Are you looking for ways to watch HBO Max from the outside of the US? We will tell you when this service is coming to your region and explain how a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help you watch your favorite shows while traveling abroad.
HBO Max is geo-blocked, which means it is only available in some regions. For example, if you attempt to visit the website from outside of the US, you will get the following error:
“This website is not available in your region.”
So how do these services know where you’re? In most instances, they will find your location from your IP. When you connect to a Virtual Private Network, though, sites can only see the IP of the server you are using. Simply, if you connect to a US server, HBO Max will think you are actually in the US and will let you use the service.
Of course, VPNs are good for more than just online streaming. They also encrypt your internet data traffic, guaranteeing that your employer, ISP, or any other snoopers cannot see what you get up to online. You can even use VPN services to circumvent country-wide blocking in regions with strict online censorship.
How to Watch HBO Max from Anywhere in Under 2 Minutes
- Choose the Best VPN for HBO Max. My top select is NordVPN for its super speedy and regular unblocking capabilities.
- Connect to a US server.
- Head over to HBO Max and sign up or log in. You need a US credit card or HBO gift card to subscribe.
NOTE: If you have already subscribed to HBO NOW, you will automatically be upgraded to HBO Max with no additional charges.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch HBO Max
HBO Max blocks its service, so only users with a US IP can view its content because of licensing limitations and company interests. Try to connect to HBO Max with a non-US IP, and an error message affirms your access is blocked.
HBO Max error message when trying to connect outside America.
With a premium VPN, you can connect to a US server. The VPN substitutes your real IP with a US one. This fools HBO Max into thinking you happen to be in the US and allows you to stream from its library. It is simple, legal, and grants you instant access, concealing your location from your ISP. It also blocks ISP tracking, numerous cyberattacks, and data thieves.
Read more: How to Unblock SoundCloud with a VPN
The Best VPN for HBO Max
To connect to HBO Max every time, you need a robust VPN that can defeat geo-blocks and anti-VPN methodology. After meticulous research, I have picked the five best VPN for HBO Max.
#1 NordVPN (3.29$/month)
Number of servers: 3500+ | Server locations: 60+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 6
NordVPN is a Panama based VPN service provider. Hence, it is free of the U.S and the European countries jurisdictions. Due to it, the users can enjoy anonymous networking with its No Log Policy. Double encryption, a variety of protocol support, excellent customer support makes it one of the best VPN in the market. Most noteworthy, the pricing plans are quiet on the nominal side and worth the services provided.
- Six simultaneous connections
- A variety of platform support
- Double encryption for added security
- Excellent customer support
- Automatic kill switch
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 3-Day free trial
- Unique selling proposition is that it offers hassle-free installation even for new users
Avail 72% Discount
#2 ExpressVPN (8.32$/month)
Number of servers: 1800+ | Server locations: 148 | IP addresses: 30,000 | Maximum devices supported: 3
ExpressVPN has become the market leader in the VPN industry. With its supreme quality VPN performance during past seven years. Therefore, it attracted and retained millions of users and enhanced customer loyalty. All due to services that are beyond comparison. That is the reason it sits at the top position in our VPN table. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands. Which keeps it away from the Data Retention policies enforced by NSA, GCHQ.
- Unlimited Bandwidth with Ultra Speed
- Dedicated VPN Apps for Android & iOS
- Provides all VPN protocols OpenVPN (TCP, UDP), L2TP-IPsec, SSTP, and PPTP
- High-End Security with OpenVPN 256-bits
- Zero log keeping policy of internet activities
- 30-Days Money-Back Guarantee
- 3 Simultaneous-login Option
- Dedicated VPN App for Router
Avail 35% Discount
#3 Surfshark VPN (2.49$/month)
Number of servers: 500+ | Server locations: 50 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: Unlimited
Surfshark VPN is ahead of the curve in technological advancement. Surfshark VPN will ensure online privacy for your whole family – simple and intuitive on the outside with a robust security mechanism inside.
