You might be struggling to access BT Sport when traveling abroad because the sports streaming service is restricted to users in the UK. Luckily overcoming geographic restrictions like this is quite simple. The easiest way to do it is to use a VPN, this will give you access to a UK IP address and allow you to watch BT Sport from anywhere.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts all the internet traffic flowing to and from your device, and tunnels it via a server outside your current location – in this case to one located in the UK. This can improve your online privacy while also allowing you to continue using your regular services even in places where they aren’t normally available. Below, we’ll reveal the best VPNs for accessing BT Sport while traveling abroad, and a couple of VPNs to avoid.

How to stream BT Sport abroad with a VPN

Using a VPN to access your BT Sport account while traveling outside of the UK is perfectly simple. Just follow this step-by-step guide.

Here’s how to watch BT Sport online from anywhere:

  • Sign up for one of the VPN providers mentioned in this list. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
  • Once you’ve registered and made the payment, download the apps for your phone or PC / Macbook.
  • Clear your cookies and cache to remove old location identifiers and restart your device.
  • Login to the VPN app and select a server in the UK.
  • Open your browser – Chrome or Firefox should do the job – and access BT Sport like you normally would

We go into detail on each of the VPNs on our list, but in case you’re short on time here’s a summary of our top selections:

  • NordVPN Our top choice for accessing BT Sport from anywhere. Blazing fast speeds and unlocks a ton of streaming sites. Robust security and values your privacy. Has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark A great budget alternative. This privacy-first VPN happily accesses a host of geo-restricted services. Offers solid speeds, strong security, and the ability to secure all of your devices at once.
  • ExpressVPN Fast speeds and accesses most popular UK streaming sites securely and reliably. Easy to set up and use.
  • CyberGhost Budget choice that produced exceptiona; speeds during our testing. Reliable with BT Sport.
  • IPVanish Strong streaming ability as well as impressive speeds and security.
  • Private Internet Access: Servers in around 80 countries. No bandwidth throttling.

The best VPNs for BT Sport – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for watching BT Sport outside the UK.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

To select the best VPNs for BT Sport we judged them on the following factors:

  • Speed and reliability of service
  • Servers in the UK
  • Robust encryption standards to prevent data leakage
  • Value for money
  • Apps for Android and iOS

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching BT Sport outside the UK:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Unblocks BT SportTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our top choice for streaming BT Sports. It boasts incredibly fast speeds and provides stringent encryption. NordVPN works with many streaming sites including Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. The company has been around for over a decade and is an established VPN that checks all the boxes when it comes to speed and security standards.

NordVPN operates with a zero-logs policy. It doesn’t store any information about user sessions, traffic, or timestamps. This policy has served it well in the past. The company admits it’s been approached by government agencies to hand over customer data but there simply wasn’t anything on its servers. It’s also incorporated in Panama, so it isn’t subject to any mandatory data retention laws and remains out of the jurisdiction of Western authorities.

The company operates approximately 5,500 servers in 60+ countries making it a robust choice for the entire gamut of web activity. There are over 400 servers in the UK alone. Power users will be pleased with the fact that it helps you pick a server specifically for your requirements – this could be double VPN, Tor over VPN, or dedicated IP.

The company encrypts all traffic via the 256-bit AES protocol by default and uses 2,048-bit SSL keys. DNS leak protection is enabled.

There’s support for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

BEST VPN FOR BT SPORT:NordVPN is our top pick for BT Sports. It’s incredibly fast and secure, and allows up to six simultaneous connections. It operates with a true no-logs policy. A 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free deal.

Pros:

  • One of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested
  • Unblocks most popular UK streaming content at HD speeds from abroad
  • Plenty of servers located in the UK
  • Strong encryption and no logs make for top security and privacy
  • Easy to use apps that are secure and offer privacy
  • Customer service available via 24/7 live chat

Cons:

  • Some servers take longer to connect

Our score:

Read our In depth NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

Unblocks BT SportTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a low-cost provider that offers a wealth of advanced features without being overwhelming thanks to its user-friendly apps and simple toggleable options. With fast enough speeds for streaming and no connection limit, it’s great for streaming BT Sport on the go.

This VPN follows a strict no-logs policy and is based in the British Virgin Islands. As such, the company isn’t required to keep any logs, and couldn’t divulge details of your activities even if it wanted to.

Its security features include 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks, a kill switch, and automatic malware scanning. There are over 3,200 servers to choose from (in around 100 countries), and some reroute your traffic multiple times to provide even greater privacy.

