HBO Max is the latest app from HBO and it combines all the content from HBO NOW and HBO GO under one platform. With 2021 gearing up to be a big year for streaming services as most theaters around the world are still closed due to the pandemic. Which has led production companies to release major hits directly to streaming platforms.
One of the most anticipated movies of the year is The Matrix 4 and it’s getting an HBO Max release on December 22, 2021. However, that’s not the only blockbuster movie coming straight to your living room. Space Jam: A New Legacy is also scheduled for release on July 16, 2021.
Unfortunately, HBO Max is not available for viewers outside the US. That’s a huge problem for international viewers who may not have any other platform to watch The Matrix 4 or any other major release, since theatres are still mostly closed.
That said, you can unblock and watch HBO Max outside the US with a VPN. An HBO Max VPN allows you to hide your IP address and location. It will make you appear as if you were in the US so that HBO Max won’t block you. It sounds complicated but it really isn’t. All you have to do is connect to a VPN server in the US and enjoy the show.
Why Do I Need an HBO Max VPN to Watch Outside the US?
HBO Max is an exclusive US streaming service. It’s only available for viewers residing in the US. If you attempt to access the channel from anywhere outside the US, you’ll get a geo-block error that looks something like this:
This is where a VPN can help. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network security tool that creates an encrypted tunnel to protect your traffic as it hops around the internet. In simpler terms and specifically for streaming purposes, it allows you to conceal your actual location and instead pose as if you’re in the US.
Once you connect to a VPN server in the US, HBO Max will allow you access to their content. Additionally you can do the same with Netflix, Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+ and any other streaming service you can think of.
However, not all VPNs are the same and they don’t all work with HBO Max. That’s because the service is known for aggressively blocking VPN IPs on a regular basis. That said, the VPNs I’ve tested for the purpose of this article appear to work smoothly as I was able to watch HBO Max outside the US in HD quality.
Best HBO Max VPN
In order to avoid geo-blocks and stream in HD quality, your VPN has to be reliable and fast, but also affordable. The 4 VPNs in my list below are all reputable providers known for their premium quality services. They’ve all been tested and confirmed to be working with HBO Max outside the US.
NordVPN
NordVPN is the best all purpose VPN on the market today. It’s blazing fast servers allow for Ultra HD streaming on any geo-blocked streaming service on the planet. That’s why it’s my top pick for best HBO Max VPN.
With an excess of 5800 servers spread all over the world, you can rest assured you’ll find the location you’re looking for with NordVPN. It also means that users are spread over many servers thus causing less network crowding.
NordVPN does not store any user related logs for any kind of online activity. The company assures it’s users that privacy is their first priority. Furthermore they offer a no questions asked 30-Day Money-Back guarantee just to put your mind at ease.
Surfshark
Surfshark also works with HBO Max outside the US, but that’s not all of course. It can unblock any streaming service out there. With a little over 3200 servers worldwide, Surfshark offers the largest server network among all 300+ VPN providers available today.
On top of that it has advanced security feature that provide an added layer of protection. Features like the kill switch, split tunneling, and double VPN are what makes Surfshark a great value for money deal.
The company is very transparent regarding privacy issues and keeps a zero-logs policy to ensure users are protected at all times. Furthermore you have a 30-Day Money-Back guarantee protecting your investment.
CyberGhostVPN
CyberGhost is a reliable, fast, and secure VPN provider. It works well with all streaming services and particularly HBO Max. I was able to stream in HD quality on all the servers I tried.
Additionally, CyberGhost offers many advanced features for better security and more flexibility for users. If you face any technical issues you can resort to their award winning support team, available 24/7 via live chat.
Furthermore it allows you to download torrents with complete anonymity even in heavy censorship countries like China, and Iran. You can test CyberGhost yourself with a risk free 45-Day Money-Back guarantee included in your subscription.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for streaming geo-blocked content while staying anonymous and secure online. You can choose from a vast global network of over 3000 servers and unblock any website or service. You can certainly use ExpressVPN to watch HBO Max outside the US.
