How to Watch Hulu from Anywhere with a VPN in 2023

Online video streaming is bliss but becomes annoying when you travel and can no longer access your streaming service. Hulu is one of the top streaming services that disconnects you once you travel out of its geographical range. Hulu’s content is only available to people in the US and Japan, meaning subscribers automatically lose access once they move away from these two places.

Nonetheless, there’s a solution to overcome this if you’re an existing subscriber or a new user looking to stream Hulu outside the US and Japan. A premium VPN lets you watch Hulu from anywhere or on a device. In this article, you’ll discover everything about how to watch Hulu from anywhere and on any device and also know the most reliable VPN options for streaming Hulu.

How to Watch Hulu from Anywhere with a VPN – Quick Guide

Top VPN Providers for Hulu – Quick Intro

1. NordVPN: Boasts top-tier security and an extensive server network for reliable online privacy.
2. ExpressVPN: Premium service with high-speed connections and robust security.
3. Surfshark: Budget-friendly VPN prioritizing user privacy with unlimited connections.
4. CyberGhost: User-friendly VPN with strong privacy features and specialized servers.
5. IPVanish: Solid performance, comprehensive security, and a broad server network for reliability.

What is Hulu?

Some shows on Hulu include The Handmaid, Enemies of State, Reservation Dogs, Grown-ish, Bob’s Burger, Archer, and Broad City. It is a subscription streaming service based in America launched by the Walt Disney Company on 29 October 2007.

Initially, Hulu was released as a joint venture between News Corporation, Providence Equity, and The Walt Disney Company. In 2010, Hulu established a subscription service branded as Hulu Plus. Hulu added Live TV in 2017. Since then, it has become one of the most extensive streaming services in the world.

The Best VPNs to Unblock Hulu – Detailed List

1. NordVPN

Upon testing on a 100 Mbps internet connection, NordVPN offers a download speed of 86.49 Mbps, and its upload speed reaches 79.42 Mbps. This connection ensures that there is no buffering when streaming. New York #8689 server is the recommended server to use on NordVPN. NordVPN provides high security and privacy with its military-grade encryption, kill-switch, Strict no-logs policy, etc. You can connect on six simultaneous devices, allowing room for friends and family.

NordVPN supports several streaming devices like Android, iOS, Firestick, Windows, Chromecast, Apple TV, Smart TV, and MacOS. It costs $3.49 monthly on a 2-year plan and has a 30-day refund policy if a user is unsatisfied with the services. It has a live chat customer support for issues concerning their performance.

Read our comprehensive NordVPN review

2. Express VPN

In a connectivity test carried out on Hulu with ExpressVPN, it downloaded at speeds of about 89.42 Mbps and uploaded at approximately 84.64 Mbps. There are also other features like 256 encryption that ensure a secure streaming experience and also prevent IP and DNS leaks. For devices that do not support VPN, ExpressVPN has a feature known as MediaStreamer that helps such devices connect.

Other outstanding features of this VPN include Kill Switch and Split tunneling. It supports using five devices simultaneously to accommodate friends and families. The recommended server on ExpressVPN for viewing Hulu is the New York server. A subscription on ExpressVPN costs $6.67/month, but with a one-year plan, you get three extra months for free. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our comprehensive ExpressVPN review

3. Surfshark

It offers a download speed of 88.48Mbps and uploads at 79.42Mbps, sufficient to prevent buffering or lagging. Surfshark protects its users’ connections with its safety and data protection features like 256-bit encryption, no-log policy, split tunneling, and kill switch.

It supports viewing on various streaming devices like Firestick, Smart TVs, Xbox, and Apple TVs, and new subscribers on Android and iOS get a free trial. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and also has 24/7 live chat support. Surfshark charges a subscription fee of $2.30 per month on a 2-year plan, which makes it one of the cheapest VPN solutions. Its most recommended server for Hulu is the New York server.

