Best VPNs for Hulu (2023)

Hulu has a huge wealth of content to stream, including countless TV episodes, movies, box-sets and now even live sports. However, its geo-restrictions are a real pain – Hulu is a geo-blocked streaming service, meaning that it’s only available to those within either the US or Japan; making it almost unusable for those who are travelling from those countries overseas, as well as anyone located permanently outside.

As many will know, Hulu has a stringent VPN / proxy ban, which makes it quite difficult to stream from either from a regular overseas connection, or even when using a VPN.

Some of the “premium” VPNs, fortunately, are a viable workaround and nowadays most of them can overcome even the harshest Hulu restrictions. With the right VPN, you’ll be able to unblock Hulu’s firewall and watch in HD from anywhere in the world.

One thing to be aware of is that using a VPN isn’t a foolproof solution in itself. Why? Because Hulu is known to routinely identify and block a load of VPN IP addresses (they seem to take it personally?!) – so be aware that not all VPNs will work.

Luckily, I have researched, tested, and created a list of the top Hulu VPNs that actually work in 2023. These VPNs are dependable, quick, and capable of getting around all of Hulu’s geo-restrictions, so you can watch all your shows and movies whenever you want 🙂 Pick the most suitable Virtual Private Network for your budget, and enjoy uninterrupted Hulu use right away…

How did I rank the best VPNs for Hulu?

Only the most dependable VPNs that can actually unblock Hulu made it on to my list, and as usual I took great effort in testing them all first. There’s a few things you need to be aware of from the outset.

First let’s consider the basics: VPNs with fast, secure tunnelling protocols are ideal for viewing Hulu (and really what you should be considering at the absolute minimum).

I have personally tested the speeds of the best VPN services around…

In order to guarantee a smooth streaming experience, I have personally tested the speeds of the best VPN services around: I looked at not only download speeds, but also the number of simultaneous connections allowed, app compatibility, and the ability to unblock other streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ too (after all, you’ll probably want to watch more than just Hulu…).

Features optimized for streaming, such as Smart DNS for “smart TVs” and gaming consoles, was also a major consideration, plus things like how many different server locations each VPN provided, as this can affect which content providers are accessible. And of course I made a note to provide low-cost alternatives for those on tighter budgets who don’t want to break the bank. 🙂

Based on this, I hope you’ll find the VPNs in this list to be the best options for unblocking Hulu right now; they provide the required throughput, capabilities, and pricing to make Hulu streaming a smooth experience regardless of your location. Let me know in the comments!

1. NordVPN – Best Choice for Unblocking Hulu

Frankly, NordVPN is an exceptional VPN for accessing Hulu USA as well as other geo-blocked streaming services – it effectively unblocks Hulu Japan too, allowing you to bingewatch the best shows likes Single Drunk Female, Impeachment and Arrested Development.

And what’s more, in addition to Hulu, NordVPN’s also easily capable of unblocking many other popular streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV and even Crunchyroll.

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.7
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	30 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$3.71/month (2-year plan)
💥 Current deal:	Get 75% OFF + 3 Months FREE at NordVPN

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Technically speaking, NordVPN is able to circumvent Hulu’s (and other streaming services) geo-restrictions thanks to its use of strong encryption protocols like OpenVPN as well as IKEv2/IPSec. While browsing Hulu’s extensive media library over NordVPN, these methods will keep your data safe and confidential too as the company has extensive privacy protections built-in. All of this comes as standard with every plan, too.

And don’t forget, NordVPN’s SmartPlay technology is fully compatible with Hulu and other streaming services, so you’ll be able to watch (or listen!) without interruption; this is particularly advantageous for those who prefer watching content on larger screens, such as smart TVs or even projectors. Of course, this feature also allows you to access geo-restricted content on Apple TV and other similar devices too.

It’s also worth pointing out that NordVPN does not keep any logs of your activity, meaning that your digital privacy will remain intact even as you stream – in other words, nothing about your activity will be retained by NordVPN. Hooray!

2. Surfshark – Best for budget-conscious users

Surfshark’s compatibility with essentially any platform is one of its greatest strengths.

And thanks to Smart DNS, you can bypass region locks on gaming consoles, media players, and even Apple TV. This allows you to watch your fav Hulu shows and movies on the huge screen, rather than on a little computer or mobile device.

