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How to watch the Bundesliga without a TV subscription

Leagues around Europe are kicking off the new season, and Germany's top-flight teams already have one game under their belts. 

 

Depending on where you live in the world, watching the Bundesliga can be a costly and frustrating ordeal. The fact that many channels showing the Bundesliga enforce geo-restrictions means it can be difficult to find any stream at all for the league, let alone a free one. Unless you have a VPN, that is, which will help you unblock free and paid streams from around the world and enjoy one of the globe's best football leagues all season.

Find out how to watch the Bundesliga no matter where you live.

How to watch the Bundesliga live online

Sky's recent announcement that it will be showing some Bundesliga matches for free in Germany means that anybody can use a VPN to stream the Bundesliga without a TV subscription. Simply follow the steps below to watch Bundesliga live online from anywhere with a VPN.

  1. Sign up to a VPN to watch the Bundesliga live online. For Bundesliga, we suggest ExpressVPN as it offers fast and reliable servers in Germany – as well as a 30 day money-back guarantee to test the service risk free.
  2. Download the VPN software for the platform you require.
  3. Connect to a VPN server in the location where you want to stream Bundesliga live. For example, choose a German server and you want to unblock Sky Sports Germany.
  4. Navigate to a website that is streaming the Bundesliga. Sky Sports Germany is broadcasting Bundesliga and second division (Bundesliga 2) matches for free! (The British broadcaster BT Sport is also considering showing some Bundesliga matches free as well).
  5. Start streaming the Bundesliga! The Matches start from 2:30pm (GMT) on Saturday.

What are the best Bundesliga VPNs?

Below you can get a quick look at the best VPNs for Bundesliga. Our experts have curated this list by finding reliable services that unblock as many Bundesliga broadcasters as possible. However, to ensure you never suffer buffering and miss a second of the action – we only selected VPNs that also have super-fast servers. To find out more about any of our recommendations, scroll down for our in-depth summaries.

  1. ExpressVPN - Fast connections | Apps for all platforms | 24/7 live chat support
  2. TIP

    In our testing we checked that all ExpressVPN plans work for Netflix. The one year plan is the best value: three months free and a 30 day risk-free trial.

  3. CyberGhost VPN - Easy to use | Great speeds | Servers in over 90 countries
  4. Private Internet Access - Reliable | Apps for all platforms | Advanced features
  5. Surfshark - Excellent speeds | Apps for all platforms | Servers in 63+ countries
  6. VyprVPN - Advanced apps | Tier-1 servers |Good customer care

Where to Watch German Bundesliga Online

Sky Sports 

Sky Sports announced this month that they have been awarded the exclusive rights to show the Bundesliga in the UK and Ireland for the next four seasons, and is now an official Bundesliga partner in Germany itself, Austria, and Italy

In Germany, Sky Sports will split the games with pay-TV provider DAZN ($14.99/month) and a small selection of games will be available for free on terrestrial TV. If you use a VPN, you can connect to a server in Germany and watch the free-to-air games, or indeed purchase a Sky Sports subscription and gain access that way. 

BT Sport

BT Sport used to show a lot of Bundesliga games for fans in the UK and Ireland. However, their deal with the Bundesliga expired at the end of last season's campaign, so now Sky Sports have assumed the broadcasting responsibilities. 

BT Sport customers, then, will have to find another way to get their German football fix four the next few seasons at least. 

Watch on ESPN

In the US, Bundesliga football is only available for paying subscribers who have cable or an online streaming service that broadcasts ESPN (such as Sling TV or DirecTV). The channel will be showing around 300 German top-flight matches.

If you can't afford to pay for a subscription service that includes ESPN, you will need a VPN to either connect to a server in Germany and watch the free Bundesliga streams. Alternatively, you could connect to a UK server and stream Bundesliga on Sky Sports there. 

If you want to pay for a US service from overseas, you will need a valid US payment option. We recommend US Unlocked because it provides a virtual US debit card service that comes with a valid US address.

