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Virtual private networks (VPNs) have traditionally been used in a business environment, or by tech-focused individuals wary of online surveillance, because they are an excellent security tool to improve privacy on the internet.
But the growth of video-on-demand streaming services in recent years have opened up VPNs to casual users, leading to a thriving market for commercial VPNs at affordable prices.
While popular global streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Hulu, offer thousands of movies and series on their platforms, their libraries vary significantly from country to country and users only have access to a limited volume of titles in their own geography.
This geo-restriction can often be overcome through the use of VPNs to access international content. You can read more about VPNs in our guide to the best VPNS for Australians.
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What Is Hulu?
Hulu, majority-owned by Disney, is one of the most popular streaming video services in the US after Netflix, with 48 million users in the country.
It was originally formed through a collaboration of major US television networks like Fox, ABC, and NBC, and has an extensive collection of shows from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, PBS and Cartoon Network. It also places a premium on original content, such as popular shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, Secret Chef and Futurama.
However, the service is only available in the United States and Japan, so if you are trying to access Hulu content from anywhere else in the world, you will end up with an error message because the streaming giant geo-blocks its content in other regions.
While compatriot streaming service Disney+ is available in Australia, it does not provide access to Hulu titles. An integration of the two platforms has been announced for the future, but this will only be available for US subscribers.
How to Use a VPN to Access Hulu
That means the only way around Hulu’s geo-restriction is to use a VPN to access its US content.
When you switch on a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted and routed to a US-based server operated by the VPN company. This allows you to trick the streaming service provider’s servers into thinking you are located within the US.
A few simple steps will allow you to access Hulu content via a VPN:
- Sign up to a secure and reliable VPN service from your preferred provider
- Select a server location within the US. A multitude of such servers are available, so refer to the providers website or customer service to gauge your best options.
- Log in to the Hulu account in a web browser or app.
- You will now have access to Hulu’s US library. Sometimes some settings tweaks are needed or browser cookies and cache needs to be cleared before you are able to view the content.
Will Hulu Block My VPN?
Hulu employs geo-blocking technology, which some tech experts consider to be more advanced than Netflix’s restrictions. In addition, the streaming service also discourages the use of VPNs by blocking connections from known VPN servers, often resulting in an error message.
A key reason is that Hulu has signed content licensing deals that are limited to the US, so the platform is obliged to actively restrict users elsewhere from accessing these titles. In addition, most streaming services are also dealing with the growing risk of hacking or disruption of service.
“Hackers are constantly trying to find loopholes to disrupt the service,” says Dr Priyadarsi Nanda, a researcher and cybersecurity expert at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
“If they find an open-ended VPN server, they can start injecting malicious traffic and block access for all legitimate users. That is one of the reasons why most streaming service providers don’t allow users to connect through any VPN connection.”
You also need to keep in mind that an additional challenge for accessing Hulu content is signing up to the streaming service in the first place.
The US-based platform only allows you to sign up with a US address and an American credit card. This would generally involve either opening a US payment account, or using a gift card or US PayPal account, or getting friends or family in the US to help.
How to Choose the Best VPN to Watch Hulu
UTS’ Nanda says the key points that users should keep in mind while choosing a VPN for a streaming service are the real-time response time, the location of the servers and bandwidth.
“You should look through what VPN servers are actually available in that specific country. How close you are to the VPN server or the type of VPN server selected is important, particularly in relation to bandwidth,” he says.
Typically, the best VPN providers keep bolstering their reach by ensuring they have a number of active servers in different countries. On the other hand, free or cheaper VPNs don’t have the resources to replace servers that have been blacklisted by a streaming service provider like Hulu.
Some reliable providers whose VPNs consistently work with Hulu include:
- NordVPN: It is considered one of the best VPNs for accessing Hulu because of its fast speeds and top-notch security features.
- Surfshark: This is a good budget option for Hulu, as it offer access for multiple devices and provides reliable customer and technical support.
- ExpressVPN: The service is known for its fast speeds and provides a stable connection as well as adequate bandwidth needed to stream Hulu content.
- CyberGhost: A solid choice that is able to unblock a wide range of streaming services, including Hulu. It provides excellent speeds.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I bypass the VPN block on Hulu?
Only a few VPNs can bypass Hulu’s VPN block because they constantly replace servers that have been blacklisted by the US streaming service. These generally include premium VPN providers like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and so on.
Will Hulu ever come to Australia?
Hulu has provided no indication that it will provide access beyond the US and Japan. However, parent Disney has talked about its global growth plans, which could hopefully include Australia.
What shows are on Hulu?
Hulu is well known for hit shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale, Secret Chef, Vikings, Cardinal and Futurama. It also holds an extensive collection of shows from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, PBS and Cartoon Network.