The Best VPNs for HBO Max & How to Fix Your VPN Not Working

Since 2016, we’ve tested 65 VPNs to find the most effective at unblocking HBO Max.

From 34 VPN services that currently work with HBO Max, only five (three premium, two free) truly stood out in our tests.

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for HBO Max

Pros	Cons
Unblocked HBO Max on all 16 US server locations	Expensive short-term plans
Fast & reliable international connection speeds	Smart DNS only unblocks US and UK services
Worked with all international HBO Max libraries we tested
Well-designed and user-friendly applications
Excellent Fire TV Stick and Apple TV apps

ExpressVPN remains the best VPN for unblocking HBO Max from abroad.

It’s impressive how consistently all of ExpressVPN’s US servers unblocked the American content library in our tests. The VPN also unblocked all other HBO Max libraries we tested it with, including popular catalogs like Mexico, Brazil, and Spain.

As international streaming speeds go, ExpressVPN delivered outstanding speed performances. We recorded a download speed loss of just 15% connecting to servers around the world.

These fast international connections resulted in not a single buffering issue while streaming HBO Max from abroad.

Device compatibility and software usability are also areas where ExpressVPN shines. The VPN’s compatibility with such a wide range of streaming devices is remarkable. No other VPN comes close.

In addition to its excellent computer and smartphone software, we found it particularly easy using ExpressVPN with Apple TV and on Fire TV Stick thanks to its bespoke apps.

To stream HBO Max on Roku, we used ExpressVPN’s exceptional (and rare) VPN router app, and on PlayStation and Xbox its Smart DNS solution called MediaStreamer.

The one downside of MediaStreamer is that you can only use with US and UK streaming services, so it will only work with the American HBO Max library.

In our experience, ExpressVPN is better than any other VPN at unblocking geo-restricted streaming services, which is why it’s also the best Netflix VPN we’ve tested.

While it’s outstanding for unblocking HBO Max, ExpressVPN is not cheap. If it’s too expensive for you then consider using NordVPN, which is cheaper on the initial two-year subcription (although it renews at a higher price than ExpressVPN).

2. NordVPN: Best Alternative for HBO Max

Pros	Cons
Consistent access to HBO Max in the US and around the world	Doesn’t accept PayPal
Very fast international streaming speeds	Renews at a much higher annual subscription price
16 US server locations available	Firestick has some usability issues
More affordable than ExpressVPN on sign-up	Apps aren’t as well-designed as ExpressVPN
Smart DNS solution works with HBO Max USA

NordVPN falls behind ExpressVPN in several of our key HBO Max testing categories, but only very slightly. Despite the marginally weaker performance, we happily recommend NordVPN if ExpressVPN is too expensive for you.

NordVPN unblocks HBO Max on almost all its 16 US server locations. The easiest way is to use its automatic US server selection, although one or two US locations didn’t work in our latest tests.

We were also able to access HBO’s international catalogs, like with ExpressVPN, using a variety of NordVPN apps. Its simple Fire TV Stick app and Smart DNS tool rarely failed in our tests, although ExpressVPN never failed.

Moreover, NordVPN’s applications aren’t as eye-pleasing as ExpressVPN’s, particularly the Windows and macOS software.

When it comes to streaming HBO Max, NordVPN is a great alternative to ExpressVPN, particularly in light of its cheaper subscription price.

Compared to ExpressVPN’s $6.67 per month, NordVPN only costs $3.29 – more than 50% cheaper. However, NordVPN will renew at a much higher subscription price.

3. Surfshark: Best Cheap VPN for HBO Max

Pros	Cons
Cheapest VPN for HBO Max	Not all US servers unblocked HBO Max
Highest number of US server locations	HBO Max servers are not labeled
Good international speeds	Slower than ExpressVPN and NordVPN
Great Fire TV Stick app	Slow server connection times at times
Smart DNS worked smoothly with HBO Max USA

Surfshark worked with HBO Max on many of its 25 US server locations, but not all of them. This one of the main reasons why it’s not as good as ExpressVPN or NordVPN to unblock HBO Max.

Finding a Surfshark server that could unblock HBO Max was somewhat of a guessing game. As of writing, the automatic US server location connection works well, so we recommend you use that one if you choose to use Surfshark.

