Does NordVPN Work With Hulu? Full 2024 Guide

Fact Checked by Eric Goldstein
Todd Faulk Todd Faulk

Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch Hulu With NordVPN in 2024:

  • 1. Get NordVPN for Hulu. NordVPN has superfast speeds with 1,000+ servers in the US to stream Hulu reliably.
  • 2. Connect to a server location. You can connect to any US server to stream Hulu.
  • 3. Open Hulu and start streaming! Enjoy watching your favorite movies and shows on Hulu.

Hulu is great, but you can’t say the same for every VPN. I’ve tested 50+ VPNs and the majority have lots of issues, one of which is a lack of support for Hulu. Thankfully, not every VPN has this problem. NordVPN works well with Hulu. On top of that, it has top-notch security features, great apps, and fast speeds.

Unfortunately, Hulu is only available in the US and Japan. Whenever a user tries to log into Hulu, the service checks their IP address to make sure that they are in the US or Japan. If they aren’t, Hulu won’t let the customer stream the shows.

In theory, you can stream Hulu outside the US or Japan with NordVPN. By connecting to the right server, you can change your IP address to make it look like you’re actually in a country where Hulu is available. But please keep in mind that this could constitute copyright infringement and is against Hulu’s Terms of Service. We definitely don’t recommend it.

Still, if you’re in the US or Japan, NordVPN is a great way to watch Hulu. It adds an extra layer of security without sacrificing speeds. As long as you’re connected to a local server, you can use NordVPN to watch Hulu without breaking any laws or policies.

You can try NordVPN risk-free since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. It has 1,000+ servers in the US, works with Hulu, and provides top-notch privacy protections, including an audited no-logs policy.

WATCH HULU WITH NORDVPN


At Safety Detectives, we support copyright and intellectual property laws. VPNs are great tools for privacy and security, but that doesn’t mean they should be used to break the law or circumvent a service’s Terms and Conditions. The VPNs we recommend have great no-logs policies. We recommend readers use their VPNs responsibly.

What Makes NordVPN a Good Choice for Watching Hulu?

NordVPN is a good choice for Hulu since it has very fast speeds and useful features like SmartPlay to ensure a reliable connection for smooth, lag-free streaming worldwide.

You can try NordVPN at a budget-friendly rate of $3.09 / month. Additionally, every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try NordVPN with Hulu without any risk.

Fast Speeds for Streaming in Ultra HD

I had consistently fast speeds during my speed tests with NordVPN’s server network. On nearby servers, there wasn’t any noticeable slowdown. When I connected to a long-distance server, YouTube videos still loaded instantly. To stream in Ultra HD, you need 25 Mbps, and since my speeds were constantly higher than 50 Mbps, I was able to stream Hulu in high quality without any buffering.

What Makes NordVPN a Good Choice for Watching Hulu?

One of the reasons for NordVPN’s impressive speeds is its NordLynx protocol. The protocol is built on WireGuard technology and offers fast and efficient connections while maintaining strong security. NordLynx combines speed and privacy, providing you with an optimized streaming experience without compromising on security.

During my tests, I also checked which protocol offers the best speeds: NordLynx, IKEv2, or OpenVPN. I connected to servers in Romania, Ireland, and Japan with all 3 protocols, and NordLynx was always faster.

SmartPlay Feature

NordVPN’s SmartPlay feature is designed to enhance your streaming experience. It combines the benefits of a VPN and smart DNS, allowing you to stream seamlessly.

The smart DNS automatically selects the optimal DNS server for streaming Hulu. This ensures a more reliable streaming experience. Also, there’s no setup involved to use SmartPlay, so you can enjoy The Handmaid’s Tale without any hassles.

Huge Server Network

NordVPN operates an extensive network of 6,266 across 111 countries, ensuring fast and dependable connections. NordVPN has 1,000+ servers in the US, meaning there are tons of servers you can use to stream Hulu. It also helps you avoid slow speeds caused by high user traffic during peak times. I connected to dozens of US servers and was always able to stream Hulu. Keep in mind you should only connect to a US server to stream Hulu if you’re actually in the US (otherwise you’d be violating the service’s Terms and Conditions).

What Makes NordVPN a Good Choice for Watching Hulu?

Additionally, NordVPN offers obfuscated servers in 15+ countries, including the US. These servers hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from websites, ISPs, and even governments. It’s a great privacy tool and using one doesn’t break any laws or policies, so long as you don’t use it inappropriately.

You can easily access NordVPN’s obfuscated servers from the Specialty servers menu. Keep in mind that to use NordVPN’s obfuscated servers, you’ll have to use the OpenVPN protocol.

Strong Security and Privacy Features

NordVPN offers privacy and security features that keep you safe while watching Hulu:

  • Full leak protection. NordVPN prevents your real IP address from leaking onto the web with DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 protection.
  • Strict no-logs policy. This means NordVPN doesn’t monitor, store, or log your online activity data, including browsing history, connection timestamps, or IP addresses. By adhering to this policy, NordVPN ensures that your online activities remain private and confidential. Also, the policy has passed multiple independent audits.
  • RAM-only servers. NordVPN uses RAM-only servers that don’t store any data on hard drives, making it virtually impossible for anyone to retrieve sensitive information from them. As a result, your data can’t be accessed or recovered, even if a server is compromised.

Easy-to-Use Apps

NordVPN provides intuitive apps compatible with major operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Upon launching the NordVPN app, you’ll find an organized interface that presents all the essential options upfront. The main screen displays a large Quick Connect button, enabling you to establish a secure VPN connection with a single click.

