If you’ve tried opening Disney+ Hotstar outside India, you’ve probably hit the same wall: you’re ready for live cricket, a new Bollywood release, or a Hotstar original — and then a geo-block message kills it.
Hotstar is one of the toughest streaming platforms when it comes to location restrictions. A VPN can fix that, but here’s the catch: most VPNs don’t actually work with Hotstar anymore.
In this guide, I’ll break down the best VPNs for Hotstar in 2026 based on real testing — reliability, speed, and ease of use. I’ll also explain why Hotstar blocks VPNs so aggressively, what typically breaks, and how to troubleshoot it without turning it into a tech project.
Disney+ Hotstar operates under strict licensing agreements. The platform doesn’t own worldwide streaming rights for most of its content, especially:
Because of this, Hotstar must restrict access based on your location. Your IP address tells Hotstar where you’re connecting from, and if that IP is outside an approved region (usually India), access is blocked instantly.
To make things tougher, Hotstar also actively detects and blocks VPN traffic. Known VPN IP ranges are blacklisted, which is why many VPNs that work for Netflix or YouTube fail completely with Hotstar.
Yes — but only with the right VPN.
A VPN works by routing your internet traffic through a server in another country. When you connect to an Indian server, Hotstar sees an Indian IP address and unlocks the content.
The problem is that Hotstar is very good at spotting low-quality VPNs. Free VPNs and cheap providers reuse the same IP addresses over and over again, making them easy targets for blocks.
To stream Hotstar reliably, a VPN needs:
Only a handful of VPNs meet all those requirements.
To keep this guide honest and useful, testing focused on real-world Hotstar usage, not marketing claims.
Each VPN was tested for:
VPNs that required constant reconnecting, failed during live streams, or triggered Hotstar errors were eliminated.
What’s left are the VPNs that actually work — not just once, but reliably.
Below, we’ll break each one down properly.
ExpressVPN is consistently the most reliable option for streaming Hotstar — and for good reason.
Instead of relying on overloaded physical servers in India, ExpressVPN uses high-quality virtual Indian locations. These servers provide Indian IP addresses while maintaining excellent speeds and stability.
In testing, ExpressVPN:
Unlocked Hotstar on the first attemptStreamed HD and 4K content without bufferingWorked reliably for live sportsAvoided detection even after long sessionsSpeed is where ExpressVPN really stands out. Even during peak hours, streams remained smooth, which is crucial for cricket matches and live broadcasts.
Pros
Extremely reliable Hotstar accessFast speeds for HD and 4KExcellent apps for all devicesWorks on Smart TVs and Fire StickCons
If Hotstar is your priority and you don’t want to troubleshoot or experiment, ExpressVPN is the safest choice.
Surfshark is proof that you don’t have to overpay to get good Hotstar access.
While it’s more affordable than ExpressVPN, Surfshark still delivers solid Indian server performance, consistent Hotstar access, and very good streaming speeds.
One major advantage is unlimited device connections. You can use Surfshark on your phone, laptop, Smart TV, and tablet at the same time — all under one subscription.
In testing, Surfshark occasionally required switching between Indian servers, but once connected, streams were stable and smooth.
Pros
Excellent value for moneyUnlimited devicesGood speeds for streamingEasy-to-use appsCons
For users who want reliable Hotstar access without paying premium prices, Surfshark is a strong choice.
Proton VPN is best known for its strong privacy stance and transparent security practices. Based in Switzerland, it operates under strict privacy laws and maintains a proven no-logs policy.
For Hotstar, Proton VPN performs well — with some caveats.
While its Indian server options are more limited, Proton VPN successfully unblocked Hotstar during testing, delivered stable HD streaming, and maintained excellent security throughout.
Pros
Excellent privacy protectionsTransparent security practicesReliable Hotstar accessOpen-source appsCons
If privacy matters as much as streaming for you, Proton VPN is worth considering.
CyberGhost is designed for simplicity. Its apps are clean, beginner-friendly, and require minimal setup.
One standout feature is streaming-optimized servers, which make it easier to find locations meant specifically for platforms like Hotstar.
In practice, Hotstar access works, but not always on the first try. Server switching may be required occasionally, and speeds can vary.
