Best VPN for Hulu in 2026: 3 That Still Work Abroad

Hulu is available only in the US and a few of its territories. But take your subscription on a trip abroad, and the app suddenly shows a region error where your watchlist should be. The service reads your IP address to decide where you are, so naturally a VPN with US servers fixes the problem. The tricky part is choosing the VPN.

Very few actually work. Hulu blocks IP addresses it links to VPNs, and some VPNs that work fine with Netflix never make it past the sign-in screen. So which ones still work? Out of the 20+ VPNs we’ve tested, three got through and were fast enough to stream at the highest resolution. Here’s where each one stands.

Hulu VPNs Side by Side

We signed in to Hulu on New York servers in our October tests, on a PC and a phone. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark worked every time, so the table compares what else each one brings:

VPN	Result	US server download (Mbps)	TV apps	Devices
NordVPN	Unblocked on PC and phone	181.50	Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV	10
ExpressVPN	Unblocked on PC	177.03	Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, routers	10-14
Surfshark	Unblocked on PC	170.38	Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV	Unlimited

Among the other popular VPNs we tested, Proton VPN and Private Internet Access didn’t work, so if you primarily stream Hulu, I suggest skipping them.

The Best VPNs for Hulu Tested and Reviewed

1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for Hulu

NordVPN gave us the fastest US connection we tested, well above what 4K titles require. It worked in a browser and in the phone app, and on my phone, the app didn’t request my location. NordVPN’s Chrome extension can also match your browser’s reported location to the server, which helps with services that compare the two.

Beyond streaming, Threat Protection filters out malicious sites, and Double VPN servers add a second layer of encryption for sensitive browsing. The interface has more menus than the other two, so first-time users should stick to the map and the search field until they’re comfortable.

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2. ExpressVPN: Best for Streaming Devices

ExpressVPN takes the least effort to set up on a TV. Its New York server worked with the default settings. Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV each have a native app, and its router app protects devices without VPN support. It also unblocked HBO Max, Peacock, and the other streaming services we tried.

There isn’t much to tweak, and for most people, that’s fine. If you like adjusting protocols and server types, NordVPN offers more control. ExpressVPN also renews at a higher price than most, so a longer first term makes the most sense.

For travelers who just want their shows on a hotel TV, it’s hard to beat, and it ranks among the most secure VPNs we’ve reviewed, so check it out.

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3. Surfshark: Best Value VPN for Hulu

Surfshark unblocked Hulu on its New York server, plus almost every service in our wider streaming tests, straight from the app. It costs less than NordVPN and ExpressVPN on a long plan. There’s no limit on how many devices you connect.

Connections occasionally took longer than on the other two. If one hangs, cancel it and pick another US server. CleanWeb, its ad and tracker blocker, also works across the rest of your browsing, which helps on public Wi-Fi abroad.

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How to Watch Hulu Outside the US

1. Subscribe to a VPN with US servers, such as NordVPN.
2. Connect to a US server, then clear your browser’s cookies or restart the app.
3. Sign in at hulu.com or in the app, and play a show.

Hulu licenses most shows for US viewers only. Many services work the same way, and 9Now works only in Australia for that reason. When the VPN connects, your IP address becomes American, and Hulu treats you like a viewer at home.

For a step-by-step setup, see how to get a US IP address.

On a phone, keep location services off for the app, or it can compare your GPS position with your IP address. If the app gives you trouble, try hulu.com in a browser instead.

Signing Up for Hulu From Abroad

Hulu accepts only US payment cards, and foreign cards don’t work at checkout, even with a VPN. In practice, watching Hulu abroad works for Americans who already have an account, or for those with a US card.

Gift cards are still sold in the US, but they don’t satisfy the payment check for new accounts outside the country.

Hulu + Live TV With a VPN

Live TV is stricter than the on-demand library. Hulu offers it in the 50 states and Washington, DC, only, and subscribers set a home network when they sign up. Mobile apps require location data for live channels, and phones must check in from that home network every 30 days.

There’s also a limit on how often you can change your home location, so a VPN is mainly useful for the on-demand library abroad. Live channels don’t work outside the US, and that includes sports such as the NFL.

For the home-network rules in detail, see our guide on how to change your location on Hulu.

Hulu Not Working With a VPN? Fixes to Try

• Switch to another US server. Hulu flags individual IP addresses, so changing your IP address with a new server often works.
• Clear cookies and cache. Hulu can remember your actual location from an earlier visit.
• Disable location access for the app on your phone, or block the location permission in your browser.
• Disable Secure DNS in your browser, so DNS requests go through the VPN.
• Try another VPN if Hulu still won’t let you sign in. Its servers are probably flagged.

Why Free VPNs Struggle With Hulu

Free VPNs share a limited set of US servers among many users, and Hulu blocks those IP addresses quickly. Windscribe and PrivadoVPN, two of the better free VPNs, couldn’t unblock Hulu in our tests.

Proton VPN’s free plan reserves streaming for paying users on every platform. It’s a good free VPN for Mac browsing, but for streaming, a paid VPN with a money-back guarantee is the safer bet.

What’s on Hulu Right Now

Hulu’s own shows include The Testaments, Paradise, and Only Murders in the Building, and FX brings The Bear and Shōgun. ABC and FX series arrive the day after they air, and new films join the catalog regularly, such as the folk horror film Hokum with Adam Scott. For live sports, ESPN+ works with the same VPN setup.

Some shows have moved on. Next-day NBC series now stream on Peacock.

CBS series are on Paramount+ instead, and a US server unblocks it the same way.

Verdict

Hulu is harder on VPNs than most streaming services, and the difference showed at the sign-in screen. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark got us in every time on US servers, while two other popular VPNs didn’t. Our ranking of the best VPNs covers the rest of the field.

NordVPN is our pick, with the fastest US connection and nothing to adjust before Hulu plays. ExpressVPN is the better fit if you watch on a TV or streaming stick, and Surfshark is the value pick, with an ad blocker built in.

Whichever you choose, connect before you open the app, and keep it from reading your phone’s location.

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