Disney+ Hotstar is a popular India-based streaming platform where you can watch hundreds of Indian TV shows and movies. Unfortunately, it’s geo-restricted in America and has a limited content library outside of India, even if you have the Disney+ bundle.
If you want to watch Hotstar India in the USA, the easiest way is to use a VPN. It’ll allow you to connect to a virtual Indian server so you can get a Hotstar subscription and enjoy the ongoing cricket match between Australia and India.
Since most VPNs don’t work in India, you’ll have to use one that has virtual servers in the country. Connecting to a virtual Indian server is simple and takes only a few minutes.
How to watch Hotstar India in the USA with a VPN
- Choose a VPN that you prefer.
- We recommend ExpressVPN because of its secure and fast virtual Indian servers.
- Download the VPN on your device.
- Find and connect to an Indian server.
- Start watching Hotstar in the USA!
Why is Disney+ Hotstar not available in the USA?
Disney+ Hotstar isn’t available in the USA due to geo-restrictions and because it’s only for people in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
It used to be available in America, but was discontinued in late 2021. The Indian version of Hotstar has the largest variety of content, ranging from sports events to TV shows and movies.
If you try to open Hotstar India in the USA, you’ll most likely encounter an error telling you that either the content isn’t available in your region.
What you’ll see if you try to access Hotstar India in the USA.
You can purchase the Disney+ bundle, but it doesn’t have as much content as Hotstar India.
What are the best Disney+ Hotstar VPNs?
With the best Disney+ Hotstar VPN, you’ll be able to change your IP address by connecting to virtual servers in India. Here are the top 3 VPN services:
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Hotstar India in 2024
- Watch Hotstar with ExpressVPN’s virtual Indian servers
- Get fast speeds while watching Hotstar with Lightway protocol
- Protects your online traffic with its security features
- Expensive VPN
- No trial version
ExpressVPN was one of the first VPNs to start using virtual Indian servers when the country passed new laws against VPN services. It has Indian servers based in Singapore and the UK. You can use them to unblock Hotstar India from the USA.
| Location | British Virgin Islands |
| Number of servers | 3000+ in 94 countries |
| Price | Starting from $6.67 per month |
Lightway protocol will ensure that you get maximum security and speed, so you can watch your favorite Indian shows and movies without any stuttering. ExpressVPN comes with a kill switch, split tunneling, and more security features to help you keep your online data safe.
ExpressVPN’s virtual Indian servers are fully capable of unblocking Hotstar India.
You can get the VPN for $6.67 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a trial version for any device.
2. Private Internet Access – Cheap Hotstar India VPN with a customizable app
- London-based Indian virtual servers
- Audited by a Big Four firm
- Lets you customize the app
- Located in a Five Eyes country
- App customization can be confusing for new users
Private Internet Access is the best choice for those who want an affordable VPN for unblocking Hotstar India. Its virtual Indian servers will help you gain access to the large content library that’s blocked in the USA.
| Location | Colorado, USA |
| Number of servers | 10,000+ in 84 countries |
| Price | Starting from $2.03 per month |
The apps can be customized, so you can easily remove or add information that’s important to you.
PIA’s apps are unique in that they can be customized.
Its WireGuard protocol ensures fast speeds and tight security, allowing you to enjoy Indian content without worrying about getting blocked by the site.
PIA has been audited by one of the Big Four firms, Deloitte. You can get it for just $2.03 per month with a money-back guarantee of 30 days.
3. Surfshark – Disney+ Hotstar VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections
- Includes 50 virtual Indian servers
- Comes with several advanced security features
- Has unlimited simultaneous connections
- Located in a 14 Eyes country
Surfshark is another affordable option for watching Hotstar India in the USA. Not only is it fast, but it’s also incredibly secure thanks to all the advanced features it comes with. It has 50 virtual Indian servers, based in the Netherlands, London, and Singapore. All of them are capable of unblocking Disney+ Hotstar.
| Location | The Netherlands |
| Number of servers | 3200+ in 100 countries |
| Price | Starting from $2.49 per month |
You can use Surfshark on unlimited devices simultaneously so it’s perfect for friends and family who want to split the cost. It uses WireGuard and has features like Rotating IP (which helps with avoiding detection), Multi-Hop servers, and a kill switch. For more features, check our Surfshark review.
Surfshark’s virtual Indian servers.
