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Best VPNs for MLB.tv to bypass blackouts


MLB.tv is the home of Major League Baseball in the US, with the rights to show most of the matches. Unfortunately, MLB.tv imposes blackouts for local games, depending on where you are. For example, if you’re in New York, you won’t be able to watch the in-market games of the New York Yankees. That is unless you use a reliable VPN service.

Luckily, VPNs can help you get around MLB.tv blackouts and watch any match you want, no matter where you are. Yet, not all of them are able to bypass geo-blocks.

Keep on reading to find the full list of the best VPN for MLB.tv and we’ll walk you through their features, prices, streaming capabilities, and more.

Top 5 best VPNs for MLB.tv

How to watch MLB blackout games with a VPN

how-to-watch-mlb
  1. Sign up for a good VPN. We recommend NordVPN, 69% off now!
  2. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
  3. Connect to a server in a location where your game isn't blacked out.
  4. Go to MLB.tv or open up the MLB.tv app and search for your game.
  5. Grab a drink and enjoy!

The best VPN for MLB.tv – our detailed list

We’ve tested out loads of VPNs to see if they can successfully avoid blackouts on MLB.tv to put together a list of our five favorites. Read on for advice on how to choose the right VPN for you.

1. NordVPN – best VPN for watching MLB.tv

NordVPN banner
Based in:Panama
Servers/countries:5,900+ servers in 60 countries
Streaming services:
Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Current deal:πŸ”₯ Holiday Deal! Get NordVPN with 69% OFF + 3 months FREE!πŸ”₯

The best VPN for MLB.tv is NordVPN, because of the large number of servers in the US, nearly 2000 servers across 15 cities to bypass blackouts and watch MLB games all across the country, and blazing fast speed to enjoy lag-free streaming.

Even better, NordVPN uses NordLynx – its own modified version of WireGuard – to deliver incredibly fast and reliable speeds that average at 90% of the original speed retention.

Additionally, NordVPN boasts more than 5,900 servers in 60 countries. So you’ll have a large list of locations to choose from. Which is especially useful when it comes to streaming. Hence why, NordVPN is great at bypassing MLB tv restrictions, as well as all the other main streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer.

Of course, protecting your online information is another essential function of a VPN. And NordVPN is probably the most secure one we’ve tested. It has loads of excellent security features, like a kill switch that will stop your internet if your VPN connection drops, that’ll keep your data safe from cybercriminals and your government.

NordVPN users get access to 24/7 live chat customer support. And its prices are actually very reasonable, with plans starting from just $2.99/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To find out more, read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – affordable and fast VPN for MLB.tv

Surfshark banner
Based in:The Netherlands
Servers/countries:3,200+ servers in 100 countries
Streaming services:
Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Current deal:πŸ”₯ Holiday deal! Get 82% OFF Surfshark + 4 months FREE πŸ”₯

Surfshark is one of the best providers around to watch MLB.tv, as it comes with more than 600+ servers in the US, spread across over 20 cities. So you can rest assured that MLB.tv blackouts will be a problem of yesterday.

Not to be outdone by any of the VPN market leaders, Surfshark uses the cutting-edge tunneling protocol, WireGuard, to deliver very impressive speeds averaging at 86% retention rate of the original speed. Which is great for watching live MLB game matches.

And if you get bored of watching baseball, you can also use Surfshark to unblock region restrictions on pretty much any streaming service you like. This includes Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

Besides, Surfshark comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can simultaneously stream as many MLB games on as many devices you wish.

It also has a lot of security features on offer to keep your data secure. Surfshark operates a strict zero-logs policy, which has recently been audited and confirmed, so you know no one is tracking your activity.

If you get any issues, you can contact the 24/7 live chat support. And it’s fantastic value for money, with prices starting at just $1.99/month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Explore our Surfshark VPN review or do a Surfshark vs NordVPN comparison to make a well-informed decision.

3. IPVanish – best lightweight VPN for MLB.tv

IPVanish VPN banner
Based in:United States
Servers/countries:2,200+ servers in 52 countries
Streaming services:
Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Disney+, and more
Current deal:πŸ”₯ Holiday deal! Get 81% OFF IPVanish + 3 months free! πŸ”₯

If you’re looking for a lightweight VPN to help you avoid MLB.tv blackouts, IPVanish is an excellent option. While it doesn’t have dedicated servers for streaming, it works very well for accessing games on MLB.tv. This is largely thanks to the fact it has servers in 20 cities across the US.

