How to watch HBO Max outside the US

HBO has brought us so many hit TV shows over the past decade and now, we have HBO Max, their premium online streaming service that gives every other streaming platform a run for its money.

The platform is currently only available to those living in the United States and is blocked to anyone outside of the US.

If you’re a US traveller or ex-pat, then you’ll have a dilemma on your hands as you won’t have access to your HBO Max account.

You might even be an overseas resident who wants to watch some of HBO’s most outstanding and latest TV shows online, but again you’ll find yourself unable to gain access to the regionally blocked content.

This problem has lead you to this article, so how can you watch HBO Max outside of the US?

In this article, I’ll be answering this question and showing you exactly how to unblock HBO Max and discussing what HBO Max has to offer you, but more on that later.

Let’s first dive in and see how to unblock it where you are.

How to watch HBO Max overseas

If you’re a United States ex-pat or traveller and you’re looking to unblock HBO Max from outside the US, you’ll need to use a VPN app.

A VPN is an online security tool that can unblock regionally restricted content by allowing you to re-route your internet traffic through another location. In this instance, the US.

There are many VPNs out there, but I highly recommend ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN is one of the world’s fastest VPN services and provides you with some of the most robust, reliable connections that will allow you to stream HBO Max in full 4K UHD.

They also have many US connections points that you can connect to. This will unblock HBO’s streaming platform giving you full access to all the content.

Follow these steps to get set up:

1. Visit ExpressVPN and click “Get ExpressVPN”, then select a VPN package followed by entering your email address.
2. Select a payment method and enter your payment information in the spaces provided. Click “Join Now” to complete payment.
3. Download the app to your device. You’ll find the ExpressVPN app in your app store or via the ExpressVPN website.
4. Log in to the app using your email and password or the activation code you can find in your Account area.
5. Press Selected Location and then tap on United States.
6. Lastly, visit the HBO Max site or use their app and enjoy watching all of HBO’s best shows where you are.

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How to watch HBO Max as a non-US resident

If you aren’t a US resident who is living abroad or traveling and you want to watch HBO Max, then you will need to use ExpressVPN, but you will also need to use a US payment method.

Thankfully, there’s a new service called StatesCard which allows you to grab a US payment option from any country. You’ll need to sign up for this service and then follow the steps below.

1. Visit ExpressVPN and follow the sign up process.
2. Select a VPN package such as their 12-month package that comes with an additional three months FREE.
3. Next, enter your payment information and pay for your subscription by clicking “Join Now”.
4. Now download the ExpressVPN app to your device(s) and log in using your email and password or activation code.
5. From the country selection list, choose the United States and press Connect.
6. Once you’re connected, visit the HBO Max website or use their app and sign up for their service.
7. Pay for it using your Statescard information or other payment option.
8. Once you’ve signed up and paid for HBO Max, you’ll be able to start watching while connected to the ExpressVPN app.

Congratulations, you’ve just unblocked HBO Max for your region, enjoy watching.

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Best VPN for HBO Max

Finding the best VPN for streaming HBO Max is not easy, since there are so many of them.

Some won’t even let you access HBO Max, let alone watch it with enjoyment and without interruptions.

Fortunately, there are still a few providers that can not only let you watch HBO Max, but also other streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

So let’s take a look at the top options in detail.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs if you want to watch HBO Max outside of the US.

Provided that you have an HBO Max subscription, it will let you watch from anywhere, and on a variety of devices. It is reliable and fast, allowing you to access streaming platforms and enjoy their content no matter where you are, as long as you have an internet connection.

Plus, it supports all kinds of devices, as mentioned, including any Android device, including Android phone, Android TV, Samsung TV, Windows laptop and desktop, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 different countries, allowing you to access your HBO Max account from anywhere, as well as your Hulu subscription, YouTube TV, and more.

You can now always watch your favorite shows, including the Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, anything that Cartoon Network has to offer, and more.

Just imagine being able to watch your favorite show wherever you are with a simple tap of a Connect button, ExpressVPN can make it happen.