The price of Surfshark is one of its main selling points and why we love it so much here at VPN Hound: it’s one of the cheapest VPNs out there, with a 24-month subscription costing just $2.30 a month. You can use it on as many devices as you want without worrying about exceeding any connection limits as there are unlimited simultaneous connctions here, regardless of which Surfshark plan you choose.

For more information, check out my Surfshark VPN review here.

So why isn’t Surfshark my number 1? Simply because NordVPN has a larger network of servers compared to Surfshark, offering more options for accessing Hulu and other streaming services.

NordVPN also uses the NordLynx protocol, which is designed for speed and security — in our testing we’ve conistently found it to be slightly quicker – which translates into less buffering and streaming issues. Don’t be put off though, Surfshark is still a great VPN and only just missed out on the top spot. 🙂

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.6
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	30 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$2.49/month (24 month plan)
💥 Current deal:	Click here for 60% OFF at Surfshark

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3. Ivacy VPN – Try for $1!

If you want to unblock Hulu and other services without breaking the bank, Ivacy VPN is a great choice – probably the best as it’s even cheaper than Surfshark.

With Ivacy, Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer are all available (and unblocked) for as little as $1 per month. Yes, really.

Ivacy VPN’s split tunnelling capability is particularly useful for streaming content from Hulu while bypassing the VPN for quicker speeds on other websites. Additionally, Ivacy provides multiple tunneling protocols, including the widely-used WireGuard protocol, and the industry’s strongest encryption (AES-256).

In the event that your VPN connection drops, Ivacy VPN’s kill switch will immediately cut off your internet access, giving you peace of mind.

Plus, you could give VPN access to your whole family…

Plus, you could, in theory, give VPN access to your whole family and let them all use it on their own devices, since all Ivacy plans alllow for up to 10 simultaneous connections. Yes that’s right… now unlike Surfshark (which offers unlimited connections), Ivacy “only” allows 10 – but frankly, how many connections do you need? 10 is a lot – I’d suggest more than most folk will ever use. 🙂

One thing to be aware of is that you’ll need to be selective in which server you use for Hulu – specialized servers are the way forward here.

If you have a Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device, you can connect to Ivacy VPN as they’re all supported, too.

So, Ivacy VPN has been chosen as my number 3 mainly on the strength of its ability to unblock pretty much any geo-blocked content. This is really where it excels, and the price is ridiculously cheap too. The only downside for me is that it’s based in Singapore, which isn’t the most privacy friendly location (even though it’s outside the Five Eyes) so the more paranoid among you may wish to use another VPN company.

Summary of top 3 VPNs: An Overview

Confused? Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the pros and cons of each of my top 3 Hulu VPNs so far:

4. PureVPN – Lesser known but still good

Rounding out the top four, next there’s PureVPN. For unrestricted access to Hulu and other streaming services, this really is an excellent VPN to choose: it can access regionally restricted content from services like Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube with clear ease. You’ll also get instant access to a wide variety of foreign libraries because of its 6500 servers located in 78 different countries.

PureVPN’s Always-On audit is a standout feature since it allows a third-party organization to continuously monitor or audit the service’s no-logs policy – and it’s pretty much the only VPN that does this.

Of course, like most VPNs nowadays, PureVPN works with a wide variety of tunnelling protocols, and because of this (specifically thanks to the SSTP protocol), users in China can connect to PureVPN.

Split tunneling, port forwarding, and a dedicated IP address purchasing option are just a few of the helpful extras you can get with PureVPN. For just $2.12 a month for 2 years, you’ll get unlimited access to all of their features so no need to spend any more. All 10 family members can watch regionally restricted content at the same time with these options – the same number as you get with Ivacy.

However, there are also some drawbacks here to consider: some features (like port forwarding) don’t work with PureVPN, which can be a drawback for some, and some users report experiencing connection issues with PureVPN in certain situations. Plus there’s also the problems they had in 2017 which still overshadow PureVPN to this day (arguably unfairly).

Finally, the Linux app for PureVPN is rather limited when compared to its apps for other operating systems… so if you’re a Linux user, I’d suggest you consider another VPN company.

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.4
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	31 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$2.08/month (24 month plan)
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5. ExpressVPN – Great, if slightly expensive

Rounding out my review of the best 5 VPNs for Hulu, here’s the final contender: ExpressVPN.