What Makes NordVPN a Good Choice for Watching Hulu?

NordVPN also offers inverse split-tunneling on Windows and Android devices. This lets you choose which apps to exclude from your VPN connection. For example, you can exclude your banking app from the VPN connection — most banks don’t allow VPN connections with their apps — while you watch a movie on Hulu via a local NordVPN server. However, I was a bit disappointed that the iOS and macOS apps are missing the split-tunneling feature.

Can I Use NordVPN to Watch Hulu While Abroad?

In theory, yes! If you live in the US and visit Japan, you can use NordVPN to protect your privacy while enjoying shows on Hulu. But if you’re visiting any other country, using NordVPN to watch Hulu would go against Hulu’s Terms of Service. We recommend you follow your agreement with Hulu to the letter.

You can use NordVPN to get an American IP address (it does have 1,000+ servers in the US, after all), but you shouldn’t use this method to watch Hulu while abroad.


SafetyDetectives does not condone copyright infringement. You’re responsible for how you choose to use NordVPN, so please be sure to follow all applicable rules and regulations.

Is It Illegal to Use NordVPN While Watching Hulu?

No, not really. VPN services like NordVPN are legal to use in most countries, including the United States, where Hulu is based. However, it’s against Hulu’s terms and conditions to use a VPN to watch content unavailable in your current location. It’s possible this could even constitute a violation of copyright law.

Does NordVPN Work With Other Streaming Services?

NordVPN works reliably with more than 20 streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Max. I asked my colleagues in other countries to help out and we were able to confirm that it works with more than 10 different Netflix libraries, including the US, as well as less popular US streaming sites like Pluto TV and DAZN.

You can stream the following top streaming platforms with NordVPN:

Streaming Service: NordVPN Compatibility
Hulu
Netflix US
Disney+
Amazon Prime Video
Max

Tried Using NordVPN With Hulu, But It’s Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Steps

Here are solutions if you get an error message on Hulu while connected to NordVPN:

Clear Your Cache and Cookies

Clearing the cache on your desktop or laptop can resolve various issues that can prevent websites like Hulu from loading properly. On mobile devices, you can clear the cache of the browser or individual app storage.

Switch to a Different Server

Sometimes specific servers will have trouble with sites like Hulu. To resolve this, switch to another NordVPN server location in the US to get a different IP address.

Disable NordVPN’s Threat Protection Feature

NordVPN’s ad and malware blocker (Threat Protection) may prevent you from watching Hulu. I recommend disabling Threat Protection and reconnecting to your preferred server location.

Contact Customer Support

NordVPN provides customer support 24/7 through live chat. The chatbot will direct you to the relevant agent depending on your question. From my personal experience, the process of linking with an agent and receiving thorough responses usually takes only a couple of minutes.

Consider a Different VPN for Hulu

If you’ve tried all options and still can’t stream Hulu, try a different VPN like ExpressVPN, which always works with Hulu. Remember, every NordVPN subscription is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, which lets you switch with confidence and find the right VPN for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Hulu ban my account if I use a VPN?

Probably not. If Hulu detects you’re using a VPN, the worst thing that will likely happen is it will block you from using your account. However, you shouldn’t have this issue much at all since NordVPN works with Hulu — I never had a problem with any of my tests.

Which NordVPN servers work with Hulu?

NordVPN has 1,000+ servers in the US and they all work with Hulu. Although most servers reliably work with Hulu, it’s possible you might find one that doesn’t work with the streaming service. If so, I recommend trying these steps.

Can I use a free VPN to watch Hulu?

Although it’s possible to use a free VPN to stream Hulu, I don’t recommend it. For one, free VPNs usually don’t support streaming. Even for the few free VPNs that allow streaming, they typically have strict data limits or slow speeds, and awful privacy policies, making it difficult to stream Hulu.

Instead of dealing with the limitations of a free VPN, I suggest trying NordVPN. It’s a premium service that works consistently with Hulu. The VPN offers unlimited data, maintains very fast speeds, and has an extensive server network. Also, NordVPN’s prices are very reasonable (they start at just $3.09 / month) and are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Can I watch Hulu with NordVPN on my smart TV?

Yes. NordVPN offers a dedicated app for Android TV, which also works on Amazon Fire TVs, Google TVs, and Roku TVs, among others. This makes it quick and easy to watch Hulu on your supported smart TV using NordVPN. Plus, NordVPN works on most routers, allowing you to connect all of your devices that are connected to your router to the VPN, including smart TVs.

Will NordVPN slow down my internet speeds?

Yes, but it’s barely noticeable. All VPNs slow down your speeds due to the encryption process. However, NordVPN has very fast speeds, even when connecting to servers located far away.

Based on my tests, NordVPN maintained fast speeds for streaming in Ultra HD. If your internet speeds are relatively slow (25 Mbps or less), you may experience some impact while streaming Hulu with NordVPN.

Read more about NordVPN in our full review

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About the Author
Todd Faulk
Todd Faulk
Senior Editor

About the Author

Todd Faulk is a Senior Editor at SafetyDetectives. He has more than 20 years of professional experience editing intelligence reports, course plans, and online articles. He's a freelancer who has produced work for a wide variety of clients, including the US Government, financial institutions, and travel and technology websites. Todd is a constant traveler, writer of his own travel blog, and avid reader of new developments in science and technology.