Hulu is a prominent streaming video provider, second only to Netflix. The VoD is the result of a partnership between Fox, ABC, and NBC, the three largest US television networks.
Cartoon Network, Style, PBS, SyFy, FX, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central are just a few of the many networks whose programming can be found on the channel.
However, since Hulu is region-locked, if you want to watch it while you’re away from home, you’ll need a VPN. The problem with this is that most providers don’t work with Hulu.
To provide our readers with instant assistance, we will be providing a comprehensive overview on the best Hulu VPN providers, but here’s a quick summary if you can’t wait:
A Quick Summary of the Best Hulu VPNs
In light of our extensive study and analysis, the following virtual private networks (VPNs) emerged as our top picks for use with Hulu in 2022:
- ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for Hulu. 23+ U.S. servers in 14 American cities. 30-days money-back guarantee available. 7-day free trial for iOS and Android. Starts at $6.67/mo on a 12-Months plan + 3-months free.
- Surfshark: Affordable VPN for Hulu. 500+ U.S. servers in 20+ American cities. 30-days money-back guarantee on all plans. 7-day free trial for iOS and Android. Starts at $2.49/mo on a 2-year plan + 2 months free (81% off).
- NordVPN: Fastest VPN for Hulu. 1,970+ U.S. servers in 15+ American cities. 7-day free trial for Android and iOS devices. 30-days money-back guarantees. The standard plan starts at $3.99/mo (51% off) for 2-years.
How to Watch Hulu from Abroad with a VPN [Easy Steps]
With a VPN, you can change your virtual location and make Hulu think your IP address is in a different country. Once you know which server to connect to, it’s easy to get around Hulu blocks with a VPN. Follow the steps below to get started:
- Subscribe to a VPN service. Sign up with ExpressVPN now by visiting their website and subscribing to a plan that best suits your budgetary requirements.
- Download & Install ExpressVPN. Get the ExpressVPN app from the website and install it on your device. After it’s done, open the app and log in.
- Connect to a VPN server in United States. Select the menu item with the three dots, then look for a server in United States and select it to initiate a connection.
- Go to the Hulu website and access its complete library. Sign up for an account via any of these methods and enjoy watching your favorite Hulu movies/TV shows!
If you’re still seeing an error message, check your device’s settings. IPv6 leaks are a common issue. Click here for advice on disabling IPv6 on Mac and Windows. You might also try deleting the cookies and cache in your browser. To resolve any additional concerns, get in touch with the VPN’s support team.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch Hulu?
You should not fall for the fallacy that Hulu tolerates people who access its content over a proxy server. The access to any and all of the content is strictly restricted to citizens of the United States and Japan. If you are located outside these counties and try to view video content on Hulu, the website will restrict you from doing so.
Due to concerns over intellectual property, service licensing, and avoiding lawsuits from producers/distributors, sites like Hulu employ geo-restriction measures to block access from users outside of the nation. Keep in mind that the VPN block that Hulu has in place is far more sophisticated than the firewall that Netflix uses.
For this reason, you should only use a VPN service from a reputable company. Because of Hulu’s stringent firewall policies, most VPN services are unable to unblock the streaming media service. The best VPNs for Hulu often include a few servers that can evade the proxy block, and provide support on which updated servers may connect to Hulu.
The Best Hulu VPNs: Detailed Analysis
More than fifty services were put to the test when it came to identifying the best Hulu VPN. Each VPN service was rated on its technology, server count, features, and price. We’ll take a look at the best three VPNs for Hulu in 2022 below:
1. ExpressVPN: The Best VPN for Hulu
Total Servers: 3,000+ | Countries: 94+ | American Servers: 23+ in 14+ Cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.7 | Simultaneous Connections: 5
Based in the British Virgin Islands and founded in 2011, ExpressVPN comes equipped with 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries, among which 23+ servers are located in 14 American Cities, allowing you to overcome geo-restrictions on Hulu easily.
In fact, the provider has remained unaffected by Hulu’s VPN banning measures, and has continued to provide consistent uptimes to Hulu, without any hassles. This proves its commitment to users and their strong technologies that keep them afloat all obstacles.
After testing the VPN on a 100Mbps connection, we obtained astounding download and upload speeds of 89.97Mbps and 86.51Mbps, respectively. This ensures that your experience on Netflix will be fluid and without buffering issues.
