Sky Go is the premium streaming service available in the UK that is meant to be the companion to Sky TV. It has shows that are only covered on the channel for a short amount of time, and also has quite a few American shows. Viewers of Sky Go may enjoy watching programming on gaming consoles, as well as cell phones, PC, and Mac formats. If you try to access Sky Go from outside the the UK, you would be blocked from doing so without using a VPN. A good VPN will help you get around any geo-restrictions.
| Rank | VPN Service | Price | Visit | Server Locations | No Logs | Browser Extensions | Smart DNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | $6.67 |  | 160 |  | | |
| 2 |  | $3.49 | | 87 | | | |
| 3 |  | $2.19 | | 110 | | | |
| 4 |  | $3.99 | | 73 | | ||
| 5 |  | $3.66 | | 46 | |
So, let’s give a quick run down of the channels available on Sky Go.
- Sky 1 HD
- Sky Arts
- Sky Atlantic HD
- Sky Movies HD
- Sky Living HD
- Sky News HD
- Sky Sports HD
With these options, some popular US shows are finally available to stream whereas they would not have been seen outside of the US previously. If you are used to watching Sky, Sky Go acts similarly to other streaming services in that you have the option to watch movies or catch up on tv from the mobile app. That is great if you are in the UK, but what if you are traveling abroad? Well, you would need a VPN then.
A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure connection created to a server, possibly in another country. The VPN encrypts your browsing and shows that you are located in a different country. The advantage to that is the ability to get around geo-restrictions. Geo-blocking is a technology used to identify the location of the user, based on IP address. If you are outside of a certain area, you would be blocked from seeing anything.
Another advantage to using a VPN is level of encryption that it provides. Even if you may not have thought of encryption previously, this is definitely the time to consider that option. With identity thefts becoming more prevalent, you will want to protect your data if at all possible. Which protocols and services should you use? that really depends on what your goals are. Though all of our options use secure encryption, using the OpenVPN protocol would always be your best choice whenever possible. Since speed is typically of the essence, you would use OpenVPN (UDP). That is the best option for Skype, VoIP, online gaming, or even using streaming services like Netflix or Sky Go. If you have connection issues and problems with the connection dropping, your best bet would be to go with OpenVPN (TCP). The TCP version may slow you a bit connection wise, but that is because the data goes through error checking. To stream or connect to a VPN via mobile network, you may also look into other protocols including L2TP and IKEv2 for good privacy.
If you would like the best overall service, we suggest ExpressvPN. They don’t keep logs and have a kill switch feature, thus making sure your private data stays safe. If you want to try your hand at streaming Sky Go, ExpressVPN again is the best choice. They have have client software for Windows and Mac, and offer a mobile client as well, so you would only need to connect, and you would be set, just as if you were in the UK.
If you just want to have access to geo-restricted content, you would want to pick the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer feature. This is a Smart DNS service which will aid in unblocking channels without the slight speed loss. Depending on where you are, this may or may not be an issue. However, we would suggest going with the encrypted option. We would not recommend trading security for speed. Whereas speed is a problem if you are trying to stream in some cases, since you only need a speed of 800 mbps, there should be no degradation of quality. Again, that depends on where you are connecting from. The extra layer of encryption is worth any speed loss. ExpressVPN members have full access to both their VPN and MediaStreamer.
Without further delay, here is a closer look at the best VPNs for Sky Go:
1. ExpressVPN
Get 3 months free with 12 months of our #1 rated VPN
One of the high-security features of ExpressVPN is the VPN kill switch. While it is not unique to the provider, it is certainly important. What that does is literally “kill” your internet connection while you are disconnected. While some people may not care for that feature, others realize that if their VPN connection drops, they are vulnerable to being identified online. ExpressVPN will make sure you are protected by shutting down your internet connection until you reconnect. Doing so will help you stay safe.
A benefit that you can take advantage of when connecting to a VPN is to help you access sites like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video in different areas. Because of licensing rights, not everything is available in every country. As connected as the world is, ExpressVPN feels you should be able to see your favorite movies and TV shows everywhere. To do so, you would need to connect to a VPN in the country that offers the content. That way, you’ll be able to see it no matter where you are.
ExpressVPN is our top-rated VPN service of 2023. Regardless of your goals for using a VPN, ExpressVPN combines a robust network with privacy features to keep you protected. We commonly use it to protect our privacy while traveling and to access our favorite streaming services back home. While you can sign up for monthly access, we recommend you take advantage of this exclusive deal that gives you 3 extra months free when you sign up for a year. You can also get a full refund within 30 days if you’re not completely satisfied, so you can test their network with ExpressVPN’s money-back-guarantee.
2. NordVPN
With over 5100 servers located in 59 countries, NordVPN has a massive network. That is an excellent thing if you are trying to make sure you get high speeds. Of course, encryption overhead can quickly slow down your connection. They have you covered no matter what you plan on doing while using it. NordVPN does well to offer you the best possible speeds so you can enjoy the positive benefits of connecting to a VPN.
It should come as no surprise that some sports have significant followings in various parts of the world. While some of them have international audiences, others only have support in the home country. For those that like specific events, you can often find coverage wherever the sport is popular. If you are outside an area that has coverage, you will want to connect to a VPN server from NordVPN. Simply locate a country that has the coverage you want to see and connect to a server there.
3. Private Internet Access
If you are a gamer or have been in the past, you know how easy it is to put resources into your favorite game. Luckily, Private Internet Access knows that as well. If you want to protect your in-game assets in your favorite games, what you need to do is connect to a VPN. By doing so, you will create a layer of encryption that will help stop hackers from stealing your data. While it won’t protect you from all harm, it will undoubtedly add to your security.
If you are looking for a VPN provider that does not keep logs, Private Internet Access has you covered. Over the years, they have developed a well-known reputation throughout the community. While some companies claim they do not keep logs, but then turn them over to authorities, The team at Private Internet Access continuously takes steps to make sure that they protect their users’ interests. If privacy is important to you, you will find that this one is the right choice to make.
4. IPVanish
No sports fan should have to miss out on their favorite sport if they are traveling abroad. That is why we suggest you connect to a VPN from IPVanish. When you do, you won’t have to worry about that. Just choose your sport, connect to a server in your home country (or a different city than yours if you are restricted), log in to your sports streaming site, enter your credentials, and there you have it. You should be able to stream and enjoy your sport no matter where you are.
No matter where you are from, you probably know that the US has some excellent streaming services. Whether it is an stand alone service like HBO Now, a package of channels like Sling TV, or others, you will miss out on them unless you connect to a VPN server. Luckily, IPVanish makes it easy. All you have to do is pick a server from the US if that is the region you wish to use. Then, log in with your credentials and you are all set.
5. StrongVPN
When it comes to privacy, you can’t go wrong by selecting StrongVPN. That is because they have several different protocols that they offer you. Whether you like the standard VPN protocols like L2TP and IPSec, the next generation encryption protocols like IKEv2 and WireGuard, or even the industry standard, OpenVPN, StrongVPN has you covered. If you want to switch encryption protocols, it is an easy thing to do. All you have to do is disconnect and reconnect your VPN client.
If you enjoy sports that have an international following, it can be hard to find them on TV or online. Of course, much of that depends on where you are. For those that want to watch their sport online, we suggest connecting to a VPN from StrongVPN. When you do so, all you have to do is connect to a city or region where they are playing the sport. That way, you will be able to enjoy it as you want to be able to.
