Best VPN for NOW in 2026
Updated 1 September 2026- Watch NOW (Sky) from outside the UK
- Sky Sports, Sky Cinema & Sky Entertainment without a dish
- Keep your NOW membership working while traveling
Quick answer
ExpressVPN is our #1 pick for this guide
These are the best VPNs for NOW (formerly NOW TV) in 2026, ranked by London-server reliability for Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, and Sky Entertainment from abroad. The focus is keeping your existing NOW membership working while traveling, with honest notes on Sky's VPN-blocking around big sport.
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
ExpressVPN Ultra fast & secure. Great for privacy, downloads, and everyday browsing on all your devices. 24/7 live chat support.
IPVanish Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
IPVanish Fast speeds with unlimited device connections. Strong no-logs privacy and 24/7 live chat support. Great for families.
NordVPN Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
NordVPN Excellent speeds with one of the largest server networks. Strong security features and easy-to-use apps. 24/7 live chat support.
Proton VPN Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
Proton VPN Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy focus. Audited no-logs policy and open-source apps. Great for privacy-conscious users.
CyberGhost Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
CyberGhost Fast speeds and strong privacy tools. Simple apps, automatic WiFi protection, and 24/7 live chat support.
Private Internet Access High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Private Internet Access High-speed VPN with a large server network and advanced security settings. Ad blocker included and 24/7 live chat support.
Surfshark Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
Surfshark Unlimited device connections at a budget-friendly price. Includes ad blocker and strong privacy tools. Great value for money.
TotalVPN Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
TotalVPN Affordable VPN with strong privacy and reliable speeds. Easy-to-use apps for all major devices. No-logs policy.
Rankings are based on our independent testing methodology. Each guide applies the criteria described on that page, including relevant performance, privacy, product features, and value data. We may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page, which helps fund our testing — this does not influence our rankings.
2026 Rankings At a Glance
| # | VPN | Download speed | Lowest long-term price | Money-back | Key strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ExpressVPN | 478 Mbps | $2.79/mo | 30 days | 3,000+ servers in 105 countries |
| 2 | IPVanish | 468 Mbps | $2.19/mo | 30 days | 3,200+ servers in 112+ countries |
| 3 | NordVPN | 462 Mbps | $3.09/mo | 30 days | 7,400+ servers in 118 countries |
| 4 | Proton VPN | 445 Mbps | $2.99/mo | 30 days | 15,000+ servers in 120+ countries |
| 5 | CyberGhost | 438 Mbps | $2.03/mo | 45 days | Servers in 100 countries |
| 6 | Private Internet Access | 430 Mbps | $1.75/mo | 30 days | Servers in 91 countries |
| 7 | Surfshark | 421 Mbps | $1.78/mo | 30 days | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries |
| 8 | TotalVPN | 415 Mbps | $1.59/mo | 30 days | Servers in 50+ countries |
Download figures use our wired 1 Gbps US East reference test. See the full benchmark and regional results. Prices reflect the current long-term promotional rate, billed upfront; term length varies by provider.
Why You Need a VPN for NOW
NOW (formerly NOW TV) is Sky's streaming service, delivering Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, and Sky Entertainment over the internet without a satellite dish — through Memberships you subscribe to monthly. It carries Premier League and other football, F1, cricket, Sky Originals, and the Sky movie library. NOW is geo-restricted to the UK and Ireland, so members lose access when they travel. A VPN with a UK server keeps your NOW membership working from anywhere, so you don't pay for coverage you can't reach while abroad.
Sky Sports Without a Dish
NOW's Sports Membership carries Sky Sports — Premier League, F1, cricket, golf, and more — streamed over the internet. For UK sports fans traveling abroad, a VPN to a London server keeps your NOW Sports membership working, so a business trip doesn't mean missing the football you already pay for.
Sky Cinema & Entertainment
NOW's Cinema and Entertainment Memberships carry the Sky movie library and Sky/HBO-sourced drama. A VPN to a UK server keeps these working abroad, with your existing membership and watchlist intact.
Reliable Streaming for Live Sport
Live sport on NOW needs a stable connection. WireGuard-based VPN protocols maintain stability across full matches; our reference benchmark shows top VPNs holding 400+ Mbps to UK servers, ample for NOW's HD streams (Boost add-on for higher quality).
Protect Login on Public WiFi
Streaming NOW from hotel WiFi abroad exposes your Sky account login. A VPN with AES-256 keeps it secure on any network.
What Makes a Great NOW VPN
NOW enforces UK geo-restriction and blocks VPN IPs. The features that matter:
Reliable London Servers
NOW needs a UK IP. ExpressVPN's and NordVPN's London servers are the most consistent for NOW in our testing; Surfshark's London works too. Sky's platforms can block aggressively around big sport, so a provider that rotates IPs matters.
Speed for Live Sport in HD
NOW streams sport in HD (with a Boost add-on for higher quality). Top VPNs hold 400+ Mbps to UK servers, comfortably above NOW's needs even on long-distance connections.
Works on Your Devices
NOW runs on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Smart TVs, and consoles. The best NOW VPNs offer native apps or router-level support for devices without VPN apps.
No-Logs With Independent Audits
Choose an audited no-logs VPN — ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all qualify. Free VPNs are blocked by NOW quickly.
How to Watch NOW With a VPN
Pick a VPN with reliable London servers
ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark. Test with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Make sure you have a NOW membership
NOW requires a paid Membership (Sports, Cinema, or Entertainment). The VPN restores access while abroad; it doesn't replace the subscription.
Connect to a London server
Select a London (UK) server and connect before opening NOW.
Use a WireGuard-based protocol for sport
Lightway-UDP or NordLynx for stable live-sport streaming.
Stream
Open NOW and play. If a server is blocked, switch to a different London server — important around big sporting events when Sky tightens detection.
How We Tested VPNs for NOW
We test NOW access monthly, with extra checks during major Sky Sports broadcasts.
London Server Unblocking
We attempt NOW access through each VPN's London servers from outside the UK, noting which currently work and how they hold up around big sporting events when Sky tightens detection.
Live Sport Streaming
During Premier League and F1 on NOW Sports, we verify the stream holds through full events from abroad.
Device Compatibility
We verify NOW access on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Smart TVs through each VPN configuration.
NOW testing runs monthly with sport-event spot checks.
Frequently Asked Questions About NOW VPNs
Can I watch NOW outside the UK?
Yes, with a VPN. NOW is geo-restricted to the UK and Ireland, but a VPN connected to a London server keeps your NOW membership working from abroad. You need an existing NOW membership — the VPN provides access, not the subscription.
Is NOW free?
No — NOW is a paid service with monthly Memberships (Sports, Cinema, Entertainment). It's Sky's subscription streaming product. A VPN keeps your paid membership working while traveling, but doesn't make it free. For free UK streaming, see BBC iPlayer, ITVX, or Channel 4.
Which VPN works best for NOW?
ExpressVPN and NordVPN both maintain reliable London servers for NOW in our testing; Surfshark works too. Sky's platforms can block VPNs aggressively around big sport, so a provider with a large rotating UK server fleet is the safest choice.
Can I watch Sky Sports on NOW abroad with a VPN?
Yes — with a NOW Sports Membership and a VPN connected to a London server, Sky Sports (Premier League, F1, cricket) streams from abroad. Connect to the UK server before opening NOW, and use a WireGuard-based protocol for stable live-sport streaming.