Best VPN for Hulu 2021 (Free VPNs?)

🥇TLDR; If you’re in a hurry NordVPN is the Best VPN for Hulu!🥇

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The ‘idiot box’ has grown so smart that it now requires some serious tinkering. Not the antique TV-set kind of fiddling with dials, but the newer kind – where the best of TV is accessible online, but bearing the full weight of copyright laws – the kind where we must make our way across labyrinths of international laws and loopholes. All this just to access our favorite shows.

Of all the possible streaming services promising the same – such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video – Hulu is the best suited for those users with motives firmly placed on popular series. Jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and Comcast, this behemoth on-demand video service is limited to shows in the US and Japan, but with tons of original content, and much quicker access – you can expect shows going live within a day to a week.

Depending on which plan you buy, Hulu would let you watch live TV as well as on-demand TV programming from over 60 channels. Its ad-free plan would even let you watch content offline (download up to 25 titles for simultaneous viewing across 5 devices). You also get to choose to stream at a quality level supported by your local bandwidth. The highest it can go up to? Hulu promises Ultra HD 4k at 16Mbps. That’s real nice stuff.

How Does Hulu Block My Access?

Someone providing that many goodies ought to make you suspicious. You might be justified in wondering why Hulu should care to block your access if you aren’t in the US or Japan, not like it’s anywhere close to as popular as Netflix to incur great losses. But copyright restrictions don’t care about popularity, and since all the content on Hulu is meantspecifically for audience in two countries, for you to access it anywhere else (whether Paris or Pune or Persia) – despite being a paying Hulu subscriber – means you get the typical ‘Hulu video not available in this location’ error message. Try a proxy or an unsuitable VPN and you get this even more patronizing message:

“Based on your IP address, we noticed you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the U.S. If you’re in the U.S., you’ll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.”

Basically, what I’m saying is that Hulu is a tough nut to crack. A quality VPN is meant to be just what the doctor ordered; it will mask your location, re-route your traffic and get you access to geo-restricted content. But bear in mind that Hulu’s IP ban is much stricter than the Netflix firewall. It can easily sniff an IP address with one too many users, and equally quick to block it. This list here features only those VPNs that have servers dedicated to unblocking Hulu. They are the best of the lot.

How Do I Choose The Best VPN For Hulu?

Usually, the criteria to choose a good VPN focuses on factors such as security through encryption and a no-logs policy, performance through speed, compatibility, ease of the user interface and the costs. But in this case, since we are specifically interested in VPNs that can unblock Hulu content, our selection has focused on the following aspects:

1. Unblock Hulu: This being top priority, we ran tests to check each of the following VPNs to unblock Hulu from a number of countries around the world.
2. Streaming Speed: With the kind of speeds Hulu offers, it’d be a shame to try stream HD video at a speed turned lousy by a VPN. We made sure any VPN that does so is eliminated from this list.
3. Location Network: Since VPNs mask your location by connecting you to a US-based server, it matters that the VPN you finally choose has enough locations across the States to pull off the spoof.
4. Customer Support: I think in this day and age, and especially in the case of paid services, the least one can expect is prompt customer support. Towards this end, we actively looked for VPNs that offer 24/7 live chat support. It matters a big deal because they can then direct you to servers dedicated to unblocking Hulu (and hence keep you a step ahead of the advancing IP ban of Hulu).
5. Cost: Whether you are buying a VPN for security or streaming purposes, cost plays a large role in the final decision. Especially because Hulu in itself comes attached with a hefty cost for its premium plans.

Best VPN For Hulu

While the VPN market is flooded with paid and free services to avail of, not even some of the more popular VPN vendors are able to bypass the Hulu proxy ban. The following five VPNs are amongst the most reliable, and can do the job regardless of you sipping a martini in Macau or attending a conference in London. Read on for our take on the best VPNs for Hulu.

1. NordVPN – Best VPN For Hulu in 2021

NordVPN is no stranger in the realm of credible VPNs as far as airtight online security goes.It’s a Panama-based service, so you can rest assured that you are under fair jurisdiction and in good care of an extensive server network.

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What makes it the perfect choice?

