Introduction
Hotstar is a popular Indian online streaming platform that offers a wide range of content such as movies, TV shows, live sports, and news in multiple languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and more.
It was launched in 2015 and has since gained a huge user base, primarily due to its extensive sports coverage, including cricket matches, Indian Premier League (IPL), and international sports events. In 2020, Hotstar merged with Disney+ to become Disney+ Hotstar, offering a variety of international movies and TV shows in addition to its existing content like Run baby Run, The Last of Us, Miley Cyrus (Backyard Sessions), and The Night Manager.
Hotstar Regional Availability
Hotstar is predominantly an Indian streaming service. There are certain regions where Hotstar is accessible and these include India, the US (limited accessibility), UK, Canada, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand and some regions of Southeast Asia.
The streaming service caters to a wide spectrum of regional audiences by providing content in several languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, and Kannada, and more. However, due to licencing restrictions and other factors, the accessibility of certain content may vary depending on the region.
For instance, in the US, the channel was discontinued in late 2021. The Disney+ Bundle only offers limited Hotstar content, so, if you’re a big fan of Indian programming, it won’t suffice. Therefore, you need the Indian Disney+ Hotstar to fully enjoy the freemium streaming service.
Hotstar Subscription and Pricing
Let’s take a look at the pricing plans for the freemium Indian-based streaming platform. For laptop or TV, following are the available subscription plans:
Disney+ Hotstar Plan | Price in INR | Price in USD | Features |
Disney+ Hotstar (No Subscription) | Free | Free |
|
Disney+ Hotstar Premium | Rs. 1,499 per year | $18.32 |
|
Disney+ Hotstar Super | Rs. 899 per year | $10.99 |
|
Disney+ Hotstar Premium Monthly | Rs. 299 per month | $3.65 |
|
Additionally, the offers for mobile app option are listed below:
Plan Price (INR) | Price (in USD) | Features |
Rs. 149 per quarter | $1.82 | – All content (Movies, Live Sports, TV, Specials) – No Ads free movies and shows – Supports just one device – HD 720p Resolution – Stereo Sound |
Rs. 499 annually | $6.10 | – All content (Movies, Live Sports, TV, Specials) – No Ads free movies and shows – Supports just one device – HD 720p Resolution – Stereo Sound |
*Important note: The prices mentioned above are based on current exchange rates and may be impacted by market fluctuations and the provider’s reassessment of their offers. Therefore, one must keep a close eye on any changes that may occur in the future.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Access Hotstar from USA?
Due to licensing agreements and copyright laws, Hotstar may be subject to regional restrictions if accessed from the USA. Upon trying to access Hotstar when you’re in a geo-restricted region, you will receive the following prompts on their website or app:
“This content is currently not available in your region.”
OR
“Uh-oh, we cannot playback due to geographic restrictions. Disable VPN if it’s accidentally turned on.”
A VPN can help you bypass these restrictions by masking your IP address and routing your internet traffic through a server in a different location.
How to Watch Hotstar in USA [Quick Guide]
Watch the Indian Disney+ Hotstar in USA in four effortless steps:
- Download and install a VPN that works with Hotstar. We recommend (ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark).
- Clear your browser cache and cookies to remove location information from previous sessions.
- Once signed up, open your VPN and pick a server in India.
- Now, visit Hotstar and stream your favorite content from any country in the world.
Best VPNs to Watch Hotstar in the USA
ExpressVPN – Recommended VPN to Stream Hotstar in the USA
- Built-in speed: You can monitor your internet speed with ExpressVPN’s built-in feature. Australia is home to their fastest servers.
- Standard of encryption: ExpressVPN employs an AES 256-bit encryption, known widely for its secure encryption technology.
- Kill switch feature: DNS leak, Split tunneling, and kill switch features are additional offerings from this top-notch VPN service provider.
- Privacy policies: ExpressVPN contains privacy policies present within the network, like WireGuard, which analyzes the security layers to ensure users experience fewer issues related to privacy concerns.
