If you want to watch great Indian TV right from your couch, Hotstar is the best choice by far.
But if you try to access Bollywood hits or the Indian Premier League from the USA or outside of India, instead of seeing the ICC World Cup footage you were hoping to see, you will get this annoying error message:
“Videos on www.hotstar.com/in are not available in the US. To watch videos available in US Go to https://www.hotstar.com/us“
Because Hotstar can see that you are connecting to the internet from the US, it recommends that you sign in with Hotstar USA, which, sadly, only has a fraction of the content that Hotstar India boasts.
So, is Indian Hotstar available in USA territory?
With a pretty simple workaround, the answer is — Yes.
If you want to bypass this error message and stream Indian Hotstar from the USA, all you need is a reputable VPN service, like ExpressVPN.
In a Hurry? Here's How to Watch Hotstar in USA
3 Best VPNs to Watch Hotstar in USA
Indian Hotstar is currently only available for streaming from within India. In order to get past this geo-restriction to stream Indian content, a strong, reliable VPN is needed. Here are the best VPNs to unblock Disney Plus Hotstar content in the USA or anywhere else:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN gives you rocket-fast speed, so you can access Hotstar outside India as well as other Indian streaming services with smooth viewing, without buffering or lag, no matter if you are connecting locally or from a distance.
ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers, 3 of which are in India. When I connected to these servers, I was able to circumvent Hotstar’s geo-blocks and unblock Hotstar shows and content every time. Using ExpressVPN servers, you can watch Disney+ in South Africa, Singapore, or watch Hotstar in UAE.
ExpressVPN is more expensive than its peers, but it’s always offering promos to offset the price, and you can try it for free with its 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
- Superfast speeds
- 5 simultaneous device connections
- Unblocks many streaming services
- 24/7 live-chat
- Among the more expensive VPNs
2. NordVPN
When I tested the NordVPN servers in India and the US, I got consistently good speeds with no buffering or lag, and I was able to get around Disney Plus Hotstar’s geo-blocks every time. You can use Nord to watch Channel 9 live or stream services like Sky Go or even watch ITV HUB in the USA, thanks to its incredible servers.
NordVPN has compatibility with a range of devices, so you can easily connect NordVPN to your favorite phone, TV, or tablet and watch Hotstar in the USA with no trouble.
You can try NordVPN with no strings attached with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Fast speeds
- Unblocks many streaming services
- 24/7 live-chat
- 6 simultaneous device connection
- Not as fast as ExpressVPN
3. Surfshark
Surfshark delivers speeds that are plenty fast to unblock Hotstar in Canada, the USA, or from anywhere, with great quality and no buffering or lag. You can also connect to tons of other international services like the Australian Stan from the USA or Hulu from Canada.
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous device connections, so there is no need to pay for more than one account, no matter how many devices you add.
Also, if there are any issues with your Surfshark account, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee to get a full refund.
So, if you want one of the best VPNs for Disney Plus, try Surfshark!
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Unblocks many streaming services
- 24/7 live chat
- Not fast as the other top VPNs
Why You Need a VPN to Watch Hotstar Outside India
Hotstar is an Indian streaming service owned by Novi Digital Entertainment, a subsidiary of Star India, which is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
Disney Plus Hotstar content is not currently available for streaming in the USA, UK, or outside India due to content licensing and copyright regulations.
Disney Hotstar uses an IP tracking system to block users who try to access its service from USA, UK, or outside of the permitted streaming locations. By using a VPN, you can fool this IP tracking system.
A VPN routes all internet traffic through a VPN server in the location you choose. So, if Hotstar is only available in India, you can make it appear that you are located in India by connecting to one of the VPN’s Indian servers. This will replace your undesirable US IP address with an acceptable Indian IP address.
This is great since this works with many other streaming services! For example, it will even allow you to watch your favorite content from BBC iPlayer or stream Rai TV in the USA.
Indian Hotstar Compared to Other Hotstar Versions
Pricing difference
Hotstar’s Annual US subscription costs $49.99. The cost of the annual subscription of Hotstar in India is $19.68 (1499 INR). This is a very significant difference in price! Subscribing to even the most expensive VPN still makes this Indian version of Hotstar more affordable than the US version.
