ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark top our current Hulu benchmark. Every VPN we recommend here reliably unblocks Hulu in the US, but not every VPN we test manages it, so any that Hulu currently blocks are left off this list.
Top Rated VPNs for Hulu | June 2026 Benchmark Leaders
Editorial highlights from the full chart. Scores are a use-case-specific blend of 5 inputs — hulu unblock rate, us speed retention, disney+ us unblock rate, us latency (p50), and effective monthly price on best plan (usd)— weighted out of 10 (a use-case score, not each provider’s overall VPN rating).
ExpressVPN scores 8.9/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 8.1/10.
Proton VPN scores 8.6/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 8.0/10.
Surfshark scores 8.5/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 8.0/10.
NordVPN scores 8.2/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 8.0/10.
Total VPN scores 7.9/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 6.2/10.
IPVanish scores 7.9/10 for this use case led by its hulu unblock rate (100). Its overall VPN score is 7.4/10.
Lower-scoring providers from the full benchmark are left off this shortlist.
What our data shows
Every VPN we recommend on this page unblocks Hulu in the US, but access is still a real differentiator. Some VPNs we test are blocked outright and don’t make the cut; among the providers that do get through, the order comes down to US speed retention, latency, and price, the inputs behind the composite scores below.
Which VPNs unblock Hulu
Scored on the Streaming rubric
- Hulu unblock rate
- US speed retention
- Disney+ US unblock rate
- US latency (p50)
- Effective monthly price on best plan (USD)
View scoring rules + raw values
Scoring rules
Each criterion has an editorial scoring curve (published in the methodology). The provider's raw measurement is mapped through the curve to a fraction of the criterion's weight; the row of contributions sums to the composite score.
| Criterion | Weight | Scoring curve |
|---|---|---|
| Hulu unblock rate | 2.14 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 60→0.00 pts, 80→1.28 pts, 90→1.93 pts, 100→2.14 pts |
| US speed retention | 3.57 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 50→0.36 pts, 60→0.89 pts, 70→1.61 pts, 80→2.32 pts, 90→3.03 pts, 100→3.57 pts |
| Disney+ US unblock rate | 1.43 | piecewise: 0→0.00 pts, 60→0.00 pts, 80→0.86 pts, 90→1.29 pts, 100→1.43 pts |
| US latency (p50) | 1.43 | piecewise: 0→1.43 pts, 50→1.29 pts, 100→0.93 pts, 200→0.43 pts, 500→0.00 pts |
| Effective monthly price on best plan (USD) | 1.43 | piecewise: 0→1.43 pts, 2.5→1.43 pts, 5→1.00 pts, 10→0.57 pts, 30→0.00 pts |
Raw values + per-criterion contributions
| Provider | Hulu unblock rate | US speed retention | Disney+ US unblock rate | US latency (p50) | Effective monthly price on best plan (USD) | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 100 · n=5 → 2.1 pts | 85.43 · n=30 → 2.7 pts | 100 · n=5 → 1.4 pts | 62.29 · n=164 → 1.2 pts | 2.49 → 1.4 pts | 8.9 |
| Proton VPN | 100 · n=3 → 2.1 pts | 82.05 · n=77 → 2.5 pts | 100 · n=3 → 1.4 pts | 64.90 · n=128 → 1.2 pts | 2.99 → 1.3 pts | 8.6 |
| Surfshark | 100 · n=6 → 2.1 pts | 79.61 · n=60 → 2.3 pts | 100 · n=6 → 1.4 pts | 66.22 · n=143 → 1.2 pts | 1.99 → 1.4 pts | 8.5 |
| NordVPN | 100 · n=4 → 2.1 pts | 77.87 · n=79 → 2.2 pts | 100 · n=4 → 1.4 pts | 65.74 · n=143 → 1.2 pts | 3.09 → 1.3 pts | 8.2 |
| Total VPN | 100 · n=2 → 2.1 pts | 81.82 · n=53 → 2.5 pts | 100 · n=2 → 1.4 pts | 64.50 · n=77 → 1.2 pts | 8.25 → 0.7 pts | 7.9 |
| IPVanish | 100 · n=7 → 2.1 pts | 71.02 · n=72 → 1.7 pts | 100 · n=7 → 1.4 pts | 64.93 · n=141 → 1.2 pts | 2.19 → 1.4 pts | 7.9 |
Score formula: Hulu unblock rate (max 2.1) + US speed retention (max 3.6) + Disney+ US unblock rate (max 1.4) + US latency (p50) (max 1.4) + Effective monthly price on best plan (USD) (max 1.4) (out of 10)
How this is scored. Criteria are measured data points chosen for this specific use case from a fixed scoring template, so the same use case always scores on the same criteria. Each raw measurement is mapped through a published editorial curve to a share of its weight, and the contributions sum to a score out of 10. Capabilities that merely enable a result we already measure are left out to avoid double-counting, and a provider missing a criterion is scored against the achievable maximum (shown “/ N”, marked *), never penalised as a zero. Read the complete methodology at comparitech.com/vpn.
