HBO Max has been a fan favorite for years, providing blockbuster shows like Last of Us, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, and many more. However, if you’re based in Australia, you won’t be able to catch any of these amazing shows. That’s because Max is still not available in Australia.
When you try to access Max from Australia, you’ll be blocked automatically. Geo-blocking restrictions will prevent you from streaming anything on the website unless you’re in the United States. Sure, it’s left many of us frustrated as we miss out on the latest hits and try to avoid spoilers online, but there’s a way around this obstacle.
You can use a VPN to connect to a server in the US and bypass geo-blocking restrictions. This will allow you to access HBO Max from Australia and anywhere else in the world. Keep reading to learn how to do this.
How to watch HBO Max in Australia with a VPN
- Sign up for a reputable VPN. We recommend NordVPN, now 74% OFF
- Download and install it on the device you’ll be streaming from
- Connect to a server in the United States
- Create or sign in to your Max accoun
- Stream all the latest shows on HBO Max
Note: You can access and watch HMO Max in Australia with a VPN, but to subscribe, you’ll need a credit card issued in the United States. Otherwise, you will get an error message when trying to subscribe.
Why do you need a VPN to get HBO Max in Australia?
HBO Max is not currently available in Australia. If you head over to the website, you’ll run into an error message.
The website will detect if you’re not based in the United States (or any other country where Max is available), and it will automatically block you. These geo-blocking restrictions are put in place to protect copyright restrictions and obstacles abroad.
The following countries can access HBO Max:
- Europe: Åland Islands, Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Greenland, Hungary, Madeira, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and Sweden
- Latin America: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela
- Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos
- United States: including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands
But the question everyone’s asking is: Will HBO Max ever come to Australia? According to the official website, Max will expand into Southeast Asia in 2024. While this doesn’t confirm anything about Australia, it does give some hope for folks from down under who are eagerly awaiting the platform’s arrival. There could be plans for Aussie availability soon.
Best VPNs to watch HBO Max in Australia
- NordVPN – best overall VPN to access HBO Max in Australia
- Surfshark – most affordable VPN to watch Max
- IPVanish – powerful VPN to unblock HBO Max
Luckily, you don’t need to wait for Max to be available in Australia. You can access it right now using a VPN. Here are the best VPNs to watch HBO Max from Australia.
1. NordVPN – overall best VPN for watching Max in Australia
| Starting price: | AU$4.45/month |
| Number of US servers: | 1970+ |
| Compatible devices: | macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux |
| Best deal: | Get 74% OFF NordVPN + 3 months free |
Whenever VPNs and streaming are discussed, NordVPN will always come up. This VPN is always near the top of the list when it comes to streaming VPNs. It’s an excellent all-rounder – reasonably priced, has a huge number of servers, and is compatible with a massive range of devices.
With a vast 1970+ servers in the US alone, you’ll be streaming the best HBO Max movies in no time. We used NordVPN to catch Priscilla, The Iron Claw, and Civil War on Max. Once you’ve got NordVPN up and running on your device, connect to a US server and start streaming.
NordVPN analysis shows excellent security and privacy features, so no matter where you’re streaming from, you’ll always be protected when you go online.
2. Surfshark – budget-friendly VPN to unblock Max in Australia
| Starting price: | AU$2.89/month |
| Number of US servers: | 600+ |
| Compatible devices: | macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux |
| Best deal: | Now up to 87% OFF Surfshark + 4 months FREE |
If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, Surfshark is the ideal choice. Its plans are a bit more affordable than NordVPN, but it’s still a perfectly capable streaming VPN. Surfshark has the upper hand in the number of connections you can have running at the same time – it’s unlimited compared to NordVPN’s cap of 10.
That means you could use this VPN across multiple devices at the same time if you wanted to. You can use Surfshark to catch some great movies, including Dune: Part 2, Wonka, Barbie, and much more. We tried out this feature during our Surfshark testing and managed to stream movies and series on multiple devices using one Surfshark account.
If NordVPN isn’t for you, Surfshark is an excellent option. Plus, unlimited simultaneous connections allow you to share your subscriptions with a couple of friends to bring the price down even further.
3. IPVanish – high-performance HBO Max VPN for Australia
| Starting price: | AU$3.30/month |
| Number of US servers: | 1106+ |
| Compatible devices: | macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux |
| Best deal: | Now up to 83% OFF IPVanish |
IPVanish came third when we tested out the best VPNs to unblock HBO Max in Australia. It’s just a little more expensive than Surfshark, making it another affordable option. However, it lost out because it has a much smaller arsenal of servers. Ultimately, having more choices is better when it comes to VPN servers.
