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How to watch HBO Max with a VPN in 2024


As HBO Max is initially an American service, the service being accessible for most Americans makes sense. However, many know that HBO is not available in many parts of the world outside the US – HBO is only available in Asia, South Asia, Central Europe, and Latin America. HBO outlines the countries that can access their service in their FAQ, but if you’re located outside of these regions, access is problematic, to say the least.

Arguably the most reliable way to solve the problem is by using an HBO Max VPN provider – such a solution lets us route our traffic through another country, thus overcoming the block set by HBO.

  1. Head over to the website of NordVPN.
  2. Explore the pricing, then purchase access to NordVPN.
  3. Download NordVPN.
  4. Change your IP to originate from the country that’s not being blocked by HBO Max by following the instructions on the screen, then head over to the service - it should now be unblocked

Easy, isn’t it?

5 Best HBO Max VPNs in 2024

  1. NordVPN – the best VPN choice to access HBO Max overall.
  2. Surfshark – the second-best HBO Max VPN with over 3200 servers in 100 countries.
  3. AtlasVPN – significantly cheaper than most HBO Max VPNs, around 42 countries.
  4. PureVPN – HBO Max VPN that offers a lot of countries (78) to choose from.
  5. Proton VPN – a VPN for HBO Max with 8600 servers in 112 countries.

Why is VPN an advantage for HBO Max users?

A VPN is an advantage for users of HBO Max because of the many benefits it brings – people use VPN services to hide their true location, and since the location that is provided to the service is the location of the VPN server you’re connected to, many services (including, but not limited to HBO and HBO Max) can be tricked into thinking that your location is not what it really is.

Furthermore, people can employ VPNs to watch their favorite shows while traveling, and those who move can still fake their location to avoid restrictions when watching a movie or two. Not to mention that a decent VPN will always protect your Internet connection from hackers who might want to snoop on it!

The task of all VPNs is to adequately protect your identity and your online activity. Since many of them come with additional features such as password managers, data breach scanners, ad blockers, and related services, you can be sure: your data is safe whatever you do. Curious about how VPNs keep your data safe? Have a look through our detailed overview and find that out yourself!

Best VPNs for HBO Max in 2024 – detailed overview

Some of the best VPNs for HBO Max are the best VPNs people choose to use overall – and that’s no coincidence, really. Different VPNs offer different features, and all of them are fit to bypass HBO Max and watch movies and other stuff.

They differ because some have more servers than others do, while some offer additional features. We’ve tested the most widely used VPN services according to multiple factors (privacy, usability, customer satisfaction) and came up with these winners. Here’s what you need to know:

1. NordVPN – top VPN for streaming HBO Max

The best VPN to access HBO Max overallNordVPN is perhaps the most widely used VPN solution on the market. That’s not without reason – it’s constantly audited, recommended by the best privacy experts in the world, has many servers you can connect to, and is based in Panama, which means that it doesn’t have an obligation to keep logs.

NordVPN is the VPN to use with HBO Max no matter where you’d be: it has over 5900 servers worldwide, it’s the fastest VPN on the planet, and can unblock virtually any streaming service you can imagine: from Netflix to Prime Video and more.

NordVPN has this Dark Web Monitor capability which will immediately notify you if your details get leaked on the web, supports split tunneling, which means torrenting and streaming, and also offers the ability to get your own dedicated IP.

NordVPN can also be bought physically from retail stores in the US, including Best Buy, Target, and other stores. It’s recommended to pay cash for more anonymity – for those paying cash, their services may cost more than when paying online, so be aware of that.

2. Surfshark – solid HBO Max VPN with limitless devices

More locations to access HBO Max fromSurfshark is a competitor to NordVPN, so it’s no less good – it also keeps no logs, allows you to use as many devices as you wish simultaneously, supports multiple platforms (Android, Apple, and Linux are all in the list), has over 3200 servers in 100 countries across the globe, and as all good VPNs comes with a 30-day free trial.

With Surfshark, you will certainly be able to bypass all of the restrictions set by HBO Max: the VPN offers thousands of RAM-only servers, spectacular speeds, protection from DNS leaks, a bypasser feature that allows you to instruct certain applications or websites to bypass the VPN altogether, provides a kill switch in case your VPN connection drops, and has many other cool features: see them all here.

