How to use a VPN to watch NFL games
The NFL playoffs are here and while you don’t have to figure out how to live stream out-of-market games any more, you still need a VPN to unblock streaming apps on filtered Wi-Fi networks at work, school, and other places.
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server where the broadcast is available. For example, Americans should connect to a U.S. server to stream games on Peacock or YouTube TV, while Aussies need an Australian server to watch the free NFL games on 7plus.
- Cheer your team to the Super Bowl!
Why ExpressVPN is the best VPN for NFL games
To be considered great, a football team must dominate all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. The same principle applies to choosing the best VPN for streaming NFL games. You need a VPN that excels in streaming performance, privacy, and security. This way you can kick back and watch football in HD, without worrying about anything other than how your team is playing.
Here are just some of the benefits you’ll get with ExpressVPN:
- Servers in 12 U.S. states and 105 countries: there’s always an ExpressVPN server where you need one
- Streaming compatible: ExpressVPN works seamlessly with NFL Game Pass and other popular streaming services
- Ultra-fast speeds: Get flawless streaming performance, even when watching in UHD
- Apps for major devices: Watch on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Fire Stick, smart TV, and more
- 24/7 support: Get instant answers to your questions about streaming with ExpressVPN
- Money-back guarantee: Try ExpressVPN completely risk-free for 30 days on all plans
How to watch the NFL in the U.S.
There isn’t one channel or streaming platform that has every NFL game, although YouTube TV with the Sunday Ticket comes closest. Some games are exclusively streaming on Prime Video, Peacock, and even Netflix—which has two Christmas Day games. If you’re looking for a complete breakdown of your options, check out our guide on how to watch the NFL.
| Games | Channel | Best streaming option |
| In-market games | CBS & FOX | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| Out-of-market games | NFL Sunday Ticket | YouTube TV |
| Thursday Night Football | N/a | Amazon Prime Video |
| Sunday Night Football | NBC | Peacock |
| Monday Night Football | ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, ESPN2 | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo |
How to watch the NFL outside the U.S.
The best way to ensure you can watch the NFL every week is with the NFL Game Pass International. Available in over 200 countries, it gives you access to every game, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.
In addition to NFL Game Pass, the league has broadcast agreements with networks in many countries. Some broadcasts are free to watch, while others require a cable subscription. Here are some of the top ways to watch the NFL around the world.
Where to watch NFL games live in Mexico
Fox Sports broadcasts Thursday Night Football, Sunday games, Playoffs, and the Super Bowl in Mexico. ESPN has exclusive rights to Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, plus the Playoffs and Super Bowl in the country, while Sky offers over 150 live games each season via the NFL Sunday Ticket.
Where to watch NFL games live in Australia
Channel 7broadcasts multiple NFL games per week for free in Australia. You can also live stream the games on your phone and tablet, or smart TV on the 7plus app.
Where to watch NFL games live in Germany and Austria
RTL is the exclusive home to the NFL in Germany and Austria. It broadcasts select games with commentary in German on its free-to-air RTL and Nitro channels.
Where to watch NFL games live in France
You can stream one game per week in France on 6play. While you can’t choose which game will be on, it’s often the marquee matchup featuring top teams and big name players.
Where to watch NFL games live in New Zealand
The NFL is on TVNZ, TVNZ Duke, and streaming on TVNZ+ in New Zealand. The network carries three games every week, giving you plenty of chances to keep up with the hard-hitting NFL action.
Where to watch NFL games live in the UK
You can watch Monday Night Football for free on My5 in the UK. Sunday games are available on NOW with the Sky Sports Pass.
Where to watch NFL games live in Canada
TSN provides comprehensive coverage of live NFL games in Canada, including prime-time matchups and the Playoffs.
How to watch the NFL in India
In India, select NFL games, including the Super Bowl, are broadcast on Star Sports and streamed via Disney+ Hotstar.
2025 NFL Playoffs schedule
Wild Card round
| Date and Time | Matchup | Streaming |
| Saturday, January 11, 2025, 4:30 p.m. ET | Houston Texans 32, Los Angeles Chargers 12 | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Saturday, January 11, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET | Baltimore Ravens 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 14 | Amazon Prime Video |
| Sunday, January 12, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET | Buffalo Bills 31, Denver Broncos 7 | CBS, Paramount+ |
| Sunday, January 12, 2025, 4:30 p.m. ET | Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10 | FOX, YouTube TV |
| Sunday, January 12, 2025, 8:15 p.m. ET | Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 | NBC, Peacock |
| Monday, January 13, 2025, 8:15 p.m. ET | Los Angeles Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 9 | ABC, ESPN, YouTube TV |
NFC Divisional Round
| Date and Time | Matchup | Streaming |
| January 18, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET | Washington Commanders 45, Detroit Lions 31 | FOX |
| January 19, 2025, 3:00 p.m. ET | Philadelphia Eagles 28, Los Angeles Rams 22 | NBC, Peacock |
AFC Divisional Round
| Date and Time | Matchup | Streaming |
| January 18, 2025, 4:30 p.m. ET | Kansas City Chiefs 23, Houston Texans 14 | ESPN+, ESPN, ABC |
| January 19, 2025, 6:30 p.m. ET | Buffalo Bills 27, Baltimore Ravens 25 | CBS, Paramount+ |
Conference Championship Round
| Date and Time | Matchup | Streaming |
| January 26, 2025, 3:00 p.m. ET | Philadelphia Eagles 55, Washington Commanders 23 | Fox, 7plus, TVNZ, RTL |
| January 26, 2025, 6:30 p.m. ET | Kansas City Chiefs 32, Buffalo Bills 29 | CBS, Paramount+, 7plus, TVNZ, RTL |
Super Bowl LIX
| Date and Time | Matchup | Streaming |
| Sunday, February 9, 2025 kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET | Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs | FOX, ITV, 7plus, TVNZ, RTL, M6 |
Can I use a free VPN to watch NFL games?