Unblocking Hulu with ExpressVPN is a breeze, as the provider’s combination of high throughput and low latency makes it ideal for streaming video – also works with  Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and many others. ExpressVPN uses its own proprietary Lightway tunnelling protocol to provide seamless streaming of Hulu across its global network of servers in 94 locations with zero interruptions.

Seamless streaming of Hulu across its global network…

ExpressVPN’s proven efficiency in working with a wide variety of platforms and OSes is another another benefit.: anyone can watch their favorite shows on just about anything. ExpressVPN also provides a router app and wonderful feature called MediaStreamer, enabling customers to watch even on devices that don’t have a VPN client installed. The 5 concurrent connections make it convenient to use for multiple family members, though it’s obviously not as many connections as some of the other VPN providers, so in many ways this is equally a drawback and a perk.

ExpressVPN’s pricing start at $6.67 per month, making it, well, not exactly the cheapest VPN service available… However, with a 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee, customers can make an informed decision. In general, ExpressVPN is the best VPN service to use for things like streaming, and it can bypass Hulu’s geo-restrictions like no other, but it’s sadly quite dear. If your budget stretches this high for a VPN, and you want full access to all streaming services, then ExpressVPN is a must.

⭐ VPN Hound User Rating:	4.8
📝 No logs policy:	No logs
💯 Money-back guarantee:	30 days
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
💵 Cheapest price:	$6.67/month (12 month plan)
💥 Current deal:	Sign up Now for 60% OFF at ExpressVPN

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Which VPNs CAN’T get round Hulu blocking?

There may be many VPNs to choose from, but not all of them can get around geo-restrictions on Hulu or other streaming services. Streaming sites are notoriously difficult to unblock because they aggressively restrict user IP addresses, as I’ll discuss below.

As an example, unblocking Hulu and other services is currently outside the capabilities of TunnelBear. And popular VPN Private Internet Access (PIA) has similar problems. The list of VPNs that I’ve found so far, is:

Why does Hulu try to block VPNs anyway?

Streaming services like Hulu must stick to the terms of the licencing agreements they have with content producers – or face penalties. By entering into these licencing agreements, Hulu commits to limiting the availability of certain movies and episodes to viewers in the licenced country.

Due to contractual obligations with content owners, Hulu must also implement measures to actively prevent folk from connecting from unlicensed regions – such as is often done via VPNs. In short, Hulu is just complying with the terms of its licencing agreements, which can be really annoying for VPN users seeking to access Hulu on the sly.

But thankfully it’s still possible to defeat this kind of censorship with specific VPNs.

How does this VPN detection work?

The primary goal of a VPN comapny is to protect irs user’s anonymity while they’re online.

Hulu knows this but they block VPNs anyway; they do this by identifying your IP address. In short, Hulu can block you by identifying your VPN’s IP and adding it to its blacklist. This is possible because a lot of VPN’s IP addresses are publicly available.

Companies like Google have mapped nearly all VPN IP addresses and can spot you through fingerprinting too.

It’s also worth pointing out that Hulu prevents VPN access when an unusually large number of users access the site from the same IP address – this is a big red marker. If this occurs, movingto a new server or getting a dedicated IP address might be a better option: because with a dedicated IP, Hulu will have a harder time identifying it as a VPN.

Sadly, it always costs money to get a dedicated IP on a VPN – there is no such thing as a free one!

Why would someone use a VPN for Hulu?

Unblocking Hulu from outside the US isn’t the only benefit of using a VPN: there are a number of additional benefits to using a VPN with Hulu.

Firstly, in order to circumvent ISP throttling, use a VPN (like NordVPN) is a pretty sure-fire method of speeding things up. Buffering and lag can sometimes occur, as streaming services use so much data. Because NordVPN (for example) encrypts your data before it travels over the internet, it is more difficult for your ISP to track your activity and slow down your connection – surprisingly, this is more common than you may think.

A virtual private network (VPN) can shield your connection from throttling and provide additional layers of security & anonymity to boot.

Plus, it’ll encrypt your communications and mostly shield you from hackers and other hazards – useful if you need to use public Wi-Fi while traveling too.

Using a VPN with Hulu also gives you access to additional features/content that you may not be aware of:  i.e. content from libraries in other countries. If, for example, you really want to watch a Japanese TV series or anime, or let’s say a Ghibli movie on Hulu not available in your location, you could get round this by connecting to a server in Japan and streaming it from there. Simple!

