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The Best VPNs to Watch JioHotstar Outside of India

Updated Feb 18, 2025

Callum Tennent

Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society. Read full bio

The Short Answer

The only way to watch Hotstar from outside India is to use a VPN with Indian virtual servers. To access Hotstar’s subscription-based content, you’ll also need an Indian phone number. Currently, ExpressVPN is our top choice, with its two Indian server locations unblocking Hotstar on the widest range of devices and at the fastest speeds.

JioHotstar (commonly known as Hotstar) is a new platform formed by the merger of India’s Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.

Exclusive to India, Hotstar shows a wide range of content including the English Premier League, Star Cricket Live, the ICC Champions Trophy, Bollywood movies, and lots more.

To watch Hotstar from outside India, you have to use a VPN with Indian servers that can bypass the streaming service’s geo-restrictions.

If you don’t use a VPN, you’ll simply see this error notification:

“Hotstar content not available in your region.”

With the introduction of intrusive VPN data laws, many VPN services have removed their physical servers in India. This has made it much harder to find a VPN that works with Hotstar.

As things stand, only a handful of VPNs run virtual Indian servers, with even fewer beating Hotstar’s geo-blocks. In fact, many VPNs triggered the following error code in our tests:

“This content is currently not available in your region. Please select another content (NM 4031).”

Summary: The Best VPNs for Hotstar

Out of 61 VPNs we tested, the three below are the most effective at unblocking JioHotstar:

ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Hotstar Overall
Private Internet Access: Cheap Alternative to ExpressVPN
CyberGhost: VPN Free Trial for Hotstar

To be clear, there are no “free forever” VPNs that unblock Hotstar. CyberGhost is the only solution that allows free use for up to seven days without being billed.

Why Trust Us?

We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.

VPNs Tested with JioHotstar	61
VPNs That Unblock JioHotstar	8
Combined Years of Experience	50+

The Best Hotstar VPNs Reviewed

From the 61 VPNs we tested with Hotstar, we can only truly recommend the three below. You can compare them using the table below:

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Hotstar
Ranked #1 out of 61 VPNs for Hotstar
ExpressVPN
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Get ExpressVPN
Overall Hotstar Rating: 9.4/10
- Unblocks Hotstar
  9.9/10
- India Servers
  8.5/10
- Speed
  9.7/10
- Device Compatibility
  9.9/10
To learn more, read our VPN testing methodology.
- Virtual Indian server locations
- Reliable access to Hotstar outside of India
- Unblocks Hotstar content on Hulu, Disney+ & HBO Max
- User-friendly apps across all platforms & devices
- 7-day free trial & 30-day refund guarantee
- Expensive subscription
- Smart DNS doesn’t work with Hotstar
ExpressVPN‘s India servers reliably unblocked Hotstar in all of our tests. As the best VPN for streaming, it’s also able to unblock international sites that also offer Hotstar content and Indian sports, including Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Tubi, and JioCinema for the IPL.

ExpressVPN’s Indian servers aren’t physically located in the country, but its virtual servers still provide an Indian IP address that is just as effective for accessing Hotstar. Our tests found that the India via Singapore virtual server is the best choice for Hotstar.

ExpressVPN’s virtual India server locations worked to access Hotstar outside of India.

We encountered no buffering issues streaming Hotstar content from outside India thanks to ExpressVPN’s fast long-distance connections. Our speed tests worked out an average international speed of 85Mbps, which makes it one of the fastest VPNs you can get.

ExpressVPN apps are available for every major device and platform, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, and even routers. This enables you to stream Hotstar on multiple devices of your choice.

ExpressVPN costs $4.99 on its best price deal, which may put some off. However, in our experience ExpressVPN’s performance justifies the price. Whether you have an Indian phone number or not, it’s the easiest way to unblock Disney+ Hotstar content from outside of India.

You can also use ExpressVPN for free by signing up to a 7-day free trial via a mobile device, or by asking for a refund within 30-days of buying a subscription. This way you can stream Hotstar completely for free.

Get ExpressVPN
2. Private Internet Access (PIA): Cheap VPN for Hotstar
Private Internet Access
Add to compare
Get PIA
Overall Hotstar Rating: 9.4/10
- Unblocks Hotstar
  9.9/10
- India Servers
  8.5/10
- Speed
  9.7/10
- Device Compatibility
  9.5/10
To learn more, read our VPN testing methodology.
- Indian servers unblock Hotstar
- Fast international speeds
- Budget subscription price
- Accesses Hulu, Tubi & HBO Max
- 24/7 live chat support
- One Indian location only
- Doesn’t work with Disney+
- Smart DNS doesn’t work
Private Internet Access (PIA) comes with virtual India servers that work to unblock Hotstar from anywhere. It’s not as reliable as ExpressVPN, but it’s substantially cheaper at just $2.03 per month.

