6 Best VPNs for HBO Max in 2024

Whatever it’s called these days — HBO GO, HBO Now, HBO Max, or just plain HBO — no one can dispute the enduring appeal of the almost 50-year-old HBO brand.

Unfortunately, if you try to access HBO GO from anywhere outside of the US, you will see any annoying error message:

“Not in service area.” or “HBO GO is only supported in the US and certain US territories. “

The only way to gain access to HBO GO from outside of the US is by using a reputable virtual private network provider (VPN). Using a VPN, you can access the HBO GO geo-restricted media with a US IP address, no matter where in the world you are actually located.

What Is HBO GO?

Until July 2020, HBO GO was HBO’s token on-the-GO service, allowing subscribers to access HBO movies, TV networks and series, and other media content either on the web or on other devices — like game consoles, media players, mobiles, or apps. If you were an HBO subscriber through your TV provider, this service was free.

This past summer, HBO GO became HBO GO-ing, GO-ing, GO-ne. Now, HBO GO and HBO NOW have merged to become — wait for it — “HBO.”

The newer, more updated service is called HBO Max. HBO Max, which emerged in May 2020, lets you stream all of the content available on HBO (GO), as well as HBO Max originals, and a “Max”-imal selection of shows.

HBO (which combines HBO GO and NOW) is a service that you get for free with your paid TV subscription.

How to Choose the Best VPN for HBO 

If you just google “VPN,” you will see that there are too many to count on the market today — all of which will claim to help you watch your geo-blocked content. So — how do you know which VPN to choose if you want to watch HBO Max from the USA or abroad?

Here are some important criteria to take into consideration before making your decision:

Able to unblock HBO and other popular geo-restricted streaming services.
Large enough server network, including an adequate number of servers in the US.
Provides good safety and security features to ensure your protection and anonymity online.
User-friendly and compatible with multiple devices and platforms.
Has good customer service and a money-back guarantee.

6 Best VPNs for HBO

These are our 6 top-ranked VPN services, when it comes to streaming HBO from anywhere

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our top VPN pick whenever we want to watch HBO outside the US.

With over 30 server locations in 14 cities in the US, all of which offer high-speed servers, ExpressVPN never gives me any trouble accessing a stable US IP address to watch streaming services, like HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and ESPN+.

ExpressVPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, routers, Linux, Chromebook, smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and gaming consoles; and you can connect up to 5 simultaneous devices to the same ExpressVPN account — all without slowing your browsing.

ExpressVPN offers military-grade 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, OpenVPN across all platforms, and a strict no-logs policy.

I can attest that ExpressVPN has some of the most responsive customer service around, and I have utilized its 24/7 live-chat feature for all sorts of questions, all of which were answered professionally, politely, and expediently.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN comes in a close second in the order of best VPNs to unblock HBO abroad, with over 1,900 servers in 15 cities in the US.

NordVPN’s Smart DNS can easily help you get through the geo-restrictions for buffer-free access to other streaming service options, like Hulu US, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, or you can even change your Netflix region to stream new libraries!

NordVPN is completely secure with its military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, and it uses its CyberSec malware blocker to protect you from harmful pop-ups. I was happy to see that there were no DNS or IP leaks when I put this VPN to the test, and that NordVPN has a verified no-logs policy.

There is a NordVPN application for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, smart TVs, routers, and Linux, so there should never be a problem finding an app that is compatible with your device, and you can use up to 6 devices simultaneously with a single subscription.

Nord has stellar customer service, including 24/7 live chat support in case any questions or problems arise. If you are not sold after a few weeks, you can get a full refund with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

If you are looking for an affordable VPN for HBO, Surfshark is a great option. With over 500 United States servers across over 20 US cities, Surfshark will quickly help you connect, get a US IP address, and watch HBO from anywhere.

Though Surfshark’s speed does not compare to ExpressVPN or NordVPN, its servers are still plenty fast if you want to watch streaming service content with hardly any buffering on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, or ESPN+.

Surfshark uses AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, double encryption, a Kill Switch, and a special CleanWeb Suite, which blocks ads and protects against malware. It also has a strict no-logs policy.

Surfshark has apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and other platforms, and part of what makes Surfshark so appealing is that it allows for unlimited simultaneous device connections on one user account.

If you are looking for competitive pricing and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, this is one of the best VPNs around.

