Content & Catalog
What to watch on Willow?
Content TypesLive TV · Live Sport
SubtitlesEnglish
Sport StreamingWorks with VPNUpdated June 19, 2026
Reviewed by Radek Vlček · Affiliate DisclosureOur website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.
How to Watch Willow from Anywhere: VPN Guide 2026
If cricket is your sport, Willow is the one US service that carries it around the clock. The Redwood City network owns exclusive North American rights to ICC events, the Indian Premier League, Australia’s Big Bash and homegrown Major League Cricket, all streamed live with replays on demand. Since 2024 it has run as Willow by Cricbuzz, pairing live streams with the familiar scorecards and stats. Watching Willow abroad is where most fans hit a wall.
The catch is geography. Willow checks your IP and only opens for viewers in the US and Canada, so the moment you leave home the app throws a region error. A VPN fixes that cleanly. Surfshark routes your connection through a US server, Willow reads you as a stateside subscriber, and your existing account streams every match in 1080p just like it does at home. You keep paying for Willow yourself; the VPN only restores your location.
Free
Price
2
Countries
1080p
Max quality
7 of 7
VPNs work
2-3 min
Ready in
Quick answer
Can I watch Willow while traveling abroad?
Yes, with a VPN. Willow is locked to the US and Canada, so traveling overseas triggers a geo-block on the website and apps. Connect Surfshark to a US server, sign in to your own account, and the platform treats you as a domestic viewer again. You keep the same login and subscription you pay for at home, and the free Willow Sports FAST channel on Prime Video also unlocks for lighter coverage.
VPN Compatibility
Best VPN for Willow
Tested weekly by our team. Green: works, amber: partial, red: blocked.
| VPN Service | Price | Willow | Tested | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SurfsharkBEST | From $1.78/mo | ✓ Works | August 23 | Try it |
 ExpressVPN | From $2.79/mo | ✓ Works | August 23 | Open |
 NordVPN | From $2.99/mo | ✓ Works | August 23 | Open |
 ProtonVPN | From $3.59/mo | ✓ Works | August 19 | Open |
 Private Internet Access | From $1.79/mo | ✓ Works | August 23 | Open |
 CyberGhost | From $1.75/mo | ✓ Works | August 20 | Open |
 IPVanish | From $2.19/mo | ✓ Works | August 19 | Open |
✓ WorksTested August 23
✓ WorksTested August 23
✓ WorksTested August 23
✓ WorksTested August 19
✓ WorksTested August 23
✓ WorksTested August 20
✓ WorksTested August 19
Tested on August 23, 2026 · 7 VPNs, 7 working · residential IP from the United States · Willow updates detection continuously, results may change.
Streaming service blocking your VPN? Just disconnect and hop onto a different server in the same country. Stick to the ones labeled “streaming” or “optimized” because they’re literally built for this.
How-to
How to Unblock Willow with a VPN
Takes about 2 minutes. Works on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, or laptop.
- Pick a reliable VPNChoose Surfshark for fast, stable US servers. Plans start at $1.78 a month, and a 30-day money-back window lets you test Willow risk-free.Annual billing drops the monthly cost noticeably.
- Connect to a US serverSelect a server in the US, ideally East Coast for lower latency on live play. Your virtual location switches to America.
- Sign in to the serviceOpen the Willow site or app, log in to your account, and pick a fixture. The US connection clears the region check.
- Start streamingHit play on a live match or highlight. Video runs up to 1080p on smart TVs, phones and the browser.
Ready to watch Willow without borders?
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Availability
Which countries is Willow available in?
Willow works in 2 countries, including in the United States and in Canada. In 192 more it is blocked, and outside available regions you will need a VPN.
Available in 2 countries No VPN needed
Blocked in 192 countries VPN required
United KingdomAustraliaNew ZealandIrelandGermanyFranceJapanIndiaNetherlandsSouth AfricaBrazilAfghanistan
Show all 180 more countries
AlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana
British Virgin Islands
BruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCongoCongo (DRC)Costa RicaCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFijiFinlandGabonGambiaGeorgiaGhanaGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIranIraqIsraelItalyJamaicaJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTuvaluUAEUgandaUkraineUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamYemenZambiaZimbabweWillow is blocked in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in New Zealand, in Ireland and in Germany, plus in 187 more countries. To access it, use a premium VPN like Surfshark.
Available
Blocked / unavailable
Last tested: July 15, 2026
Steer clear of free VPNs. Most of them actually collect and sell your data, lack proper security audits, and can even expose you to malware. They’re also useless for streaming. Platforms block them instantly, leaving you with more headaches than solutions. Stick to paid VPNs with verified audits, like Surfshark, if you want something that actually works.
Pricing & Plans
How Much Does Willow Cost?
Willow Sports (Free FAST)
Free
/month
- 1 simultaneous stream
- With ads
- No offline downloads
Monthly
$9.99
/month
- 1 simultaneous stream
- Ad-free
- No offline downloads
Most Popular
Annual
$79.99
/year
- 1 simultaneous stream
- Ad-free
- No offline downloads
PoliciesGDPR compliant
Ready to subscribe to Willow?
Go to the official website: no VPN needed if you’re in a supported country.
About the platform
Who’s behind the service?
