How to watch Disney+ Hotstar in the USA
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Hotstar is a popular Indian streaming service that gives you access to a variety of content, from movies to live cricket matches. Unfortunately, as of 2021, Disney Plus Hotstar is no longer available in the US as a standalone platform – its content has been divided between Hulu and ESPN+.
This poses a problem for Hotstar fans, as a Disney+ plan with Hulu and ESPN+ is much more expensive than Hotstar alone. Luckily, you can use a VPN to access Hotstar, either the Indian or international version, by connecting to a server in a country where it’s available.
But is it really as simple as that? Read on for everything you need to know about watching Disney+ Hotstar from wherever you are.
How to watch Hotstar in USA

- Choose a VPN that works with Hotstar. We recommend NordVPN, now 72% OFF
- Download your VPN and create an account
- Open your VPN app and sign in
- Connect to a server in a location where Hotstar is available
- Head over to the Hotstar website and either sign in or create an account
- Grab the popcorn and start streaming
The server location you connect to depends on the version of Hotstar you’re looking to stream. Choose a server in India if you want to access the Indian Disney Plus Hotstar, which offers the most content variety, including Indian movies and cricket games. A server in Canada, the UK, or Singapore will give you access to a version of Hotstar that only offers international and limited Indian content.
Why do you need a VPN to watch Hotstar?
The Indian Disney+ Hotstar has a large content library that you can’t access outside of India without a VPN. There is an international Hotstar version that is available in Canada, the UK, and Singapore, but it doesn’t give you access to all the content the Indian Hotstar has to offer.
Hotstar India streams a lot of sports broadcasts, like cricket, football, martial arts, tennis, and others. There is also popular Bollywood, Marvel, and Disney content. Meanwhile, Canadian, British, and Singaporean Hotstar has fewer sports broadcasts, movies, and TV shows. So, the Indian version is the most diverse in content. This is because of the geo-restrictions put in place to comply with content licensing agreements.
If you try to stream Indian Hotstar outside India, you won’t be able to access it. You might get an error code or be redirected to a version of Hotstar that’s available in your area.
Luckily, you can bypass these geo-restrictions by using a VPN to connect to a server in India. It will give you an Indian IP address, meaning you can then access Hotstar’s full content catalog. Not to mention the extra layer of online security and privacy that comes along.

How to sign up for Indian Hotstar from anywhere
The best way to sign up for a Disney+ Hotstar India account is to use a reliable VPN from our best VPNs list, like NordVPN, which offers 12 virtual servers in India. Not only will this get you access to a lot more content than the international version, but it also works out a lot cheaper.

Eligible free users can sign up for a Hotstar India free trial on their TVs. Or, if you want even more content, you can subscribe to a Disney+ Hotstar Premium or VIP Plan for a lower price than you will find anywhere else. However, keep in mind that you will need an Indian phone number to get the account. But those, who already have it, can simply access it with a VPN.
Hotstar yearly prices for the Premium plan depend on where you are in the world:
- India: ₹1499/year (₹299/month)
- Canada: C$49.99/year
- UK: £49.99/year
To put this into perspective, ₹1499 converts to $17.95. This means that if you use a VPN to connect to Indian Hotstar, not only can you access a lot more content, but it will also work out to be much cheaper.
Best VPN services for Disney+ Hotstar
- NordVPN – the overall best VPN for streaming Disney+ Hotstar with 12 virtual servers in India
- Surfshark VPN – budget-friendly VPN for Disney+ Hotstar with 50 virtual servers in India
- ExpressVPN – fast Disney+ Hotstar VPN with virtual servers that connect via Singapore and the UK
If you want to use a VPN to watch Hotstar, you will need one that has servers in India, so you can bypass the geo-restrictions. However, note that many VPNs have eliminated their physical Indian servers due to government requirements to store user-related data. Some providers, however, have introduced virtual servers that are not subject to the same strict regulations. Even though these servers are virtual, our tests have shown that they work just as well as physical ones.
How to watch Disney+ Hotstar in US – a detailed guide
Indian Disney+ Hotstar has a fantastic catalog of content. And luckily, you can access it even if you’re outside of India. Check out these steps on how to enjoy it from the US:
1.Subscribe to a VPN provider with servers in India
Start by choosing a VPN service with server options across India. NordVPN is a top pick, offering offering 14 virtual servers located in Mumbai and it proved to be the fastest in our tests. Other solid options include Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and IPVanish.

2. Download and install the VPN application
Download the VPN app to your device. The VPNs recommended here work with most popular systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, so you can use them on computers, smartphones, tablets, and streaming devices.