Surfshark has apps for both desktop (Linux, Windows, MacOS) and mobile (Android, iOS) devices. Further, it can be manually configured for use with supported network routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is a low-cost VPN that has the speed and unblocking ability required for high-quality live streaming, plus it lets you connect all of your devices at once. Naturally, this makes it a great choice for sports fans. Still not convinced? This VPN also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast enough for uninterrupted streaming

  • Great set of security features

  • Works with all of your favorite services abroad

  • Doesn’t keep any logs

  • No connection limit

  • No streaming-optimized servers

Read our full Surfshark review.

3. Express VPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

ExpressVPN is another great alternative with a commitment to privacy and security, and solid speeds. There’s a neat and user-friendly interface that’ll guide you through the process of connecting to a server, making it a worthy choice for beginners. Not only that, but it works with a huge range of streaming platforms including BT Sport.

ExpressVPN boasts an impressive 3,000+ servers spread across 94 countries including the UK, so finding an adequate connection shouldn’t be a problem.This VPN offers 256-bit AES encryption, 4,096-bit RSA keys with perfect forward secrecy, and SHA512 authentication. Plus, ExpressVPN has its own protocol named Lightway that has less of a footprint than even WireGuard.

If you subscribe to ExpressVPN, you’ll notice that DNS IPv6 leak protection are built-in. There’s also an internet kill switch which will temporarily halt all traffic if the connection drops unexpectedly, adding an additional layer of security.

It has apps for both Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux (command line). The service is registered in the British Virgin Islands which means it doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of British authorities and can’t be subjected to mandatory data requests.

Privacy advocates will be pleased with the fact that it has a stated policy of retaining no traffic logs except for some metadata about the date (not time) when connected to the service, choice of location, and total bandwidth used. Your individual IP address is never logged.

STREAM SPORTS ANYWHERE:ExpressVPN reliably unblocks BT Sport as well as many other streaming services. It has fast speeds for buffer-free HD viewing along with total security and privacy. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast and reliable servers in the UK are fit for most purposes

  • Has no trouble unblocking BT Sport from almost anywhere

  • High-end security features with good privacy protection

  • Apps for Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, and Linux

  • Pricier than some alternatives

  • Power users would prefer more settings options

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

4. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost will appeal to beginner users who want a plug-and-play VPN that doesn’t break the bank. There’s a decent number of server locations, the interface is user-friendly, and privacy standards are tough. Further, this is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve seen, averaging more than 500 Mbps on a gigabit connection.

With over 7,000 servers spread across 90+ countries, there’s plenty of choice for an adequate connection. CyberGhost has around 800 servers in the UK, including some that are specifically designed for accessing streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS as well as desktop support for Windows, Linux, and MacOS.

CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption along with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. There’s an internet kill switch included too which means web traffic will be halted if the connection drops. The company is incorporated in Romania and says it doesn’t store logs or data of any nature.

GREAT VALUE:CyberGhost is easy to use. Another good budget choice. Unblocks BT Sport and streams HD video reliably. Solid privacy and security. 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Large contingent of over 800 servers in the UK can unblock most geo-restricted streaming content

  • Our tests revealed above-average HD streaming speeds

  • Connect up to 7 devices simultaneously

  • Solid security and privacy credentials

  • Could provide more control over advanced functionality

  • Doesn’t work in China

Here’s our full review of CyberGhost.

5. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is one of our highly-recommended VPNs because it is mindful of maintaining user privacy and anonymity while offering great speeds.

It’s another VPN provider that doesn’t store any user information. The only cursory details it stores is when an account is registered for the first time. After that, all data is out of reach of system administrators – this includes things like session history, choice of servers, and bandwidth.

Encryption standards are robust, IPVanish leverages 256-bit encryption on the WireGuard protocol by default, SHA512 authentication, and a DHE-RSA 2,048 key exchange with perfect forward secrecy. The latter feature means that even if your account is compromised, it’ll be impossible for the intruding party to decrypt past sessions and uncover your web history. An internet kill switch will temporarily halt all traffic if the connection drops.

With over 2,000 servers spread across 60+ countries, a suitable connection is never out of reach. There are 100+ servers located in the UK alone so Brits traveling abroad should be able to access BT Sport easily.

There are apps for both iOS and Android as well as desktop support for Windows and MacOS.