Free VPNs can’t usually access streaming platforms and often lack the speed and capacity required for seamless streaming, leading to issues like buffering and mid-game cut-offs. In contrast, ExpressVPN works well with just about any streaming service, offers high-speed connections, and has a vast network of servers across 105 countries. Put all of this together and you get top-notch streaming performance wherever you are. Take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee, and try ExpressVPN risk-free.
What makes ExpressVPN the top choice?
- World’s #1 VPN: Recognized as the top VPN by CNET, PCWorld, and other industry leaders for its speed, security, and ease of use.
- Strong Encryption: Protects your data from hackers, trackers, and surveillance so you can browse in confidence.
- TrustedServer Technology: ExpressVPN servers don’t use hard drives, meaning they’re unable to store any browsing data.
- No-Logs Policy: Guarantees ExpressVPN will never record or store your activity data, meaning it can never be shared.
FAQ: About using a VPN for NFL games
Can I use a VPN to watch the NFL from another country?
Some users might watch the NFL by connecting to a VPN server in a country other than their own, but doing so may violate copyright or the streaming service’s terms of use. ExpressVPN is a privacy and security tool, and using it to circumvent copyright is against our Terms of Service. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for ensuring that your use complies with all relevant terms and laws.
Is it legal to watch the NFL with a VPN?
In most countries, yes. A VPN is an effective tool for protecting your privacy and preventing cybersnoopers, trackers, and your ISP from seeing what you’re doing online. That said, if you use a VPN to violate copyright restrictions, you may be breaking the law and your streaming provider’s terms of service. It’s a good idea to check the laws in your current location before using a VPN.
How can I watch the NFL games in Europe with a VPN?
It’s easy. Simply connect to a VPN server location that matches where you’re streaming from. For example, Brits can connect to a VPN server location in the UK to watch the NFL on NOW, Germans can connect to a server in Germany to stream games on RTL, or you can connect to a server in your home country to watch on DAZN NFL Game Pass.
Can I use a VPN to stream NFL games?
Yes, a VPN can improve your NFL streaming by preventing activity-based ISP throttling and bypassing streaming blocks on the Wi-Fi at your school or office. It encrypts your connection, hiding your activity from your network or ISP, ensuring smoother streams while enhancing your online privacy and security.
How can I watch NFL games with VPN?
First, get a reliable streaming VPN with servers in locations where NFL games are available. Connect to a server that matches the region of your streaming service. For example, Americans watching on YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV, need to connect to a server in the U.S. ExpressVPN has server locations in 18 U.S. cities that are optimized to work with these platforms, providing smooth and secure streaming for NFL games.
How can I stream NFL games for free with a VPN?
The NFL has free live streams on 7plus in Australia, RTL in Germany and Austria, TVNZ+ in New Zealand, and Monday Night Football games on My5 in the UK. There are also free trials for streaming platforms like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV in the U.S. which will allow you to stream some games for free. To watch with a VPN, connect to a VPN server location that matches your local broadcaster, for example, Australians watching on 7plus can connect to a server in Australia.
Is there a streaming service that gets every NFL game?
The DAZN NFL Game Pass has every game live and on-demand for viewers outside the U.S. and Canada. There is no single platform in the U.S. that has every game, although YouTube TV with the Sunday Ticket is closest. The platform has every game except Thursday Night Football, which is on Prime Video, the two Netflix exclusives on Christmas Day, and the two games that are exclusively on Peacock.
Can I change my location on the NFL app with a VPN?
The NFL app determines your location based on your IP address. If you’re traveling in the U.S. and want to watch your team play, connect to a VPN server location to a city where the game you want to watch is streaming on the app, and enjoy the game as if you never left home.
What should I look for in a VPN to stream NFL games?
When choosing a VPN to stream NFL games, look for one with proven streaming capabilities. Not all VPNs work with streaming platforms, but ExpressVPN has a strong track record of unblocking popular services, ensuring you never miss a game. Server availability is also key. A VPN with a wide range of server locations lets you connect to regions where NFL games are being broadcast, giving you more ways to access live coverage.
Speed is equally important for a smooth viewing experience. ExpressVPN offers lightning-fast speeds to maintain high-quality streams and avoid buffering, so you won’t be stuck watching a frozen screen during a crucial play. For privacy, look for essential features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch, both of which keep your personal information secure even if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
