MLB.TV vs ?

[poppysox]

I live in Michigan and cut the cord years ago.  Have been using MLV.TV for many years.  Now there are some new things to consider, apparently.  Does anyone have an opinion on what might be the best way to get the most WS baseball for the buck?  Currently, I am blacked out of Detroit games and a few "special" games.

[WhiteSox2023]

On a PC or laptop, you can avoid blackouts with a free VPN browser add-on / extension.  If you are watching MLB.tv from a streaming device on a TV, you will want to invest in a paid VPN app.  Simply change your VPN location to avoid the local blackout.

I’ve been doing it for years with an old lifetime Windscribe VPN account that I bought ages ago and the annual free T-Mobile MLB.tv deal so I can basically get any MLB game for free these days.  Unfortunately, most VPN apps now charge a monthly/annual fee these days.

Edited Saturday at 11:15 PM by WhiteSox2023

[poppysox]

14 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

On a PC or laptop, you can avoid blackouts with a free VPN browser add-on / extension.  If you are watching MLB.tv from a streaming device on a TV, you will want to invest in a paid VPN app.  Simply change your VPN location to avoid the local blackout.

I’ve been doing it for years with an old lifetime Windscribe VPN account that I bought ages ago and the annual free T-Mobile MLB.tv deal so I can basically get any MLB game for free these days.  Unfortunately, most VPN apps now charge a monthly/annual fee these days.

Thanks for your response.   A few more questions, please.  What makes using a streaming device, such as ROKU, for TV different than a computer?  If you were making the decision today...which VPN would you use (I see that Windscribe is still available?  Would you recommend closing my existing MLB.TV account and then opening a new account using the VPN filter?  What claimed State has no blackouts.  Am I correct to assume Indiana and Iowa are blacking out someone?

Thanks again for your help.  I am not very fluent in the workarounds of these systems.

[Ozzie for Manager]

The blackout BS is so stupid.  I live in eastern NC. They consider the Nats and Orioles my local teams that are 5 hours away.  Our cable provider does not even offer MASN that carries their games so there is literally no way for me to watch them. So I miss about 10 sox games per year on mlb TV.  

One thing you can do to get a cheaper price on mlbtv is to join the mlb retired players association for like $20 per year.  They give you a 50% off code for mlbtv. And you support a good organization. Done it for 2 years and need to do it again

[WhiteSox2023]

3 hours ago, poppysox said:

Thanks for your response.   A few more questions, please.  What makes using a streaming device, such as ROKU, for TV different than a computer?  If you were making the decision today...which VPN would you use (I see that Windscribe is still available?  Would you recommend closing my existing MLB.TV account and then opening a new account using the VPN filter?  What claimed State has no blackouts.  Am I correct to assume Indiana and Iowa are blacking out someone?

Thanks again for your help.  I am not very fluent in the workarounds of these systems.

Just convenience, mainly.  You can install a bunch of apps on a Roku and plug it into any TV to stream content.

VPNs all pretty much work the same so I would go with whichever one is cheapest.

You don’t need to close your MLB.tv account.   The way the VPN works is you simply open it, set your location for somewhere that will avoid the blackout, and then open MLB.tv.  MLB.tv then detects your location as whatever you set your location in the VPN app which avoids the blackout.  For example, I frequently use a location in Ireland which avoids blackouts for me in Chicago.

[Sleepy Harold]

3 hours ago, poppysox said:

Thanks for your response.   A few more questions, please.  What makes using a streaming device, such as ROKU, for TV different than a computer?  If you were making the decision today...which VPN would you use (I see that Windscribe is still available?  Would you recommend closing my existing MLB.TV account and then opening a new account using the VPN filter?  What claimed State has no blackouts.  Am I correct to assume Indiana and Iowa are blacking out someone?

Thanks again for your help.  I am not very fluent in the workarounds of these systems.

You don't need a new account with a VPN, you could just renew with your current subscription. Before you want to use MLB.TV, you would just need to turn the VPN on to another location (I use NordVPN and have a few random US cities saved to bounce between depending on what I'm trying to watch) and once you're connected to that open the MLB app/MLB.TV.

[poppysox]

Thanks to all who responded.  I set up a VPN and now sit back and wait for MLB.TV to broadcast 2026.