Watch Bundesliga on Sling TV

SlingTV is an online subscription service that broadcasts ESPN on the SlingTV "Orange" plan. Sling Orange costs $30 per month and gives you access to 47 live channels in total, including ESPN. 

SlingTV is only available in the USA, so you will need to connect to a VPN server in the US to subscribe and unblock Bundesliga on ESPN. However, if you already have a subscription and are outside of the US for some reason, then you can access and watch your account with a VPN.

If you live outside of the US and you have your heart set on a SlingTV account, you can unblock the service with a VPN and pay using a virtual card. We advise that you use US Unlocked to pay for Sling TV from anywhere outside of America, because it provides a virtual US debit card that you can use from anywhere in the world. Plus, a US Unlocked virtual card comes with a valid US billing address, which makes it nice and easy to make your purchase on the Sling TV website. We can't recommend US Unlocked enough if you need to pay for Sling TV from overseas. 

Get US Unlocked

Watch Bundesliga on beIN Sports

beIN Sports MENA is an on-demand sports subscription service that is based in the Middle East and North Africa. It is an affordable way to watch Bundesliga and many other sports. However, you will need to connect to a VPN server in the Middle East in order to get a subscription. 

Best VPNs for Bundesliga – Summaries

Now that you have seen which VPN providers are best suited to unblocking Bundesliga live streams, you may want to find out why. Below we have included everything you need to know about our recommendations, and why they are the best VPNs for streaming Bundesliga. 

1. ExpressVPN
Editor's Choice | March 2024

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming Bundesliga. A fast and reliable VPN with plenty of servers where you need them.

  • Pricing

    • 12 months + 3 months FREE + Backblaze backup: $6.67/mth
      49% OFF
    • 6 months: $9.99/mth
    • 1 month: $12.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

ExpressVPN is a highly reliable service that is always praised by consumers. The long-standing provider has a Tier-1 network of servers that provides lightning-fast speeds throughout. This means it can handle HD sports streams without breaking into a sweat. With ExpressVPN, you get apps for all popular platforms. And you can install the VPN and use it on 5 devices simultaneously. This ensures that you can always stream Bundesliga with the VPN – whether at home, at a friend's house, or on public WiFi. 


With Express you get servers in a total of 94 countries. That includes servers in Germany, the UK, the US, the Middle East, and all the other countries mentioned in this guide that have streams of Bundesliga. If you are new to VPNs don't worry. This service is easy to use, and it has 24/7 live chat so that you can get help using the VPN to stream football (or to do anything else). Plus, this VPN is super versatile and secure; being used by hundreds of thousands of people to gain complete privacy online. You can test it yourself using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

CyberGhost is a secure and reliable VPN that provides superb value-for-money for streaming the football.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 3 months FREE: $2.11/mth
      83% OFF
    • 6 months: $6.99/mth
      42% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.99/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

CyberGhost VPN is a provider from Romania that also has a lot of servers. Its network stretches across 90 countries and includes all the places where you might want to connect to to stream Bundesliga matches. With CyberGhost, you can install and use the VPN on up to 7 devices. This gives you enough coverage to use the VPN at home and on the move. And, because it unblocks a large variety of international services, the entire family can enjoy it!


CyberGhost VPN might not be as fast as our number 1 choice, but it is extremely reliable and has speeds that are ideal for streaming the football without buffering. What's more, this VPN is actually very good value considering what you get. The service has apps for all platforms, and they all come with the advanced VPN privacy features you would expect. With CyberGhost, you can not only unblock content, but gain complete privacy at all times. Well worth testing using its fantastic 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Private Internet Access offers a highly customizable VPN for more advanced users looking to watch Bundesliga

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.19/mth
      82% OFF
    • 6 months: $7.5/mth
      38% OFF
    • 1 month: $11.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

Private Internet Access (PIA) has thousands of servers in over 74 countries – including all the locations where you might want to unblock Bundesliga streams. This VPN is fast, and it provides apps for all platforms. Those apps have advanced features like port forwarding, which might make it of interest to you if you also intend to torrent.


