HBO Max is one of the most popular streaming services in the United States, just like Netflix and Hulu. The platform boasts its content titles, which house most DC movies, The Vampire Diaries, and Raised by Wolves.
Despite its headquarters in the US, HBO Max is also present in a few European, Caribbean, and Latin American countries. But can u get HBO Max in Ireland? Well, no. HBO Max is not planning to launch in Ireland any time soon due to its deal with Sky that runs till 2025.
Instead of waiting, you can unblock HBO Max in Ireland with a VPN. Continue reading to find out the best HBO Max VPNs to access the streaming platform. We’ll also mention all the trending movies and TV shows you should watch on HBO Max once you access it.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
How to Watch HBO Max in Ireland in 2023? [5 Easy Steps]
Here’s how to watch HBO Max Ireland in 2023 in just 5 easy steps:
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN (ExpressVPN is our top recommendation as it offers multiple US servers for unblocking HBO).
- Download the VPN app on your device.
- Launch the VPN and sign in using your credentials.
- Connect to a US server (ExpressVPN’s New Jersey – 3 server is super fast).
- Once connected, visit HBO Max’s website and enjoy streaming in Ireland.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch HBO Max in Ireland?
HBO Max is currently geo-restricted in Ireland. This means that you need to use a reliable VPN to circumvent these geo-blocks and access HBO Max in the Irish region. Using a VPN connection on your preferred device, you can transport to any country where the VPN server is available.
If you’re thinking, ‘When will HBO Max be available in Ireland,’ then you need to know that according to the Sky deal, some of HBO Max’s content is exclusively available in Ireland via Sky’s broadcasting service. But, it’s limited to a few titles only.
If you try to access HBO Max in Ireland without a VPN, you will get the following error message:
“Sorry, HBO MAX isn’t available in your region yet”
To watch HBO Max in Ireland, you need a VPN with American servers like ExpressVPN (which offers 23+ servers).
Once you connect to a United States server, you will get an American IP address, tricking HBO Max into thinking you are trying to access its content from within the US.
3 Best VPNs to Watch HBO Max in Ireland [In-Depth Analysis]
We tested 40+ VPNs on the basis of unblocking capabilities, streaming speeds, US servers, etc., and compiled a list of 3 top VPNs that work with HBO Max in Ireland:
1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN to Watch HBO Max in Ireland
Features
- US servers: Available in 25+ locations of the US
- Servers: 3000+ servers in 94 countries
- Simultaneous connections: 5 devices
- Money-back guarantee: 30-day
- Speed: 89.38 Mbps on a 100 Mbps internet connection
- Compatible with: macOS, Smart TVs, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
- Exclusive features: MediaStreamer
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPN for Ireland to watch HBO Max Ireland because of its excellent unblocking capabilities, blazing-fast speeds, and powerful security features. ExpressVPN also offers a MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) feature that lets you access any geo-restricted streaming service on devices that don’t offer VPN support.
It offers 25+ server locations in the United States. We connected to its New York server, which instantly unblocked the streaming service. Moreover, the video started playing within 5 seconds, which was pretty impressive.
We could stream all our favorite movies and TV shows instantly in HD.
ExpressVPN was also the fastest during testing, as on its US server, it delivered an impressive speed of download speed of 89.38 Mbps and upload speed of 84.66 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base internet speed. Needless to say, ExpressVPN speed test results are some of the best in the industry.
We faced a speed drop of only 11% using ExpressVPN.
Overall, ExpressVPN offers 3000+ servers across 94 countries. Aside from HBO Max, it also works with YouTube TV in Ireland, Hulu, ESPN, and more in Ireland. We could also unblock Netflix with ExpressVPN and enjoy its various libraries.
ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections and offers a dedicated Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux app. Moreover, with MediaStreamer, you can install ExpressVPN on Roku, Smart TV, PlayStation, and more. We also downloaded ExpressVPN’s app on FireStick and enjoyed HBO Max easily.
This VPN is a pioneer of security as well. It offers military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, no logs, DNS leak protection, and much more to keep you secure.
Finally, this VPN is available for $6.67/mo (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan), and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans and a 7-day free trial on mobile devices.
To purchase a subscription, you can register for ExpressVPN subscriptions through PayPal, which is what most people prefer. And since it comes with a money-back guarantee, you can always cancel your ExpressVPN subscription if you have a change of heart.
