NordVPN is the best way to bypass regional streaming restrictions, letting you access home accounts no matter how far away from home you are. From must-win games to crucial cliffhangers and clutch moment, hardcore fans know there are some live events you simply can't miss. But if you're a seasoned traveller, you'll also know that watching your favorite teams or shows isn't always that easy when you're visiting a new country. Thankfully, NordVPN is ready to help.
TL;DR:
- NordVPN bypasses geographical restrictions that mean you can't access certain shows or services when you're in a new country.
- It automatically gets around regional blocks to let you into accounts like Netflix and Sky Sports.
- It does it all while securely delivering ultra-fast, stable connections to ensure you never miss a moment of your favorite games or shows.
- And you can get year-round support on multiple devices with NordVPN's subscriptions.
1. You can bypass regional blackouts on critical matchdays
NordVPN allows you to instantly unlock domestic sport broadcasts abroad by connecting to one of its servers in your home country. With more than 7,700 of those servers in 224 locations, you're almost always covered. So if you're travelling during an important match and none of the local channels are showing your game, you'll still be able to tune in from kick-off all the way to the final whistle.
Why is my streaming account blocked while I'm on vacation?
Most streaming services, like Sky Sports, Peacock, and BBC iPlayer don't provide global coverage, and those do often change their libraries according to local streaming rights. That means that if you travel abroad, your traditional sports-streaming app is likely to serve up a geo-restriction error. With NordVPN, you can bypass that error and watch your games and shows using your normal app.
2. NordVPN lets you live-stream high-quality video, even on restrictive connections
NordVPN's encryption software and the NordLynx protocol make your data stream and activity type unreadable by your ISP by hiding your traffic type from Deep Packet Inspection, letting your high-quality video through with no throttling whatsoever. By using this method of filtering network traffic, hotel Wi-Fi reads domain names and server addresses to spot incoming high-quality video traffic, slowing it down so all guests can maintain high-speed access. With NordVPN, your ISP sees only a single, encrypted connection, hiding the fact that you're watching a video. Coupled with NordVPN's SmartPlay DNS software, that ensures your streams stay fast.
How does SmartPlay DNS speed up streaming?
On certain major US streaming services including Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Netflix, SmartPlay DNS automates the process of selecting the best server match for your location (based on the lowest latency, lowest bandwidth load, and active unblocking capability for the specific platform).
Built natively into all NordVPN apps (iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Fire TV) and configurable on smart TVs and gaming consoles, it runs quietly in the background and adjusts your connection settings, picking the best of NordVPN's 7,700+ servers to find you the best connection as soon as you start streaming.
Other VPNs often require users to manually switch between servers to find out which gets past geo-locks best, and additional throttling can be a time-consuming experience that makes you miss that all-important moment.
Can SmartPlay DNS help with gaming?
SmartPlay DNS helps keep your gaming sessions stable even when you're using restrictive ISPs. Just like high-quality streaming, online gaming requires a lot of bandwidth that can be throttled, often leading to high ping and packet loss that can cost you the game if it happens at the wrong moment. By disguising your incoming traffic with NordVPN, you can secure the clutch, wherever you choose to play.
3. NordVPN keeps your streams Ultra-HD with no buffering
NordVPN uses NordLynx connection technology to make sure you never miss a moment. NordLynx is a custom VPN protocol built around WireGuard. Its lightweight framework achieves rapid streaming speeds, but unlike standard WireGuard setups, NordLynx uses a unique system, creating two different IP addresses to maximize security, which means you stay safe while never missing those all-important details.
How does NordVPN keep me safer than other VPNs?
NordVPN keeps you safer thanks to NordLynx, which gives your device a temporary, secure IP address every time you log in. While traditional data encryption can slow down your internet thanks to bulky security protocols, NordLynx uses its dual IP address system to mask your data, before deleting all of your session history as soon as you disconnect.
4. NordVPN keeps your details safe, even on public networks
NordVPN uses VPN auto-connect to form an always-on safety net around your device as soon as it detects an unsecured network, and its diskless, RAM-only servers mean your data is never stored somewhere it could be compromised, unlike other providers where information remains accessible on physical drives.
That's been proven by six rigorous, independent audits (carried out between 2018 and 2026). Leading auditing firms PwC and Deloitte repeatedly inspected NordVPN’s server infrastructure, backend configurations, and employee practices to confirm zero logs are kept.
Thanks to the no-logs policy and AES-256 encryption, you're safe even on unsecured, public networks like those commonly found in travel hubs like airports and train stations. Those hubs might be a great way to catch up with an important match, but public Wi-Fi networks can be easy targets for cybercriminals, who take advantage of these networks' lack of security, using your connection to steal passwords, logins, and personal details.
How does NordVPN keep my data safe?
NordVPN secures your data using AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm with a 4096-bit DH key, turning your internet traffic into unreadable code known as “ciphertext”. By using Perfect forward secrecy (or PFS), the encryption keys constantly change automatically.
Even if someone intercepts your connection, your past and future data remains completely private, while NordVPN's Kill Switch prevents accidental IP and DNS leaks, instantly cutting off your connection if a public network is interrupted.
Does NordVPN protect gamers from DDoS attacks?
Yes, NordVPN does protect you from DDoS attacks. As well as using Kill Switch to instantly cut your connection and prevent leaks if your signal drops, its IP masking hides your real address from other players while you're at home, while NordVPN's 7,700+ servers form a robust network that's stronger than your router at preventing high-volume attacks.
Does NordVPN protect my other devices?
If you're using multiple devices on holiday, keeping just one of them safe is no good. NordVPN subscriptions can be used across up to ten devices at once. Coupled with NordVPN's Meshnet, which offers instant, direct point-to-point encryption between all those devices, and all your tech is kept safe at once.
5. And all this comes in one, easy-to-manage subscription
NordVPN Complete is Nord's most popular bundle. Starting from $4.49 per month, you get the easy connection of SmartPlay DNS, the rapid streaming speeds from Nord's 7,700 servers, and all the leading security features of Auto-connect and Kill Switch. That's on top of NordPass password manager, 1TB of encrypted cloud storage with NordLocker, and protection from scams and malware. And the most important bit is that you don't have to leave those features behind when it's time to come home, thanks to subscriptions with different lengths to suit your needs. That means no getting caught short 30 seconds before kick-off, and no nasty data-leak surprises.
NordVPN is a faster, smarter, safer way to keep up with all your favorite shows. With 7,700 servers across 224 locations, buffer-free 4K streaming, and the peace-of-mind offered by Auto-connect and Kill Switch, it's the perfect choice to ensure you never miss a moment, even on the go. Sign up for a one-month, 12-month, or 24-month subscription, head over to NordVPN.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can NordVPN secure remote work without slowing my connection?
Yes, NordVPN can keep your remote work secure with no loss of speed. With 7,700+ servers across 224 locations, you can minimize latency while NordLynx creates a unique identity on every login to keep your information secure.
Why should I install NordVPN on my router?
Installing NordVPN on your router protects every device in your home at once, securing every smart device automatically while using only one of your allotted connections, making it easier to protect everything you need when you're away from home.
