The Best VPNs for Unblocking Hulu
After testing 65 VPNs with Hulu, we were surprised by how many failed to unblock it. In fact, there are only five VPNs that consistently worked and we can truly recommend for the smoothest experience.
1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Hulu Overall
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Fast connection speeds into USA | One of the most expensive VPNs on the market |
16 US server locations | Many search engine CAPTCHAs on US servers |
Extremely user-friendly apps | |
MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) worked without issues | |
Very intuitive Firestick and Apple TV apps |
This overall rating is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
Unblocks Hulu: 9.9/10
Unblocks Disney+ Star: 9.8/10
Speed: 9.7/10
US Server Locations: 9.6/10
Streaming Device Compatibility: 9.3/10
ExpressVPN is our highest-rated VPN for Hulu, delivering very fast streaming speeds connecting to America from overseas.
When connected to any US ExpressVPN server, we didn’t experience any buffering or loading time.
There are no servers dedicated especially to unblocking Hulu, like the ones CyberGhost offers, but this doesn’t matter as all USA VPN servers successfully bypassed Hulu’s geo-restrictions.
This is because ExpressVPN operates a large US server network with regularly-updated IP addresses, specifically for getting around VPN blocks.
Here’s a list of the US states where ExpressVPN has servers:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
Watching geo-restricted Hulu content on our TV was also a breeze using ExpressVPN. The VPN’s Apple TV and Fire TV Stick apps, as well as its Smart DNS service MediaStreamer, worked infallibly.
The VPN’s apps have built-in DNS and IPv6 leak protection to prevent accidental exposures of your real IP address too. This makes it much harder for Hulu to detect you’re using a VPN.
ExpressVPN isn’t perfect, though. Its main drawback is its price. The cheapest subscription plan is double NordVPN’s.
Despite the pricier subscription, our review of ExpressVPN shows how the VPN service still represents great value, but NordVPN performs almost just as well with Hulu.
2. NordVPN: Best Alternative for Hulu
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Fast long-distance speeds | Less reliable than ExpressVPN on Fire TV |
16 US server locations | Renews at more expensive price |
Smart DNS service unblocks Hulu | Doesn’t accept PayPal |
IP and DNS leak protection | |
Affordable price on initial sign-up | |
Good Firestick and Apple TV apps |
This overall rating is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
Unblocks Hulu: 9.2/10
Unblocks Disney+ Star: 9.8/10
Speed: 9.7/10
US Server Locations: 9.4/10
Streaming Device Compatibility: 8.9/10
NordVPN has all you need for getting around Hulu’s VPN blocks. In our tests, NordVPN has never failed to unblock Hulu from abroad.
The VPN’s large number of servers in 16 US cities and 16 states all worked with Hulu.
NordVPN has servers in the following US states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- New York
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
This level of server coverage allows NordVPN to deliver extremely fast and buffer-free streaming speeds into America.
Just like ExpressVPN, NordVPN has a Smart DNS tool to unblock streaming apps on games consoles and Smart TVs, and a functional app for Amazon Fire TV.
While the VPN’s Firestick app gave us one or two issues, the Smart DNS service unblocked Hulu without a hitch on our test Apple TV and Xbox devices.
In addition to its unblocking capabilities, it’s worth knowing that NordVPN comes with excellent IP protection features.
IP and DNS leak protection are enabled by default, which combined with its effective kill switch, prevent Hulu from seeing your real IP location while the VPN is running.
NordVPN only costs $3.29 per month on a two-year plan. While this is cheaper than ExpressVPN initially, NordVPN renews at a similar cost to ExpressVPN.
3. CyberGhost: Best Cheap VPN for Hulu
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Three Hulu-optimized servers | Speeds can fluctuate |
Smart DNS available | No Apple TV native app |
Cheapest VPN for Hulu | Non-Hulu specific servers don’t work |
Well-designed Fire TV Stick app | Browser extensions have only one US location |
User-friendly apps | No IPv6 leak protection |
This overall rating is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our testing methodology.
Unblocks Hulu: 9.7/10
Unblocks Disney+ Star: 9.5/10
Speed: 8.5/10
US Server Locations: 8.5/10
Streaming Device Compatibility: 7.5/10
Even cheaper than NordVPN is CyberGhost, which comes with three Hulu VPN servers: one for Hulu on desktop, one for Android TV, and another for Fire TV Stick.
These specific servers all work to unblock Hulu. Hulu detects CyberGhost’s regular US servers, though, so stick to these Hulu-specific ones.
Our CyberGhost’s streaming tests reveal it’s less reliable than ExpressVPN and NordVPN. While the VPN unblocks Hulu most of the time, we have encountered temporary blocks at times.
The VPN also comes with a Smart DNS tool for Apple TV and games consoles, as well as a nicely designed Fire TV Stick app.
CyberGhost’s speeds connecting into the US from overseas have been impressive lately. Historically, CyberGhost has been relatively slow, however our recent US streaming speeds prove otherwise.
However, the VPN does suffer from occasional speed slowdowns, making it less consistent than ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Despite its inconsistency, CyberGhost only costs $2.03 per month on a two-year subscription. It’s therefore considerably cheaper than NordVPN, but slightly less reliable unblocking Hulu.