TSN, and CBC Gem.

Surfshark and IPVanish tied for first place here, with a near-perfect score of 9.8 points. Neither service has a connection limit and both support split tunneling, though they did occasionally require users to try a couple of servers to find one that works with more stubborn streaming services.

Security and privacy

The primary goal of any VPN is to keep you and your online activities secure. That’s why, to even be considered for a place in our list, providers have to offer unbreakable encryption, a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a no-logs policy. Scores were assigned by considering what each service provided in 16 different security-related areas, then deducting points for each area that could use improvement.

Don’t worry if the table above is a little tricky to understand. We’ve created an easy to read table that lists each VPN’s overall security score side by side, making it as simple as possible to compare different services.

We have another tie, this time between NordVPN and Surfshark, each earning 9.5 points. NordVPN’s authentication, while strong, could be even more so. Surfshark, meanwhile, is based in a Nine Eyes country, meaning your data could theoretically be intercepted and shared with other signatory countries. Of course, neither service keeps any logs, so this is a moot point.

Ease of use

Here at Comparitech, we strongly prefer VPNs that prioritize usability and welcome novice users. Some of the things that we like to see include streamlined registration and cancellation processes, 24/7 customer support, and well-described settings. Other quality of life features like task-specific servers or a total lack of connection limits are always welcome too. Here’s everything that goes into our scoring process:

NordVPN earned the highest score in this category, an impressive 9.6 out of 10. Although it offers a wide range of advanced functionality, this is all explained in a newcomer-friendly way and never feels overwhelming. Additionally, day to day operation is as straightforward as can be, and there’s a huge amount of supporting material available on its website.

Value for money

One of our main goals is to make sure you pay as little as possible. We first consider whether a VPN is fairly-priced for the functionality it offers. The next step then involves looking for ways to cut the cost even more, for instance by taking advantage of student discounts, reduced rates for longer subscribers, or just waiting for a sale. Note that to be eligible for recommendation, VPNs must offer a money-back guarantee. Here’s a full list of our scoring criteria:

Surfshark took the top spot here, scoring a fantastic 9.7 points. IPVanish came in second, with 9.6. These providers have a lot in common, such as a lack of connection limits, heavily-discounted prices for multi-year subscriptions, and the ability to unblock most major streaming platforms.

Our VPN testing methodology involves in-depth research on a VPN’s speed, security, and more. By combining this with what we know about Sportsnet and what you need from a VPN, we’ve been able to provide you with more accurate and relevant suggestions.

Sportsnet VPN FAQ