However, it's not as awesome for bypassing geo-restrictions on some other streaming platforms, such as Hulu. But it can unblock Netflix and YouTube TV.

On a more positive note, IPVanish does offer fast and reliable speeds, with an average retention rate of 80% of the original speed.

Elsewhere, IPVanish has more than 2,200 servers across 52 countries and comes with unlimited simultaneous connections.

It offers good security features, including strong military-grade ciphers and decent protection against DNS or IP leaks. However, it’s based in the US, which isn’t a privacy-friendly country.

If you have any issues, you can contact its customer support via email or live chat. IPVanish’s pricing plans start from $2.49/month, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To find out more, read our in-depth IPVanish review.

4. ExpressVPN – security-focused MLB.tv VPN

ExpressVPN banner
Based in:British Virgin Islands
Servers/countries:3,000+ servers in 105 countries
Streaming services:Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more
Current deal:πŸ”₯Holiday deal! Get ExpressVPN, now 49% OFF + 3 months FREE! πŸ”₯

ExpressVPN is another ideal VPN that works with MLB.tv. With servers in 15 US cities, you’ll be able to bypass blackouts and watch MLB.tv without issues.

ExpressVPN uses the Lightway protocol, which is a modern variation of the famous and fast WireGuard protocol. So it’s not surprising that the VPN managed to retain 77% of the original internet speed during our tests.

In total, ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers distributed across 105 countries. You can use this massive server fleet for other platform streaming as well. ExpressVPN can unblock such streaming sites as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more, and more!

ExpressVPN doesn’t lack in terms of security either. You get a reliable kill switch for preventing data leaks if your VPN drops by accident. There’s also a threat manager that helps prevent malicious activity as well as third-party tracking.

ExpressVPN offers a 24/7 live chat in case you run into any trouble while trying to watch MLB.tv. And while the prices start from $6.67/month, you get to connect 5 devices.

For a side-by-side comparison, read our NordVPN vs ExpressVPN analysis or explore our Express VPN review.

5. CyberGhost – fast VPN for streaming content

CyberGhost VPN banner
Based in:Romania
Servers/countries:10,200+ servers in 100 countries
Streaming services:Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+
Current deal:πŸ”₯Holiday deal! Get CyberGhost VPN, now 84% + 4 months FREE!πŸ”₯

If a buffering-free streaming experience is what you’re looking for, CyberGhost is what you need for MLB.tv. It has over 1356 servers in 11 US cities – one of the largest server networks in America.

CyberGhost uses the WireGuard protocol, which is part of the reason for its great speeds. Plus, it has over 10,200 servers in 100 countries in total. And during our testing, it retained around 86% of the original speed.

You can use this VPN for other streaming platforms you own. It can unblock libraries of Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more.

CyberGhost has a bunch of features for security, including a market-standard kill switch. However, we found that this tool wasn't as reliable as we'd like, since it did leak our real IP address during the testing period. You also get NoSpy servers, which are managed by CyberGhost, so they’re completely private from third-party peeks.

If any issues arise, you can contact CyberGhost’s agents via a 24/7 live chat. CyberGhost prices start from $2.04/month, and you get a generous 45-day money-back guarantee as well.

You can learn more in our full CyberGhost review.

6. Atlas VPN – affordable VPN for streaming sports

Atlas VPN banner
Based in:United States
Servers/countries:1,000+ servers in 42 countries
Streaming services:
Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube
Current deal:πŸ”₯ Holiday deal! Get Atlas VPN, now 86% OFF + 6 months FREE! πŸ”₯

Despite having the smallest server fleet compared to other providers on this list, Atlas VPN is an excellent VPN for streaming MLB games.

With servers in Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, New York, and Phoenix, there is ample coverage on both coasts. And when the games are not on, you can also use the worldwide server network for torrenting and streaming.

Plus, with WireGuard available on all Atlas VPN locations, this guarantees top performance as well – Atlas VPN is among the top performers in the market, with fast and stable download speeds. Plus, all the premium American servers are completely streaming-friendly, guaranteeing that whenever you watch a game, the feed is completely stable, with no buffering or sudden interruptions.

When it comes to additional features, Atlas VPN also offers SafeSwap, rotating your IP address wherever you're connected, keeping you extra safe. There's also a data breach checker for your personal data, and a kill switch to protect your devices if the VPN connection suddenly drops.

For a low price of $1.64/month, this is one of the cheapest VPNs for MLB.tv – and everything else that you do online.

