How to Watch HBO Max Outside USA in 2024

Are you dying to watch HBO Max outside the USA? Keep reading for some easy tricks to help you access HBO Max content, even from abroad.

HBO Max is a popular US-based streaming platform that offers some of the most addicting shows and movies from channels that include the Cartoon Network, CNN, Looney Tunes, Warner Bros, Adult Swim, and more.

The problem is, HBO Max is a geo-restricted streaming service that is only accessible to HBO Max subscribers located in the United States, as well as a few other countries, like Norway, Sweden, Spain, and Finland.

So, even if you have an HBO Max subscription that was initiated in the US, you will still be unable to access your HBO Max account if you are traveling outside the country.

In fact, all that you will see if you try accessing HBO Max from outside the US is this error message:

“HBO Max is not available in your region.”

But don’t stress just yet! You won’t have to hop a plane to regain access to your favorite HBO Max shows and movies. In fact, all you really need to do is use a reputable Virtual Private Network (VPN), and you will be able to watch your favorite HBO Max content in no time!

Keep reading to learn which VPN will work best, and how to access your favorite blocked content using this useful tool!

Why You Need a VPN to Watch HBO Max Outside the US

The content on HBO Max is all subject to licensing and distribution regulations.

Since movies and shows are only licensed for distribution in designated countries, like the US, airing it to users outside this permitted location would be a breach of this licensing agreement.

To uphold these distribution limitations, HBO Max is only allowed to air its entertainment content to people who are based in permitted regions. This means that when HBO Max detects that users are trying to access its site with a foreign IP address, it immediately blocks them from access.

When you use a VPN for HBO Max, your traffic is sent through an encrypted tunnel online, and your IP address and location outside of the United States (which is typically visible to HBO and to your Internet service provider) is concealed. When you connect to a VPN server in the USA, all that will then be visible is your US server IP address instead, tricking your ISP and HBO into thinking you are on US soil.

How to Choose the Right VPN to Watch HBO Max Outside USA

It is very easy to find a VPN on the web or on your app store, but not all VPNs will effectively get through blocks to help you access your geo-restricted streaming platforms, like HBO Max.

When choosing the best VPN for HBO Max outside the US, here are the important features we took into consideration:

 Streaming Success: To make sure you cannot only stream your HBO Max shows, but also content on other popular streaming services, we tested out our VPNs with services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.

 Server Options: The VPNs suitable for HBO Max should have servers in many different locations so that, as HBO Max expands to other regions, users can unblock content anywhere. Also, a broader VPN server network means that users will always be able to find a server locally, which will ensure better speeds.

 Speeds: If you choose a VPN with inadequate speeds, you will be stuck watching your shows and movies with annoying buffering and poor quality.

 Protection: Whenever using a VPN, it is important to choose the best VPN to keep your activity private and secure online, with 256-bit encryption, an Internet Kill Switch, leak protection, and a no-logging policy.

 Compatibility: If you want to make sure your HBO family content can be streamed by your family members on any device, whether Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Roku device, Apple TV, or more, make sure you can connect your VPN to any major device, and that you can connect more than one device simultaneously to your VPN plan.

 Guarantee: In order to test your VPN to make sure it unblocks HBO Max, choose a VPN that offers you a money-back guarantee.

5 Best VPNs to Watch HBO Max Outside the USA 

Based on our research, here are the best HBO VPNs that can help you access your geo-blocked streaming services in no time from outside the US:

1. ExpressVPN

If you want to make sure to choose a VPN for HBO Max that can unblock HBO Max and other popular streaming platforms, seamlessly and reliably, ExpressVPN is a great choice.

ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries and has the fastest speeds, so you won’t find annoying buffering or interruptions when you are using this new streaming service, and you will be able to watch smoothly even in 4K.

ExpressVPN has top privacy and security features, like its Internet Kill Switch protection against IP or DNS leaks, military-grade encryption, strict no-logging policy, and split tunneling.

ExpressVPN also offers access to its MediaStreamer Smart DNS feature that helps improve streaming speed and performance. This connection will not encrypt your traffic, though, so you won’t have the same security and privacy benefits if you opt for Smart DNS.

2. NordVPN

If you are looking for a reliable HBO Max VPN to help you access the HBO Max website or app from outside the US, NordVPN is another one of our top choices.

NordVPN has more than 5,200 VPN server options in over 60 countries, including over 1,970 servers in the United States alone, making it a good VPN for HBO Max and other US-based streaming services, like Hulu, Disney +, Netflix US, and Amazon Prime Video.

