Watching out-of-market NFL Games with a VPN – No Matter Where You Are

Why’s it such a pain to watch out-of-market NFL games?

We’ve all heard about the main streaming problem with NFL matches – so let’s just go ahead and say it one more time. You can’t get out of market NFL games in your local area. The LA Rams are playing and you’re in LA ? sorry, that game won’t be available to stream in your area. That’s what makes it an out-of-market game.

Let’s take a closer look at what the league does to stop you watching the game you want. There are two main methods they use.

• Blackouts. The NFL has a habit of blocking live broadcasts in specific areas. That means if there’s a local channel or streaming service that has the exclusive rights to show a particular game, you won’t be able to watch it at all. It’s a good way to get you to go to the game and pay for a ticket instead of watching online. For example, if you’re in a area where a specific local channel has the rights to show a game, you’ll just see a “not available in your area” error when you try to stream it. The NFL makes a schedule of which games are shown in each region, so it’s always a good idea to check to see which games might be affected.
• Geoblocking. This is a more general term that just means any content that is blocked in certain areas. Most NFL games are hard to watch when you’re abroad, because the streaming services that show them are region-locked. For example, you won’t be able to watch Hulu, ESPN+, or YouTube TV base plan outside the United States, but on the other hand, NFL Game Pass International is available almost everywhere except for the US, Canada and China.

So what’s the solution? If you’re somewhere where your favourite team’s games are blacked out, a VPN can be a lifesaver. A VPN basically changes the IP address you use to access the internet, and makes your internet traffic look like it’s coming from a different location. So, if you connect to a VPN server in a different location, websites and streaming services can’t tell where you really are. That means you can watch out-of-market NFL games no matter where you are, or what device you’re using.

How to watch out-of-market NFL games with a VPN

First things first – you need to choose a reputable VPN service provider. Don’t even think about using a free VPN – they’re often slow and can put your security at risk. Some of them may even collect and sell your personal data to third parties.

A VPN isn’t just a way to watch out-of-market NFL games, though – it’s also a way to stream live local NFL broadcasts from anywhere in the world. That means you can follow your favourite team wherever you go.

PC (macOS, Windows)

1. Sign up for VeePN.
2. Download VeePN for macOS or VeePN for Windows from the official website.
3. Install VeePN and open the app on your PC.

4. Choose the most appropriate server location.

5. Turn your VPN on.

6. Open the streaming platform of your choice and watch the game.

Mobile or tablet (iOS, Android)

1. Sign up for VeePN.
2. Download VeePN for iOS from AppStore or VeePN for Android from Play Store.
3. Install the VeePN app on your smartphone or tablet and open it.

4. Choose the preferred server location.

5. Turn your VPN on and watch NFL games on the selected streaming service.

For more details, check out our comprehensive guides on how to use a VPN on iPhone and Android devices.

Smart TV device

1. Go to the VeePN website and sign up.
2. Download VeePN for Smart TV, Fire TV, or Android TV. Also, there are solutions for game consoles (Xbox and PlayStation).
3. Install the VeePN app on your device.
4. Enjoy the unlimited streaming experience.

Streaming device

Unfortunately, most streaming devices do not support native VPN applications. So to use VeePN on your Kodi, Roku, Firestick, or Apple TV device, you will need to install it on your Wi-Fi router. This way, you can cover your entire network with a reliable VPN connection. Here is how to set it up in a few simple steps:

1. Create a VeePN account.
2. Enter your IP address in the browser’s search bar to access your router’s settings.
3. Find the VPN section (its name and location varies depending on your router’s firmware).
4. Get Configuration Files on the VeePN website and follow the instructions on how to install them on your specific router.
5. Check if your VPN connection works properly.

You can find more details in our recent guide on how to set up a VPN on a router.

Where to watch out-of-market NFL games

Of course, you could just watch the games on cable TV, but most of the major online services will give you access to the majority of top football matches – including Sunday, Monday, and Thursday Night Football – and even the Superbowl, for that matter. Let’s take a closer look at the most notable NFL-broadcasting streaming platforms.

1. NFL Game Pass International

This streaming service is exclusively focused on the National Football League – it’s got NFL Redzone and works on pretty much all devices. The main draw of NFL Game Pass is its huge coverage – the service works almost everywhere in the world and shows every single NFL game of the season. Of course, using a VPN is a must if you’re outside the US or Canada (for example, if you’re temporarily living there).

Availability: Worldwide, excluding the US, Canada, and China.

Monthly price: $3.20

Game coverage: All NFL games

Free trial: 7 days

NFL RedZone: Yes

2. DAZN Canada

DAZN is the best option to watch all NFL games (including out-of-market and preseason matches) in Canada. The service also covers an impressive number of other sports, including European soccer, darts, snooker, and boxing. All in all, it’s a great alternative to NFL Game Pass International, which you can easily access with a VPN while traveling.

Availability: Canada

Monthly price: $24.99

Game coverage: All NFL games

Free trial: 30 days

NFL RedZone: Yes

3. Hulu + Live TV

Hulu offers quite an appealing add-on to its main platform. It includes live streaming of NFL and other sports events on various TV channels available with an extended subscription plan. In particular, you can watch the majority of games on CBS, FOX, NBC (Monday Night Football), ESPN (Sunday Night Football), and the NFL Network channel. However, NFL RedZone comes only with the sports add-on.

Availability: The US

Monthly price: $69.99 ($50 for first three months)

Game coverage: All NFL games

Free trial: No

NFL RedZone: As a paid add-on

4. YouTube TV

YouTube TV provides access to a vast number of American TV channels, including ABC, NBC, NFL Network, ESPN, NBC Sports, and NBA TV. Since 2023, this streaming platform has let fans enjoy every NFL game, including local, national, and out-of-market matches, with NFL Sunday Ticket. The NFL RedZone, however, comes as an add-on with an additional fee. Also, note that YouTube TV is one of the most expensive options on our list (but also with the longest free trial period).

