Hulu is one of the most popular streaming video providers, second only to Netflix. Hulu was founded by three major US television networks: Fox, ABC, and NBC.
It features programming from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, FX, SyFy, PBS, Style, and Cartoon Network, among others. Unfortunately, Hulu, like so many other streaming platforms, is region-locked, so you’ll need a VPN to stream it while traveling outside the USA.
Even though you need to use a VPN to access Hulu content from anywhere, most of the current offerings you can find get blocked from accessing the streaming servers.
Hulu is subject to content licensing concerns and constraints, as with any other popular streaming service. This is especially true for services like Hulu, which sources its material from various content creators, such as many movie studios, TV networks, and more.
In most instances, you can go as far as saying Hulu VPN not working as it should. However, in our guide, you can learn more about why Hulu blocking VPN use and how you can get private internet access from VPN servers.
By the end, you’ll have enough information to know how to watch Hulu with VPN and how to sign up for the Hulu app and trick Hulu into thinking you are inside the USA. You’ll also find out why does Hulu block VPN use? (Read Windows 10 Hulu App Not Working)
Is It Illegal To Use VPN To Watch Hulu?
It’s a little unfair to categorize using a VPN to get around Hulu’s content limitations as “illegal.” It is, however, against Hulu’s Terms of Service.
Hulu makes no explicit mention of VPN services in their legal document. You may not “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,” according to the terms.
While the sentence crams in a lot, it is clear what they mean, and clarifies why they block VPNs, and they might block or ban your Hulu account if they wished.
Remember that Hulu has been available since 2008, and there are few cases of anyone being banned for using a VPN.
The worst-case scenario is that you get an error notice when trying to access Hulu. Streaming Hulu has become increasingly difficult because they effectively block VPNs compared to many other streaming platforms apart from Netflix and BBC iPlayer. They are the current champions of streaming sites that block VPN use. (Find the est VPN for Hulu)
HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video are not too far behind and will block you if there are any DNS leaks from your VPN.
If you face such errors and want to unblock Hulu or other streaming sites, you can run through our step-by-step Hulu not working with a VPN troubleshooting guide. You can find you face issues even if you are inside the USA and just using a VPN for digital security and to hide your whereabouts.
Hulu would assume you are using your VPN to watch Hulu content rather than for other reasons as you would show the same IP address on your Smart TV as your other devices if the VPN were installed on your router.
Delete Cookies
Cookies will record information that tells websites where you are connecting to the internet from around the world.
These cookies can alert Hulu that you’re trying to access its content from outside the United States, or using an IP address, not from your Internet service provider, but what is a VPN IP address. (VPN providers use blanket IPs and streaming sites block the entire range)
To begin, clear your cookies and then try Hulu again with your VPN set to see if it works.
Connect to a different US server
If removing your cookies doesn’t work, the next step is to switch to a different US server. If you are trying to watch with your Apple TV, you’ll need to ensure your VPN works with a wide range of devices.
You’ll also need several simultaneous connections with your VPN so you can set different locations for each of your devices. (Learn How to Watch Hulu in Australia)
Hulu cannot stop VPNs, but as we have seen, it blocks a range of IP addresses. So, you will be given a unique IP address if you connect to a different server.
Upgrade your VPN
If deleting your cookies and connecting to a different US server doesn’t fix the problem, then Hulu has blacklisted and blocked all the IP addresses your VPN provides. Luckily, there is an uncomplicated way to get around these blocks, and that is by upgrading your VPN.
It is wise to research, as many VPNs now offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Although you need to sign up with payment details, you can fully use this 30-day money-back guarantee to ensure the VPN works with Hulu.
How Does Hulu Know I’m Using a VPN?
Netflix, HBO Max, CBS, NBC, BBC iPlayer, and every other major broadcaster have blocked VPNs from accessing their content.
The reason for this is that of content licenses in the United States. Therefore, Hulu, like broadcasters in other countries who own the rights to their content, only has the permission to broadcast specific types of programming.
Hulu actively prohibits the use of VPNs, proxies, and other tools that alter your IP address. In addition, it tries to prohibit you from viewing Hulu streaming video outside of the United States.
We’re here to help if you’ve tried and failed to go on Hulu by hiding your actual location with a VPN.
Begin by uninstalling any free VPN software you may be using. Hulu may already block your VPN’s DNS servers without your knowledge. You may quickly test this using custom DNS servers like Google Public DNS, CloudFlare, or OpenDNS.