An area where Surfshark did beat ExpressVPN and NordVPN was streaming HBO Max via its Fire TV Stick app. In fact, Surfshark proved to be the best option during our testing, thanks to the app’s great usability and much faster server connection times compared to its computer and mobile software.

Also, Surfshark’s Fire TV stick app comes with a split tunneling setting, which allows certain apps to use the VPN connection and others your normal line.

Overall, Surfshark isn’t as fast or as reliable as ExpressVPN or NordVPN to stream HBO Max, but it is considerably cheaper. The VPN service only costs $2.21 per month on a two-year subscription.

Sadly, there aren’t many safe free VPNs that can bypass HBO Max’s geo-blocks. The only two we can recommend are Windscribe and PrivadoVPN. Both offer free apps that beat HBO’s VPN blocks relatively easily.

Windscribe is more reliable than PrivadoVPN, but the latter delivered much faster streaming speeds in our tests.

We found Windscribe’s speeds fluctuating a lot, often resulting in intermittent blurriness.

The main issue with using both free VPNs is that they only offer 10GB of free data each month. This limits how much you can realistically stream.

If you want to watch many hours of HBO Max, then you’ll have to upgrade to their premium version, or choose a different VPN.

We don’t recommend any other free VPNs for HBO Max. The vast majority don’t work, and some free VPNs are even dangerous to use.

Not all VPNs work with HBO Max. HBO tries to detect VPN connections and block access outside permissible regions.

You’ll know your VPN isn’t working if you see the error message “Not in Service Area or VPN Detected” or “Sorry, HBO Max isn’t available in your region yet.”

1. Change Your HBO Max Account Password

After using a VPN with HBO Max for a while, you might experience the service blocking you from logging in, stating that your username and password is incorrect even if you haven’t changed it.

We suspect HBO Max does this when it detects many different IP addresses logging into your account. You can easily fix this by resetting your password via HBO Max account settings.

2. Connect to a Different US VPN Server

HBO Max’s detection methods aren’t as sophisticated as those used by BBC iPlayer or Netflix. Connecting to a different US server often works to unblock HBO Max.

3. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

If changing server doesn’t work, delete your web browser cookies and cache to remove traces of your geo-location.

Similarly, you can also try accessing HBO Max in a Google Incognito or Firefox Private Browsing window.

4. Change VPN Protocol

If the current VPN protocol your VPN app is using isn’t working with HBO Max, try using a different protocol. You can change this in the VPN’s settings.

In our streaming tests, we found that ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol and NordVPN’s NordLynx are the best for bypassing HBO’s VPN blocks.

5. Check for IP or DNS Address Leaks

If your VPN leaks your real IP address, HBO Max will detect it and block you from streaming its video content.

Use our VPN leak test tool to check that your VPN is secure and doesn’t leak your IP and DNS credentials.

6. Contact Your VPN’s Customer Support

You can always contact your VPN’s support team, asking them for recommended servers for unblocking HBO Max.

The best VPN services offer 24/7 live chat support, so you can get a prompt answer on which servers work best for streaming.

7. Use Smart DNS

If you’re still encountering problems with your HBO VPN, use the service’s Smart DNS tool, if available.

The tool changes your default DNS servers and replaces them with US servers. It’s an easy to way to unblock HBO Max on Apple TV and games consoles.

8. Use a Residential IP Address

Residential IP addresses belong to household internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon.

In other words, residential IP addresses appear the same as regular IP addresses for US-based internet users.

In order to get a residential IP address, you’ll have to buy one separately from a VPN service. Windscribe is the best VPN to offer residential IPs.

While Windscribe is the best free HBO VPN, residential IP addresses are only available to paid subscribers, and cost extra.

If none of the troubleshooting steps above work, it most likely means your VPN isn’t equipped to beat HBO Max’s geo-restrictions.

Even good VPNs like CyberGhost and IPVanish don’t work with HBO Max. If you want to avoid VPN detections, stick to our recommended VPNs for HBO Max.

Trying a better VPN is the best course of action for other streaming services too, for example to bypass Hulu VPN blocks.

