Best VPN for HBO Max in Australia 2023 [Guaranteed Access Worldwide]

HBO Max has become extremely popular and has been expanding its market in countries like Sweden, Spain, and Finland. However, it’s still yet to arrive in Australia. Until then, to watch HBO Max in Australia, you need the best VPN for HBO Max in Australia.

Using a virtual private network (VPN), you can connect to a US server and trick HBO Max into thinking you are trying to watch it from within the US. However, not all VPNs work with HBO Max in Australia, as the platform has robust VPN detection technology that blocks VPN traffic.

That is why we have tested over 150+ VPNs claiming to work with HBO Max to bring you the 6 best providers for accessing the streaming service in Australia.

But, if you’re thinking, what VPN should I use for HBO Max in Australia? Then, let us tell you that our top choice for HBO Max is ExpressVPN hails to its fast speeds, vast server network in the US, and unblocking capabilities.

Why do I need a VPN with HBO Max in Australia?

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) uses the latest technology to encrypt your internet traffic and route it through an encrypted tunnel to a server in another location. Since HBO Max is a geo-restricted service available in only a select few countries, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server in a supported country to watch HBO Max in Australia.

Without a reliable VPN service, if you try to access HBO Max in Australia, you will get the following error message on your screen:

“Sorry, HBO Max isn’t available in your region yet.”

Connect to a VPN to bypass this error in Australia.

The only way to get around this HBO Max error is to connect to a VPN. This tool swaps your current IP address to an IP address of a server you’ve connected to, changing your virtual location and letting you access HBO Max in Australia.

This way, you can watch all the latest HBO Max shows, including West World, Hacks, Vistors, Barry, and more in Australia without any restrictions.

The Best VPN for HBO Max in Australia 2023 – In-Depth Analysis

We bring you the six best VPNs to watch HBO Max in Australia after thoroughly testing 150+ VPNs. All these VPNs were tested for their HBO unblocking capability, speed, performance, server network, and more.

So, let’s discuss each one of them in detail.

1. ExpressVPN – The Best VPN for HBO Max in Australia with Ultra HD Video

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for HBO Max in Australia with Ultra HD playback quality. This VPN comes with powerful unblocking and HD video streaming abilities in Australia, and we never experienced an HBO proxy error message, not even once on ExpressVPN’s US servers.

Speaking of servers, there are 3000+ VPN servers in 94 countries, including multiple servers in 25 locations in the United States to unblock HBO Max in Australia. With so many American servers at your disposal, you can connect to any US server location to access HBO Max in Australia.

During testing, we noticed that it unblocked HBO Max in Australia almost instantly on its US servers, thanks to ExpressVPN’s excellent speeds on its American server.

We faced no delays and unblocked HBO Max within seconds

We tested its New York server to find out how great the speeds of this VPN actually are. The VPN delivered an average download speed of 87.18 Mbps and upload speed of 52.13 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection, which was simply fantastic.

While streaming HBO Max in Australia, the speed we got on our 100 Mbps connection was fantastic

As for other US servers, there are a few that are faster than the rest. So, we tested all ExpressVPN’s US servers to recommend the best ones to you. Apart from New York, here are the three ExpressVPN HBO Max servers we highly recommend using for their incredible speeds:

Apart from watching HBO Max with ExpressVPN, you can also access other streaming services in Australia such as Hulu, Vudu in Australia, YouTube TV in Australia, FuboTV, and Netflix and enjoy them easily. You can get a US IP address in Australia and unblock HBO Max in Australia and all your favorite American sites using a reliable VPN service.

It offers dedicated apps for multiple operating systems, including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and FireOS.

What’s more, you can connect up to 5 devices on a single account, making it a great option for a small household. You can even get it on multiple devices, such as Roku, Smart TVs, PS4, and more.

ExpressVPN also offers a MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) feature that lets you access HBO Max on devices that don’t offer VPN support in Australia. In fact, this feature is your answer to how to watch HBO Max on your Xbox, PlayStation, Apple TV, and more. If you’re a streaming fanatic, then you even get ExpressVPN on Kodi in Australia.