If you like to stream on a lot of different devices, ExpressVPN has apps for PC, Mac, Android, routers, smart TVs, and more. If you’re using a device without a built-in VPN, you may still access prohibited material with the MediaStreamer DNS.
You will have no problems unblocking other streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more by connecting up to five devices at once. On top of that, for annual plans as little as $6.67/month there is a 30-day money-back guarantee available.
ExpressVPN Hulu Testing: Working Servers
The seas aren’t always calm, and not all servers can be trusted. But our tests and conversations with the ExpressVPN support team have shown that Hulu can be unblocked with these servers:
- USA – New Jersey-3
- USA – Washington DC
- USA – New York
- 5 Simultaneous Connections
- Verified "No-Logs" Policy
- 30-Day Refund Guarantee
- Headquartered in BVI
- 3,000+ Servers in 90+ Countries
- Split Tunneling/Network Kill Switch
- No Free Trial Available
2. Surfshark: Affordable VPN for Hulu
Total Servers: 3,200+ | Countries: 90+ | American Servers: 500+ in 20+ Cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.3 | Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands and established in 2018, Surfshark comes equipped with over 3,200+ servers in 65+ countries, among which 500+ are located in 20+ American cities, making it a great option to circumvent geo-restrictions on Hulu.
Our tests showed that Surfshark successfully unblocked content from the United States on four different servers – a fantastic array of results; especially considering that the provider falls under the pocket-friendly VPN servers in the marketplace.
When tested over a 100Mbps connection, the VPN’s performance was impressive at 85.22 Mbps for downloading and 83.71 Mbps for uploading. That way, you won’t have to worry about any lag while unblocking Hulu while traveling or from anywhere worldwide.
Like Express, Surfshark offers round-the-clock live chat support. There are professionals that can aid you in finding the best server for your needs. The service provider goes above and beyond by allowing as many streamers to connect at once as possible (unlimited simultaneous connections).
If you’re signing up with Surfshark for the first-time, you’ll be pleased to know that the provider offers a risk-free, 30-days money-back guarantee, along with a 7-day free trial available to iOS and Android users. Best part of all: the apps are quite user-friendly!
Surfshark Hulu Testing: Working Servers
Both our own testing and discussions with the Surfshark support staff have confirmed that it is viable to bypass library restrictions for Hulu without any hassles. Use these servers:
- United States – Los Angeles
- United States – Miami
- United States – Boston
- United States – Detroit
- Unlimited Simultaneous Logins
- No-Logs Policy Audited by Cure53
- 30-Day Moneyback Guarantee
- 7-Day Free Trial on iOS/Android
- 3,200+ Servers in 60+ Countries
- Headquartered in BVI
- No Split Tunneling on iOS
3. NordVPN: Fastest VPN for Hulu
Total Servers: 5,400+ | Countries: 60+ | American Servers: 1,970+ in 15+ Cities | Trustpilot Rating: 4.5 | Simultaneous Connections: 6
Based in Panama (a safe jurisdiction) and founded in 2012, NordVPN comes equipped with over 5,200+ servers in 60+ countries worldwide, among which 1,970+ servers are located in 15+ American cities, making it a great choice for accessing Hulu
As Hulu has increased its geo-restrictions, NordVPN developers have been hard at work in the shadows. Users may now access Hulu from anywhere in the world or while traveling, thanks to some successful recent testing on multiple servers of the provider.
We received an average download speed of 89.97Mbps and upload speed of 86.51Mbps after testing the VPN on a 100Mbps connection on different servers. NordVPN is also free of WebRTC/DNS/IP address leaks, and its connection timings to Hulu are unrivaled.
Elsewhere, the service also gave us easy access to other services like Discovery Plus, Eurosport, Voot, Peacock TV, Apple TV+, and more. It also provides you the opportunity to use your VPN on six other devices (a total of six concurrent devices allowed).
In case you face any issue, however unlikely that might be, NordVPN also incorporates a 7-day free trial for iOS and Android users and a 30-day money-back guarantee, as well as all-time live chat support to guide you as you face the first sign of trouble!