There are many features that make NordVPN one of the best VPNs around, the foremost being its in-built SmartPlay DNS, which is well known for automatically unblocking most major content providers, including Hulu (besides Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Roku,BBC iPlayer and more). All you need to do is connect to a server. NordVPN’s official knowledge base is easily available to consult for directions to the right server, and their 24/7 live chat support is prompt to the T.

That aside, one of the prime features that sets NordVPN apart from other VPNs in the same range is its layers of security. You can count on their zero-logs policy, DNS leak protection, a dedicated IP address if you prefer, two kill switches and, best of all – double data protection. Which means the usual 256-bit encryption is coupled with a 2048-bit encryption to ensure your traffic cannot be tracked.

Turning on the double data protection comes at a slight cost of speed, but overall, NordVPN offers good bandwidth for HD streaming – 5,800 servers across 58 locations, so you can unblock your favorite shows from most popular cities around the world. The user interface is a breeze, plus NordVPN allows you to connect with 6 devices simultaneously.

How much does it cost?

Costs a penny too many, in case you opt for its monthly subscription. NordVPN is a better investment if you go for its three-year subscription, which comes to $3.49 per month. It allows you to pay by Bitcoin or PayPal for that additional anonymity. Also, NordVPN has a 30-day return policy, so you can try it out before having your dollars locked.

2. ExpressVPN – Best & Most Powerful VPN For Hulu

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I’d call this one a premium product. Not just for its price, but also for the mindblowingspeeds you get (the closest we got to speeds like those without using VPN). ExpressVPNscores high on everyone’s VPN comparison charts, especially when it comes to Hulu, and there are several reasons why.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Remember that magical phrase from the Arabian Nights story – ‘open sesame’ – which opens up the mouth of a cave with treasures hidden inside? Now imagine that in fast-forward and you get ExpressVPN – it guarantees to unlock any series of your choice on your Hulu network, from pretty much anywhere in the world, and at speeds so impressive you can almost forgive its sharp price point.

ExpressVPN regularly refreshes its list of IP addresses to stay a step ahead of Hulu’s proxy ban, which means there’s always a server – usually a super-fast one – available for you to connect to and unblock Hulu with. ExpressVPN’s quick-connect button will connect you at express speed, but even if you are a bit lost just ping their active live-chat support. Since their network includes over 3,000 servers, many of which cover over two dozen American cities, geo-restricted content was never this easy to access.

Besides possibly the best streaming speeds, ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology ensures that their strict no-logs policy is adhered to; also included are MediaStreamer DNS (to connect to VPN-unfriendly devices such as Apple TV) and a kill switch to counter dropped connections. With ExpressVPN you can connect to 5 devices simultaneously, across all platforms, and to all other popular streaming services as well.

How much does it cost?

All those amazing features come attached with a hefty cost. ExpressVPN’s annual subscription will set you back by $8.32 every month, which sounds like a lot but I urge you to try it before you decide. Their 30-day money-back guarantee is good enough time period to get a taste of its express speeds. Android users can also give the 7-day trial version a go.

3. Surfshark – Best Cheap VPN For Hulu

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Surfshark is better known as one of the best cheap VPNs in the market. And unlike other VPNs in similar price range, Surfshark delivers commendable speeds and security that have made it a popular choice amongst many users looking to save a buck. But lets take a closer look at how Surfshark fared on our Hulu-specific tests.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Surfshark works best for a group of persons – housemates, families, buddies – looking to invest in a cheap yet super reliable VPN. It doesn’t have the most extensive network, but with overall 1,000+ servers, of which plenty cover 24 US cities, means you will get the consistently good speeds you require for HD streaming. Across unlimited devices! Yes, this is Surfshark’s USP – buy one, use all.

In terms of Hulu, Surfshark fared well on our tests from a number of servers in different locations. It unlocks geo-restricted content with ease, and not only for Hulu but also other streaming services such as Netflix, HBO, ESPN and Showtime. I could glance through a number of shows without suffering from any buffering.