Availability: The USA

Monthly price: $72.99

Game coverage: All NFL games

Free trial: 60 days

NFL RedZone: As a paid add-on

5. FuboTV

FuboTV is another over-the-top media service covering over 220 live channels, including ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and NFL Network. NFL RedZone is also available for an extra $10.99 per month. FuboTV allows you to watch all NFL games, including Sunday regional matches and the Super Bowl. However, the service’s price is relatively high, and the trial period is shorter than with YouTube TV.

Availability: The USA

Monthly price: $74.99 (Pro), $84.99 (Elite), $94.99 (Premier)

Game coverage: All NFL games

Free trial: 30 days

NFL RedZone: As a paid add-on

6. NFL Plus

Previously, there were two versions of NFL Game Pass – international and American. The latter has recently been replaced with NFL Plus. This app provides access to both live matches and the games from the foregoing seasons. However, there are two major cons of this service. First, NFL Plus doesn’t provide access to all out-of-market matches. And second, its basic plan is available only for tablets and smartphones (while the ad-free premium plan available for all devices is quite pricey).

Availability: The US

Monthly price: $4.99 (basic), $9.99 (premium)

Game coverage: Local team’s games

Free trial: 7 days

NFL RedZone: No

7. Amazon Prime Video

This streaming giant also offers some NFL content, though it doesn’t cover all the games and lacks NFL RedZone. The service only offers Thursday Night Football, but you can’t watch postseason games and Super Bowl on the platform. All in all, it’s a good option if you’re already subscribed to Prime Video. Other than that, there are some cheaper alternatives with better coverage. 

Availability: Worldwide, excluding China, Russia, Syria, Iran, and North Korea

Monthly price: $14.99

Game coverage: Thursday Night Football only

Free trial: 30 days

NFL RedZone: No

As you can see, there are not many options allowing you to watch every single NFL game, including out-of-market, regional, national, and preseason matches. Moreover, some of the options are quite costly. So, if you’re looking for a way to stream NFL games for free, prioritize services that offer a longer trial period. 

Note that we do not recommend watching NFL on free streaming services since they are mostly illegal and may be dangerous for your cybersecurity. Such websites often contain malware-infected pop-ups, intrusive ads, phishing links, and more, so you’d better keep yourself away from them.

Now, let’s sum up our comparison of the best NFL live-streaming options you can watch with a VPN. 

Live TV and local channels – catching local broadcasts

Watching NFL games on live TV streaming services and local channels is always an absolute necessity for fans who want to catch all the regional broadcasts and keep up with their beloved team. Local channels like CBS, FOX and NBC are the main broadcasters for most local NFL games – including the Sunday afternoon games, the Sunday Night Football and the rest of the primetime games. But the games that you can watch on these channels will all depend on your location, as each region gets a different set of NFL games and broadcasts due to the local team affiliations and broadcast rights.

For example, let’s say you’re a Cowboys fan living in Miami and you want to watch some Sunday Cowboys games on the local CBS of FOX affiliate – well if those games are selected for broadcast in the Miami local market, then you’ll be able to watch them. If not though, then those games become out of market and you’ll have to find a way to watch them. Thankfully though, streaming services have made it so much easier to access live TV and local channels without needing a traditional cable subscription

YouTube TV is one of the standout options that lets you access local CBS, FOX and NBC channels, along with over 100 other channels. The base plan is a pretty good deal at $82.99 per month, and lets you watch all your NFL games, including live and primetime games, Sunday Night Football, and the rest. Hulu + Live TV is another popular choice for the same reason – it lets you watch all the local channels, so you never miss a local NFL game.

If you want to watch the out of market games then an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription is the answer. With this service you’ll get access to every single Sunday afternoon regular season NFL game that isn’t available on your local TV stations. You can get it directly through YouTube TV or via the YouTube Primetime Channels, so you can follow all your favourite NFL teams, no matter where you live.

For fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this will be the ultimate solution to all their viewing needs.International fans aren’t left out of the fun, either. You can catch every NFL game, from opening day right on through to the Super Bowl, with NFL Game Pass via DAZN. This is a dream come true for fans living outside the US – you don’t have to miss a single snap of your favorite team in action.

To really supercharge your NFL viewing experience, consider throwing in NFL RedZone to your streaming package. That gives you all the touchdowns from every game on a Sunday afternoon, which is a total must-have for fantasy football nuts and die-hard fans alike. And then there’s Amazon Prime Video, which throws in some exclusive NFL stuff, including Thursday Night Football – so you’ve got even more ways to watch the games as the season unfolds.

By mixing and matching live TV, local channels, and streaming services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL Game Pass, you can get a seriously detailed view of every single NFL game – whether it’s a big time matchup between local rivals, a prime-time showdown, or a game that’s being played thousands of miles away from you. No matter where you live, you can catch live NFL action and not have to miss a single minute of it.

The best places to watch NFL with a VPN: The round-up

With all these streaming options on the table, you can cheer on your favourite teams, whether that’s the Arizona Cardinals or Atlanta Falcons, or any of the other 26 teams that make up the NFL.

VeePN : Getting you the football games you want

Looking for a trustworthy VPN for out-of-market games? Check out VeePN! It provides access to over 2,500 VPN servers across 89 locations worldwide – just pick the one you need and enjoy the unlimited football streaming experience. Moreover, VeePN will protect your private data from prying eyes and take your online security to the next level, thanks to multiple robust features and top-notch AES-256 encryption.

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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