NordVPN Hulu Testing: Working Servers
We have verified via our own testing and consultation with NordVPN’s support team that it is possible to circumvent library limitations on Hulu with these servers:
- #5391
- #5521
- #8082
- #5387
- #5404
- 6 Simultaneous Connections
- Audited by PwC Switzerland
- 30-Day Refund Guarantee
- Headquartered in Panama
- 5,000+ Servers in 60+ Countries
- Split Tunneling/Network Kill Switch
- Downtime issues on some servers
What to Look for in the Best Hulu VPNs?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) must provide more than just access to Hulu in order to be considered for inclusion in our list. So, in order to answer your question, here is how we choose the top VPN services:
- Servers and Countries: Hulu is only available in the US and Japan right now, but we looked at how many countries and servers the VPNs provide despite this. Unblocking more streaming alternatives is easier if you have a larger selection.
- Streaming Features:To stream Hulu content on smart TVs and game consoles like the Xbox, most of the Hulu VPN services on this list provide a Smart DNS option. As a result, the opportunity to purchase a dedicated IP address was also a major consideration in making the decision.
- Simultaneous Connections & Apps: Isn’t it great to know that you may use any of the VPNs on our list on your computer or smartphone? A single VPN subscription may be used by several members of your family at the same time because each one supports at least five simultaneous connections.
- Streaming Options: Hulu is a fantastic streaming service with a huge selection of movies and TV series, with over 2,500 titles to choose from. While some may be more appealing than others, we picked the VPNs based on their ability to unblock a wide range of websites, so you can watch more of what you want.
- Performance Testing: Because no one wants to use a VPN that takes forever to connect, we only included services with lightning-fast speeds. We conducted a number of speed tests to ensure that the VPN services we recommended were actually fast.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch Hulu?
You may be able to find a free VPN provider with a server that unblocks Hulu, but this is not a dependable method of accessing the streaming service. It’s impossible for free VPN companies to alter the IP addresses and domains of their VPN servers.So, even if you stumble into a free Hulu VPN that works like a charm, don’t hold your breath.
Although a free VPN is free of cost and does indeed unblock a few sites, it raises a few too many security concerns. Hundreds of employees work to maintain thousands of servers which need quite an amount of money to be set up, to begin with.
How is it possible that a free VPN doesn’t charge its users even a single buck? The answer might hurt you, but we’re sorry that doesn’t make it less true.
1. Intrusion of Privacy
Everyone wants to keep their privacy protected. Who would want prying eyes if they knew the dark secret free VPNs hold buried? Let us unfold the biggest lie free they tell you. Free VPNs do not hide your identity, instead, they sell it.
They track and sell your browsing data to third parties advertisers, which may contain the info of the device you’re using, the websites you visit, what you buy, and even your time spent online. Consent or not, they sell your data and make big bucks with it.
2. Annoying Ads
Free VPNs will also inundate you with advertisements, and the more advertisements you click on, the more successful their company will be. And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, some of them may even infect your device with malware or viruses!
3. Limited Access
Sometimes, the low data limitations and restricting features they give are only bait for those who learn that they can’t do much with the free version. In other cases, you may be forced to switch to a premium plan if your free data is exhausted. According to a popular proverb, if you do not purchase the product, you will become the product.
4. Congested Servers
Fee VPN companies frequently make use of servers that are sluggish and overloaded. Expect a lot of buffering and possible disruptions in service. It is possible that you will lose connection in the middle of a program if you use a free VPN, since the maximum bandwidth or the total quantity of data that is allowed per day or month is capped.
How to Get Around Hulu Home Location Error
Hulu requires its customers to set up a home network within the first thirty days of signing up for the service in order to prevent account sharing and provide access to local channels. Additionally, it restricts the kinds of devices that may be used to watch content from a location that is not within your house.
For example, you may only be able to watch Hulu on a tablet or console if you have it linked to your home network. Sharing your password with a family member in a different home will prevent them from streaming on their own game console or tablet. Error messages like this one can be displayed to them instead.
“Your Hulu subscription allows you to use this type of device only on your home network. If you have moved or your internet service provider has changed, please update your Home Location in your Hulu Account settings on a computer.”
A network upgrade is required to address this problem. A VPN may make this difficult because your IP address is likely to change every time you connect to a VPN server. Static or dedicated IP addresses are the best solution if you’re using a virtual private network (VPN).Once you’re on the network or VPN server you want to watch Hulu on, do the following:
- Log out of Hulu.
- Sign in again.
- Open the Hulu account page
- Click on “Privacy and Settings”.
- Set up your new network by clicking “Set or Change Home”.
