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best HBOmax VPN

Best VPN for Max in 2025: Free & Paid Options to Watch From Anywhere

If you try to watch Max in Canada, the U.K. or another country that isn’t covered, you’ll get the error message “Max isn’t available in your region.” In that case, you’ll need a Max VPN with servers in the U.S. or other supported countries to circumvent Max systems. Keep reading to learn the best VPN for Max.

Samson KiarieAleksandar KochovskiEugenie Tiu

Written by Samson Kiarie (Writer)

Reviewed by Aleksandar Kochovski (Writer)

Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)

Last Updated: 2025-01-26T12:23:38+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways: Best Max VPNs
  1. NordVPN — Best Max VPN with solid security & dedicated IPs. NordVPN offers 72% off on the first two years for new users.
  2. Surfshark — Pocket-friendly streaming VPN with the best U.S. server distribution. Sign up now to get 66% (plus 3 months free) off the first two years.
  3. ExpressVPN — User-friendly Max VPN with blazing-fast speeds. You can sign up for ExpressVPN with a 25% discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
  4. PrivadoVPN — Best free VPN for Max.
  5. Private Internet Access — Budget-friendly Max VPN with dedicated IPs.
Best VPN for Max

HBO Max rebranded to Max in May 2023 after its merger with Discovery+. Max doesn’t have a catalog as diverse as Netflix, but its quality is tough to beat. It offers an impressive collection of original movies, including hundreds of acclaimed titles from the renowned Warner Bros. studios.

However, when you travel abroad, you may need the best VPN for Max to continue watching movies like Miracle Workers: End Times or Harley Quinn.  

A virtual private network (VPN) assigns you a unique IP address, corresponding to the location of the server you’re connected to, making it appear that you are accessing Max from a country where the service is available.

In this article, we’ll reveal the five best VPNs for Max. We’ll discuss their nitty-gritty details, including their pricing and features, to help you find one that can unblock Max regardless of your physical location. Our top Max VPN is NordVPN because of its speed and security. Read on for the full list.

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If you want to stream other Max libraries, you’ll need to have an ad-free Max account; otherwise, you can stream Max content only from your home country. Read more of the details in our guide to streaming Max from abroad.

  • 09/07/2022

    Updated Windscribe pricing: the paid plan increased to $5.75 per month from $4.08. The Build-a-Plan minimum purchase also increased to $3 from $2. Also updated Windscribe’s free data cap to 15GB due to it offering 5GB extra permanently when you tweet about the service.

  • 06/02/2023 Facts checked

    Updated the article to reflect HBO Max rebranding to Max after its merger with Discovery+. You can read more about it in our HBO Max rebrand article.

  • 07/22/2024

    Updated the article to reflect latest information on NordVPN’s allowed number of simultaneous connections.

  • 10/01/2024 Facts checked

    We updated the VPN list to incorporate the latest user feedback and expert evaluations.

  • 01/26/2025 Facts checked

    Updated the VPN vendor list to add PrivadoVPN as the best free service for Max.

Top VPNs for Max

  1. 1
    • : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, JCB, UnionPay, Bitcoin, Ethereum, X-Coin
    • : 10
    • :
    • :
    • :
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  2. 2
    • : PayPal, Credit card, Google Pay, Amazon Pay
    • : Unlimited
    • :
    • :
    • :
    • :
  3. 3
    • : PayPal, Credit card, Bitcoin, UnionPay, iDeal, Sofort, Giropay, Pixpay, Sepa Direct Debit
    • : 8
    • :
    • :
    • :
    • :
  4. 4
    • : PayPal, Credit card
    • : 10
    • :
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  5. 5
    • : PayPal, Credit card, Amazon, Paygarden, Apple Pay, Google Pay
    • : Unlimited
    • :
    • :
    • :
    • :
    Visit Private Internet AccessReview

What Makes the Best VPN for Max

When looking for a Max VPN, you’d be tempted to grab one of the best VPNs for streaming and be on your way. However, that could present you with some problems because not all streaming VPNs handle Max.

First and foremost, the VPN should be able to unblock Max. That means it should have VPN servers in countries where Max is available.

