How to Watch HBO Max From Anywhere in 2 Minutes (2022)

HBO Max is only available in a handful of countries, so you aren't able to watch it unless you're located in one of them. Even if you live somewhere HBO Max is available, but travel somewhere it's not, you won't be able to access your account while you're away from home.

The easiest way to watch HBO Max from anywhere is with a VPN. A VPN is a simple app that lets you change your online location in a couple of clicks — with it, you can connect to a region where HBO Max is available and be able to watch it no matter where you are.

My team and I tested more than 100 VPNs and found that ExpressVPN worked the best. It has fast speeds, a large server network, and reliably bypasses geoblocks, which makes it a fine choice for streaming HBO shows from anywhere. You can also test ExpressVPN out with HBO Max risk-free as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can ask for a refund.

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Why You Need a VPN to Watch HBO Max

Due to licensing agreements and broadcasting restrictions, HBO Max is only available in some countries, such as the US, Brazil, Spain, and Sweden. This means it will block you from watching shows if you're outside the licensed regions.

A VPN replaces your real IP address with one from another country to make it look like you’re in another location. For example, connecting to a US server will make it seem like you’re browsing the web from the US. Since HBO Max will only see your newly assigned US IP address, you'll be granted access to its content.

Best VPNs to Watch HBO Max From Anywhere in 2022

1.ExpressVPN — Super Fast Speeds for Watching HBO Max in Ultra  HD

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ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs, so it's perfect for streaming in HD or 4K on HBO Max. I tested my speeds on 5 of its US servers and started streaming Chernobyl. My download speeds never went below 48.5 Mbps. Since you only need 25 Mbps to enjoy lag-free Ultra HD streaming, I could watch Chernobyl in crisp, clear quality for hours on end without any slowdowns.

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs for HBO Max

Thanks to its server network of over 3,000+ servers in 94+ countries, you can easily unblock HBO Max from anywhere. This network includes all of the licensed countries for HBO Max, such as the US, Sweden, and Spain. When I used its US servers, I managed to unblock the website on all of them in a matter of seconds. As soon as I found a US server, I just had to click on it to connect.

Upon looking at ExpressVPN’s plans, I found its 15-month plan to be the cheapest at $6.67/month, which is still quite expensive compared to other VPNs. I was pretty glad that I was able to get 49% off my subscription when I signed up, though.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not sure whether ExpressVPN is the right HBO Max VPN for you, then you have 30 days to request a refund. I tested this policy myself, and it was actually hassle-free. Just before I'd used the VPN for a month, I asked them to cancel my subscription. All I had to do was answer a couple of questions before they proceeded with my request, and it only took 4 days to get my money back.

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2. IPVanish — Watch HBO Max on All Your Streaming Devices

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IPVanish’s unmetered devices connection lets you connect any number of devices while streaming HBO Max. To test this feature, For my tests, I connected my MacBook Pro, smartphone, Android tablet, and Windows laptop while watching Game of Thrones and Gossip Girl. It didn’t slow my connection down at all, and it felt no different than before.

IPVanish enables an unlimited number of device connections

It also serves as a great tool for bypassing HBO Max’s geoblocks. Its server network has over 2,000+ servers worldwide, including HBO Max’s licensed regions. By connecting to its US servers, I was able to load HBO Max in just under 20 seconds with 1 click. If you have trouble unblocking the service, then you can always ask customer support to help you. They're available 24/7.

A minor inconvenience of IPVanish is its lack of cryptocurrency payment options. However, you can choose to pay by credit card, PayPal, or online gift card.

When I looked at IPVanish’s pricing plans, I found its yearly plan to be the best value at $3.99/month. It’s no different from the rest but saves you more money over the long run.

You can also test IPVanish for free as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You just need to cancel your account by logging into your dashboard, making it a hassle-free process. When I did this, I got my money back after 4 business days.

