How to Watch Disney+ Hotstar in the USA?
So, you’re away from India and yearn for authentic Indian TV shows and content? Well, you must try Disney+ Hotstar. Here, you’ll get everything that you crave. The only problem is that it’s geo-restricted. Reading this article will help you understand why it is so and how to watch Hotstar on Disney+ in the USA.
Disney+Hotstar – The Best Streaming Platform to Use
Launched in 2015, Hotstar is now one of the leading OTT platforms that offer a wide range of Indian and International content to its subscribers. Owing to its diverse content, people love being on this platform, and the biggest proof of this is its soaring subscribers. People are praising it on Quora.
As of May 2020, Hotstar had around 300 million subscribers. The highest surge experienced was during March 2020, when India was in strict lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In April 2020, Hotstar joined hands with Disney, and there was no going back.
There are many records in the name of Hotstar, and I am presenting you with the best ones:
- Just one week after the launch, the Hotstar app download touched the mark of 1.5 million downloads and topped the list at the Google Play Store. It is astonishing growth because highly famous apps like Facebook (Facebook VPN) and Instagram took nearly 10 to 12 months to touch this mark.
- In the first 40 days of the launch, the Hotstar app download reached 12 million.
- The launch of IPL on Disney+ Hotstar increased the viewership exponentially as its subscribers reached 100 million from 40 million soon after it got the broadcasting rights of IPL.
From a user’s perspective, we can conclude that having a Disney+ Hotstar subscription is the best thing that a streaming lover can ever have.
What to Watch on Disney+ Hotstar in 2025?
Disney+ Hotstar is loved for its excellent content quality. Whether international or local, you will always have breathtaking content. Here is a proof:
#Season #Review#GameOfThrones
Season 1 was released back in 2011, at that time i had no idea about it and i was in my high school. Read the full review in image below. Overall, it is a good series. Thats all for now, & also #Gold review coming tonight ;) #Hotstar @GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/vQCSZ9P20K— cineffect by powerhouseffect (@cineffect_) August 15, 2018
MARE OF EASTTOWN (#Hotstar) crime mostly watchable for a brilliant #KateWinslet – an efficient detective who acts more on instinct than head, balancing between a teen murder investigation and her own family falling apart. 3.5/5#review
@disneyplushotstar #mareofeasttown pic.twitter.com/3fJM9bPKWu— Pattu (@avijit_patnaik) June 2, 2021
This is real-time evidence of how Hotstar has kept the content quality uncompromised.
Can I Watch Hotstar in the USA?
Like every other streaming platform, Disney+ Hotstar is also geo-restricted (read about VPN for Disney+ here), and the US is not on the list. It was available in the US until August 2021. After that, Hotstar discontinued its operations in the US.
The action was taken to support the entertainment content owned by Hulu (Hulu VPN) and ESPN.
This announcement left the US-Indian audience, which is relatively large in number, heartbroken.
How to Watch Hotstar Content in the US
From the above text, it’s clear that Hotstar is packed with breathtaking content that is unavailable in the US. But what if you live in the US and want to watch Hotstar?
Well, don’t lose hope; we’ll tell you how to watch Hotstar in the US or anywhere else where it isn’t available.
In this situation, the only assistance you need is a quality Hotstar VPN. VPN (all VPN questions are answered in this article) is a technology that helps users change their IP address and hide their online presence. Now, you might be curious how changing your IP address will help you access Hotstar in the US.
Here is the explanation:
An IP address is a unique number that every internet user gets. Using the IP address, streaming platforms, or every other service you’re availing of can determine the device’s actual location. ISPs can read the IP data, transmitting out of the device that one person uses to access the internet and find out where the user is located.
That’s it. This information is enough to make all of the internet information geo-restricted.
Now, you’ll only see what’s allowed to see in your region and as per copyright law. So, as Hotstar isn’t available in the US, you won’t be able to access it from a US location. When you use a server, you have the freedom to connect with servers from other parts of the world.
For example, you can be physically present in the US but connect to an India-based server and get the Indian IP address. When you have an India IP address and access to Hotstar, you’ll be able to use it as the ISP considers you an Indian user, and Hotstar is available in India (you can either hide or fake your IP).
This task is the biggest one VPN does for you when you want to access Hotstar in the US or other restricted regions. But that’s not the only thing that it does for you.
With a quality and streaming-friendly VPN, you can:
- Access geo-block content
- Prevent ISP speed throttling
- Avoid ads and malware
- Stop poor video-quality processing
- Get unlimited bandwidth and speed
- Access secured internet connection on multiple devices at a time
So, if you want to have your Hotstar streaming experience, you must get a Hotstar-compatible VPN.