To find out more, take a look at our in-depth Atlas VPN review.

7. PureVPN – excellent all-around VPN for baseball

purevpn
Based in:British Virgin Islands
Servers/countries:6,500+ servers in 65 countries
Streaming services:Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube
Current deal:πŸ”₯ Get PureVPN, now 83% OFF + 3 months FREE! πŸ”₯

PureVPN is an excellent option for streaming – and it works really well with MLB.tv. With a massive fleet of over 6,500 servers in 65 countries, it can give you access to numerous worldwide services showing plenty of baseball games. In the US alone, servers cover 13 different cities, from Seattle to LA, New Jersey to Miami – you’ll be able to jump around blackouts like a pro.

Thanks to the super-fast and secure WireGuard protocol, the performance is pretty excellent. The games were streaming in high-definition, with no noticeable lag or buffering issues, with only very rare connection drops.

PureVPN does well beyond baseball, too – it’s excellent with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and more. So there’s something for everyone, even in the offseason. The split tunneling feature can also let you enable VPN only on specific apps, making your streaming and browsing experience as customizable as possible.

With the prices starting at $2.08/month, PureVPN is a solid all-around option for streaming. And in case you won’t like it as much as we did, there’s a 31-day money-back guarantee, so you can sign up without risking any of your hard-earned money.

To find out more, read our in-depth PureVPN review.

Best VPNs for MLB.tv compared

NordVPNSurfsharkIPVanishExpressVPNCyberGhostAtlas VPN
BrandSurfsharkVPN comparison table logo NEWlogologo
Ranking
4.9 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
4.7 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
4.5 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
4.3 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜†
4.2 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜†
4.6 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Bypasses MLB.tv blackoutβœ… Yes βœ… Yes βœ… Yesβœ… Yesβœ… Yesβœ… Yes
Starting price$2.99/month$1.99/month$2.49/month$6.67/month$2.04/month$1.64/month
Servers worldwide5,900+ servers in 60 countries3,200+ servers in 100 countries2,200+ servers in 52 countries3,000+ servers in 105 countries10,200+ servers in 100 countries1,000+ servers in 42 countries
Unblocks streaming platforms
Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and moreNetflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and moreNetflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Disney+, and moreNetflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and moreNetflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube
Free trial and a money-back guaranteeYes, 7-day trial and a 30-day money-back guaranteeYes, 7-day and a 30-day money-back guaranteeYes, 7-day and a 30-day money-back guaranteeYes, 7-day and a 30-day money-back guaranteeYes, 1-day on a desktop, 3-day on Android, 7-day on iOS, and a 45-day money-back guaranteeFree version and a 30-day money-back guarantee
ReviewNordVPN reviewSurfshark VPN reviewIPVanish reviewExpressVPN reviewCyberGhost reviewAtlas VPN review

How we tested and selected these VPNs

When putting together our list of the best VPNs to use if you want to avoid blackouts on MLB.tv, we considered the following criteria:

  • Whether it works with MLB.tv streams: This might sound obvious, but many VPNs aren’t able to bypass MLB blackout rules. So, we tested lots of options before choosing our top five, all of which consistently gave us access to games.
  • Speed: Buffering is the last thing you want to deal with when watching baseball. Therefore, we chose VPNs that provide fast and reliable speeds for lag-free streaming to make sure you don’t miss a moment of that important match.
  • Whether it has any relevant additional features: When choosing a VPN, it’s always worth considering extra features. We’ve called out a variety of extras in our list, including SmartDNS, GPS spoofing, and the Chameleon protocol.
  • Customer support: This is crucial in case anything goes wrong. Therefore, each of the options on our list comes with live chat support.
  • Price: When signing up for any long-term subscription, price is always important. In our list, we were careful to include a variety of pricing options to suit every budget.
  • Security and privacy: Whatever your reason for wanting a VPN, it’s vital to pick one that will protect your online privacy. We have recommended a selection of VPNs that have a wide range of excellent security options to keep your data safe from cybercriminals. in addition, we look for features like audited no-logs policy, strong encryption, and speedy and secure tunneling protocols.

What are MLB blackouts?

MLB blackouts are instances where certain games aren't streamed on MLB.tv for users in the away or home team's region. This is due to local broadcasting companies in the US and Canada having exclusive streaming rights to certain games. For example, when the Atlanta Braves are playing, you won’t be able to see the game if you’re also in Atlanta, regardless of whether local television is broadcasting it or not.

