As a VPN Expert, These Are the VPNs I Recommend for NFL Streaming

If you’re looking for the best VPN for streaming the NFL, as well as pretty much anything else you want to stream, then ExpressVPN is the one for you. ExpressVPN’s smooth interface requires zero learning curve and delivers a consistent experience across a variety of platforms, making it a solid choice for anyone new to VPNs. You can use ExpressVPN on smart TVs, Apple TV and Fire TV Stick if you prefer watching games on the big screen. Alternatively, you can also use ExpressVPN on your laptop or mobile device if you want to stream NFL games on the go. 

Its speeds weren’t quite as fast as other competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark, but ExpressVPN’s speed performance is still plenty fast enough for a smooth streaming experience, as long as your base internet speeds are above 60Mbps or so. With ExpressVPN, you’ll get access to a large network of servers in 105 countries worldwide, and all 50 of the United States -- which could theoretically give you the ability to stream virtually any out-of-market NFL game.

In addition to being excellent for streaming, ExpressVPN is a solid VPN for protecting your privacy online. It’s equipped with AES 256-bit encryption, along with a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a RAM-only server infrastructure. ExpressVPN also promises to keep no logs of your internet activity while connected to its network. Its app security and no-logs claims are independently audited on a regular basis, which provides additional peace of mind that your data is safe. It’s a top VPN, but it’s also one of the most expensive on the market at $13 per month, $100 per year or $140 for the first two years combined (then $117 per year). If you’re not satisfied with the service, you can get a full refund within 30 days of purchase.

Surfshark is a great choice if you’re looking for a VPN with a premium feel at a budget price. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs and offers more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including in 24 different US cities. Surfshark is excellent for streaming NFL games, as well as for streaming your favorite movies and shows on other platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Disney Plus. The app is easy to use across all platforms, including on mobile, laptop, smart TVs and streaming devices.

Surfshark offers some pretty cool and unique privacy features that make it a solid choice for folks who want to add additional layers of privacy to their VPN experience. In addition to standard VPN privacy features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch, Surfshark has an IP rotator feature that changes your IP address every couple of minutes without breaking the VPN tunnel, a Dynamic Multihop feature that lets you double-VPN through any two servers you want and an Alternative ID feature that generates a fake persona (complete with a full name, email address and physical address) that you can use to protect your true identity when signing up for online services. 

Although Surfshark’s monthly plan is expensive at $15.45 per month, its longer-term plan prices are budget-friendly. The yearly plan costs $48 for the first year (then $79 annually) and the two-year plan costs $54 total for the first 27 months (then $79 annually).  

NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN based on our latest speed tests. So if you want the fastest VPN for streaming NFL games, then NordVPN is a solid bet. NordVPN is also a great choice for NFL fans who want access to a huge network of servers, thanks to the VPN’s 7,400-plus servers in 126 countries (including in 22 different US cities). It’s an excellent VPN for streaming international content from around the globe as well as for catching NFL action stateside. With NordVPN, you’ll be able to stream NFL games on your computer or mobile device, as well as across a range of smart TVs and streaming devices, including Apple TV and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.

Like Surfshark, NordVPN also includes a few unique extras with its VPN service. NordVPN’s Meshnet feature allows you to create your own VPN server, securely share files with others and set up a remote local area network for gaming with friends or collaborating with classmates or colleagues. You’ll also get Tor over VPN (which leverages the Onion network for an additional layer of privacy) multi-hop connections and obfuscation, in addition to standard VPN privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy. 

Although NordVPN offers attractive introductory prices, its renewal prices balloon to the some of the most expensive in the industry. The monthly plan costs $13 per month, the annual plan costs $60 for the first year (then $140 per year) and the two-year plan costs $81 total for the first two years (then $140 per year).

Like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access has servers in every single US state, which makes it a another good choice for anyone looking to unblock specific local broadcasts on YouTube TV or similar live TV streaming platforms. Using PIA might not be quite as straightforward as ExpressVPN, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy. I like how you can customize and fine-tune the look and feel of the app itself as well as the level of encryption you want. This lets you dial in exactly what you want at your fingertips as you use the app and allows you to prioritize things like privacy or speed. PIA’s apps are available on Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick and laptops and mobile devices, giving you options to stream whether you’re on your couch or out and about. 

One downside is that PIA’s speed performance was disappointing in our latest round of testing, cutting our base internet speeds in half. That shouldn’t be an issue if your internet speeds are fast enough to begin with (ideally somewhere above 100Mbps), but it could cause interruptions in your streaming experience if your regular network connection is on the slow end.

PIA offers industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch and a no-logs policy to keep your online activities private. You’ll also get additional features like obfuscation, split tunneling, multihop connections and an ad and malware blocker. It’s a solid VPN overall -- despite the lackluster speed performance -- and it’s one of the cheapest around, at $12 per month, $40 for the first year (then $50 per year) or $79 every three years. The annual and three-year plans include 500GB of cloud storage per year at no additional cost.