How to Unblock and Watch Sling from Outside The USA

Isa Aliu

By Isa Aliu . 23 January 2024

VPN Expert

Miklos Zoltan

Fact-Checked this

Sling TV is one of the most popular TV networks in the USA, boasting a plethora of entertaining channels and programs.

It has well over 200 channels to choose from, channels such as CNN, Food Network, and ESPN.

Quick guide to to unblock Sling:

  • Click here to get ExpressVPN
  • Install the app on your device
  • Connect to a server from the USA
  • Access Sling, now you can see the full content selection

Unfortunately, only the residents of the USA have direct access to these services, with a geo-block in place for those living outside. This is not the end of the road for fans of the service, though; for this article will explain how to bypass these restrictions.

Summary: Sling TV, renowned in the USA for its extensive lineup of over 200 channels like CNN, Food Network, and ESPN, is unfortunately restricted to US residents because of geo-blocking. This article details how you can get around these limitations and access Sling TV from any location worldwide using a VPN.

We delve into the top VPN choices for streaming Sling TV, the criteria used for their selection, and present Smart DNS as an alternate solution. By following our recommended VPNs, you’ll be able to enjoy all that Sling TV offers, irrespective of your geographical location.

Unblock Sling

How to Watch Sling Using a VPN

Sling TV is the go-to option for people looking to be more economical, hoping to cut costs on large subscriptions packed with chock-full channels they aren’t even interested in watching. You can always unblock website restrictions using a VPN, however. Here’s all you have to do:

  • Register for a VPN service
  • Download the app on your device
  • Launch the app and select a US server
  • Register for access to Sling TV
  • Enjoy streaming

Best VPNs to Watch Sling

A VPN is a brilliant software innovation that finds a way around the geo-block digital algorithm put in place by service providers.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. It is a means through which all of your traffic is rerouted through the VPN’s special servers.

We recommend these three best VPNs if you’re looking for a way to watch Sling TV from outside the USA:

NordVPN

Price from: $3.67/mo

Available on:

pros

  • Exceptional security and privacy
  • Stable, fast connections
  • Security and privacy features
  • No log policy

Cons

  • Not much

After plenty of trialing and testing, we have concluded that NordVPN is simply the best single-choice VPN to use for unblocking Sling TV.

It has great speeds, is easy to use, and, most importantly, has many servers available to connect to.

Regarding the latter, NordVPN has more than 5000 servers in 59 unique locations, meaning that you have a wide range of options. For instance, you can switch to a Denver server if the Florida-based one is not loading.

It’s also why NordVPN is recommended as a good Texas VPN and Florida VPN.

Its speed is also not in question, with NordVPN offering the fastest speeds available as far as Sling TV is concerned. This is important to ensure you enjoy the streaming experience, as it eliminates buffering and lag.

In addition, you do not have to bother about your browsing data getting into the hands of hackers. The efficient security VPN protocols ensure maximum security, and the no-log policy means that the VPN service itself isn’t archiving your data.

Best of all, you can try out NordVPN’s best features over 30 days without financial commitment. You can cancel anytime in the rare event that you are unsatisfied with the service.

Surfshark

Price from: $2.49/mo

Available on:

pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Fastest speeds and unlimited bandwidth
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Reliable unblocking

Cons

  • A small fee for some extra features
  • Relatively new

Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN choices. It is the very best one, money-wise, with which to stream Sling TV from abroad.

In terms of digital reach, it has more than 500 servers in more than 20 US cities, which is convenient for this purpose. Sling TV’s geo-blocking is no barrier to this.

Surfshark ranks highly with us because there are zero limits on the number of simultaneous connections allowed. In this, it truly outdoes most other VPN services. In addition, it supports the major operating systems available.

Security-wise, you really cannot go much farther than Surfshark. It has a private DNS, a strict no-logging policy, a kill switch, and comprehensive leak protection. Thus, you can enjoy streaming on Sling TV using the VPN solution.

If you are still unconvinced by our effusive recommendation, you can go for the 30-trial subscription with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Additionally, you can also use Surfshark to unblock FuboTV and to watch ESPN from abroad.

CyberGhost

Price from: $1.9/mo

Available on:

pros

  • Budget friendly
  • Works with Netfix
  • Can unblock restricted websites
  • Great server selection

Cons

  • Outdated app

With CyberGhost, you have near-limitless access to stream Sling as you please.

There is access to more than seven thousand servers spread across more than eighty different locations. The implication is that you have more than one server location to choose from in case one is too slow.

Just as well, CyberGhost’s Best Location feature means that you can automatically connect to the fastest server available. This highly convenient feature will save you time searching for the most suitable server.