MLB rules also say that your location may be determined using various methods, including checking your IP address and addresses the users put in when registering.

You can check which MLB blackout restrictions apply to your region here by scrolling down and entering your zip code.

Alternatively, you can also take a look at the MLB blackout map:

MLB blackout map

Do I really need a VPN to watch MLB.tv?

MLB uses your IP address to determine your location and not show certain MLB games based on that, so if you want to watch blackout MLB, you will need to use a VPN to change your IP by connecting to a server outside the blackout area.

Once you have set up a VPN, all you need to do is connect to a server in a location where MLB.tv is showing the match, and you will be able to bypass these region restrictions. Then, you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the game.

How to use a VPN to bypass MLB.tv blackouts

Despite what you might think, it’s incredibly easy to bypass MLB blackout to watch whatever MLB games you like from wherever you are in the world. All you need to do is follow this simple step-by-step guide on how to get around MLB blackout:

  1. Choose a VPN that has a number of servers in the US. We recommend NordVPN.
  2. Download and install the software on your device, and complete the sign-up process.
  3. Connect to a server in an area that has access to the game.
  4. Head to the MLB.tv website, or download the MLB app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
  5. Enjoy cheering on your favorite MLB team.

How to avoid MLB.tv blackouts on PC

It’s simple to get around MLB blackout if you’re watching on your PC via a browser such as Chrome or Firefox. Just follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for a VPN service that has a good range of servers in different cities across the US, such as NordVPN.
  2. Download and install the app, and complete the registration process.
  3. Log in to your VPN account.
  4. Connect to a server in a city in the US that has the rights to show the game on MLB.tv.
  5. Go to MLB.tv on your web browser, and start watching.

How to avoid MLB.tv blackouts on Fire TV or Fire Stick

You can watch any MLB.tv fixture you like on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick. To execute MLB tv blackout workaround on Fire Stick all you need is a VPN. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Choose a VPN provider on your computer or smartphone. NordVPN is one of the best.
  2. Download and install the VPN app from the Amazon Appstore.
  3. Connect to a server in a location where the game you’re trying to watch is available.
  4. Open the MLB.tv app and enjoy the game.

How to avoid MLB.tv blackouts on Kodi

  1. Select a VPN on your computer or smartphone. NordVPN is our favorite.
  2. Download and install the VPN app on your device and finish the sign-up process.
  3. Download and install the VPN add-on on Kodi if there’s one available.
  4. If the VPN provider you’ve chosen doesn’t have its own Kodi add-on, you will need to download the OpenVPN add-on. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have to configure a manual OpenVPN connection. Your VPN provider will have step-by-step instructions explaining how to do this.
  5. Connect to a server in a location that’s showing the match.
  6. Open the MLB.tv add-on on your Kodi and start watching.

How to avoid MLB.tv blackouts on Roku

  1. Download and install a VPN to your device – our top suggestion is NordVPN.
  2. Follow the VPN instructions to set it up on your router.
  3. Connect to a server where your wanted game is available.
  4. Open Roku when connected to wifi.
  5. Enjoy streaming the MLB.tv games without blackouts.

MLB TV VPN not working? Here’s how to fix:

There can be some moments when a VPN seems to not work for bypassing MLB.tv blackout restrictions. There can be several reasons for this:

  • Your VPN provider isn’t able to bypass geo-restrictions
  • Your real IP address is leaking
  • Cookies on your browser reveal your real location
  • Media error, usually related to internet connection issues

Here’s what you can try to fix these issues:

  • Enable your VPN’s leak protection settings
  • Clear cookies and cache on your browser and/or device
  • Reboot and/or reinstall the VPN app
  • Logout from your MLB account, and then login again
  • Re-install the MLB.tv app on your mobile device
  • Reboot your device
  • Reboot your wifi-router
  • Change your VPN provider

However, if your account was created without a VPN and using your real address, then, a VPN will not help you bypass the blackouts. Instead, you'll need to create a new account with a fake address in a different state. Unfortunately, that might also cause some payment issues, so check out the possibilities of alternative payment methods or using a virtual card.

Can you get around MLB blackouts with a free VPN?

It’s very unlikely, as free VPNs almost always have a poor server infrastructure that means they will probably be detected by MLB.tv. Therefore, you won’t be able to use it to bypass any blackouts.

And even if you do manage to get around MLB blackouts with a free VPN, you’ll probably then have to deal with a lot of buffering. This is because most free VPNs don’t provide adequate connection speeds for streaming.

