How to Watch Hotstar in USA / UK (Unblock Outside India)

In this guide, I will show you how to watch Hotstar in the USA or other countries. I will help you stream Indian entertainment content, including Sports (Cricket), on Hotstar outside India. This article will cover Hotstar access on FireStick, Android, and iOS through the app, as well as on computers using the official website.

If you want to watch movies, shows, and sports content from India, I believe Hotstar is your best option. Hotstar is an online streaming service that offers live TV and on-demand content from India as well as select movies and shows from other countries, including the USA and the UK. What Netflix is to the world, Hotstar is probably to India. This service has more than fifty thousand hours of streamable content.

Hotstar has partnered with Disney and is streaming the entire range of Disney+ content in India.

Hotstar is also very popular in India for live streaming cricket matches such as the IPL, a.k.a. the Indian Premier League, and the ICC World Cup. Though Hotstar is more popular for Cricket, it also streams other sports, including Football, Tennis, Hockey, Boxing, and more. The service is owned by STAR India, one of the biggest media networks in the country. STAR India owns Star Sports, which is the company’s sports portfolio. Most sports broadcasts from Star Sports are available on Hotstar.

Hotstar is officially available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Although most Indian content is geo-restricted, don’t be disappointed yet. In this walkthrough, I will show you how to gain unrestricted access to the content available on Hotstar India from anywhere in the world, no matter which country or continent you live on.

Watch Hotstar in the USA or Anywhere in the World

Hotstar is an Indian entertainment app, and most of its movies, shows, and sports streams are geo-restricted to India. Even though Hotstar is officially available in some countries outside India, such as the USA and the UK, the content is restricted. Also, Hotstar services cost a lot more outside India.

While you pay nearly $19 to subscribe to Hotstar’s yearly service in India to gain unrestricted access to all the premium content, in the USA, you must pay $99.99 annually, nearly 5 times more than what you would pay for an Indian Hotstar annual subscription. Moreover, you are not even getting access to the whole library of content.

Fortunately, you can watch everything the Indians watch on Hotstar at the same price, even if you live in the USA or any country other than India. All you need to do is use a VPN service.

A VPN will virtually geolocate you in India by connecting you to one of the Indian servers. This will allow you to access the Indian version of Hotstar. A VPN also ensures that all your online activities are masked and that your internet connection is safe.

I have been using VPNs for a long time. After trying several VPN services, I finally settled for ExpressVPN, which I have been using for quite a while now. ExpressVPN is offering a whopping 61% off + 4 months extra on its 2-year plan for a limited time.

I recommend ExpressVPN because it is very stable and fast and has nearly 3,000 servers worldwide. ExpressVPN’s design is optimized for all the popular platforms, including FireStick, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, etc.

Wondering how to watch Hotstar in the USA or other countries? This guide covers everything you need to know to get started with Hotstar. Keep reading!

Connect to the Indian Server to Start Using Hotstar Outside India

If you want to know how to watch Hotstar outside India, you first need to connect to an Indian location using ExpressVPN. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Click HERE to get ExpressVPN. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like ExpressVPN’s services (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund within the first 30 days.

Step 2: Download and install the ExpressVPN app from this LINK.

Step 3: Launch the ExpressVPN app and connect to one of the available Indian servers. Click ‘Choose Location’ on the ExpressVPN home screen (or main window)

Step 4: Click ‘ALL’ tab when the window with the list of the servers pops up (this window is titled ‘ExpressVPN – VPN Locations’)

–Expand ‘Africa, Middle East & India’

–Expand ‘India’

–Double-click one of the servers on the list to connect to the server

Now that you are connected to an Indian server, you can use your Indian account to start watching tons of free content available on Hotstar in the USA.

Sign Up for Indian Hotstar in the USA or Any Other Country

Note: There is tons of free content available on Hotstar that you can watch without signing up and logging in. So, if you were looking for free content from Hostar India, you are all good once you are connected to the Indian server via a VPN (as shown above). Just go to Hotstar.com and start watching your favorite movies / TV shows.

If you want to watch premium content such as Cricket tournaments, follow the steps below to register for the account and subscribe to the services.

NOTE: The sign-up method outlined below will ONLY work if you have an Indian credit/debit card. Hotstar India doesn’t accept cards issued outside India. If that is a problem, you might want to seek help from someone who can make the payment from India on your behalf. I noticed some gigs on Fiverr where you can get help making payments in Indian currency. Note that I am not affiliated with any of those services.