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3. CyberGhost — Optimized Streaming Servers for HBO Max

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CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks with 7,909+ servers worldwide, including optimized servers for HBO Max. You can find these servers by going to your server setting and looking under the ‘For Streaming’ category. When I tested a couple of its HBO Max servers, I accessed and used the site without any issues.

CyberGhost also has streaming optimized servers for a bunch of other platforms like Netflix and Disney+

Thanks to its user-friendly interface, CyberGhost is also an excellent choice for beginners. It took me a minute to download and install it on my laptop, while finding and connecting to a server took less. The best part was that no manual configuration was required.

One of CyberGhost's shortcomings is that its short-term plans can be expensive. But by signing up to its 2-year plan, you can get a subscription for as low as $2.29/month. It also has all of the same features as the 6-month and 1-month plans. Plus, you can choose to add a dedicated IP address from a country of your choice for a little extra, which only you can use.

This plan also comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, which is much longer than most VPNs. I didn't have any issues canceling my subscription within the timeframe, either. I just had to answer a simple question and had my money back in 5 days.

Watch HBO Max With CyberGhost

4. Private Internet Access — A Massive Server Network With Fast Speeds

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Private Internet Access (PIA) has over 29,650+ servers in 84+ countries, providing plenty of ways to bypass HBO Max’s geoblocks. Included in this figure are several hundred servers in the US. When I tested 5 of its US servers, I seamlessly unblocked HBO Max on each server in no time at all.

Private Internet Access has a massive server network

Its speeds are well-suited for HBO Max. During my tests, I recorded an average download speed of 44.5 Mbps across the 5 US servers. Given that I’m more than 10,000 miles away from the country, I was very impressed because I expected the distance to reduce my speeds significantly. It was only a 15% drop overall, which hardly made a difference.

But keep in mind that PIA can be a bit unreliable when unblocking other streaming sites. When using PIA for Netflix, for example, I sometimes have to try a few different servers before it will work. Luckily, its huge server network means it doesn't take long to find one that does, since you have so many to choose from.

The 3-year plan is the most affordable of its pricing options at $2.19/month. It’s much cheaper than the 1-month and 1-year plans and has no limits.

Since PIA comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can test it out with HBO max before you commit. To test this policy, I contacted its customer support via live chat to cancel my subscription. The sales agent didn't pressure me to stay after I told them I wasn't satisfied and I had my money back in 5 days.

Watch HBO Max With Private Internet Access

5. PrivateVPN — Intuitive Interface That’s Great for Beginners

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PrivateVPN has an intuitive app for most devices, making it ideal for beginners. For my tests, I installed it on my MacBook Pro and it took under a minute to get it up and running. Connecting to a US server for HBO Max was straightforward and only took a couple of clicks. It also gave me the chance to save my favorite servers to find and use the best ones for HBO Max again easily.

PrivateVPN has an app that’s well-suited for beginners

Bypassing HBO Max’s geoblocks is simple too. I could start watching Chernobyl and Gossip Girl from my location, thousands of miles away from the US. An added benefit is PrivateVPN’s Stealth Mode, which makes unblocking streaming platforms even easier because it hides the fact you're using a VPN (so you won't get blocked just for having your VPN connected).

Where PrivateVPN falls short is its inability to make Google Pay payments. But you can pay through most methods, including cryptocurrencies, which is excellent for privacy.

When comparing PrivateVPN’s pricing plans, I found its 2-year plan to be the cheapest at $2/month. Apart from the length and cost, it’s no different from the other plans.

If you aren’t sure, you can try PrivateVPN out with HBO Max first and get a refund if you're not satisfied. It comes with a money-back guarantee, so you have 30 days to use the service before fully committing. I tested this policy was trustworthy by asking them to cancel after 3 weeks. After giving my reason why my refund was approved and I saw my money 7 days later.

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FAQs on Watching HBO Max With a VPN From Anywhere

Can I watch HBO Max for free?