As regards security, CyberGhost VPN ranks up there with the very best. Its military-grade encryption protocols ensure maximum security whenever you’re in the VPN tunnel. Anonymity is guaranteed, too.

Also, a strict no-logging policy means you don’t have to worry about CyberGhost selling your sensitive data to the highest bidder.

Finally, high speeds are guaranteed. Many VPN services are notorious for throttling browsing and download speeds. With CyberGhost VPN, you do not have to worry about this.

You can also use Cyberghost to watch Showtime from abroad and to unblock Hulu.

How We Picked The Best VPNs

With so many VPN solutions available today, users are quite spoiled for choice regarding this. However, it should be noted that not all VPN solutions work with the same degree of efficiency.

Some are downright slow, while others are likely to compromise your data unknown to you. Still, others are better suited to handling geo-blocking for specific platforms, while they fall short for others.

Here are some key factors we considered in making our own choice:

Pricing and Versatility

All of the recommended VPNs are fairly priced. You can try out the best features and decide which is best for you. The 30-day money-back guarantee is more than enough surety for you to at least risk a trial if you have doubts from the very off.

Geo-Restrictions

Geo-restrictions are the means through which streaming platforms and other location-based networks limit the distribution and viewing of their content. It uses a special kind of encryption to limit user access.

The system works via your internet portal, i.e., the location of your device or IP. Thus, the geo-restriction or geo-block can alter the content you can view based on your geographical location.

We experience geo-blocking daily, especially content from the popular media channel YouTube, among several others. Geo-restrictions are a core part of the internet and are the machinery of the state, albeit indirectly.

It is a state of state because, through it, individual nations’ governments can exert different restrictions. These restrictions are usually borne of cultural/traditional sentiment or constitutional dictation.

Geo-restrictions are expressed to varying degrees of strictness. Some affect a full service, e.g., Sling and Netflix. Others are partial, involving the censorship of certain programs and channels. Either way, the restrictions are enforced all over cyberspace.

If you try to watch Sling from outside the USA, you will get the following error message:

“WE’RE SORRY.
SLING TV IS ONLY AVAILABLE INSIDE THE US.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.”

VPNs are the easiest way to circumvent this restriction. VPN services help to mask the IP addresses of the device you’re streaming on. Otherwise, your activities will be visible to the network systems, leading to blocking and blocklisting.

Not all VPNs perform this task effectively, however. Some VPN solutions are better suited to unblocking specific services for specific locations. The three VPN solutions we recommend are tested and trusted, making them the ideal VPNs.

Alternative Options to Unblock Sling TV

If you have cold feet as to using a VPN, there is an alternative if you’re willing to use it:

Smart DNS

The way Sling TV works are that it automatically detects your location. This mechanism allows the streaming service to block your device from accessing its channels outside the US.

To bypass the geo-block, you need to temporarily mask or hide your true location, which is represented digitally by your IP address. Your Internet Service Provider or ISP assigns this address.

After signing up, your device’s original DNS settings must be altered. This is precisely how Smart DNS works. An example of such a service is Unlocator.

You can thus enjoy streaming Sling TV to your heart’s content. You should note, however, that Smart DNS will not automatically alter your IP address. On the other hand, browsing speeds remain virtually the same as that offered by your ISP.

The main drawback of Smart DNS is that it will not work if your service provider employs Transparent Proxies or DNS Hijacking.

Conclusion

It’s all settled now. The path is quite clear: you can use any of our top recommended VPN solutions to enjoy streaming Sling TV virtually anywhere in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some people found answers to these questions helpful

What is Sling TV, and what are the packages?

Sling TV is a US-based TV service owned by the popular US TV provider Dish. Having been launched in 2015, Sling TV was created specifically for cord-cutters. In addition, Sling TV has almost 3 million subscribers. The packages begin at $25 per month, with users having access to a small collection of channels until they can expand gradually with more channels of their own choice. This type of a la carte subscription is convenient for most users.


Is it legal to stream Sling TV using a VPN service?

Absolutely, yes! It’s perfectly legal, so fear not (except using a VPN is completely banned in your country). Nevertheless, you should try to subscribe to only the best services available, such as the ones we have shown you in this article.


Which is Better: Hulu or Sling TV?

This is actually up for debate. While Hulu has a wider assortment of shows, Sling TV is the cheaper option, which may appeal to more users.


Does Sling TV work with a VPN solution?

Yes, it does. Once you get a Sling TV subscription, you must launch the VPN service and connect to the appropriate server. Ensure to use any of the three options provided in this article.


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