Read our comprehensive SurfShark review

4. CyberGhost

On a strong 100Mbps connection, CyberGhost offers a download speed of up to 75.12 Mbps, and it uploads at 39.48 Mbps. CyberGhost provides over 9600 servers in 100 countries worldwide and protects users with its AES 256-bit encryption. Users can connect seven devices simultaneously with one subscription. It has options that allow you to set up routers, gaming consoles, and smart TVs.

The subscription fee for CyberGhost VPN is $12.99 monthly. However, they provided an option for you to cheat them by paying $2.11 monthly on their 2-year plan. This plan comes with an extra two-month subscription for free and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our comprehensive CyberGhost review

5. IPVanish

When tested on a 100 Mbps internet connection, it reached a download speed of 75.12 Mbps and a low upload speed of 39.48 Mbps. The Atlanta server is our most recommended router to access Hulu on IPVanish VPN. IPVanish works well on all major streaming devices and operating systems like Android, iOS, and Windows.

It does not keep logs of user activity nor allow IP or DNS leaks. Its split tunneling and kill switch add to its security features. With IPVanish, you can protect unlimited devices simultaneously. It costs $3.33 per month for the lowest plan. It offers users a 30-day money-back guarantee and a live chat customer support feature.

How We Picked Best Hulu VPNs – The Criteria to Find the Best VPN

Ability to Unblock Websites

We test these VPNs based on their ability to bypass geo-restrictions of major streaming platforms and their ability to unblock blocked websites. 

Connection Speed

To enjoy streaming, you need a VPN that prevents buffering and lagging. Therefore, we make sure we recommend the best VPNs and the best servers as well.

Safety and Privacy

The primary purpose of using a VPN is to help you bypass restrictions while hiding your IP address from the website servers. The best VPNs connect you, keep your identity private, and secure your activities from monitoring.

Simultaneous Connections

When selecting a good VPN, one must use one that simultaneously protects at least five of your devices.

Pricing

A significant determinant of how we select these VPNs is the price of the services. We go for VPNs that offer top-notch services without being overly expensive.

Anti-leak Features

PC users are vulnerable to IPv6 leaks, exposing their IP addresses and location. These leaks can make streaming platforms like Hulu detect and block your location. So, we also examine VPNs to be sure they have an anti-leak feature. 

Support for Devices

Some VPNs are not compatible with specific devices. We want to be sure that a VPN supports Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows, as these are the most used devices.

What to do When your VPN Doesn’t Seem to Unblock Hulu

Hulu does not permit the use of VPN or proxy servers to stream its content. As a result of their commitment to stopping its use, they know how to identify IP addresses from some particular VPN providers. Therefore, you must consider the best VPN options we hand-picked for Hulu.

However, if you encounter any issues while using any of these VPNs, it could be due to the following reasons.

You can solve these problems by troubleshooting your device in the following ways:

How to Unblock Hulu outside the US without a VPN

Smart DNS

Smart DNS can be an alternative to VPNs, especially if you are not so particular about security and privacy. You could explore ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer Smart DNS if you’re considering using a smart DNS. A smart DNS provides very high speed that guarantees uninterrupted streaming even in 4K.

Browser Extension

Another way to access Hulu outside the US is by using a browser plugin. Go through the steps below to activate a browser extension:

• Go to Chrome extensions, download, and install a VPN extension, e.g., TunnelBear.
• Scroll to the top-right of your browser and click on the browser icon.
• Activate it and go back to Hulu.

How to Watch Hulu on All Your Devices

Smart TV

To watch Hulu on your Smart TV, follow these steps:

Roku

To watch Hulu on your Roku, follow these steps:

FireStick

To watch Hulu on your FireStick, follow these steps:

Conclusion

Hulu, one of the giants in online streaming, has strong geo-restriction that ensures only US residents can access the platform. Nonetheless, with the right VPN service, anyone can stream from the Hulu platform anywhere and on any device. Following our top recommendations in this guide, you will avoid poor choices regarding the most reliable VPN service to watch and enjoy Hulu content safely.

Frequently Asked Questions