Surfshark is available for $2.49 per month and has a free 7-day trial version for Android, iOS, and macOS.
Why do you need a VPN to watch Hotstar outside India?
You need a VPN to watch Hotstar outside India because of location restrictions. Here are some other reasons why you should use a Hotstar VPN:
- Increased protection – A premium VPN will use advanced techniques to prevent your DNS requests from leaking, allowing you to watch Hotstar India without getting blocked from the site.
- Spoof your IP – Using a VPN, you can spoof your IP address and have it refreshed constantly to make it look like you’re physically present in India.
- Watch Hotstar while traveling – A VPN will help you bypass geo-restrictions if you live in India but can’t access your account because you have to travel frequently.
Can I use a free VPN to watch Hotstar in the USA?
Yes, you can use a free VPN to watch Hotstar in the USA, but keep in mind that most free services may not have virtual Indian servers.
Many free VPNs tend to show ads which means they sell your data to advertisers for profit. Their server network is quite limited and most of them only provide servers in the USA and Europe.
You can check out our list of best free VPNs, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a service that has servers in India. We recommend using a premium VPN that has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get your money back if you’re not happy with its service.
Hotstar subscription in the USA
As mentioned above, Hotstar was discontinued in the USA in 2021 and has since been moved to Hulu (movies and TV shows) and ESPN+ (sports events). Hotstar India is a separate streaming platform that has a much larger content library, but it’s only available in India.
You can either get Hulu and ESPN+ separately, or purchase the Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. It’s available for $12.99 per month and has another package which costs $19.99 per month.
Most people won’t be interested in buying the bundle just to get access to a limited Hotstar library. Instead, you can use a VPN to connect to a virtual Indian server and then buy a Hotstar membership at a much cheaper rate.
With a VPN, you can get Hotstar India for just $0.90 per month! Purchasing a Hotstar India subscription in the USA is easy and anyone can do it.
Hotstar India is significantly cheaper than its American counterpart.
How to watch Disney+ Hotstar outside of India
- Choose a VPN from our list.
- We recommend ExpressVPN because it’s safe and has the best servers.
- Download the VPN on your device.
- Connect to a virtual Indian server.
- Purchase a Hotstar India subscription and start watching your favorite shows!
Hotstar content you can watch on Disney+
There are tons of TV shows, movies, and sports events you can watch on Disney+ Hotstar India. You can watch the Australian Tour of India, the Indian Premier League, Avatar, Pink, This Is Us, He Named Me Malala, and more.
Here’s a list of some of the popular things that are currently playing on Hotstar India:
- Sisterhood
- The Hunt
- Untouchable
- Premier League
- Matrix Fight Nights
- Legends League Cricket
- Raid
Hotstar not working with VPN? Try these fixes:
If you’re having trouble using Hotstar India with a VPN, here are some things you can do:
- Connect to a different server – It’s common for VPN servers to get blocked, so try connecting to different ones until you find a server that works. You also have the option to ask your VPN’s customer support to share working servers with you.
- Clear cache and cookies – Websites can detect your browser profile through your cache and cookies. Either use a different browser or reset your cache and cookies if you can’t access Hotstar.
- Use incognito mode – Using incognito mode makes it easier to avoid detection when accessing Hotstar India since it doesn’t store any cache or cookies.
- Get a dedicated IP – Most premium VPNs offer dedicated IPs which are safer than shared ones since you’re the only one who uses them. Unlike a shared IP address, a dedicated one has less chances of getting blocked.
For a detailed guide, check out our article on how to troubleshoot issues with Disney Plus not working with a VPN.
Frequently asked questions
You can get Hotstar in the USA with the help of a VPN. By connecting to a virtual Indian server, you’ll be able to sign up and purchase a Hotstar membership, which will give you access to the entire library.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hotstar in the USA. It has virtual Indian servers that are physically located in the UK and Singapore. When you connect to them, you’ll get an Indian IP which will let you watch anything on Hotstar India.
Yes, Hotstar was discontinued in the USA and is now a part of Hulu and ESPN+. Hulu has all the movies and TV shows, while ESPN+ lets you watch sports events. Note that the content library on Hulu isn’t as large as the one on Hotstar India.
Use a premium VPN like ExpressVPN to avoid detection on Hotstar. It uses advanced obfuscation techniques and DNS leak protection to make sure no one can see your original IP address.