How to Watch Hotstar in USA in 2023 – Unblock Hotstar Content

What is Hotstar? Is Hotstar different from Disney+ Hotstar? Can we get Hotstar in the USA? Need to know how to watch Hotstar in USA? This guide will highlight all there is to know about this Indian streaming service. 

In a nutshell, Hotstar is not available in the USA or most countries outside India. However, Hotstar was previously acquired by Disney Plus, where they created joined bundle offers from various distributors on Hotstar, Disney Plus, and other services. Since then, it’s now known as Disney+ Hotstar.  However, Disney+ Hotstar has been discontinued in the US, and the best way to access it is by using the best Hotstar VPN. In this guide, we’ll show you how to watch Hotstar in the USA and the best VPN that unblocks it. 

However, if I have to choose just one VPN that works the best to watch Hotstar in the USA, it has to be ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN offers virtual India VPN servers that are fast, secure, and unblocked Hotstar in the USA or anywhere outside India. With that said, let’s get started with the guide, and you’ll have access to Hotstar in no time.

Is Hotstar available outside India?

The short answer is no. Hotstar was only available in India, but after it was acquired by Disney Plus, it offered its services to the US, the UK, Canada, and a few Asian countries.  However, there is always a little confusion about its availability since it keeps changing. Either way, if you’re trying to watch Hotstar in the USA or anywhere outside India, we recommend using the best VPN service that offers an Indian IP address.

Can you access Hotstar in the US?

Hotstar is one of the best Indian entertainment apps, where you can find the best movies, TV shows, and live sports streams. However, most of its content is restricted to India. After being acquired by Disney Plus, Hotstar was available in the US but discontinued. So, if you’re traveling to the US or reside there and want to unblock Hotstar, you can do so with the best Hotstar VPN. We’ve mentioned a quick list below.

How to watch Hotstar in USA

It’s simple to watch Hotstar in the USA if you have one of the best VPNs. For the tutorial below, we recommend using ExpressVPN. You start by subscribing to ExpressVPN and downloading the VPN on a supported device. Once you launch the VPN and connect to an India VPN server, you can access the streaming service. The ExpressVPN Indian IP address unblocks much more Indian content than just Hotstar. Look at the step-by-step tutorial below:

• Get a VPN to unblock Hotstar in USA. We recommend ExpressVPN above all.
• Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device. Make sure the device is compatible with Hotstar. 
• Launch the VPN and login into your account.
• Connect to a virtual Indian server.
• Head to the Hotstar website and create your account. Sign in if you already have one.
• Now that you have a new IP address, you can watch Hotstar in USA or outside India.

This will give you access to the premium Hotstar content in USA, but if you’re looking for a mix of US and Indian content, you can watch it on Disney+ Hotstar. Again, because it’s still geo-locked in most countries, you need a Hotstar VPN to access it. .

Watch Disney+ Hotstar in USA

1. Choose the best VPN for Hotstar
2. Create your VPN account
3. Download and install the VPN
4. Launch the VPN and connect to an Indian server.
5. Lastly, log in to your Hotstar account and start watching Disney+ Hotstar in USA or anywhere in the world!

How can I sign up for Hotstar in USA?

• Get a subscription to ExpressVPN if you don’t have one.
• Download and install the VPN on a supported device.
• Open ExpressVPN and sign in to your account. 
• Connect to its virtual India server via Singapore.
• Go to the Hotstar website and create your account or sign in if you have one.
• Pick the Disney+ Hotstar package that you like.
• Unblock and watch Hotstar in USA. 

Cost of Disney+ Hotstar

Here’s how much a Disney+ Hotstar costs in 2023:

• Super Disney+ Hotstar costs (INR) ₹ 899/yr
• Premium Disney+ Hotstar costs (INR) ₹ 1499/yr
• Premium Disney+ Hotstar per month costs (INR) ₹ 299/yr

NOTE: There’s a huge library of free content available on Hotstar. To access that, you wouldn’t even need to sign up for the service or log in. However, if you do require access to the premium Indian libraries, you’ll need assistance from someone in India to help with the sign-up process. It’s because they’ll have to use a local Credit card to sign up.

There are a couple of websites that include offers or services in helping you get through with your payments.

Best VPN for Hotstar in 2023 – Detailed analysis

Only the best VPN can help you unblock a streaming service like Hotstar in the US or globally. However, you need to make sure the provider you choose is secure enough to leave you undetected. For this reason, we’ve tested and listed only 5 providers that are the best VPNs to watch Hotstar in USA or outside India. However, if I had to choose one VPN that currently works the best, it’s ExpressVPN. Here’s why: 

1. ExpressVPN – #1 Best VPN for Hotstar in USA

ExpressVPN is currently making huge rounds on the internet after revamping its entire service. It gives you access to 3000+ servers in 94 countries, with the inclusion of 3 virtual Indian servers via UK and Singapore. After testing the VPN, I can easily say it’s the best to watch Hotstar in USA or globally. ExpressVPN is also a great choice to watch the best streaming services in other countries. For instance, if you’re tired of watching Hotstar in the Philippines, you can change to a US server and watch Disney Plus in Philippines or other countries.