While Max is also available in select Latin American, Caribbean and European nations, the U.S. library remains the largest. Luckily, nearly all VPNs offer servers in the U.S., meaning you have plenty of options to unblock the largest and most coveted Max library.

max region
You need a premium VPN to watch Max in countries like the U.K., France and Canada. 

In addition, the VPN should be fast enough to load and stream movies without interruptions. It should have stellar download speeds and unmatched consistency, to boot. This way, whether you’re in Canada or Australia, you can connect to a server in the U.S. and enjoy an excellent streaming experience.

However, even the fastest VPN doesn’t guarantee a great streaming experience. The VPN should also be secure enough to hide your traffic from the prying internet service provider (ISP). Why? Sometimes, your ISP can intentionally throttle your internet speed if they detect network congestion caused by things like streaming. 

Lastly, the VPN should be compatible with the devices you use. If you want your movies on large screens, get a VPN for Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick and other smart TVs. However, if you’ll be watching your movies on the move, the VPN should offer native apps for smartphones and laptops.

The Top 5 Max VPN Services 

Our top five VPNs offer stellar speeds, the ability to access Max and diverse device compatibility. On top of that, the VPNs on our list have solid digital security and privacy to give you maximum online safety as you watch Max content. We’ll discuss the strengths and weaknesses (if any) of the VPN services, starting with NordVPN

1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Max

nordvpn us olympics
NordVPN unblocks Max with ease, thanks to its great collection of servers in the U.S.
Best VPN for Max/HBO Max

Pros

  • Excellent streaming speeds
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Dedicated IP addresses
  • Affordable two-year plan

Cons

  • Inconsistent speeds when using OpenVPN

Expand your streaming library — sign up for NordVPN and enjoy 72% off your first two years.

Download
91 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
5 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/10/25 to 02/07/25
Data for region:

The best Max VPN provider is NordVPN. It’s very fast, although not on the OpenVPN protocol. That said, the NordLynx protocol has significantly improved speeds and mitigated any inconsistency. Whether you’re in Australia or Africa, you can connect to servers in the U.S. and enjoy a steady stream. 

However, you may have to switch between servers to find one that can unblock Max. In that case, you can choose from a pool of servers spread across 15 cities in the U.S. Even better, NordVPN allows you to use dedicated IP addresses, albeit at an extra cost. A dedicated IP is solely yours and is unlikely to get blocked by Max systems. 

Block Ads With NordVPN

Moreover, NordVPN offers unique tools to enhance Max streaming. CyberSec blocks pesky ads that can pop up mid-streaming to ruin your experience. Blocking intrusive ads could also save precious mobile data and improve load speeds; it may also come in handy if you’re watching Max in a country with high mobile data costs or slow internet. 

nordvpn cta
NordVPN is an excellent Max VPN that offers dedicated IPs for consistent streaming performance.

NordVPN is affordable, setting you back $3.39 per month on the two-year plan (not counting the three free months). For the price, you get all the features mentioned above, 10 simultaneous connections and stellar encryption to thwart ISP throttling. You can give NordVPN a try worry-free, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full NordVPN review to learn more. 

Basic
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Plus
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes
Complete
  • *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 10
  • Yes

2. Surfshark — Budget-Friendly Max VPN

Surfshark app
Surfshark has the best distribution of servers in the U.S., making it an ideal option for watching Max outside the U.S.

Pros

  • Respectable speeds
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Pocket-friendly

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance across locations

Watch what you want, where you want — get Surfshark now with a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount.

Download
94 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/10/25 to 02/07/25
Data for region:

Our second pick, Surfshark, has the best geographical spread of servers in the U.S. of our top five Max VPNs. It has over 600 servers spread across 23 cities. The problem is, some of these servers, like Tampa and Denver, don’t unblock Max, whereas others — like Latham and Boston — took several attempts to punch through the geo-restrictions. 

However, when you find an optimal server, the rest of the streaming experience is smooth sailing. Surfshark guarantees respectable speeds — fast enough to stream movies and TV shows on Max without buffering. Better still, it offers unlimited bandwidth and solid encryption to hide your traffic from ISPs to prevent connection throttling. 