With NordVPN, you can connect up to 6 devices at once, and you will be able to stream with very minimal buffering or interruption.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark has a sizable network of over 3,200 servers in more than 65 countries worldwide, including over 600 located in the USA.

This VPN can easily unblock HBO Max, as well as other geo-restricted streaming services, like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, and you can connect Surfshark to as many devices as you want on one account, which is more than the other providers of our list allow!

While you can usually find a server that will deliver good speeds, it will sometimes take some trial and error to find one that does not cause buffering and lag.

Surfshark offers users military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, and a CleanWeb adblocker. On top of this, it does not log your data, and it even lets you pay in cryptocurrency for added anonymity.

If you are not looking for an encrypted connection, you can opt for Surfshark’s Smart DNS option. Smart DNS will help you access geo-blocked sites on platforms that do not have VPN apps, such as Apple TV, gaming consoles, or Smart TVs.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a very large VPN service, with over 7,700 servers located in over 90 countries worldwide, including over 1,300 in the US.

CyberGhost’s speeds are good enough to stream HBO content in HD without too much buffering, and it is able to unblock streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and more.

Using CyberGhost’s plan, you can actually connect to your existing HBO account using your VPN while connecting another 6 devices, totaling 7 devices simultaneously, on a single account.

CyberGhost offers commendable privacy and security features, like military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, and an automatic ad-blocker; and this VPN also offers a longer refund period for users, with a 45-day money-back guarantee!

5. UltraVPN

UltraVPN may seem like a small, unremarkable VPN service, but it has some very fast speeds that will be pretty impressive when streaming HBO Max TV shows and movies.

Though it only has around 100 servers in 50 counties, UltraVPN does manage to have servers on all continents, and it offers good online protection, with military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and a Kill Switch (“the Firewall“).

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch HBO Max Outside USA?

Using a free VPN may sound appealing, but free VPNs are not likely to help you gain access to popular streaming platforms like HBO Max.

Most of the time, free VPNs offer very limited services to users, with a small number of servers that are often crowded and with data limits and IP addresses that are quickly blacklisted by streaming services.

Using these free services, you are also most likely putting yourself at risk, since these free plans rarely include top privacy and security protections like the premium plans.

Instead, we suggest going with one of the Premium VPN services, like ExpressVPN, and you can take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it for up to a month essentially as if it is free.

How to Create HBO Max Account Outside US 

To create our HBO Max account from outside the US, follow these steps:

1. Download and install a VPN app on your device. We suggest going with ExpressVPN!
2. Sign in to your VPN account and choose a US server.
3. On the HBOMax website, opt to start a “Free Trial” in the top right corner.
4. Type in your email and password to begin accessing HBO Max.
5. Add a US address. (Any US address will do).
6. Add your payment information. (Keep reading for more about this!)
7. Stream away!

How to Pay for HBO Max Outside US

HBO Max can only be used if you have a payment method from the USA, so you will need to follow one of the steps below to make an account from outside the US:

Use an HBO Gift Card

You can also opt to pay for HBO with a digital gift card that you can get through Amazon in the USA. This will not require a US method of payment.

When you enter your details, type in your own email address in the recipient’s box so the gift card code is sent to you. When you go to sign up for HBO Max, all you will have to do is enter this code to redeem it. Next, you can switch your HBO Max method of payment to your own PayPal account.

Use StatesPay

You can opt to pay for HBO Max using a virtual prepaid card:

1. Go to StatesPay to sign up to create your virtual prepaid card in the USA.
2. Fill in the info requested to create your account.
3. Put money on your card using a credit, debit, or PayPal account.
4. Connect to a server in the United States.
5. Sign up for HBO Max using your Virtual Prepaid Card!

Ask a US Friend to Pay with a Credit Card

This is a simple solution if you have a friend or family member living in the US.

Ask a friend with a US Credit Card to allow you to use their card for sign-up:

1. Connect to your VPN’s server in the USA.
2. Go to the HBO Max site and “sign up.”
3. Fill out the info requested.
4. Enter the credit postal code that corresponds.
5. Log in and begin watching on your Apple TV, iOs device, Android device, or more!

How to Watch HBO Max in the UK

In the UK, you can watch some HBO content on Sky Atlantic, but the content is not always available immediately.

To watch HBO Max service from the United Kingdom, follow these steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN that is proven to work with HBO Max, like ExpressVPN.
2. Download your VPN app to your device.
3. Connect to a server from the server list in the USA.
4. Open HBO Max, and enjoy from the UK!

