Hotstar is actually available in the UK and Canada, but users in these countries can’t access the same movies and TV shows as those in India. This is because, like many other streaming services, Hotstar is geo-restricted. Here’s the good news: it’s easy to bypass this kind of blocking using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

These services work by sending all of your internet traffic through a server in another country. This not only improves your online privacy by hiding your activities from snoopers, but it can also be used to spoof your location, enabling you to access region-locked platforms like Hotstar from abroad.

How to stream Hotstar abroad using a VPN

VPNs can be a little intimidating but they’re really quite simple to use. Follow the steps below to unblock Hotstar India from anywhere in the world.

Here’s how to watch Hotstar while traveling abroad:

  • Start by signing up for one of the VPNs below (we recommend NordVPN).
  • Download and install the VPN app on any device you’d like to stream on.
  • Log in and connect to an Indian server to get an Indian IP address. The location doesn’t matter, but you’ll usually find that the closer the server, the higher your speeds.
  • Visit the Hotstar website and log in or create an account if you haven’t already. Note that while much of the content is free to watch, you’ll need an Indian credit card if you intend to sign up for a premium account.
  • Finally, try to watch something. You should find that the video begins right away. If it doesn’t, clearing your browser’s cookies and refreshing the page should solve most issues.

Although there are all kinds of technical differences between rival VPNs, these rarely impact the user’s experience in any meaningful way. That’s why instead of spending hours comparing the pros and cons of a particular encryption protocol, we recommend choosing a versatile service that can handle most everyday situations. All of the VPNs we chose had to meet the following criteria:

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

  • Has at least one server in India, but ideally more
  • Is fast enough for uninterrupted streaming and offers reliable connections
  • Unblocks Hotstar and similar services from abroad
  • Protects your privacy with effectively uncrackable encryption
  • Doesn’t log any data that could identify you
  • Provides apps for all of the most popular operating systems

If you’re short on time, take a look below for a quick guide to the best VPNs for Hotstar India. Don’t worry, though: we’ll review each in more detail a little later.

Best VPNs for watching Hotstar India in USA or UK:

  • NordVPN: The best VPN for streaming Hotstar abroad. Impeccable speeds, security-conscious, and able to unblock many popular streaming services from abroad. Keeps no logs whatsoever. Also has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Our budget pick for watching Hotstar India. A security-first provider that makes it easy to watch Hotstar outside of India. Also offers steady speeds and impressivestrong streaming potential, and has no connection limit.
  • ExpressVPN: Boasts high speeds, real versatility, and an excellent selection of security features.
  • PrivateVPN: An extremely fast service with fantastic everyday potential. With a strong security focus and no-logs policy, users can safely stream Hotstar India from abroad.
  • Hotspot Shield: Provides consistently high speeds and can reliably unblock some of the most popular streaming platforms like Hotstar abroad. Takes user security very seriously.

Best VPNs for Hotstar India in the US or UK – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Hotstar India.

Best VPNs for watching Hotstar India in the US or UK

Below, you’ll find a more detailed review of the best VPNs for streaming Hotstar India abroad:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

unblocks hotstarTested Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

This service is known for its strong security focus. To begin with, it offers 256-bit AES encryption, a customizable kill switch, and protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. There are special obfuscated servers that offer even greater privacy, as well as an ad-blocker and malware-scanner. Further, NordVPN has a no-logging policy, which means it can’t reveal details of your activities under any circumstances. Help is available 24/7 over live chat or email.

NordVPN offers apps for MacOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can install it manually on select routers too.

BEST VPN FOR HOTSTAR:NordVPN is our #1 choice. It boasts blazing speeds, top-notch security and privacy protections, plus exceptional streaming ability. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee making it a risk-free option.

Pros:

  • Plenty of high-speed Indian servers
  • Excellent streaming potential
  • Wide range of online security features
  • No-logs policy
  • Around-the-clock support

Cons:

  • Desktop apps can be slow at times

Our score:

Check out the full NordVPN review for more info.

2. Surfshark

unblocks hotstarTested Jan 2023

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

This service uses 256-bit encryption to keep your traffic hidden from snoopers. That’s not all, though: there’s DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and the ability to connect automatically when on a public wifi network. Additionally, its NoBorders feature ensures that no matter where you go, you’ll be able to browse the web freely and securely. Surfshark doesn’t log any data that could personally identify you. Need help? Support staff can be reached 24/7 via email and live chat.

Surfshark provides easy-to-use Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux apps. If you’d prefer, it can be manually installed on supported network routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark has a major focus on privacy and allows you to safely watch Hotstar and similar services on any device you like. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Lets you connect any number of devices

  • Great for streaming

  • Puts your security and privacy first

  • Doesn’t keep any logs at all

  • Can be hard to find some settings

Check out the full Surfshark review.

3. ExpressVPN

                    Jan 2023

unblocks hotstarTested Jan 2023

ExpressVPN has a network of more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries including the Canada, the UK, and India. Further, it offers high speeds and can unblock all kinds of streaming services. Users can securely access online streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, not just Hotstar. Up to five simultaneous connections are permitted per account.

This VPN comes with a wide range of security features. Your traffic is kept private using DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection and 256-bit encryption, There’s also a kill switch (that stops data transmission the moment you lose connection to the VPN). Most importantly, ExpressVPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information. Bitcoin payments are accepted, in case you’d like to sign up as anonymously as possible. If you run into any problems, you can reach customer support via the 24/7 live chat service.

ExpressVPN apps are available for iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows, and Linux systems. Additionally, users can install custom firmware directly onto supported routers or manually configure a router VPN for network-wide protection.

