How to Unblock and Watch Hotstar in Australia
Bollywood fans or Indian ex-pats in Australia might want to access Indian content via Hotstar.
Unfortunately, Hotstar is not available in Australia.
If you try to access the service, it will load endlessly without showing any content. (An oddly way of saying it is not available in your region).
Can you unblock Hotstar in Austalia?
You can unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia using a VPN or Smart DNS. We recommend using a VPN service such as ExpressVPN for this purpose. It is reliable and offers blazing speeds suitable for streaming.
Unblock Hotstar in Australia in just 5 minutes:
- Click here to get ExpressVPN
- Install the app on your device
- Connect to a USA server
- Access the now unblocked Hotstar
Hotstar, which includes regions such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, operates under the name Disney+ Hotstar in these areas. This is because it now incorporates the Disney+ library.
In contrast, the international version of Hotstar, available in countries like Canada, the US, UK, and Singapore, does not integrate Disney+ content. Furthermore, this international variant of Hotstar does not provide access to the complete Indian library.
Keep on reading to know how to unblock and watch Hotstar India in Australia using a VPN or Smart DNS.
Why is Hotstar not Available in Australia?
Hotstar only offers content in regions where it has distribution rights. To avoid violating the agreement with content producers, Hotstar implements geo-restrictions that help it only provide the content to specific areas.
Besides the agreements, it also comes down to investments. The service will not be available if a region’s target audience does not meet the required threshold. Another reason is stiff local competition.
Hence, even if you have a Hotstar subscription and move/travel to Australia, you will not access Hotstar.
How to Use a VPN to Watch Hotstar in Australia
A VPN is an online privacy and security tool. When you connect to, let’s say, an Indian VPN server, all your internet traffic will be securely tunneled through the Indian server.
For unblocking Hotstar in Australia, the VPN server will hide your IP address and mask it with an Indian IP address.
This also changes your geo-location from Australia to India. Thus, you will trick Hotstar that you are accessing the service from India and will be granted access.
Check out our recommendations of the best VPNs for a detailed list.
Steps on how to use a VPN to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia:
- Ensure you have a fast internet connection.
- Subscribe, download, and install the best VPN.
- Launch the VPN, and connect to an Indian server.
- Log into your Hotstar account and watch Bollywood movies, TV shows, and live sports. (If you don’t have a Hotstar premium account, continue reading to learn how to create one from Australia).
The above method also works with other streaming services such as Hulu Australia and Netflix Australia.
For a seamless streaming experience across various platforms including Hotstar, Hulu, and Netflix, it’s recommended to choose from our list of the best VPNs for Netflix Australia that provide reliable access and optimal performance.
How to Pick the Best VPN for Hotstar
For a VPN to successfully unblock and stream Hotstar, it must meet the following requirements.
- Servers in India – a VPN provider with servers in India has a high chance of unblocking Hotstar. The VPN should allow server switches and frequently update their IP addresses. The servers should also be optimized for streaming content.
- Unlimited bandwidth – streaming Hotstar content in HD/4K will require much bandwidth. The VPN provider should have no bandwidth limits/data caps and bypass ISP throttling.
- Fast speed – for a smooth, uninterrupted Hotstar streaming experience, you will need a VPN connection that does not have lagging/buffering issues. It should also offer a Smart DNS for devices that don’t support native VPN installations.
- Multiple simultaneous connections – this is useful for unblocking and watching Hotstar on more than one device concurrently.
- Security and privacy – the VPN provider should keep your internet traffic safe and private. It should have a no-log policy and use the impeccable AES 256-bit encryption.
- Money-back guarantee or free trial offer – it is important to test if a VPN provider can unblock Hotstar before banking on it. If it doesn’t unblock, you should get your money back.
Best VPNs for Hotstar in Australia
Very few VPN providers live up to their claim of unblocking Hotstar. To save you the hassle, here are the best Hotstar VPN providers you can use to unblock and watch Hotstar.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a top choice for unblocking content from various parts of the world. It has a server network of 3,000 plus VPN servers in 160 VPN server locations spanning 94 countries. In India, it offers three server locations.
Its servers are optimized for streaming. They offer unlimited bandwidth and blazing speeds for streaming Hotstar and bypassing ISP throttling. You will have an excellent streaming experience with no blackouts.
ExpressVPN is compatible with most computing and media streaming devices. ExpressVPN is compatible with most computing and media streaming devices.
ExpressVPN doesn’t log your activities and uses the best-in-class AES 256-bit encryption. You also get leak protection, network lock (kill switch), split tunneling, and a media streamer (Smart DNS)
You also get up to 5 simultaneous connections, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and responsive 24/7 customer support.
ExpressVPN is also perfect for unblocking the BBC iPlayer in Australia.
Surfshark
Surfshark boasts its unblocking abilities through its 3200+ servers distributed in 65 countries. It also has three server locations in India with fast servers. These servers offer stable connections and unlimited bandwidth.
You can access and stream Hotstar content in the highest possible quality without lagging. Surfshark.
Security and privacy-wise, Surfshark is a no-log VPN and uses the unbreakable AES 256-bit encryption. Its other features include a killing switch, double VPN, leak protection, ad protection, split tunneling, a NoBorders, and camouflage mode.
