Trying to figure out how to watch Disney + Hotstar in the USA? If you are a fan of Indian streaming content, you must have heard of the popular platform Hotstar. This service allows viewers to watch some of the most in-demand Bollywood hits, but there is a catch. This streaming service is not available in the USA.
However, if you want to keep watching content from Hotstar USA that residents don’t usually get access to, there is one way to bypass geographical restrictions: A VPN. If you are interested in how to watch Disney + Hotstar in the USA, then you can find out all you need to know right in this article!
Let’s get started.
What Are Some of the Notable Titles on Hotstar?
If you want to know how to watch Hotstar in the USA, you are sure to be interested in some of the titles available on this streaming platform. You can use the service to watch global favorites, such as popular movies like The Martian and Black Swan, and regional hits from Bollywood, such as Angrezi Medium, Baaghi, and more!
That is not all; you can also use this streaming platform to catch some of your favorite Indian dramas, along with shows in English. For example, plenty of shows are popular on this service, including Koffee With Karan, Mahabharat, and more.
Not to mention, Disney+ Hotstar also hosts original titles, with some of the more notable names including, but not limited to
- Pyaar Actually
- The Fanatics
- As I’m Suffering From Kadhal
- City of Dreams
- Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors
- Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story
- Aashiqana
- The Office
Not only that, but you can also use the service to stream something many Indian fans will love: live sports! During the IPL season, you can use this service to watch all of the matches live, so you never miss one of the most exciting forms of cricket in the world!
Why Is Hotstar Not Accessible in The US?
You cannot just go to Hotstar in the United States and sign up for an account because this service is region-locked. Therefore, no one in the United States can sign up and watch content like Indian drama shows and Bollywood movies.
There is a version of the Hotstar service that is specific to the United States, but there are a few reasons why fans don’t want to opt for it:
- It is more expensive.
- It is limited in the content it has available.
- It does not offer a money-back guarantee.
However, one way to get across geographical limitations is to use a VPN. If your VPN can connect to an Indian server, it can give you access to Hotstar even if the service is blocked in the United States. As a result, you can watch Disney plus Hotstar in the USA with no issues.
Our Recommendations: VPNs to Get You Disney + Hotstar in The USA
VPNs allow you to connect to a server outside your current region. While the primary purpose of something like this is to improve Internet safety, especially in sketchy places where your privacy can be at risk, an added benefit is accessing content locked by region!
As you can see from the previous section, Hotstar as a platform is only available in India. However, with a quality VPN, you can watch shows and movies from Hotstar, even in the United States. Here are three VPNs you should try!
1. ExpressVPN
Speed is one of the biggest considerations when using a VPN for a streaming platform; this is where ExpressVPN delivers. This service is proud of its fast speeds, so you can watch Bollywood movies and shows without buffering or lagging, even if you’re in the United States.
One of the reasons why ExpressVPN is so suitable for this role is that it has three servers in India. This allows you to connect and watch Hotstar content from within the country, which helps you bypass restrictions based on location. It also allows you to see what is available on Disney+ in India (as well as many other locations).
While ExpressVPN will cost you a lot more than other VPN services, it also delivers by offering several promotions, including a deal to get 49% off this year. Plus, you can get a refund through their 30-day money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with your subscription.
Pros Of Using ExpressVPN | Cons Of Using ExpressVPN |
High speeds suitable for streaming | Cost may be higher than other VPNs |
Three servers available in India | Restricted to five connections |
30-day money-back guarantee |
The pros and cons of using ExpressVPN, according to actual reviews.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another amazing contender if you want a VPN service to make Disney+ and Hotstar in the USA a reality. The platform will allow you to bypass location limitations consistently, and you can even use it to watch other content from countries worldwide at good speeds without worrying about buffering.
The great thing about NordVPN is that this service is highly accessible from various devices, including your mobile, TV set, and even your tablets. You can use it to connect to a maximum of six devices, and it is affordable, too – in fact, they have specific December deals to get up to 45% off your 20-month plan.
Pros Of Using NordVPN | Cons Of Using NordVPN |
Ability to stream on six connected devices | Not the fastest speeds in the market |
Easy-to-use interface and software | Manual update installation may be required |
30-day money-back guarantee |
The pros and cons of using NordVPN, according to actual reviews.
3. SurfShark
To get Hotstar USA, one other option you should consider is Surfshark. Surfshark is a superb VPN that lets you watch Bollywood content on Hotstar without any problems, even if you are in the US.
One of the primary advantages of using a service like Surfshark is that it is inexpensive and allows you to create an unlimited number of device connections to manage all of your devices from the same account. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can get an even better discount on your plan with a huge 83% off your plan.
Pros Of Using Surfshark | Cons Of Using Surfshark |
Unlimited access to connections | Slower than the top VPN options listed here |
Most affordable option within this list | The interface can be complicated for users |
Access to ad-blocking services |
The pros and cons of using SurfShark, according to actual reviews.
Here’s a list of other recommended VPNs for streaming.
How to Sign Up for Disney + Hotstar in The USA
With a VPN, you are ready to start your journey to watch the best that Bollywood has to offer. But first, you should know how to sign up for an account on Hotstar. To sign up for a Hotstar USA account using a VPN, follow these steps to get a new account on this Indian streaming service:
- Subscribe to a VPN (our recommendations are above) and switch it on.
- Connect the VPN to a server in India.
