Best NFL Game Pass – How to use a VPN to stream NFL games

ExpressVPN is a trailblazing VPN that manages to consistently outshine competitors. It combines sleek, customizable apps with market-leading speeds, cutting-edge security features and the ability to access all of the major streaming services. If you want a service to access unrestricted NFL Game Pass content, then this is it. 

Global network of speedy servers

With servers in 94+ countries, you never have to look too far for a connection. Accessing streaming services from almost anywhere is painless, with options including Netflix, iPlayer, HBO, and Hulu. Most importantly of all, you’ll be able to stream NFL games using fast, stable connections and without data caps or other annoyances. 

The speed of ExpressVPN connections is maintained thanks to its homegrown Lightway protocol. This open-source protocol boasts strong security and quick switching between mobile and Wi-Fi networks. If, for some reason, you don’t want – or can’ t– connect using the Lightway protocol, you can use the longstanding OpenVPN protocol instead. 

Protect your whole network

Each ExpressVPN account lets you connect up to five devices at once, which is fairly low compared with competitors. If you find this isn’t enough, you can install ExpressVPN on your router and get all the devices on your network protected, using just one of your allocated five connections. 

ExpressVPN is fairly unique here in that it provides free router firmware to replace that currently installed on your router. The firmware comes pre-configured with a range of features as well as all of ExpressVPN’s substantial catalog of servers.

P2P filesharing made easy

Torrenting is permitted using ExpressVPN, and the provider doesn’t force you onto specific servers to do it.

You can protect your torrent connection using a kill-switch, which will stop all internet traffic if the VPN connection suddenly drops out. Another neat feature is split tunneling, which allows you to decide which apps use a VPN and which don’t. So, for example, you can protect your torrent client with a VPN, but let everything else connect without. 

Safe and secure

Being based in the British Virgin Islands means ExpressVPN isn’t subject to mandatory data retention laws. The company has a strong commitment to privacy and doesn’t log any internet traffic or record IP addresses of either the connecting device or the server network. 

Even if a server were to somehow store information, ExpressVPN software runs on its RAM rather than hard disk. This means all data is wiped every time the server reboots.  

Connections are protected by effectively uncrackable 256-bit AES channel encryption, together with SHA512 hash authentication, and 4096-bit DHE-RSA keys. The latter enables perfect forward secrecy, so that past sessions cannot be encrypted if the current key is compromised. 

Easy to use apps

ExpressVPN apps are easy to get to grips with and similar across all operating systems. We like the smart location feature, which ranks VPN locations according to download speed, distance, and latency. This makes it easy to find a fast server for streaming NFL Game Pass. 

Other features – currently only available in the Android app – include protection summary, where you can see how much you’ve used a VPN in the past week; security assistant, which provides active guidance on improving device security; and a data breach alert that will notify you if your data has been compromised.

Thanks to a massive server network, optimized protocol and bulked-up smart DNS service, NordVPN is a great way to safely access NFL Game Pass and other streaming services. It offers high-end security and apps with a plethora of privacy features.  

Reliably quick, wherever you are

NordVPN has one of the largest server networks of any provider, boasting almost 2,000 in the US alone. It’s easy to access NFL Game Pass, as well as a whole host of other streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. This is, in part, thanks to a built-in smart DNS service that switches your DNS servers when you try to access unavailable content. The VPN then cloaks your IP address and encrypts your internet connection.

The fastest connections are those achieved using NordVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol – NordLynx. This is an extension of the already fast Wireguard, and makes NordVPN one of the fastest VPNs on the market. 

Provided you have a good home connection, you’ll be able to live stream HD NFL Game Pass content with no buffering. If you do happen to encounter a slow server, it’s easy to switch to an alternative within the same country, or even city. 

NordVPN allows you to connect up to six devices at once, which isn’t particularly impressive, given that some providers allow unlimited connections. If you do find that you reach the limit, it’s possible to install NordVPN on your router – thus protecting every device on your network. This has the additional bonus of only using up one of your allocated connections. NordVPN provides setup guides for a range of different routers on its website.