All of PIA’s servers are based in Mumbai. We’d like to see more Indian city options so you can switch between locations and find the best connection, but we experienced very little network congestion using the service.

We also experienced no buffering when streaming Hotstar. This is due to PIA’s average international download speed result: 86Mbps. This represents a speed loss of just 14%, which makes PIA faster than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

You can also use PIA to unblock Hotstar Specials on Hulu and access Hotstar content on Max and Tubi. However, our tests show that it’s been unreliable with Disney+ for some time.

PIA has simple apps for major streaming devices, including Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. But it’s let down by a Smart DNS service that doesn’t work.

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3. CyberGhost: VPN Free Trial for Hotstar
CyberGhost VPN
Add to compare
Get CyberGhost
Overall Hotstar Rating: 9.0/10
- Unblocks Hotstar
  9.1/10
- India Servers
  9.4/10
- Speed
  8.5/10
- Device Compatibility
  8.3/10
To learn more, read our VPN testing methodology.
- 100% free trial on desktop and mobile
- India servers unblock Hotstar
- Cheap subscriptions
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Mumbai location only
- Slower than ExpressVPN & PIA
- Connection issues and bugs
If you want a free VPN for Hotstar, we recommend using CyberGhost. The service’s Mumbai server works with Hotstar and it offers 100% VPN free trials on desktop and mobile for up to seven days. You can also claim your money-back within 45 days.

If you want to stream Hotstar content on other international streaming sites, CyberGhost also works for Max, Hulu, Tubi, and Disney+.

CyberGhost’s average international speed is a 81Mbps, a respectable speed given the distances involved, although it is considerably slower than ExpressVPN and PIA.

We also didn’t enjoy using CyberGhost’s apps as much as ExpressVPN’s, which are more intuitive and quicker to function. CyberGhost’s connection can sometimes freeze your internet and stop it working.

If you did choose to subscribe to CyberGhost, it only costs $2.03 per month on its best deal. This is equal to PIA VPN, but PIA offers better overall performance and therefore more value for money.

Get CyberGhost

How to Watch Hotstar Outside India Using a VPN

How to Watch Hotstar Outside of India

Subscribe to a VPN that has Indian servers and unblocks Hotstar. We recommend ExpressVPN.
Download the VPN, login, and connect to an India server.
Go to hotstar.com/in and subscribe to Hotstar. You will need an Indian phone number to do this.

If you do not have access to an Indian phone number, there is a free version of Hotstar that does not require you to create an account. You only need to get an Indian IP address with a VPN. However, this version has a restricted library, ads, and caps video resolution to 360p.

Unfortunately, our research shows that if you do not have an Indian phone number there is no way to get the full premium version of Hotstar, even if you use a VPN.

Most websites ignore this fact, or suggest purchasing a virtual phone number or paying a third party. But there are other, safer ways to access Hotstar content.

That’s because, even if you don’t have access to an Indian phone number, you can still watch most Hotstar content through other streaming services.

Hotstar is owned by Disney, which distributes its Hotstar content to other regions through other streaming services it owns, such as Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu (all of these are available as the Disney Bundle package in the US). It also rents its content to services like Max and Tubi. A top VPN for streaming allows you to access all of these services from anywhere.

For example, popular Disney+ Hotstar titles like Bahut Hua Sammaan, Criminal Justice, City of Dreams, and Special Ops are all available if you have access to Hulu.

ExpressVPN Unblocking Hotstar Specials on Hulu

Most Hotstar movies are available on Hulu, listed as ‘Hotstar Specials’.

Our VPN research also shows that you can use a VPN to stream the IPL for free through Jio Cinema, access F1 for free through RTBF Auvio, and stream the English Premier League cheaply on Setanta Sports.

We maintain data on each VPN’s performance with every major international streaming service, so you can use the table below to see which VPN accesses the international streaming services that show Hotstar content:

ExpressVPN and PIA VPN offer complete solutions to accessing Hotstar content. They enable you to access both the paid and free version of Hotstar India, alongside every other international streaming service that Hotstar content is also available on.