Many users find it an excellent option for Kodi because it allows them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is also remote control friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

LARGE SERVER NETWORK:IPVanish allows unlimited connected devices. Fast connections, lightweight easy to use apps, good multi-platform support. Reliable with BT Sport. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Accesses all major UK streaming sites from abroad

  • Operates over 100 servers in the UK, has no trouble unblocking BT Sport

  • Speeds are great for HD streaming on most servers

  • Particularly favored by remote control users with Kodi devices or Fire TV Sticks

  • Apps don’t work in China

  • Customer support is a little slow

Read our review of IPVanish.

6. Private Internet Access

Website: www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access is an excellent option for those looking to watch BT Sport from abroad. Its 3,200+ servers are located in over 80 countries including the United Kingdom, allowing you to enjoy the Champions League, English Premier League football, and much more.

You’ll be able to use PIA on up to 10 devices simultaneously, and it has apps for all major platforms, so you can watch BT Sport from any supported device from anywhere.

Aside from BT Sport, PIA also works with popular streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, so you can watch your home libraries while traveling. Plus, thanks to its use of WireGuard, you can enjoy all of these streams in HD. In terms of added security, PIA includes a kill switch, AES encryption, malware protection, and DNS leak protection. Interestingly, PIA lets you select the level of encryption you need, which can further enhance speeds when adjusted.

All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and live chat support is available 24/7 to help if you have issues accessing BT Sport (or with anything else).

HUGE SERVER NETWORK:Private Internet Access has over 3200 servers worldwide, including servers in the UK capable of unblocking BT Sport from abroad. Its added security benefits include a kill switch, torrenting support, and the use of the Shadowsocks proxy. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Operates over 3,200 servers

  • Generous connection limit

  • True no-logs policy

  • Streaming speeds can be inconsistent

  • Unable to unblock some popular streaming sites

Read our Private Internet Access review.

Methodology: How we found the best VPNs for BT Sport

Consumers have never had more options when it comes to choosing a VPN. However, there are a huge number of services that overpromise and underdeliver, with many failing to work with BT Sport at all. To find the best VPNs for the job, we decided to create a strict list of inclusion criteria, which you’ll find below:

Looking to learn more about how we test VPNs at Comparitech? We’ve broken down the process fully in our methodology post.

Some VPNs to avoid

If you’re opting to access BT Sport with a VPN, you want to be reassured that your privacy and data won’t be compromised. Unfortunately, some VPN companies don’t safeguard these ethics and will hand over user data when asked. We recommend you avoid such services.

Here are two examples of VPN providers that we believe you should steer clear of:

1. HolaVPN

Israel-based Hola, which operated a popular VPN extension for Chrome, boasted an impressive user base of 50 million at one point. But they unethically leveraged that to their advantage by turning the users into a massive botnet.

What this meant was that a part of every Hola users’ bandwidth was turned into a pawn. The critical mass was leveraged for attacks on other sites, promoting copyrighted content, and pornography.

2. UFO VPN

Hong Kong-based provider UFO VPN offered a free plan and supposedly had a zero logs policy. However, they in fact kept detailed logs of user information. Not only did UFO log these details, but a database of them was released online in plain text with no password protection or encryption. Meaning anyone could access the information and use it to track users and monitor their online activity. This happened more than once and affected users of both the free and paid VPN packages.

We recommend you avoid these two VPN providers at all costs.

Should I use a free VPN to watch BT Sport?

You might be tempted by the option of using a free VPN but the reality is that you’ll be receiving a fraction of the same standards that paid options offer.

Free VPNs monetize by inundating you with invasive advertisements, inserting tracking cookies, and selling your data. That’s because they’re spending hard cash in building and maintaining the service and need to see some returns on this investment. It’s a stark reminder of the fact that when the product is free, you end up being the product.

The VPNs mentioned in this list have hundreds of servers spread worldwide, and engineers are constantly fine-tuning the product. Free VPN services offer a mere microcosm of the same experience. You’ll have restricted options, bandwidth throttling, and data caps.

If you’re really strapped for cash, we recommend you read through our list of VPNs with a free trial. But we maintain that you avoid the random ones that exist on the internet.

If this doesn’t help, try a different UK server. If problems persist even after these steps, we’d recommend asking your VPN provider for help directly. They might be able to tell you about a specific server that works.

Already have BT broadband? In that case, it’s possible to get access to the BT Sport app for £15 per month. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay the full £25 per month price. There’s no long-term contract, but unfortunately, no trial period either.