[Ducksnort]

I tried a VPN one year and it didn't work for me with mlb.tv...kept saying I needed to disconnect from the vpn to watch. Like they could tell I was using one. So it didn't work for me. But maybe I was doing it wrong idk.

[Sleepy Harold]

1 hour ago, Ducksnort said:

I tried a VPN one year and it didn't work for me with mlb.tv...kept saying I needed to disconnect from the vpn to watch. Like they could tell I was using one. So it didn't work for me. But maybe I was doing it wrong idk.

Not sure what you were using it on, but I've had no issues using a VPN for MLB.TV/ESPN+ via firestick.

[caulfield12]

14 hours ago, poppysox said:

Thanks for your response.   A few more questions, please.  What makes using a streaming device, such as ROKU, for TV different than a computer?  If you were making the decision today...which VPN would you use (I see that Windscribe is still available?  Would you recommend closing my existing MLB.TV account and then opening a new account using the VPN filter?  What claimed State has no blackouts.  Am I correct to assume Indiana and Iowa are blacking out someone?

Thanks again for your help.  I am not very fluent in the workarounds of these systems.

Astrill VPN works well outside the US...not sure about inside it.

But then you're paying almost the same cost as the mlb streaming rights themselves if you don't use the VPN for any other reason.

 

Edited yesterday at 03:48 AM by caulfield12

[WhiteSox2023]

36 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Astrill VPN works well outside the US...not sure about inside it.

But then you're paying almost the same cost as the mlb streaming rights themselves if you don't use the VPN for any other reason.

 

NordVPN is a popular choice and not very expensive.  Even better if you are getting MLB.tv for free annually through the T-Mobile deal.

https://nordvpn.com/offer/pricing/

[poppysox]

7 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

NordVPN is a popular choice and not very expensive.  Even better if you are getting MLB.tv for free annually through the T-Mobile deal.

https://nordvpn.com/offer/pricing/

Do you use it on an actual TV?  I put the games on TV using ROKU.

[caulfield12]

there's also letsvpn and expressvpn

[WhiteSox2023]

52 minutes ago, poppysox said:

Do you use it on an actual TV?  I put the games on TV using ROKU.

I mostly use streaming devices so I had a full selection of apps, including the Windscribe VPN app that I use.  I have a variety of them Nvidia Shields, Google 4K Streamer, Onn 4K Pro, Amazon Fire Sticks, etc.  I usually avoid the built-in apps on most TVs because there are less app options to install and they are usually slow.

Edited yesterday at 12:58 PM by WhiteSox2023

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

Has anyone on here used the VSee box?  One time purchase ($300?), no monthly fee, no VPN. anyone with thoughts? I am leaning this direction. More expensive up front, but much cheaper long term

[Baron]

I ended up just buying it. Pretty much canceled all my other subscriptions including Youtube TV since the football season is over.

[Tnetennba]

17 hours ago, Ducksnort said:

I tried a VPN one year and it didn't work for me with mlb.tv...kept saying I needed to disconnect from the vpn to watch. Like they could tell I was using one. So it didn't work for me. But maybe I was doing it wrong idk.

Probably has more to with which VPN you were using.  

[Ducksnort]

33 minutes ago, Tnetennba said:

Probably has more to with which VPN you were using.  

I don't remember for sure but I think it was expressvpn

[JoshPR]

On 2/15/2026 at 10:22 AM, Ozzie for Manager said:

The blackout BS is so stupid.  I live in eastern NC. They consider the Nats and Orioles my local teams that are 5 hours away.  Our cable provider does not even offer MASN that carries their games so there is literally no way for me to watch them. So I miss about 10 sox games per year on mlb TV.  

One thing you can do to get a cheaper price on mlbtv is to join the mlb retired players association for like $20 per year.  They give you a 50% off code for mlbtv. And you support a good organization. Done it for 2 years and need to do it again

I live in upstate NY and get blacked out of the NY games.. but I'm closer to Pittsburgh and Cleveland than NYC....

[kitekrazy]

On 2/16/2026 at 8:41 AM, Baron said:

I ended up just buying it. Pretty much canceled all my other subscriptions including Youtube TV since the football season is over.

I pay the extra out here so I can watch the D'Backs

BTW always take advantage to watch MiLB as well. That is now included.

[Lip Man 1]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7051666/2026/02/17/major-league-baseball-tv-rights-battle-ownership/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=602876&source=dailyemail