VPNs That Don't Work with Hotstar

Based on our Hotstar-specific tests, most VPNs weren’t able to unblock the Indian streaming platform, including very popular names.

We’ve listed below some of the more notable VPNs that currently don’t unblock Hotstar India:

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield's free VPN app for iOS

Hotspot Shield can assign you an Indian IP address via a virtual server location. However, it did not work to access Hotstar from abroad in our tests.

NordVPN

NordVPN's app for iOS

Despite being an impressive VPN in most areas, our streaming tests show that NordVPN is unreliable at bypassing Hotstar’s geo-restrictions.

PureVPN

PureVPN's apps for Android and iOS

PureVPN’s India virtual server worked with Hotstar in our tests. However, the VPN’s long distance speeds aren’t as good as ExpressVPN’s or PIA’s. It also cannot unblock Hotstar content on Hulu.

How We Test VPNs for Hotstar

To find the best VPN to watch Hotstar, we tested each VPN against the following criteria

Reliably Unblocks Hotstar (40%): We tested each VPN with Hotstar to check that it bypassed Hotstar geo-restrictions, allowing us to stream Hotstar outside of India.

India Server Locations (30%): Lots of India servers help to prevent server congestion and deliver optimal performance. It enables you to switch between servers if one isn’t currently working with Hotstar.

International Download Speeds (20%): Fast download speeds allows you to stream Hotstar in high resolution and without buffering. We collect download speed results from multiple international locations to determine each VPNs average international speed.

Streaming Device Compatibility (10%): VPN for Hotstar should be available as an easy-to-use app on various streaming devices, including Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. This enables you to stream Hotstar however you want.

The table below shows how each VPN scored in each testing category:

FAQs

Do I Really Need a VPN to Watch Hotstar Abroad?

Yes, you need a VPN to watch the Indian version of Hotstar from outside India.

That said, there are local versions of Hotstar available in Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK. If you’re in these countries, you do not need a VPN to access Hotstar.

Also, most Hotstar content is available without a VPN in the US if you subscribe to the Disney Bundle package.

Are There 100% Free VPNs for Hotstar?

There are currently no completely free VPNs that work with Hotstar. All the free VPNs we tested don’t have Indian VPN servers, or can’t bypass Hotstar’s geo-blocks.

TunnelBear Free used to offer free VPN servers in India, but these were removed following India’s new law on VPN data.

Psiphon is a free VPN with a server in India, but it couldn’t unblock Hotstar in our recent tests.

To unblock Hotstar risk-free, we suggest using CyberGhost. It offers a number of free trial options plus a 45-day money-back guarantee.

How Do I Fix Error Code NM 4031?

When Hotstar detects a VPN connection, it displays the following error message: “This content is currently not available in your region. Please select another content (NM 4031).”

The reason why you’re seeing this error message is because the streaming service has blocked your VPN IP address.

To fix this issue, try connecting to another server location in India using your existing VPN.

If that doesn’t work, then you have no choice but to use one of our recommended VPNs, which still work with Hotstar.

What Can I Watch on Hotstar?

With thousands of channels, JioHotstar has the largest media library in India.

Alongside Indian Bollywood movies, TV shows, and news, there are thousands of English-language titles, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. Some of the most popular content hubs include:

Asianet
Disney+
FOXlife
HBO Original Programming
Hotstar Specials
Showtime
StarPlus
Star Sports

There is also an extensive selection of sport available, including the NFL, English Premier League, Bundesliga, cricket, Formula 1, tennis, martial arts, kabaddi, hockey, and golf.

Some content is even available through Hotstar’s free account, although most live sport is only accessible via a premium account.

Is Hotstar Available in the US?

Since November 30, 2021, Hotstar is no longer available in the US as a standalone service.

But, some of Hotstar’s content is available via the Disney Bundle package that includes Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu.

For instance, many Bollywood movies and Indian TV shows on Hulu are labeled ‘Hotstar Specials.’ Sports fans can also watch cricket, soccer, and other popular Indian sports on ESPN.

Importantly, while the Disney Bundle package is similar to the full Hotstar catalog, it’s still not as comprehensive as Hotstar India.

The Best VPNs to Watch JioHotstar Outside of India

The Short Answer

Why Trust Us?

The Best Hotstar VPNs Reviewed

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Hotstar

ExpressVPN

2. Private Internet Access (PIA): Cheap VPN for Hotstar

Private Internet Access

3. CyberGhost: VPN Free Trial for Hotstar

CyberGhost VPN