Connect All Your Devices With Surfshark

To add to this, Surfshark supports unlimited simultaneous connections to protect your entire family. However, keep in mind that Max only allows three simultaneous streams. It also offers the CleanWeb — an ad-blocking tool — that blocks intrusive ads at the source. Besides boosting speeds, CleanWeb comes in handy when you want to save on mobile data. 

get surfshark
Surfshark unblocks streaming platforms including Max, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video.

Surfshark offers a number of pocket-friendly plans on this list. It’s cheaper than NordVPN, as it costs you $2.19 per month on the two-year plan. For the price, you get unlimited bandwidth, unlimited simultaneous connections, CleanWeb to block pop-up ads and a large pool of servers in the U.S. Read our full Surfshark review for more.

Surfshark Starter
  • Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
  • Yes
Surfshark One
  • Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited
Surfshark One+
  • Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
  • Unlimited GB
  • Unlimited

3. ExpressVPN — Best Max VPN for Beginners

ExpressVPN app
ExpressVPN comes into its element when unblocking streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Max online services. 

Pros

  • Lightning-fast speed
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 23 servers in the U.S.
  • Consistently unblocks Max

Cons

  • Pricey

Never miss a show again — try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days and save 25%.

Download
91 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
5 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/10/25 to 02/07/25
Data for region:

ExpressVPN is the best Max VPN for beginners, and its unmatched ability to unblock Max (and other streaming services) is a big reason for that. It has servers in 23 locations in the U.S., all of which unblock Max without a hassle. We put these VPN servers through the wringer, and they got us into Max on the first attempt every time.

In addition, most of the U.S. servers hit near unprotected speeds, regardless of the distance. That’s vital when streaming Max because it automatically adjusts video quality depending on your internet connection and bandwidth. ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and doesn’t slow down your internet by much to ensure you get the highest video quality. 

Compatible With Most Devices

ExpressVPN works with most devices. You can install it on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux or router devices. If you love watching movies on a smart TV, worry not. ExpressVPN has apps for smart TV systems like Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and Android TV. It also has a MediaStreamer for devices that don’t support native VPN apps like Apple TV, Roku and PlayStation.

get expressvpn max
ExpressVPN enables you to stream Max content without interruptions.

That said, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services, costing $4.99 per month on the two-year plan. However, it’s well worth every dollar because it’s the fastest VPN for YouTube, Max, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and other streaming services.

You can get a feel for ExpressVPN risk-free, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our full ExpressVPN review to learn more. 

ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

4. PrivadoVPN — Great Free VPN for Streaming on Max

privadovpn us
You can connect to a free U.S. server to access Max.

Pros

  • Generous free plan
  • 4 free servers in the U.S.
  • Low-cost paid plan

Cons

  • Weak customer support
  • Fast speeds only for first 10GB data each month

PrivadoVPN is one of the best free VPNs and is ideal if you want to watch Max outside the U.S. without spending a dime on a VPN. PrivadoVPN has servers in 14 locations in the U.S., including four free server locations. We tested the free locations, and they got us into Max with ease.

However, PrivadoVPN is far from the fastest service around, which is why some of its servers take time to load videos. That said, it guarantees consistency and offers unlimited bandwidth. As a result, once the videos load, you enjoy buffering-free streaming on Max. 

A Great Free VPN

Avid Max binge-watchers may find PrivadoVPN doesn’t provide enough high-speed data for longer periods of streaming. However, if you want to watch an episode or two of your favorite Max series during your vacation or business trip, the data might just be enough. 

best snapchat vpns privadovpn website
With PrivadoVPN, you can watch for free on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome or smart TVs. 

You rarely find a free VPN as capable of unblocking Max as PrivadoVPN. Even though its free plan is generous, you might want to get a paid plan to remove the usage limits and enjoy unrestricted viewing on the Max app.

To that end, PrivadoVPN’s best value plan costs just $1.11 per month for 27 months, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee should you change your mind. Find out more plan and pricing details in our PrivadoVPN review.

5. Private Internet Access — Good Max VPN With Dedicated IPs

pia streaming
PIA is one of the best VPNs for Max that also works well with other streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Pros

  • Servers in 16 U.S. cities
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Easy to use
  • Dedicated IP addresses

Cons

  • Doesn’t unblock Hulu & BBC iPlayer
Download
83 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/10/25 to 02/07/25
Data for region:

Another VPN that unblocks Max is Private Internet Access (PIA for short). You have 16 U.S. VPN servers to choose from, including two that are optimized for streaming.

