If you’ve ever tried to open Disney+ Hotstar outside India, you already know the frustration. One moment you’re ready to watch live cricket, the latest Bollywood release, or a Hotstar original — the next, you’re staring at a geo-block error.
Hotstar is one of the most aggressively geo-restricted streaming platforms out there. And while using a VPN can solve the problem, not every VPN actually works. In fact, most don’t.
In this guide, I’ll break down the best VPNs for Hotstar in 2025, based on real testing, streaming reliability, speed, and ease of use. I’ll also explain why Hotstar blocks VPNs, what usually goes wrong, and how to fix it — without overcomplicating things.
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 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
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