ExpressVPN not working with ESPN+? Try these EASY fixes! (September 2023)

If you’ve been watching or are trying to watch ESPN+ with ExpressVPN and it’s not working, don’t panic. There’s some simple fixes you can try to resolve this problem.

ESPN+ isn’t working because it has managed to block the IP address ExpressVPN has given you. This has happened because ESPN is constantly trying to block ExpressVPN IP addresses.

While ExpressVPN is a very good VPN, sometimes it falls behind and doesn’t manage to stay ahead of ESPN’s VPN blocking techniques.

Below is a list of steps to fix ExpressVPN not working with ESPN+. Try them in order until you can watch ESPN+ with your VPN again.

See also:

• IPVanish not working with ESPN+? Try these FIXES! (September 2023)
• Unlocator not working with ESPN+? Try these EASY fixes! (September 2023)

ExpressVPN not working with ESPN+: Quick Guide

Disclaimer: ESPN is very effective at blocking IP addresses provided by VPNs. Because of this, VPNs need to dedicate a lot of time trying to maintain their functionality with ESPN+.

Sometimes VPNs fall behind and no longer win the battle with ESPN.

Because ExpressVPN is a very good VPN, eventually it’ll fix the issue on its end, but there’s no way to tell how long that will take. Because of this, we recommend subscribing to two different VPNs, so if one stops working, you can use the other one.

Why does ESPN block ExpressVPN?

ESPN doesn’t only block ExpressVPN. It tries to prevent any VPN from connecting to its service. It does this because of the copyright and licensing agreements it has with its content partners.

ESPN only has the rights to broadcast its content in certain regions. It does not have international broadcast rights. 

ESPN blocks users outside its broadcast zones from accessing its content to prevent copyright and licensing issues from arising. This is why you cannot access blackout games in certain states. 

Because ExpressVPN allows you to watch ESPN+ outside its broadcast zone, ESPN blocks IP addresses provided by the VPN from connecting to its service to protect itself from financial punishments. 

These blocks are why ExpressVPN is no longer working with ESPN+.

How does ESPN block ExpressVPN?

The way ESPN blocks ExpressVPN isn’t unique. A lot of streaming services use this technique.

ESPN monitors the connections coming through to its service. The main reason for this is to keep an eye out for abnormal connections coming from the same IP address.

Usually, only a household of devices connects to ESPN+ via the same IP address. Because ExpressVPN is a popular VPN it has a lot of customers and not enough IP addresses to give each customer their own IP. 

This discrepancy forces customers to share IP addresses. When ESPN sees more than an average household of connections coming from the same IP, it knows it’s a VPN IP address and blocks it. 

Does ESPN+ still work with VPNs?

ESPN+ still works with VPNs. However, because ESPN is so good at blocking VPN IP addresses, you need to use a VPN with adequate measures to get around these blocks.

We recommend Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month). Both of these VPNs have a good track record working with ESPN+, and they also have an important measure that allows them to stay ahead of ESPN+’s blocking techniques.

Both Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month). play a game of cat and mouse with ESPN. When ESPN blocks an IP address provided by one of these VPNs, Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month). will close that IP and open a new one. This will allow you to watch ESPN+ reliably anywhere in the world. 

The best practice for being able to watch ESPN+ reliably with a VPN is to have multiple VPNs. Even the best VPNs get blocked by ESPN+ from time to time. Subscribing to two VPNs will ensure that you can continue to watch ESPN+ while the other VPN fixes the issues on its end if needed. 

The best VPNs for watching ESPN+

1. Private Internet Access 🥇

The BEST low-cost VPN for streaming!

Number of servers: 25,000+ | Speed: >75% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 70 in 74 countries | Devices supported: 10 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.

This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ Amazon Prime Video, etc. It also allows 10 simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time, so you can share the account with your close friends.

If – for whatever reason – you’re not happy with Private Internet Access, there’s a 24/7 live chat support available to assist you with your problem. PIA also offers the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee.

From my tests (from New Zealand) I was able to get download speeds of 70 Mbps while connected to a UK server using the Private Internet Access VPN (my non-VPN speed is 100 Mbps).

2. NordVPN 🥈

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 5,000+ | Speeds: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 62 countries | Devices supported: 6 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.

It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.

Another interesting thing to note is that NordVPN is an industry leader in its development of Nordlynx technology. Nordlynx is built using the WireGuard, a new VPN tunneling protocol designed to outperform current standards (OpenVPN and IPSec). The benefits, according to NordVPN, are dramatically faster transfer speeds while connected to a VPN. My tests – New Zealand to London – confirm that Nordlynx is currently the fastest VPN on the market. However, the difference isn’t dramatic, a few Mbps is all.

3. Ivacy 🥉

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.16/month) is a great option.

This VPN has all the features you need to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world. I’ve been testing the app recently on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick and the results have been impressive – unlocking BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. with ease.

The Ivacy app is a little different in regards to its UX (user experience). Instead of just selecting a UK server, you need to select the specific BBC iPlayer server. Don’t worry, this isn’t a bad thing – by connecting to a dedicated BBC iPlayer server, it simply means that you’re connecting to an IP address that Ivacy knows works with BBC iPlayer.

For an extra $1.99/month (£1.74) you can add-on a dedicated IP. This will buy you sole access to an IP address in a country of your choice, meaning you won’t have to share your IP (and speeds) with any other use. I don’t recommend this though, using the regular Ivacy servers is enough 95 per cent of the time.

4. CyberGhost

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.

From my tests over the past several months, CyberGhost has no trouble at unblocking major streaming services – US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max etc. This VPN performed well at maintaining download speeds, well above 65 per cent of my regular (non VPN) ISP speed.

That said, there’s nothing really unique about the service. Which forces you to look at its price-point. And there’s nothing special here. Its short-term $12.99/month price tag puts is well above the industry average of $10.10/month. Similarly, its long-term $2.75/month for 3 years deal isn’t much of a “deal” either.

Oddly, CyberGhost’s most unique feature is its a 1-day, no obligations, free trial. This is an appealing offer to customers who are new to VPNs. However, it’s important to remember that most reputable VPNs will offer customers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so try not to be too seduced by the offer.