How to Watch ESPN3 From Anywhere Without Cable in 2025

ESPN3 offers exclusive broadcasts and camera angles of sporting events that you can watch online through cord-cutting services like Hulu or FuboTV. But the sad news is that most of the platforms that carry ESPN3 are only available in the US. These platforms snoop on your connection to gather a lot of your personal information, like your location, the devices you’re using, and even which sporting events you prefer to watch.

A VPN makes it possible to stream ESPN3 live securely from anywhere on platforms like Hulu. VPNs encrypt your data, so streaming platforms won’t be able to harvest your personal data and sell it to the highest bidder. Plus, the best ones do all that without impacting your speeds, so you’ll never miss a moment of the action.

We tested dozens of services and found that ExpressVPN is the best for watching ESPN3 in HD from anywhere. It has the fastest speeds we’ve tested, military-grade security to protect your privacy, and its 30-day money-back guarantee means testing ExpressVPN is risk-free. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Best VPNs to Watch ESPN3 Live Online in HD in 2025

1. ExpressVPN — Lightning-Fast to Watch ESPN3 Buffer-Free in HD

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Tested January 2025

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ExpressVPN is my top choice for streaming ESPN3 in the best possible quality from anywhere. Its extremely fast speeds allowed us to watch ESPN3 live sporting events and videos in HD without any problem. Most other VPNs were so slow that the videos buffered a lot.

The second great thing about ExpressVPN is that it has 24 US-based servers. And because it offers city-level server selection, it’s easier for you to pinpoint the closest US city to get the best speeds for streaming ESPN3. We tested dozens of ExpressVPN’s US servers, and they worked perfectly. We never experienced any connection blackouts or speed drops, and we were able to stream for hours with no buffering.

ExpressVPN’s very own Lightway Protocol lets you connect to a server faster. Lightway is a next-generation protocol that is fast, reliable, secure, and doesn’t use as many resources. As a result, switching between servers happens in a split second.

While ExpressVPN is the best out there, it is pricier than most VPNs, with subscriptions starting at $4.99/month. Thankfully, I got a good deal when I signed up because it offered 61% off.

ExpressVPN has several plans with the same features that vary only on the subscription length. However, when you sign up for the longer ones, the price will be in the same range as other VPNs.

What’s great about ExpressVPN is that it stays true to its no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee. I sent a message through the live chat saying I wanted a refund. While other services force me to troubleshoot and exhaust all means, ExpressVPN did none of that. The customer representative processed my request, and I got my money back within 5 days.

2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers to Watch ESPN3 Lag-Free From Anywhere

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www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost has an extensive server network that includes optimized servers specifically for ESPN3 streaming. These servers are regularly tested to make sure they work with services like Hulu, YouTube TV, and Sling TV. We connected to a streaming-optimized server immediately by typing the word “Sling” in the search bar of the For streaming tab within the app.

It has a total of 11,690 servers in 100 countries, of which 11 locations are in the US. With that many servers in the US alone, you’ll never come across a congested connection, so you’ll get the best possible speeds for streaming in good quality. We tested several of CyberGhost’s US servers and never had any problem watching ESPN3 on Sling TV.

CyberGhost doesn’t have speed caps, making it perfect for streaming ESPN3 shows and games in HD. We watched NFL PrimeTime without annoying buffering issues.

It is an excellent VPN service, but it has a minor con: its short-term plans are slightly more expensive and come with a shorter money-back guarantee. However, CyberGhost’s longer-term plans are reasonably priced and come with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is more than the industry standard.

It has different pricing tiers that vary based on the length of the subscription. Prices start at $2.03/month.

When it comes to getting a refund from CyberGhost, you're in luck — the process is quick and easy. All you need to do is contact the 24/7 live chat team and request a refund. The representative I chatted with processed my refund quickly, without any questions. Its support team told me the money would be in my account in 5–10 business days, but I got it even earlier than promised.

3. IPVanish — Simple App to Start Watching ESPN3 Quickly

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Try IPVanish VPN >

www.ipvanish.com

IPVanish’s VPN app has an excellent user interface that anyone can operate easily. It’s really beginner-friendly — you can connect to a server with just a few clicks. By default, the app organizes the servers by location, but you can sort the list by favorites, so a few are always on top.

Due to the rapid speeds of IPVanish, we were capable of viewing game replays without any delays. Although ExpressVPN takes the lead in terms of speed, IPVanish is sufficiently efficient for uninterrupted marathon viewing from anywhere.