Hulu Not Working with Your VPN? Try These Fixes:
Hulu makes a concerted effort to circumvent virtual private networks (VPNs), which implies that very few services are still viable .If you already have a subscription to one of the VPN services that we suggest for use with Hulu, then you can proceed to the below fixes:
1. Clear Your Cookies and Browser Cache
Cookies have the potential to reveal your location on occasion. Consequently, before accessing Hulu, you should ensure that all of your cookies are deleted. While you’re at it, also consider clearing out your browser cache, and then try connecting to Hulu with a VPN.
2. Stop the VPN and Add it to the Exception List
Disable or uninstall the proxy tool or add Hulu to the exception list. The exception feature can be found in Settings > Manage settings > click on add under Exclusions> Select Hulu.
3. Connect to Another Server in the United States
Hulu does not have the capability to restrict virtual private networks (VPNs), but it does have power over IP addresses. Therefore, to carry out a speedy patch, connect to a separate server located in the United States.
4. Access Hulu Via Official App Only
If you access Hulu through a third party that is not supported by Hulu, you may get the aforementioned error instantly. It is thus recommended to only view Hulu using the Hulu app by itself or the official website!
5. Access Hulu via a Supported Device
You must access the Hulu app on a mobile device or OS that it supports. Below is the list of devices you can use to access Hulu.
- Android phones and tablets
- Android TV
- Apple TV (4th generation onwards)
- LG TV
- Chromecast
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Echo Show
- Fire Tablets
- iPhones and iPads
- Nintendo Switch
- Mac and PC browsers/apps
- PlayStation*
- Roku
- Samsung TV (select models)
- VIZIO SmartCast TVs
- Xbox
- Xfinity X1 TV Boxes and Xfinity Flex Streaming TV Box
- Contour 2 and Contour Stream Player
How Can I Pay for Hulu from Outside the US?
There are 3 ways that you can consider paying Hulu outside the US. Listed below are the payment methods that you can select as per your choice:
- Pay for Hulu via a Gift Card
- Pay for Hulu via StatesPay (Virtual Credit Card)
- Pay for Hulu via EntroPay (Virtual Credit Card).
1. Pay for Hulu via a Gift Card
If you are located outside USA, you may still subscribe to Hulu by purchasing a legitimate gift card from either MyGiftCardSupply or GiftCardCabin. For the instructions below, we will be showing you how to pay for Hulu via MyGiftCardSupply.
- Subscribe to a VPN service like ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a VPN server in the United States.
- Go to the MyGiftCardSupply website.
- Under the “Shop” tab, select “Hulu Cards”.
- Add the suitable card amount to your cart.
- Fill in your payment information.
- You should now receive an email with the gift card number.
- Visit the Hulu “Redeem Gift Card” page.
- Enter the gift card number.
- Select a Hulu subscription plan.
- Complete the signup process using a US zip code (90210).
- Enjoy watching Hulu Outside USA!
2. Pay for Hulu via StatesPay (Virtual Credit Card)
StatesPay is a service that enables users located outside the United States to generate a virtual credit card based in the United States for the purpose of making payments for online services such as Hulu, iTunes, Disney+, and more.
It is important to note that you will only be charged a one-time cost for the creation of your card. Top it up on a monthly basis to keep your Hulu subscription active.
- Subscribe to a VPN service like ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a VPN server in the United States
- Go to the StatesPay official website and create an account.
- Top up your StatesPay wallet with any desired amount.
- Visit the Hulu website and click on the “Start Your Free Trial” button.
- Select a plan that best suits your budgetary requirements.
- Fill out the account details, credentials, and hit “Continue”.
- Add your payment method using the StatesPay Virtual Credit Card.
- Enter an American Zip code and complete the process!
3. Pay for Hulu via EntroPay (Virtual Credit Card)
You can also use a virtual prepaid card service like StatesCard or EntroPay. If you’re outside the United States and want to use a virtual prepaid card to subscribe to Hulu, you’ll need a VPN and a US IP address. In the following steps, we will utilize a EntroPay as an example.
- Subscribe to a VPN service like ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a VPN server in the United States
- Create an account on EntroPay by providing all necessary information.
- Check your email and verify your EntroPay account.
- Top up your EntroPay with a valid payment method like PayPal.
- Visit the Hulu website and click on the “Start Your Free Trial” button.
- Select a plan that best suits your budgetary requirements.
- Fill out the account details, credentials, and hit “Continue”.
