How to Stream ESPN Plus in Canada 2021? Is it different from ESPN?

This one is for all our Sports fans out there, especially in Canada. Entitled as one of the biggest and best sports networks in the world, ESPN Plus is home to all the on-demand content and LIVE sports happening around the world. But there is no ESPN plus Canada or ESPN Canada available for sports lovers.

ESPN+ is not an app or live cable channel but rather a subscription that showcases exclusive sports events that aren’t broadcasted on regular cable TV channels. It was introduced by Walt Disney and is only available in the USA.

Why Isn’t ESPN Plus Available for Canadians?

Unfortunately,  to enjoy ESPN in Canada, you require an American cable subscription as it is only available in the USA. ESPN+ is a standalone sports streaming and doesn’t require any US cable subscription but it is geo-blocked in Canada. The reason being; content copyrights and geo-restriction policies to not violate the contractual agreements between other sports networks and Walt Disney.

But if you don’t have an American cable subscription, you need not worry! We have got you covered. You can access ESPN+ streaming service without a cable TV subscription in Canada with services like Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and Smart DNS.

How to Watch ESPN Plus in Canada the Easy Way

1. Use a VPN

A VPN would help you access geo-blocked content by spoofing your real IP address and your actual whereabouts. When you attempt to connect to a VPN server from the USA to access ESPN+, your IP address is switched with the server’s IP address, and it would look like you’re accessing ESPN’s content from the USA and not Canada.

2. Use a Smart DNS

Another way to access ESPN+ and other geo-restricted content is a Smart DNS. Smart DNS will translate the website names into IPs and the other way around. Using a  Smart DNS  service would replace your ISP-assigned DNS address with a different DNS address that shows some other location for e.g., in the US.

Here are some simple steps you can follow to set a Smart DNS proxy by ExpressVPN on your smart tv to watch ESPN+ in Canada.

How to Watch ESPN Plus in Canada with a VPN- 3 Simple Steps

Here’s how to get started on ESPN Plus right away with a VPN in 3 simple steps.

Best VPNs to Watch ESPN Plus in Canada

ExpressVPN – LIVE Sports at Blazing speeds

ExpressVPN is your best choice to unblock ESPN Plus in Canada only at $6.67/ mo. It is a reliable, fast, and powerful service provider that can easily get past all the geo-blocks to provide you with the best content on ESPN Plus Canada.

In addition to ESPN Plus, Express VPN is efficient at unblocking other streaming platforms like Peacock TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO max, BBC iPlayer, and more. ExpressVPN also has special servers for streaming which would help you provide a smooth streaming experience. Although they don’t broadcast where their servers are located exactly, you can always ask. ExpressVPN provides a quick customer support service, so you can always contact ExpressVPN’s chat support for assistance.

ExpressVPN also supports a SmartDNS service known as MediaStreamer. This service is particularly helpful for unblocking geo-restricted content without the encryption of a VPN service.

With our testing, ExpressVPN managed to deliver a high download speed of 85.84 Mbps on my 100 Mbps connection which is impressive for buffer-less streaming. ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers, and the apps are easy to use

Surfshark VPN – Fast and Secure

Surfshark has 3,200 servers in 60+ countries, including Canada. With Surfshark, you can access ESPN Plus without any hassle at $2.49/mo. Surfshark is faster than a lot of VPNs. After some tests on different servers across Canada and the US, the speeds came out quite satisfying within the range of 75 Mbps-80 Mbps.

Users in Canada can also choose to watch various other streaming platforms. Surfshark successfully unblocks geo-blocked websites and allows you buffer-free access to popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, HBO max, and more.

Surfshark will mask all your digital footprints from the ever-growing cybercrime in Canada and provide you with protection against domestic and foreign spying. Surfshark comes with Smart DNS. A handy feature that provides content unblocking functionality to devices that do not have native VPN support. You can easily apply it to your smart TV and enjoy instant access to streaming services across Canada and worldwide.

NordVPN – Secure VPN Proxy

NordVPN has a wide server network spread globally with 4500+ servers in 59 countries, including Canada. With its robust server across the US, you can easily unblock ESPN Plus and get easy access in Canada at $4.89/mo. You can also unblock 400 VODs and streaming channels with the help of NordVPN servers. NordVPN can easily get Hulu, Peacock tv, American Amazon prime video, BBC iplayer, HBO max, Disney plus Hotstar, and others.

