Sling TV is one of the big streaming services serving content such as movies, TV series, sports, documentaries, and live channels. A Sling TV subscription grants access to channels as diverse as CNN, Food Network, The Golf Channel, and ESPN. The only problem is, Sling TV is not available outside the US.
But what is a VPN? A VPN is a software tool that internet users can use to protect data and unblock restricted content from anywhere. Only elite VPNs can unblock Sling TV consistently and without buffering issues. NordVPN is one of those elite VPNs.
The steps users should take to unblock Sling TV with NordVPN are given below:
- Check out the NordVPN website
- Choose your preferred Plan
- Subscribe to the NordVPN service
- Download and install NordVPN on your device
- Log in to the NordVPN app
- Connect to a server located in the US
- Go to the Sling TV website and sign in
Table of Contents
1. Check out the NordVPN website
The first step is to always go to the official website of the VPN in question. Users can access the official NordVPN website by first launching the web browser then clicking here.
Most elite VPNs go the route of offering all available security products via a fleshed-out official website. In fact, a VPN without a comprehensive official website is considered a high-risk VPN service. That means the VPN may just be posing as a genuine VPN while actually, the service is just malware or spyware.
2. Choose your Preferred Plan
Once the official website loads, users need to decide on a subscription plan. There is no straightforward answer to which subscription plan should users go with. In the case of NordVPN, the longer the duration of the package, the better the offered discounts.
However, users who just want to try NordVPN before committing to the service long-term should go with the monthly plan. The monthly plan may cost more but if NordVPN doesn’t work as expected then the user will lose the lowest amount of money possible. In any case, clicking the Get the Deal button on the homepage of the official NordVPN website should bring the user to the page with multiple subscription package options. NordVPN recently revamped the subscription plans available. In total, there are now over 20 or 30 packages catering to different types of users. Apart from the basic three packages, all contain extra security tools such as antivirus, ad-blocker, password manager, cloud storage service, and data breach scanner.
Click Get Standard and move on to the next step.
Most elite VPNs have a similar procedure for users to sign up for a package.
3. Subscribe to the NordVPN service
At this point, the user should see a new page labeled NordVPN checkout. This is where NordVPN asks for a valid email address to bind with the user’s account. Below that, NordVPN will show the details of the chosen plan. The Standard package should only offer the NordVPN VPN service along with an ad blocker and malware protection. If there are more services listed then the user probably clicked on the wrong subscription package.
The NordVPN 2-year deal on the Standard package offers a discount of 55 percent with 3 months free bringing down the cost to just $3.69 per month. Reducing the length of the same package to just 1 month brings the price up to $11.99 per month.
Potential Sling TV customers may also be required to supply a US payment method. Those who do not have access to a US payment method and live outside the US can use third-party services that offer such services. For example, there are many services that offer virtual cards to people outside the US. Activating a virtual card for Sling TV or any other streaming service costs around $15. Users can also pay via gift cards. In fact, paying via gift cards is considered the safest way to purchase a Sling TV subscription. Sling TV gift cards are available on many online e-commerce platforms. Walmart is one of such websites. Once a gift card has been purchased, users should receive a voucher code via email. The voucher code can be used to pay for Sling TV once on the official website.
4. Download and Install NordVPN on your device
Depending on the device the user wants to use to stream Sling TV while using NordVPN, the steps can be a bit different. For example, the desktop version of the official NordVPN website shows the Download VPN button in the top-middle part of the website. For mobile devices, users will probably have to click the hamburger icon before accessing the Download VPN button.
After subscribing to a package and clicking the Download VPN button, NordVPN should automatically pick the appropriate VPN app for the user. If NordVPN doesn’t remember that Windows users should get a .exe file while all other operating systems require the user to go to the specific App Store to get the NordVPN app. Once the .exe file is downloaded go to the Downloads folder, locate the file, double click and go through the installation wizard. During the installation phase, NordVPN may generate pop-up windows asking for specific permissions. All VPN services that work ask for such permissions. Grant all the required permission and keep clicking Next until the Finish button appears on the screen.
For Android devices, users will generally have to search for the NordVPN app on Google Play Store. The official website of NordVPN also has a link to the Google Play Store page. Google Play Store will automatically download and install the NordVPN app simultaneously and will also generate a NordVPN icon on the main mobile page.
5. Log in to the NordVPN app
After successfully installing the NordVPN app, click the NordVPN icon to launch the app. On the main page, NordVPN should show a Log in button and a Create Nord Account button.
Click the Log in button and then input the username and/or email address. After that, input the password on the next page that shows up (for security reasons NordVPN does not show username and password on the same page).
Again, logging in with help from a username/password combination is the standard way VPN services require the user to authenticate any connection to VPN clients. NordVPN is no different in this regard.