Why Choose a VPN with Servers in India to Watch Hotstar?
By origin, Hotstar is an Indian online streaming platform with global recognition. So, its Indian subscription always offers a little more to the users than the international subscriptions.
With an Indian Hotstar subscription, you’ll enjoy facilities like:
- Free access to Hotstar for a limited period
- Subscriptions at a reduced cost. While the annual subscription to Hotstar will cost you $14.99 in India, it costs £ 44.99 annually in the UK. The price difference is enormous.
- Biggest content library
- More number of channels
- Money-back guarantee
Clearly, you hit the jackpot when you live in India and get a Hotstar subscription. When you’re not in India, the only way to claim this jackpot is to use a VPN with servers in India to get a local Indian IP address and pretend to be in India.
Top 5 VPNs for Streaming Hotstar
With the right VPN, you can enjoy the best streaming experience. But it’s only possible when using the best streaming VPN to unblock Hotstar. Here are the top 5 streaming VPNs with locally hosted servers in India to help you watch Hotstar in India without any worries or hassle.
#1 – ExpressVPN
One of the most streaming-friendly VPNs the world has now is ExpressVPN. With more than 3,000 streaming-optimized servers around the globe and various streaming-supportive features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hotstar.
- Servers – 3,000 servers in 94 countries; 12 servers in India
- Simultaneous device connections – 5
- Money-back Guarantee – 30 days
- Unblock abilities – Along with Hotstar, it can unblock platforms like Netflix (VPN for Netflix), HBO Max, Showtime, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video (VPN for Amazon Prime Video), etc.
- Compatible with – Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Playstation, Xbox, router, game consoles, and smart TVs.
Why ExpressVPN?
It offers risk-free India IP addresses to help you connect with Hotstar in the US. Its servers are present in all the leading cities of India, like Mumbai or Chennai, and all of them are streaming-friendly. Even if they are distant servers, speed isn’t compromised.
If you’re having trouble choosing the right server, use the Smart Location feature to connect you with the best-performing server.
With features like SmartDNS and split-tunneling, streaming is a breeze. As far as accessibility of Hotstar content is concerned, you can access live streams of cricket and many other sports, such as the English Premier League, award-winning Hotstar Specials, HBO and Disney+ productions, and every other content on Hotstar.
Its’ device compatibility is unmatched. This is the reason why you can access Hotstar on any device. No matter which app you pick to stream, you’ll have a pleasant experience as all its apps are professionally built and come with hassle-free installation.
As it offers a wide range of dedicated IP addresses and a strict zero-log policy, you don’t have to worry about being caught or breaking the law while accessing Hotstar from the US. No one will be able to find out that you’re using a VPN to access a blocked service.
All the famous shows and movies like Game of Thrones, HBO original content, and documentaries are accessible with the help of this VPN. So, don’t think twice and go for it. Additionally, if you are thinking about how to watch Hotstar on LG Smart TV in the USA, ExpressVPN will still be the best pick.
Pros
- Dedicated Indian IP addresses
- Multi-device compatibility
- Full access to geo-blocked Hotstar library
- SmartDNS, killswitch, and split tunneling
Cons
- Priced subscription
- No ad blocker
Get the Best Deal on ExpressVPN
#2 – NordVPN
In case you want to have the assistance of bulletproof security and lighting speed to access Hotstar in the US, go for NordVPN, as this VPN offers over 30 servers in India out of the 5,400 servers that it owns in total.
- Servers – 5,300 servers; 32 servers in India
- Simultaneous device connections – 6
- Money-back Guarantee – 30 days
- Unblock abilities – Easily unblock Hotstar, Netflix, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, Showtime, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, SkyGo, and more
- Compatible with – Windows (VPN Windows), iOS, Playstation, macOS, Linux (VPN Linux), Android, Xbox, router, game consoles, and smart TVs.
Why NordVPN?
It also offers a few specialty servers such as Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, and dedicated IP in India. Every server is backed with fantastic security and provides you with a hidden IP address. As all of its servers are now RAM-disk metal servers, there is no fear of data logging or leaking.
Like ExpressVPN, it also offers you streaming-optimized servers. Connecting to these servers will help you have a buffering-free streaming experience.
What is worth praising about NordVPN’s servers is their constant speed and connection stability. You won’t see many ups and downs in the connection’s speed. So, the experience will be a buffering-free streaming experience. It helps you access the entire Hotstar library (almost) and answers all your ‘how to watch Hotstar in USA’ queries.
