Sam Boyd
Updated on: December 25, 2023
Short on time? Hereβs the best free VPN for Hotstar in 2024:
- π₯ ExpressVPN: While itβs not completely free, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to test it risk-free for a month. It has servers in all of the countries that offer Hotstar, works with Hotstar 100% of the time, includes unlimited data, and maintains the fastest speeds.
My colleagues and I spent weeks testing free VPNs to find the best ones for Hotstar β unfortunately, most donβt allow streaming and/or lack servers in regions where Hotstar is available. In addition, free VPNs typically have slow speeds, annoying data caps, and small server networks. Even worse, many free VPNs are missing essential security features and some might sell your personal information.
To stream Hotstar hassle-free, you should get an affordable VPN like ExpressVPN. The best VPNs come with servers in all of the regions where Hotstar is available, maintain fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming, have unlimited data, and offer advanced security features.
The good news is I found a few free VPNs that consistently work with Hotstar. However, keep in mind that even the top free VPNs come with some limitations, such as data caps, smaller server networks, and slower speeds.
Quick summary of the best free VPNs for Hotstar in 2024:
- 1. π₯ExpressVPN β Best overall VPN for Hotstar in 2024.
- 2. π₯CyberGhost VPN β Optimized streaming servers for Hotstar.
- 3. π₯Windscribe β 100% free streaming support for Hotstar.
- 4. hide.me β Free user-friendly VPN for watching Hotstar.
- 5. TunnelBear β Free VPN with a large server network.
- Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for Hotstar in 2024.
π₯1. ExpressVPN β Best Overall VPN for Hotstar in 2024
ExpressVPNΒ is my favorite VPN for Hotstar in 2024. It has a high-speed server network with servers that reliably work with all Hotstar libraries β I had no problem streaming Hotstar in Canada while connected to ExpressVPNβs Canadian server, my colleague in the US could stream Hotstar on Hulu, and our international testing team confirmed the VPN worked with Hotstar libraries in their locations. Additionally, the VPN comes with unlimited data and advanced security features.
ExpressVPN isnβt 100% free, but it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee β this allows you to test the VPN risk-free for a month.
I like that ExpressVPN offers multiple server locations in all Hotstar-licensed regions, so you can choose the location closest to you for the best speeds. For example, ExpressVPN has 5 server locations in the UK, 4 locations in Canada, and 3 in Singapore.
ExpressVPN removed its physical servers from India in response to an Indian law that requires VPNs to store user data for 5 years. However, I didnβt find this an issue since it offers virtual servers in India (via the UK and Singapore). A virtual server still assigns you an IP address from the country you connect to, but the server is physically located in another country.
Its blazing-fast speeds allowed me to stream videos in Ultra HD. Honestly, ExpressVPN is simply the best VPN for streaming in the industry. Plus, in addition to working with Hotstar, it works with 100+ other streaming platforms.
ExpressVPN offers 8 simultaneous device connections β most free VPNs only offer 1 simultaneous connection. One of the cool things about ExpressVPN is that it also offers an easy-to-use router app, so you can basically connect all the devices in your home with just 1 connection. Plus, ExpressVPN offers its own affordable router (called Aircove), which includes built-in VPN security benefits.
I also like how the VPN has user-friendly apps. You can add the servers you use most for streaming Hotstar to your favorites for quick access, and ExpressVPN displays the last server you connected to. Since I used its Canada β Toronto server last, I was able to reconnect to it in a flash.
Its MediaStreamer feature (smart DNS) is another standout feature. Iβm a big fan of this feature since it allows you to stream Hotstar from your smart TV and game consoles without problems.
ExpressVPNΒ offers monthly and yearly plans that start at $6.67 / month, and it often offers discounts such as extra months for free.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Hotstar in 2024 β it offers servers that work in all Hotstar-licensed regions, maintains really fast speeds, and comes with unlimited data. Plus, it has user-friendly apps, as well as MediaStreamer for streaming on devices that normally donβt support a VPN. Itβs not 100% free, but it truly offers the best value on the market, and each purchase is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
π₯2. CyberGhost VPN β Optimized Streaming Servers for Hotstar
CyberGhost VPNΒ has optimized streaming servers specifically for Hotstar. These servers are designed to work with the streaming services where you can watch Hotstar content and are optimized to provide the best possible streaming speeds. CyberGhost VPN has an optimized streaming server for Hotstar in India and Hulu in the US, and it also has normal servers that work with Hotstar in other regions, such as the UK, Canada, and Singapore.
Keep in mind that CyberGhost isnβt completely free, but it comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans.
I was impressed to see that the VPN has super fast speeds. Although the speeds werenβt as fast as ExpressVPNβs, they were still fast enough to stream video content in HD without any slowdowns or buffering.
CyberGhost also works with other popular international streaming platforms like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, multiple Netflix libraries, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max, as well as less-popular ones like France TV and CBC (Canada).
CyberGhost offers easy-to-use apps that are compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and more. You can use the search bar to quickly find any server, including the optimized streaming servers, and I particularly liked that I could even add servers to my favorites.
