If you try to get Star Sports over the internet outside of the Indian subcontinent, you are in for a big surprise. In Europe, you will be blocked from accessing the service, and in America, you will be expected to pay again. Find out how to get into your Star Sports subscription on Hotstar, wherever you are, by using a VPN.
In this article, we’ll review the best VPNs to help you access Star Sports from anywhere, ad talk you through how to use them. But, in case you don’t have time to read the whole article, here’s a quick summary.
The best VPNs for Star Sports:
- NordVPNÂ Our #1 choice. Unblocks Hotstar and most other popular streaming content from just about anywhere at high-quality speeds. Apps are secure and private. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly. - ExpressVPNÂ A reliable VPN choice that is popular for its streaming and unblocking capabilities. Strong on privacy or security features.
- CyberGhost Easy-to-use apps make this a beginner’s favorite. High-quality streaming speeds, huge network of servers, and good privacy.
- IPVanish Fast servers that are great for streaming Star Sports. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
- PrivateVPNÂ No issues unblocking Star Sports from almost anywhere we tested. Private and secure apps.
Many VPNs claim to work with streaming services but most (especially free VPNs) are often blocked.
We regularly test the top 70 VPNs with all major streaming sites and this list only includes VPNs which reliably unblock streaming services and offer a full money-back guarantee, allowing you to try them risk-free.
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Why you might need help accessing Star Sports
Star Sports is a network of specialist sports channels owned by Star India, a division of 21st Century Fox. The channels are delivered by satellite throughout the Indian subcontinent. The home market for these stations is in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. The channels are also available over the internet on the Hotstar website.
You need to either be a satellite TV subscriber or take out a Hotstar subscription in order to stream Star Sports online. However, even when you pay to watch, you don’t get access to the service everywhere in the world. You can only watch Star Sports on Hotstar if you are located in one of those countries that the service covers as its home market. So, if you are a subscriber, your access ends the minute you travel abroad.
In order to stream Star Sports on Hotstar from places such as the USA, Canada, the UK, or Germany, you need to make it look as though you are still in your home country, back in the Indian subcontinent. A VPN can make it appear as though your device is connecting from a different location and unblock Hotstar from abroad.
Best VPNs for Star Sports
A VPN mediates the connection between your computer and the websites that you visit, including the Hotstar site. However, not all VPNs are suitable for this task. You need to focus your search on those VPNs that have the following attributes:
- Servers in India or another of the home countries of Hotstar
- Fast speeds for live video streaming
- Easy to set up and use
- Offer a reliable and consistent, and constant service
- Strong security and privacy policy
With these requirements in mind, we have created a list of the best VPNs for Star Sports on Hotstar. These services can also protect your privacy online and get you into a wide range of other geo-locked sites from abroad.
Here is our list of the best VPNs for Star Sports on Hotstar:
1. NordVPN
Nov 2024
Unblocks Star SportsTested Nov 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
- FireTV
Website: www.NordVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
NordVPN is our number one choice VPN for accessing Star Sports from Hotstar. A good choice for users from India who travel and want to stream entertainment from home. This VPN will get you into the Star Sports channels on Hotstar as well as the Indian video library on Netflix.
NordVPN operates over 5,400 servers in 60 countries around the globe. You can manually set up the service on your router to cover all of the devices in your home. A connection from your router to a VPN server counts as one of up to six concurrent connections that the service allows you. You can manually configure the VPN on Linux computers. NordVPN makes apps for Windows, Mac OS X, macOS, Android, and iOS. You can also use a browser extension on Chrome and Firefox. The browser extension will only tunnel traffic from your browser, so it will unblock the Hotstar website from abroad, but it leaves all other applications on your computer unprotected.
NordVPN has 24/7 live chat customer support, and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee when you take out a subscription. This should give you the peace of mind to try the system out risk-free.
Pros:
- Operates over 5,400 global servers
- Fast enough for HD streaming and unblocks popular content
- Strong encryption and no logs make for top security and privacy
- Has Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows apps
- 24/7 live chat support on offer
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Occasional slow server
Our score:
BEST VPN FOR STAR SPORTS:NordVPN is our #1 choice. An excellent all-rounder that works with Hotstar as well as most other popular streaming sites. Strong security features and allows up to 6 devices. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of NordVPN.
2. ExpressVPN
Unblocks Star SportsTested Nov 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.ExpressVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
ExpressVPN is a reliable VPN that offers high-quality service and good speeds for streaming video long distances across the internet. ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries around the world, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. You can access Hotstar and watch Star Sports online with this service.