4. CyberGhost

If you need a VPN to unblock HBO video content from anywhere in the world, CyberGhost has over 7300+ servers around the world, including over 1,100 servers in the US. CyberGhost will let you stream sites like HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other media streaming sites.

CyberGhost is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Amazon Fire Stick, and you can connect a pretty sizable 7 devices simultaneously to one VPN account, which means that your family can stream, game, or torrent from their devices, all at once.

CyberGhost VPN features 256-bit AES-encryption, a Kill Switch, a built-in adblocker, and a strict no-logs policy, so your privacy and security are never an issue with this VPN.

Unlike the other VPN services, CyberGhost offers the user a 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you a bit more time to try out this VPN service with no strings attached.

5. UltraVPN

UltraVPN has over 34 server locations in North America alone. UltraVPN’s connection speed was pretty good whenever I tried to access HBO, and it was also able to unblock other streaming sites, including Netflix and Hulu.

UltraVPN has strong security, with AES 256-bit encryption to protect your internet traffic, and an automatic Kill Switch that will protect your IP addresses and data in the event that your internet fails.

An UltraVPN account only allows you to use 3 devices simultaneously, so if more than three of you want to watch your shows at once, another one of the VPNs might be a better option.

All in all, this is a small and less-advanced VPN that doesn’t offer quite as much value for your money as all of the VPNs listed above.

6. Private Internet Access (PIA)

PIA has a huge VPN network, with over 19,000 servers in more than 77 countries worldwide — with more than 14,000 servers in over 14 locations in the US alone.

This VPN is able to unblock HBO, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming sites.

PIA lets you customize your encryption standards, giving you the choice between AES-128, AES-256, or no encryption at all. The standard these days for the very best security is AES 256-bit encryption, so that is what I recommend using if you are looking for a secure connection. If you are trying to get the very fastest streaming speeds, using this VPN without encryption will increase your speeds.

PIA has an app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and other platforms, and you can use up to 10 simultaneous device-connections on a single account.

How to Watch HBO Max Outside USA

Here are 4 quick and easy steps to watching HBO Max outside USA using a VPN:

1. Download the VPN provider’s app from their website. We highly recommend ExpressVPN.
2. Search for a VPN server location in the US and connect to a server.
3. Download and open the HBO Max app or website.
4. Stream away!

Can I Use a Free VPN to Stream HBO GO?

You are welcome to try, but free VPNs can end up causing a lot more harm than good. And, truthfully, it is hard to get even a paid VPN to work with HBO GO, so the chances of a free one getting through its geo-blocks are slim.

It is also really important to remember that, just because you are not paying a subscription fee to a free VPN service does not mean that the free service isn’t making money off of you. Free services are notorious for their poor privacy and security measures and have been known on many occasions to actually sell your data to third parties to make a profit.

On top of the lack of privacy and possible ineffectiveness at accessing Game of Thrones, free VPNs often have very few servers, many of which are located in the most popular areas, causing crowding on these servers and buffering (or very poor streaming) if you are able to access your shows.

While a free VPN for HBO seems like a great way to save money, a reputable, proven-effective VPN for HBO is a much better choice.

Difference Between HBO GO and HBO Now

The recent changes and rebranding within HBO have confused many a fan. Here is the summary of its current services and its new titles:

HBO NOW was HBO’s standalone service that let you watch HBO without a subscription to a TV cable package. People who had NOW can now get HBO Max for the same cost.

HBO GO was a service that was free to use with your current cable subscription that included HBO.

HBO GO and NOW have now merged to become — “HBO” This new unified HBO is a place to view series, movies, and more.

Using HBO GO with Roku, Chromecast, and FireTV

Watching HBO GO, VPN services from the list above should all work fine on your web browser. If you are planning on streaming HBO from mobile apps, a media box, or a smart TV, you may experience some glitches. HBO manages to find ways for its app to use DNS servers outside your VPN, spoiling your IP address’s disguise. If you are having trouble getting this streaming service to work on your Roku, FireTV, or Chromecast, simply switch to watching on your browser (which Roku, FireTV, and Chromecast don’t have).

An alternative is to connect your VPN to your router. This way, all devices connected to your wifi, whether they have a web browser or not, will be covered by your VPN.

FAQs

Conclusion

If you want to unblock HBO GO to watch your geo-restricted content, risk-free, from anywhere in the world, choosing a reputable VPN provider is key. The VPNs listed above are easy to use, able to unblock HBO GO, and will have you watching your favorite shows in no time — all with money-back guarantees.