How to Watch NCAA March Madness in 2025 From Anywhere

NCAA March Madness games are split between multiple US broadcasters, including CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. While CBS offers some games for free, it requires a cable subscription. Alternatively, you can watch all 67 games (including the final 4) from these channels on Paramount+ and Sling TV. Live games are also free to watch on the NCAA March Madness Live app. However, all of these options are only offered to US viewers.

How can I watch NCAA March Madness without a cable? Luckily, it can be streamed online in HD from anywhere. Research Mountain reports that 118 million Americans will favor streaming their favorite sports this year¹. As such, a reliable VPN with US servers lets you access March Madness in HD on Paramount+ and Sling TV. It encrypts your connection to prevent ISP throttling during peak tournament times.

After testing 30+ VPNs, ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching March Madness online. Its fast servers across multiple US locations provide secure access to all streaming platforms showing tournament games. Plus, since it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free throughout the tournament. 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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Short on Time? Here Are the Best VPNs for March Madness in 2025

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.

How To Watch NCAA March Madness 2025 From Anywhere

All NCAA March Madness games are available through a combination of streaming platforms, with Paramount+ (SHOWTIME plan) being the primary broadcaster. The tournament is also available on Sling TV (Orange plan). There are other platform options, including a few that are available abroad, but these 2 services combined offer every game for the lowest price, so I’ll focus on them in this guide.

A VPN with fast US servers lets you watch March Madness securely in HD from anywhere. Reputable VPNs offer strong encryption and privacy protection to safeguard your information from third parties, including your ISP and the sites you visit. This can help prevent slowdowns from ISP throttling.

Here are the steps for using a VPN to safely access March Madness online from anywhere.

1. Get a Reliable VPN

Download a VPN that works consistently with US streaming platforms. I recommend ExpressVPN because its Lightway protocol maintained our speeds above 250 Mbps during testing, which is perfect for HD streaming. Plus, it has servers in 24 US locations, making it easy to find fast connections for watching March Madness without buffering.

It only took a few clicks to set up ExpressVPN on my iPhone and Windows laptop

2. Connect to a Server

Launch your VPN app and connect to a server. For the best streaming quality, choose the one that’s closest to your location. We tested its servers in New York or Los Angeles and got great speeds for live streaming.

You can also use the Smart Location button to automatically find the fastest server

3. Sign Up for Paramount+ and Sling TV

Visit Paramount+ and Sling TV to create an account to watch March Madness games live. You can try Paramount+ for free for 7 days if you're a new subscriber. Keep in mind that you need the Paramount+ SHOWTIME plus Sling TV’s Orange plan to get HD access to all games.

Both platforms offer a free trial, but you need to sign up with a credit card

4. Start Watching March Madness

You can now stream every NCAA March Madness game in HD without interruptions. The tournament is available on multiple channels, so check the schedule to find the right platform for specific games.

ExpressVPN even lets you save shortcuts for your favorite apps and sites

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.

Where Can I Watch NCAA March Madness Online?

March Madness games are broadcast across multiple platforms in 2025. All of the games are available to watch between 2 streaming platforms: Paramount+ and Sling TV. Paramount+ streams all of the games from CBS, and Sling TV offers the games from TBS, TNT, and truTV. In other words, you'll need accounts from both platforms to watch every tournament game. International viewers have different options depending on their region.

The women’s tournament is a different story, though. While you can stream most of the matches through Paramount+ and Sling TV, there are additional games that are only available on ABC. So, in this case, the best option would be to get YouTube TV, since it covers all of these broadcasters under one plan.

Note that no UK broadcaster has the rights to show March Madness. While Sky Sports Arena covered the tournament in 2024, it does not have the rights to this year’s event.

Best VPNs to Watch NCAA March Madness in 2025

A reliable VPN helps you watch every March Madness game in HD quality from anywhere. After extensive testing, we picked these VPNs based on their fast US servers, streaming capabilities, and compatibility with platforms showing March Madness games like Paramount+ and Sling TV.

1. ExpressVPN — Fastest Speeds to Watch March Madness in HD From Anywhere

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Available on:

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ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol delivers the most reliable streaming performance for March Madness games. During our tests, its US locations averaged impressive speeds of 279.02 Mbps, ideal for streaming in UHD from anywhere. The VPN's MediaStreamer feature also lets you watch games on devices that don't normally support VPNs, like smart TVs and gaming consoles.

All US servers work seamlessly with March Madness streaming platforms like Paramount+ and Sling TV. ExpressVPN’s automatic obfuscation technology helps mask VPN traffic as regular browsing, preventing VPN blocks from streaming services. We tested servers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago — all provided safe access to Paramount+ and Sling TV.

