Hulu Detecting your Vpn? Here’s Some That Should Work

Hulu is one of the most popular streaming video services out there, just behind Netflix of course. Until Disney’s recent buyout, Hulu was run by the joint forces of three major US television networks – Fox, ABC, and NBC. Hulu members can enjoy a wealth of content from partnered networks that include Comedy Central, FX, SyFy, Style, PBS, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. It should come as no surprise that there are those who reside outside of the US who would also like to enjoy the same content.

The only true option available to anyone from another country to be able to watch what Hulu offers is through the use of a VPN. It used to be that any VPN available would work. You simply signed up for one, set the server, loaded up the service, and enjoyed the programs. Nowadays, streaming services are getting wise to this workaround and have employed VPN bans in order to put a stop to it. This includes Hulu.

All of the content that Hulu offers is strictly limited to residents of the US and Japan. Anyone attempting to use the service outside of these countries is quickly prevented from watching any of the content. If you can believe it, Hulu’s VPN ban policy is even more advanced than Netflix’s firewall.

The VPN IP addresses are recorded on these servers and shared by dozens and even hundreds of users at once. This allows the added layer of anonymity to remain for those users but tips off Hulu to what’s really going on. Someone is trying to bypass the region lock.

Hulu’s VPN Restrictions

It’s not specifically mentioned in Hulu’s terms of service that VPNs or proxies are prohibited, however, it does state the following that could be construed to cover VPN services:

“You may not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms.”

Hulu then states that should this rule be broken, they will notify you immediately and then proceed to block access to the service. There wasn’t any mention of account termination or suspension so at the very least it’s just a slap on the wrist. VPNs are technically considered legal in almost all countries around the world so other than receiving an error message, there haven’t been any public cases of anyone being penalized further.

The 5 Best VPNs To Bypass The Hulu VPN Ban

Of all the VPNs available on the internet today, there are only a few of which you can use to bypass the Hulu VPN ban. Most will not work and result in users receiving the anonymous proxy tool error message:

“Based on your IP address, we noticed you are trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy tool. Hulu is not currently available outside the US. If you’re in the US, you’ll need to disable your anonymizer to access videos on Hulu.”

The best VPNs for Hulu typically have a few servers each that can bypass the proxy ban. You’ll have to contact the customer support associated with one of these VPN services to ask which servers can access Hulu as they’re not likely to be advertised.

“But which VPNs are able to bypass Hulu’s VPN ban?”

To cover them all might take up too much time that you’d rather spend watching Hulu’s content. So I’ve summarized five of the best VPNs for such a covert operation.

Each of these was chosen based on their ability to bypass the Hulu VPN ban, being fast enough to stream in HD, possessing multiple server locations within the US, and excellent customer support. So without further ado, here are the top 6 VPNs to get the job done.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN, not only our top VPN overall but also one of the few VPN services offering up a handful of servers that can get around Hulu’s pesky VPN ban. You’ll have to get in touch with their top-notch customer service through live chat on their official site if you don’t know which servers penetrate Hulu’s armor. The live servers are 24/7 so no matter what time you need help, they’ll be available.

This VPN will cost you but they do offer a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has several server locations spanning across the US and their connections are extremely stable, with a bandwidth that is more than capable of streaming Hulu programs in HD quality.

All ExpressVPN subscriptions come with an intelligent DNS proxy service called MediaStreamer, that’s used by default whenever you connect to a VPN server. It can also be used separately to unblock Hulu and other streaming services. You will have to disable IPv6 if you’re looking to watch Hulu abroad. The steps you’ll need to take in order to accomplish this task can be found in its own section, toward the bottom of this article.

ExpressVPN is the number one choice for a VPN service with a blazing fast and reliable connection. Provides great security and privacy features while unblocking all of the major streaming services including Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Best of all, it keeps absolutely no logs of your activity. If you have the money, you won’t find a better VPN.

CyberGhost

For a time, CyberGhost wasn’t one of the go-to’s for unblocking. However, lately, they’ve really ramped up their efforts and now provide a wide range of streaming channels, including Hulu. You can even choose your server based on the streaming services it can unblock when using the desktop app.

