Best VPNs for Hotstar so you can access it from outside India in 2024

Hotstar has evolved into a comprehensive content platform. Unfortunately, the service is geo-restricted with a varying library of content depending on your country. The largest library is reserved for those with an Indian IP address. Luckily, there’s a simple way to unlock Hotstar’s extensive Indian library, no matter where you are worldwide – by utilizing a Hotstar VPN.

A VPN runs all the internet traffic flowing to and from your device via an encrypted tunnel. If you select a server in India, the Hotstar website and mobile app will assume you’re geographically located there and grant you access to premium content. Using a VPN also makes it very difficult for your internet service provider (ISP), hackers, government surveillance agencies, and others to monitor your digital footprint.

However, based on our testing, not every VPN is capable of effectively bypassing Hotstar’s restrictions. In this article, we’ll delve into the best VPN software specifically designed for Hotstar, explain how it works and how to use it, and review the best providers for the job. You can read detailed reviews of each VPN later on, but if you’re short on time, we’ll start with a quick summary.

The best VPNs for Hotstar:

1. NordVPN Our top VPN pick for streaming Hotstar. Boasts high speeds, strong security tools, and reliable servers in India. Also offers a risk-free money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget choice Hotstar VPN. Plenty of speedy servers to choose from. No connection limit. Top-notch security and privacy features.
3. IPVanish: Fast enough to stream Hotstar from abroad in high quality, plus strong security and a no-logs policy. Cheapest monthly subscription available with no commitment.
4. ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is a veteran provider that excels at unblocking services like Hotstar. Solid speeds and a great range of security features.
5. CyberGhost: Beginner-friendly option with fast servers in India, so you can easily unblock Hotstar from abroad.
6. ProtonVPN: High-speed provider with plenty of servers in India. Boasts a strong security toolkit and exceptional streaming ability.
7. PrivateVPN: Small VPN provider with a few servers in India that can access Hotstar from anywhere.
8. Private Internet Access: Servers available worldwide. Decent speeds for streaming Hotstar. Unlimited devices and lots of security features.

How to watch Hotstar abroad with a VPN

Setting up VPN software might sound complicated, but it’s actually very easy to do. Just follow the instructions below, and you can stream Hotstar abroad in no time.

Here’s how to watch Hotstar online outside India:

1. Download and install a VPN that works with Hotstar. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Open your VPN and pick a server in India. This will change your IP address to India.
3. Clear your browser cache and cookies to remove location information from previous sessions.
4. Open Hotstar and stream your favorite content from any country in the world!

See also: Best VPN for India.

Hotstar VPNs: Our hands-on review

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

Our criteria for Hotstar VPNs

There are plenty of VPN providers available, but they don’t all offer the same level of service. We took the guesswork out of it for you by rounding up the best providers for the job. Here are some of the criteria we look at in any VPN for Hotstar:

• Servers in India – essential to gain an Indian IP address.
• Able to access Hotstar and other major streaming platforms
• Strong security and privacy protocols
• Fast speeds for reliable connections
• Easy-to-use apps with knowledgeable customer support
• Great value for money with a money-back guarantee

You can read more about how we test the VPNs we recommend and the results of those tests in our methodology section below. First, let’s take a look at the ones that made the cut. 

The best VPNs for Hotstar

Here is our list of the best VPNs for Hotstar:

1. NordVPN

Jan 2025 Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

NordVPN is our top recommended VPN for Hotstar. It operates 6,500 servers in over 110 countries, including India for accessing Hotstar abroad. We’ve also had great results using this VPN with other popular platforms. Want to stream Netflix, Disney+, or Sony LIV? No problem! Users can connect up to 10 devices at the same time, and support staff are available 24 hours per day over live chat, just in case you need them.

Even more impressive, NordVPN’s Indian servers were the fastest we tested. After a full day of testing (using a base speed of 246 Mbps), NordVPN had an average speed of 230.42 Mbps. In case you’re wondering, that’s quick enough to stream over a dozen 4K videos simultaneously. Suffice it to say, you’re not going to have any issues, even if lots of people are sharing your home internet connection. The chart below shows the results of NordVPN’s speed testing at three different times of day:

This provider takes your security very seriously. Aside from its unbreakable encryption, customizable kill switch, and leak protection, it boasts censorship-beating obfuscated servers, automatic ad and tracker-blocking, and a Meshnet tool that can facilitate secure file transfers. Most importantly, NordVPN follows a no-logs policy and has been audited several times. It even accepts cryptocurrency or gift cards, giving you multiple ways to sign up anonymously.

NordVPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Alternatively, you can follow manual configuration instructions to get it running on most routers.

BEST VPN FOR HOTSTAR:NordVPN is our number one VPN recommendation. It’s a versatile, speedy service that’s great for Hotstar. Whether you’re hoping to stream, torrent, or play games, it’s a great choice. Includes a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more info, check out our full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

Surfshark is an excellent choice for anyone looking to watch Hotstar abroad. It has servers in 100+ countries, including the US, UK, and India, so you can access your usual content library from anywhere. Better still, this service is fast enough to stream live video without any noticeable lag or buffering. Unlike most of its rivals, Surfshark allows you to connect as many desktop and mobile devices as you like.

Surfshark is more than up to the task of streaming Hotstar abroad. There are two Indian server locations. These are extremely quick, with an average overall speed of 201.21 Mbps – well above what you’ll need for uninterrupted playback. It was extremely consistent, too, with around 0.5 Mbps of variance across multiple tests. Of course, there are roughly 3,200 servers in 100+ other countries, too, so you’re not limited to just Hotstar. Let’s take a look at how well Surfshark performed across different times of day:

Security is one of Surfshark’s biggest strengths. It uses AES 256-bit encryption, protection against WebRTC, IPv6, and DNS leaks, and a kill switch (which stops all traffic if your VPN connection drops suddenly) to keep your activities private at all times. You can sign up anonymously with cryptocurrency and a disposable email address, but as Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs, you can’t be traced either way.

Surfshark has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, and Linux. It can also be manually configured to work with supported internet routers.

BEST BUDGET VPN FOR HOTSTAR:Surfshark is our top low-cost option for streaming Hotstar. It has excellent unblocking capabilities, no connection limit, and solid speeds, not to mention a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. IPVanish

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

IPVanish is a favorite for users who want blazing connection speeds coupled with stringent privacy measures and strong encryption. In our testing, the service performed admirably when subjected to HD video quality streaming. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising, given IPVanish has more than 2,200 servers spread across 75+ locations around the world. Several servers are located in India, and there are many other options available in Asia.

IPVanish is a solid option for anyone looking to stay up to date with their favorite shows abroad. Following three tests at different times of day, it delivered an average speed of 187.85 Mbps. That makes it the third-fastest VPN on our list. There was a reasonable amount of variance, but at around 25 Mbps, it’s nothing that’d cause a noticeable dip in performance. The chart below contains IPVanish’s full test results:

Encryption standards are robust. IPVanish deploys AES 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, a kill switch, and WireGuard support. IPVanish is a completely logless service – there’s no storage of metadata related to timestamps, server preferences, or other user behavior.

Many users find IPVanish an excellent option for Kodi because it enables them to download the Android APK directly to their device. The interface is remote control-friendly for Kodi devices that lack a keyboard and mouse.

Apps are available for both iOS and Android, and there are desktop clients for Windows and MacOS. One paid account allows for unlimited simultaneous connections.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish is great for families and multiple connections. Easy to use with Hotstar and preferred by users who need high standards of user privacy and security. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

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4. ExpressVPN

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

ExpressVPN ranks highly because of its choice of military-grade encryption standards and ability to stream a huge range of content. The service is speedy, reliable, and has minimal downtime. The company operates more than 3,000 servers spread across 105+ countries, so users shouldn’t face any problems when trying to unblock Hotstar.

ExpressVPN is another veteran provider boasting reliable Indian servers and impressive performance. Our experts recorded an average speed of 124.77 Mbps, which is more than enough for most households’ requirements. We were able to stream live TV shows, make video calls, and torrent flawlessly while connected, so it’s highly versatile. It was slightly slower in the mornings, but even then, ExpressVPN was still perfectly capable of streaming Hotstar. Here’s a breakdown of its results:

ExpressVPN has a privacy policy that does not store any detailed traffic logs, and maintaining your privacy online is of utmost importance to the company. Some metadata is retained and used to improve service quality levels, specifically the date (not time) of connection, choice of VPN server location, and total bandwidth used. Your real IP address won’t be recorded.