How to Watch HBO Max in New Zealand

If you are in New Zealand and want to unblock HBO Max, follow these steps:

1. Use a VPN like ExpressVPN.
2. Install your VPN on your streaming device by following the prompts.
3. Connect to a server in the USA.
4. Open HBO Max, and stream away!

How to Watch HBO Max in Australia

In Australia, with your cable subscription, you can access HBO content on Foxtel or BINGE, but the time zone difference will affect your viewing times, and you will only be able to get some HBO content — not HBO Max.

From Australia, if you want to watch HBO Max anytime you desire, you can unblock HBO Max by following these steps:

1. Choose a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN.
2. Download the VPN to your device.
3. Connect to one of the US servers from the list.
4. Stream HBO Max from The Land Down Under.

How to Watch HBO Max on Your Smartphone

It is really simple to watch HBO Max on your smartphone.

For unblocking HBO Max on your iOS phone:

1. Log out of your current Apple ID.
2. Make a new Apple ID and choose US as the country.
3. Log in with your iOS device.
4. Download HBO Max from App Store.
5. Subscribe to a VPN service, like ExpressVPN.
6. Download and install your VPN service app to your device.
7. Connect to a server in the USA.
8. Launch your HBO Max app and sign in.
9. Enjoy watching HBO Max on your iOS smartphone!

For watching HBO Max on your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a reliable VPN service, like ExpressVPN.
2. Download your VPN app to your Android device through the Google Play Store.
3. Connect to a server in the USA.
4. In the Google Play Store, change your account to the US region.
5. Sign up or sign in to HBO Max and enjoy streaming HBO Max from anywhere!

How to Watch HBO Max on a Smart TV 

Watching HBO Max on your Smart TV is not complicated, and you can figure it out even if you are new to this whole world of VPNs.

Follow the steps below to access HBO Max from outside on your Smart TV:

1. Choose a reliable VPN, like ExpressVPN.
2. Set up ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer Smart DNS server on your Smart TV.
3. Connect to a US server.
4. Go to the HBO Max app and sign in.
5. Watch the best HBO content on your Smart TV!

How to Watch HBO Max on FireStick 

You can watch HBO Max on your Amazon Fire TV Stick by following these steps:

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN.
2. Search for ExpressVPN on your Firestick’s Home Page.
3. Download your VPN app and sign in.
4. Connect to a US server.
5. Open the HBO Max app and log in.
6. Stream HBO Max shows and movies!

What If My VPN Not Working with HBO Max

What happens if you have followed all the steps correctly and you are still not able to get HBO Max working with a VPN? Why isn’t HBO Max working?

A few possible reasons why your VPN is not unblocking HBO Max could be because your VPN is not reliable enough, or your server is not strong enough. You will have a much smaller chance of encountering this problem if you choose a reputable VPN from the start, like ExpressVPN.

Another possible reason why your VPN is not working is that you need to clear your cookies and cache before connecting to a US server. In this case, close your HBO Max app, simply clear your cache and cookies, reconnect to a US server, and reopen HBO Max.

If you are still having trouble connecting, you can contact your VPN’s live-chat support team for troubleshooting help. The top VPNs all offer live-chat support 24/7, so you won’t even have to pick up a phone to fix your issue.

Devices Compatible with HBO Max

Here are the devices you can use to watch HBO Max:

 Windows
 iOS (Watch on iOS)
 Android (Watch on Android)
 macOS
 Roku
 Linux
 Amazon Fire TV Stick
 Apple TV
 PS4
 Xbox
 smart TV
 Android TV
 Samsung TV

Since your mood may change from day to day as to which device you feel like streaming on, it is important to use a VPN that is compatible with all of these devices.

Popular Movies and Shows to Watch on HBO Max 

Here is some of the most popular HBO content to watch on HBO Max:

 The Big Bang Theory
 Hacks
 Landscapers
 Euphoria
 Friends
 Infinity Train
 15 Minutes of Shame
 Starstruck
 Game of Thrones
 Peacemaker
 South Park
 The White Lotus
 Westworld
 Sesame Street
 Suicide Squad

FAQs

Conclusion

If you are set on accessing your favorite HBO Max viewing content even from outside the USA, a VPN is a quick and easy tool to set up and use.

You can test all of the VPNs on our list for 30 days, risk-free, so there is nothing to lose by giving one a shot today!

Get the latest deal by clicking here for our top pick, ExpressVPN!