All these features combine and make ExpressVPN the best VPN for HBO Max in Australia 2023. It is available for AU$ 9.98/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan) and comes with a no-question asked 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans. For more information, check out our latest ExpressVPN Review in Australia.

pros and cons

2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN to Watch HBO Max in Australia

Surfshark is the most affordable VPN for watching HBO Max in Australia. The provider offers subscriptions, costing only AU$3.07/mo (US$ 2.05/mo) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan), along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If we talk about its server network, Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 100 countries, with 600+ servers in 25+ US cities alone. So, you can choose from any of these server locations in the US to watch HBO Max in Australia.

We could unblock the streaming service in Australia in a single attempt

Surfshark also gives solid speeds for streaming in Australia. When testing Surfshark HBO Max servers’ speed, we got an average download speed of 81.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection on our San Jose server.

We faced a speed drop of almost 19%, which didn’t cause any lags on our connection

Along with that, we found a variety of other US servers to be quite fast as well. So, we conducted elaborative research on its US servers. Here are the Surfshark speed results of 3 of its recommended servers for watching HBO Max:

Apart from HBO Max, you can also unblock other streaming services that are geo-restricted in Australia. You can watch YouTube, Netflix US, Apple TV+, Sling TV, and Hulu with Surfshark easily.

Compatibility-wise, Surfshark supports Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. The coolest thing about Surfshark is that there is no limit on the number of devices you can connect as it supports unlimited simultaneous connections. So, you can stream on multiple devices with a single Surfshark subscription in Australia.

You can get the VPN on various devices, which include getting Surfshark with Roku, FireStick, routers, PlayStation, and more. Considering its affordable pricing and support for unlimited devices, Surfshark is definitely the best VPN to use for HBO Max in Australia.

You can read our Surfshark review and explore more about the VPN provider.

pros and cons

3. NordVPN – Secure HBO Max VPN with Robust Encryption in Australia.

NordVPN is the most secure VPN for watching HBO Max in Australia. It is packed with robust privacy and security features like AES 256-bit encryption, CyberSec, Nordlynx protocol, DNS leak protection in Australia.

It offers around 5500+ servers across 60 countries that are optimized for streaming and privacy in Australia. Some of its servers are also equipped with obfuscation technology to help bypass HBO’s geo-blockers undetected.

There are over 1970+ servers in 15 American cities to help you unblock HBO Max in Australia. Connecting to these servers was quite easy, and enjoying HBO Max in Australia with them was easier.

There were no waiting times or lags while accessing HBO Max in Australia

When testing NordVPN with HBO Max, we got reliable speeds on most of its servers for streaming in Australia in Ultra HD. To check out the speeds of our Atlanta server, we conducted a NordVPN speed test. On our 100 Mbps connection, it delivered an average download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.

With these speeds, streaming with NordVPN was super-easy in Australia

We further tested out as many servers in the United States as we could, and here is the best VPN location for HBO Max streaming in Australia:

Other than HBO Max, you can access popular streaming services in Australia like NBC, Rai TV in Australia , Hulu, Showtime, CW, Peacock TV in Australia, and Netflix with NordVPN. This VPN is a great option with excellent unblocking power in Australia.

You can connect up to six devices at once on a single NordVPN account, and there are apps available for operating systems like Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and FireOS. There is also a Smart DNS feature for devices that don’t have native VPN support like Apple TV, Xbox, Roku, Android TV, and more.

It is available for AU$5.22/mo (US$ 3.49/mo) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan) backed by a 30-day refund policy. So, you can try it with HBO Max risk-free for 30 days and cancel your NordVPN subscription in case you don’t like the service.

You can read the NordVPN review in Australia and explore more about the provider.

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4. CyberGhost – VPN with Optimized Streaming Servers to Watch HBO Max in Australia.

