Based on my years of experience testing different VPN products, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN for streaming NFL games.
Streaming options
Not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to how good they are at unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. To be fair, streaming isn’t a high priority for every VPN. Some VPNs focus heavily on streaming because they know that many of their customers sign up to stream content from different regions. Others may focus more on privacy or otherwise may not have the resources to deliver reliable streaming performance. Either way, you’ll want a VPN with a strong track record when it comes to streaming if you want consistent and reliable access to services streaming NFL games.
Server Locations
If you’re in the US and have a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket, you’ll want a VPN with servers in multiple regions within the US. This is because NFL Sunday Ticket only gives you access to out-of-market NFL games. So if you want to watch your local game, you’ll need to connect to a server outside of your current region. Otherwise, if you subscribe to a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, or DirecTV, you can connect to servers in other locations to access regional broadcasts. The more server locations you have at your disposal (especially in the US), the more options you have for streaming NFL games.
Speed
Using a VPN will slow down your internet speed slightly, but if you have a fast VPN (100 Mbps or higher) you likely won’t even notice a difference as long as your baseline internet speeds are fast to begin with. If your VPN is slowing down your speeds too much, your NFL streaming experience may be glitchy. A fast VPN will ensure that your stream remains uninterrupted and you don’t miss a second of the action. For optimal speed performance, I recommend using the WireGuard protocol or your VPN provider’s own protocol.
Privacy
Privacy is an important consideration for any VPN, whether you’re a casual user or have critical online privacy needs. Look for a VPN with AES 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch — at the very least. This will help increase your privacy and ensure that your online activity remains private.
Price
The price of a VPN service is going to be a big consideration for most people. Some VPNs cost $100 or more per year, but you can get premium VPN services that are great for streaming NFL games for as little as $40 per year.