For more information, check out our latest ExpressVPN Review.
Pros and Cons
- 25+ locations in the US
- MediaStreamer feature
- Blazing-fast speeds
- Unblocks HBO Max and other streaming services
- Powerful security features
- 5 simultaneous connections only
2. Surfshark: Budget-friendly VPN to Watch HBO Max in Ireland
Features
- US servers: 600+ servers in 25+ cities in the US
- Servers: 3200+ servers in 100 countries
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited devices
- Money-back guarantee: 30-day
- Speed: 81.32 Mbps on a 100 Mbps internet connection
- Compatible with: macOS, Apple TV, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
- Exclusive features: Whitelister
Surfshark is a great choice if you are on a budget and want a reliable VPN to unblock HBO Max in Ireland. It is the most budget-friendly VPN for watching HBO Max that costs only $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan).
Surfshark offers 600+ servers in 25+ US cities. So, you can choose from hundreds of servers to unblock HBO. For testing purposes, we connected to its server in San Jose. It did take some time to initially load the video, but once it started playing, there was no buffering or loading.
Streaming HBO Max with Surfshark was pretty hassle-free!
Speaking of speeds, in our Surfshark speed test guide, this VPN delivered a download speed of 81.32 Mbps and upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, which was quite astonishing considering its price.
The speeds were fast and let us enjoy HBO Max without constant buffering.
With Surfshark, you can also unblock other geo-restricted streaming sites like Hulu, Crunchyroll, ESPN, Fox, and more in Ireland and enjoy the streaming platforms. You can also access Hulu with Surfshark.
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections so you can stream on multiple devices simultaneously and share it with your friends. You can get its app for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as multiple devices. We could install Surfshark on FireStick, Kodi, Apple TV, Smart TVs, and more easily. Moreover, Surfshark Roku also makes a great combination for streaming platforms like HBO Max.
Along with streaming capabilities, Surfshark also offers multiple security features. These include AES 256-bit encryption, Whitelister, split tunneling, MultiHop, and more.
All of Surfshark’s plans come backed by a 30-days refund guarantee and a 7-day free trial (only for mobile devices). If you face any issues, just use Surfshark 24/7 live chat support and solve them.
To learn more about this service, check out our 2023 Surfshark Review.
Pros and Cons
- 600+ servers in 25+ US locations
- Budget-friendliest VPN on the list
- No-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video as well
- Unlimited multi-logins
- A few servers offer slow speeds
3. NordVPN: Fastest VPN to Watch HBO Max in Ireland
- US servers: 1,970+ servers in the US
- Servers: 5500+ servers in 60 countries
- Simultaneous connections: 6 devices
- Money-back guarantee: 30-day
- Speed: 83.82 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps internet connection
- Compatible with: macOS, Apple TV, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
- Exclusive features: DoubleVPN
NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs for watching HBO Max in Ireland. As per our testing, the VPN offered a download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps (check out the speed test below).
NordVPN offers 1970+ servers in 15 US cities. During testing, we connected to its Atlanta server and experienced no lags or extensive loading time, as the video started playing almost instantly.
We could stream HBO Max content with NordVPN without any buffering.
With NordVPN, you are guaranteed to have good speeds to enjoy bufferless streaming. On a 100 Mbps internet connection, NordVPN delivered a fast download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. In short, the speed test results of NordVPN were the most impressive.
NordVPN comes with a speed drop of only 17%.
Besides HBO Max, NordVPN also works with other streaming services such as Vudu, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Sling TV, and more. You can even change libraries and unblock Netflix with NordVPN.
NordVPN supports 6 simultaneous device connections on a single subscription and is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also offers a Smart DNS feature to enjoy streaming on your Samsung Smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, and Kodi with NordVPN. You can also download NordVPN’s FireStick app and enjoy streaming HBO Max.
NordVPN also offers a bunch of security features to stay secure. These include AES 256-bit encryption, Double VPN, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and more.
As for pricing, this VPN is available for just $2.05/mo (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). NordVPN also offers a 7-day free trial, similar to ExpressVPN, and it also offers a 30-day refund policy. If you face any problems, use NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat support to solve them.
To learn more about this service, check out our NordVPN Review.