Surfshark also has headquarters outside of the Five Eyes alliance – in the Netherlands. However, for those extremely paranoid about safety on the web when using a VPN, that wouldn’t be a good option either – the Netherlands is part of the Nine Eyes alliance. Opt to use NordVPN or other VPN choices instead.

3. Atlas VPN – inexpensive VPN for HBO Max

The cheapest alternative to access HBO Max with unique features. AtlasVPN is a cheap alternative to all of the VPNs we mention: however, it’s no less good – with 42 countries to connect to, you will find your jam with no issues.

At the starting price of $1.64 a month, AtlasVPN will provide you with 1000 servers in 42 countries, unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, DAZN, and Amazon Prime Video, offer you ad protection, and provide you a SafeSwap feature that allows all of its users to use several IP addresses.

It works by utilizing the principle of rotation (your IP address changes as you browse), and as a result, your Internet traffic is routed through a bunch of different IP addresses instead of one IP address that you’ve initially changed your IP to.

Such features help bypass HBO Max and other services and protect users from advertisers while making them even more difficult to track. However, as AtlasVPN is one of the free options around, it’s not without its flaws either: the service is based in the US only adds to the fact.

4. PureVPN – HBO Max VPN with a huge server list

One of the least expensive choices to bypass restrictions PureVPN offers users servers in 78 countries to choose from for its VPN and comes with support for torrenting and port-forwarding as well.

PureVPN will help you bypass Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other services on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux, but it keeps a little of the information about us: it requires all of their users to provide their real names and also stores the day and the ISP using which the service was accessed (presumably to prevent cybercrime.)

Praised for its features, the service sometimes receives slack for the speed of its servers or not unblocking certain streaming services such as Netflix, so while it certainly can unblock access to streaming services, it’s far from the best choice for HBO Max.

Also, the company has been accused of forwarding logs to the FBI, so if you’re paranoid about privacy, you should steer away from PureVPN.

5. Proton VPN – security-focused VPN for HBO Max

The best free choice to access HBO MaxProton VPN is built by the people behind Proton services. Proton is known for its privacy-focused tools such as ProtonMail and others: the company offers a couple of services, including a Google Drive-like service called ProtonDrive, while their VPN service offers a free option with 3 countries and has a paid VPN option letting us access over 8600 servers in 112 countries.

The free tier of Proton VPN can be used to bypass streaming services such as HBO Max and Netflix, provides us with decent speed, and lets us connect to servers in the Netherlands, Japan, or in the United States: with more than 100 servers in over 60 countries, we should be able to access HBO Max without problems. Keep in mind that the paid options of Proton VPN reward us with better speed, support for torrenting and downloading, as well as high-speed streaming.

At the end of the day, the best VPN for HBO Max is NordVPN – the best free option would be AtlasVPN.

Comparing the best HBO Max VPNs

Now that you know which VPNs are best to use to access services provided by HBO Max, you would benefit from a comparison, right? Here you go:

BrandNordVPNSurfsharkPureVPN
ReviewReviewReviewReview
Rating4.9 / 5.004.8 / 5.004.3 / 5.00
Unblocks HBO Max?YesYesYes
ServersOver 5900 servers in 60 countriesOver 3200 servers in 100 countries6500 servers in 78 countries
Simultaneous ConnectionsSix (6)UnlimitedTen (10)
CompatibilityWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV StickWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV StickWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, DD-WRT applet
Audited Independently?YesYesYes, but only as of recently (the end of 2022.)
Lowest Price$2.99 a month for the Standard package (2-year plan)$1.99 a month for the 2-year plan$2.14 a month for the 2-year plan (3 months free)

How we picked the best VPNs for HBO Max

The best VPN offerings to bypass geo-restrictions set by HBO Max were cherry-picked in the following way:

  • Was the VPN built by a reputable company? We read the reviews, weigh both sides of the story, and make our decision.
  • How many people use the VPN? If the VPN is reputable, it should be used by a lot of people, right?
  • How many countries and services are supported by the VPN? The more countries are supported by the VPN provider, the better – same with services. If a VPN is able to unblock many streaming services, that’s always an upside.
  • Is the price of the VPN reasonable? The last thing we want is for the VPN to cost thousands – if it’s priced reasonably, though (or, better yet, being offered for free), that’s good!
  • Does the price/feature comparison make sense? The VPN you’re going to use has to match your expectations. Don’t worry – we’ve performed all of the work for you.