- Add your payment method using the EntroPay Virtual Credit Card.
- Enter an American Zip code and complete the process!
Is Hulu Better Than Netflix and Amazon Prime?
This battle between Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu has long been going on in the streaming world. The leading rivals never fail to bring in the latest feature, update, or deal to top the other. Let’s discuss their important attributes in detail.
Amazon | Hulu | Netflix | |
Monthly Price | $8.99-$12.99 | $5.99-$70.99 | $8.99-$15.99 |
Free Trial Period | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day |
Number of Titles | Over 17,000 | Over 2,700 | Over 5,000 |
Streaming Quality | HDR, 4k Ultra HDR, HDR10+ | HDR, 4k Ultra HDR, HDR10+ | HDR, 4k Ultra HDR, HDR10+ |
Live Streaming | Yes | Yes | No |
Offline Viewing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Original Content | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hulu VPN Unblocking: FAQs
When it comes to finding and setting up a Hulu VPN, you may come across a few concerns. Below we provide answers to frequently asked questions:
At the time of this writing, Hulu is not compatible with the following VPN services:
- Hola
- Buffered
- CactusVPN
- Unotelly
- IronSocket
- Private Internet Access (PIA)
- CactusVPN
- Tunnelbear
- IPVanish
- Zenmate
- PureVPN
- Hotspot Shield
There is no mention of VPNs or proxies in the terms of service, although the following might be interpreted to encompass VPN services:
“You may not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms.”
Only US app shops provide Hulu, thus if your device is registered in a foreign app store, you will have to:
- Change the location of your App Store.
- Register for the US app store
- Install the Hulu APK from a third-party source (Android only).
There are a few things to look into if you signed up for Hulu but are unable to log in. Check the following:
- Your subscription is still active.
- Your credit card hasn’t expired, thus your payment method is still valid.
- Your device or browser is set to allow the use of location services.
- Nothing wrong with the email address and password combination you provided.
- You are using one of the recommended VPNs above to access Hulu.
- Hulu activation may require additional procedures if you’re using a different streaming provider or package.
- Live TV subscriptions require that you set up your home network on your living room devices and check in at least once every 30 days.
- Only four times a year may you switch your home network. If you’ve exceeded this limit, contact the Hulu live chat support.
Using a VPN is the only way to access Hulu Japan. A Hulu account created outside of Japan should be able to access Japan-only Hulu content regardless of where you first signed up for the service. However, bear in mind that we only test VPNs with the US version of Hulu, but all of the providers we suggest above have servers in Japan.
Due to the time needed to transport data through the VPN server and encrypt and decrypt data in transit, all VPNs will delay your connection. The VPNs we offer give more than enough bandwidth for viewing Hulu, so most users won’t notice a difference. Free VPNs may not have enough bandwidth for high-quality video streaming.
Chances are your smart TV does not support VPN applications. If so, you must either configure your VPN on your wireless router or stream from a device that supports VPN applications, such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
The Hulu + Live TV bundle includes access to on-demand sports programming, including major league baseball, football, and basketball. The basic on-demand streaming service can now include live TV channels for $55 per month. NBCSN, ESPN, and Fox Sports are just a few of the many sports networks available.
You’ll need a US-issued payment method, such as a credit card, to sign up for Hulu. If you are located outside the US, you can check out these three methods to sign up and pay for a Hulu subscription, without any hassles or technical difficulties.
Unfortunately, Hulu is not yet accessible in India. You may sign up for American Hulu and access it over the VPN even if you are located in India as long as you have a payment option that is accepted in the US.
Hulu is not accessible in the UAE at this time. It is only available in the United States and Japan. You can sign up for Hulu and access it over the VPN if you are located in the UAE and have a payment method that is accepted in the US.
Yes, it is legal to use a VPN to access Hulu using a VPN. There is just one exception to this rule: if you live in a nation where using a VPN is banned. However, it is against Hulu’s terms of service to use a VPN or any other proxy to overcome the service’s geographic limitations.
Most of Hulu’s titles are only available in one of two countries: the United States or Japan. Hulu is unable to display some titles in other countries because it does not have the rights to do so.
Wrapping Up
This concludes our guide on setting up and providing a list of the best Hulu VPN. Nevertheless, if you face any problems, feel free to drop a comment below with questions or requests for clarification, and a member of Streamints will get back to you as soon as possible.