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN offering dedicated servers optimized for streaming HBO Max in Australia. It features easy-to-use apps for various devices and operating systems, such as Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Amazon FireStick, and more.

Overall, there are 9700+ servers in 91 countries, including 1317 servers in the US. So, you can either connect to HBO Max dedicated server or a regular US server to unblock HBO Max in Australia.

It only took around 2 minutes to unblock HBO Max with this VPN

During testing, CyberGhost gave an average download speed of 75.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 69.34 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base internet connection on the New York server. Even while being slower than the VPNs above, its speeds were sufficient to stream HBO Max in HD quality in Australia:

We saw a speed drop of around 25% with CyberGhost on our New York server

That’s not all. We tested more US servers of CyberGhost to access HBO Max and other streaming services. Out of its vast collection, here are the three streaming servers we highly recommend when accessing HBO Max in Australia:

In addition to HBO Max, CyberGhost offers optimized servers in Australia for all major streaming services. Other popular streaming platforms that you can unblock in Australia with this VPN include SYFY, Hulu, WWE Network, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and many others.

It supports 7 device connections simultaneously on a single subscription. CyberGhost offers apps for various operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more. It can also be configured on home routers so you can stream HBO Max on your Fire TV Stick, Xbox, Roku, and other devices in Australia.

It costs around AU$3.04/mo (US$ 2.03/mo) and also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee as well in case you want to try it risk-free with streaming.

You can read in detail about this provider in our CyberGhost review.

pros and cons

5. IPVanish – Unmetered Connections to Enjoy HBO Max on All Devices in Australia.

IPVanish is a VPN provider known in Australia for offering unlimited device connections. This means that you can use a single subscription of IPVanish and enjoy its service on as many devices as you like. You can even share your account with your friends and family in Australia.

It offers over 2000+ servers in 75+ countries with over 1000 servers in the US. So, you can easily unblock HBO Max in Australia using these servers.

During testing, we did encounter the HBO proxy error on a few occasions. However, after connecting to its Chicago server, it unlocked HBO Max with no issues or proxy errors.

After connecting to this server, the streaming experience was quite smooth

We tested the speeds of the server we connected to, and believe it or not; they were FAST. In our IPVanish speed test, we got an average download speed of 86.75 Mbps and an upload speed of 73.67 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.

Since IPVanish’s speeds were fast, they couldn’t meet ExpressVPN’s

You can use IPVanish’s 24/7 live chat support as well in case you want to find the best server for HBO Max in Australia. However, we did test more US servers of this VPN to keep them as a backup in case our HBO Max VPN is detected again. Out of 1000+, here are the three servers we highly recommend to enjoy HBO Max in Ultra HD in Australia:

IPVanish isn’t only a great choice for HBO Max but also a variety of other streaming services of the US, such as NBC, Netflix, Comedy Central, Twitch TV in Australia, and more.

There are apps for various operating systems such as Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. Its apps are easy-to-use with all the advanced features and options. You can also get IPVanish and enjoy its multi-login features on devices like FireStick, Roku, PS4, Xbox, and more. Let’s not forget that IPVanish is also a popular choice for Kodi.

It is available for only AU$ 5.97/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee as well in case you want to test the service risk-free. To get to know more about this provider, check out our in-depth IPVanish review.

pros and cons

6. PrivateVPN – Intuitive Apps Great for Beginner Users Accessing HBO Max in Australia.

PrivateVPN offers intuitive applications for all beginner VPN users desiring to access HBO Max in Australia. With an easy-to-use interface on Android, iOS, Windows, and FireOS, it offers a small server network of 200+ servers in 63 countries which comes with excellent unblocking ability. Among these, there are 12 servers in the US alone to unblock HBO Max in Australia.

During testing, it easily unblocked HBO Max in Australia on its Buffalo server, which was also the fastest among other American servers.

Even with a server network, this small, PrivateVPN offered a lag-free connection

Throughout streaming, we did not face an HBO Max VPN not working issue even once in Australia. So, we tested the speeds of its Buffalo server (since we were connected to it), and it delivered an average download speed of 72.38 Mbps and an upload speed of 67.36 on a 100 Mbps connection.