Picking the best HBO Max VPN for your specific needs is great. However, some of you may also want to explore free options, if any exist. Do they? Find out with us!

How about free VPNs for HBO Max?

HBO Max isn’t NASA – chances that free VPNs would enable users to unblock and use the service do exist, but pretty much all of them become paid after a month of use. If you are about to use such services, keep in mind that the best choice for you would be NordVPN – with more than 5900 servers in 60 countries, you will find your jam without issues. Do keep in mind that HBO Max servers block certain IPs originating from VPN providers – if one server doesn’t work, try another.

Watch HBO Max with a VPN on different devices

In order to watch HBO Max using a VPN and a different device than a PC, please choose a VPN provider that supports the device that you want to use. That means if you’re planning on using a VPN on Apple devices, choose a VPN that’s a fit for iOS, if you use Android use a VPN for Android devices, etc.

To make use of an HBO Max VPN on different devices, follow these steps:

  1. Choose a VPN that can access HBO Max. We recommend using NordVPN, which is now 74% OFF.
  2. Download it on your device and follow the installation instructions.
  3. Connect to a server in a location that is not blacklisted by HBO Max.

Now, the trickier part – how you will access HBO Max directly depends on the device you find yourself using. For this reason, we have prepared step-by-step instructions on how to use a VPN on different devices and operating systems to bypass geo-blocks:

Watch HBO Max on Your PC, Mac, or Phone (iOS or Android)After connecting to a location that’s not blacklisted by HBO Max, visit the webpage once again, and enjoy.
Watch HBO Max on Smart TVOn your smart TV, select Apps, search for HBO Max, select HBO Max, and click Install. After installing HBO Max, make sure to install NordVPN in the same fashion, then connect to a location that’s not being blacklisted, and enjoy your shows!

Why does HBO Max crash with a VPN?

If you ever found yourself using a VPN to access HBO Max, you’ve probably noticed that not all servers work so seamlessly to unblock the service. That’s because of one good reason – HBO Max servers work tirelessly to block IP addresses that are associated with VPN servers, and that’s why it’s so important to choose a VPN provider that has been tested to work with the service.

We can’t provide you with an exact list, but we’ll tell you this – pick a VPN from the list we’ve outlined, and try as many servers as you can – something will definitely work. If not, well, all of the aforementioned VPNs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get your money back, then try something else.

If you’re still not sure what to use, the best overall choice as far as VPNs are concerned would be NordVPN.

Best shows on HBO Max

As far as the best shows are concerned, they do vary according to the person that watches them – what’s best for us may not be best for you and vice versa, but we’ve compiled a list of the best shows you can watch on HBO Max according to the information we found on the web (all available seasons are available on HBO Max as well):

Show NameNumber of Seasons AvailableGenre
The Staircase1 (the show is no longer continuously shown on HBO Max)Drama-Mystery
Pennyworth3Drama, Action
Avenue 52Sci-Fi
House of The Dragon1Drama-Fantasy
The Peacemaker1Comedy / Action
The White Lotus1Comedy
And Just Like That1Romance
South Side3Comedy
Sort Of2Comedy
Los Espookys2Comedy / Horror

Your list may, of course, differ, so do your own research and watch what’s applicable to you – HBO Max has tons of shows available, so you’ll certainly find something for yourself as well.

And last but not least, you have to make sure that you’re using the best VPN for HBO Max – explore HBO Max with NordVPN today!

Final thoughts

In this blog, we’ve provided you with a list of the best HBOMax VPN solutions you can use to unblock and bypass the HBO and HBO Max services – since these services are not available to many countries outside of the US, we hope that this information has been useful.

As always, the list has been topped off by NordVPN, which is the best HBO Max VPN for most general use cases. Not only can NordVPN unblock HBO Max, Netflix, and other services, it offers intuitive apps for most devices, comes with 24/7 support, doesn’t log anything you do online, and offers a money-back guarantee.

If you’re still on edge about what VPN to choose, do your research: keep in mind the policy of the VPN, the number of servers and locations that are available, the balance between the price and the features, and glance at user feedback – finally, come back to CoolTechZone for detailed information.

And last but not least, take a look at our FAQs – perhaps we’ve answered a question you’ve had for a longer time.

FAQs

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