The company provides an app for free that its subscribers can use to easily connect to the VPN. This app is available for Windows, Android, Mac OS X, macOS, iOS, Fire TV, Fire OS, and Linux. You can also manually configure the system on Blackberry phones and on routers.
The app is very easy to use, and it will install itself from a file that you download from the ExpressVPN website. The first time you use the app, you need to enter an activation code from your user account page, which you can access on the ExpressVPN website. Once you have entered the activation code, you won’t have to log into the VPN on that device in the future.
You have the option to install an ExpressVPN browser extension on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers. The extension controls the desktop app, so all of the connections you make through it give you system-wide protection.
The ExpressVPN website includes a live chat window where you can get quick solutions to problems from a real Help Desk operative. This facility is available 24/7. You can also contact the help desk by email or submit a ticket on the website.
Pros:
- Operates dozens of servers in the Indian subcontinent, including servers in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
- Fast enough to play HD video without buffering
- Strong on privacy and security
- Works with all major streaming sites, e.g. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
- 24/7 live chat
Cons:
- More expensive than others on this list
Our score:
FAST AND RELIABLE:ExpressVPN is a solid choice. Has a server network that is optimized for high-speed connections. User-friendly apps for all operating systems. Strong on privacy and security. There is a 30-day no-quibbles money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
3. CyberGhost
Unblocks Star SportsTested Nov 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.Cyberghost.com
Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS
CyberGhost has a very nice, beginner friendly app that uses a friendly ghost theme in its interface. The company is based in Romania with technicians in Germany who ensure the service is always available and constantly reliable. This VPN offers very good speeds.
The huge server network of CyberGhost extends to over 9,000 servers in 90+ countries around the world, including India and Pakistan. A self-installing app is available for Windows, macOS, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS. You can manually set up the system on Linux computers and routers. A connection from your router to a VPN server will channel traffic from all of the devices in your home but count as just one of your seven simultaneous connections allowance.
CyberGhost’s help desk is available via a live chat window on the website but is only manned during European business hours. You can also raise a ticket in the user area of the CyberGhost website, or browse the knowledge base to fix any problems yourself. The support team can also be contacted by email.
Pros:
- Operates a network of more than 9,000 servers in 90+ countries
- Decent, reliable speeds
- Beginner-friendly option
- Good security, and they don’t store user activity logs
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Lack of advanced options for power users
- Doesn’t work in China
Our score:
BEGONNER FREINDLY:CyberGhost is easy to use. A strong choice that has a vast server network and works well with Star Sports and plenty of other streaming sites. 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
Get Deal >4. IPVanish
Unblocks Star SportsTested Nov 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.IPVanish.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
IPVanish is based in the United States and operates more than 2,000 servers from 75+ locations around the world. This VPN is renowned for its high speeds, which makes it a very good choice for streaming Star Sports on the Hotstar website from anywhere in the world.
IPVanish gives you unlimited simultaneous connections, unlike any other VPN on this list. As with the other VPNs, setting up the VPN on your router covers all of the devices in your home but uses up only one of your connections.
The company provides self-installing apps for Windows, macOS, Mac OS X, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Â Fire Stick, Fire tablets, and iOS. The support team can be reached via email or through a ticket submission form in the user area on the IPVanish website.
Pros:
- 2,000 global servers
- Use on unlimited devices simultaneously
- Completely logless service won’t compromise your privacy
- Impressive 4K streaming speeds achieved during testing
- Knowledgeable customer support
Cons:
- Strggles with some streaming platforms
- Based in the US – a 5 Eyes member
Our score:
UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish is great for families. Handles unlimited simultaneous connections well. Recommend for their high standard of privacy, but look elsewhere if you want to access Netflix. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of IPVanish.
Get Deal >5. PrivateVPN
Unblocks Star SportsTested Nov 2024
Apps Available:
- PC
- Mac
- IOS
- Android
- Linux
Website: www.PrivateVPN.com
Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS
PrivateVPN was set up to support people who want to download torrents, so it is very good at avoiding detection and boasts super-fast download speeds. It is a solid choice for accessing Star Sports on the Hotstar website.
The service includes servers in 60 countries, including India. Those locations will give you access to Hotstar from anywhere in the world. PrivateVPN can unblock other media streaming services by dodging their regional restrictions. For example, it can get you into almost any country’s Netflix catalog from anywhere.
