How to Watch HBO From Outside the US (With or Without Cable Subscription)
Last Updated by Chase Williams on March 12, 2024Like most US TV channels, HBO is officially only available to viewers within the US.
This is the error message you get when you try and connect to HBO Go from outside the US
But with the right tool, you can avoid this error message and enjoy Game of Thrones, Barry, Veep, Westworld, and more from anywhere.
Our mission is to find the hacks and workarounds that will allow you to stream HBO from anywhere and we have a few tricks up our sleeves.
The most important thing you need to do is get a US IP address. A proxy address will make it appear as if you are in the US, and can, therefore, access HBO Now or HBO Go.
Four Steps to Watching HBO Go – US Cable Subscription Required
If you’re traveling or have the cable login information from family or friends and don’t want to miss out on watching Games of Thrones, Westworld, or any other HBO show, you can access HBO Go for free by following the following steps.
NordVPN works to access HBO Go from anywhere
Four Steps to Watch HBO Now – No Cable Subscription Needed
If you don’t have access to a cable subscription, there are still several ways to stream your favorite HBO shows. You need to sign up for the HBO Now streaming package, which comes with a 7-day free trial.
One catch is that you will need a US credit card to create the account, but that can be avoided with an HBO Now gift card.
We tested ExpressVPN to create an HBO Now account
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- Get a VPN. ExpressVPN is our top choice for HBO Now. It has ultra-fast speeds and a good selection of US servers.
- Connect to a US server.
- Go to HBO Now and create an account (this link only works if you are in the US or have your VPN connected).
- You can now stream HBO Now on any connected device.
Other Ways to Watch HBO – No Cable Required
There are several other ways that you can get access to HBO or specific HBO shows.
If you already have a Hulu Live or DirecTV Now account you can add HBO to your package.
You can add HBO to your HULU account from anywhere with a VPN
If you only want to watch Game of Thrones, a cheaper option would be to use a VPN and with a server in India and subscribe to Hotstar Premium.
HotStar Premium is a streaming site from India with a variety of HBO shows, GoT included.
What’s the Difference Between HBO Now and HBO Go
For the most part, HBO Now and HBO Go are similar. You can get the same HBO programming with both them and at the same time.
With HBO Go, you need to have a cable subscription, with HBO as part of the package, and then you can stream it on your phone, tablet, Roku, Chromecast, Firestick, and more at no additional cost.
You can also get HBO Go through Amazon Prime.
Can You Watch HBO With a Free VPN
Regardless of which one you research, the one thing they have in common is they don’t work with HBO Now or HBO Go.
The free TunnelBear VPN couldn’t get past the HBO VPN Detection
The reason for this is pretty straightforward. As a free VPN, the provider won’t update servers regularly enough to ensure they can avoid detection. HBO will recognize the IP address and blacklist it.
Even if you do manage to find a free VPN that can bypass the HBO geo-restrictions, most of them come with capped speeds or data limits, making it impossible to stream content adequately.
Can You Watch HBO With a Free Trial VPN
Most VPNs allow users to try the product with either a free trial or a money back guarantee. These Free Trial VPNs are a perfect solution if you want to watch HBO for free, for a limited time.
Some of the top choices for a free trial VPN are:
- NordVPN – 7-day free trial and 30-day money back guarantee
- CyberGhost – 45-day money guarantee
- ExpressVPN – 30-day money back guarantee
- Surfshark – 30-day money back guarantee
Why Does HBO Require You To Have a US IP Address
Most streaming services and TV channels will restrict users from outside their geographic areas access to their shows and movies. The reason is based on licensing agreements they have in other regions.
For example, HBO sold the exclusive rights to Game of Thrones to Hotstar in India and NowTV in the UK; therefore they block traffic from outside the UK.
