How to bypass MLB Blackouts & watch the games

Are the Orioles going to win? Will the Braves make a come-back? How’s it going to be for the Cardinals? And will luck hold up for the Dodgers? Predictions are all over the place. Either way, the 2021 Major League Baseballs (MLB) is an event you won’t want to miss.

TOP 4 VPNs for watching MLB

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Watch the MLB blackouts with a VPN

MLB.TV blackouts are a headache. They’re also a myth. Most people (even sports writers like Maury Brown of Forbes) think MLB can simply do away with them at a nod of their head. But the truth is there’s not one blackout – there are 30 different ones. That’s because these blackouts are imposed by each of the teams that want to impress their Regional Sports Networks (RSN). To do so, they need to boost their profits and that comes by placing geo-specific cable restrictions. Their hope? Fans outside those privileged areas will petition for those select channels.

If you live in one of those blackout areas (and here’s how to find out if you do), you can simply sign up for a VPN that swaps your internet server address location with a chosen other, helping you watch the games anywhere from any device.

Signing up for a VPN is simple, fast – and, sometimes, free. Nor do you lose out on streaming quality.

VPN server locations in the USA

Buying a VPN? What to look for in 2021

Welcome to a melee of more than 800 VPN providers, with disreputable services scrambled into the mix. To make sure you buy the right VPN, speed is the last feature you’ll check into. More important is to ensure you get the following:

• The VPN contract and privacy policy: Look at its fine print and make sure all is transparent and above-board. Whom does the VPN provider share your information with? (Preferably no one). What does the provider do with your log-ins and user data? How does it store that information, and what’s their privacy policy on that?
• Multiple servers in diverse locations: A good VPN provider should have at least five different servers in different US states and countries for overcoming geo-blocking restrictions. The more servers the better for scalability, speed – and choice of location. NordVPN, for example, has over 5,500 servers. Different servers in diverse locations help you hop from state to state, bypassing the jumble of these 30 different blackouts.
• Data caps: You’ll want a VPN with generous data amounts so you can stream as many games as you wish and keep up with their speed.
• Cross-device compatibility: You’ll want your VPN to support not just your desktop computer, but all your devices (including your SmartWatch), so you can watch the games from your bathtub, if you wish. Some VPN providers, like NordVPN, have browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and less-known devices, helping you watch the Games on the go.
• Price: There are free VPNs, but free is definitely not optimal. If you’re a die-hard baseball fan, 2021 may be your first year of many to use a VPN for bypassing MLB.TV blackouts. Longer-term subscriptions bring along discounts. CyberGhost, for example, gives you a 45-day money back guarantee if you sign up to their three-year subscription.

The best way to test your VPN and see if it helps you access those blocked channels is to sign up for a free trial period.  You can always switch to another provider, if needed. After all, VPNs are an up-and-coming business and here to stay.

Best VPNs for streaming MLB 2021

Our winners are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Cyberghost and Surfshark.

ExpressVPN gives you:

• Competitive speeds of 135 Mbps and more than 95% bandwidth
• Easily unblocks restrictions from channels that include Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, HBO, Hulu
• Advanced security across devices
• 24/7 live support
• Also runs in China and the UAE
• 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
• Helps you watch Games on 6 simultaneous devices

Visit ExpressVPN

NordVPN gives you:

• Netflix, Amazon, Disney+
• Average speeds of 47.56 Mbps with no bandwidth limits
• 24/7 live customer support
• Unparalleled security with double data encryption and Onion support for extra security, among other features.
• Viewing on six simultaneous connections
• 5,410+ servers in 58 countries
• 1,970 servers in 15 different locations in the US

Visit NordVPN

Cyberghost gives you:

• Excellent UX interface and functionality – perfect for VPN-user beginners
• Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu
• Helps you watch Games on 7 simultaneous devices
• Speed: 7.12 Mbps with 70% bandwidth
• Live chat and 24/7 customer support
• 6,500+ servers in 90 countries
• 1,125 servers in 11 different locations in the US
• Unprecedented 45-day guarantee

Visit Cyberghost

SurfShark gives you:

• Speed: 9.29 Mbps
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Powerful encryption capacity
• Access to torrents
• 3,200+ servers
• More than 500 servers spread along 20 US cities
• Intuitive modern interface with excellent privacy features
• Allows simultaneous viewing on unlimited devices

Visit Surfshark

How to use the VPN service from your laptop or mobile device

You can set up a VPN on devices that range from Windows-based desktop computers and Android smartphones to Chrome tablets and more.