- No Logging Policy
- 500 Plus Servers Spread in over 50 Countries
- 24 x 7 Customer Service Support
- P2P Torrenting Support Available
- AES 256-Bit Network Encryption
- Comes with Zero Logging Policy
- Chrome Extension Available
- Kill-Switch functionality
Avail 81% Discount
#4 CyberGhostVPN (2.15$/month)
Number of servers: 6,200+ | Server locations: 87+ | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 7
CyberGhostVPN was established in 2011 and gained popularity. It is due to its dedication towards providing outstanding and unique security and privacy features. CyberGhostVPN defends privacy as a basic human right, being the first in the industry to publish a transparency report while building new user-oriented crypto-technology for the future.
- 6200+ servers in 87 countries
- Uses AES 256 Encryption
- Up to 7 Simultaneous Connections
- Supports OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and PPTP
- DNS & IP Leak Protection
- No Logging Policy.
- Uses 2048 Key & MD5 Authentication
- 45-Days Money Back Guarantee
- Automatic Wi-Fi security
Avail 83% Discount
#5 Private Internet Access (2.19$/month)
Number of servers: 3339+ | Server locations: 36 | IP addresses: N/A | Maximum devices supported: 5
Private Internet Access service provides you unbeatable internet security and privacy. It is due to its sustainable and specialized security barrier based on several layers. Hence, For an end to end protection with its amazing features. That includes; Anonymous IP, high-grade encryption. That is based on cryptographically secure Blowfish CBC algorithm.
- Zero VPN Traffic Logs
- Encrypted Wi-Fi Protection
- Offers all Protocols PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec including SOCKS5 Proxy
- 7-days Money-Back Guarantee
- IPv6 Leak Protection & DNS Leak Protection
- The Internet Kill Switch
- P2P file sharing & VoIP Support
- Support for VPN router including DD-WRT Tomato & PfSense
- Speed Test options for all Servers
Avail 78% Discount
Can I Watch HBO Max with a free VPN?
While free VPN services can be a winning prospect for those looking to access their standard services while on vacation, they infrequently live up to the hype. With numerous users and so few servers to share the load, you will likely find that most free VPN services aren’t speedy enough for streaming online. Even if you find a lightning-fast service, it will almost unquestionably have a low monthly data limit. Additionally, due to their reputation, free VPN services are usually the first to be blacklisted by streaming platforms, so you still might not be able to watch anything.
It is also worth noting that, statistically, you are more likely to jeopardize your security with a free VPN service. One study found that nearly 40% of tested free VPNs contained malware. Worse, almost 20% used no encryption at all, meaning they were mostly pointless. We’ve even seen a primary free VPN provider (Hola) sell user bandwidth for use in botnets, so clearly, well-known free services are just as risky.
To stay as safe as possible online, we recommend using a reputable, security-first VPN with a clear-cut logging policy and a history of standing up for user privacy.
When is HBO Max Launching in my Country?
The international release schedule for HBO Max is quite vague now, but we do indicate when the service will arrive.
- May 2020: HBO Max launched in the US for USD 14.99 per month.
- Late 2020: European and Latin American countries begin to get their versions of HBO Max with localized programming.
- 2021: A free, ad-supported membership is launched in the US. This will allow users to watch select content (mostly news and sports) live.
Often, you find out more about a company’s plans from what it doesn’t say, rather than what it does. For instance, there has been no word of HBO Max coming to Canada or the UK, and HBO recently expanded its partnerships with Bell Media and Sky, hinting that if the service does come to these countries, it won’t be for several years.
What Shows are on HBO Max?
HBO already has an impressive lineup of its own titles, but it hopes to lure in subscribers by snapping up some of the most in-demand shows of the last few years. It’s worth mentioning that the content will likely vary from one region to another, but below, we’ve listed a few of the TV shows and movies you can expect to see at launch:
- Friends
- Game of Thrones
- The Sopranos
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Doctor Who
- Sesame Street
- The Big Bang Theory
- South Park
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Westworld
Conclusion -Best VPN for HBO Max
You can watch HBO Max from anywhere by using a top-notch VPN such as NordVPN to overcome geoblocks. I put each of my VPN service recommendations through rigorous testing to guarantee that they can beat HBO Max’s geoblocks with speeds that are fast enough for smooth, HD streaming. You can test all of them for free using their money-back guarantees.