3 Best VPNs for the Super Bowl
Summary: NBC Sports’ live broadcast of Superbowl XLIX will be freely accessible to everyone in the United States, but IP blocking will prevent everyone outside the United States and people in IP restricted areas (like work or school) from accessing it.
The simple way to defeat this IP blocking and watch the Superbowl is with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
VPNs reroute your internet access to trick NBC into thinking you’re in the US so you can watch the SuperBowl without any interruption.
To get unrestricted access to the SuperBowl, get Express VPN now.
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UPDATED: 30th January 2015.
It’s that big weekend. You’ve got your beer, you’ve got your food, and buddies abound as you await the kickoff.
But if you’re in a country with Internet censorship laws, you may be SOL on streaming a live game. Many countries with content filtering will block things like the Superbowl.
Thankfully, by using a VPN you can get around those content blocks, and so do totally anonymously.
Why Are They Blocking the Game?!
Depending on where you may be on game day, the country you’re in may have some content restrictions for the Internet.
Many countries, particularly places with government-run censorship programs like China, will block content they deem unseemly or unnecessary to their populations.
In addition, countries with companies who have a monopoly on the communications industry often use their grip on the market to control content – which is infuriating to locals and tourists alike.
By using a VPN, you can circumvent these content blocks, and do so in complete anonymity.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a virtual private network that basically creates a exclusive network through a server with a company.
This company encrypts all of your information as it’s sent through this network, and also hides your IP address, so no one can see what you’re streaming or where you’re streaming it from.
Top 3 VPNs for Watching the Superbowl Overseas
Here are the top three VPN services available right now on:
#1 Choice: Express VPN – 9.5/10 (Best VPN to watch the Superbowl)
When it comes to streaming anything online, Express VPN offers the most seamless viewing experience.
Their reputation for connection speed is excellent, and the reliability of the service can’t be beat.
Even their encryption is outstanding; and they don’t log any of their users’ data, so your privacy is protected even from them.
You’ll find the software very easy to download and use.
And rest easy if you’re a technology newbie – this company has an excellent customer service team, so if you get stuck, their support system is there to back you up 24/7/365.
They have instant live chat help, as well as e-mail, with an average response time of less than 30 minutes, so there’s no checking your inbox all afternoon in a panic while you wait for a response.
They also offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so there’s no excuse for buyer’s remorse. You can even get a month free with their referral program, if you tell a friend and they sign up.
In addition, Express VPN has server locations in 97 countries, so if you’re watching the big game abroad, this is a real perk.
Also, their service comes with industry leading 256-bit encryption, which will help keep your personal data secure.
Their service is also very device compatible, so you can use it to watch the halftime show on any WiFi enabled device you may be packing.
Even better, you can use it on more than one device simultaneously – watch an instant replay on your iPhone while you continue to stream the live game on your laptop.
If you’re watching the Superbowl overseas and want unrestricted access to the Superbowl, get Express VPN now.
#2: IPVanish – 7/10 – No live support, not compatible with iOS
If you’re in some desolate corner of the world where you just can’t access an Express VPN server for the life of you, give IPVanish a go next.
Yea, it’s not as good as Express VPN, but there are some perks here that will at least get you connected to watch the big game.
For one thing, IPVanish’s connection is every bit as fast as Express VPN’s. With their sizable network of servers, you get a connection that’s always fast and reliable.
Plus, with unlimited bandwidth on all of their service plans, you can watch all the replays you want, without every having to worry about busting a traffic cap.
There are a few downers with IPVanish though. For one thing (and it’s a biggie), unlike Express VPN, IPVanish isn’t compatible with iOS.
While their software works seamlessly with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android systems, they don’t yet have a platform supported by iOS.
Another drawback to using IPVanish is that they don’t have live support.
While their staff are available 24/7, with no live chat support, you are likely to be waiting at least a few hours to hear back from them.
All in all, IPVanish is a pretty decent VPN, and definitely has the connection quality to back up one hell of a Superbowl party for you. But if you’re using iOS devices, use Express VPN instead.
IPVanish can be found at this website.
#3: HideMyAss – 5/10 – Slow connection, not ideal for streaming
Though HideMyAss’s score is pretty low compared to the other VPN’s I’ve mentioned, their server network puts them into the category of popular VPNs.
With 151 server locations around the world, this VPN has one of the largest networks you’ll see.
However, it doesn’t seem to do much for their connection quality. Streaming with HideMyAss is not advised – if you try to watch the Superbowl over a HideMyAss server, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Even with unlimited bandwidth, streaming is slow, choppy, and always buffering. What’s more is that the connection is notoriously unreliable.
This was quite different from the experience I had with Express VPN. I always had a strong, reliable connection with no buffering even when streaming Netflix on Express VPN.
No matter which server you connect to with HideMyAss, there always seems to be a pretty good chance that you’re going to lose your connection once or twice (and miss a few plays no doubt).
Plus, when the VPN fails, your connection is left wide open, and your information is totally vulnerable.
Even with 24/7 support on three different communication channels, HideMyAss’s staff is nowhere near as on the ball as Express VPN’s.
More than likely, you’ll be waiting at least overnight to get an e-mail response back, and there is definitely some hold time in your future for their phone support.
Yea, HideMyAss’s network is huge, but with such a crummy connection quality, they’re just not worth worrying about on game day. Use Express VPN and never miss a moment of the action.
HideMyAss is here.
Conclusion: Use Express VPN to watch the Superbowl
We all love to travel, and seriously, what could be cooler than watching the Superbowl on an awesome European vacation?
But with the dividing lines on a map come different rules about how people can use the internet.
Sometimes these are laws and government censorship programs, but often times they are communication companies with a controlling grip on the market.
Either way, your best bet for streaming the big game is to have a fast, reliable VPN under your belt that will blast through any content blocks you may encounter while overseas.
With the great service of Express VPN, you can guarantee both your access and your anonymity, as well as the speed and fluidity of the stream.
The last thing you want to see at opening kickoff is a buffering bar in the corner of your screen.
So save yourself a little game day panic, and sign up with Express VPN now.
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