Pros
- Obfuscated servers that can bypass VPN blocks
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Complete IP address masking
- SmartPlay feature that supports streaming
- Zero data logging
- Audited privacy policy
Cons
- Limited torrenting support
#3 – Surfshark
This British Virgin Islands-based VPN does a great job of making streaming not limited to locations and device accessibility. Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous devices and lets you stream as much as possible. It owns 3,200+ servers in 65 countries. Data logging isn’t an issue because its servers are 100% RAM only.
- Servers – 3,200+ servers in 65 countries; the number of India servers isn’t disclosed
- Simultaneous device connections – Unlimited
- Money-back Guarantee – 30 days
- Unblock abilities – Unblocks Hotstar UK, India, and Canada. Works well with Netflix, HBO Max, Showtime, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more platforms
- Compatible with – Offers dedicated apps for Windows, macOS (Mac VPN), Linux, Android, iOS (iPhone VPN), Playstation, Xbox, router, game consoles, and smart TVs.
Why Surfshark?
Regarding accessing Hotstar from the USA, Surfshark won’t disappoint you with its dedicated IP addresses. It has servers in cities like Mumbai. Chennai, Indore. Each server is backed with features like Private DNS, kill switch, OpenVPN, and WireGuard. So, quality connection and data security won’t be a matter of concern for you.
These servers also offer the power of camouflage mode to ensure that no one can detect and block the use of a VPN. It’s a great feature that ensures continuous use of VPN.
Along with Hotstar India, you can easily access Hotstar UK and Canada, as it also has dedicated servers at those locations. No matter which server you use to unblock Hotstar, unmatched security and easy accessibility to the library are certain. Try it without any fear, as there is a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Fast and secure connection
- Hassle-free unblocking of Hotstar
- Advanced protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
Cons
- Slow P2P
Get the Best Deal on Surfshark
#4 – CyberGhost
Affordable price, high-end security, simple interface, and diverse device compatibility are what one enjoys with CyberGhost. Its server network is vaster than every option mentioned above. It’s equipped with every feature that demands a seamless streaming experience on Hotstar and any other platform.
- Servers – 7,900 servers in 91 countries; 36 servers in India
- Simultaneous device connections – 7
- Money-back Guarantee – 45 days
- Unblock abilities – Works well with Hotstar India. Hotstar UK, Hotstar Canada, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Showtime, Disney+, and many more
- Compatible with – Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (Android VPN), iOS, Playstation, Xbox, router, game consoles, and smart TVs.
Why CyberGhost?
With dedicated servers in India, the UK, and Canada (VPN for Canada), CyberGhost helps you easily access Hotstar from the US. As far as its streaming-friendliness is concerned, it’s a performer. It can unblock all content in the Hotstar library and supports HD video streaming. As the servers can provide stable and fast connections, buffering won’t be an issue.
When using CyberGhost, there is nothing to worry about bandwidth as it provides unlimited bandwidth. You can stream and download as much as you want. Also, as it works with almost all the leading devices, you can enjoy Hotstar on a device of your own choice.
Pros
- P2P and streaming-optimized servers
- Decent server speed
- HD-quality video streaming
Cons
- Distant servers have minor speed issues
Get the Best Deal on CyberGhost
#5 – PIA
PIA or Private Internet Access is unique because of its comprehensive server coverage and security. It owns nearly 3,100 servers across the world. All of its servers are next-gen servers.
Previously, its server suite had nearly 30,000 servers. But they all were third-party-owned and weren’t that secure. Hence, the VPN provider decided to keep fewer but high-performing servers.
- Servers – 3,100+ servers in 24 countries
- Simultaneous device connections – 5
- Money-back Guarantee – 30 days
- Unblock abilities – 3 Hotstar libraries, 10 Netflix libraries, HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube (VPN to unblock YouTube), Showtime, Amazon Prime Video, and more
- Compatible with – Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Playstation, Xbox, router, game consoles, and smart TVs.
Why PIA?
Even though its server coverage is reduced, its quality is still the same. As it has servers at locations like the UK, India, and Canada, you will have no hassles accessing Hotstar from the USA. To improve your streaming experience, you can get dedicated IP addresses. This feature is offered as an add-on facility and is readily available.
Along with a dedicated IP, you also get a virtual server facility. However, the speed of these servers is a bit slow. It can unblock Hotstar libraries easily without leaking crucial information like IP addresses and DNS queries.