This service uses 256-bit AES encryption, along with perfect forward secrecy and a no-logs policy. It’s fair to say that its security standards are ironclad. An internet kill switch is included, which the company refers to as a ‘network lock.’ This feature will temporarily halt all web traffic if the connection drops.

ExpressVPN offers apps for both Android and iOS, as well as a desktop client for Windows and MacOS. Also has its own custom router firmware. Each account allows for eight simultaneous connections.

SECURE AND PRIVATE:ExpressVPN is a solid choice thanks to its high-speed connections, great unblocking ability, and strong security. Also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

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5. CyberGhost

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

CyberGhost offers a variety of nifty features, including anti-tracking and ad-blocking. It’s also relatively inexpensive and won’t break the bank, making it a great choice for users on a budget. The service is fast and incorporates military-grade encryption parameters.

CyberGhost’s biggest claim to fame may be its streaming-optimized servers but even the general-purpose ones are pretty quick. Following a day of testing, it had an average speed of 146.43 Mbps – nearly enough to watch 4K video on 10 devices simultaneously! Performance was fairly consistent too, though there was around 10 Mbps of difference between its highest and lowest results (with the slowest speeds at noon). Below, you can see how it fared at various times of day:

At the moment, CyberGhost offers 11,500+ servers across 100+ countries – India is included in the list. We’ve seen the range of servers and countries expand considerably in recent times with no signs of slowing down.

CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol by default, but newer versions of the app also include WireGuard support. An internet kill switch is included too, which will keep your connection secure even if the link to a server drops for some reason. Another reassuring factor is that CyberGhost adheres to an internal privacy policy of not storing any user logs.

Apps are available for both Android and iOS, and there are desktop clients for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. A subscription grants access to seven devices on a single plan.

BEGINNER FRIENDLY:CyberGhost has a simple set up. Works well with Hotstar. Good option if you are looking for a fast, reliable connection and an easy-to-use interface. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

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6. ProtonVPN

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

ProtonVPN is a freemium provider, but you can’t use its Indian servers without a paid plan. On the plus side, this is far from the only benefit. You’ll gain access to the full network (4,815+ servers in 91+ countries), remove the speed limitation, and increase the connection limit to 10. Bored of Hotstar? No problem: it also works with other popular platforms like Amazon Prime Video and JioCinema. If you run into any problems, just let staff know; they’re available 24/7 and will be more than happy to help.

ProtonVPN’s paid plans give users access to unrestricted speeds, so we thought it important to see what exactly you’re paying for. Now, this service generally has pretty reliable performance and delivered an average speed of 107.94 Mbps. However, we did notice that it was significantly slower at noon, which had quite a large impact on the average. All the same, ProtonVPN remains fast enough for streaming Hotstar, even at its slowest. Here are the full results:

Of course, this doesn’t mean much if the service can’t keep you safe. Luckily, ProtonVPN uses uncrackable encryption, prevents IPv6 and DNS leaks, and automatically stops sending data if your connection drops. There’s also a toggleable feature that blocks ads and trackers outright. ProtonVPN refuses to log any data that could identify you. To enhance its privacy credentials even further, it allows anonymous registration, has been independently audited, and operates Secure Core servers that are stored far from the reach of the Indian government.

ProtonVPN apps are available for Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, and iOS. It’s also possible to run this service directly on a router, though you’ll have to follow manual setup instructions.

STREAM AD-FREE:ProtonVPN takes the stress out of streaming Hotstar safely. Boasts automatic ad-blocking, high-speed connections, and lots of security features, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ProtonVPN review.

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7. PrivateVPN

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

PrivateVPN has a smaller network of servers than others on this list, but it compensates for this relative disadvantage by delivering incredible speeds. Servers in India are included, so users looking to access Hotstar won’t be disappointed.

In our user review, PrivateVPN streamed 1080p video flawlessly when tested across three different server locations. Online games were similarly quick, so it’s clear the service checks all the boxes when it comes to a seamless experience.

