How to Watch US TV in Israel in 2026: Hulu, Peacock, and More

Some American streaming services are sold in Israel, including Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, and Apple TV. Many others aren’t. Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV, and the free network apps stream only to US viewers, and Paramount+ isn’t sold in Israel either. From Tel Aviv or Haifa, a notice says the content isn’t available in your region.

Live events bring a second problem: the time difference. A prime-time game in New York starts in the middle of the night in Israel. The US apps that would let you catch up the next morning are the blocked ones. A VPN connected to a US server lets you watch them as you would in the States. Here are the steps.

Why US Streaming Services Don’t Work in Israel

US streaming services license most of their shows for American viewers only, and they look up the location of your IP address before each stream. An Israeli IP address triggers a region message. A VPN with US servers fixes this. Your traffic travels encrypted to a US server first, and services see that server’s location.

With a US IP address, streaming services treat you as a viewer in the States. Paid services add a second check at sign-up: Hulu, Peacock, and YouTube TV require a US payment method.

What’s Available in Israel and What’s US-Only

Several big US services have Israeli versions, but their catalogs can differ from the US ones. Here’s where each one stands:

Service	Available in Israel	Notes for viewers in Israel
Netflix	Yes	Israeli catalog; a US server shows the US catalog
HBO Max	Yes	Sign up directly or through Israeli TV packages
Prime Video	Yes	Catalog differs from the US one
Apple TV	Yes	No VPN required
Hulu	No	US server, US payment method, and US ZIP code
Peacock	No	US server, plus a US card or gift card
Paramount+	No	US server and US payment method
YouTube TV	No	US server, US ZIP code, and a device location check
Sling TV, Fubo, ESPN	No	US server and US payment method
Pluto TV	No	US server; free with ads
PBS, ABC, NBC, CBS	No	US server; free news channels play without a subscription

For HBO Max, an Israeli subscription is the simplest way to watch, with no VPN required.

How to Watch US TV in Israel With a VPN

Connect to a server on the US East Coast, then sign in to the streaming service. New York is the closest major US server location to Israel. A closer server keeps the delay lower. Restart the streaming app after you connect. On a computer, delete the site’s cookies as well. Old cookies can still point to Israel.

YouTube TV also checks your device’s location, which a VPN can’t change. In our tests on US servers, free channels such as CBS News 24/7, ABC News Live, NBC, and PBS played on NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN. Netflix switched to its US catalog, and Peacock and YouTube TV showed their sign-up pages instead of a region message.

CBS detected Proton VPN and ExpressVPN on New York servers but played on their Seattle servers. If a channel detects your VPN, try another US city. For a local station’s news, choose a server in that station’s state. NordVPN and ExpressVPN have servers in every US state, as does Private Internet Access.

Stream US TV With NordVPN

How to Pay for US Streaming Services From Israel

Every paid US service we tried required a US card at sign-up. A few workarounds help if you don’t have one:

• Gift cards: Peacock accepts gift cards in place of a US card. Hulu gift cards also work, though sign-up still requires a US ZIP code.
• App stores: Subscribing through Apple or Google Play requires a US store account, and moving an account to the US only works with a US payment method on file.
• An existing US account: If you’re moving from the US, keep your US card active and subscribe before you leave.

Best VPNs for US TV in Israel

In November, we tested each VPN’s speed and tried US streaming services and free channels on its US servers.

1. NordVPN: Best Overall VPN for US TV in Israel

NordVPN unblocked all the services in our streaming tests, including Netflix US, Hulu, and Pluto TV. On its New York servers, every free US channel we tried played, including CBS News 24/7. Its average speed loss was only 7.8%, a drop you won’t notice during an HD stream. One plan covers 10 devices, enough for a household’s phones, laptops, and TVs.

Our guide to the best VPNs for Israel compares more VPNs for everyday use in the country. NordVPN’s Basic plan is $3.49 a month on its 27-month term, $94.23 up front. That rate ends with the first term, and renewal costs $139.08 a year. Set a reminder a few weeks before the term ends to compare current deals.

A 30-day money-back guarantee covers the first month.

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2. Proton VPN: Best for Privacy While Streaming

Proton VPN unblocked Netflix US, and the free US channels played on its US servers. Its average speed loss of 10.2% is barely noticeable when streaming or on video calls home. Hulu and Pluto TV were the exceptions. Both blocked Proton VPN, while NordVPN and ExpressVPN unblocked them. If you watch either service, choose one of those two.

Proton VPN has no Smart DNS either. On Samsung and LG TVs, which can’t install VPN apps, set it up on your router instead. Proton VPN Plus is $2.99 a month on the two-year plan ($71.76 up front), with renewal at $83.88 a year. Its 30-day refund is pro rata, covering the unused days.

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3. ExpressVPN: Best for Smart TVs and Streaming Sticks

ExpressVPN tied NordVPN for speed, losing 7.8% of our speed on average. Hulu, Pluto TV, and Netflix US worked, as on NordVPN. Its native Apple TV app puts US channels on the living room TV with no extra setup. Its apps have few settings to adjust. Viewers who like fine-tuning will find more control in NordVPN.

The Basic plan’s ad blocker is also lighter than on the higher plans, and a browser extension that blocks ads covers the difference. ExpressVPN’s Basic plan is $2.99 a month on its 28-month term ($83.72 up front), and renewal is $99.95 a year.

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Watching Live US Sports and News From Israel

Israel is usually seven hours ahead of New York and ten hours ahead of Los Angeles. A 7:30 p.m. ET NBA game starts at 2:30 a.m. in Israel. NBA League Pass has an international version, and its blackouts apply only in the US and Canada.

ESPN, Peacock, and the network apps stream only in the US, and their on-demand replays are the easiest way to catch up on a game that aired overnight. Our guide to watching ABC abroad covers ABC News Live and the network’s shows. Before paying for a US service, check whether your Israeli TV package already offers the channel.

Summary

Watching US TV in Israel takes three steps: connect to a US server on the East Coast, restart the app or clear its cookies, and sign in. Free channels such as PBS and ABC News Live play straight away, and paid services also require a US card or gift card. Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime Video are sold in Israel and work without a VPN.

NordVPN is the VPN we’d use for this. It unblocked every US service we tried. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN are good alternatives if you’d like to compare. Test the connection on a free channel before you pay for a service. Our guide to watching US TV abroad covers other countries, too.

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