There is a smart DNS feature available, so you can use the VPN on devices like smart TVs and gaming consoles that donβt natively support VPNs. However, I was a bit disappointed that it doesnβt work with Hotstar (unlike ExpressVPNβs smart DNS).
CyberGhostβs plansΒ are some of the cheapest out there and start at $2.03 / month, and you can choose between monthly and yearly plans.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN has optimized streaming servers for Hotstar and offers high-speed servers in the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. Since the VPN comes with unlimited data, you can watch your favorite series for as long as you want. Itβs not 100% free, but you get up to a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
π₯3. WindscribeΒ β 100% Free Streaming Support for Hotstar
WindscribeΒ has a free plan with access to servers in 10+ countries, including Canada, the US, and the UK where Hotstar is available (but with a different library). Its free plan works reliably with streaming services including Hotstar and Hulu (where you can watch Hotstar content in the US), as confirmed by my colleague in the US.
It is also one of the few free VPNs that allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so everyone in your family can watch their own Hotstar shows at once. Or, you can watch Hotstar on your smartphone during your commute and then switch to the big screen at home with no hassle.
Windscribe offers great speeds for streaming Hotstar, though it isnβt as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN. Loading Hotstarβs website took about 3β4 seconds while loading HD videos took a bit longer (5β6 seconds). This is pretty good, and I didnβt notice any buffering either once the videos loaded fully.
Windscribeβs free plan has a data cap of 10 GB per month. This is pretty generous for a free VPN, but it still doesnβt allow for unlimited streaming β this is roughly enough data for up to 10 hours of HD streaming or 40 hours of SD streaming with Hotstar. If you need a little more, tweeting at Windscribe can get you an extra 5 GB.
This free VPN has a few extra useful features, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers (which are both good for security), and split-tunneling, which is useful for using both the VPN connection and a local connection at the same time for different tasks.
Windscribeβs paid plansΒ start at $5.75 / monthΒ and add access to all servers, unlimited data, and more additional features. It also comes with a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Windscribeβs free plan provides reliable 100% free streaming support for Hotstar with servers in Canada, the US, and the UK. It has unlimited device connections, its speeds are decent for streaming, and it has a data cap of 10 GB. It also offers some strong security features and split-tunneling. Its paid version is affordable and comes with a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Windscribe review
4. hide.me β Easy-To-Use VPN for Watching Hotstar
hide.meβs user-friendly app makes it a breeze to watch UK Hotstar content. I like that I didnβt even need to provide an email address β all I had to do was download the app, click on βGet Your Free Planβ, and I could start using the VPN. Hide.meβs app is compatible with Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Unfortunately, it doesnβt come with smart DNS and only offers 1 connection.
Unlike ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN, hide.meβs free plan doesnβt offer servers in India. However, there are servers in the UK and in Canada. hide.meβs 24/7 live chat confirmed that Hotstar works with the free UK server but not with Canadaβs free server or the USβs free server (for Hulu). That said, the customer support representative told me Hotstar does work with hide.meβs premium servers.
I had fast speeds for streaming on local servers, but I did experience occasional buffering and some slowdowns.Β The VPN also comes with a limiting data cap of 10 GB per month (like Windscribe).
You can get a hide.meΒ premium plan starting at $2.22 / month. This way, you get access to a larger server network (with servers in multiple Hotstar-licensed regions) and unlimited data. On top of that, all of hide.meβs paid plans come with 10 connections and are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
hide.me is easy to set up and use, which allows you to start streaming Hotstar quickly. In addition, it offers a UK server that works with Hotstar and is compatible with a range of devices. Unfortunately, it had slow speeds on long-distance servers, and it comes with a data cap of 10 GB per month.
5. TunnelBear β Beginner-Friendly VPN With a Large Server Network
TunnelBearβs free plan comes with a big server network, with access to locations in 47 countries, including Canada, the UK, and the US for watching Hotstar. Itβs one of the easiest (and most fun) VPNs to use since its interface is simple to navigate and has adorable cartoon bears all over the place.
TunnelBear has unlimited device connections for free users, just like Windscribe. It also offers other premium features on its free plan, such as compatibility with a wide range of devices, and SplitBear, which provides split-tunneling.
The free plan has a data cap of only 2 GB, which is pretty low compared to the others on my list. Youβll only be able to watch Hotstar for a little while β no binging possible.
The VPNβs speeds are decent for streaming Hotstar, but it wasnβt nearly as fast as ExpressVPN or CyberGhost VPN. Videos loaded pretty quick, but higher-quality 4K videos spun for up to 7 seconds before loading fully. That said, I had no buffering when watching short or long HD or 4K videos.
TunnelBear ($3.33 / month) has a handful of premium plans available with unlimited data for watching Hotstar. But the VPN lacks a money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TunnelBear is a beginner-friendly free VPN for watching Hotstar in Canada, the UK, and the US. Its features are very intuitive with a well-designed interface and appealing design. It allows unlimited device connections, has a 2 GB data limit, and maintains decent speeds for streaming. Upgrading to a paid plan provides unlimited data for watching Hotstar, but it doesnβt have a money-back guarantee.