6. Connect to a server located in the US
NordVPN offers a bunch of options to users for selecting the right kind of servers. Users who do not want to spend time thinking about the type of server or the location of the user should simply click the Quick Connect button. That would work for people living in the US but not for those looking to unblock Sling TV in the US from outside the US.
Users outside the US have to connect to a server in the US. The NordVPN provides a list of servers on the left-hand side of the VPN app and a map to choose servers. Selecting a given server automatically forms a VPN connection. The NordVPN doesn’t have a connect button.
Since Sling TV uses the IP address of any given user to determine the location and then block access, with NordVPN Sling TV is tricked into thinking the user is in the US.
7. Go to the Sling TV website and sign in
The final step is to go to the official website of Sling TV, sign up for a package (for new users) and sign in to then start streaming content.
Users are free to use any web browser to go to www dot sling dot com and then either click the Get Started button or click the hamburger icon in the top right corner of the screen to open a sub-menu. From the sub-menu users should click sign in.
On the Android platform, as mentioned before, users will have to get the NordVPN Android app from Google Play Store. Similar to any other platform, users will first have to launch the NordVPN app, sign in, pick the US as the country, and then connect. Sling TV is accessible both via web browser and the official Sling TV Android app (accessible via Google Play Store).
Note:
Whether or not the user’s device currently has the Sling TV app, cache and other data have to be cleared for consistent performance.So first, go to Settings and then to Applications. After that click on Google Play Store and then click Clear Cache. Sometimes there is a separate button to clear all other data. Click that one as well.
Then download/install or launch the Sling TV app. Sign in and start streaming.
For iOS users, there might still be an additional step where the user has to have the appropriate Apple ID. First, follow the steps for Android to launch the Sling TV app on an iOS device and check if the content is available. If there is a problem then, after installing NordVPN from the App Store, launching the app, signing in, and connecting to a server located in the US, create a new account via Apple ID.
For the new Apple ID account, the address and zip code must be US based. There are many third-party services available online that offer randomly generated mock addresses and zip codes for free. Use those services.
Then install/launch the Sling TV app, sign in and start streaming.
Note:
Prices may differ from the ones shown as new plans and deals are launched on a regular basis. Please be sure to check the most current price on the official website.What is VPN?
The term VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Today, internet users and companies use VPN tools to enhance privacy and anonymity online. VPNs protect the privacy and secure online data by creating a private and secure network within a public internet connection. In this way, VPNs are also able to hide the user’s real IP address. Consequently, all of the user’s activity is disconnected from the user’s device. Perhaps the most critical function of any VPN is to encrypt connections and establish a secure tunnel that keeps the user’s data safe even when connected to high-risk networks such as public WiFi hotspots.
Why is a VPN required for Sling TV?
A VPN is required for Sling TV because of geo-blocked content. Sling TV is not available to anyone outside the US. Going to the official website of Sling TV outside the US gives an error. The only way to remove the error is to use a VPN, change the IP address to that of the US and then access the site again. Sling TV blocks access to content for users outside the US because of distribution rights. Sling TV simply does not have the legal rights to stream a show outside the US in a country where other streaming services may have the rights to show the same TV series or movie.
A high-quality VPN service like NordVPN will bypass all such geo-restrictions on almost all streaming services including SlingTV. A VPN with a good number of servers in a particular location will also allow the user to enjoy streaming at blazing fast speeds regardless of the location of the server or the user. A VPN may also be required for Sling TV if the user wants to stream content from a site other than Sling TV. Sling TV is only available in the US. So if a VPN is used to unblock Sling TV, every title available on the platform opens up.
Users are recommended to use a VPN with Sling TV and all other streaming services when connected to a public WiFi hotspot. WiFi hotspots have become almost ubiquitous as more and more people are vacationing and working on the move. However, public WiFi connections are generally unsecured. Because of that, most public WiFi connections have hackers watching over any user who connects. To keep data safe and transmissions private, a VPN can encrypt the user’s data quickly. With a VPN, users do not have to worry about accidentally leaking payment details or login information while trying to sign in to Sling TV.
Note:
Users may also be required to use a VPN to get rid of problems such as bandwidth throttling and device restriction.How much does a VPN plan cost?
A VPN can cost anywhere from $2 per month to $25 depending on the needs of the user and the VPN brand. On average, users can expect to pay around $12 per month when subscribed to a monthly package. Users who sign up for multiple years with the same VPN service usually only have to pay $4 per month.