CyberGhost has both a free version and a paid version. The only way to get onto a streaming server is through the paid version. Don’t let that deter you from choosing such a great service. It’s much cheaper than most of its competitors so it won’t leave your wallet too light and also includes additional features like high-quality encryption, a no-logs policy, and breakneck speeds to watch HD content. There’s a 45-day money back guarantee policy in place if the service isn’t everything you’d thought it’d be.

Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost chat support is not 24/7 and does adhere to an hourly business schedule. They also don’t specifically have Hulu listed among their unblocking services. However, just use the Netflix Live chat support to get hooked with which servers allow you to watch Hulu.

PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is the new guy on the list. It’s an up-and-coming provider with a small number of servers but a lot to offer. Already in the big leagues playing with other established VPN services, when it comes to unblocking streaming sites, PrivateVPN stands tall. Just like most of the other VPN options in this article, you’ll want to get in touch with their support team if you want to find the unblocked Hulu servers offered. The support team is helpful but don’t offer 24/7 availability.

Though it may not have as many servers as the others on this list, the few servers PrivateVPN does have are extremely fast and won’t leave you staring at a constant buffering icon. Netflix can also be unblocked in almost every country when using this service, which includes the US.

Privacy is in the name, and PrivateVPN doesn’t compromise on the security either. They’ve got a no-logs policy, solid encryption, and top-notch connections. The company stores no logs of user activity nor IP address on its servers. It uses the same strong encryption that you’ll get with the veteran providers.

PrivateVPN’s prices are admirable for what you’re receiving and do offer a 30-day money back guarantee if dissatisfied. An excellent choice for families on a budget as you can connect with up to six different devices simultaneously without compromising quality.

NordVPN

NordVPN uses its own trademark DNS, SmartPlay, allowing its servers to unblock a large range of various content providers, including Hulu. SmartPlay is built right into the VPN so no additional services are required. Not only does NordVPN have a live chat support team to direct you to the proper servers to get around the Hulu ban but also an official knowledge base to breeze through at your leisure.

Like most top-notch VPNs, NordVPN has airtight security with strong encryption and a zero-logs policy. There are even specialized servers for additional security measures such as anti-DDoS, lightning speed streaming, double VPN options, and Tor over VPN.

Netflix is also on the docket of things NordVPN unblocks in several countries, including the US if that interests you. NordVPN is in the same general price range as ExpressVPN including the 30-day money back guarantee. With a subscription you’ll be able to connect up to six devices simultaneously, making it a great choice for families.

Surfshark

Those more interested in accessing Hulu from as many devices as they please at any given time, then Surfshark may be the VPN you’ve been searching for. This makes it an amazing choice for families as well as friends you don’t mind sharing a connection with. It’s also a great cord-cutting tool for accessing most of the other streaming services from abroad. This includes Netflix in the US and UK, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and a bunch more.

Surfshark is based in China and offers users 24/7 access to live chat support. Like the others on this list, Surfshark keeps a strict no-logs policy, allows P2P file sharing, and offers kill switches on both the mobile and desktop apps. There’s a camouflage mode for hiding your VPN use from your own ISP and CleanWeb, which blocks out all of the adverts, malware, and phishing attempts made while surfing the web. Naturally, you’ll receive a 30-day money back guarantee so there’s really nothing stopping you from giving it a try.

Viewing Hulu With A VPN While Vacationing/Living Abroad

After speaking with the customer support for the VPN of your choice, you should know which server to use. With this acquired knowledge, you can quickly get the VPN up and running by:

Signing up for and downloading the VPN you’ve chosen that unblocks Hulu.
Install the corresponding VPN app from the official website or app store.
Launch the VPN app and choose the server that was explained to you by the customer support will unblock your access to Hulu streaming. Hopefully, you’ve written it down or have an amazing memory.
Open Hulu in any web browser you choose or the Hulu app on a mobile device, and begin streaming the content you want to watch.

Some settings may need to be tweaked on your device if you’re still encountering an error message. You should first attempt a cookies and cache clear on your browser to see if the problem stems from there. IPv6 leaks are probably the most common issue you’ll encounter so I’ve provided you the steps to take in order to disable it. You can find the instructions on how to disable IPv6 on Mac and Windows below. For any other issues, you stumble across, contact your VPN’s customer support.