SOLID UNBLOCKER:ExpressVPN offers a large network, fast speeds, and best in class security features, making it the perfect choice for watching Hotstar abroad. What’s more, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Fast enough to play HD video without buffering

  • No issues streaming Hotstar India abroad

  • Offers cutting-edge security features

  • Pay anonymously with Bitcoin

  • Slightly higher cost than others

Still have questions? You’ll find all the answers in our complete ExpressVPN review.

4. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN doesn’t have the largest network, with around 200 servers spanning 60+ countries. Despite this, it remains an excellent choice for anyone who streams regularly thanks to its powerful streaming capabilities and exceptionally high speeds. As well as Hotstar India, PrivateVPN lets you safely stream Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu as you travel. Users can secure up to 10 devices at once.

This VPN boasts an impressive range of security and privacy protections. There’s a kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, plus split tunneling functionality. Finally, a stealth mode allows you to bypass even the strictest online blocking. PrivateVPN doesn’t keep any logs at all. Support staff are on hand 22 hours per day over live chat and email in case of any issues.

PrivateVPN users can install iOS, MacOS, Windows, and Android apps. Alternatively, you can manually configure the service for use with Linux systems and supported internet routers.

GREAT FOR TV:PrivateVPN is a great choice for streaming Hotstar India thanks to its higher than average speeds and unlimited bandwidth. What’s more, this service offers a wide range of advanced security features, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a no-logs policy.

  • Some of the highest speeds around

  • Works with a large number of streaming services

  • Strong focus on privacy

  • Live chat support not 24/7

Why not read our complete review of PrivateVPN?

5. Hotspot Shield

Website: www.Hotspotshield.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

                    Editor’s Note: Hotspot Shield is owned by Pango, Comparitech’s parent company.

With 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks, Hotspot Shield keeps your activities safe from prying eyes. There are also features that allow you to automatically connect when on unsecured networks, or allow certain websites to bypass the VPN entirely. Hotspot Shield doesn’t keep any identifiable data after your session ends and as a result, you can browse securely at all times. This service’s apps are very easy to use but if you need help, email and live chat-based support are available 24/7.

Hotspot Shield apps are available for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Also, select internet routers and Linux systems are supported via manual configuration.

HIGHLY VERSATILE:Hotspot Shield is an excellent everyday VPN. It’s fast and reliable, making it ideal for streaming Hotstar or torrenting, but it also offers strong security, keeping you safe from snoopers. Best of all, this VPN includes a 45-day money-back guarantee.

  • Consistently high speeds

  • Great for streaming

  • Good range of security settings

  • Some past privacy concerns

  • Doesn’t accept Bitcoin

Interested? Find out more in our full Hotspot Shield review.

See also: Best VPNs for watching Hotstar abroad

Methodology: Choosing the best VPNs for Hotstar India

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to buying a VPN. Some are faster than others, for instance, and there are plenty of providers that just can’t unblock Hotstar abroad. Here are the most important things we looked out for when choosing the best VPNs for Hotstar:

  • Servers in India: These are required to get an Indian IP address, which is what makes Hotstar think you’re still in India. We’d like to see as many servers as possible, and preferably, a few different locations to choose from.
  • Streaming ability: The first challenge is finding VPNs capable of unblocking Hotstar abroad. However, this isn’t enough: we value services that can access a wider range of platforms, which is why we test them with Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, to name but a few.
  • Speed: Streaming requires a stable connection and decent speeds. Luckily, we regularly run hundreds of tests to find out which VPNs are the fastest. Naturally, we prioritized speedy services, but the consistency of their performance is important too.
  • Security and privacy: Above all else, VPNs are privacy tools. That’s why we require them to offer 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, leak protection, and a kill switch to be considered for our list. Of course, we prefer VPNs that offer even more advanced features like automatic wifi protection, custom protocols, or split tunneling ability.
  • User-friendliness: All of the services above are simple enough for newcomers to use. What’s more, they all provide live chat-based assistance in case you have any issues. Some even allow an unlimited number of connections, meaning everyone in your family can share one account.
  • Price: We thoroughly research VPNs to make sure we don’t recommend any that aren’t fairly priced. Additionally, to save you as much as possible, we’ll always provide details about any available offers, deals, discounts, or money-back guarantees.

While this might seem like a long list of requirements, it’s only the first part of our testing. If you’re interested, we actually have a post that talks all about how our team tests VPNs.

Can I watch Hotstar with a free VPN?

We strongly advise against using a free VPN to watch Hotstar India in the UK or US. These services tend to have smaller networks than paid VPNs, which makes it less likely that they’ll offer Indian servers. Additionally, free VPNs usually have more users than their paid counterparts, which means you can expect slow speeds, long buffering times, and stuttering video, assuming you manage to access Hotstar in the first place.

Free VPNs can pose a real privacy risk too. Many of the apps you’ll find on the Google Play Store fail to use encryption, for instance, which means they’re effectively no safer than browsing normally. Equally troubling, major marketplaces are flooded with Trojans looking to take advantage of your privacy concerns. The best way to protect yourself online is to use a reputable VPN, ideally one that follows a strict no-logs policy.

  • India: ₹299 per month
  • United Kingdom: £5.99 per month
  • Canada: $49.99 CAD per year

Cricket is the most popular sport in India, so it’s no surprise that Hotstar has a lot of cricket content. In addition to live matches, you can watch highlights, interviews, match commentary, and more.

However, there are some workarounds that you can try if you really want to watch Hotstar from another country. For example, you can use a VPN to mask your IP address and make it look like you’re located in a different country.