Instead of immediately switching to a new VPN if Hulu has blocked your existing VPN, try switching to a different server or getting a dedicated IP. Typically, such an IP is assigned to a single user, making VPN traffic far more difficult to trace.
Hulu detects VPNs by performing three primary checks.
The first step is to regularly check for IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks. This is a straightforward test that all trustworthy VPNs should pass.
The following challenge is a little more underhanded. To authenticate the IP address, you’re connecting from broadcasters to employ GeoIP databases like MaxMind.
You won’t be able to view Hulu if your VPN uses an IP address on one of these lists.
Finally, Hulu will do its own IP checks–this is the test that caused your VPN to stop working–where it will count how many connections are coming from the same IP address.
Customers outnumber servers with VPNs. This is a problem because each VPN server has its IP address, like a conventional home or office.
Hulu can easily detect and block-list an IP address when too many people connect to the same IP (the VPN server).
The best VPNs for streaming Hulu won’t have had all their IP addresses blacklisted by Hulu, which is more than likely what has happened to a blocked VPN. Such VPNs can offer a reliable connection by playing a cat-and-mouse game with the streaming service and keeping in front.
A quality VPN’s customer support receives many calls on fixing Hulu issues. Pointing customers toward a different server with the VPN to watch Hulu often works. In addition, when you have several simultaneous connections, you can make sure your VPN doesn’t come from the blacklisted IP addresses.
Why Do Streaming Services Block VPNs?
ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm, A&E, The History Channel, Lifetime, Pixar, Hollywood Records, and a slew of other properties are owned by the Disney Walt Company. In addition, since 2019, Disney has bought Hulu (which was previously owned by Comcast). You may also know Disney offers its streaming service, Disney Plus, which you can subscribe to.
Hulu creates its original material, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, Normal People, Castle Rock, Casual, and many other shows.
The Walt Disney Company is the owner of many films and television shows. In addition, sales of broadcast and streaming rights to third parties worldwide create revenue.
Hulu blocking VPNs and internet circumvention tools, as we have seen, yet for users these can mask the IP address and change the server locations to be in another area. In addition, Hulu, along with other streaming services, doesn’t like to let any VPN app be used from another country, such as the BBC iPlayer from the United Kingdom.
If you tried accessing Hulu or even Amazon Prime Video outside the USA using a VPN, you ended up with an error message on your screen. Even if they are free, all streaming companies block viewers from outside the region as Hulu block. VPN services are also needed here to get a connection.
The issue comes as not every VPN service can access other streaming services and stream Hulu. For example, some Hulu VPNs won’t access Netflix, Amazon, or the BBC, while other sites allow VPN usage for Netflix and not the other services.
Besides this, there is more to the best VPN than to work with Hulu and merely access streaming sites.
You can see much of this if you consider free VPNs; these rarely offer unlimited bandwidth or a range of IP addresses. An excellent example of a paid VPN compared to a free one is server numbers.
IP ranges from paid services reach into the tens of thousands, while free may offer you less than 20 VPN servers you can connect to. Next is the security of your internet connection.
A reliable VPN service will unblock Hulu, and all the time you stream Hulu, no one, not even your ISP, can see your IP address.
With unlimited connections and unlimited bandwidth, use thousands of VPN IP addresses and much more.
It may appear convenient when free, yet you can take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. Another great advantage of using a 30-day money-back guarantee is having access to all the features without restrictions.
Download the best VPNs app on your PC, mobile devices, Android TV, and others to stream Hulu. And, unlike streaming services, you can instantly sign up from any country and have the same access to anywhere for watching Hulu.
For a VPN capable of unblocking Hulu, a handful offers reliable private internet access no matter what your online activities.
One key feature you get is your kill switch, which stops streaming services from spotting IP leaks in case your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
The absence of this feature increases the likelihood that your machine will reveal your actual IP address when you rejoin the VPN server, resulting in Hulu connectivity problems.
Instead, take advantage of a high-quality VPN service as an anonymous proxy tool capable of bypassing the Hulu proxy error to access videos. You can also change your DNS servers, use a different VPN protocol, and deactivate WebRTC leaks in your web browser if you want to be extra cautious.
Some users have issues with signing up or if you wish to pay for another person. However, it is possible to bypass the payment checks it makes to US banks and credit cards and US PayPal and us the Hulu gift card trick.
Purchase a gift card and use this to sign up or make a payment, and this will also work with Hulu if you are outside the USA.
Do this using your 30-day money-back guarantee and a premium VPN will fix Hulu, and there is no reason to feel dissatisfied with a free VPN that can’t deliver.