Pros
Very easy to useStreaming-focused serversAffordable long-term plansCons
Many VPNs claim to unblock Hotstar — but fail in real usage.
These VPNs typically suffer from blacklisted IP addresses, slow servers, DNS leaks, and frequent Hotstar errors.
If a VPN is free, there’s a good chance Hotstar has already blocked it.
Getting started is simple if you use the right VPN.
Even with a good VPN, issues can occasionally happen. Here’s how to fix them.
Most issues are resolved within minutes.
Hotstar works across a wide range of devices, and the best VPNs support all of them.
Best-supported devices include:For households, installing a VPN on a router allows you to watch Hotstar on devices that don’t support VPN apps natively.
Hotstar restricts its content to certain regions because of licensing agreements that decide where live sports, movies, and shows can be streamed. If your IP address shows you're outside an approved location — for example, India — Hotstar blocks access. A VPN changes your IP to one from a supported region, making Hotstar think you’re connecting locally, which unlocks the service.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries because it’s simply a privacy tool that encrypts your connection and masks your IP. However, streaming services like Hotstar may prohibit VPN use in their Terms of Service. So while you aren’t breaking laws, you might violate platform rules, which could lead to access issues. If you’re unsure, check the rules where you live and Hotstar’s current policy before relying on a VPN for streaming.
A VPN can reduce speed slightly because your traffic takes a detour through an encrypted tunnel, but a top-tier VPN usually keeps the hit small. If the VPN has fast servers close to your location and enough bandwidth, Hotstar should still stream in HD without buffering. Big slowdowns usually come from overloaded servers, long-distance connections, or cheap/free VPNs that throttle traffic.
Hotstar actively blocks many VPN IP addresses, so some services simply get detected and stopped at the door. This happens most often when a VPN uses shared IPs that have been reported, doesn’t rotate addresses often, or has weak streaming-focused infrastructure. VPNs that invest in fresh IP pools and reliable routing tend to work more consistently with geo-restricted platforms.
Sometimes you might get lucky, but free VPNs are usually unreliable for Hotstar because their limited server networks get crowded and their IPs are frequently blocked. Many free VPNs also come with data caps, speed throttling, or aggressive ads that make streaming painful. If privacy matters, be cautious: a “free” VPN may monetize you through tracking or selling usage data rather than subscriptions.
Start with server availability in the region you need for Hotstar access, typically India, and make sure the VPN is known for stable streaming performance. Strong encryption and a no-logs approach matter too, because you don’t want streaming convenience to come at the cost of privacy. Finally, pick a VPN with apps for your devices and enough simultaneous connections so you’re not constantly logging in and out.
Yes, if the match is available on Hotstar in the region you’re connecting to, a VPN can help you access those live streams while you’re abroad. For live sports, stability matters more than almost anything, because even short drops can kick you out or lower the stream quality. Using a fast server, keeping the VPN connected before you open the app, and avoiding crowded peak-time servers helps a lot.
They can, because Hotstar is watched on everything from phones to smart TVs, and not every device supports VPN apps the same way. If your device can’t run a VPN directly, setting the VPN on a router is a common workaround that covers your whole home network. It’s also worth checking whether your VPN supports split tunneling, which lets you route only Hotstar through the VPN while keeping other apps on your normal connection.
First, switch to another server in the same region, because one IP might be blocked while another still works. Then clear cookies or app cache, restart the Hotstar app, and make sure location signals like GPS aren’t contradicting your VPN location. If it still fails, try a different protocol in your VPN settings or ask support for a server that currently works for Hotstar.
A VPN can make it look like you’re connecting from another region, but whether the content is available depends on licensing and the specific Hotstar catalog for that location. Also keep in mind that streaming platforms may restrict VPN usage under their terms, even if VPNs are legal where you are. If you’re using a VPN for travel, the safest approach is to connect to the region tied to your account and use it as a privacy layer rather than a loophole.
Hotstar is one of the toughest streaming platforms to unblock, but with the right VPN, it’s absolutely possible.
ExpressVPN is the most reliable choice. Surfshark offers the best value. Proton VPN is ideal for privacy-focused users. CyberGhost is great for beginners.
If you still don’t know which VPN fits your needs best, feel free to take our quick 15 seconds VPN quiz
Start Quiz@ 2026 VPNGenie. Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone.
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