How would I connect to Hulu Japan?

Here’s the VPN Hound guide to using Hulu via Japan:

1. Choose a reliable VPN service that works with Hulu. I recommend NordVPN, but any of the VPNs listed on our website should work fine.
2. Install the VPN software on your device. Most VPN providers offer dedicated apps for various platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Download the appropriate app for your device and install it.
3. Launch the VPN app and sign in to your account. Enter your login credentials and connect to a VPN server in a location where Hulu is available, such as the United States or Japan.
4. Once you’re connected to the VPN server, open your web browser or the Hulu app on your device.
5. Log in to your Hulu account and start streaming your favorite shows and movies. 😉

Is using VPNs to access Hulu legal?

Accessing Hulu using a VPN raises certain legal questions. It’s against Hulu’s terms of service to use the service from outside the United States, and the business does take measures to prevent VPN users from accessing the site.

Nevertheless, there is no universal rule against doing so, and many users use VPNs to watch Hulu without any repercussions. There are no laws that we know of that explicitly bar the use of VPNs to access geo-restricted content, and in most countries, using a VPN for privacy and security purposes is perfectly lawful. An exception might countries like Russia or India.

Overall, it’s entirely up to you, and the information offered here is done for educational purposes only.

Can I use a free VPN to access Hulu?

Not really.

While it is certainly tempting in these tough economic times to try a free VPN to bypass Hulu’s restrictions, it’s vital to remember that there are risks associated with using most free VPNs. Many VPNs that are “free of charge” end up selling your data to advertisers or engaging in other shady business practises. 🙁

However, several freemium VPNs include rudimentary free tiers alongside more robust paying plans. These methods can be risk-free methods to test out VPN services before committing to one. Here’s a guide:

However, – and I can’t emphasize this enough – it’s important to note that free VPNs generally have fewer servers and a much lower chance of unblocking Hulu.

Help! My VPN isn’t working with Hulu: How To Fix

There are a few things you can do if you get an error notice when using a VPN when watching Hulu. It’s possible that they may still be able to see your true IP address, so be sure your VPN isn’t leaking it. Make sure you’re not leaking any information by checking your VPN’s leak prevention settings or use tools like this.

If your VPN is still not working with Hulu, try changing your server. Streaming services like Hulu actively search for and block the IP addresses of VPNs, so changing your server might help. If that doesn’t work, consider switching to a different VPN provider that is known to be able to bypass Hulu’s blocks.

Another solution to try is clearing your browser cookies. Cookies can collect information about your location, which Hulu may use to detect your real location. Clearing your cookies can help prevent Hulu from seeing your actual location.

• 🆕 Change VPN providers. If you’re using a VPN that is not on our recommended list, it might not be able to bypass Hulu’s blocks.
• 🍪 Clear your browser cookies. Cookies store information about your browsing activity, including your location. Clearing them can help prevent Hulu from detecting your true location.
• 📍 Disable or change your GPS location. If you’re using a mobile device, disabling GPS services can help ensure that your IP and GPS locations match, preventing Hulu from detecting your true location.
• 🌐 Change your web browser. If all else fails, try accessing Hulu from a different browser to see if that solves the problem.

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Verdict

In conclusion, it can be difficult to find a VPN service that’s compatible with Hulu – as I’ve discovered to my peril.

But here at VPN Hound I and my colleagues have done the legwork for you, testing and studying numerous VPN providers so you don’t have to. In summary, High-quality Hulu viewing and secure connections are available from a variety of VPN providers, including NordVPN, Surfshark, Ivacy VPN, PureVPN, and ExpressVPN.

Though TunnelBear, Private Internet Access, and HideMyAss are just a few VPNs that have trouble getting round Hulu’s VPN limitations – so avoid those.

It’s worth pointing out that Hulu makes an effort to prevent VPN traffic, so even the best VPNs may have trouble bypassing its restrictions and in that case you’ll need to find th ebest server to stream from. Knowing how to troubleshoot and switch to various servers or dedicated IPs is crucial in these situations.

If you’re outside the United States and can’t get your hands on your favorite shows without a VPN, you’re in luck. However, selecting a reliable VPN service that puts your security first is essential so don’t overlook it. Let me know in the comments how you get on!

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