Pros and Cons
- Offers the most number of servers in the US
- Super-fast streaming speeds
- Unblocks Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix, along with HBO Max
- 6 multi-logins
- Few servers take some time to connect
How to Choose the Best VPN to Watch HBO Max in Ireland?
To bypass HBO’s geo-blocking in Ireland, you need to sign up with a reliable provider that offers:
- Several servers are located in the United States.
- Outstanding unblocking capabilities for reliable access to HBO Max in Ireland.
- Lightning-fast speeds for uninterrupted, bufferless, and 4K Ultra-HD streaming.
- Five or more simultaneous connections with compatibility for working on various operating systems and devices, including Smart TVs, Fire TVs, Windows, iOS, and gaming consoles.
- Efficient 24/7 VPN customer support for technical assistance.
- 30-day money-back guarantee to try the service risk-free.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Unblock HBO Max in Ireland?
Yes, you can use a free VPN Ireland to unblock HBO Max in Ireland, but we highly discourage doing so as it’s only filled with various risks.
To start, a free VPN offers just a few servers across the globe. These servers are subject to traffic overload as free VPNs usually have thousands of users and barely any infrastructure to sustain its client base. This makes it difficult to unblock HBO Max in Ireland. And even if you do so, you’re subject to slow speeds, resulting in multiple lags.
That’s not all. Various free VPN platforms are known to collect user data and sell it to third-party advertisers. A few of them also contain malware, which they inject into your device when you download the VPN app.
So, to summarize, can you watch HBO Max in Ireland? Yes, you can. With a free VPN? No. You should always consider using the best VPNs for HBO Max to unblock it in the Irish region. If you ask for a specific option, then we’d highly recommend you use ExpressVPN.
How to Subscribe to HBO Max in Ireland? [Step-by-Step]
If you don’t have an HBO Max subscription, you will need to buy one for streaming in Ireland. However, you cannot use your local credit card to buy an HBO Max subscription. There are two methods for subscribing to HBO in Ireland:
Here is a step-by-step process of each method:
Method 1: Can I pay for HBO Max with a friend/family member’s credit card in Ireland?
If you have a friend or family member in America who is willing to share his credit card info with you, simply follow these steps to buy an HBO Max subscription in Ireland. You can also ask that friend to create an account for you from America.
- Connect to an ExpressVPN United States server (We recommend the New Jersey – 3 server).
- Visit HBO Max’s website and click on ‘Sign Up Now.
- Select the HBO Max subscription plan that you want. The plans start from $9.99/mo (€8.55/mo) only.
- On the Create Your Account page, fill in all the details and click Create Account.
- Enter your billing details, including the US credit card number and a US zip code. You can use any zip code from Google (02196, 77016).
- That’s it. You have successfully created an HBO account in Ireland.
Method 2: Can I pay for HBO Max with a gift card in Ireland?
If you don’t have access to a US credit card, you can also buy an HBO Max subscription using gift cards. Just follow these steps below:
- Go to MyGiftCardSupply and buy an HBO Max gift card. The gift cards ranges include $25 (€ 21.39), $30 (€ 25.67) and $50 (€ 42.78).
- Visit HBO Max and click Redeem your Gift Card.
- Enter your gift card number and a US Zipcode (You can use any zip code from Google. For example – 02196, 77016, 92617)
- Enter your email ID, username, and other information.
- Go to play.hbomax.com and sign in using your credentials.
- That’s it. You have successfully subscribed to HBO in Ireland.
Method 3: Can I subscribe to HBO Max using iTunes in Ireland?
If you have an Apple account, then you can also pay for HBO Max using iTunes. Here are the steps to do this:
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN and connect to its US server.
- Visit your Apple App Store and download the HBO Max app.
- Open the app and click ‘Sign Up Now.’
- Choose the subscription plan you want and enter your iTunes credentials for payment.
- Enter all the necessary details required to create an account.
- Enjoy HBO Max in Ireland once the account is created.
How Much Does HBO Max Costs in Ireland?
You save 16% on the yearly plans!