Speed is decent with most servers and is enough to play HD videos. In case you’re having trouble accessing suitable servers, use the auto-connect feature to decide which server works best. All in all, it’s a great way to access blocked Hotstar in the US region without being worried about data security.
Pros
- Multi-device support
- Advanced encryption
- GCM ciphers and the RSA-4096 certificate
- No IP and DNS leaks
Cons
- The kill switch in the iOS app doesn’t work great
These are the best VPNs that one can use to unblock Hotstar in the USA or other blocked regions. Try anyone out of them, and we are sure you’ll have trouble as all of them are time-tested and work wonderfully.
Note:
- We collected and compared superb VPN services for you here.
- If you are looking for a cheap VPN service, this article will also be helpful.
- If a free VPN is your jam, have a look at this article.
How to Stream Hotstar in the USA Using a VPN
There are many ways to use a VPN to stream Hotstar in the USA. Here is a quick list:
Download the native app – If the VPN you’re trying to use to access the VPN for watching Hotstar in the USA offers a native app for SmartTV, then download it and set it up on the SmartTV. This is the best way to use a VPN, as the SmartTV app offers blazing speed.
Use an HDMI Cable – You can directly download the VPN app on the SmartTV using the HDMI cable.
Download VPN on the router – VPNs that offer a router app can be easily downloaded on the router and secure the entire internet connection.
Crisp Guides on How to Watch Disney Hotstar in the USA
There is no way to question the utility of a VPN when it comes to accessing blocked Hotstar from the USA. This is the only way to keep things secret while enjoying a great streaming experience.
However, to make the most of this opportunity, you must ensure you correctly use the tool. Here is a crisp guide on ‘how to watch Hotstar content in USA.’
Watch Hotstar on Windows
Here is how you can watch Hotstar in the US on Windows:
- Get a VPN that offers India/UK/Canada or IP addresses of locations where Hotstar is allowed.
- Download the Window app for the VPN.
- Complete the installation and connect with a server.
- Open the Hotstar website and log in.
- Enjoy your favorite content.
Watch Hotstar on Android
- Buy the subscription to a VPN that offers an Android app and complete the VPN installed on the Android device you will use to stream Hotstar.
- Select the server of a country where Hotstar is accessible.
- Open the Hotstar app and enjoy streaming.
Watch Hotstar on Amazon Fire Stick
Amazon FireStick is the most common device used to access Hotstar. Follow these steps to watch Hotstar in the USA over Amazon Fire Stick.
- Get a VPN subscription that is compatible with FireStick and can unblock HotStar. You can go with all the options mentioned above.
- In the Google Play section of the Amazon Fire Stick, search for your VPN app. For example, if you’re using ExpressVPN, search for the ExpressVPN app.
- Download the app and complete the installation.
- Connect with the servers of the countries where Hotstar is accessible.
- Open the Hotstar app and enjoy streaming.
Watch Hotstar on Apple TV
If you want to stream Hotstar on your Apple TV, you need to get the VPN router app, as Apple TV is not a VPN-friendly device. But, once you download the VPN on a router, you can make the internet connection you’re using to access Hotstar powerful enough to bypass the geo-restrictions. Here is how you can go about it.
- Get a VPN that offers a router app. We prefer ExpressVPN as its router app is very powerful and has a SmartDNS feature.
- Get the subscription, activate it, and download the app on the router.
- Go to the router’s admin panel and connect with the VPN.
- Open the Hotstar app on your Apple TV and log in.
- Browse the content you love to watch and enjoy hassle-free streaming.
Watch Hotstar on Roku
Roku (VPN for Roku) is one of the most loved digital platforms for streaming and accessing online content in the US. But it’s not a VPN-friendly platform. So, if you want to stream Hotstar on Roku, the only possible way is to download the VPN router app. After you decide which VPN you must use, follow the steps we have explained in setting up the app on the router in the ‘Watch Hotstar on Apple TV’ section (above in the article).
Concluding Words
If you’re wondering ‘how to watch Hotstar in the USA,’ the best possible solution is a VPN. With a VPN, you can bypass the geographical restrictions imposed on you. It will change your virtual location and allow you to access Hotstar, which is offered for free or without any limits.
The best options mentioned in the post are compatible with Hotstar and are entirely safe to use. They all are time-tested and bear a great market presence. Try all of them, and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.
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FAQs
Yes, they are the same, as Hotstar joined hands with Disney to expand its content library. However, this is true for India only, as the international version of Hotstar is not offered with Disney+. In regions like the UK and Canada, it’s only offered as Hotstar. Also, the availability of content can vary depending on the region.
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