Free and premium streaming
Indian Hotstar offers both free content and premium content to stream your favorite shows from the biggest Indian library that are not otherwise available on the US, UK, and Canadian libraries.
Number of channels
Another difference between the Indian Hotstar and Hotstar in the US is the number of channels. On Hotstar India, there are 33 channels, whereas Hotstar US offers only 28 circuits. The content on Hotstar in the USA is limited in quantity and quality as compared to Indian Hotstar.
Money-back guarantee
Hotstar India offers a 7-10 day money-back guarantee. This refund policy is not available for Disney Hotstar USA subscribers.
How to Download Hotstar App Outside India
For Android users
Follow these 5 simple steps to download Hotstar on your Android:
Step 1: Download and subscribe to a VPN like ExpressVPN.
Step 2: Open the VPN application and log in.
Step 3: Connect to the Indian server from the list.
Step 4: Go to Google Play Store and search for the Hotstar app.
Step 5: Install the app and enjoy watching Disney+ Hostar in USA or UK!
For iOS Users
Follow these 5 simple steps to download Hotstar on your iOS device:
Step 1: Change your App Store location to India.
Step 2: Search for Hotstar in the App Store and download.
Step 3: Open virtual private network app from the App Store and connect to an Indian server.
Step 4: Go to the Hotstar app and sign in.
Step 5: It’s time to Enjoy!
How to Watch Hotstar in the USA on Android Devices
Follow these simple steps to install and watch Disney Plus Hotstar in USA or UK on Android devices:
Step 1: Subscribe to a virtual private network like ExpressVPN.
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and install it on your device.
Step 3: Download and install the Hotstar app.
Step 4: Open the ExpressVPN app on your device and log in.
Step 5: Select an Indian server.
Step 6: Once you are connected to it, open the Hotstar app.
Step 7: Watch Hotstar in the USA!
How to Subscribe to Hotstar with Cheapest Rates
If you want to subscribe to Hotstar from the US, there is a way you can pay only $19.68 rather than $49.99:
Step 1: Choose a VPN provider with Indian servers and subscribe to one of its packages. We recommend ExpressVPN.
Step 2: Download and install the VPN app on your device.
Step 3: Log in to the VPN service and connect to one of the servers in India.
Step 4: Now go to the Hotstar page and select the Disney Plus Hotstar package of your choice.
Step 5: Register for the service through either your email or your mobile number.
Step 6: Select a suitable mode of payment.
Step 7: Now you can easily watch Disney Hotstar Indian version and enjoy unlimited content at a much cheaper rate!
How to Subscribe to Hotstar in the USA
How to watch Disney Hotstar in the USA:
Step 1: Connect to the Indian server
Step 2: Choose a Hotstar plan and create account
Step 3: Select payment method
Step 4: Confirm registration — You need to use an Indian number to create an account.
Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch on Hotstar
Here are some of the best movies and TV shows to binge on Disney Hotstar in the USA:
Special Ops
Mahabharat
Hostages
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahani
Master Chef India
City of Dreams
Dance+
Yeh Rishta
Criminal Justice
Is Pyar Ko Kya Naam
Koffee With Karan
Popular Sports to Watch on Hotstar
Watch these popular sports on Disney Hotstar:
Cricket (IPL, Ashes, WorldCup T20 + all the live domestic & international matches)
Football (Premier League, Bundesliga & Hero ISL)
Formula 1
Tennis
Boxing
E-Sports
Kabaddi
List Of Devices Compatible With Hotstar
Here is a list of the devices that are compatible with Hotstar:
Samsung Smart TV
LG Smart TV
Android Devices
iOS Devices
Windows PC
OSX Mac
Apple TV
Chromecast
FAQs
Conclusion
Hotstar is a fantastic online streaming service with a great library of Indian channels and content.
Hotstar might only be free to view in India, but if you want to access it at all from the USA, or anywhere in the world, you will need to connect with a premium VPN, like ExpressVPN.
So, if you are a fan of good Indian TV, get yourself a VPN, and you can be streaming your Bollywood favorites within minutes.