Once you’ve chosen your client, here’s how to set up a VPN on Windows:

• Visit your Settings menu. Choose “Network & Internet”.
• Navigate to VPN and click “Add a VPN connection.”
• Fill in the pop-up page with the relevant information:
  • VPN Provider: Select Windows (built-in)
  • Connection Name – your choice

Enter the:

• Server Name or Address
• Your VPN Type
• Your Sign-In Information (such as your user name and password).

To set up a VPN on your Androids device, simply:

• Choose “Network & Internet”, “Advanced” and “VPN.”(You may have to run a manual search for VPN).
• Click “Add” and fill in your VPN name, type and server address before clicking “Save.”
• You’ll get a VPN screen, where you add your VPN username and password and click “Connect.”

Best MLB Streaming Services for 2021

You’ll find the MLB Games on ESPN, FOX, FS1, TBS and MLB Network. The last includes Spring Training, the regular season and the MLB Postseason.

The most budget-friendly options for sports fans are:

MLB.TV

The official website of MLB will be able to grant all US and Canadian citizens the opportunity to watch pretty much all baseball matches without any limitations. There have been instances of blackouts though at specific districts. MLB TV allows for two simultaneous devices, one desktop, and one mobile and you can also access a free trial, but only during their Free Preview campaign.

Fubo TV

This is a fantastic platform to watch all of your favorite sports, especially baseball. You have a number of options when subscribing to Fubo TV to customize your plan to suit your needs. The great thing about Fubo TV is that not only does it provide you with 45 different channels, you can also simultaneously use it on two devices. Additionally, you have 30 hours of DVR storage space, so if you know you are going to miss a game, you can catch up on it later. They also offer a free seven-day trial.

Sling TV

You have a choice of three bundles with Sling TV where you can expand your list of channels by adding extra packs and premium networks. There is the option of the Orange bundle which includes channels like ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 as well as the Blue bundle which has channels like FS1 and FS2 and some regional FOX Sports channels (it doesn’t include the central one).

You can always opt for the Orange and Blue bundle which is recommended so that you can catch all of the MLB games. As with Fubo TV, Sling TV also offers a seven-day free trial.

Hulu

This popular on-demand streaming service has on offer a live TV plan as well as a large collection of channels including the likes of FS1, FS2, ESPN, ESPN 2, TBS, and regional FOX Sports channels (again, not the central one). You have the option of 50 hours of cloud DVR space so you can record your favorite matches and watch them on repeat. You can watch Hulu on two devices, or pay an extra monthly fee for unlimited simultaneous connections. Hulu offers a seven-day free trial.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV will give you everything you need and more to enjoy all the MLB games this season. Choose from sports channels like ESPN, ESPN 2, FS1, FS2, and TBS as well as regional FOX Sports networks. You can stream with as many as three devices, and another great feature is that you get unlimited cloud DVR space. YouTube TV offers a seven-day free trial as well.

Want to watch MLB 2021 for free?

Big news: Major League Baseball granted YouTube the boon to stream 21 games for free. Also try Reddit and Twitter for some free streaming snippets on the fly.

Conclusion

For basketball fans, the MLB games are all the rage, with 2021 being particularly delightful after a dour 2020 showing. Much of what will happen in this year’s events is up for grabs. Most we know is that all 162 games will be played (likely). And that the playoffs are curtailed (but wait till April, 1, for more on that). Although MLB.TV does have its regional blackouts, victims can dip under and over with a VPN server. Use one of our top recommended VPNs (or others) to let nothing defeat you – just watch the games!

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