Best VPNs for Hotstar in 2024 (Watch Hotstar Everywhere)

Hotstar is an Indian media streaming platform launched in 2015 with a major focus on cricket matches. However, it now provides other content such as movies, television shows, sports, and music. Hotstar is geo-restricted as the content is only available in some countries while the largest library is only available to users with an Indian IP address. For people who want to access Hotstar content from anywhere else in the world, a VPN is necessary.

Apart from protecting the user’s device from malware and tracking, a VPN can help users gain access to geo-restricted content. With a VPN, you can set your location to the supported country and view blocked content. However, not all VPNs are fully compatible with Hotstar; in this article, we’ll detail to you the best VPNs for using Hotstar.

The Most Recommended VPNs for Hotstar

In this section, we’ll go through an in-depth review of the best VPNs for Hotstar. Though there are many VPN services that offer access to Hotstar, there are some factors to consider before settling for one. It is important to consider the network size, cost, security, speed, and reliability. Based on these criteria, we have selected the seven best VPNs for Hotstar.

Overall Best in Our Tests

ExpressVPN

Overall score: 9.8

• Super-fast servers
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Supports private protocol, Lightway
• Money-back guarantee

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ExpressVPN is our top pick for streaming Hotstar. It offers the fastest servers, able to deliver a delightful experience. ExpressVPN is the leading VPN service for streaming sites as it has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries across the globe. It is highly reliable and trusted due to its military-grade encryption and its ability to bypass geo-restricted content.

ExpressVPN has high-speed servers in India, making it ideal for accessing Hotstar. This means users can access all Hotstar content by using the server locations in India. The high-speed servers make it possible to stream Hotstar content in HD comfortably.

The service combines a 256-bit AES encryption standard with HMAC authentication for security. This offers the user complete anonymity, IP address protection, and data protection. To fully ensure users’ privacy, ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy which means the user’s internet traffic and web activity are not recorded, making it impossible to be monitored by internet service providers and external parties.

To ensure the user’s real IP address isn’t discovered if the connection drops, ExpressVPN has a kill switch feature that stops all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops for whatever reason. ExpressVPN is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux, so you can enjoy Hotstar content on any of your devices. It supports using a single subscription on up to five devices simultaneously and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cheapest Option

NordVPN

Overall score: 9.6

• Incredibly fast servers
• Great security features
• Verified no-logs policy
• Unblocks streaming platforms

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NordVPN is a VPN service with over 5,000 servers in 59 countries, including India. It has numerous servers in India, making it ideal for streaming Hotstar content. One amazing feature of this VPN is that it allows users to customize the VPN based on what they want: security/privacy, video streaming, or anti-DDoS.

NordVPN uses a 256-bit AES encryption standard which offers excellent protection and unrestricted web access. The provider also has CyberSec and Double VPN features. The Double VPN feature reroutes internet traffic through two servers while the CyberSec feature offers more protection against malware and viruses on the web.

To make sure the user’s anonymity isn’t compromised when using the service, there is a kill switch feature which stops all traffic if the connection drops. This and the DNS leak protection feature guarantees a secure streaming experience on Hotstar. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN has a no-logs policy which means the service doesn’t store users’ data.

Furthermore, the provider offers dedicated IP addresses and supports six simultaneous connections with a single subscription. NordVPN is available on Windows OS, Mac, iOS, Linux, and Android. There are lots of pricing and payment options including cryptocurrency. All plans on NordVPN come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for connecting multiple devices

Surfshark

Overall score: 9.5

• Allows unlimited simultaneous connections
• Integrates Stealth mode
• Multihop feature available
• 3,000+ servers

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SurfShark is a VPN service with many amazing features which make it perfect for streaming Hotstar content without interruption. SurfShark has over 1,700 servers in 63 countries, including India. It offers a choice of servers in Chennai, Mumbai, and Indore, making it very easy to unblock Hotstar. The servers are also fast and users can stream HD content without buffering.

