How & Where to Watch Rome in 2025: Watch Both Seasons Online From Anywhere
If you’re in the mood for a historical epic, there’s no more an epic series set in the past than Rome. However, it originally aired almost two decades ago, so finding where to watch Rome might not be as easy as it sounds. Keep reading to find out how to watch the TV series from anywhere using a VPN.
Written by Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)
Reviewed by Aleksandar Kochovski (Writer)
Facts checked by Vildana Bratic (Video Editor, Fact-Checking Editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Watch Rome on Max
- Go to NordVPN’s website and sign up at a 72% discount.
- Download and install the VPN client. Connect to a U.S. server.
- Log in to Max and stream ‘Rome.’
Best VPNs for Streaming Rome:
- NordVPN — Top-tier VPN with fantastic performance. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 72% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
- Surfshark — Best VPN for unlimited simultaneous connections. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount.
- ExpressVPN — A more expensive VPN but feature-rich and fast. You can sign up for ExpressVPN with a 25% discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
Facts & Expert Analysis:
- Rome is available for streaming on Max and various local distribution partners such as Sky in Europe and Disney+ Hotstar in India.
- If you want to watch Rome outside of these areas, you’ll need a VPN to do so. NordVPN is the best option, but Surfshark is a great budget-friendly alternative.
A rare collaboration between HBO and BBC, Rome charted the historical events that saw the birth of the Roman empire and featured both historic figures like Julius Caesar and Mark Antony as well as fictional characters like Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo.
If you’d like to see one of the most famous historical narratives brought to life on the small screen, first you’ll need to know where to watch Rome online.
Even though it aired all the way back in 2005, before the “new” golden age of television really got going, it remains one of the most expensive television productions ever made. The ambitious epic was supposed to run for five seasons, but the high production costs forced it to conclude after only two, despite critical acclaim.
Even though it ended early, Rome is definitely worth adding to your watchlist if you’ve never seen it, or worth revisiting if you watched it almost 20 years ago when it first aired. Without further ado, let’s take a look at where you can find this underappreciated epic series if you want to stream it online.
Not available in your country?
Watch Rome now on Crave and Now
Status checked 2025/03/12:
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10/01/2024
We recalibrated the VPN positions after thorough reassessment of each service.
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12/04/2024 Facts checked
Added more information about the best VPNs to stream Rome.
Where to Watch Rome
The only international streaming service that has Rome in its library is Max (formerly HBO Max). Unfortunately, Max is only available in select countries in the Americas and Europe, meaning there’s no way to watch Rome legally if you’re outside this zone.
If you already have an Max account, all you need to do to stream Rome from anywhere is connect to a VPN, but signing up is a little more complicated, since you need a local payment method to do so.
Luckily, you can follow our guide on how to watch Max from anywhere to create your account. If you already have one, then you can keep reading to learn how to use it no matter where you’re located.
Which Streaming Services Have Rome?
The main Streaming service that has Rome is Max, but HBO also has various distribution deals with local broadcasters in a number of countries. If you’re located in any of the places listed below, it might be easier to simply sign up for your local option, which may even offer a free trial (though you’ll need a local payment method).
The full list of these are:
- ITVX and BritBox in the U.K.
- Local Sky Platforms in Italy, Germany and Switzerland
- Disney+ Hotstar in India
- Neon in New Zealand
- Binge in Australia
- Crave in Canada
If you’re willing to purchase or rent Rome, you can do so through the usual digital venues — namely, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV and Vudu.
How to Watch Rome for Free
Unfortunately, Max doesn’t have a free trial. That means the only way to watch Rome without paying anything is to either torrent it (check out our torrenting guide) or use one of the many illegal streaming sites available online. Make sure to check out our best VPNs for torrenting if you’re planning to go this route.
Note that if you live in any of the countries listed in the last section, it’s possible that your local provider is currently offering a free trial, but these often change.
How to Watch Rome With a VPN
Luckily, a VPN makes your physical location irrelevant — you can always watch Rome on Max, despite the regional restrictions. We’ll use NordVPN as an example for these instructions, but any of the best VPNs for Max will do well.
- Sign Up for a VPN
Sign up for NordVPN by going to its website and grabbing a 72% discounted plan risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Download the VPN Client and Install
Go to the download page for your VPN (in this case, NordVPN) and download the installation file for your operating system. Run the file and follow the instructions to install the client, then use it to log in to your account.