HBO Max offers two subscription plans for viewers: with ads and ad-free. Here are the details of each plan:
| Subscription Durations | HBO Max with Ads | HBO Max Ad-Free |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Bundle | $9.99/mo (€ 8.55/mo) | $14.99/mo (€ 12.83/mo) |
| Yearly Bundle (Save 16%) | $99.99/year (€ 85.56/mo) (Save 16%) | $149.99/yr (€ 128.34/mo) |
The HBO Max with Ads plan includes all the original content and the latest movies and shows. However, the Ad-Free plan offers a lot of content without ads. On this plan, you can enjoy all the latest Warner Bros. releases, TV shows, movies, and Originals. You can also download films and shows to stream offline on this plan.
How to Download HBO Max App in Ireland on Devices?
If you search for the HBO Max app on your Irish App Store, you won’t be able to find it due to geo-restrictions. Follow these steps to download the HBO Max app on your devices in Ireland:
How can I download HBO Max on iOS in Ireland?
If you have already subscribed to HBO Max, then follow these steps to download its app on iOS in Ireland:
- Go to Settings > Apple ID
- Go to Media & Purchases, you might need to sign in to your Apple ID
- Select Country/ Region, and change region to the US
- Open ExpressVPN app and connect to a US server
- Go to the App Store and download the HBO Max app.
- Open the HBO app, sign up for it, and enjoy HBO Max shows and movies in Ireland.
How to Download HBO Max App on Android in Ireland?
Follow these steps to download the HBO Max app on your Android device in Ireland:
- Download a VPN and sign in using your credentials (ExpressVPN is highly recommended).
- Launch the VPN app and connect to a United States server.
- Open Google Play Store > go to Account.
- Select ‘Add Another Account’ and enter a new Gmail ID with the US as the region.
- Head back to Google Play Store and search for the HBO Max app
- Download HBO Max and sign in to watch movies and shows on your Android device in Ireland.
List of Famous Shows & Movies to Watch on HBO Max Ireland in 2023
Here is the list of Top TV shows and movies that you can stream on HBO Max in Ireland are:
Top HBO Max TV Shows
- Industry
- Sweet Life: Los Angeles
- Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions
- Garfield
- The Staircase
- Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
- The Rehearsal
- Tokyo Vice
- Mind Over Murder
- And Just Like That…
Best HBO Max Movies
- Endangered
- The Card Counter
- The Bob’s Burgers Movie
- The Janes
- George Carlin’s American Dream
- The Survivor
- Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off
- The Matrix Resurrections
- Death on the Nile
- King Richard
- Dune
In Which Other Regions You Can Watch HBO Max?
You can watch US HBO Max in different regions by using a premium VPN. Here is a list:
| US HBO Max in Guatemala | US HBO Max in Bolivia | US HBO Max in Panama |
| HBO Max in Costa Rica | US HBO Max in UAE | US HBO Max in Singapore |
| US HBO Max in Slovakia | US HBO Max Netherlands | US HBO Max in Hong Kong |
FAQs
Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions.
Is HBO Max coming to Ireland?
No, HBO Max is not planning to launch in Ireland anytime soon due to its deal with Sky that goes till 2025. According to the deal, some HBO Max movies and TV shows are to be distributed across Ireland through Sky Atlantic.
HBO Max is planning to launch in Europe from next year, but no luck for Irish viewers. So, we recommend using a VPN like ExpressVPN to stream the full HBO Max content library in Ireland.
How do I use HBO Max in Ireland?
You can stream HBO Max in Ireland by using a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN. This VPN not only offers 23+ server locations in the US but also comes with blazing-fast speeds, excellent unblocking capabilities, and robust security.
Does HBO Max work internationally?
No, HBO Max is limited to a few countries, such as the United States and some Latin American and Caribbean countries. You can, however, use a VPN to access HBO Max in Ireland or anywhere in the world.
Until there is no release date to get HBO Max in Ireland, you’ll need ExpressVPN to stream it in the country.
Wrapping Up
HBO Max has some of the most amazing titles like the Gossip Girls, the latest DC superhero movies, and a lot more for entertainment. The streaming platform has something for every viewer from various genres of sci-fi, reality, romance, and more.
Whether you’re in the mood for a mellow romance or an action flick, HBO Max is the best streaming service for entertainment. And now that you know how to get HBO Max in Ireland, it’s time you get a VPN and access it instantly!
Our top choice is ExpressVPN, which offers multiple US servers, fantastic speeds for streaming, and a great unblocking capability. The provider also offers a limited-time “3-month free subscription” on its annual plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