Multi-functional apps

NordVPN has apps available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. It’s worth pointing out that these are not created equal – Android users can’t connect to multi-hop servers, for example, while threat protection is only available on Windows and macOS.

The desktop apps include features such as meshnet, which allows you to link remote devices and access them over encrypted connections; and dark web monitoring, which will alert you if your personal data is compromised in a security breach. There’s also a ‘pause’ option that allows you to temporarily disconnect the VPN connection rather than switching it off completely.

For additional privacy, we particularly like the obfuscated servers feature, which makes encrypted internet traffic look unencrypted. However this is only available in the Windows, Android, and MacOS versions of the app. 

Torrenters are catered for, with dedicated servers available if you wish to use them. There’s also the option of using a kill-switch – though not on the android app – that stops the flow of internet traffic if the VPN connection drops out. The kill-switch can be used system-wide or on an app-specific basis.

Advanced security measures  

NordVPN uses 256-bit AES channel encryption, together with SHA384 authentication and 3072-bit DHE-RSA key exchange. Perfect forward secrecy ensures that compromised keys from a current session can’t be used to encrypt data from previous sessions. 

Being based in Panama means NordVPN isn’t subject to data retention laws. The company keeps no logs of your online activities while connected, nor does it store your IP address, the server IP address, or any other personally-identifying information. These claims have been substantiated by two third-party audits. Any in-session information – such as timestamps –  is written to RAM-only diskless servers, which means it isn’t permanently stored. 

Private Internet Access is an industry stalwart with a strong commitment to security and privacy. It’s great for those who want to tailor their VPN connection, but also accessible enough for newcomers to quickly get started. 

Faster than average speeds

PIA has a network of several thousand servers spread throughout the main regions where you can use NFL Game Pass. These can be ordered alphabetically or by latency, with the option to save those that work particularly well. 

You can access a good range of streaming services, though there are some fairly major exceptions – such as Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. You can stream NFL Game Pass in HD without suffering from poor quality video or buffering. While PIA is one of the faster VPNs available, it pales in comparison to the likes of ExpressVPN. 

Adjustable apps

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Linux users are treated to a full app with GUI, rather than the command-line interface normally offered by VPNs.

The app’s layout can be altered on an element-by-element basis or by switching themes. Features include a snooze function that pauses the VPN connection for a few minutes, and a built-in ad-blocker.

Security can be customized in a number of ways. The level of encryption can be adjusted from the default 128-bit AES-GCM to the more standard 256-bit, as can the level of encryption used to secure and exchange the data encryption key.

There are several VPN protocols to choose from, with OpenVPN as the default – despite it not being the fastest. Other options include OpenVPN over TCP, and Wireguard. You can also choose different ports if the standard OpenVPN port is blocked, and move between DNS servers – whether that’s your ISP’s, PIA’s, or the Handshake peer-to-peer DNS system. 

Android and iOS users can also make use of a private browser that provides a degree more security than the stock browsers supplied with the devices. 

PIA allows you to connect up to 10 devices at a time, which should be enough for most people. Those living in larger households can up their capacity by installing PIA on a compatible router.

Favorite of filesharers

Torrenters will find lots to like with PIA. A port forwarding feature lets you bypass NAT firewalls to make more connections in a torrent swarm, while a kill-switch ensures that your internet connection is terminated if the VPN drops out. 

There’s also the option for split tunneling, which can be used to protect a torrenting app’s traffic whilst allowing everything else to connect without a VPN. Multi-hop servers provide an extra layer of encryption and an additional server to normal VPN connections.

PIA keeps no logs of your online activity, neither does it keep session data such as timestamps. You need to submit an email address and payment details to subscribe using regular funding sources, though you also have the option of paying with store cards or cryptocurrency if privacy is important to you.

PrivateVPN has a relatively small network of servers – we’re talking a magnitude of at least ten less than all of its major competitors. Nevertheless, the servers it does have are widely spread and offer good connections in all the regions where you can stream NFL Game Pass.  

Solid streaming

Available servers can be organized by country or by proximity, with the option of saving any favorites for later use. Speeds are fast and you can stream live football games with no lag or buffering. 

PrivateVPN is able to access plenty of other streaming sites too, including Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Disney+, and Hulu.