NordVPN has an optimized server network for Peer Peer sharing. These servers offer blazing speeds and allow access to uTorrent and BitTorrent without issues. After checking the speed test results with NordVPN, i can say that speeds were excellent for streaming and browsing on the whole with servers across Canada and the USA.

Nord also has extra security features like a Kill switch, split tunneling, double-hop VPN, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Does a free VPN Unblock ESPN plus in Canada?

Most of the time, it is a NO. A free vpn server is accessed by many freebies and due to limited free servers, there are more chances of them getting blocked by the ESPN network or getting choked due to heavy traffic. Free VPNs may come with some compromise on data breach,  security risk, and malware infections. We cannot be sure of no logging of our data by vpn company.

Thus the best option is a premium VPN service. Most of these VPNs either provide a free trial period of some duration or a money-back guarantee program. By using these options, users can enjoy some free premium service and watch their favorite matches on ESPN plus in Canada. You can get more details on recommended free vpns in Canada to use and how much free data or services are available.

What are the Payment methods to subscribe to ESPN Plus in Canada?

Walt Disney offers a reasonable subscription fee for ESPN which is  $5.99 (USD) per month. Also, an ample amount can be saved by purchasing an annual package of $49.99. It can also be bought as a bundle offered by Walt Disney, including Disney+ and Hulu in Canada. ESPN also offers gift cards for ESPN+ subscriptions and sends an activation code through email.

To watch all the best content on ESPN+ from Canada, you will need a payment method that is US-based after subscribing to a VPN. A normal credit card from Canada will not work as they will know you are not from the US. Here are some ways you can work through to get an American card and watch ESPN+ in Canada.

Is ESPN different from ESPN+?

ESPN+ is not the same as ESPN, and Yes, they are somewhat different. To watch ESPN on your Television screens, you require a cable TV subscription. You can not watch ESPN if you don’t have cable TV subscriptions in Canada.

ESPN is a short form of “Entertainment and Sports Programming Network”. It is a US-based famous sports channel, covering all major sports events along with Insider ESPN for free in HD quality and with a cheap subscription.

On the other hand, ESPN+ is an online service exclusive by ESPN that works without a cable TV subscription. It is a VOD (Video-on-demand) streaming platform where you can catch some of the live sports, originals, documentaries, and other content offered by ESPN. With ESPN+, you can also access what was available previously on ESPN Insider.

ESPN covers more European, Asian, and Latin-American sports events. While ESPN+ shows alternative sports content which are not broadcasted on the prime ESPN channel such as “30 for 30” documentary series, PPV ESPN+ events, UFC fights, etc. although ESPN plus subscription does not come with ESPN and ESPN2 channels. In Canada, only Classic ESPN is broadcasted through TSN. ESPN classic mostly shows basketball, hockey, Canadian football,  curling, and some other Canadian sports. It also required a Canadian tv subscription.

ESPN app (formerly known as WatchESPN) comes with thousands of live sports broadcasts, sports news, scoreboards of events. It has an archive of previous events highlights, replay options also. But this is only available for US residents.

Devices Compatible with ESPN Plus

After setting up your VPN, you can watch ESPN Plus in Canada on the following devices in the ESPN+ tab within the ESPN app or espn.com:

1. Android
2. iOS
3. Linux
4. Roku
5. Windows
6. Apple TV
7. Chromecast
8. Amazon Firestick
9.  Fire TV

How Much Does ESPN Plus Cost?

ESPN+ comes with a huge sports library that comes with a subscription plan which costs $5.99 per month, and an annual subscription at $49.99. With an annual subscription, you can save $21.89. This is great value for money, especially if you like watching a variety of sports.

Sports You Can Watch on ESPN Plus

ESPN+ has a huge variety of great sports shows and content that you can now stream from Canada. Here’s a list of some of the world-famous content that you can find on ESPN+.

1. UFC
2. MMA
3. Soccer
4. PGA Golf
5. Tennis
6. NHL
7. NFL (Live)
8. MLB (Live)
9. MLS (Live)
10. College Football
11. NFL Insiders
12. Major League Baseball

FAQs

Conclusion

Now Sports lovers in Canada and worldwide can enjoy on-demand and live sports along with other ESPN plus originals using our recommended VPNs. All the above-mentioned VPNs can smoothly unblock ESPN+ and you can enjoy ESPN plus Canada on any of your devices. Do not miss your matches, just a single click on ExpressVPN and you are good to go.