Summary: HBO Now is the broadcasting station’s live streaming service, and it’s a great way to watch HBO without having a cable subscription. However, if you travel overseas, a lot of times your subscription won’t travel with you. Since the service is almost completely exclusive to the US, you can’t watch it in most countries abroad unless you use a VPN.

A VPN hides your true location, and gives you access to a worldwide network of servers that in turn make it look like you’re somewhere else, which connects you to any content available in that country.

For the fastest streaming of HBO Now in any country, use ExpressVPN.

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Why Is My Access Limited?

HBO is home to some of the most fantastic shows to grace a home television. From Game of Thrones to True Blood, the network attracts some all star hits, and many cable subscribers can’t resist.

However, in a society that’s turning increasingly to online options for streaming their favorite TV shows, HBO Now presents a great way to catch your favorite shows, without being indentured to your local cable company.

The service allows you to stream an unlimited amount of content online from HBO to just about any device for $14.99 per month. Compare that to what you pay for cable, plus the premium rate for HBO, and it’s a steal.

You can stream your favorite shows directly from the site on everything from your iPhone to your Windows laptop, and the subscription travels with you.

However, one hangup of this service is that, like the broadcasted channel itself, HBO Now is limited to certain parts of the world. But it gets even narrower with HBO Now.

Whereas HBO is available pretty widely around the world, HBO Now is only available in the US. If you want to access it anywhere else, you’re going to need to use a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, and it’s a subscription service that allows you to access blocked or geo restricted content. When you sign up for a service plan, you just download the app and get started.

You’ll have access to the VPN’s network of servers. To watch HBO Now overseas, just choose a server located anywhere in the US and connect.

Your IP address (the code attached to your connection that tells websites your location) will be blocked, and instead you’ll be using the one associated with the server you’ve chosen.

This basically tricks websites into giving you access to content outside the US, because your connection appears to be coming from somewhere else.

VPNs also have the added benefit of protecting you from identity theft and hackers. When you use one, all of your online activity is encrypted so that your privacy is protected while you use it.

It’s a great tool for accessing blocked content, but your traffic  is also pretty impenetrable when you use it.

Top 3 VPNs for HBO Now

When you use a VPN to stream TV online, there are a few things in particular you’re going to want to look for:

• a fast, reliable connection
• a large network of servers
• unlimited bandwidth

Here are a few of the top choices on the web, and how they compare for live streaming.

#1 Choice:  ExpressVPN – 9/10 – Fastest streaming, easiest to use

Okay, so there’s one thing you need to understand about the way VPNs work before you commit to a service plan – encryption = a slower connection (usually).

In a great VPN, the difference is marginal, and you really don’t notice it – ExpressVPN is one of the great ones. This VPN actually uses military grade encryption, but despite that, you never compromise speed.

I’ve used this one for everything from streaming some YouTube videos to downloading music, and I’ve never noticed a difference between it and my standard connection.

They have an extensive server network, so you can access them from nearly anyplace in the world.

ExpressVPN’s service plans come with unlimited bandwidth, as well as two connections per account. With this one, you can stream on two devices at the same time, without paying double.

Their customer service is really great too – these guys never leave you hanging when you have a question. Their team is always there to answer your questions, and they never make you wait longer than 20 minutes for a response.

You can even get help right away for urgent requests through the live chat feature on their website.

This VPN also comes fully backed with a 30 day guarantee, and a referral program that pays you back when you send new business their way. You just can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN.

For the easiest and fastest streaming of HBO Now, get ExpressVPN now.

#2:  IPVanish – 8/10 – Fast enough for streaming, not for iOS

IPVanish is another VPN for streaming.  IPVanish, like ExpressVPN,comes with unlimited bandwidth and two connections per account. This is handy, because it means you can stream on both a home and a mobile device for the same low rate.

Their service comes backed with a seven day guarantee, and uses military grade encryption to keep your data secure.

However, if you’re using an iPhone or iPad, IPVanish isn’t an option for you – this VPN is only compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux. If you use iOS, you’ll want to stick with ExpressVPN which is compatible with all major operating systems.

IPVanish is also lacking in a live support option. While their team is available 24/7, you can’t get them through live chat or by phone, and will have to wait for them to respond to an e-mail. ExpressVPN excels at customer service, has  a live chat feature, and has always responded to my queries quickly.

You can check out IPVanish at their website.

#3: HideMyAss – 5/10 – Slow connection, bad for streaming TV online

HideMyAss is another VPN that a lot of people have checked out, but honestly, despite this one’s popularity, I have never been able to get a fast, reliable connection with it.

When I’m not getting dropped by their servers, HideMyAss is just incredibly slow, and never up to the task of streaming TV services like HBO Now online.

HideMyAss, like ExpressVPN, is compatible with all major operating systems, but it’s nowhere near as easy to use. This VPN has a lot of features and tabs to get lost in, so take your time with it.

Of course, if you run into problems, getting help isn’t exactly easy. Even though their support is 24/7 like ExpressVPN’s, they’re not nearly as prompt – plan on waiting at least two days to get a response to an e-mail inquiry.

Bottom line, you can do better. HideMyAss just isn’t fast enough for online streaming.

HideMyAss is here.

Conclusion: Use ExpressVPN for Fast, Unlimited Access

HBO Now is an awesome way to take your favorite shows on the go with you. However, this service is limited to users solely in the US, so if you have plans to travel overseas, you’ll be paying for your subscription and unable to use it.

With ExpressVPN, you can trick servers into thinking you’re still in the US, and watch your favorite shows anyway. Just pick an American server in your VPN program, and boom, you’re ready to watch.

ExpressVPN gives you a super-fast, reliable connection that protects your information using the best military-grade encryption. You’ll get the best customer service team in the business and it’s all backed by an industry-leading 30 day money back guarantee.

For a VPN that’s more than fast enough to handle streaming HBO Now nearly anywhere, get ExpressVPN today.