Admittedly, PIA is based in the USA, which some hardcore privacy advocates may turn their nose up at. However, this VPN has proven its no-logs claims in court on more than one occasion, and it provides strong OpenVPN encryption to prevent your data from ever being snooped on by your ISP or local networks. That means you could even watch Bundesliga at work, and nobody would know.


Not the fastest, and not the easiest to use, but one of the best services in the world that can unblock Bundesliga from anywhere! You can compare it to our other recommendations by using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 


 

Surfshark is a feature-rich VPN for Bundesliga that is highly-praised by consumers.

  • Pricing

    • 24 months + 2 months FREE: $2.3/mth
      83% OFF
    • 12 months: $3.99/mth
      70% OFF
    • 1 month: $12.95/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu
  • Website

Surfshark is a VPN based in the British Virgin Islands that has 4.5 stars on TrustPilot. It is a consumer favorite VPN because of its fast servers, superb reliability, and its unlimited simultaneous connections allowance; which makes it ideal for popes who own loads of devices or larger families in need of a VPN.


Surfshark has servers in over 63 countries around the world, which are plenty fast for streaming or downloading via BitTorrent. And those servers are located in all the places where Bundesliga streams are available. Plus, this VPN unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and tons of other services. This is impressive considering the low cost of a 2-year subscription. 


What's more, this is a trustworthy zero-logs VPN service with strong encryption and plenty of advanced privacy features. This makes it an incredible all-rounder. You can give Surfshark a test run completely risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

5. VyprVPN

A great all rounder that will provide privacy and unblock the football

  • Pricing

    • 12 months: $5/mth
      50% OFF
    • 1 month: $10/mth
  • Available on

    • Windows
    • macOS
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Linux
  • Unblocks

    • Netflix
    • iPlayer
    • Amazon Prime
    • Hulu

VyprVPN is an excellent no-logs VPN based in Switzerland that implements strong OpenVPN encryption, a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and an obfuscation/stealth feature (called Chameleon). It also now provides Wireguard, which will help it to provide even better speeds for any user wanting to stream the Bundesliga. 


VyprVPN has servers in over 70 countries, and they are located perfectly for unblocking streams of Bundesliga matches. It has apps for all platforms and advanced features such as obfuscation. This makes it a popular choice worldwide, for people who need to use a VPN and evade firewalls. Not as fast as our other recommendations, but still a great service that is streets ahead of most of the VPN market. You can try it yourself if you want to, thanks to its 30-day money back guarantee. 

Bundesliga Build up

The Bundesliga is the first major European football league set to return after Coronavirus halted sport across the continent. It can be costly to stream Bundesliga depending on where you live, however, and geo-restrictions may make it hard to watch it all (particularly for free). Luckily, with a VPN service anybody can gain access to Bundesliga live streams – anywhere in the world. With a Bundesliga VPN, you can even stream the football for free.

Find out how you can unblock the Bundesliga no matter where you live.

What you need to live stream Bundesliga from anywhere

To watch Bundesliga football online from anywhere in the world, you need a VPN that is suited to the task. There are hundreds of consumer-facing VPN providers available online, and not every VPN has the servers you need to unblock Bundesliga matches.

Even some VPNs that have servers in the countries you require have slow, laggy servers that will make it almost impossible to watch the football without constant buffering stress. 

Football is a precision sport and watching the ball shoot across the screen, into the goal requires a good HD quality stream. That is why we only recommend fast, reliable providers with Tier-1 servers.

Below we have included a list of the most important VPN features you require to unblock and enjoy Bundesliga football online with a VPN: 

Why are these the best VPNs for streaming Bundesliga football?

At ProPrivacy.com, we understand everything there is to know about privacy services like VPNs. Our team regularly tests VPN services from around the world, year after year. This allows us to know which VPNs are compatible with TV channels and streaming services that broadcast Bundesliga football.

In this article, we have recommended VPNs that have lightning fast servers everywhere that you might need them to stream Bundesliga matches.