Technically, you can watch HBO Max for free for a short time. HBO Max does not offer a free trial if you purchase it directly from its website. But if you sign up for Hulu with the HBO Max add-on, then you can get a 7-day free trial. If you're outside the US, you can use a VPN with US servers to sign up for Hulu + HBO Max and take advantage of the money-back guarantee to get a refund once your HBO Max free trial is up. If you find you can't sign up for Hulu because you don't have a US billing address, then you can also purchase online gift cards and pay that way.

This method also gives you a 30-day free trial of Hulu, meaning you get 2 free trials under 1 subscription. Just make sure you cancel your free trial before it ends, or else you’ll be charged automatically for an ongoing subscription.

What should I do if I can’t access HBO Max with a VPN?

You can either try a different server or use another VPN that can unblock HBO Max more reliably. If you keep getting a server that can’t unblock the service, then it’s best to ask customer support for a list of servers that can bypass HBO Max’s geoblocks.

Will using a VPN affect my HBO Max video quality?

It’s normal for a VPN to slow your speeds due to strong encryption, but it shouldn’t affect your video quality while watching HBO Max. This is because you only need speeds of 5 Mbps to watch shows in HD without lag. The VPNs in this list have been tried and tested and provide high resolution streaming when watching HBO Max. The minor decrease in speed won't make any noticeable difference to your regular internet connection.

Can I get HBO Max through Hulu or Amazon Prime Video?

You can access HBO Max through your Hulu subscription or access select HBO content for an extra cost on APV. Since all of Hulu's content is restricted to people located in the US, you won't be able to sign up from outside the US unless you use a VPN with servers there. Since Amazon Prime Video is available in many locations, you can just sign in to your regular account and see what's available, but it won’t provide you with access to all of HBO Max's originals.

Are there any differences between HBO Max, HBO Go, and HBO Now?

HBO Go and HBO Now were old streaming services that dissolved in December 2020, as they were replaced by HBO Max. HBO Now was a standalone streaming service that let users stream shows from HBO on demand. It was only available in the US. HBO GO was a streaming app for HBO Now customers that had a cable TV subscription.

HBO Max has combined both HBO Now and HBO Go into its service and is available in some countries outside the US. The content differs from each country too, so you can use a reliable VPN to access your home HBO Max library while traveling, or to check out shows that may only be available in certain locations.

What devices can I watch HBO Max on?

You can watch HBO Max on any device that supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or Linux, as well as smart TVs, gaming consoles, and media players, such as Roku and Amazon FireStick.

The sign-up methods for each of these devices are different, but if you’re not in a licensed region, then you’ll have to set up a VPN on your device first. Alternatively, you can install a VPN on your router, which will give you access to HBO Max on all your devices connected to it.

Can I sign up for HBO Max without a credit card?

Yes, it’s possible to sign up for HBO Max by using an online gift card instead. Assuming you'd want to do this to get around not having a US payment method (for example) you'd also need to sign up for a top-tier VPN that has servers in the US and connect to one for the sign-up process to work. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to head over to MyGiftCardSupply and purchase an online gift card. The next step is to redeem the card and create an HBO Max account by using a US state and zip code.

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Start Watching HBO Max Now

If you’re unable to access HBO Max from your location, using a top-tier VPN with an extensive server network will give you access. It redirects your internet traffic through a server in another location, making it look like you’re in an HBO Max location.

After my team and I tested more than 100 VPNs, ExpressVPN performed the best with HBO Max. By utilizing its fast speeds and extensive server network, you can easily keep up to date with your favorite shows while traveling. It even comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which lets you test ExpressVPN out with HBO Max risk-free. If it’s not for you, then you can ask for a refund.

To summarize, the best VPNs for watching HBO Max are…

Rank	Provider	Our Score	User Rating	Visit Website
1		9.8/10		Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
2		9.8/10		Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
3		9.6/10		Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
4		9.2/10		Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
5		9.2/10		Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site