US-based TV streaming service, SlingTV, is quite popular with cord-cutters. The service provides access to a vast selection of live TV shows and videos on demand. But because SlingTV is based in the US and only has the rights to broadcast inside the United States, it can only be used within the country. This can be frustrating for people who have a valid SlingTV subscription but who are traveling outside the US. Luckily it’s easy enough to overcome this problem by using a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network – VPN) can give you a US IP address and enable you to bypass the geographical restrictions in place by Sling TV. However, not every VPN is up to the challenge. One of the VPN providers that can circumvent SlingTV’s geographical restrictions is PureVPN. But there are a few hoops to jump through to get things working.
If you’re having any issues while trying to access SlingTV with PureVPN, there’s a good chance we can fix that. This post looks at what you can do to get SlingTV working with PureVPN.
Why isn’t PureVPN letting me access SlingTV?
As mentioned above, SlingTV’s streaming service can only be accessed from within the United States. So theoretically, SlingTV’s content will be inaccessible to anyone outside the US (geo-blocked). But PureVPN supports streaming, and SlingTV is among the supported services. If you’re running into issues, it’s likely to be for one of the reasons below.
- You’re connected to a VPN server that’s outside the United States. SlingTV being US-based, you must connect to a US server to gain a US IP address. You might need to try more than one US server to get it working. There’s always a bit of trial and error with streaming access over VPN.
- SlingTV might have placed a cookie in your app or browser. These cookies can reveal your original IP address and location, rendering SlingTV inaccessible.
- The VPN server you’re connected to has had its IP address blocked by SlingTV. VPN server IP addresses are easy to identify and block.
- You’re suffering from a DNS leak that’s exposing your “real” DNS servers’ IP address(es). And those servers are likely to be provided by your ISP, which is outside the United States.
We can easily fix the above issues.
How to fix PureVPN not working with SlingTV
- You need to make sure you’re connected to a VPN server that is inside the United States. If you’re already connected to a US server, try another US-based server – the IP address of the one you’re currently connected to may have been blocked.
- Clear your browser’s cache. That will remove any unwanted cookies.
- Try using private/incognito mode in your browser, or simply try using a different browser.
- You can try running a DNS leak test to see if you’re experiencing a DNS leak. Follow the link to learn how to do this – it’s pretty simple to do.
- PureVPN supports split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps go through the VPN tunnel and which ones go through your ISP connection. Make sure your browser isn’t configured to use split tunneling (in PureVPN’s app) and go through your ISP connection.
- Restart your device.
- Restart the PureVPN app.
How to sign into SlingTV with PureVPN
Once you’ve connected to a server that can access the SlingTV site, signing in and using the service is very simple.
- If you haven’t already done so, sign up for PureVPN. It provides a 31-day money-back guarantee, so it’s risk-free.
- Download and install PureVPN’s client app for your device.
- Log in to the PureVPN app and connect to a US-based server to get a US IP address.
- Go to the SlingTV website. It should be accessible now.
- If it’s not, follow the steps above to get it working.
The best VPNs to stream SlingTV
Even though streaming support is a prevalent feature among VPN users today, not all VPN providers support streaming. So you want to choose one that explicitly claims to work with streaming sites. If you’re looking for an alternative to PureVPN, here are some of our favorites.
The best VPNs to stream SlingTV:
- NordVPN: Our top choice for SlingTV. NordVPN provides its users with excellent privacy, security, and speeds. It works very well with almost every streaming service available and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark: The perfect choice for the thrifty. Low prices, great streaming support, and an extensive VPN network with plenty of servers to choose from.
- ExpressVPN: Another highly recommended VPN provider. ExpressVPN has fantastic privacy and security practices and supports most streaming sites.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost is another provider with excellent streaming support at a great price.
- IPVanish: IPVanish may not be the most well-known VPN provider, but it provides unlimited connections and works with many streaming sites.
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PureVPN & SlingTV FAQ
What can I watch with SlingTV?
SlingTV subscribers get a good blend of live television shows and on-demand content. The available channels include:
Are there any free VPN services that work with SlingTV?
There may well be, but it’s unlikely. Free VPNs are known for their small server networks. That means large proportions of their users will be using the same servers. And that puts them at a higher risk of getting their IPs blocked quickly. Also, the vast majority of free VPNs have poor speeds and questionable security practices, so we usually don’t recommend them.
How does SlingTV know I'm using a VPN?
As soon as you go online, regardless of whether or not you’re using a VPN, your device is assigned an IP address, which is tied to your location (real or virtual). When you access a website or online service, it inevitably sees your IP address. If you’re using a VPN, the site or service will still obtain your IP address, but it’ll be the VPN server’s IP address, not your original IP address assigned by your ISP.
Streaming services likely have lists of VPN server addresses they can use to block VPN users. But even without those lists, if a large number of SlingTV users’ traffic is coming from the same US-based IP address, that could be enough for SlingTV to deduce the IP address belongs to a VPN server and block it.
Will using a VPN slow down my connection?
Any intermediary server between your device and the site you want to access will add some latency to your connection – including VPNs. Higher latency means slower speeds. But with a good VPN provider, the speed hit shouldn’t be too significant, and it’s hardly noticeable in most situations. But, yes, a VPN will impact your connection’s speed.
If you really want the best speeds, I’d recommend using the WireGuard protocol, which PureVPN supports.
Can I install PureVPN on my router instead of using the app?
Not every VPN provider supports routers, but PureVPN does.
A VPN connection on your router provides two significant advantages:
- It allows you to connect to your VPN service without requiring an app. All you need to do is connect to the router, and you’re on VPN.
- It enables you to bypass your VPN provider’s limit on simultaneous connections.
PureVPN provides an app for compatible DD-WRT routers and manual instructions for many other supported routers.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch SlingTV?
Yes, it’s legal to use a VPN with Sling TV. There’s nothing illegal about connecting to a VPN server and accessing the internet. But while not unlawful, accessing SlingTV from outside the US violates its terms of service. And doing so provides grounds for SlingTV to block your IP address even if you have a paid subscription. Deleting your account would be a bit much, but banning IP addresses occurs daily.
Does PureVPN keep any logs?
PureVPN was in a bit of hot water in 2017 when it was revealed that the VPN service handed customer information over to law enforcement. It has since overhauled its privacy policy, aligning with industry best practices. It also undergoes regular third-party audits to ensure its privacy claims are more than just marketing.
While PureVPN still collects some data on its users, none of the collected information relates to your online activities. Most of it has to do with services rendered and network maintenance.
Have a look at our full review of PureVPN for more details.
Will my ISP know if I'm using a VPN?
Yes, your ISP will know. It will see that you’ve connected to a VPN server and will be able to figure out who the VPN provider is. Since it’s happening over its network, your ISP will also know which port and VPN protocol you’re using and your connection times and bandwidth used.
It won’t see the websites you visit or the files you download, nor will it be able to access your DNS queries (as long as your DNS isn’t leaking).