What is Willow
For anyone who lives and breathes cricket, this is the sport’s North American home. The channel runs around the clock across the United States and Canada, owned by India’s Times Internet and folded in with its sibling brand Cricbuzz back in 2024. It carries exclusive ICC rights for both markets through 2027, alongside the IPL, the Big Bash League and Major League Cricket. You can pay for a subscription, or watch free on an ad-supported FAST feed called “Willow Sports,” while a companion stream, Willow Xtra, picks up matches that clash. Access stays locked to the US and Canada.
Company and history
Major changes
- The willow.tv online portal launched as the first dedicated home for North American cricket fans who had no regular broadcaster for overseas matches.
- The Willow linear TV channel launched in the US, adding round-the-clock cricket broadcasting on top of the existing web stream and reaching cable households too.
- India’s Times Internet, the digital arm of Times of India, acquired Willow, taking control of its rights and streaming technology for the North American market.
- Willow officially expanded into Canada, bringing live cricket to fans north of the border and widening its footprint across all of North America.
- Willow secured exclusive ICC rights for the US and Canada through the end of 2027, covering the Champions Trophy, the T20 World Cup and the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
- Alongside the IPL season, the service was rebranded Willow by Cricbuzz and integrated with the popular Cricbuzz cricket app, also part of the Times Group stable.
- A free Willow Sports FAST channel and a paid Willow add-on debuted on Prime Video in the US, putting cricket in front of a wider audience without a standalone app.
- As the exclusive North American rights holder, Willow carried all 55 matches of the T20 World Cup, with Team USA games also streamed free on YouTube.
Trust signals
Still can’t open Willow where you are?
Connect Surfshark, pick a supported country, and you’re streaming Willow in minutes, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Devices & Quality
Watch on all your devices
Supported devices
Video quality
1080pHDRDolby VisionDolby Atmos
Insider Tips
Tips & tricks you should know
5 tips from our Willow testing team · Updated July 15, 2026
- The annual Willow plan at $79.99 beats paying $9.99 monthly by roughly 33%, so go yearly if you follow cricket all season.
- Willow is locked to the US and Canada only, so connect Surfshark to a US server first, then sign in to watch from abroad.
- Hindi commentary runs on the separate Willow 2 channel while the main Willow TV stays English, so switch channels to pick your language.
- Skip the fee and stream the free Willow Sports FAST channel on Prime Video, Sling Freestream and Plex for replays, highlights and news.
- One account streams on just two devices at once, so plan around that cap if your household watches separate matches simultaneously.
Alternatives
Other services you can watch
Not the right fit? Here are services in the same category you can compare.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before subscribing to Willow.
The monthly Willow plan runs $9.99, and the annual plan comes to $79.99, which works out to roughly a third off per month. Billing is in US dollars, so you need a US payment method. Surfshark only changes your location to a US server; you still pay for the Willow subscription yourself, exactly as a viewer at home would.
Yes. The free Willow Sports FAST channel lives on Amazon Prime Video in the US and carries selected matches and highlights at no cost. It is lighter than the full service but handy for casual viewing. You still need to appear as a US viewer, so without Surfshark on a US server it stays blocked from overseas.
Using Surfshark is perfectly legal in most countries and common for privacy and travel. Accessing a US service may bump into its terms of use, but it is not a criminal act. The worst case is the service spotting the VPN and refusing the connection, which is why a provider with servers cricket networks have not blacklisted matters.
You can stream Willow on the web, the iOS and Android apps, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, plus Samsung, Sony and Vizio smart TVs. Chromecast and the Xbox console work too. Install Surfshark either on the device itself or on your router so smart TVs pick up a US IP address.
ESPN+ carries broad US sports but not the deep cricket library, while Willow owns exclusive North American ICC, IPL and Big Bash rights. For a dedicated cricket fan, Willow is the complete package; ESPN+ suits someone who wants occasional cricket alongside other sports. Both are US services, so the same VPN approach applies abroad.
For smooth live play in 1080p, aim for a stable connection around fifteen megabits per second. Low latency matters most, so pick a US server near the East Coast through Surfshark. A slower link drops the quality automatically, so you never lose the match, just some sharpness.
A single Willow account allows simultaneous playback on a limited number of screens, so a household can follow two matches at once. On the road, just keep Surfshark connected to a US server on every device. Bear in mind the service does not endorse sharing your password outside your home.
You get ICC tournaments, the Indian Premier League, Australia’s Big Bash, homegrown Major League Cricket and many bilateral series. As the exclusive North American rights holder, Willow carried the entire 2026 T20 World Cup. From abroad you reach all of it through Surfshark on a US server with your own account.
Usually not for this service. Smart DNS does not change your IP, it only reroutes part of the traffic, and cricket networks often detect it. Surfshark is more reliable because it rewrites your whole location to the US and encrypts the connection. It also protects your data when you stream over public Wi-Fi.
First switch to a different US server through Surfshark, since an overloaded node is the most common cause. Clearing the app cache and pausing other downloads on the network helps too. If trouble persists, try a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, because live cricket is sensitive to bandwidth dips.
You can, but it takes a US billing setup. Connect Surfshark to a US server before you register, then use a US payment card or a gift balance, since the checkout expects a domestic method. Once the account exists, you log in the same way from anywhere with the VPN keeping your location in the US.
Ready to watch Willow without borders?
Surfshark unlocks Willow from anywhere in the world. Risk-free 30-day money-back.
Part of the Times Internet (The Times Group) family.
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