- Complete Protection: You are completely protected when using ExpressVPN because it doesn’t track your login time, your IP address, any traffic, or any information about the websites you visit.
- Subscription Plan: The best package is priced at $8.32 per month (billed annually) and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, securing you a savings of 35 percent overall.
Surfshark – Budget-Friendly VPN to Stream Hotstar in the USA
- Unique security techniques: Surfshark doesn’t save any of its user’s private information or browsing history securing your identity from hackers by deleting any hint of it with each reboot.
- Global Servers: Surfshark offers 3,200+ servers stretched across 65 countries with extensive simultaneous connections at phenomenally high speeds and multiple servers, all with a no logs policy.
- Secure Protocols: Surfshark employs secure encryption protocols like AES-256 encryption, plus the secure protocols OpenVPN UDP and TCP, IKEv2, and Wire Guard that completely encrypt your internet traffic.
- Split Tunneling: This feature from Surfshark allows users to split their internet connection into two, granting users the foreign access they require while simultaneously being updated with local news.
- Subscription plan: Unlike most premium VPN services, Surfshark offers a great two-year monthly subscription plan for just $2.49. Additionally, you need only pay roughly a dollar more ($3.48) to access the search and alert features available with this offering.
NordVPN – Largest Server Network VPN to Stream Hotstar in the USA
- Fast Servers: Due to ease of setup, NordVPN is most suitable for beginners. It also offers its premium users a vast server network (5,200+ servers worldwide). Even the most secure firewalls of geo-restricted sites like Youtube TV, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max are easily bypassed because of Nord’s fast servers.
- High tunneling protocol: To prevent internet speeds from lagging, Nordlynx, a software used by NordVPN, is a tunneling protocol that supplies blazing-fast internet speed, no matter where you may be.
- Advanced Security: With NordVPN, you get advanced security with AES 256-bit encryption, reliable server technology, automatic kill switch, split tunneling, no IP address leaks, and complete anonymity while browsing.
- Double Protection: One unique feature you can get with NordVPN is it provides users with an added layer of protection by changing their IP address twice, and web traffic encryption. NordVPN’s double security protocol is so secure, it can unblock any geo-restricted website, enabling users to watch DirecTV Now outside the USA, CBS (all access) outside the USA, and Fox Sports Go outside the US with ease.
- Subscription plan: Cheaper than most VPNs, with NordVPN you can secure 51 percent in savings on subscribing to their 24-month plan, plus you get three extra months with NordVPN, all for the cost of $3.99 per month or $107.73 for the first two years.
FAQ
Q. What are the Best Shows on Hotstar?
- Koffee With Karan
- Masoom
- Special Ops
- Rudra Edge of Darkness
- Anupama Namaste America
- Criminal Justice
- Cuttputli
- Home Shanti
- Arya
- Dahan
Q. Why is my Hotstar Not Working with a VPN?
Q. What devices does Hotstar support?
- Android Devices - 5.0 and above.
- iOS 10.0.
- Samsung Smart TV (2018 models and onward)
- LG Smart TV with Web OS (4 and above)
- Apple TV (4th Gen onward)
- Fire TV.
- Google Chromecast Gen 2 for casting (Physical devices only)
Q. Is Hotstar free?
Q. Can I watch Hotstar on my Computer?
Q. Can I watch Hotstar offline?
Conclusion
Utilizing a top-notch VPN service like NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN will enable you to access your preferred Disney+ Hotstar programmes from USA. These providers can go beyond licensing and geographic restrictions, allowing users to access the channel's geo-restricted content.
VPN services are unrivaled in terms of granting unrestricted access to otherwise unavailable content. For people outside of India wanting to stream Hotstar’s content library from USA, our recommended VPN services are dependable, quick, secure, and reasonably priced. It is advised to use a reliable VPN service provider to maintain privacy and security while watching Hotstar content from the USA.