- Connect to a U.S. Server
Select any U.S. server in the server list and then click the “on” button to connect.
- Start Streaming Rome
Log in to your Max account, either through one of the apps or on the website, search for Rome and start streaming. Enjoy!
The Best VPNs for Watching Rome
Before we wrap up, let’s take a brief look at the three best VPNs for streaming Rome (or anything else on Max).
1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Streaming Rome
so no matter how you get your content, it’s a good choice.
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN is our top choice for streaming. It comes packed with advanced features and excellent security measures, including a solid no-logs policy. In fact, it’s even faster than most other VPNs we test, which makes it an even more appealing choice as our number one pick, depending on where you are.
Another bonus of NordVPN is the price. The cheapest plan, called Standard, includes the full VPN experience for just $2.52 per month on the two-year plan.
Once again, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re feeling uncertain and you can check out our full NordVPN review for more details.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
- 10
2. Surfshark — Best Budget Option for Rome
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
A relatively new provider, Surfshark has taken the VPN world by storm. Over the past few years, Surfshark has become one of our go-to VPNs for streaming because it’s fast, easy to use and comes with unlimited simultaneous connections — a very generous and rare offering.
We also tout Surfshark as a great budget provider if you choose a long-term plan. Surfshark has a few gaps to fill in — as we explain in our Surfshark review — but overall, it gets the seal of approval. You can try it for yourself by signing up for a plan and using the 30-day money-back guarantee if you need to.
- 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
- 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
- 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 User-Friendly VPN for Rome
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Not only is ExpressVPN a reliable VPN to stream Rome on Max, but it also displays no-compromise approach to security, features and performance. Besides letting you stream Rome on Max, ExpressVPN also lets you get into any streaming library in the world, unlocking a treasure trove of entertainment.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is somewhat more expensive than the norm at $4.99 per month on its two-year plan. That said, you get what you pay for, and we don’t have many complaints about the service, as you can see from our ExpressVPN review. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
Rome Plot, Cast & Characters
Rome primarily focuses on the furious historical events that saw the complete downfall of the Roman Republic and transition into the Roman Empire. Starting with Julius Caesar returning from Gaul and being proclaimed Emperor, the show follows a huge cast of characters as their fortunes grow and shrink in the tumultuous events that follow.
Opposing Caesar in the show are a number of Patrician families in the city of Rome itself, but his cousin, Atia, schemes to further their family’s interests.
Besides the bigger historical narrative that plays out between the likes of Caesar, Pompey and Antony, Rome also zooms in on the more personal stories of characters like Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, two legionaries we meet when they are tasked by Caesar with recovering their legion’s stolen eagle.
Despite their humble stations, they too have to grapple with events and choose sides as Rome descends into civil war. Below, we’ve included a full list of main characters and the actors who play them:
- Kevin McKidd as Lucius Vorenus
- Ray Stevenson as Titus Pullo
- Ciarán Hinds as Julius Caesar
- Kenneth Cranham as Pompey Magnus
- Polly Walker as Atia of the Julii
- James Purefoy as Mark Antony
- Tobias Menzies as Marcus Junius Brutus
- Max Pirkis (season 1) and Simon Woods (season 2) as Gaius Octavian/Augustus
- Lindsay Duncan as Servilia of the Junii
- Lyndsey Marshal as Cleopatra of Egypt
- Indira Varma as Niobe
- Nicholas Woodeson as Posca
- Kerry Condon as Octavia of the Julii
- Rick Warden as Quintus Pompey
- Karl Johnson as Cato the Younger
- David Bamber as Marcus Tullius Cicero
- Lee Boardman as Timon
Final Thoughts: Streaming Rome
That brings us to the end of our streaming guide for HBO’s Rome. Now that you know how and where to watch the show, it’s time to enjoy an epic story of civil war, triumph, fortunes reversed, ever-shifting allegiances and secrets.
Take NordVPN for a test drive with peace of mind, knowing you can request a full refund within 30 days if it doesn’t meet your expectations.
What did you think of our guide? Did you get to watch Rome using our instructions and a VPN? If so, which VPN did you use? Did you enjoy the two seasons of Rome or do you agree with the general consensus that it fell off after the first? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.
FAQ
Yes, Rome is available for streaming on Max.
Yes, Max is the only international streaming service where you can watch Rome legally.
Yes, but only if you add Max to your Hulu subscription.