Essentially, the cost of using a VPN service will come down to the service selected and the length of the subscription package. Top VPNs usually offer three plans including 1-month, 12-month, and 24-month. Most of the time the cheapest package is the 24-month package. More specifically, a top-tier VPN like NordVPN offers the 2-year deal at just $3.29 per month. After that, there are the likes of SurfShark and Private Internet Access (both considered good VPNs) that offer cheap packages at just $2.49 per month and $2.19 per month respectively. Higher price does not equal a better VPN service. Premium services do charge money that free VPNs don’t but then free VPNs have some significant problems as well (more on that later).
Why should you use NordVPN with Sling TV?
NordVPN should be used with Sling TV because NordVPN is one of the best VPNs in the market that can not only offer great protection and privacy but also the ability to unblock Sling TV regularly and with little buffering issues.
But there are other reasons to use NordVPN with Sling TV as well. The most relevant one is that NordVPN has thousands of servers in the US alone. Since Sling TV is only available in the US, users need to connect to a US-based VPN server to access any Sling TV content.
NordVPN allows multiple devices to be connected to the company’s encrypted private tunnels to protect user traffic. The term used in the industry is simultaneous connections per account. NordVPN may just be a VPN tool at the core, but the service does offer advanced security features on the side as well. NordVPN offers features such as Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, next-generation encryption, Dedicated IP, RAm-only servers, obfuscated servers, double VPN servers, and multi-factor authentication so that all of the user’s data is safe at all times. Sling TV is undoubtedly a reputable service but there is no telling how hackers might compromise the user’s connection from the outside. NordvPN protects against all such possibilities via features such as Kill Switch, split tunneling, IP masking, Onion over VPN, and browser extension for a comprehensive privacy solution.
This is important:
A Private DNS ensures hackers are not available to mess up the user’s DNS query results (where potentially the user could try to access Sling TV and end up accessing a malicious site that only looks like Sling TV).Another pertinent reason to use NordVPN for Sling TV is enhanced privacy. Almost all websites and apps record user data such as browsing history, IP address, type of device, and real location. NordVPN encrypts the user’s connection, hides the location and IP address, and has a zero-logs policy meaning the service does not know anything personal about any NordVPN user.
How Does NordVPN Work?
Once a user installs the official NordVPN app on any device, NordVPN protects all user data by routing the data through an encrypted remote server and a private connection. NordVPN also blocks third-party actors from recording the user’s internet activity.
On a more technical level, the VPN services of today offer network connections via which the user may move data from one device to another. The network connections are private which hides what is being transferred from hackers and snoopers. And the term Virtual in VPN means that everything happens inside the digital world with help from different software, standards, and technologies. VPNs don’t use a separate set of wires for data transfer. Instead, the private network connection is completely software-based where the already present physical connection (via ethernet cable or WiFi) is used to move data.
When the NordVPN app is activated on a given device, the app encrypts all the data that the user wants to transfer from one place to another before the data has a chance to leave the device out on the public internet. The encrypted data first goes to the server owned by the VPN service (selected by the user beforehand via the app) and is decrypted. Then the decrypted data goes to the servers of the service the user is trying to use or access such as Sling TV, Netflix, Prime Video, or CNN.
How Long Does NordVPN Take to Unblock Sling TV?
Generally, NordVPN takes less than 30 seconds to unblock Sling TV. A lot depends on the starting conditions though. NordVPN will only take less than 30 seconds to unblock Sling TV if the user already has a subscription package, the official NordVPN app installed on the device that will be used for streaming, and the Sling TV app.
Note:
In a worst-case scenario where the user does not have a NordVPN subscription package, nor the app installed nor a Sling TV subscription or the Sling TV app, NordVPN can take close to 30 or 40 minutes to unblock Sling TV eventually.How do I install NordVPN for free?
The NordVPN apps are free to download and install. On mobile platforms such as Android and iOS users only have to go to Google Play Store and the App Store respectively to search for NordVPN and get the app. On desktop machines, users will have to get the appropriate app download file from the official NordVPN website.
However, using NordVPN for free is a bit more tricky but certainly doable. There are two main methods to install and use NordVPN for free. The first method takes advantage of the official NordVPN money-back guarantee. And the steps users need to complete to install and use NordVPN for free are given below:
- Go to the official NordVPN website. Click the button that says Get the Deal.
- To only subscribe to NordVPN (and not the additional features which cost extra) click on Get Standard. Keep in mind that by default NordVPN chooses the 2-year plan for all new users.
- After clicking Get Standard, the user will have to provide an email address and payment details. All packages come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- After verifying the purchase, NordVPN will send a confirmation email to the registered email address. NordVPN will also open up a new page with the heading Activate Your Account. The same page will have a button labeled Set Password And Activate Account. Click that button.
- On the next page, there should be two fields for passwords. Use a password manager to fill both input fields.