Surfshark VPN supports unlimited simultaneous connections and is compatible with almost all media streamers and computing devices. It also has a DNS, and it gives a 30-day money-back guarantee. Just like ExpressVPN, there’s 24/7 customer support.
You can use Surfshark to also unblock YouTube TV in Australia.
Advantages of using a VPN to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia
- High chances of unblocking Hotstar.
- Unlimited bandwidth and stable connections.
- Great for online privacy and security.
- Bypasses ISP throttling.
- Extra features for security, privacy, and streaming.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
Disadvantages of using a VPN to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia
- Expensive subscriptions.
- Not suitable for slow internet connections.
Using Smart DNS to Unblock and Watch Hotstar in Australia
If privacy and security are not a priority, a Smart DNS is your go-to option for unblocking Hotstar. A Smart DNS changes your geo-location by redirecting your DNS queries through a different DNS server.
If you pick an Indian DNS server, your DNS queries will look like they come from India. This is how a Smart DNS bypasses geo-restrictions.
If your VPN connection gets blocked, you can try a Smart DNS. They easily get through blocking mechanisms since they don’t carry recognizable VPN traffic.
Steps on how to use a Smart DNS to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia:
- Ensure you have an excellent internet connection.
- Sign up for a Smart DNS (you can also get one from reputable VPN providers) and register your IP address.
- Go to your device’s Network Settings and configure the DNS (You can also do it on the router).
- Log into your Hotstar account and start streaming live TV, sports, Bollywood movies, and TV shows.
How to pick the best Smart DNS for Hotstar Australia
A Smart DNS for unblocking Disney+ Hotstar in Australia should have the following qualities:
- Ability to unblock Hotstar.
- Reliable servers in India.
- Unlimited bandwidth with fast speed.
- Live support.
- Free trial and money-back guarantee.
Reputable VPN providers offer reliable Smart DNS. You can also get one from standalone premium Smart DNS providers. Avoid free Smart DNS since they will not unblock Hotstar.
Opt for providers that offer DNS addresses. They are easy to set up on almost every computing and media streaming device.
Advantages of using a Smart DNS to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia
- Reliable for unblocking Hotstar.
- No encryption overhead – minimally affect your internet speed.
- No installation is required.
- Cheaper than VPNs.
Disadvantages of using a Smart DNS to unblock and watch Hotstar in Australia
- Doesn’t offer security and privacy
- Will not work with ISP transparent proxies.
Hotstar India Content
Hotstar offers Freemium, VIP, and Premium subscriptions. Freemium offers limited select content in the Indian language with subtitles.
The VIP account includes live sports, Hotstar specials, new Indian content, dubbed Disney+, and kid’s content. You can watch VIP and freemium on a single screen, and there will be ads.
The premium subscription gives a wider catalog. It has all VIP content without ads, Disney+, and kid’s content in English and dubbed language. The content is in 4K, and you can also watch it on two screens.
You can access the freemium without an account. Just connect your VPN and enjoy the limited content.
How to Set up a Hotstar India Premium Account in Australia
Setting up a premium account outside India is a tricky affair. You will require an Indian payment method, an Indian phone number, and an Indian address.
The best option is to ask a friend or relative in India to create an account for you. If you got none, you could hire a reputable Indian freelancer on Fiverr to create an account for you. Fiverr freelancers offer such services with rates starting from $5.
Conclusion
Hotstar is your one-stop streaming service for all Bollywood content needs and live sports. It also offers Disney+ originals, Hollywood shows and movies, and even content for kids.
Unfortunately, if you reside in Australia, you will not access the content as it is available in India and supported regions.
Nonetheless, you bypass this geo-restriction and watch Disney Plus Hotstar content in Australia. The best to unblock and watch Hotstar is by using a reputable VPN. A VPN offers stable connections and great streaming speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some people found answers to these questions helpful
Can multiple people watch Hotstar simultaneously?
Yes. Hotstar supports multi-screen watching but only offers two simultaneous connections on its premium subscription. The VIP subscription and the freemium option only allow you to stream content on a single device.
Why can’t I see the Hotstar app on my Play Store or App Store?
This is due to geo-restrictions. To get the app on your Android Play Store, you must change your geo-location to India. You can do that by connecting a VPN to an Indian server, clearing the Play Store cache, and relaunching the Play Store. For iOS devices, you will need to create an Indian Apple ID and use it on your device. You will need to change your location to India.
Why is Indian Hotstar the best version?
Indian Hotstar offers much content as compared to its international counterpart. You get Hotstar specials, new Indian content, live sports, Disney+, and kid’s content. The internal Hotstar has a limited Indian library.
What is the difference between Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar?
Disney+ doesn’t offer Indian content. Disney+ Hotstar presents the Disney+ catalog and also the Indian record. Disney+ Hotstar is an integration of Hotstar India and Disney+. This happened due to Disney+ acquiring Hotstar.
Why is Hotstar not working with VPN?
At times a VPN may fail to get past the blocking mechanism of Hotstar. You might try to change the servers and try again. Additionally, you may need to disable IPv6 network settings. Most VPN providers don’t support the IPv6 addressing system. Hence the IPv6 connections get handled by your ISP, which compromises the VPN’s unblocking ability.