Once you have completed the payment, all you have to do is Turn ON your VPN and start streaming Hotstar India.

Step 1: Open any web browser and go here

Click ‘CHOOSE YOUR PLAN’

Step 2: Select one of the three available plans (all currency Indian Rupees):

INR 1499 (roughly $19): This is the YEARLY plan that allows you access to all the premium content, including Disney+, sports, and entertainment for one year. This is the most cost-effective plan
INR 299 (roughly $4): This MONTHLY plan lets you watch premium entertainment and sports content for a month. The plan is automatically renewed every month unless you choose to cancel the subscription.

Step 3: Enter your name, email address, and password to sign up. You can also sign up with your Facebook account instead.

Step 4: Now, pay and follow the on-page instructions to complete the sign-up process.

Change Region to Download the Hotstar App Outside India

Depending on your country of residence, you may or may not have to change the region to download the Hotstar app.

Access Hotstar through the Website

If you want to access Hotstar in the USA or any other country, such as the UK, on a computer or through their website, you do NOT need to change the region in any app store.

Open the ExpressVPN app on your computer and connect to an Indian server. Next, open any browser, go to www.hotstar.com, and sign in. You can start watching your favorite content straight away.

For Hotstar in the USA

The USA is one of the countries where Hotstar is available. Here is a quick list of the platforms and app availability:

Android: Hotstar is officially available on the Google Play Store in the USA. If you use Android, you don’t need to change the region to download Hotstar. You can download it on smartphones and tablets.

Amazon App Store: Hotstar is also available on the Amazon App Store in the US. There is no need to change the region. You can easily get it on Amazon FireStick or Fire TV devices.

iOS: Hotstar is again available on the Apple App Store in the US. A change of region is NOT required. It is available for iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices.

For Hotstar in the UK

Hotstar is also officially available in the UK and offers the following two subscription plans:

£59.99 per year (with a saving of £84)
£11.99 per month

You can sign up for Hotstar UK services at https://uk.hotstar.com/subscribe/get-started

Hotstar UK lets you watch Indian TV Shows, Movies, Cricket, and more. Like Hotstar USA, you can download the Hotstar UK app from the Google Play Store, the Amazon App Store, or the iOS App Store. You DO NOT need to change the region to watch Hotstar in the UK.

That’s great. But a lot of content on Hotstar India is restricted in the UK. Therefore, instead of Hotstar UK, you may still want to watch Hotstar India.

Furthermore, Hotstar India is much cheaper than its UK counterpart. Its yearly plan costs INR 1499, which is roughly £15 (nearly six times cheaper than Hotstar UK’s yearly subscription). The monthly plan is also cheaper at INR 299 (roughly £3).

To watch Hotstar Indian in the UK, follow the instructions in this guide.

How to Change the Region in Various App Stores

To watch Hotstar in countries where the service isn’t officially available, here is a quick look at how to change the region in different app stores.

Google Play Store

Go here and sign in with your Google ID
Click the ‘Settings’ option on the left sidebar
Here, you can edit and change the country to India. Also, change the address to an Indian address in the ‘Name and address’ section. You can easily generate random Indian addresses here.

Apple App Store

Visit the official Apple Support page for detailed information on how to change the Country/region in the App Store.

Here is the quick summary

Open ‘Settings’ on your iOS device
Tap Your Name
Tap ‘iTunes& App Store’
Tap the option ‘View Apple ID’ on the pop-up
Authenticate the ID if you are asked
Tap the option ‘Country/region’
Follow the onscreen instructions to change the settings.

Amazon Store

Go to Amazon following this link
Select the ‘Settings’ tab on the right
Click the ‘Change’ button under the ‘Country Settings’.

How to Install Hotstar and Use it with a VPN

Now that you know how to change the region in Google Play, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store, you can easily download and install Hotstar in the USA, the UK, or anywhere else in the world.

I am now going to show you how to install and use the Hotstar app on FireStick or Fire TV. This method works much the same on other platforms as well. The only difference is that instead of downloading the app from the Amazon App Store, you will download it from the app store for your respective platforms.

If you are using Android, download Hotstar USA from the Play Store. If you own an iOS device, download it from the Apple App Store.

Let’s get started with the FireStick method.

When you are on the FireStick home screen, use the remote and select the search option (the lens icon) in the top-left corner of the screen.

