This year’s Football season started on September 10 and there has been no shortage of excitement since. A total of 256 games will be played this season over the course of 17 weeks. All of which will be covered on NFL Game Pass. The top contenders from the AFC this year are the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kansas City Chiefs lead by Patrick Mahomes. Whereas in the NFC you have the New Orleans Saints, and L.A. Rams leading the pack.
NFL Game Pass is an excellent service covering all aspects of the sport. You can choose to watch the games live or on replay without the use of NFL TV VPN. Additionally, you have exclusive shows like Good Morning Football, and NFL Total Access.
For international viewers, NFL Game Pass is perfect, there’s no drawback. However, for US viewers, the issue is pesky blackout restrictions. The service does not allow US viewers to access live games due to league licensing and copyright issues, which is why having a reliable NFL TV VPN workaround is a must.
NFL Game Pass determines your location based on your IP address and then blocks you if you’re in the US. You can use a VPN to get the international version of NFL Game Pass which will allow you to bypass blackouts and watch all the games live.
NFL Game Pass Blackouts
Regional blackouts are common for sports leagues these days and the NFL is no different. Cable providers in the US own the rights to broadcast NFL games therefore you can’t stream it on NFL Game Pass.
It makes sense for cable providers to protect their asset and try to make it as profitable as possible. However it’s also a huge inconvenience for fans who prefer streaming content and specifically cord cutters.
International Subscription Packages
The pricing is fairly cheap considering you get full access to all 256 games and extra shows and replays. Keep in mind that you need to access the International version in order to watch live games.
| Plan | Weekly | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Not available | $14.99 |
| Pro | $0.99 | $59.99 |
The Pro annual plan can be split up into two payments of $32.69 each if you prefer not to pay the full amount all at once.
Supported Devices
The app is very easy to use and compatible on almost all devices. You can install it and watch live NFL games instantly on the following devices:
- PC
- Mac
- iOS
- Android
- Xbox One
- PS4
- Apple TV
- Fire TV
- Android TV
Bypass NFL Game Pass Blackouts with a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is essentially a security and encryption tool. However for NFL Game Pass fans in the US it’s the perfect solution to get around blackouts.
A VPN hide your IP address and by doing that it hides your physical location. You can choose any server location to connect to outside the US. VPN providers usually have hundreds if not thousands of servers spread all over the world so you always have a valid option.
The key is to register for the International version of NFL Game Pass. For example, if you connect to a VPN server in Milan, Italy you’ll then get the Italian version which does allow you to watch live games. Any location outside the US will work just the same.
Best NFL Game Pass VPN
Sports streaming services are the toughest challenge for VPNs to overcome because they deploy aggressive blocking campaigns on IPs they suspect are coming from a VPN. However I’ve tested the VPNs listed below with NFL Game Pass and I was able to get the International version and watch live games.
That said, not all VPNs are created equal. Evaluating the best NFL Game Pass VPN consists of 3 main elements:
- Streaming quality/speed: VPN servers should be optimized to deliver Ultra HD quality. Nobody wants to watch a pixelated Football game, obviously.
- Consistency: This is the downfall for most VPNs, they just keep getting blocked and can’t keep up.
- Value for Money: Everyone loves a good bargain. If you’re paying for a service, you might as well get the most out of it.
VPNs can be used for a lot more than just bypassing blackouts.
NordVPN
In addition to bypassing NFL Game Pass blackouts, you can basically overcome any streaming service geo-blocks. With over 5800 high speed servers you can stream just about anything in Ultra HD quality.
Furthermore the product offers military-grade encryption with the AES-256 bit algorithm. NordVPN’s security tools like CyberSec and Adblocker give it a clear advantage in terms of value for money since you’re getting more functionality out of the product.
Additionally the company has a strict no-logs policy to guarantee users have full anonymity whenever connected to a NordVPN server. The fact that the company is headquartered in Panama instils further confidence in their no-logs policy since Panama is not part of any International data retention law.
Surfshark
A security oriented VPN with advanced features that will help you stay anonymous online and encrypt your sensitive data. The service can also unblock major streaming services including NFL Game Pass. However, the stability isn’t as good as the 2 options above.
CybeGhost VPN
You can unblock all streaming services and benefit from high level encryption for a relatively low price. Additional features like DNS leak protection and IP leak test are also available. The app is very easy to use and compatible with most devices.
A no-logs policy protects your right to online anonymity specially for torrenting where it’s always advised to keep your identity hidden to avoid copyright and other related violations.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN offers a reliable service that can unblock streaming services and secure your personal data at the same time. It’s priced a bit higher than it’s competitors. However your getting premium access to over 3000 servers and 24/7 live chat support. Additionally you can enjoy your internet freedom with complete anonymity using shared IPs.
The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and therefore has no obligation to record user data which allows them to maintain a strict no-logs policy.
VPN Additional Benefits
As I said earlier VPNs are complex security tools with many functionalities you can benefit from other than bypassing geo-blocks.
- Gaming: Gamers can connect to different server regions and play games in multiple time zones. I personally use this method to take advantage of daily rewards. Complete your daily missions then connect to a different time zone and do them again.
- P2P Support: Most VPNs offer full P2P support so you can download all the torrents you want with complete anonymity and protection.
- Online Shopping: VPNs are a must-have if you make online purchases. You’re payment information is the prime target for hackers so you should definitely secure it.
- Betting Apps: Sports fans are known to be avid gamblers. However, betting apps are illegal in some countries and therefore restricted. You can access those apps and place your bets with a VPN.
Additionally you can benefit from SmartDNS which most VPN providers offer as a complementary service.
Bypass NFL Game Pass Blackouts With SmartDNS
SmartDNS is similar to a VPN in that it also allows you to unblock streaming services and get around blackouts. However the main difference is that SmartDNS routes specific preselected URLs through a secure tunnel. On the other hand VPNs routes all the traffic through without distinction.
If your preferred streaming device is Apple TV or any other device that doesn’t support native VPN connections, then SmartDNS is the right choice for you. It can be configured on just about any device since it’s purely a DNS configuration.
Furthermore you’ll get better bandwidth speed since you’re only routing specific DNS requests instead of the whole thing which leads to less network congestion.
Premium VPN providers offering a reliable SmartDNS service as well:
Bottom Line
International NFL fans have nothing to worry about, they can just get on NFL Game Pass and watch all the games live. However the same is not true for US viewers due to the league’s copyright and licensing deals with cable providers.
Therefore the only way for US viewers to watch live games is via a VPN which will allow you to masquerade as an International viewer. You can also use SmartDNS to get around blackouts, it works just the same and supports a wider range of devices.
Bypass blackouts with the an NFL Game Pass VPN that works! follow these steps:
- Sign up with one of the recommended VPNs above.
- Download the VPN app on your preferred streaming device.
- Log in to your VPN app and connect to any server outside the US.
- Download the NFL Game Pass app on your streaming device.
- Purchase an International Game Pass subscription (you’ll get the international version as long as your connected to the VPN server).
- That’s it, you can stream live games now.