Additionally you can ensure your personal data and information is safe while connected to an ExpressVPN server. It uses the AES-256 bit encryption algorithm which is the strongest encryption technique available today.
In order to further ensure your anonymity, ExpressVPN maintains a strict zero-logs policy. A 30-Day Money Back guarantee is included with all subscription plans, it’s completely risk free so you might as well give it a go.
Watch HBO Max Outside the US with Smart DNS
An alternative option to watch HBO Max outside the US is using Smart DNS. It’s a configuration that applies routing rules on DNS requests only as apposed to your entire traffic like VPNs.
The obvious advantage of Smart DNS is routing less traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel. Less traffic means users can get higher bandwidth speeds and avoid network congestion entirely.
Additionally you can install your Smart DNS configuration on devices that do not support VPN connections such as the Apple TV. You can easily configure your Apple TV’s DNS address in the network settings tab.
The top 2 Smart DNS services offered for free alongside the VPN app are:
What to Watch on HBO Max?
As I mentioned earlier, 2021 is going to be very unique in terms of special and exclusive releases. HBO Max announced a star-studded library including some of the biggest blockbusters expected to hit the screens this year.
Here’s a taste of what you can watch on HBO Max in December 2020 and all the way into the end of 2021:
| Title | Release Date |
|---|---|
| The Little Things | January 29, 2021 |
| Judas and the Black Messiah | Early 2021 |
| Tom & Jerry | March 5, 2021 |
| The Many Saints of Newark | March 12, 2021 |
| Reminiscence | April 16, 2021 |
| Godzilla vs. Kong | May 21, 2021 |
| The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | June 4, 2021 |
| In the Heights | June 18, 2021 |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy | July 16, 2021 |
| The Suicide Squad | August 6, 2021 |
| Dune | October 1, 2021 |
| King Richard | November 19, 2021 |
| The Matrix 4 | December 22, 2021 |
| Mortal Kombat | TBA 2021 |
| Malignant | TBA 2021 |
| Those Who Wish Me Dead | TBA 2021 |
| Cry Macho | TBA 2021 |
Take a look at the just added section as well, Chappelle’s Show is back!
What Devices Support HBO Max?
HBO Max is compatible with most streaming devices. The only glaring issue was on the Roku. However they have since recently released an app for Roku making it accessible from almost any device.
You can download the HBO Max app on the following devices:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- Chromecast
- Roku
- Android TV
- iOS
- Android
- PC
- Mac
- PS4
- Xbox One
- PS5
- Xbox Series X
- Nintendo
- Samsung Smart TV
- VIZIO Smart TV
- LG Smart TV
How Much Does HBO Max Cost?
A subscription will cost you $14.99 per month. It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other major streaming services like Disney+ which costs $6.99 only. However, HBO Max offers a wide variety of titles from different production studios. You have a lot of options to choose from. My personal favorite is the “binge worthy” section which includes some of the best TV and movie productions of all time.
All in all, it’s a bit expensive but absolutely worth it considering the amount and quality of content you’re getting.
Best HBO Max VPN – Bottom Line
If you’re looking forward to streaming Wonder Woman 1984, The Suicide Squad, The Matrix 4, Godzilla vs. Kong or any of the blockbuster releases coming in 2021 and happen to be outside the US, you’re going to need a good VPN.
A premium HBO Max VPN will allow you to watch outside the US, all you need to do is follow this short guide:
- Subscribe to an HBO Max VPN.
- Download the VPN app compatible with your streaming device.
- Log in to the VPN app with the credentials you used to sign up.
- Open the server menu and connect to any server located in the US.
- That’s it, head over to HBO Max’s website or app and enjoy the non-stop action.
Did you guys happen to catch the trailer for Godzilla Vs Kong? What did you think of it? I love monster movies. From what I read, this will be an HBO Max movie though. Are you guys going to get a subsctiption to HBO so you can watch it?