That being said, our IPVanish analysis showed good performance when we streamed Avatar: The Way of Water, The Batman, and the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy on HBO Max from Australia. We didn’t experience any lag, buffering, or drops in connection, solidifying this VPN as another excellent choice for streaming.
How to watch HBO Max in Australia with a VPN on your device
You can tune into Max streaming from Australia on just about any device you can imagine. Whether you’ve got your iPhone while you’re out and about, your Smart TV at home, or your laptop while traveling abroad, there’s always a way to stream your favorite shows and movies online. But depending on the device you want to stream on, the process might look slightly different. We’ve got the details for you below.
Watch HBO Max in Australia on your computer (Windows, Mac)
If you want to stream on your Windows or Mac device, the process is very similar. You can get a VPN setup on your device and start streaming HBO Max from Australia by following these steps:
- Sign up for a reliable streaming VPN. We recommend NordVPN
- Download and install the VPN on your Windows or Mac device
- Launch the VPN and connect to a server in the United States
- Go to Max and get your subscription
- Enjoy streaming the latest HBO Max content from anywhere in the world
Watch HBO Max in Australia on iOS or iPad
To stream Max content from your iOS or iPad device, follow these steps:
- Download a VPN that’s good for streaming from the App Store. NordVPN is an excellent choice
- Launch the app and create an account
- Connect to a server in the United States
- Go to the Max website, create an account, and subscribe to the streaming platform
- Stream HBO Max movies and TV shows on your iPhone or iPad from Australia
Watch HBO Max in Australia on iOS or iPad
To stream Max content from your iOS or iPad device, follow these steps:
- Download a VPN that’s good for streaming from the App Store. NordVPN is an excellent choice
- Launch the app and create an account
- Connect to a server in the United States
- Go to the Max website, create an account, and subscribe to the streaming platform
- Stream HBO Max movies and TV shows on your iPhone or iPad from Australia
How to get HBO Max in Australia?
Accessing HBO Max from outside of the US is easy with a VPN. All you need to do is connect to a server in the United States and head over to the website. But you may face some other obstacles along the way.
How to download HBO Max app
If you’re on Android, you can access the US app store if your VPN is connected. Simply change your region in your settings, and you’re good to go. However, on the Apple App Store, you will need to cancel all your subscriptions and wait for the subscription period to run out before you can change your region.
How to pay for HBO Max app
Using your VPN to access the Max website is a breeze. But paying for your subscription is another story. HBO understands that its geo-blocking restrictions can be bypassed using a VPN, so as another layer of defense, it now prevents you from paying for the platform if you don’t have a US card (or a card issued in a country where HBO Max is available). It’s also disabled services like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Luckily, there is another way around this obstacle. You can either get in touch with a friend who has access to a card issued in one of the countries where HBO Max is available, or you can use a service like StatesCard to get a US Visa card from anywhere.
Here are the HBO Max subscription options:
- $9.99/month (around AU$14.80/month) – with ads and limited to 1080p streaming
- $16.99/month (around AU$25.17/month) – no ads
- $20.99/month (around AU$31.09/month) – the new Max Ultimate Ad-Free tier
HBO Max not working in Australia with a VPN? Possible reasons and fixes
If you have your VPN installed, but you still can’t access HBO Max from Australia, you might be dealing with one of these problems:
- You’re not connected to a server in the US
- Your real IP address could still be showing
- Your cookies might be showing your real location
- Your device needs to be updated
- Your VPN needs to be updated
- Your VPN’s IP is banned
To fix these problems and access HBO Max from Australia, check out the solutions below:
- Connect to a different server in the United States
- Use a different browser or use incognito mode
- Try using the VPN’s browser extension mode
- Clear your cookies and cache
- Update your device settings and your VPN app
- Contact your VPN’s customer support team
Conclusion
HBO Max has been the go-to platform for blockbuster movies and TV shows such as House of the Dragon, Last of Us, Dune: Part 2, and Wonka. But it’s not available outside the United States.
If you try to access the platform from Australia, you’ll run into an error message. Max uses geo-blocking to prevent you from accessing the platform if you’re not in the right region. However, you can use a VPN to bypass these restrictions and access HBO Max from anywhere worldwide. Simply get a reputable VPN, such as NordVPN, connect to a US server, and start streaming.
FAQs
Can you get HBO Max in Australia?
Yes, you can get HBO Max in Australia. To access Max in Australia, use a reputable VPN, such as NordVPN, and connect to a server in the United States.
Why is HBO Max not in Australia?
HBO Max has not yet been released in Australia. The platform is currently only available in the United States and select countries. If you try to access HBO Max from Australia, you’ll run into geo-blocks.
When will HBO Max be available in Australia?
There has been no official statement about the release of HBO Max in Australia yet. The platform will expand into South East Asia in 2024, so Australia might be on the list of future releases.