Which VPNs unblock Hulu — capability comparison
| Provider | Smart DNS | Streaming-optimised servers | Router support | Split tunnelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Proton VPN | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Surfshark | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NordVPN | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total VPN | — | — | — | ✓ |
| IPVanish | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
View raw feature values per provider
| Provider | Smart DNS | Streaming-optimised servers | Router support | Split tunnelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Proton VPN | no | no | yes | yes |
| Surfshark | no | yes | yes | yes |
| NordVPN | yes | no | yes | yes |
| Total VPN | no | no | no | yes |
| IPVanish | no | no | yes | yes |
Source: Comparitech VPN Intelligence Platform (comparitech.com/vpn), benchmarked continuously; data current as of 15 June 2026. Hulu is tested in the US and scored on a rolling 14-day window. See methodology.
Hulu access didn’t hinge on any single advertised feature. Among our picks, some get in via Smart DNS or streaming-optimized servers, and others via standard general-purpose servers. The important part is that each of them unblocks Hulu. In practice, live unblock results track Hulu access far better than any feature on a spec sheet.
A bigger US network doesn’t decide it either. The providers we recommend unblock Hulu reliably on their standard US servers, regardless of how many US cities they advertise. Consistent live results matter more than raw network size.
What to try if your VPN isn’t working with Hulu
- Ensure location services are disabled. Hulu cross-references GPS data with your IP address region and will throw an error if there’s a mismatch.
- Try another server in the same country. Hulu may have blocked your current IP address. Switching servers should help in most cases.
- Disable additional privacy tools. Your VPN’s ad blocker, tracker blocker, or obfuscation may cause problems with Hulu’s location verification system. Try disabling forced HTTPS, proxy, or anonymizing browser extensions for the same reason.
- Switch protocol. Hulu may be able to identify some protocols more easily than others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sign up for Hulu from outside of the US?
Yes, but it takes work. You’ll need a VPN to access Hulu’s website abroad; it’ll simply redirect you to Disney+ in most countries outside of the US. Additionally, this service requires you to use an American payment method (though you could also use a Hulu gift card or prepaid card).
Will a VPN let me access Hulu Japan?
Hulu is available in the US and Japan, but they’re completely separate services. You can’t switch between different catalogs with a VPN like you can with Netflix. Hulu JP subscribers can, however, use a VPN to regain access while traveling internationally.
How we tested
Our Hulu checks run on a 24/7 cadence, and the Streaming score is a rolling pass-rate over the previous 14 days. The figures here are current as of 15 June 2026. We test Hulu in the US, recording each check as working, partial, or blocked according to whether the Hulu watch page loads and plays through the VPN. Tests run from Windows machines on a colocated Hetzner bare-metal server, each connecting to the provider’s own US server; scores recompute every two hours, and any test older than 14 days drops out. Full methodology.
I just signed up for express vpn and got it working. One city might work while another does not.
I’m not certain about accessing us based Hulu from overseas, but Nordvpn does not work when accessing Hulu Japan from the US, I just tried it. I had seen somewhere that Hulu does not allow dynamic up addresses and I’m guessing this is the reason why I cannot access my account. I have another japan based vpn service which provides me a static ip and that does work.
I am using ExpressVPN and currently reside in Germany. Unfortunately Express doesn’t work here either. Back to the drawing board.
Ask customer service which server to connect to. It works.
I’m in Nicaragua and I have an iPad will any of these Vpns listed above be ok to use?
Express and Nord are your best bet when using the mobile app.
Express VPN is giving the anonymous proxy error on Hulu using iPhone. Any thoughts?
Ask customer support which server to use. Only a couple of them work
Just spoke with ExpressVPN on chat and their VPN doesn’t work with Hulu unless you are outside of the US. So for those of us who want to have all internet traffic go through a VPN, that isn’t an option.
I had the same problem with expressvpn like yours bob. it doesn’t work with hulu when i want all traffic go with vpn. do you have any recommendation?
I bought le vpn that was working fine until the end of august 2016. From last month, september 2016 on it does not work with hulu or netflix anymore.
Thanks for that info. I got 3 mos. but may try something else when it is done . I am using ipvanish