Customizable apps

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. These allow you to tinker with your settings to streamline performance or boost security as required. For example, you can reduce your level of encryption from 256-bit to 128-bit for sluggish connections. Both are essentially uncrackable, but 256-bit is stronger and can sometimes slightly affect speeds.

You can also change the protocol the VPN uses. Options include OpenVPN over UDP or TCP, L2TP, and PPTP. Wireguard is available, but you’ll need to configure it yourself. Protection against IPv6 leaks and DNS leaks is enabled by default, but you have the option to turn it off. 

Private VPN uses SHA256 for authentication, in conjunction with 2,048-bit RSA keys to provide perfect forward secrecy. This protects past sessions against compromises of keys or passwords that may happen in the future. 

Filesharing made easier

PrivateVPN recommends using its Swedish servers for torrenting. Features that make filesharing safer and easier include port forwarding to enable more connections to more peers in a torrent swarm, a system-wide kill-switch that cuts the internet connection if your VPN connection drops, and an app-specific kill-switch that lets you choose which apps are disconnected from the VPN. 

True no logs policy

PrivateVPN never stores any personally identifiable information while you’re connected, despite being based in a country with relatively strict data retention laws. The company reduces the possibility of third-party interference with customer data by acting as its own server host and ISP. Users who want to further their anonymity can subscribe to the VPN service using cryptocurrency. 

Once signed up, you can use up to 10 devices simultaneously. If that’s not enough, you can install PrivateVPN on Asus RT and Linksys routers, as well as those running Tomato firmware. There are detailed setup guides available online.

While PrivateVPN doesn’t have 24/7 customer support, the live chat and emailed responses are knowledgeable and timely. One big plus for PrivateVPN is that it offers remote control support for help with setup and troubleshooting. This is great if you get stuck trying to configure a different protocol or router.    

Surfshark is a lightweight VPN that provides easy access to NFL Game Pass as well as a range of other streaming services. It’s fast, secure, and allows users unlimited simultaneous device connections. 

One of the fastest VPNs

Using the Wireguard protocol, Surfshark provides market-leading connection speeds. It’s easily fast enough to stream live HD content from NFL Game Pass, and you’ll be able to use it for 4K video from services such as Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, HBO, and Sky. 

Surfshark has an ever-increasing network of several-thousand servers located in a diverse range of countries. You can choose to connect to the fastest of them, or select one in the nearest country or in a specific region. You can save those that work well with NFL Game Pass for later use. 

There’s also a separate – and well-populated – list of double VPN servers if you want an additional layer of anonymity. Surfshark uses private DNS servers rather than public ones, so your DNS requests are hidden.

Unlimited connections

If you live in a large household, Surfshark is a good choice thanks to it allowing an unlimited number of devices to connect simultaneously. This is relatively rare in the VPN world, with providers normally settling on between five and 10.  

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu and Debian, and Amazon Fire TV. You can also install Surfshark on your router if you need protection for a device that doesn’t work with VPN apps, such as Apple TV or game consoles. 

Alternatively, you can use Surfshark’s new standalone smart DNS service. While this doesn’t provide the full encryption of the VPN, it does give you access to a range of streaming services – NFL Game Pass included. 

Extra touches in the apps

We like that Surfshark’s desktop apps include both an antivirus and an alert service – used when email addresses or passwords have been involved in a data breach. Other features include an option to make your device invisible to others on a Local Area Network (LAN).

Split tunneling is also available, which is particularly useful for protecting a filesharing client while using other programs without a VPN. Torrenters will appreciate that they are automatically connected to the nearest P2P server when a P2P app is running.

Top-tier security

Surfshark uses 256-bit AES encryption in conjunction with a SHA512 authentication hash and 2048-bit DHE-RSA key exchange. Android users have the additional option of using ChaCha encryption, which can perform better on mobiles.

Wireguard is used as the default protocol, but other protocols – like OpenVPN, IKEv2, or Shadowsocks – are available. 

As the company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, it isn’t subject to data retention laws. As such, Surfshark doesn’t keep any records of your IP address, online activity, used bandwidth, or connection time stamps.