At the same time, your ExpressVPN subscription will keep you safe online, protected from hackers, your internet service provider, and even the government.

With HBO Max, you no longer need a cable subscription, but with a VPN, you no longer need to be in any specific place in the world in order to access its content.

2. NordVPN

In the second place, we have NordVPN, whose network of VPN servers with the potential to access streaming sites is even bigger, consisting of 5,100 servers in 60 countries.

This means that the amount of IP addresses that this VPN has to offer is even larger.

On top of that, it offers all the same security features as our previous entry, including zero logs policy, smart DNS servers, a kill switch, the ability to hide your real IP address and replace it with one of its own.

It will let you stream videos without receiving an error message just because you crossed the US border.

NordVPN is also quite fast, although maybe not as fast as ExpressVPN. Still, it is more than good enough to let you watch HBO Max shows on your Smart TV, or Amazon Fire TV and enjoy any and all of HBO Max content outside the US.

All you need to do is connect to the American server, and this virtual private network will do the work. So, if you want to watch your favorite Warner Bros movie on HBO Max outside the US, you can now do it in a matter of seconds.

3. Surfshark

If you want a VPN service that offers unlimited simultaneous connections and is good enough for watching HBO Max outside the US, then you definitely want to go for Surfshark. While most other VPNs only let you use them on anywhere between 3 and 10 devices at the same time, Surfshark has no limit.

Similarly to our previous entries, it is also capable of unblocking HBO Max, and all you need to do is connect to any US server. The same goes for other major streaming services.

Surfshark is a young premium VPN compared to others, but its VPN apps are just as capable as those of other VPN providers.

With each VPN subscription, you get all the security features, like the mentioned kill switch, Smart DNS, encryption, and alike, plus access to its 3200 servers in 65 countries.

Like the others, you can use it on many different devices, including your Android, iOS, Smart TV such as Apple TV, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more.

So, if you get it, you will be ready to start watching HBO Max, as well as any new streaming service that you may want to access from anywhere in the world.

How to pay for HBO Max outside the US

Using a VPN, you can easily access any streaming service, including HBO Max, outside the US.

However, you will still have to pay for HBO’s streaming service, as you will need an HBO subscription.

Typically, it would be easy to do so with your credit or debit card, but if you are not an American who simply traveled abroad, your card will show that you are in a foreign country, and it’s unlikely to accept your payment.

Luckily, there are alternative methods to pay for and watch HBO Max anywhere. The easiest method would be to simply pay with your PayPal.

If you don’t have one, you can create a new Google Play Store or Apple App Store account, and use Google Pay or Apple Pay to do it.

Your last option would be your StatesCard, if you have one. This applies to traveling US citizens and those of you who live outside the United States.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Use your VPN to connect to a US server.
2. Go to HBO Max’s website.
3. Start a free trial.
4. Create an account on the service.
5. Go to account.statescard.com, and click the Show Card Details button.
6. Note down card details, state, and zip code that your StatesCard provides.
7. Return to the HBO Max payment page, fill in your name and StatesCard details, and finish creating your account.

And, that’s it. You can now pay for and watch HBO Max anywhere with a VPN.

How to download the HBO Max app outside the US

In order to access HBO Max, you will also have to install it on your device of choice, of course, since watching in HBO Max app is way better than using a website when you are on your phone.

With that said, we have prepared three short guides on how to watch for Android users, Apple users, and Fire TV users.

Android

Installing HBO Max outside the US on your Android device is fairly simple, and all you need to do is download one file. Here is what you should do:

1. Start by going to apkpure.com and finding the APK for HBO Max.
2. Next, download it to your Android from the browser.
3. After the download is complete, install the APK file from the Downloads folder.
4. When prompted, tap Yes.
5. The app will install itself.
6. After that, connect to the US server, launch the app, and log in with your HBO Max account.

Apple

If you wish to access HBO content via an Apple device, such as your iPhone or iPad, the instructions are a bit different, but still fairly easy to follow.

Here is what you need to do in order to watch HBO Max abroad.