The speeds even on the Indian virtual servers were some of the fastest encountered. Over a local connection speed of 184.23 Mbps, I got 175.00 Mbps while connected to the India server via Singapore. That can assure you smooth access to Hotstar in USA, even though it’ll be a long-distance server to connect with.

Other than Hotstar, ExpressVPN can unblock numerous other Indian streaming services, like the famous SonyLiv. Even if you’re watching Hotstar on a gaming console like PlayStation or Xbox, you can connect to the VPN via a router using the ExpressVPN Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer. 

You can use this smart DNS proxy service on devices that don’t support VPN apps via a router. All this and more is why ExpressVPN is a favorite among users. Although, if you feel the VPN is too expensive, it offers way more than the other providers listed. You could freely run tests if you’re not sure, using the ExpressVPN free trial or its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Not too happy with the service? You can ask for a full refund. Apart from sporting great speeds, ExpressVPN is the best to watch Hotstar in USA because it’s secure. It operates using 256-bit encryption and supports major protocols (PPTP, OpenVPN, IKev2, Lightway, and L2TP/IPsec).

Get ExpressVPN for Hotstar

2. Surfshark – Watch Hotstar in USA on unlimited devices 

Second in line for the best VPN to unblock Disney+ Hotstar in USA is Surfshark. It has around  3200+ servers in 99 countries all optimized for streaming on multiple platforms. In its list, it includes about 3 virtual servers in India. Connect to any one of these and enjoy the latest Bollywood entertainment.

Apart from gaining access, another thing that makes this VPN a top choice is its superlative security measures. It operates on AES 256-bit encryption and covers all the major protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Shadowsocks).

Other Surfshark features include Clean Web, Multihop, DNS and IP leak protection, unlimited bandwidth, and GPS Spoofing. It also has a Hacklock and BlindSearch feature.

You can put this VPN to the test using the Surfshark free trial, or try out its 30-day refund policy for a longer testing period on multiple devices.

Surfshark offers much more than what’s already mentioned. It’s fast, and secure, offers unlimited device connections, and ample Indian servers to give you access to Hotstar and other streaming services. This is why Surfshark is a popular choice among users.

Get Surfshark for Hotstar

3. NordVPN – Unblock Hotstar in USA using SmartPlay 

This Panama-based VPN also ranks as having covered a wide range of server locations, making it another top choice for a Hotstar VPN; breaking through restricted sites.

 It has around 5500+ servers in 59 countries with virtual servers in India, opening up full access to unblock Hotstar from wherever you are in the world.

Besides the above, NordVPN is known to have some of the heaviest security features in the VPN market. NordVPN has military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, and support towards the major protocols (OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec).

There are other advanced features like a Kill Switch, a CyberSec feature that blocks malicious ads, DNS, and IP leak protection, unlimited bandwidth, an AD Blocker, and more. There’s also a unique SmartPlay feature that allows you to unblock Hotstar and more within countries with heavy restrictions and its SOCKS5 proxy. This feature can be used on those devices that don’t support VPN apps.

If you’re wondering how to watch Hotstar in USA or anywhere else, why don’t you first test out NordVPN using its free trial? You could also ask for a full 30-day refund and cancel your account, if not satisfied.

Overall, NordVPN is the best for acquiring access to Geo-blocked websites or streaming. It’s also why it makes one of the best VPN services to unblock Hotstar. Additionally, this provider also offers a business VPN called NordLayer.

Get NordVPN for hotstar

4. CyberGhost – Optimized servers for Hotstar

CyberGhost is quite a diverse VPN with great security, which is why it makes one of the best VPNs for Hotstar. Firstly, it is headquartered in Romania and follows a strict no-logs policy. Along with its ability to smash through restricted websites, it has one of the widest platforms of servers in its list.

It covers around 6000+ servers in 90 countries to be exact, with the inclusion of 22 Indian servers. All are more than capable of unblocking Hotstar in every country outside India.

If we’re talking about accessing Hotstar outside India, the US, UK, and Canada, you’re probably going to need a VPN that has the best security too.

CyberGhost has impressive security with 256-bit encryption, supports major protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP), a Kill Switch, and is DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak protected. The VPN also provides fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth.

CyberGhost also offers a free trial for a limited time but has a 45-day refund policy on top of paid subscriptions. This allows you to test the VPN for a longer time, with the surety of a refund during the time frame.

Get Cyberghost for Hotstar

5. IPVanish – The Scramble OpenVPN Traffic feature

IPVanish is usually great for unblocking US streaming services, however, it works just as well for Hotstar. When I tested and reviewed the app, I also looked into other aspects of the app, which is why it’s usually on the best VPN list.

It has around 2000+ servers in 75+ countries, which includes 8 Indian servers (New Delhi and Mumbai) in its list. So now, not only does it unblock Hotstar, but also the US Netflix library and other streaming services. There’s no actual free trial available, but you can test the VPN using its 30-day refund policy.