Surfshark’s other benefits include multi-platform compatibility (including smart TVs and gaming consoles), solid encryption, no-logs policy and private DNS. There’s also a kill switch included, plus in-built ad-blocker and anti-malware for additional security. One little bonus feature of Surfshark that I like, is that in case you need to use the same VPN while working, you have the option to whitelist websites of your choice.

Add 24/7 live-chat support to the above mix, and what you have is great value for money from one of the top VPNs to unblock Hulu’s wonders.

How much does it cost?

This is practically the best part about Surfshark – the cost. We are looking at $1.99 per month for a two-year plan; that’s 83% savings for a neat bundle of VPN features to invest into. Their long-term plans are refundable for up to 30 days after purchase, so seize the opportunity to try out the best of the cheapest VPNs before you take the final call.

4. PrivateVPN – Hulu Optimized VPN

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It seems like we are climbing down the server ladder, because PrivateVPN has fewer servers still than Surfshark (which actually does quite well on the speed front). But what PrivateVPNlacks in numbers it makes up for in its unfailing customer support.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Considering I just botched this VPN by mentioning its server strength up front – around 100 servers spread across 60 countries, including 9 US locations – why, you might ask, is it on this best-of list when there are VPNs out there with stronger networks? Well, simply because PrivateVPN fulfils our first and foremost parameter of unblocking Hulu.

PrivateVPN has dedicated, well-labeled, ‘Hulu-optimized’ servers that will have you connected and streaming in under a minute’s time. Not only that, it promises unlimited bandwidth, which more or less held up during our tests with decent streaming speeds.Besides Hulu, we could also unblock Netflix, ABC, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video.

Like NordVPN, PrivateVPN offers 2048-bit encryption alongside the usual AES-256 protection, so you’d be doubly secure. Also backing you would be a zero-logging policy, IPv6 Leak Protection (very useful!), a kill switch, and the option to choose an open-source protocol such as OpenVPN, PPTP and IPSec. PrivateVPN can be used on 6 devices simultaneously, so that’s one-up.

Last but not the least, PrivateVPN has the best possible customer support system in place that allows you to have a direct chat with a developer instead of wasting time explaining your peculiar problem to a clueless executive. They’d be happy to guide you, that is if you haven’t already found what you need within their neatly labeled servers.

How much does it cost?

PrivateVPN is a straightforward VPN with affordable subscription plans. What makes it unusual is that even a 3-month subscription is available at $4.88 a month, which is lesser than anything offered by other VPNs on our list (they tend to focus on long-term plans for good bargains). An annual subscription of PrivateVPN costs $3.82 a month, plus one month free. Add to that its 30-day money-back guarantee and you get 14 months of secure binge-watching.

5. VyprVPN

Two years ago, I wouldn’t even have considered featuring VyprVPN on a list of best VPNs for Hulu. Primarily because it used to log its users’ IP addresses. Mercifully, all that changed towards 2018-end, when VyprVPN announced a tamper-proof no-logs policy and made sure it was proven public knowledge.

What makes it the perfect choice?

If this wasn’t actually a technical review on which your legal security depends, I’d go so far as to describe VyprVPN as ‘cozy’. This Switzerland-based service does have a cozy network – very modest with about 700 servers – and yet it manages fairly high-quality streaming.

The official numbers are 200,000 IP addresses (good to mask your identity, though there are users who don’t feel the same way), and servers spread across more than 70 countries, including eight high-speed ones in the US. In truth, our tests showed that the US servers are blazing fast as VyprVPN claims, but I wouldn’t say the same for locations elsewhere. That said, maybe not fast enough, but you’d be able to unblock Hulu despite such hard-core firewalls as the one that guards China.

It also works well on other streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and BBC iPlayer. With Hulu, in particular, VyprVPN’s trademark Chameleon protocol works magic by circumnavigating any kind of censorship. Add to that a constant refreshing of IP addresses and the infamous proxy ban is all but history!

In case of VyprVPN, its USP is that it employs what they call ‘server clusters and dynamic server switching’. Translated into English, that means if the server you are connected withbecomes an overcrowded bazaar, or in case the connection drops altogether, VyprVPN would automatically connect you to another one up and running in the same region.

Sounds good so far? For any lost users, the 24/7 live-chat support performs promptly. Amongst the usuals are also a kill switch, multi-platform compatibility and possibility to connect up to 5 devices simultaneously.

