Hulu not working with VPN? Here’s how to fix that! (September 2023)

You’re probably reading this article because you’ve tried to watch Hulu outside the US using a VPN and, all of a sudden, it’s stopped working.

If you’re coming across Hulu not working with VPN issues, the reason this has happened is because Hulu has managed to identify and block the IP address your VPN has given you. And if the problem persists, your VPN doesn’t have measures to ensure it can work reliably with Hulu

The good news is there’s a number of fixes you can try to resolve this issue.

In this article we’ll explain how you can fix Hulu not working with VPN, and if you read on to the end of the article, you can find out how to prevent these sorts of issues from happening again in the future.

The best VPNs for Hulu

Hulu not working with VPN: Fixes

Why is Hulu not working with VPN?

Hulu has joined Netflix, HBO Max, CBS, NBC, BBC iPlayer – pretty much every major broadcaster – in blocking VPNs from accessing its content.

The reason it has done this is simple. Licenses. More specifically, US licenses. Hulu only has the rights to broadcast content – The Handmaid’s Tale, Castle Rock, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – in the US. Various broadcaster’s in other countries own the rights to this content in their regions.

Like every other major broadcaster, Hulu has to block VPNs from accessing its content to protect its investments. If, for example, Hulu didn’t police its digital border and allowed internet connections from all over the world to stream from its servers, then it would have to start paying for global licenses for its content. Which is (obviously) a lot more expensive than just owning the American broadcasting rights.

How is Hulu Detecting my VPN?

There are three primary checks Hulu performs to detect VPNs. 

The first is a routine check for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks. This is a simple test that all respectable VPNs *should* pass. 

The next test is a little more cunning. Broadcasters use GeoIP databases, such as MaxMind to verify the IP address you’re connecting from. If your VPN is using an IP address that’s on one of these lists you won’t be able to watch Hulu.

Finally, Hulu will perform its own IP checks – and this is probably the test that caused your VPN to stop working – where it monitors the number of connections coming from the same IP address.

VPNs have a lot more customers than they do servers. This is a problem, as each VPN server has its own IP address, just like a typical house or office would do. When too many people (more than an average household) connect via the same IP (VPN server), it is easy for Hulu to detect and blacklist the IP address.

Does Hulu still work with VPNs?

Yes. I stream Hulu from my home here in New Zealand daily. 

It’s essential that you use a VPN that still works with Hulu like ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month). 

There are some VPNs that won’t work with Hulu. At the time of writing, IPvanish, Tunnelbear, PureVPN, Zenmate, Hotspot Shield, Hola, CactusVPN, Private Internet Access (PIA), IronSocket, Unotelly and CactusVPN will not work.

This is because Hulu has been able to identify and blacklist all the IP addresses that those VPNs provide. 

To stream Hulu, you need to upgrade to a VPN like ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) that manages to stay ahead of Hulu’s checks.

Will a free VPN work with Hulu?

We don’t recommend using a free VPN with Hulu for a number of reasons:

1. It probably won’t work: From our tests, we’ve found that free VPNs struggle to get around Hulu’s VPN-blocking techniques, and subsequently don’t work with the streaming service.
2. Free VPNs aren’t secure: We put a number of free VPNs through DNS leak tests which test how well they keep your online activity anonymous. Most of them failed these tests. This means your’re not able to surf the web privately with free VPNs and it makes it easier for Hulu to spot you’re using a VPN and block it.
3. Feature restrictions: Important features that make VPNs work are often hidden behind a paywall. While free VPNs claim they’ll work reliably with Hulu they often won’t. Free VPNs put limits on speeds and they cap the amount of data you can use. This limits their functionality.
4. Lack of servers: Most free VPNs don’t provide numerous servers. For Hulu, you need multiple US servers to use if one isn’t working.

The best VPN services (September 2023)

Hulu not working with VPN: Additional Fixes

If changing to a different server doesn’t fix Hulu not working with VPN, your VPN has most likely fallen victim to Hulu’s VPN blocking techniques.

The best way to fix this is to upgrade to a VPN that works reliably with Hulu. From our tests the best for this is ExpressVPN ($6.67/month).

However, if ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) isn’t for you there are some additional fixes you can try to resolve the problem.

1. Delete Cookies: Cookies are small files designed to make your online experience more streamlined. The problem is, in order to do that, often Cookies contain information disclosing your physical location. If the location stored on your Cookies differs from the location you’re using with your VPN, Hulu can potentially realise the discrepancy and block the connection.
2. Reinstall your VPN: On occasion your VPN can inadvertently download bugs or errors. These can result in the VPN not working properly. A good way to get rid of bugs is to completely reinstall the VPN software. This will give you a clean version of the VPN removing any bugs or errors that are causing Hulu not working with VPN.
3. Change to a different protocol: VPN protocols are sets of rules that determine how your data is rerouted through your VPN servers. Check and see if your VPN supports multiple protocols and change to one you’re not using. Your VPN might not be working because the protocol you’re using isn’t fast or secure enough to work reliably with Hulu.

Is using a VPN with Hulu legal?

In most countries, using a VPN is legal. There are only a handful of countries (spot the authoritarianism link) where using a VPN is illegal; these are: China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Seychelles, Suriname, Namibia, Slovenia, Nicaragua and Tajikistan.

If you’re outside these countries and are using a VPN, you’re legally allowed to do so. However, it’s important to know that using a VPN with some streaming services may breach that service’s terms of use.

The Hulu terms of use state, “bypass, modify, defeat, tamper with or circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Services, including using any technology or technique to obscure or disguise your location when you are accessing the Services.”

This means, Hulu can stop your subscription and ban you from the streaming service if you try to access its content with a VPN turned on.

However, given the wide-spread use of VPNs, plus the many legitimate and legal use cases for VPNs, it’s fair to suggest that banning customers for using a VPN would be a heavy-handed and financially costly policy for Hulu (and other streaming services) to enforce.

If you’re trying to watch Hulu outside the US, you risk having your account banned. In theory. However, the best VPNs for Hulu use military-grade encryption it is impossible for streaming services to trace where you’re physically accessing its content from.

There’s one final thing to note on the subject: Hulu has never banned anyone for using a VPN to access its service.