HBO Now is the stand-alone streaming service of the popular US premium cable channel, Home Box Office (HBO). The service officially launched on October 15th, 2014. The network has some wonderfully addictive shows that are known around the world. The biggest one in recent memory is the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Fire and Ice. Unless you live under a rock, you know the show is called Game of Thrones. That one aside, the show has many other great shows. The catch is, you have to be in the US to watch it. If you have an HBO Now account and want to watch it outside of the US, the service will block you unless you use a VPN.
There are a few things about this great streaming service that you need to know. First off, it is a premium offering. You can get access to all of the shows for $14.99 a month and you need to be in the US or connect to a US server. The reason you have to be inside the country or territories is because of the geo-blocks. By using a VPN, you can watch the service when you are traveling outside of the US.
Quickstart Guide for Using a VPN with HBO Now
For the quickest and easiest way to watch shows on the service, follow these steps.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee).
- Open a browser and go to HBO Now and sign up for service. You will want to register with the VPN on as well if you have not already.
- After your purchase, you can watch and enjoy all of the shows, just make sure you are connected to a VPN first.
Here are the best VPNs to help you get around the geo-blocks.
How to Watch HBO Now with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best choice for unblocking popular streaming services and live sporting events. The ExpressVPN team has combined their VPN service with a Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer. The combination will protect your privacy and unblock access to a wide range of content all over the world. You can run the ExpressVPN app on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and router. The MediaStreamer service extends support to streaming media devices (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Kodi boxes, etc.), Smart TVs, gaming consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch), and more.
The team at ExpressVPN is currently offering our visitors a discount on their all-inclusive VPN service. You can enjoy unlimited access to both their VPN network and MediaStreamer service for 49% off with 3 months free. In addition, they are offering a 30-day money back guarantee to all new members so you won’t feel rushed while testing the service. You’ll have a month to watch live events, unblock streaming services, and fully experience the advantages of ExpressVPN. You can expect to be quite impressed with the service.
How to Watch HBO Now with NordVPN
NordVPN is a good choice for unblocking live sporting events and streaming services. The VPN will help you unblock Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and many more channels. You still need a subscription for paid services like CBS All Access but NordVPN will help you unblock the geo-restrictions. They are one of the few VPNs that can still access Netflix US from outside the United States. This makes NordVPN a great choice for those who want to stream content from other regions of the world.
As you can see, the NordVPN app is easy to use. You can select a server location from the map or from a list of countries. Unfortunately, NordVPN doesn’t let you choose a specific city in locations like the United States. However, it will pick a server based on your current location. We found this to result in slower speeds than ExpressVPN. At times we had to try a few different servers to find one that offered the performance we desired. Otherwise, NordVPN offers everything you need to unblock your favorite websites.
How to Watch HBO Now with PIA VPN
Private Internet Access, often referred to as PIA, is one of the most popular VPN services in the world. They are headquartered in Silicon Valley and have contributed heavily to the privacy community. You have likely seen PIA in the news as they support a wide range of privacy-related campaigns. From full-page ads to promote privacy bills to support of the open source community, the PIA team is a strong privacy advocate. You will find the VPN service offers everything you need to encrypt your connection and unblock access to many of your favorite web sites.
We have experienced positive results when trying to access Netflix through PIA. You will find that popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC iPlayer are getting good at blocking VPNs. It’s a game of cat and mouse in which the VPNs find ways to stay ahead of the game. In addition to unblocking restrictions, PIA is also very popular in the file sharing community. Torrent users turn to PIA to secure their privacy with sites like TorrentFreak promoting the service. You will find that PIA has a lot to offer for a very reasonable price.
We have given you the best options to get connected above. Now, let’s see some of the popular shows you can expect to find on HBO Now.
- Game of Thrones
- Boardwalk Empire
- Ballers
- The Deuce
- Eastbound & Down
- The Leftovers
- 2 Dope Queens
- Deadwood
- Westworld
And many many more options to enjoy. For specific schedules of the shows we mentioned or any others, be sure to check the website and use a VPN. Otherwise, you will be geo-blocked.
About Geo-blocks
Geo-blocks can be annoying. Because of world licensing and broadcasting rights, the media companies block anyone outside of their targeted area. In other words, if you are traveling or want to watch region specific coverage, the blocking software will stop you. Since it can detect IP addresses, it can tell if you are outside of the area it wants you to be in. By connecting to a VPN, you can make the blocking software think you are located someplace else. Of course, you can watch more than just HBO Now when you use one.
Not All VPNs Will Unblock Popular Streaming Services
The truth of the matter is, the community is littered with ineffective VPN products. Though they may help you in other ways, you are removing one of the biggest benefits of a VPN if it does not unblock geo-restrictions. Even some of the more well-known providers do not work well to get you past those blocks. There is no point in trying to access HBO Now if you are having problems with the VPN. That is why we suggest using one of the options we mentioned above.
We have just shown you some ways to unblock HBO Now. Though there are other providers available, we think you’ll be happy with our choices. If you are a fan of the shows on HBO, you should not have to miss out on great options because of where you are located. As long as your goal is to unblock the HBO Now website, you have come to the right place.