First, the good news. PrivateVPN is more than capable of streaming Hotstar without interruption, lag, or buffering. However, it was the slowest provider in this list, with an average speed of 59.77 Mbps. This is plenty for most tasks, though you may struggle when multiple people in your home try to perform data-intensive tasks at the same time. The chart below shows this VPN’s speed test results across a full day:

PrivateVPN uses either 128-bit or 256-bit encryption, a customizable kill switch, and perfect forward secrecy to help keep your activities private. An automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection are included too. Best of all, PrivateVPN keeps no logs whatsoever.

A basic plan allows for 10 simultaneous connections. There are apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

GREAT SPEED:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Unblocks Hotstar. Also good for secure and private browsing and torrenting. Could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of PrivateVPN.

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8. Private Internet Access

Unblocks HotstarTested Jan 2025

Private Internet Access is one of the better VPNs for traveling because it has servers located across more than 90 countries. Although it doesn’t have servers that are physically located in India, it does provide virtual Indian servers. As such, you’ll have no trouble accessing Hotstar and all of your favorite Indian TV shows while abroad. With average speeds of 117 Mbps in testing, PIA is fast enough for 4K streaming.

Private Internet Access is a lightweight service with competitive speeds, making it ideal for anyone hoping to stream Hotstar on a low-powered device like an Amazon Firestick. Now, it’s not the fastest VPN on the market, but with an average speed of 65.45 Mbps, it’s certainly quick enough for most day-to-day tasks. For instance, we were able to torrent, make video calls, and play games without any noticeable issues. Let’s see how well Private Internet Access fared throughout the day:

One of the advantages PIA has over many other VPN services is that it doesn’t impose a connection limit. As such, you can secure all of your devices at once. These devices benefit from a range of essential security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. We’re impressed by the many features available (such as split tunneling) and PIA’s very thorough no-logs policy.

If you’d like to use Private Internet Access, you’ll need to download and install an app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, or Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, Chrome and Firefox extensions are available. Manual setup is needed for use with routers.

PLENTY OF FEATURES:Private Internet Access offers servers in 90+ countries, virtual servers in India included. Works with Hotstar and even some Netflix libraries. Strict no-logs policy and unlimited simultaneous connections. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of Private Internet Access.

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Methodology: Finding the best VPNs for Hotstar

If you’re new to the world of VPNs, it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed. After all, you have hundreds of providers to choose from, and it’s not always entirely clear what sets them apart from each other. The good news is that our team has done the hard part, so you don’t have to. Our exhaustive testing process breaks down everything providers have to offer in five key areas, helping us say with confidence which are best for accessing Hotstar safely.

Indian server speed

You won’t need an ultra-fast connection to watch Hotstar, but the higher your speeds, the fewer issues you’re likely to encounter. For instance, slow speeds can cause long buffering times or videos that just refuse to load in the first place. Hotstar itself recommends at least an 8 Mbps connection for streaming live content, 5 Mbps for HD video, and 25 Mbps for 4K video.

That’s a good starting point, but in our experience, most major VPNs are quite a bit faster than this. To get an accurate idea of their performance, we decided to test each of our top providers’ Indian servers three times (at multiple times of day), then average the results. This approach helps offset some of the inherent volatility associated with online speed testing, plus it gives us an idea of how consistent each provider is. Our base speed, without a VPN, was limited to 246 Mbps, which is roughly the average home broadband speed in the US. Here are the average results side by side:

Once we’d gathered all of these results, they were weighted and normalized relative to each other, giving us a final score out of 10 for each service.

No surprises here: NordVPN was our top scorer, earning a perfect 10 points. Surfshark and IPVanish both performed admirably, too, though there was quite a steep dropoff from fourth place and below. Remember, though, these are relative rankings. Even PrivateVPN, which only scored 1.2 points, is quick enough to stream Hotstar without any problems.

Streaming ability

So you’d like to watch Hotstar while traveling. The problem is that this platform has gotten quite good at detecting VPNs and stopping their users from streaming anything. Our job, therefore, is to identify VPNs capable of sidestepping this kind of blocking. Additionally, we know Hotstar probably isn’t the only streaming service you use. For that reason, we tested each VPN against a wide range of other platforms to see which they could reliably access. Here are our findings:

Our team assigned scores based on how each VPN performed in the areas above, then weighted and normalized them to get our final results. Let’s see which provider scored highest for streaming:

Surfshark came out on top here. For starters, it works with a ton of popular platforms, including Hotstar, Netflix, and Prime Video. It also offers two Indian server locations, whereas most of its rivals only have servers in Mumbai. ExpressVPN was very close behind, with 9.2 points, whereas Private Internet Access scored just four. This score could be improved by being slightly more reliable when it comes to accessing streaming sites or just by growing its network a bit.