Read the full TunnelBear Review
Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for Hotstar in 2024
How to Choose the Best Free VPN for Hotstar in 2024:
- Find a VPN that can access Hotstar. The VPN should offer reliable servers that work with Hotstar all of the time. All VPNs listed here offer at least 1 server in a region where Hotstar is available. They all worked with Hotstar UK (as confirmed by my UK colleagues), and my US colleagues and I were able to watch Hotstar in our locations with most of the VPNs on the list. ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN work with Hotstar in all its available locations (confirmed by our international team).
- Pick a VPN with fast speeds. Although itβs normal for all VPNs to slow down your speeds due to the encryption process, you want to choose a VPN that doesnβt affect your streaming experience. All of the VPNs I recommend have fast speeds so you can stream Hotstar without slowdowns (ExpressVPNΒ had the fastest speeds during my tests).
- Choose a VPN with enough data for streaming. You use about 1 GB per hour to stream in SD and 3 GB per hour for streaming in HD. The more data your free VPN offers, the longer you can watch your favorite shows and movies.
- Select a VPN with wide good device compatibility. Itβs important that the VPN actually offers a native app for your device. I ensured that all VPNs on this list have a wide range of compatibility, and some (like ExpressVPN) even work with smart TVs and routers.
- Opt for a VPN with strong security. A VPN should keep your online information safe while youβre streaming Hotstar. All VPNs listed here come with industry-standard security features such as 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch.
Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN
- Poor streaming support. Many free VPNs donβt allow streaming, and even some of the ones that have streaming support donβt work with a lot of streaming apps. Premium services like ExpressVPNΒ work with all of the popular streaming services, including Hotstar.
- Slow speeds. Many VPNs throttle speeds on free plans. Plus, free VPNs often come with only a few servers that get overcrowded quickly, which results in slow speeds. However, all of the VPNs on this list maintain fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming.
- Data caps. Most free VPNs offer only a limited amount of data you can use per month. This can range from 200 MB to up to 15 GB. All of the top paid VPNs include unlimited data.
- Recording and trading your private info. Itβs crucial to pick a VPN with a rigorous no-logs policy β numerous free VPNs generate income by tracking and selling your individual details to third parties (they use your data to produce customized ads).
- Poor security. Free VPNs are often missing important security features like a kill switch, obfuscation, and DNS/IP leak protection. Without these, your sensitive data is at risk.
Top Brands That Didnβt Make the Cut
- Proton VPN. Proton VPNβs free VPN has unlimited data, which is great for streaming. Unfortunately, it doesnβt work with streaming sites, and even if it did, it doesnβt have servers in any of the countries where Hotstar is available, except for the US.
- Hotspot Shield. Hotspot Shield has a good free plan with decent speeds, unlimited data, and strong security. That said, its free plan doesnβt support streaming.
- Avira Phantom VPN. This free VPN has servers in countries where Hotstar is available like Canada, the UK, and Singapore, but it doesnβt work with streaming services and only allows 500 MB of data per month, which is only enough for browsing for less than an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free VPN for Hotstar?
Although not 100% free, the best VPN for watching Hotstar is ExpressVPN. It works with Hotstar 100% of the time, has servers in countries where Hotstar is available, has the fastest speeds in the industry, and backs all plans with a risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee.
Free VPNs, even the good ones that support streaming, give you access to a limited number of servers. For example,Β Windscribe only has servers in 3 countries where Hotstar is available and only allows 1 connection.
Can I watch Hotstar for free?
Yes, but there are some limitations β the free version of Hotstar shows you ads, thereβs only a small library of content to choose from, and you can only watch live events for 5 minutes. If you want unlimited access to Hotstar, youβll have to upgrade to a paid plan.
To securely stream Hotstar, I recommend checking out ExpressVPN, which is an affordable premium VPN that comes with reliable servers in all Hotstar-licensed regions. The VPN is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can test all of its features risk-free.
Where is Hotstar available?
Hotstar is available in India, the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, as well as the US, but only through Hulu. However, you can only find Indian content in its Indian, UK, Canadian, and Singaporean libraries.
You canβt watch Hotstar outside of these regions due to licensing agreements. All of the free VPNs listed here work with Hotstar in some licensed regions. However, I recommend ExpressVPN, since this VPN offers servers that work with all Hotstar-licensed regions, has super-fast speeds, and unlimited data.
What if Hotstar doesnβt work with my VPN?
To ensure Hotstar works with your VPN, itβs best to get a good streaming VPN (I recommend ExpressVPNΒ because it works with Hotstar and offers servers in India, the UK, Canada, the US, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand).
But if you still experience issues, you can try these tips:
- Switch servers.Β Sometimes it also helps to just disconnect and connect again to the same server.
- Reset your internet connection. Sometimes your internet connection might be too slow to actually work with your VPN. Resetting it can help to solve slow connection issues caused by your IP.