The speed drop was around 28%, but the speeds were quite reliable for streaming HBO Max in Australia

Throughout streaming, there were barely any lags on the connection. We tested its other US servers as well, and out of 12, here are 3 best servers for watching HBO Max in Australia:

In addition to HBO Max, PrivateVPN also works with other streaming services like Disney+, FOX, BBC iPlayer, ABC Network, Amazon Prime Video, and more. It also offers reliable connection speeds, so you can stream your favorite content in Australia without buffering.

As for compatibility, it offers apps for various operating systems such as Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and more. PrivateVPN supports 6 devices on a single account and lets you configure it on your home router and stream HBO Max movies and shows in Australia on your Apple TVs, Android TVs, and Fire TV Stick.

It is available for $2.55/mo, which is quite affordable, and you also get a 30-day refund period to try it risk-free. Live chat support is also available in case you need assistance.

For more information, check out our in-depth and detailed PrivateVPN review.

pros and cons

HBO Max VPNs in Australia – Testing Methodology

There are thousands of VPNs in Australia, but not all of them offer the same service. To stream HBO Max in Australia, you need specific features, like multiple US servers, fast speeds, and excellent unblocking capabilities in Australia. So, we looked into a variety of VPNs on the following criteria to list down the best VPN services for HBO Max in Australia:

1. Fast speeds: We tested the VPNs above to assure that they offer super-fast speeds to unblock and stream HBO Max in Australia in HD quality and without any lags. Since VPNs can actually improve your speeds, you can bypass ISP throttling in Australia with our listed VPNs and have a great streaming experience. We further ensured that they work with other streaming services as well, including Hulu, American Netflix, Amazon Prime, CW, and more.
2. Compatible apps: We checked that the VPNs we list are compatible with all the popular mobile devices, PCs, as well as streaming devices, and gaming consoles in Australia. This ensured that you could download a VPN on any device you own and enjoy HBO Max on iOS, Android, Windows, FireStick, macOS, PS4, or more.
3. Robust security: We analyzed VPN services to ensure that they equip strict privacy policies and surpass all our DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak protection tests. Along with that, we made sure that their encryption standards are high in Australia.
4. Privacy features: We ensured that all our VPNs offer useful streaming and privacy features to users in Australia. We looked for split tunneling, kill switch, P2P compatibility, obfuscation, and more.
5. Customer service: We also checked how efficient the customer support services of all the VPNs are. We used their live chat, email, and ticketing support and confirmed that they could be contacted any time of the day.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Best VPN Service for HBO Max in Australia

Here is a quick side-by-side comparison of the best VPNs for watching HBO Max in Australia:

VPNs
HBO Max Reliability	1	2	3	4	5	6
Streaming Reliability	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Very Good	Good	Good
Streaming Services	Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime.	Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime	Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Hotstar.	Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer.	Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Sling TV.	Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer.
Compatible Devices	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more	PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Nintendo, Android, Windows, routers, and more
Average Speed (Base: 100 Mbps)	85+ Mbps	85+ Mbps	80+ Mbps	75+ Mbps	85+ Mbps	70+ Mbps
Simultaneous Device Connections	5	6	Unlimited	7	Unlimited	6
Smart DNS Available	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Money-Back Guarantee	30 days	30 days	30 days	45 days	30 days	30 days
Lowest Price	AU$ 9.98/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan)	AU$3.07/mo (US$ 2.05/mo) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	AU$5.22/mo (US$ 3.49/mo) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan)	AU$3.04/mo (US$ 2.03/mo)	AU$ 5.97/mo (US$ 3.99/mo)	$2.55/mo
Detailed Review	ExpressVPN Review	Surfshark Review	NordVPN Review	CyberGhost Review	IPVanish Review	PrivateVPN Review

Can I use a free VPN to unblock HBO Max in Australia?