For protection, Surfshark uses an AES 256-bit encryption standard and it supports the OpenVPN protocol. There is a kill switch feature to stop all internet traffic if the connection drops. Also, the service offers WebRTC and IPv6 leak protection to offer extra security. Its CleanWeb feature blocks intrusive ads while streaming content, while the DNS leak protection and obfuscation helps users get around firewalls, making it perfect for accessing blocked content.

One unique feature Surfshark has is that it supports unlimited simultaneous connections. Users can use a single subscription plan on unlimited devices. SurfShark also offers a 7-day free trial period alongside a 30-day money-back guarantee. Users can sign up anonymously and pay with cryptocurrency to keep all activities private, though the company already has a no-logs policy. SurfShark is available on Windows, iOS, Android, MacOS, and Linux, and can be manually configured for use on supported internet routers.

Broadest server reach in our tests

PrivateInternetAccess

Overall score: 9.2

• Great unblocking ability
• Supports WireGuard protocol
• Decent streaming speed
• Affordable subscription offers

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Private Internet Access (PIA) is a US-based VPN service provider recently acquired by Kape Technologies. It is an affordable VPN service with over 2,000 servers in 48 countries, including India. The company has a strict no-logs policy and does not record details about its users’ activities. This VPN is a good option for users who want to stream HD content on Hotstar.

PIA uses the AES-256 encryption standard as well as the OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP/IPsec protocols. In addition, the PIA Mace feature blocks ads, malware, and tracking, making the streaming process really smooth. It has other outstanding features such as split tunneling, Shadowsocks proxy, and Auto-connect. It also has a kill switch feature to block all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. For additional security, there is IP leak protection and obfuscation. PIA’s strong security features give you peace of mind while accessing Hotstar and other streaming sites. 

The app is available on Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and can be configured to work on supported routers. Users can use a single subscription on up to ten devices simultaneously. The subscription plans can be purchased with Credit cards, PayPal, and other online payment systems, including gift cards. For users who would like to give it a test run, there is a 30-day money back guarantee.

Easiest to use based on our tests

UltraVPN

Overall score: 0

• Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Cheap subscription plan. Starting at $6.99, save 22%

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UltraVPN is a VPN service owned by Network Connect with over 1,000+ servers in 58 countries, including India. This makes it suitable for streaming Hotstar content from anywhere in the world. UltraVPN has a one-click connect feature and no bandwidth cap, giving a perfect streaming experience characterized by a fast streaming speed with no buffers, connection breaks, or time-outs.

One of UltraVPN’s top features is the ‘Unlock the Web’ feature, which gives access to websites with geo-restrictions and censorships. This feature allows access to all shows, sporting events, and movies on Hotstar available in India.

For security, the VPN uses the military-grade 256-bit AES encryption protocol and a kill switch feature which shuts down internet traffic if the connection is unstable. UltraVPN has a no-logs policy, which ensures the user’s privacy is fully protected as details about their activity are not stored.

UltraVPN is available on all major operating systems such as Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android. What’s more, a single subscription can be used on multiple devices simultaneously and there is a 30-day money back guarantee on all plans.

Offers the best money-back guarantee

CyberGhost

Overall score: 8.8

• 45-day money-back guarantee
• 7,000+ reliable servers
• Strict no-log policy
• Tough security features

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CyberGhost is a Romania-based VPN service with over 6,400 servers in more than 90 countries across the globe. The VPN has over 20 high-speed servers in India alone, making it perfect for streaming Hotstar content. The high-speed servers enable streaming high-resolution content without connection breaks. Users do not need to worry about overcrowding or downtime when streaming as there are many alternative servers to choose from.

CyberGhost has NoSpy servers which are operated with a 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN protocol, together with 2,048-bit RSA keys and MD5 HMAC authentication. The service also comes with a kill switch and a no-logs policy, making it a very secure and private VPN. It includes a variety of features such as split tunneling, anti-tracking and ad-blocking, which help guarantee a smooth streaming experience. It also has a WiFi protection window which identifies unknown networks and alerts the user. The VPN then switches on automatically.

