The best VPNs for unblocking Hulu from all over the world

Sometimes things that are expensive are worse, but not ExpressVPN(Opens in a new tab). For a couple of pounds more each month than you would spend on another provider's subscription, you can get the perfect blend of security, speed, and support — on up to five devices at once.

ExpressVPN users can take advantage of a kill switch and ultra-strong AES 256-bit encryption to avoid being tracked online. Adding to that protection is the fact that ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands — a country without mandated data retention laws — and promises to uphold strict no-logging policy when it comes to both your activity and your connection.

ExpressVPN gives you the option of enabling a split tunneling tool that routes only some of your traffic through its private servers, which prevents bandwidth bottlenecks that might otherwise slow down your connection. What's more, its huge global network of more than 3,000 servers features plenty of U.S. locations — meaning if you ever encounter a too-busy server while you're trying to reach Hulu abroad, there will likely be others to choose from.

In addition to live chat and email assistance that's available around the clock, ExpressVPN makes available to its users an active blog filled with how-to guides, troubleshooting tips, general security advice, and helpful, easy-to-understand infographics. It's an excellent resource no matter your VPN skill level, and a big part of why we believe ExpressVPN is a solid choice not just for Hulu, but for all your VPN needs.

While ExpressVPN doesn't offer dedicated (single-use) IP addresses or Hulu-specific servers, it promises to rotate all of its IP addresses regularly to increase its users' anonymity and prevent Hulu from blocking its service. 

A VPN will keep you anonymous while you're watching Hulu, but no matter where you are, it won't let you watch Hulu for free — you'll still need a Hulu subscription. 

If you're not super thrilled about the idea of paying for a VPN on top of your Hulu plan, CyberGhost VPN(Opens in a new tab) is your friend: It lays claim to many of the same security features as premium providers like ExpressVPN — 256-bit encryption, unlimited bandwidth, an automatic kill switch, a no-logging policy — but costs as little as £2 a month with a multi-year plan. 

CyberGhost is unique in that it maintains Hulu-optimised servers; when you connect to one of them, CyberGhost's software automatically conceals your IP address and replaces it with one from its system that's based in the U.S. Its server network includes 844 American locations in 11 cities, so there's a slim chance yours will be too crowded for streaming.

As great as CyberGhost seems up front, there are two reasons we highly recommend taking it for a test drive before you commit to a paid plan: Its apps are known to be slow to connect to its servers, for one thing. It's also partially based in Germany, a member of an intelligence-sharing alliance in which the government can force companies under its authority to turn over customer data. You do have the option of signing up for a more expensive CyberGhost plan that includes its ultra-secure "NoSpy" servers, which are located at its data centre in Romania (a non-14 Eyes country), but none of them are optimised for Hulu as far as we can tell.

Make good use of CyberGhost's one-day free trial and, if necessary, its 45-day money-back guarantee. 

You want U.S. servers? NordVPN's got plenty: Out of its 5,500-server global network, nearly 1,600 of them are based in the States, and none of them are virtual(Opens in a new tab). In other words, watching Hulu with NordVPN means never having to worry about running into connection-crippling bottlenecks that can happen when a shared server tries to accommodate too many users at once. 

If you're really, really worried about having your IP address flagged by Hulu, know that NordVPN(Opens in a new tab) also gives its users the option of adding a dedicated/single-use IP address to their plans.

On the security front, NordVPN does its very best to quell your privacy concern with double VPN encryption, DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch, a built-in ad/suspicious website blocker, and an option to route your traffic through the Onion network with every plan. Moreover, its Panama headquarters affords you a viewing experience free of mandatory data retention laws and outside the jurisdiction of the 14 Eyes alliance, and there's a strict "no-logging" policy that applies to all of its users' online activities.

No matter which VPN you subscribe to, your connection probably won't work perfectly everywhere and every time. That's why it's so important to choose a provider with a reputation for excellent customer service. Enter: PureVPN(Opens in a new tab).

Based in Hong Kong, this 14-year-old provider offers around the clock assistance via live chat, support ticket, and email — and according to the VPN review site BestVPN.co(Opens in a new tab), its average response time for the latter clocks in at just under 40 minutes.

PureVPN operates a self-managed network of more than 2,000 servers in over 140 countries, including more than 650 in the U.S. No matter which one you connect to, you'll enjoy split tunneling, a kill switch, 256-bit encryption, a built-in ad blocker, and DNS and IPv6 leak protection. Unfortunately, that suite of tools comes at a price: PureVPN's connection speeds are known to be a little on the slow side.

We should also note that PureVPN got some heat in 2017 for handing over a user's account information to the FBI as part of a cyberstalking case(Opens in a new tab). It's since updated its privacy policy and undergone an independent audit that verified its no-logging promise as just that, but whether you trust PureVPN (or any VPN provider, really) to keep your data secure is ultimately your call to make. 

Surfshark has made waves in the VPN world with affordable subscriptions, above-average customer support(Opens in a new tab), and a well-rounded suite of security features that includes a kill switch, double encryption, and a private DNS and leak protection. 

The main reason that Surfshark(Opens in a new tab) is on this list is that it's the only decent Hulu-unblocking provider offering unlimited simultaneous connections across all sorts of devices, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, FireTV, and browsers like Chrome and Firefox. For families, roommates, and other types of shared households with lots of different TV tastes, it should be a go-to.

The biggest drawback to using Surfshark is its small server network: There are just over 1,000 of them, and that relatively low number means you've got a pretty good chance of encountering sluggish servers. On the plus side, every single one of its servers can bypass Hulu's VPN ban — or so the company claims(Opens in a new tab).

Private Internet Access(Opens in a new tab) is a seriously robust service that should suit beginners and experienced users. This streaming-friendly VPN provides powerful encryption, strong connection speeds, and a massive server network. You get everything you need to unblock Hulu.

The app is easy to use and stylishly designed, and you get 10 simultaneous connections with a single account. There is no free version and logging in can be a bit clunky, but this shouldn't stop you from considering Private Internet Access.

If you're looking for a comprehensive VPN that unlocks leading streaming services whilst protecting your data, Private Internet Access does the job and more.