How to disable IPv6

The VPN service providers on this list are your best bet to get around Hulu’s VPN ban. However, even when using one of those on this list, you may still encounter an error message when attempting to view content on Hulu instructing you to turn off your “anonymous proxy.” Don’t panic if this happens to you. The vast majority of VPN services still don’t protect against IPv6 leaks.

While a VPN connection can route all your traffic requests through its own DNS servers and mask your IPv4 address, IPv6 addresses still get sent without being hidden. IPv6 serves the same purpose as IPv4 but contains a far wider range of possible IP addresses for Internet-connected devices.

So how can we fix this? Though an imperfect solution to be sure, disabling the IPv6 on your device is an effective VPN block workaround for Hulu. I only label it as imperfect for the reason that the IPv4 protocol is running out of unique IP addresses and it would be better if everyone switched over to IPv6 instead.

That aside, here are the steps you’ll need to take in order to disable the IPv6 protocol on your device starting with a Windows PC:

You’ll first have to disconnect and close the VPN app currently opened.
Once the VPN has been closed, launch the Run command by pressing the Win+R keys simultaneously.
- You can also right-click the Windows Logo toward the bottom left of the desktop screen and choosing Run from the menu.
In the Run prompt dialog box, type ncpa.cpl and hit the Enter key to open your Network Connections window.
Locate the connection you are using from what’s available, right-click it, and select Properties from the menu.
Depending on the version of Windows OS you have installed, the tab you’ll need to be in is either the “Networking” or “General” tab. For whichever of those tabs you have, look for and uncheck the box that says “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”.
Finalize the process by clicking the OK button to save the changes and close the window.
Head back to the Run function with a quick tap of Win+R and type in cmd for Command Prompt (Admin).
- For an alternative approach, type command prompt into the search bar located on your taskbar.
Click Yes when asked if it’s okay for the program to make changes to your computer.
While in the command prompt window, type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter. This will remove the IP addresses you were connected to using IPv6.
When ready, reconnect to the VPN, refresh the Hulu page (or app), and enjoy the unblocked content.

How to disable IPv6 on Mac OSX:

You’ll first have to disconnect and close the VPN app currently opened.
Open the Apple menu.
Choose System Preferences > Network > AirPort > Advanced.
Click TCP/IP.
Click on the Configure IPv6 pop-up menu and select Off.
Click OK and then Apply in order to apply the changes you’ve made.
When ready, reconnect to the VPN, refresh the Hulu page (or app), and enjoy the unblocked content.

Watching Hulu With A Free VPN

It’s definitely possible to find a VPN that offers its services for free. A VPN service that unblocks Hulu and doesn’t cost a thing? Who wouldn’t jump at the thought? Just know that any VPN service declaring itself as “free” cannot be considered reliable like the paid services listed above.

Free VPN providers don’t have the resources to change their VPN server IP addresses and domains when they get blacklisted by a service like Hulu. This means that even if you find a VPN service that advertises “free with unblocking” perks, it likely won’t last for very long.

Not only is the service unreliable but so too are the servers themselves. Free VPNs generally offer up slower, more congested servers than the paid counterparts. This means that you’re in for loads of buffering screens and potential service disruption more often than not. To top it all off, you can expect to receive a cap on the maximum bandwidth or total amount of allotted data you can use per day or month. They can cut you off at any moment which includes the middle of a show you’re watching.

Just because a VPN claims to be free, doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Nothing in this world is ever truly free and VPNs are definitely no exception. Many of the so-called “free” VPNs monitor users’ web traffic and mine the data, inject advertisements, place tracking cookies into your browser, and sell the information they dig up to third-party advertising companies. They don’t adhere to the strict no-logs policy that the paid services do. Hell, some of them might even redirect you to a sponsor’s page in order to bank off of the clicks and ads. Talk about shady practices.

The best thing you can do is avoid these VPNs and just throw a few bucks at those on the list above. You’re essentially paying for quality, reliability, and security, none of which any of those free VPN sites can offer.

A few notable VPNs to avoid if you’re hoping to watch Hulu from outside of the country: