Best MLB.TV VPN 2024 Blackout Bypass Workaround Guide

This is the ultimate MLB.TV blackout workaround in 2024. What is the best VPN you can use to bypass MLB blackout restrictions we hear you say? With the 2024 Major League Baseball just around the corner, it is time for MLB streaming to take center stage. Unfortunately, due to the age-old blackout policies, I will not be able to stream your favorite baseball franchise live online, even though I own a premium MLB subscription. These policies are pretty unfair. Luckily, I learned how I can spoof my online location and trick the MLB at Bat app into thinking I am located somewhere else. In the review below, I will introduce you to the VPNs that worked the best when I used them to watch MLB games without blackouts. Take a look at my best MLB.TV VPN review to avoid blackouts on PC, FireStick, Roku, Apple TV, PS4, Xbox One, Chromecast, iPhone, or iPad for the 2024 season.

Best VPN for MLB

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Top Recommended VPN

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Best MLB.TV VPN 2024 – Content Index

Getting around blackouts can be a daunting task, especially if users don’t know which VPN to choose. We, at theVPN.guru, are here to help our readers choose the best VPN for the task.

We ran dozens of VPNs through our evaluation criteria to see which of them fit to be listed in this review. Here’s what we came up with:

  1. Avoid MLB.TV Blackouts – The Basics
  2. How Do I Know If an MLB Game is Blacked Out?
  3. How to use VPN to Bypass MLB.tv Blackout Restrictions
    1. Windows PC and Apple Mac OS X.
    2. iOS Devices: iPhone and iPad
    3. Android Smartphones and Tablets
    4. Amazon Fire TV/FireStick.
    5. Apple TV
    6. Roku
    7. Smart TV
    8. PS3/PS4
    9. Xbox One/Xbox 360
  4. The best VPN to Avoid MLB Blackouts
    1. ExpressVPN
    2. BulletVPN
    3. SurfShark
    4. Unlocator
    5. NordVPN
    6. IPVanish
  5. Smart DNS Proxy as an Alternative MLB Blackout Workaround
  6. Best MLB.TV VPN for 2024 – The Wrap Up

Avoid MLB.TV Blackouts – The Basics

If you are unfamiliar with the process of bypassing blackouts using a VPN, here are some pointers.

  • You do not need to sign up for a different premium MLB account. Your existing account is enough.
  • You cannot bypass MLB.tv blackouts on devices that use location services and GPS. In other words, even if you are using proxies or a virtual private network, you cannot get around baseball blackout restrictions on Android, iPhone, iPad, or Amazon Fire TV.
  • In some cases, you might need to delete your browser’s cookies after setting up VPN or Smart DNS proxies.
  • While there are free VPNs that could potentially allow you to watch MLB live online, I would never recommend using them. They are notoriously slow which leads to endless buffering. Some free VPNs are also known to infect users’ devices with malicious malware or viruses. Use a trusted and tried VPN service only.
  • Generally speaking, it is better to connect to a VPN server located in the USA as opposed to a VPN located abroad. This mainly due to the fact that the closer the VPN server is to your location, the less your Internet speed will be affected.

How Do I Know If an MLB Game is Blacked Out?

You can enter your ZIP code on the official MLB.tv website to check whether a certain game is blacked out in your region or not. If you receive any of the following MLB blackout errors, you will not be able to stream the game live online. Unless you use a VPN that is.

“We’re sorry. We have determined that you are located inside one of the applicable Club’s home television territories and are therefore blacked out of watching the game you selected. Live Audio of this game is available as part of your MLB.TV subscription.”

“Media Error. This game is temporarily unavailable. Please try again in a few moments.”

“We’re sorry. The broadcasters’ required blackout checks cannot be performed at this time. Please try again in a few moments.”

How to use VPN to Bypass MLB.tv Blackout Restrictions

Your IP address allows MLB to determine where you currently reside. That’s because IP addresses allow apps and websites you visit to see where you are browsing the web from. This also means that if you get to change your IP address, you can trick MLB.tv into thinking you are in an area where the game you want to stream isn’t blacked out. A VPN or virtual private network will help you avoid all those annoying blackouts. By connecting to a VPN server in a different state, you can hide your real IP address and bypass MLB.tv blackouts. Here’s how to I have set it all up.

How to Bypass MLB.tv Blackouts on PC/Mac

  1. As a first step, you need to sign up with a VPN service. Make sure that whichever VPN you end up signing up with has numerous VPN servers in the United States.
  2. Download the VPN application on your Mac or Windows PC after you create your VPN account.
  3. Now open the VPN application, sign in, and choose a VPN server that is located in a state where there are no blackouts.
  4. Finally, go over to the MLB.tv website and watch baseball games black-out free.

Is It Possible to Watch Blackout Games on iOS (iPhone/iPad)?

Due to the fact the MLB at Bat app on iPhone and iPad devices use location services, you will not be able to bypass MLB blackout restrictions on either of these platforms. If you do turn off location services, the MLB at Bat will not function.

Can I Bypass MLB.TV Blackouts on Android?

As is the case with iOS devices, the MLB.tv app on Android-based phones and tablets uses a combination of location services and GPS to determine your current location. Thus, you cannot bypass MLB blackout restrictions on Android, even when using VPN.

How to Avoid MLB Blackouts on Amazon Fire TV or FireStick?

The Amazon Fire TV operating system is based on Android. Therefore, you cannot get around blackouts on this device either.

How to Bypass MLB Blackouts on Apple TV?

In order to watch blacked out MLB games on Apple TV, you either have to set up a VPN on your router or subscribe to a VPN provider that offers users Smart DNS proxies that can be directly set up on the Apple TV such as ExpressVPN.

How to Avoid MLB Blackout Restrictions on Roku

None of the Roku devices allows you to configure its network settings. The only way to get around MLB blackouts on Roku is by changing your router’s settings. You can either purchase a VPN-enabled router and configure a VPN connection on it or sign up with ExpressVPN and use their DNS codes on your router instead.

Bypass MLB Blackouts on Smart TV

Unless you are using an Android Smart TV, you should be able to set up Smart DNS directly on your Smart TV. Supported models include Samsung, LG, Panasonic, and older Sony Smart TVs. Sign up with either ExpressVPN, BulletVPN, or Unlocator to watch blacked out games on your Smart TV.

How to Avoid MLB.TV Blackout Restrictions on PlayStation

As with most other MLB.tv compatible streaming devices, neither the PS4 or PS4 have a VPN client. That means you either have to set up a VPN on a VPN-ready router or use Smart DNS directly on the PlayStation console. The second option is both cheaper and easier.

Bypass MLB Blackouts on Xbox One or Xbox 360

In case you do not own a VPN-compatible router, your best option is to sign up with ExpressVPN or any other VPN service that provides DNS codes that can be directly set up on the Xbox console to bypass MLB.tv blackouts.

Best MLB.TV VPN 2024

Now that everybody knows what a blackout is and how it is applied, let’s show you the top VPN contenders that will definitely help you subdue this technology and watch any MLB season blackout-free.

Rank
VPN Provider
Features
Links
Best VPN
vpn-provider
  • Best for streaming and privacy
  • High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
  • Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
  • 24/7/ live chat support
  • 3 extra months free on annual plan
Visit ExpressVPN Try risk-free for 30 days Read our review
Second Best VPN
vpn-provider
  • UltraHD streaming
  • Free Smart DNS proxy
  • Unblocks all major streaming services
  • Limited Time 72% Discount
Third Best VPN
vpn-provider
  • Unlimited VPN connections
  • Over 1000 servers
  • Ad-blocking feature available
4
vpn-provider
  • User-friendly application
  • Exclusive Smart VPN feature
  • Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
5
vpn-provider
  • Extra security features
  • Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
  • Split-tunneling available

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN-Cover

Get ExpressVPN

Top Recommended VPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

We have tried ExpressVPN to get around MLB blackout restrictions for several seasons now. Never have we run into any major issues.

There were a few instances where I did have minor problems, but ExpressVPN’s live chat support team was able to quickly resolve matters. In short, this probably is one of the best VPNs anyone can use for MLB.tv.

It has a huge server network with more than a dozen VPN locations in the United States. This of course is very important if we’re talking about bypassing MLB blackouts.

Other than that, ExpressVPN offers top-notch speeds on each and every server we connected to. Despite being far away from the US (location-wise), our connection speed did not drop much. We maintained blazing-fast speeds, streaming MLB.tv without any buffering issues or witnessing video-quality drops.

Pros:

  • 2000+ servers in 94 countries
  • 25+ server locations in the US
  • Blazing fast speeds
  • Smart DNS (MediaStreamer)
  • Available on all major operating systems
  • 30-day refund policy

Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Expensive monthly plan

BulletVPN

BulletVPN-Cover

Get BulletVPN

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

BulletVPN is definitely a VPN service you should consider if you want to avoid getting that irritating blackout error. The service is constantly adding server locations to its already well-rounded network.

As of now, BulletVPN has 154server locations across 55 countries and counting. Their servers are dedicated to HD and UltraHD streaming, which are, based on our tests, not just claims.

Within the server list, users can find special servers labeled as (UltraHD Support). These do exactly what they’re named for. When we performed some tests, our internet connection did not drop at all.

In fact, it got faster as it turned out, our ISP was throttling our connection. So, when it comes to speed and MLB UltraHD streaming, BulletVPN is a choice users should not ignore.

Pros:

  • 110+ server locations in 51 countries.
  • 16 server locations in the US
  • UltraHD support
  • Free Smart DNS feature
  • Supports all devices
  • 30-day refund policy
  • 1-day free trial

Cons:

  • No browser extensions

SurfShark

SurfShark Cover

Get SurfShark VPN

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

SurfShark proved its capabilities the moment it launched some years ago. The provider is a great way to unblock streaming services, bypass regional blackouts, and secure your data while browsing the web.

The service offers more than 1700 servers in 63 countries. But we’re looking to bypass MLB blackouts, so the servers in the US are the ones that matter. According to what we found, SurfShark has 500+ servers in 20+ United States cities, which gives users a wide variety of options to choose from.

Speedwise, SurfShark is one of the best. We barely noticed the speed drop the encryption caused and we were able to stream our content in full HD. Also, for better speed, or in other words, no speed loss at all, users can configure SurfShark’s Smart DNS.

No encryption will be added, but streaming will be seamless. The provider has decent prices and 30-day refund policy. However, new customers can also opt for their 7-day free trial as well, but their credit card information is required.

Pros:

  • Servers in 63+ countries.
  • 20+ server locations in the US
  • Fast connections
  • Free Smart DNS feature
  • Excellent device support
  • 30-day refund policy

Cons:

  • Free trial requires credit card info

Unlocator

Unlocator VPN Cover

Get Unlocator

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Unlocator was first and foremost designed for streaming any kind of content online. It came out as a Smart DNS service in 2013 and became Hybrid software in 2019.

Now, it offers both Smart DNS and VPN services, either within the same subscription or individually. Ever since we laid eyes on the provider, Unlocator was always able to bypass MLB blackouts.

In 2024, nothing has changed. It does offer good speeds, but not ones that could match the others on our list. Unlike the likes of BulletVPN, there are no UltraHD support servers, yet the connection remained capable of streaming HD content.

Unlocator is the only service that offers a 7-day free trial to all new customers. Nothing is required other than an email address and a full premium free trial is all yours.

Pros:

  • Servers in 35+ countries.
  • Free Smart DNS feature
  • Supports all devices
  • 30-day refund policy
  • 7-day free trial
  • Can purchase Smart DNS on its own

Cons:

  • 3 server locations in the US only
  • Inconsistant speeds

NordVPN

NordVPN Cover

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Top VPN Provider

30-day Money Back Guarantee

NordVPN’s VPN applications for iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, and Mac are possibly the easiest and most friendly I have used. Setting them up took us a couple of minutes.

From there on in, we simply launched the app and we connected to a VPN server of our choice. It’s safe to say that a lot of effort went into creating these apps. NordVPN has a wide server distribution, covering 59 countries around the world.

Speeds are ok. Some servers recorded very fast connections, while others, including the Double VPN ones, managed to drop our connection drastically.

Other than a few instances, NordVPN did offer great speeds on most of the American servers we used to bypass MLB blackouts.

Pros:

  • Servers in 59 countries.
  • 15 server locations in the US
  • Free Smart DNS feature
  • User-friendly apps
  • 30-day refund policy

Cons:

  • No free trial
  • Some slow speeds

IPVanish

IPVanish Cover

Get IPVanish

Top VPN Provider

7-Day Money-Back Guarantee

IPVanish is a household name in the VPN industry. They are based in the USA, which might spook a few VPN customers due to it being part of the Five Eyes.

Still, they do have a strict no-logging policy which means you should, in theory, be able to surf the Internet anonymously. As is the case with the others on our list, IPVanish has many servers scattered around the USA.

According to its website, IPVanish claims to be the fastest service provider in the industry. However, our tests beg to differ. It is fast, but it’s in no way the fastest out there. We did witness some connection drops along the way, but IPVanish did a great job on most of its servers.

We were able to stream MLB without any problem, which is why the provider made it to the list of the best VPN to bypass MLB blackouts today.

Pros:

  • Servers in 75+ locations
  • 18 server locations in the US
  • Fast connections
  • Supports all devices

Cons:

  • 7-day refund policy
  • No free trial
  • No Smart DNS
  • Tech-savvy apps

Best MLB.TV VPN in 2024 – Smart DNS Proxy Alternative

While using VPN is the best method to get around MLB.tv blackouts, it certainly is not the only one. Smart DNS proxies also allow you to watch MLB games without blackouts. The downside, however, is that Smart DNS doesn’t completely mask your IP address. You are therefore still exposed when browsing the web using Smart DNS proxies.

  • Almost all streaming devices can be configured with Smart DNS. You can set proxies up directly on an Apple TV, PS4, Xbox One, and even your Smart TV.
  • You will not lose access to any of your local streaming channels after you configure Smart DNS on your device.
  • You can use this method to get around MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL blackout restrictions.
  • There is no way to choose a virtual location when using Smart DNS. The channel and sites you can unblock depend on your Smart DNS proxy service’s setup.

Unlocator is one the best when it comes to Smart DNS proxy service. Many MLB fans use it on a yearly basis to watch MLB without any blackouts. We mentioned Unlocator as a recommendation since its the only provider that has a stand-alone Smart DNS subscription.

All the others include both VPN and Smart DNS, which results in a more expensive subscription. They also have a 7-day free trial.

MLB Teams

Here’s the complete list of every Major League baseball team:

AL Central

  • Chicago White Sox
  • Cleveland Indians
  • Detroit Tigers
  • Kansas City Royals
  • Minnesota Twins

AL East

  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Boston Red Sox
  • New York Yankees
  • Tampa Bay Rays
  • Toronto Blue Jays

AL West

NL Central

  • Chicago Cubs
  • Cincinnati Reds
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • St. Louis Cardinals

NL East

NL West

  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Colorado Rockies
  • Los Angeles Dodgers
  • San Diego Padres
  • San Francisco Giants

Best MLB.TV VPN for 2024 – The Wrap Up

We all long for a day when MLB blackout restrictions become a thing of a past. Until then, using VPN providers like ExpressVPN to watch MLB game without blackouts will do. Have you tested any of the VPN services we have suggested? How was your experience? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

Best VPN for MLB
How to bypass MLB.tv blackouts in US or Canada - Smart DNS or VPN

Name: BulletVPN

Description: Avoiding MLB blackout restrictions can be quite a hassle unless you sign up with a proper VPN. Watch any MLB game you want, anywhere you want with BulletVPN.

  • VPN Apps
  • Bypass MLB Blackouts
  • Speed
  • Customer Support
  • Refund Policy

Visit VPN Provider

Get BulletVPN

Top VPN Provider

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

4.8

37 thoughts on “Best MLB.TV VPN 2024 Blackout Bypass Workaround Guide”

  1. Hello I was just wondering if when you say you cant watch on an Ipad do you mean you cant watch though the mlb app, or you cant watch through a Web server either.

    1. Hi Dogg. Good question. Most streaming services force you to download their respective app when you attempt to stream their content via a browser on iOS device as is the case with Netflix for example. So I am not entirely sure whether you can actually use the browser to watch MLB.tv on iPads or not.

  2. Subscribed to NordVPN; enabled Smart DNS Proxy option. Put their provided DNS server addresses into my router (in my case, an Eero). I was able to watch otherwise blacked out games on both my Roku and my Mac without VPN. They games even said they were blacked out…but they played.

  3. Tried to set up with Express VPN. No luck at all. Even their tech support said it likely wouldn’t work for MLB. It’s unfathomable that during a pandemic when fans can’t even buy tickets that MLB would continue with this archaic blackout system.

  4. I use VyprVPN and can see my blacked out games. I watch them on Nexus Player that is hooked up to my router that I’m running the vpn directly through. Once in a big while I have to change locations or refresh to a different IP address as MLB finds and blacklists some IP addresses used by the vpn provider. I have also used the VyprVPN Android app on the Nexus and can watch the blacked out games. However, I prefer running the con on router so I can protect all devices.

  5. I have ipVanish running on Windows 10 Pc & Amazon FireBox Tv. In Ip Vanish, I have tried connecting through multiple cities in US and out of country servers. I get blackout notifications through MLB. Frustrating, I have paid for a yearly VPN service & the MLB App to follow my Favorite Team. I realize in the MLB disclaimer “Watch out-of-market regular season games live or on demand in HD, Note: this product will not allow you to view live games of any in-market team” BUT was HOPING a VPN would allow me to watch my favorite team. I do not have Tv and I consume all media through internet and travel between multiple cities. ALL I am trying to do is follow my favorite team through the MLB App and I routinely get blocked, especially in the home city. And MLB has concerns about Fan interest declining & losing viewership … I am just irritated & frustrated, tired of this process with MLB baseball, just feel like NOT watching Baseball anymore. So basically, this forum post does nothing for me as it recommends using a VPN to watch MLB games on the MLB app, which does not work for me. If there is a setting or process I have missed, let me know.

    1. IPVanish worked for me earlier in the season, but it appears mlb.com has caught on and is now blocking it. Wondering if users of other VPN services are experiencing the same issue.

    2. In the last few weeks I have tried unsuccessfully to use Express VPN and Unlocator to watch Mlb.tv. Both times the networked pinginged me immediately in my location. I was using an iPad and both sites advertise that is fine. Now, I see your article saying this will not work.

      Is anyone using anything successfully??

      1. Charles Roswell

        Hi Michael. As mentioned in the guide above, due to the fact the MLB app on iOS devices actually uses location services such as GPS, there’s no way around MLB blackouts on iPads or iPhones, even when using VPN or Smart DNS proxies.

        1. I understand that my iOS devices are not going to work. Just want to know what WILL work. It looks like a LG or Samsung Smart TV will work. I’m willing to buy one.

          1. Charles Roswell

            Samsung Smart TVs do work. If you don’t want to invest in a new Smart TV, you can always buy an Apple TV instead.

  6. Ive set up an account on Express VPN, and got everything dialed in on my appletv, but still having blackout restrictions on mlb tv, any suggestions?

  7. Anyone figure out a way around this year? I’ve tried ExpressVPN and IPVanish on my Windows 10 PC and can’t get around the MLB.TV blackouts at all. Worked like a charm last year… Sucks because my RSN isn’t carried on any a la carte sevives… laaaaaame.

      1. I tried ExpressVPN and connected to a few different states and even one in the UK but was not able to watch on mlb.tv or my cable provider’s site. I checked the IP with the link and it sowed correctly in other states/countries but the game was still blacked out.

      2. Same experience. On IPVanish, MLB.TV backed out every game, even ones outside my geographical area, when I was connected to any server, including servers in Eurpoe, Asia, and Australia.

  8. I have a MacBook Pro running High Sierra. NordVPN won’t work at all on mlb.tv. I may give unlocator another try as it worked last year. I paid for NordVPN thinking it would be better, but I was wrong.

  9. There are posts on Reddit where people are claiming they are using a VPN and virtual mouse to sign in and watching MLB TV on fire stick how could this be if there is GPS ?

  10. Seems this year MLB is detecting VPN traffic and blocking all games if you are using a VPN. I use IPVanish and when connected cannot watch any game at all. Are you seeing this as well?

      1. Hi Charles. I have tried my Amazon FireStick and even my laptop (windows) and both showed all games with VPN disconnected and blocked when connected. Last year all worked fine. I tried VPN servers even in Canada and nothing.

    1. I’m using ExpressVPN. Same issue. it worked once and no longer works no matter what server I connect to. I’ve deleting cookies, flushed DNS. Nada

  11. I found a work around for blackouts on your phone. The solution worked on my Samsung s7. You need an MLB subscription, Kodi and a vpn. I am using winscribe on the strongSwan app. Inside Kodi you need the MLB app located in the Kodi Repo and enter your account info. Start your VPN, run Kodi, open MLB app and watch your blacked out games without the pesky location services. Enjoy.

      1. I see now where it is mentioned on that page. Not sure how I missed that here but I have not seen it anywhere else in any cord cutting related forums. Thanks for the reply.

  12. Patrick Malone

    Hi, I have Mac Sierra 10.12.5 OS on my MacBook Pro. I have NordVPN. It worked once, but it hasn’t worked since. I cannot connect to MLB.tv no matter what I do. I cannot make it work. Can someone help me please.

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