Security and privacy

The first priority of any reputable VPN should be to keep your online activities secure. To do this, they have to provide a high level of encryption as well as safeguards like leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. We consider more than a dozen relevant factors when assigning security and privacy ratings for our top providers; take a look at the table below to learn more:

Digital privacy is a complex topic, so don’t worry if you don’t understand what some of the features above do or why they’re important. Just like before, we’ve created a simple rating system for providers, allowing you to see at a glance which are the most security-conscious. Let’s take a look:

We actually have a two-way tie between NordVPN and Surfshark, each with 9.5 points. The only thing stopping NordVPN from a perfect score was its slightly lower-than-average authentication, whereas Surfshark’s base in a Nine Eyes country caused it some problems. PrivateVPN had the lowest score overall, but even that was an 8.6, pointing to the high level of competition in this category.

Ease of use

We believe that everyone deserves the ability to protect themselves from snoopers. That’s one of the reasons why we prioritize newcomer-friendly services. Of course, we look for more than just well-designed apps; our experts also keep an eye out for anything that makes the user experience more straightforward. This could be a 24/7 live chat service, a lack of connection limits, or a server menu that tells you which ones to use for a specific task. Below, you’ll find the results of our investigation:

Again, we weighted and normalized the results, leading to a score out of 10 for each VPN:

Competition was fierce in this category, with no provider scoring less than an 8.6. NordVPN and Private Internet Access both sit at the top of our table with 9.6 points apiece. IPVanish and ExpressVPN took second and third place, while PrivateVPN had the lowest overall score. This was largely because it lacked task-specific servers, had a small network, and sometimes took a few tries to access popular streaming platforms.

Value for money

One of the great things about consumer VPNs is that you rarely have to spend a lot to end up with a high-quality service. That said, it’s not always easy to tell which is the best value. To help you decide, we evaluate providers on several factors, including how frequently they go on sale, whether it’s possible to get a discount on long-term plans, and how many simultaneous connections they allow. Also, we won’t recommend a service that doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee since we think you should be able to try before you buy.

Here’s a breakdown of the factors we considered when assigning value-for-money scores:

And here are those results once they’ve been normalized:

Surfshark beat all of the competition to take the top spot, scoring an impressive 9.7 points. IPVanish was right behind it at 9.6, closely followed by NordVPN at 9.5. ProtonVPN, meanwhile, had the lowest score, at 7.4, though it is the only service in this list to offer a free tier.

Using a free VPN to access Hotstar

Free VPN offerings are widely available, and the no-cost factor is very tempting. But that’s usually where the allure finishes.

The basic premise of paying for a VPN is to ensure you get access to servers optimized for speed, security, and reliability. Free VPNs skimp on this aspect; they’ll offer you a choice of one or two server locations and regularly subject you to bandwidth throttling and data caps. Expect poor encryption standards that don’t do much to protect your privacy online. And, in some cases, you run the real risk of having your data pilfered and sold to third-party advertisers.

At Comparitech, we don’t recommend using a free VPN to access Hotstar because you’ll receive a fraction of the service a paid VPN service offers, and might be putting your data at risk.

How to fix Hotstar ‘VPN detected’ error

If you try to use Disney+ Hotstar from abroad, you’ll see the following error: “This content is currently not available in your region“. Similarly, In the past, Hotstar would display the following error if it realized you were using a VPN: “Uh-oh, we cannot playback due to geographic restrictions. Disable VPN if it’s accidentally turned on.”

Nowadays, the service will simply refuse to show you any content without specifically telling you why. This can be confusing, especially since the page just appears to be loading endlessly.

Sometimes, VPN providers have specific servers that are optimized for unblocking a particular website. If this is the case, you can try switching servers; your VPN’s customer support team should be able to tell you which servers work with Hotstar. Unfortunately, failing this, there’s little you can do other than wait for a workaround or try a different service.

See also: How to watch Indian TV abroad

Watching Hotstar abroad with a VPN: FAQ