3. Connect to VPN servers in India
Once you've installed the VPN app and logged in, connect to an Indian server. NordVPN's user-friendly interface lets you select a server easily by clicking on the map or searching for the location.

4. Access the Hotstar streaming service
To watch Disney+ Hotstar with a VPN, connect to the VPN and open the Disney+ Hotstar website or app on your device. I suggest you to use your browser's incognito or private mode to avoid any location issues caused by cookies and cached data.

Then, log in to your account, and you should be able to watch your content without problems.
Can’t access Hotstar with a VPN?

It is possible to encounter an issue when connecting to Disney+ Hostar, even if you are using a VPN to connect to an Indian server. If you get an error code that says This content is not available in your region, it could be that you are using a poor-quality VPN, or you are connected to a bad server.
There are a few steps that you can take to fix this issue:
- Check if you’ve actually connected to an Indian server on your VPN app.
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
- Try a different Indian server because the one you’ve been using might have been blocked.
- Contact the VPN’s customer support team and inform them of the issues you’re experiencing.
Can I watch Dinsney+ Hotstar for free
Yes, you can watch sport clips, highlights and content trailers for free.. If you want more content, you’ll have to subscribe to one of its paid plans, such as Premium, which costs ₹299/month.
To access either the free or paid version of Hotstar, you’ll need a VPN. All reputable VPNs have a small monthly fee. But most good VPNs, such as NordVPN, also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial, and it’s pretty easy to claim it:
- Open the Google Play Store because the free trial can be claimed on an Android device only
- Find NordVPN and download the app
- Sign up for the free trial – NordVPN won’t charge you until after the 7 days
- Confirm the subscription. You can now use NordVPN for free on any device for 7 days
What can you watch on Disney+ Hotstar India?

Hotstar boasts a huge catalog of content from around the world. It has the biggest Bollywood blockbusters, like Crakk: Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa. You also get access to sporting events, including football matches and the Indian Premier League cricket.
Aside from this, you can also watch some of the world’s most popular shows, including WandaVision, Pam & Tommy, and The Bear. And, of course, if you sign up for Disney+ Hotstar, you also get access to Disney+ content.
Here is a list of the most popular content on Disney+ Hotstar:
Movie | Genre |
Ved (2022) | Drama |
Liger (2022) | Action |
Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022) | Adventure |
Vikram (2022) | Action |
Jersey (2022) | Drama |
Bottom line
Disney+ Hotstar has great content, but its access is limited for people living outside India. Due to regional restrictions, users cannot watch Hotstar in the USA or other countries unless they change their IP address with a VPN.
Best Hotstar VPNs can help you virtually appear in India and access your desired content from anywhere in the world. For example, NordVPN has 12 virtual servers in India that you can use for unblocking Disney+ Hotstar.
FAQs
Is Hotstar the same as Disney+ Hotstar?
Disney+ Hotstar is the Indian version of Hotstar and gives you access to Hotstar content and Disney+ content. The international version of Hotstar, however, does not come with Disney+ content.
Can I watch Hotstar on my TV?
Yes, if you have a smart TV or streaming stick, you should be able to watch Hotstar on your TV. However, if you live in a country that doesn’t have the rights to show Hotstar, you will need to use a VPN to bypass these geo-restrictions. You can do this by downloading a VPN app onto your TV or by connecting your Wi-Fi router to your VPN.
Which country has access to free Hotstar?
India has access to a partialy free version of Hotstar. If you want to access this from outside India, you will need to use a reputable VPN and connect to an Indian server. This will get around the geo-restrictions by issuing you with an Indian IP address.
Is Hotstar discontinued in the US?
Yes, Hotstar has been discontinued in the US, and the broadcasted content has been moved to other Disney-owned streaming platforms. However, you can still access Disney+ Hotstar with a reliable VPN, like NordVPN.
Does Hotstar work in the US with a VPN?
Yes, Hotstar works in the US with a VPN. For example, with NordVPN we’ve been able to access Hotstar easily. You just need to pick an Indian server and then open the Hotstar app.
Is Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar the same?
No. Hotstar was acquired by Disney+ and is now a part of the Disney+ bundle streaming services. It focuses on Indian content and some of the Disney Plus content.
Comments
Instead of a phone number, you can also try using your Facebook or email accounts to subscribe to Hotstar.
Hotstar has been discontinued in the US Disney+, but you can still access it by connecting to an Indian VPN server. NordVPN or Surfshark are among the best VPNs that successfully unblock Disney+ and have Indian servers, so we suggest trying this method.
You can also try connecting to several different VPN servers and clearing your browser's cache before accessing Hotstar.
We hope this helps.
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