The video below shows you how to use a VPN with HBO Max. We’re using ExpressVPN here, but the process is identical for other VPNs:

If you want to stream American HBO Max from outside the United States, you’ll need two things: a good VPN, and access to a US payment method.

If you don’t have a US payment method, we’ll walk you through other ways to get HBO Max.

If your HBO Max VPN still isn’t working or your VPN is detected, try these troubleshooting tips.

How to Pay for HBO Max Outside the US

If you want to subscribe to HBO Max USA even if you don’t have an American payment method, you can still do so using the four methods outlined below.

 

Method 1: Use an HBO Gift Card

The easiest way to subscribe to HBO Max from outside the US is to purchase a HBO gift card. You can buy one from any country.

That’s it. It’s an incredibly simple way to get HBO Max from anywhere.

To learn more about redeeming HBO Now gift cards, read this helpful article.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party Card Service

Another easy way to sign up for HBO Max is to use US card payment services like StatesCard or USUnlocked, which have guides for HBO Max specifically.

For a small fee these payment card services provide US payment details and US zip codes that can be used to register for HBO Max.

Method 3: Create a US Apple ID

Getting a US Apple ID and paying for HBO Max isn’t as easy as just changing your region in App Store settings.

You need to start from the bottom up and pay with a US gift card. You also need an Apple computer, like an iMac or MacBook.

Follow these steps to get a US Apple ID and pay with a US gift card:

1. Connect to a US server with your VPN.
2. Open iTunes and sign out of your account if you already have one.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the iTunes window and select the option Country or Region in the bottom right corner.
4. Now create a completely new Apple ID account. Select the United States as your Region/Country if it hasn’t automatically changed already.
   

   Choose the United States as your country when creating a new Apple ID.

5. It’s essential that you do not include any payment information as part of your new account. Select None when asked to include payment information and insert a random US address.
   

   Make sure to select ‘None’ as a payment method.

6. With your new US Apple ID registered, purchase a US gift card for iTunes – enough to cover the cost of HBO Max. We recommend that you use Best Buy or My Gift Card Supply.
7. Once purchased, open the Apple App Store, head to the bottom of the window, and select the Redeem option. Sign in with your new US account if you haven’t already. In the screen that follows, enter the code of the gift card you purchased.
8. With credit now tied to your account, you can use your VPN to connect to a US server and sign up for HBO Max, paying with your iTunes gift card.

Method 4: Create a US Google Account

If you don’t use Apple devices, you can also get HBO Max on Android devices by setting up a US Google account.

HBO Max displays different catalogs based on your geographical location. This location is determined by your IP address.

The table below lists the number of content titles available in 12 of the countries where HBO Max is available:

HBO Max Region	Number of Titles
USA	3,138
Mexico	2,926
Perú	2,925
Argentina	2,924
Chile	2,923
Colombia	2,923
Venezuela	2,922
Brazil	2,773
Spain	2,110
Netherlands	2,169
Denmark	1,591
Sweden	1,582

As the table shows, the most content-rich libraries are those in the USA and in Latin American countries, like Mexico and Brazil.

On the other hand, catalogs in European countries like Spain and Netherlands have significantly less video content available.

Generally speaking, the American library is the best for English speakers, the Mexican one for Spanish speakers, and the Brazilian one for Portuguese speakers.

We tested 65 VPNs to determine which services meet our HBO-specific testing criteria.

The table below summarizes how the best HBO Max VPNs performed in our key testing categories:

The best VPNs for HBO Max access the geo-restricted streaming service quickly, consistently and without issues.

Top HBO Max VPNs deliver fast long-distance network speeds to ensure smooth, buffer-free streaming from abroad thanks to a large pool of streaming-optimized US servers.

A good Fire TV Stick app and Smart TV compatibility is important, too, to watch HBO titles on larger screens.

An effective Smart DNS feature is equally ideal to stream content on devices that don’t support VPN applications. These include Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, and more.

Moreover, a VPN should be easy to use and come with helpful customer support with knowledge of HBO Max.

Our overall HBO Max VPN rating is calculated based on the weighted value we assign to each testing category:

• Reliable access to HBO Max: 40%
• Speed: 20%
• US Server locations: 20%
• Streaming device compatibility: 20%