Its security includes AES 256-bit encryption, multiple protocols (OpenVPN, IKEv2, and L2TP/IPsec, unlimited bandwidth, a SOCKS5 web proxy, split-tunneling, and a lot more.

Also, did you know that IPVanish has now updated 10 device connections to unlimited simultaneous connections? That means you can enjoy Hotstar on multiple devices in one go.

Get iPVanish for Hotstar

Price of Hotstar in the US and UK in comparison to India

Let’s take the USA for starters. While people in India are paying around 14-15 dollars a year for premium access to Hotstar, the residents in the US will be paying double the amount for services with major restrictions.

• Price of Hotstar India – $4.30/mo. and $14.10/year.
• The price of Hotstar in the US – $9.99/mo. And $74.99/year.
• Price of Hotstar in the UK – £11.99/mo. and £59.99/year.
• The price of Hotstar in CA – $49.99/mo.

Hotstar – Compatible devices

Using a single Hotstar subscription, you’re allowed to watch it on up to 2 devices with Super, 4 devices with Premium, and 1 device on Mobile. Hotstar is compatible with the following devices:

• Android
• iPhone
• iPad
• Apple TV
• Chrome Extension
• Amazon FireStick
• Other Smart TVs
• Windows PC
• OSX Mac
• Chromecast

How to watch Hotstar in USA On different devices

We’ve been through the best VPNs for Hotstar and how to access it worldwide or outside India. Now, we move on to how to configure the Hotstar app on the various platforms you commonly use. It includes:

Watch Disney+ Hotstar in USA with the Best VPN 2022

• Look up Surfshark on the google chrome web store.
• You’ll find a blue button for adding it as an extension. Click on it.

• You’ll be redirected towards a pop-up, click on Add-Extension.

• Once you’ve added an extension, sign in to your Surfshark account.

• Click to connect to the VPN. And you’re in!

• Now you can pick and connect to any Indian server to access Hotstar.
• Once connected, go to Hotstar.com and stream Hotstar’s free content.

Do I have to change my regional location to download the Hotstar app?

In relevance to the above-mentioned, this is one of the more commonly asked questions. Hotstar is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. But, it’s not technically available in most parts of the world.

However, if you’re living in another country other than the ones mentioned, you should proceed with the following steps:

For Apple stores:

• Go to the “Settings” portion on your iOS.
• Click on your name followed by clicking on “iTunes & App Store”.
• Next, you click on “View Apple ID” and log-in your identification details if asked to provide them.
• Then click on “Country/Region”.
• After you’re in, there’ll be a few instructions to be followed and/or the option to change the settings.

For Google Play Store:

• Start by visiting the Google Pay page and sign in with your ID.
• Go to “Settings”
• Tweak around with your location settings, changing the location to India. You can also add an Indian address to the “Address” portion using a Fake Address Generator.

To conclude

Since Hotstar is listed among other Geo-restricted streaming services/websites and applicable in full swing to the people of India, that doesn’t mean you can’t access it from anywhere else around the world.

So, if you’re wondering how to watch Hotstar in USA or abroad, these top 5 VPN services (ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish) can make that possible. I shortlisted them on their overall competence or performance.

Also, I selected them based on their ability to unblock websites, secure your devices, and preserve your anonymity, worldwide. So, go on and enjoy unblocking Hotstar from the USA and anywhere else in the world!

The VPNs on this list usually offer the best affordable rates. You can keep track of them on our VPN deals and discount page.

FAQs – Watch Hotstar in USA

How do you download Hotstar from outside India?

To download Hotstar in USA, first choose a VPN for it, however, not just any VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it’s currently the best. Next, download and install the VPN on your device. Open the VPN, sign in and connect to a virtual India IP address. Go the Hotstar website and create your account. That’s all, you can now download and watch Hotstar from outside India or in the USA.

Can I watch Hotstar in USA?

No, you cannot watch Hotstar in USA without changing your IP address. Hotstar used to be available in the USA, but not anymore. However, with the best Hotstar VPN, you can easily bypass Hotstar geo-blocks and access the service in the USA and anywhere outside India. 

How can I watch Hotstar in USA with a VPN?

It’s easy, however, you need to get the best Hotstar VPN. You only need to subscribe and download the VPN on your device and connect to an India VPN server. Through that, you’ll easily be able to unblock and watch Hotstar in the USA with a VPN.

Why does Hotstar detect VPNs?

Hotstar does not allows access to the service outside India because it doesn’t allow rights to broadcast from abroad. However, with a strong and secure VPN like ExpressVPN, you can unblock Hotstar in USA and not get detected.

Can I use a free VPN for Hotstar?

You can, but it might not work. Free VPNs rarely offer India servers, and the speeds are usually extremely slow. It’s always better to get a premium VPN and watch Hotstar from abroad.

Can I get a free Hotstar account in USA?

Only if you already have a Hotstar account and are traveling to the USA. Otherwise, you still need to pay for a Hotstar account.