You can install PrivateVPN on your router and cover all of the devices in your home. Like the other VPNs on this list, PrivateVPN counts a router connection as just one of its concurrent connection allowance. You are allowed to connect ten devices at once.
The company has created free apps for Windows, macOS, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS devices. PrivateVPN can also be manually configured on Linux computers.
PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, and the support team can be contacted through a live chat window on the PrivateVPN website during Swedish business hours. If you need extra help, a technician can take over your computer remotely, investigate the problem, and fix it for you. You can also raise a support ticket in the user area of the website and the Help Desk can be reached by email.
Pros:
- Super fast speeds for streaming lag-free
- Unblocks Hotstar with servers in Bangalore and Chennai
- New and growing network with fast servers
- Strong security and privacy features
Cons:
- Smaller number of servers to choose from
- Doesn’t have 24/7 live chat
Our score:
Reliable Speeds:PrivateVPN is a solid all-rounder. Works well with Star Sports and allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Small selection of servers. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of PrivateVPN.
Hotstar regional restrictions
Star India blocks access to its content on the Hotstar website from outside its home market. This is because it only pays for the rights to show sporting events in those countries. It doesn’t matter that the media servers are located in Mumbai. The contracts for media rights always deal in terms of where the viewer of a video is, not where the video is broadcast from.
The company isn’t being difficult on purpose. It is obliged to limit access to its videos to people who are in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. If it didn’t it could be sued for breach of contract. Those obligations to limit the viewer base also extend to detecting VPNs. So, not only will you be blocked from accessing sports on Hotstar if you don’t use a VPN, but you might not be able to get in even with a VPN.
How to unblock Hotstar with a VPN
VPNs get around the regional restrictions at Hotstar because they mask the true locations of their users. Everyone connected to the internet has a unique address, called an IP address. The location of each address can be identified according to online databases that list the locations of ranges of IP addresses.
All the Hotstar media server needs to do is check with one of those databases. When it receives a request for a video, it looks at the source IP address. If that address is within the allowed region, the server sends back the code for the video stream. If the request originated outside of the Hotstar service area, the server sends back an error message page. So, without a VPN, you will see an error message.
That message varies depending on where you are. If you are in North America, you will see the message: “Videos on Hotstar are not available in the U.S.A. To watch videos available in the U.S.A. go to us.hotstar.com.”
However, if you then go to the USA site, you will be encouraged to buy a new subscription. Your regular Hotstar subscription from India will not work on this site.
If you are in Europe, you will see the message: “Hotstar.com is unavailable in Europe.” The message blames the new European data protection rules for blocking your access to the website.
When you use a VPN, all of your internet traffic is diverted by the client software that you installed on your device. So, if you connect to a server in India, all of your internet activity will appear to originate from an Indian IP address. Thus, when you request a Star Sports video stream from the Hotstar server, it will send back the code for the video instead of an error message.
If you opt to subscribe to Hotstar USA, then you face the same problem when you travel abroad. The US version of Hotstar can’t be accessed from outside North America. So, when you travel back to India, you will have an open Hotstar subscription that you can’t access. However, if you subscribe to a VPN, you just need to set it to a server in the USA to access Hotstar USA from anywhere in the world.
Read more Star Sports articles here:
Accessing Star Sports with a VPN: FAQs
Why should I use a VPN to access Star Sports?
If you already pay for Star Sports in India, it seems a bit cheeky that Star India expects you to pay again to access the US version just because you are away from home. If you travel to Europe, you have no options to legitimately access Star Sports. A VPN will solve your problems because it hides the fact that you are just out of the country for a little while. You can appear to be at home even when you are traveling.
All of the VPNs on the list in this guide offer refund guarantees, which should put your mind at ease if you’re unsure about using a VPN. You don’t have to worry about having to pay for a long service period upfront only to find that the system doesn’t work for you. You can try out each of these VPNs for yourself and still get your money back if you are not happy with their performance.
Can I use a free VPN to unblock Star Sports?
Free VPN IP addresses are shared by many users and are quickly identified by the likes of Star Sports. This results in the IP addresses becoming blacklisted and failing to work. As such, there’s no need to waste time on using a free VPN to unblock Star Sports because it’s likely to fail. If it does happen to work, the next issue is that the average free VPN is far too slow for streaming. Lag and buffering are particularly common due to bandwidth throttling.
See also: Best VPN for Hotstar