CyberGhost supports multiple payment options, including credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. The provider offers a one-day free trial period alongside a 45-day money-back guarantee on all long-term plans. CyberGhost is available on all major devices including Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Windows. It also works with third-party devices like Smart TVs and routers. A single subscription can be used on up to seven devices simultaneously, so you can enjoy Hotstar content on any of your devices.

Best for Android

PrivateVPN

Overall score: 9.3

• Advanced configuration settings
• Unblocks restricted platforms
• Compatible with most device types
• Supports the OpenVPN, L2TP and IPSec protocols

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30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

PrivateVPN is a growing VPN service with over 150 servers in 60 countries, including India. Despite the small size, PrivateVPN provides a reasonable service. It is particularly excellent for streaming high quality content flawlessly, making it suitable for Hotstar. It also allows unlimited bandwidth and maintains a good speed without connection breaks during streaming.

When it comes to security, PrivateVPN offers a lot. First, it uses the military-grade AES-256 encryption standard, making it impossible for cybercriminals to intercept your traffic. Then it comes with IPv6 leak protection, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch feature. It supports secure protocols such as OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, IPsec, L2TP, PPTP, and IKEv2. PrivateVPN is quite strict about its no-logs policy, which means users’ activities are kept private and anonymous.

PrivateVPN allows users to connect up to six devices simultaneously with a single subscription. The app is available on all major operating systems such as Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Android. To top it off, it offers a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscription plans.

Quick Guide

This is a quick review of the best VPNs that give full access to Hotstar. This quick guide will enable you to get a fair assessment of the VPNs to be reviewed at a glance. For more on all of our top VPNs, check out our VPN review page.

1. ExpressVPN: This is our top pick for Hotstar. ExpressVPN offers great connection speeds and full security. It fully unblocks Hotstar and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. NordVPN: NordVPN is a good option for accessing Hotstar. The service offers a huge network of servers in many countries including India.
3. SurfShark: SurfShark allows unlimited simultaneous connections and is particular about security and privacy.
4. Private Internet Access (PIA): This VPN offers users four Indian server locations and is excellent for unblocking Hotstar. It offers strong encryption and has a zero-logs policy.
5. UltraVPN: UltraVPN has an ‘Unlock the Web’ feature which helps users bypass censorships and geo-restrictions. It offers excellent security and no bandwidth cap.
6. CyberGhost: This is a budget-friendly option with fast servers and access to streaming services such as Hotstar.
7. PrivateVPN: PrivateVPN offers cheap subscription plans and good streaming speeds.

How to Watch Hotstar Using a VPN

For people outside India who want to watch restricted Hotstar content, there is the need to connect to a suitable VPN in order to bypass the geo-restriction. In this section, we’ll go through a step by step guide on how to unblock Hotstar with a VPN.

1. Subscribe to a VPN service: You can choose any of the VPNs we have reviewed above as they are all suitable for accessing Hotstar. You can subscribe at the VPN’s website and select any of the payment options to complete your registration.
2. Download the app: After registering, download the VPN app through their website or on your device’s app store. The VPNs we have reviewed all work on all major operating systems.
3. Choose a VPN server in India: After you download and launch the app, scroll through the server list and look for server locations in India and connect to one. Most VPNs either have a list or Map containing all the servers available on the VPN. Some VPNs will connect to the fastest server automatically. Once the connection is successful, the app will give a notification.
4. Watch: Cross check to make sure you are connected to a VPN server in India. Once this has been done, then you can navigate to Hotstar and access their content.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best VPN for Hotstar

Conclusion

This guide will help you with choosing a VPN suitable for streaming Hotstar content. Now, you don’t have to miss your favorite shows while you are outside India. The VPNs on our list are tested and reliable on all major devices, and whichever one you choose, you can rest assured you’ll get a good streaming experience.