Even more worryingly, free VPNs are often very unsafe, and they often make money by selling your data to third parties. Consequently, we don’t recommend using a free VPN.

Alternatively, you could use a freemium VPN service, which is a free version of a reputable, paid VPN. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that these are usually much more limited than the paid-for options. For one thing, they generally struggle to bypass region restrictions on major streaming services. For this reason, we don’t recommend using one to watch MLB.tv.

Freemiums also tend to come with monthly data caps, which certainly isn’t great if you like to stream content. But if you do want to try one out, you could opt for Atlas VPN's freemium plan, which we talked about earlier in this guide. Atlas VPN is the only free VPN that can help with accessing MLB games but it comes with a data cap of 5GB a month. So if you're looking for high-quality, unlimited streaming, a solid premium MLB VPN is the best overall option.

Conclusion

If you want to watch all the baseball on MLB.tv, but you’re struggling with blackouts, all you need is a good VPN with plenty of servers across the US, and you’ll never miss a moment of the action. All you need to do is use your VPN to connect to a server in a place that has the rights to show the game, and your device will appear to have an IP address from that location. This will then unblock the content for you.

Of course, this isn’t the only reason to use a VPN. In fact, a reliable VPN comes with loads of benefits. For one thing, you can use it to watch pretty much any streaming service in the world. Hence, if you want to watch BBC iPlayer from outside the UK or Hulu from outside the US, or even if you just want to try out a foreign version of Netflix, a VPN will be able to make this possible.

But even more crucially, a VPN is a vital cybersecurity tool. It encrypts your traffic, which will keep it safe from online hackers and other third parties. It also protects your information while you’re connected to public Wi-Fi.

Did you find everything you were looking for in this article? Let us know in the comments!

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FAQs

Comments

Andrew
prefix 5 months ago
So far I have been able to use the VPN to blackout games I could otherwise watch (connected to a Denver server, I was unable to watch the Rockies game, connected to Chicago I couldn't see the Cubs), but it doesn't allow me to watch my hometown team no matter which server I log in to. Any suggestions? Using NordVPN app for Amazon Fire TV.
Cybernews Team
prefix 5 months ago
Hi! Try connecting to a VPN server in a state where your local team's games can be watched. Alternatively, If you have registered your account without a VPN using your actual address, you will most likely need to create a new account with an address in the state that can see your local team's games.
Ken peyser
prefix 11 months ago
If I want to watch local sports stations such as YES what is my best choice for VPN to watch from Italy?
Cybernews Team
prefix 11 months ago
Hello Ken, we believe NordVPN is the best choice with fast speeds and lag-free streaming from Italy. Once you get yourself a subscription or test the VPN via a free trial, you will have a list of available servers. Find the location you need, click connect, and you are good to go!
griffey iii
prefix 1 year ago
the secret sauce was to register using a Canada server and ZIP code. Blue Jays games might be blacked out but who cares about them?
Hoffman
prefix 1 year ago
It doesn’t work. At least I now have a VPN on my laptop. You must sign up for an MLB account and they require address and zip code. When you sign in MLB uses that info and not IP address located in out of market VPN server to deny access. In fact MLB blocks all access on VPN it looks like.
Cybernews Team
prefix 1 year ago
Hi, we're sorry to hear that this happened to you.

MLB clearly states that they use your IP address to determine your location, among other things, so a VPN should help, because it changes your IP address.

However, if it didn't work, you can try: 1) checking for IP leaks and enabling your VPN's leak protection, 2) clearing cookies and cache, 3) connecting to a different VPN server, 4) rebooting the VPN app, 5) changing your VPN provider.

We hope this helps!
robert
prefix 7 months ago
Without a VPN, if you signed up in NY could you watch the Dodgers when visiting LA? Or are you blacked out of both the Yankees and the Dodgers?
Cybernews Team
prefix 7 months ago
Hi there! If you signed up for a streaming service in New York that carries both the Yankees and the Dodgers games and you travel to Los Angeles, you would likely be blacked out of both teams' games. This is because the streaming service's license to broadcast the games is typically limited to certain geographic regions, and if you are located in a region where the game is being broadcast on local television, you may not be able to access the game on the streaming service.

We recommend keeping a VPN on at all times for you to bypass these geographic restrictions. A VPN will mask your location, making it appear as though you are accessing the streaming service from a different location where the game is not being broadcast on local television.
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