1. Start by going to Settings on your Apple device.
2. Select Apple ID, and then choose the View Apple ID option.
3. Next, click Country/Region.
4. Change it to the US and accept Terms and Conditions.
5. Next, fill in the necessary information that Apple requires.
6. By doing this, you will have access to the app, but you should still use a VPN connection to a US server just so that your IP will match your new location.
7. Download and install the app after that, and enjoy its content.

Fire TV

Lastly, we have a recommendation on how to install the Amazon Fire TV app in order to access HBO Max outside the US. All you need to do is follow these few steps:

1. Use your VPN to connect to the US server.
2. Go to Amazon’s website and click My Account.
3. Next, find the Digital content and services option.
4. Inside, select Content and devices.
5. Proceed by clicking on the Preferences tab.
6. Change your Country/Region Settings to the US.
7. You will have to provide a new US address, which you can obtain through this Fake Address Generator.
8. Confirm the changes and download the app within the device’s app store.
9. Don’t forget to change your region back after downloading.

How to watch on non VPN support devices

Sometimes you might find that your device isn’t supported by ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark.

This will occur if you’re using some Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, or similar devices that don’t support VPN functionality.

If this is the case, then you’ll need to use one of these hardware devices to get watching:

Invizbox 2

Invizbox 2 is a physical VPN router that plugs into your home router and you connect your device to it as if it was your usual WiFi. It does all the things a VPN app does and will cover any device connected to it.

Using the Invizbox 2, you can unlock HBO Max on any device.

StreamLocator

StreamLocator plugs into your router and unblocks overseas content by using DNS. Due to them using DNS you don’t lose any download speed, but you also don’t have the protection that a VPN provider offers you.

It will allow you to stream HBO Max on any device even if you can’t normally install a VPN app on it.

What’s available on HBO Max?

HBO Max is rammed full of excellent content, from movies to TV shows, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Here are some highlights of the best content available:

Judas and the Black Messiah – This two time Golden Globe nominee was released at the end of February. It follows a young black man who is sent to infiltrate the Black Panthers during the peak of their movement and to pass information back to the FBI.

Tom & Jerry Movie – The classic cartoon has been made into an animated movie, you don’t want to miss this one.

Other movies – The Notebook, Space Jam 2, Suicide Squad, Godzilla vs Kong, and Mortal Kombat.

TV Shows – Game Of Thrones, Friends, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, The Undoing, Bad Education, Sex And The City, Euphoria, and many more.

You get so much content you really do need to see it to believe it. HBO Max is currently on offer for $69.99 for six months, which is a bargain when you consider the level of quality HBO brings to your screen.

Is there a free VPN for HBO Max?

Unfortunately, free VPN services are never a good tool if you want to unblock HBO Max.

In fact, they usually can’t unblock any streaming service, as the lack of funding prevents them from being able to afford advanced cloaking technologies. The result of this is that free VPNs’ IP addresses quickly get blocked by major streaming sites.

Free VPNs are also a bad choice for a variety of other reasons.

They usually only have only a few servers that are always overcrowded. Every VPN server that they have is therefore too slow to enable streaming. Plus, you can never be sure that they have an American server on offer, anyway.

Not every VPN can unblock sites like HBO Max, even when we are talking strictly about premium VPNs, so there is pretty much no hope that you can find a free one that works.

If you are absolutely determined to try, however, your best bet would be PrivadoVPN, although even that one is hit and a miss.

The best VPN service to unblock HBO Max is ExpressVPN, followed by the others that we recommended above.

Summary

To access HBO Max from outside the US, you need to use a VPN app. I’ve been using ExpressVPN for years and it’s the one I recommend, but you can use the other choices too.

By using ExpressVPN, you’ll be able to unblock all of HBO Max’s best content directly to your device, no matter where you are in the world.

Set yourself up with ExpressVPN now and enjoy everything HBO Max has to offer you.

Now, excuse me while I go and binge watch Game Of Thrones for the 16th time.

What’s your favourite HBO Max show? I would love to know so drop me a comment below.