Type in the name of the app (i.e. Hotstar) using the remote or any other input device you might be using

Select the Hotstar app from the search results underneath the onscreen keyboard.

Now, click the Hotstar app icon on the next screen.

Click the Download button. FireStick will start downloading the app. Once the app is downloaded, the installation will begin automatically.

Once the app is installed, you will see the ‘Open’ button on the screen.

Note: Don’t run the app yet. Before starting the app, make sure you run ExpressVPN and connect to an Indian server. This will ensure that Hotstar shows the app’s Indian interface.

Once you are connected to the Indian server through ExpressVPN, go to the ‘Your Apps & Channels’ section and run the app from there.

If you have turned on Express VPN and chosen an Indian server (as we just discussed), this is what Hotstar’s home screen will look like. Keep reading to learn how to use Hotstar in the USA with the Indian app interface.

Live Cricket and the other programs labeled as ‘Premium’ can only be watched when you have purchased the Hotstar subscription. If you are wondering how to watch Hotstar outside India for free, you can go ahead and stream the videos that are not marked as Premium. These videos are free; you don’t need to register to watch them.

I tried to open a live cricket match in progress without signing up, and this is the message I got. I need either the Sports plan or one of the other premium plans to watch this content.

If you have already created an account and bought a premium plan, click the ‘Sign In’ button to log in to your account.

Here is the Sign In window. Log in with the same account if you signed up using your Facebook account. If you registered with an email address, go ahead and enter the email address and password and click the ‘Login’ button.

How to Watch Hotstar in the USA without a VPN

As I already told you, Hotstar is officially available in the United States on the Play Store, App Store, and Amazon Store.

Simply download the Hotstar USA app and run it. You will be asked to either ‘sign in’ or ‘sign up’ at us.hotstar.com/activate and then enter the code displayed on the screen.

We earlier signed up for the Hotstar India services, which you can use in the USA with a VPN. However, you must sign up for a fresh account since you want to use Hotstar in the USA without a VPN.

You need a different sign-up in the USA because the pricing, policies, and terms of service vary from India. For instance, while in India, Hotstar barely costs $19 yearly, in the United States, it is $9.99 per month or $99.99 yearly.

To me, using a VPN makes more sense as it not only saves me money, it also lets me watch all the geo-restricted content.

However, if you still wish to go ahead with Hotstar USA service, go to us.hotstar.com/activate and click the ‘Sign up’ link underneath the ‘Sign in’ button on this page

You can either sign up through your Facebook account or with an email address. Enter the required details and click the ‘Sign Up’ button at the bottom.

Enter your credit card information and follow the onscreen instructions to sign up. As I already said, the monthly plan is $9.99, but you also get a One-Week free trial.

Once you complete the sign-up, you will automatically be signed in. You can also sign in later at us.hotstar.com/activate.

After signing in, enter the code that is displayed on the Hotstar app screen on your device.

This is how you can watch Hotstar in the United States without a VPN.

How to Watch Hotstar Outside India for Free

Hotstar is a subscription-based service, but it also hosts many free content. You don’t even need to register to watch the free content. Even though the free stuff is available only in India, you can still watch it outside India using a VPN.

Run ExpressVPN on your device and connect to the Indian server.
If you want to watch it on a computer, go to www.hotstar.com and open any free content (NOT labeled as ‘Premium’).
If you are using the Hotstar app, open it and start watching the free content.

Yes! It’s that easy if you are connected to a VPN.

Hotstar Cricket Schedule

If you are a big fan of Cricket, Hotstar India is your best bet for live Cricket streams. Below is the schedule of ongoing and upcoming Cricket matches on Hotstar.

India vs Australia
Indian Premier League (IPL)
India vs South Africa

For more updates on Cricket tournaments, you can refer to this Hotstar page.

Wrapping Up

So, that is how we watch Hotstar in the USA, UK, or, for that matter, any country you live in. The most essential element in all of this is a VPN. A good VPN service can virtually relocate your internet connection, allowing you to access geo-restricted apps, websites, movies, TV shows, and whatnot. I advocate ExpressVPN as I have been personally using it for a while. This guide will help you use Hotstar in the USA or any other country as if you were using it in India. The good news is that, unlike Netflix, Hotstar hasn’t blocked any VPN servers. You could use just about any Indian server and enjoy your favorite content without any obstacles.

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