The only drawback is that ExpressVPN costs more than other options at $4.99/month per month. However, you can save up to 61% with long-term plans and try it risk-free since it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the guarantee myself using the 24/7 live chat service, and it was hassle-free.

2. CyberGhost — Optimized Streaming Servers Safely Access March Madness Platforms

Available on:

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Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

CyberGhost offers specialty streaming servers for Paramount+ and Sling TV. These are constantly updated to provide reliable HD access to their respective platforms. During our CyberGhost tests, the optimized servers delivered consistent HD quality with speeds of up to 221.05 Mbps. While that’s slower than ExpressVPN, it’s plenty enough for streaming games buffer-free from anywhere.

The VPN has a shorter 14-day refund period on monthly plans, which is disappointing. However, longer subscriptions start at just $2.19/month and come with an extended 45-day money-back guarantee. The apps are also very user-friendly, with a simple interface that helps you quickly find the right streaming server.

3. Private Internet Access — Servers in Every US State For Stable March Madness Connections

Available on:

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Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

With servers in all US states, you can always find a fast connection for streaming March Madness interruption-free from anywhere. We tested multiple devices streaming different games at once and maintained smooth HD playback with speeds of 161.07 Mbps. Plus, PIA gives you Unlimited simultaneous connections to safely access March Madness games across all your devices.

The extensive customization options might overwhelm VPN beginners — it’s way more complex than CyberGhost. However, PIA works great for streaming right out of the box without adjusting any settings. You can try it for free with its 30-day money-back guarantee, and plans start at just $2.19/month for long-term subscriptions.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for March Madness

The first priority was testing that each VPN reliably worked with streaming platforms showing March Madness games, including Paramount+ and Sling TV. We extensively tested server speeds to ensure they could handle live HD basketball streams without buffering or delays that could ruin crucial game moments.

Our expert team continuously tests VPNs to provide accurate, up-to-date performance data. For complete details about our thorough testing process, visit our dedicated methodology page.

NCAA March Madness Schedule for 2025

The NCAA March Madness tournament follows a structured single-elimination format with games scheduled across multiple venues nationwide. The exact game schedule, with dates and times, will be announced on Selection Sunday, 16th March 2025. Here are the full dates for the various rounds:

• Selection Sunday — March 16, 2025 (18:00 ET)
• First Four — March 18-19, 2025
• First Round — March 20-21, 2025
• Second Round — March 22-23, 2025
• Sweet 16 — March 27-28, 2025
• Elite Eight — March 29-30, 2025
• Final Four — April 5, 2025 (at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas)
• National Championship — April 7, 2025 (at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas)

FAQs on Watching NCAA March Madness

How do I watch the women's NCAA March Madness tournament?

The best option would be through YouTube TV. ESPN Press Room reports that 2024 saw an unprecedented peak of 24.1 million viewers for the women’s games². So, if this includes you, you may want to opt for YouTube TV, since it covers all necessary broadcasters to watch every women’s and men’s match. Unlike the men’s tournament, some of the women’s games are only shown on ABC, which is not offered on Paramount+ or Sling TV.

You can watch some of the women’s games on Paramount+ and Sling TV, but not all of them. So, it’s a bit more complicated than the men’s tournament.

How do I watch March Madness in Mexico?

HBO Max and Paramount+ broadcast March Madness games in Mexico. However, coverage is limited and often focuses on select major games rather than the full tournament schedule. The only way to watch all of the matches is on US-based platforms.

Which devices can I watch March Madness on with a VPN?

You can watch March Madness on smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and game consoles when using a VPN. Top VPNs offer native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and popular smart TV platforms like Fire TV and Apple TV.

For devices that don't support VPNs directly, you can set up the VPN on your router to protect all devices.

Can I watch NCAA March Madness for free online?

You can watch live games in the US for free with the NCAA March Madness Live app. But you need to log in with a TV provider, such as AT&T U-verse, Cox, DirecTV, dish, Spectrum, V, or xfinity to watch on the big screen. You can also download the app to watch games on tablets and mobile devices, and track games on the live schedule.

Paramount+ offers a free trial in the US, allowing you to watch March Madness and other sports for free for 7 days. You need to sign up with a credit card.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs for watching March Madness...

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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References

1. 1. https://research.mountain.com/insights/streaming-sports/
   2. https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2024/04/2024-ncaa-womens-championship-and-final-four-on-espn-platforms-is-most-watched-on-record/