How to Stream ESPN Plus in Canada 2021?

This one is for all our Sports fans out there, especially in Canada. Can you take a chance to miss the main event of UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann 2021? Definitely Not! then ESPN plus is your go-to solution.

Entitled as one of the biggest and best sports networks globally, 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.

But no need to worry, we have found a way to solve this issue; How to watch ESPN plus in Canada?; Yes, you can but with the help of an amazing technology called VPN.

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.

How to Watch ESPN Plus in Canada via VPN- Easy Method

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

Method # 2- Watch ESPN Plus in Canada using a Smart DNS

Another way to access ESPN+ and other geo-restricted content is a Smart DNS. It translates the website names into IPs and the other way around. For example, using a  Smart DNS  service would replace your ISP-assigned DNS address with a different DNS address showing another location, e.g., in the US. It is the preferred method to use for those devices which do not support VPN directly.

Why Isn’t ESPN Plus available in Canada?

Unfortunately, you require an American cable subscription to enjoy ESPN in Canada as it is only available in the USA. ESPN+ is a standalone sports streaming and doesn’t require any US cable subscription, but ESPN plus is geo-blocked in Canada.

The reason is; content copyrights and geo-restriction policies do not violate the contractual agreements between other sports networks and Walt Disney. When a user in Canada tries to get ESPN plus in Canada, all the time, he encounters this error message;

“ESPN+ is not available in your country due to content rights issues.”

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

Best VPNs to Watch ESPN Plus in Canada

After testing a number of VPN providers in the market, we have brought you our top 3 recommendations to unblock ESPN+ in Canada. Below we have explained the prominent features of our top-picked VPNs for you to save you from trouble and missing your favorite live sports.

1. 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. With our testing, ExpressVPN delivered a high download speed of 94.4 Mbps on my 100 Mbps connection which is impressive for buffer-less streaming.

In addition to ESPN Plus, Express VPN is efficient at unblocking other streaming platforms like Peacock TV, Netflix, HBO max, BBC iPlayer, Sky Sports, and more.

ExpressVPN also supports a SmartDNS service known as MediaStreamer. This service is beneficial for unblocking geo-restricted content without the encryption of a VPN service. ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and routers, and the apps are easy to use.

2. 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 . In addition, 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.

Surfshark will mask all your digital footprints from the ever-growing cybercrime in Canada and provide you with protection against domestic and foreign spying. In addition, 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. Learn more insights about Surfshark VPN in our detailed guide.

3. 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 $3.67/mo . You can also unblock 400 VODs and streaming channels with the help of NordVPN servers.

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!

Many freebies access a free VPN server, 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 breaches,  security risks, and malware infections. However, we cannot be sure of no logging of our data by a 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.

Using these options, users can enjoy some free premium service and watch their favorite matches on ESPN plus in Canada. In addition, you can get more details on recommended free VPNs in Canada to use and how much free data or services are available.

Which Devices work 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 to Download ESPN+ on Android

You can easily install ESPN plus in Canada on your Android devices using the steps below.

How to Download ESPN plus on iOS

You can install ESPN plus in Canada on your Android devices using the steps below.

How to watch ESPN plus on a Desktop/PC/Laptops?

It is the most convenient way to watch ESPN plus matches on your PC, desktop or laptop just by following these easy steps.

How to watch get ESPN+ on Roku, Apple TV, Roku, and Smart TVs?

to get ESPN plus in Canada on devices like Roku, Gaming consoles, Apple TV, Smart TVs, etc, you have to connect your VPN service with your router or internet connection. It is a kind of complex task for beginners. So we suggest you opt for Firestick or Chromecast to watch ESPN plus on these devices. you can simply follow these steps.

How to subscribe to ESPN Plus in Canada?

Walt Disney offers a reasonable subscription fee for ESPN, which is  $6.99 (USD) per month. You can save a large by purchasing an annual package of $69.99. 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 US-based payment method after subscribing to a VPN. A normal credit card from Canada will not work as they 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.

How much does ESPN Plus Cost?

ESPN+ comes with a huge sports library with a subscription plan that 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

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 famous US-based sports channel covering all major sports events and Insider ESPN for free in HD quality and with a cheap subscription.

On the other hand, ESPN+ is an online service exclusive to 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 plus, you can also access what was available previously on “ESPN Insider.”

ESPN covers more European, Asian, and Latin-American sports events. In contrast, ESPN+ shows alternative sports content not broadcast on the prime ESPN channel, such as the “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.

FAQs

Conclusion

In short, ESPN plus is a standalone sports streaming service in the USA and doesn’t require any US cable subscription, but ESPN plus is not available in Canada due to geo-restrictions. But sports lovers in Canada can enjoy on-demand and live sports and other ESPN plus originals using our reliable VPN service like ExpressVPN and can smoothly unblock ESPN plus Canada on any of compatible devices.

Do not miss your matches; just a single click on ExpressVPN, and you are good to go.