- Setting up the password in the previous step should lead to the official NordVPN downloads area. From the downloads area pick the correct NordVPN app appropriate for the operating system of the device that needs to stream Sling TV content.
- After downloading the NordVPN app, double-click on the downloaded file (mobile users don’t need to go through this step) and complete the installation process.
- Launch the NordVPN app. Sometimes, NordVPN does require an activation code sent to the registered email address. In such cases, users have to input a code sent in an email to the email address that the user provided during the NordVPN account creation step.
- Once a server is connected to, the NordVPN official 30-day money-back guarantee goes into effect. Users are free to use the NordVPN app to the full extent with no meaningful restrictions. The only thing users need to watch out for here is that NordVPN is very strict about keeping the 30-day money-back guarantee. The money-back-guarantee can become void if the user goes over by even a few hours. To claim a refund, set an alarm for either 29 days after the date of purchase or 29 days 20 hours.
- Once the 30 (or more accurately 29) days are up, request a refund.
Is it safe to use NordVPN?
Yes, NordVPN is safe to use. With features such as shared IP addresses (which allows for more anonymity and safe internet usage since many users generate activity from the same IP address), Panama-based HQ (Panama is not part of any data sharing alliances which is good for privacy), and zero logs policy (NordVPN keeps very little information about the user), NordVPN is as safe as a VPN can get.
On a more technical level, NordVPN is safe because of power data encryption technologies. Every VPN (that works) creates a private tunnel. Then the VPN has to protect the tunnel with encryption. NordVPN uses AES 256-bit as the standard encryption option which is the strongest encryption algorithm available.
Apart from encryption, NordVPN offers additional security features to make internet usage safe for the user. For example, some of the more advanced NordVPN packages offer components such as Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, and split tunneling. The Threat Protection component has sub-components such as malware protection, anti-tracker, and an ad blocker. There is also an option to protect against malicious links.
NordVPN makes even more of an effort to make internet browsing safe via tools such as auto-connect (enabling the option removes the possibility of the user forgetting to turn on VPN before doing something sensitive) which also protects against unsafe public WiFi networks and Obfuscated servers. Obfuscated servers are great at bypassing geo-restrictions where normal servers get blocked. Finally, NordVPN has the double VPN option. Turning on the double VPN option routes the user’s traffic through two VPN servers rather than just one. Double the encryption means a harder time for anyone trying to listen in. The Double VPN option also changes the user’s IP address one more time.
Is NordVPN Free?
No, NordVPN is not free. NordVPN is a premium VPN service that charges users for subscription packages ranging from 1-month to 2-year deals. However, similar to other elite VPN services NordVPN does have a 30-day money-back guarantee. As mentioned before, NordVPN encourages users to take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee and test the service out for a complete month. At the end of the 30-days, users can ask for a refund for any reason and hence use the service, in effect, for 30 days for free. Keep in mind that users can only avail this offer one time.
What are the Best VPNs for Sling TV?
VPN services have become very adept at unblocking access to streaming services like Sling TV. Hence users have multiple VPN choices for Sling TV. The best VPNs for Sling TV are given below:
- (Best Overall): NordVPN is a fast and secure VPN tool that offers a ton of servers in the US. Qualities such as a vast server network in the US, double VPN, and task-specific servers make NordVPN the ideal choice for Sling TV.
- (Best for Speed): ExpressVPN is a premium VPN product that, like NordVPN, offers a great balance between speed and security. All ExpressVPN apps are well-designed and easy to install. With over 3000 servers, 90+ locations, 256-bit AES encryption, HMAC authentication, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, zero logs, and dedicated apps for all major platforms, ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Sling TV.
- (Best for Budget Users): SurfShark offers the most discount to users who sign up the longest with the VPN service. SurfShark offers the highest number of extra features at a low cost, is very effective at unblocking streaming services like Sling TV (Amazon Prime Video and US Netflix as well), has tons of servers located in the US, and fast customer support. SurfShark also allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices per account and implements the OpenVPN encryption protocol almost as well as any other VPN.
- (Best for Unblocking Content): Private Internet Access is a VPN tool that works efficiently with streaming services like Sling TV. The service offers a zero logs policy, dedicated apps for all major operating systems, open source applications, a 30-day money-back guarantee, live chat support, and a Kill Switch feature. PIA is based in the US which is one of the reasons the service is ranked number 4.
- (Best for new users): New VPN users looking to unblock Sling TV want simplicity. CyberGhost provides that simplicity with a straightforward installation process, user-friendly applications, and over 7000 servers worldwide. CyberGhost has close to 1300 servers in the US which means users don’t have to look too hard to find a server with little load and fast response time. CyberGhost also offers streaming-specific servers, good discounts, and AES 256-bit encryption to become the complete VPN package for Sling TV users.