- Now, visit the official Hotstar website: www.hotstar.com/in/
- Click the Subscribe button to create a new account.
- To sign up, enter an Indian phone number, and then follow the information on the page to complete the registration process.
- Choose your payment option to complete signing up.
You will now be able to watch the content on Hotstar USA without any worries! If you already have an account on Disney+, you will not need to sign up again. You can switch on the VPN and sign in to your account to get back to watching shows, movies, and sports on the Hotstar streaming service!
How Much Does Disney + Hotstar USA Cost?
You can watch Disney + Hotstar in two package plans, which you can see in the table below:
Package | Price in INR | Price in USD |
Super | ₹899/Year | Approximately $10/year |
Premium | ₹1499/Year | Approximately $18/year |
A look at the main pricing plans on Disney+ Hotstar.
The benefit of choosing a pricing plan with Disney+ Hotstar is that you get access to the titles in the Disney+ collection, along with region-specific titles and some of Hotstar’s original content catered towards the Indian audience.
Depending on your chosen plan, you can also enjoy a 7-10 day money-back guarantee. The bonus is that the prices for the US version of Hotstar are substantially higher than the estimates given above. A subscription to a US-based version of this service can cost you about $50 every year.
The US version of the site has more limited content, and there are plenty of shows and movies that are just not available to watch using the US version.
Therefore, you are getting more than just one plan, and since it is quite affordable at a yearly rate, you can easily use the plans on this site to keep yourself entertained for a year. A common question with these payment plans is, which is more worth it? To understand that, we need to take a look at what each plan has to offer.
With the Super plan, you can get access to
- All of the content is available on the Disney+ Hotstar roster. This includes movies, TV shows, live sports such as the IPL, and specials.
- The ability to watch content on either your TV or your Laptop.
- Login access to 2 of your devices.
- A maximum video quality of 1080p (Full HD).
- The maximum sound quality of Dolby 5.1.
On the other hand, you can also take a look at the premium plan. Here, you get to
- Access all of the Disney+ Hotstar titles
- Watch the content on your laptop or your TV.
- Enjoy movies and shows with no ads (ads will still be shown during live sports).
- Connect to up to 4 devices.
- Enjoy a maximum video quality of 2160p (4K video).
- Access Dolby 5.1 as the highest sound quality available.
As you can see, there is a lot of benefit to choosing the Premium plan, but at the end of the day, what you choose will depend on several other factors, such as your budget, your interest in ad-free content, and how much you intend to watch things at 4K video quality.
For many people, using the Premium plan is the best option, while others stick to the Super plan as it is affordable and will likely not need access to the other features. Ultimately, what you decide to do depends on your preferred titles.
What Devices Support Disney+ Hotstar?
You can also view the content in your Disney+ Hotstar plan on the following systems and devices:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- macOS
- Chromecast
- Roku
- Apple TV
- Amazon Fire Stick
As you can see, this opens up the avenue for watching your favorite Bollywood content from practically all of the effective media playing systems available.
How to Watch Disney + Hotstar in The USA on iOS
To get Disney+ Hotstar on your iOS device in the US, here are all the steps you need to follow:
- Download and run your preferred premium VPN.
- Connect the VPN to a server in India.
- On your device, go to Settings and tap on the option for your Apple account.
- Navigate to Media & Purchases.
- From here, change your region settings to India.
- Open the App Store and look for the Hotstar App.
- Download the app to your phone.
- Sign in or create an account to stream the content on your iOS device.
With just these steps, you will be ready to start watching whatever you want on Disney+ Hotstar from the comfort of your iOS device!
How to Watch Disney + Hotstar on The USA on Android
Android users can also use the Disney+ Hotstar app on their phones with these steps:
- Make sure a premium VPN is connected to a server in India.
- Now, go to Gmail and make a new account.
- Set your region to India when creating the account.
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Sign in with the new Gmail account you created.
- Now, look for the Hotstar app and download it to your phone.
- Sign in to the account or register for a new account to use Hotstar on your Android device.
You can now watch any of the titles on Hotstar even if you are in the United States. If you already have an account, or the app downloaded, you can use a VPN and get to watching! However, if you need to download the app, you will need to change your location, as even downloading this app is restricted explicitly to India as a location.
How to Watch Disney + Hotstar in The USA on Streaming Devices
You may have noticed that the list of devices you can watch Hotstar with includes streaming devices such as Roku and Firestick. Typically, devices like this don’t allow you to use VPNs – so how will this work? Here are the steps you need to know:
- Connect your VPN and run it through an Indian server.
- Now, sign in to the admin account on your router.
- Choose the VPN’s network to connect it to the router.
- Now, download the Hotstar app on your streaming device.
- Sign in or register for a new account on the platform.
You can also follow a similar process on your Smart TV to play content from Disney plus Hotstar in the USA on the big screen!
What Other Indian Platforms Can I Watch With a VPN?
Along with learning how to watch Hotstar in the USA, you can also use a VPN to access other Indian streaming platforms, such as Jio Cinema, Zee5, and Voot. In addition to this, you can also use the VPN to get more India-specific content from global streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Final Thoughts
If you are a fan of Indian movies, TV shows, and live sports, Disney+ Hotstar is the perfect platform for you. With so much content available, it can be difficult to find your way around without some guidance.
With this guide, you should now understand how to watch Disney + Hotstar in the USA seamlessly using a VPN, and how the platform works with a little more depth. So get started today and sign up for your Disney+ Hotstar Premium subscription!