Another great benefit of using IPVanish is that it has a large number of servers, with 20 of them in the US. With this number of servers in the US, you're guaranteed to have a backup server if one doesn't work. But in our experience, we never had to try more than 2 servers to find one for streaming ESPN3.

While IPVanish has great features, it has one minor flaw — it doesn't work with all streaming services. Thankfully, when we tested IPVanish, we were able to watch ESPN3 without issues.

IPVanish offers different packages. The first plan includes the VPN alone and costs $2.19/month per month when paid annually. The second plan offers VPN plus encrypted cloud backup. I subscribed to the first plan because I didn't need the backup feature. And I didn’t hesitate to sign up as IPVanish was offering a 83% discount at that time.

IPVanish has a 30-day money-back guarantee. To qualify for a refund, you must: 1) be a new subscriber, 2) have a yearly plan, and 3) cancel before the last day of your subscription. I went directly to its website to cancel my account, and it processed my refund within 3 business days. I didn't even have to contact the support team for help.

Where Can I Watch ESPN3 Online?

You can watch ESPN3 via several cord-cutting services, which all carry both live and on-demand sports content. The listed services are available via your browser or apps for devices like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Xbox One.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV offers over 75 platforms, including ESPN3, ABC, and NBC. Just like ESPN’s app, you can use Hulu on various devices, including Apple, Android, Amazon, PlayStation, Xbox, Roku, and more. You can also use the same account to stream on 2 devices simultaneously.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is YouTube's paid-for service that offers more than 85 channels, including ESPN3. With YouTube TV, you can record games for later viewing with no storage limitations, and you can share the account with up to 5 other members of your household. You can try YouTube TV with its free trial to test it out.

fuboTV

You can watch ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3's live sporting events in 4K if you subscribe to fuboTV. Along with ESPN, you can use fuboTV to stream several other sports channels, including Root Sports, NBA League Pass, and FS1. Your subscription will also allow you to watch on 3 devices simultaneously. Finally, it also comes with 250 hours' worth of DVR cloud storage for recording shows.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the most affordable way to watch ESPN3 shows if you don't have cable. You can get the Sling Orange package, including ESPN3, ESPN, HGTV, AMC, A&E, and more. Sling TV does not require a contract, so you can subscribe as needed. You can also record up to 50 hours.

Vidgo

Vidgo lets its users stream over 95 channels, including ESPN3. You can watch shows on Vidgo on iOS, Android, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

FAQs on Watching ESPN3 With a VPN

Can I watch ESPN3 for free?

No, you cannot watch ESPN3 for free. You can subscribe to a TV provider that includes ESPN3 in its plan or subscribe to one of the many streaming services that offer ESPN3 as part of their package. These services are Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Vidgo.

If you're looking for a more affordable way to watch ESPN3 without cable, Sling TV’s Orange Package is your best bet.

How do I bypass ESPN3’s live blackouts?

Live blackouts are based on broadcasting regulations within individual states, as not every location will have the right to stream every game live. Similarly, you might not be able to stream live sports on networks that block streaming services, creating a local live blackout at work or school. To bypass strict network rules, a tried-and-tested streaming VPN can let you stream ESPN3 in HD from anywhere.

Can I watch ESPN3 outside the US?

ESPN3 isn’t available outside the US, even on streaming services that carry this channel and operate in other locations. However, with a VPN, it’s possible to stream ESPN3 securely and in HD from anywhere.

How can I watch ESPN3 without a TV provider?

ESPN3 is not a channel, it's a streaming service included in a package of either TV providers or other streaming platforms.

You need to subscribe to any streaming service that offers ESPN3 as part of its package. These services are Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, and Vidgo.

How much does it cost to stream ESPN3?

ESPN3 is not a standalone channel; instead, it is part of a package of other TV providers or streaming sites. In that case, the price depends on whether you're streaming from Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, or some other provider. The cost depends on the service that you use to watch ESPN3.

For example, if your TV provider includes ESPN3 in its package, you won’t have to pay for anything extra. If your TV provider does not provide ESPN3, you would have to subscribe to a streaming service that offers ESPN3 first.

Start Watching ESPN3 in HD Now

ISP speed throttling can really ruin live sports action on ESPN3. But, with a VPN, you can watch ESPN3 in HD even during peak hours. Any of the VPNs on this list can get you fast speeds for streaming live and on-demand sports in HD (or better) from anywhere.

That said, ExpressVPN is the most reliable service for ESPN3. It performed the best in our tests, giving us the full HD-ready speeds we needed to watch live streams with no buffering. Plus, the 30-day money-back guarantee means there’s no risk in trying ExpressVPN for yourself. Just get a refund if you’re not completely happy.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching ESPN3 live from anywhere are…

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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