How much does it cost?

VyprVPN is way too costly for a monthly subscription, but a two-year plan is priced at $2.50 per month, which is a steal for the kind of speeds you can get on US servers. A one-year plan isn’t bad either at $3.75 per month, and before deciding on either you can also make the maximum use of their 30-day money-back guarantee.

What About Free VPNs Or Proxies For Hulu?

As I mentioned earlier in this article, the Hulu proxy ban is a gargantuan geo-block. There are dozens of VPN vendors offering freebies out there, but take it from as a user who’s already tried four such lousy free services and in each incident ended up with nasty malware on my system. No, I wouldn’t recommend free VPN services unless you are broke (or an outlaw who doesn’t care either way!). Even if you do dig out one that can unblock Hulu, there’d be all the annoying ads to endure, and dodgy speeds and buffering eras to deal with.

As for free proxies, there is the other aspect of security that comes into play. A proxy is even more dangerous than a free VPN, because while it may mask your location and IP address, it might just be tracking your online activity and injecting cookies into your system. Considering the kind of bucks you pay Hulu as it is, it only makes sense to find a reliable VPN to round off a care-free, enjoyable experience.

Are There Any VPNs I Should Avoid?

To be very honest, most VPNs cannot unblock the geo-restricted content of Hulu. That’s because of the proxy ban, and most VPNs just cannot keep pace with it, nor do they have dedicated servers that are regularly refreshed. At the time of writing this article, amongst the more popular VPNs that don’t unblock Hulu are TunnelBear, CyberGhost (unfortunately), PureVPN, Zenmate and Hotspot Shield.

How Do I Use A VPN To Access Hulu?

Once you have made up your mind to invest in a good VPN for accessing Hulu from anywhere in the world, it’s an easy process the whole way. You’ll have to sign up, pay and download your VPN of choice, install the VPN app, run it and choose a server location (in certain VPNs it is selected automatically). In case you are unsure you can always message the live chat support (all of the 5 VPNs on our list have prompt customer service) and then it’s just a matter of starting the Hulu app and watching back-to-back shows regardless of your whereabouts!

What Is Hulu’s Take On VPNs?

VPNs are, in most countries, 100% legal. It is what you do with the VPN that might drag you into a legally grey area. Hulu does not specifically condemn VPNs as such, but here’s what it has to say about acts that would directly fall in a VPN’s purview:

“You may not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms.”

But don’t take that statement too literally, despite Hulu’s threat to block your access to the service. To the best of our knowledge there have been no cases of a Hulu subscriber being penalized for using a VPN.

How Do I Solve The IPv6 Mystery?

The tough cookie that Hulu is, let me warn you of an unlikely but possible scenario: It might be that despite using one of our selected VPNs you still get an ‘anonymous proxy’ message from Hulu. This is an IPv6 leak issue – i.e. while your IPv4 traffic is hidden, most VPNs are unable to prevent your IPv6 addresses from going out – a quickfix solution to which is to follow instructions as per your system to disable IPv6 altogether.

The Verdict: Which Is The Best VPN For Hulu?

By now you should have a much clearer idea of what a VPN does, how it unblocks Hulu, and the range of features on offer from some of the best VPN players in the market. The most important thing to remember here – and I can’t stress this enough – is that whichever VPN you finally choose must be able to work specifically with Hulu. Don’t go by a generic choice; a VPN that unblocks other streaming services might still fall apart in the face of Hulu’s IP ban.

Going by our regular tests of hundreds of VPNs, we find NordVPN and ExpressVPN to be top contenders for Hulu’s geo-restricted content.

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How Do I Pay For Hulu From Abroad?

Hulu makes life difficult. So you’ve got your IP addresses ‘relocated’ to the US through a VPN, but there’s still the other problem of payment: Hulu demands that your payment must also be credited from within the US. I’m afraid a VPN cannot help in this one; you could instead work this around through a PayPal account, or else a virtual prepaid or credit card such as EntroPay and StatePay. Hopefully after navigating past all these hurdles you can move on to your Hulu-surfing spree in peace!

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