The good thing is, both the regular and streaming-optimized servers are adept at unblocking Max. PIA displays the latency for each server to make it easier for you to choose the fastest to watch Max content. 

Sometimes, Max might block IP addresses if it notices they’re coming from a single server.  PIA offers a dedicated IP address that is exclusively yours, meaning you don’t share it with any other VPN users.

Besides sparing you from the “bad neighbor effect,” it’s unique, meaning the chances of Max knowing that your traffic is from a VPN provider are minimal. 

Consistently Fast VPN Connections

Beyond getting you into Max, PIA offers excellent download speeds to keep you watching movies and TV shows without annoying video lags. Another thing to like about PIA is the consistency of its connections across locations. Whether you’re accessing Max in Mexico or France, you should get the same excellent streaming performance. 

PIA for HBO online services
PIA unblocks Max with ease and offers excellent download speeds to sustain uninterrupted viewing.

There are other things to like about Private Internet Access, and its pricing is one of them. PrivadoVPN aside, PIA is the most affordable Max VPN on our list, as it costs $7.50 per month on the three-year plan. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee just in case you change your mind. Read our full Private Internet Access review to learn more.

How to Watch Max With a VPN

Watching Max content with a VPN should be a cinch. Let’s demonstrate how the whole process works using NordVPN, the best Max VPN. 

  1. Download and Install a VPN App

    Go to NordVPN’s website and sign up at a 72% discount. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available if you change your mind.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Connect to a U.S. Server

    Open the VPN app and connect to a VPN server in the U.S. Alternatively, connect to a server in another country where Max is available.

  3. Log in to Your Max Account

    Go to the Max website and sign in to your Max account. The Max system assumes you’re accessing the platform from the U.S., allowing you to access the collection of movies despite being in a blocklisted country. You can also watch movies on the Max app. 

    watch max

Can You Access Max With a Free VPN?

Rarely do free VPNs unblock Max. The streaming service is relatively new and its narrow geographic focus means that it’s adept at enforcing geo-restrictions. The majority of free VPNs don’t have a robust encryption system to circumvent Max geoblocking

Another thing is that most worst free VPNs aren’t built with your security in mind. The providers can use the free price tag to lure unsuspecting VPN users. Once they opt in, the providers might gather their data and sell it to third parties to turn a profit.

Even though many free VPNs don’t cut it for streaming Max, few exceptions exist. For example, PrivadoVPN is a free VPN, yet it offers robust security and good speeds — the perfect combination to watch Max content uninterrupted. 

Final Thoughts

Subscribing to platforms such as NordVPN allows you to stream various movies and shows that aren’t always available. Thanks to its excellent ability to unblock Max and lightning-fast speeds, it offers an all-around great streaming performance. Trying NordVPN for a month is completely risk-free, as you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up not liking it.

If you’re looking for the most affordable VPN, Surfshark meets the criteria. Be sure to read our Surfshark vs PIA guide to learn how it compares to another cheap VPN. Hopefully, you can now pick the best VPN to watch Max outside the U.S. (If you’re in the U.K., we have a separate HBO Max U.K. guide.)

Have you watched Max outside the U.S.? Which VPN service did you use? Did we miss a service you think deserved a spot in the top five? What do you think of the HBO Max rebrand to Max? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section below. As always, thanks for reading. 

FAQ

  • Yes, Max is available in some European, Latin American and Caribbean countries.

  • Yes, Mexico is one of the countries where Max is available. However, the Mexican library isn’t as diverse as the U.S. A VPN can help you unlock the collection of movies and TV shows in the U.S. library, as long as you have an ad-free account.

  • Yes, it does, provided you’re using a reputable VPN provider such as NordVPN. However, no VPN is perfect, so if you have any issues, try using another server before giving up.

  • The best VPN for Max is NordVPN because it gets into the streaming service reliably and has excellent streaming performance.

  • If your VPN service doesn’t work with Max, the VPN server you are connecting to is unable to bypass Max geo-restrictions. You could switch servers to rectify that issue. However, if you swap servers and the VPN is still unable to get into Max, it means the VPN is unreliable, and you should consider using an alternative.

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