Yes, but with a twist! Many VPN services offer a 30-day trial in the form of a money-back guarantee, enabling users to test their services risk-free. You can hack these offers to use a free VPN for HBO Max in Australia for an entire month. Of course, you will have to sign up first to activate the offer. But fret not; you can always claim your refund within the required time.

However, if you choose to go for completely free VPN services in Australia, let us warn you about some alarming drawbacks. Free VPN services often come with just a few servers, limited bandwidth, and poor speeds on their connection. This way, even if you end up unblocking the streaming service in Australia, you won’t be able to watch anything due to constant buffering.

This is why, instead of the best free VPN for HBO Max in Australia, we suggest opting for a premium service like ExpressVPN. Its 30-day money-back guarantee is the best in the industry, allowing users to use high-quality services for watching HBO Max in Australia for an entire month. You can cancel it before the trial ends to get a full refund.

HBO Max not working with VPN in Australia

There are a few hacks you can try if HBO Max isn’t working with your existing VPN in Australia: Clear cookies. Contact your VPN’s customer support through a live chat and inquire if it has a working HBO VPN server. Try streaming it via a different device. For example, switch to a desktop PC or laptop (VPNs perform best on these devices).

If the issue is still persistent, try out the following troubleshooting tips:

• Clear the cookies and cache of your browser.
• Check your VPN for DNS/IP Leaks. If find your location exposed, switch to a better VPN service.
• Disconnect from the VPN connection and reconnect to a different server location.
• Check your network connection. If signals are weak, shift your device closer to the router. If this doesn’t help, try rebooting your router.
• Reinstall your VPN app.
• Make sure that both HBO Max and VPN app is of the latest version.

If implementing all of these methods isn’t helping and you’re still encountering that dreadful geo-restriction error , you must be wondering does HBO work with VPN in Australia? Yes, it does! You just need to upgrade to a better VPN service. Our top recommendation for HBO Max in Australia is ExpressVPN, as the service is known for frequently refreshing and updating its IP network. So, even if HBO Max decides to block one server, it will still have plenty of options to get you going!

VPNs to avoid while accessing HBO Max in Australia

HBO Max has technically blacklisted almost all VPNs. However, the powerful ones – like ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN – have workarounds in place. While testing, we found the following VPNs totally incapable of unblocking HBO Max’s geo-restrictions in Australia. Not just that, we also found them risky to your online privacy and security in Australia:

1. HolaVPN

An Israel-based VPN service, known for offering free services to internet users. But little do we know that it has been exposed for consuming and illegally trading its users’ bandwidth. It has also been found to inject notorious malware “Trojan horse” into its users’ devices.

2. Hoxx VPN

Hoxx VPN may have US servers, but they couldn’t unblock HBO Max in Australia for us. Upon our research, we realized that the problem with this VPN is far bigger than its weak unblocking capabilities. The provider has once discovered logging users’ personally identifiable information and selling it to third-party advertisers for revenue.

3. HideMyAss

Another one on the list, HideMyAss, was leaking our actual location when tested for IP leaks. Moreover, it has insufficient servers and subpar encryption infrastructure that compelled us into adding it to our ‘VPNs to avoid’ list.

Best VPN for HBO Max in Australia – FAQs

Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions by our Australian folks:

Wrapping Up!

Not many VPNs can bypass HBO Max’s geo-blocks and restrictions in Australia. The streaming service is getting stricter against VPNs and proxies, so it’s not easy to find a VPN that works with HBO Max in Australia.

150+ VPNs were tested for this guide, but only 6 were found to be consistent at accessing HBO Max reliably in Australia. ExpressVPN tops our best VPN for HBO Max in Australia list, all thanks to based on its excellent streaming servers, fast speeds, and powerful unblocking functionality.

This VPN software also offers unlimited bandwidth so you can stream as many shows as you want in Australia.

So, if you’re a frustrated streamer who has been looking for an easy way to access HBO Max in Australia, you know what to do.