Bundesliga Matchday 23 Build-up

This week's Bundesliga fixtures are listed below, all of the times below are in Central European Standard Time.

Friday 

Mainz vs Leverkusen (20:30)

Saturday 

Arminia Beilefeld vs Union Berlin (15:30)

Augsburg vs Frieburg (15:30)

WFB Stuttgart vs Bochum (15:30)

Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim (15:30)

Köln vs Frankfurt (15:30)

Sunday

Bayern München vs Greuther Fürth (15:30)

Dortmund vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (17:30)

Herth Berlin vs RB Leipzig

Who are the title favorites?

Of course, a strong start is always preferred. Borussia Dortmund started the new season with a bang after demolishing Eintracht Frankfurt in a 5-2 victory that saw star striker Erling Haaland score two and assist three. The precocious young talent – who already looks like he could be the sole heir to Ronaldo and Messi's two-seated throne – is still only 21 but is scoring goals like a veteran target man.

If Dortmund can keep hold of their hot property beyond transfer deadline day, then they have to be considered as in with a strong chance of winning the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich are not as strong as they were two years ago which helps their chances, but Dortmund will have to shore up a defense that saw them lose 10 games last season and, on top of this, star winger Jadon Sancho has now left for Man City so they've lost some firepower up front. Donyell Malen joined BVB boys for £27m from PSG to cushion the blow, so it will be intriguing to see how he deals with filling the large boots of his predecessor. 

They will – just like any other team who wants to win the Bundesliga – have to get past giants Bayern Munich, which is no easy task. The Bavarian outfit is the most successful club in Germany and have scooped up every Bundesliga title since 2011. Admittedly, the 2020 Champions League winners have lost stalwart David Alaba but replaced him with RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, who looks like one of the brightest young talents on the continent. Bayern looked slightly nervy in the opening minutes of their first fixture, conceding early on but ultimately played out a thrilling 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, who themselves will be hoping to improve on an 8th place finish with new boss Julian Nagelsmann. 

Other teams that will be looking to the summit of the table include Upamecano's former employers RB Leipzig, who are yet to get their hands on the Bundesliga trophy but cannot be ignored due to their meteoric rise up the football league system thanks to investment from Red Bull, who own the club. Although many fans view the set-up as the antithesis of traditional, German, fan-owned teams, fans in Leipzig don't care – they just want success. They'll be happy, then, that their club signed Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva for just over £20m – a bargain price for a player who scored 28 goals in the Bundesliga last year. With Silva leading the attack, RB Leipzig may have finally found the Timo Werner replacement that could fire them to glory. 

Who are the relegation candidates?

Arminia Bielefeld only came up to the Bundesliga last season, but a string of spirited performances saw the minnows finish in 15th place and narrowly avoid the drop. Although they'll be looking to repeat the heroics that saw them stay up last season, any team missing real game-changers may struggle with a phenomenon dubbed 'second season syndrome – just look what happened to Swansea, Reading, and most recently Sheffield United during their second season in the Premier League. Whether they like it or not, and in spite of last season's form, Arminia are among the prime candidates to be sent packing to the Bundesliga 2 by the season's end. 

SpVgg Greuther Fürth are another non-Bundesliga regular that have come up from the second division for only their second season ever in the top flight. The reason they're another team you wouldn't bet on to stay up is simply their shambolic defense; they conceded 44 goals last season in the Bundesliga 2, and haven't really signed any players that look capable of plugging the leaks. 

FC. Koln seems to love getting relegated – if they go down this season, it'll be the eighth relegation in the club's history. Germany's most successful yoyo team only survived relegation last season via a relegation play-off game, so there's every chance that fortunes won't be with them this year and they'll slip up when it matters. They do have some players coming back from injury, however, and will be hoping to be in a much healthier position by the tail end of next season. 

Written by: Ray Walsh

Digital privacy expert with 5 years experience testing and reviewing VPNs. He's been quoted in The Express, The Times, The Washington Post, The Register, CNET & many more. 

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