HBO Max is currently exclusive to the US, Latin America, and parts of Europe. However, there are still several countries that don’t have this streaming platform available – one of them is the UK.
Warner has now confirmed that HBO Max will arrive in this country in March 2026. That said, there are some exclusive shows that you can’t stream in Britain, including HBO’s viral sensation Heated Rivalry .
HBO / Warner Bros.
Fortunately, we’ve managed to successfully find a workaround. It’s a similar method that we use to watch the likes of The CW and Netflix US – through using a VPN.
There are three tiers of HBO Max. For $10.99 per month , you can watch the cheapest ad-supported service, which limits shows to HD quality and allows for two concurrent streams.
The mid-priced, ad-free tier costs $18.49 per month. It’s also in HD, allows two concurrent streams and 30 downloads. The top tier is priced at $22.99 per month, plays in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos, allows four concurrent streams and 100 downloads.
Here’s how you can access HBO Max from the UK. We also recommend reading how to watch HBO Max for free.
How to watch HBO Max using a VPN
You won’t be able to open the HBO Max website on your normal UK browser, as the site is only available in the US. However, this is easily overcome through the use of a VPN.
Having a VPN (virtual private network) allows you to change your IP address so you can browse the internet as if you’re based in another country. For HBO Max, you will need a US server. We tested this method using NordVPN , which is easy to use, has a good range of servers, and has affordable pricing.
Once you’ve chosen your VPN, you’ve gotten past the first hurdle of watching HBO Max. The next will be when you need to input your payment information.
Find a US server on your VPN on your smartphone
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
There is a range of US servers on NordVPN – some may be more successful than others.
Ensure you are connected to a US server on your smartphone for the entire process.
Create a new Apple ID/Google Play account in your browser that’s tied to the US
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Ensure the country is either set to the United States, or left blank.
Register your new account on your phone
Hannah Cowton/Foundry
Sign in on the App Store/Play Store and register your new US account on your device.
Download and install the HBO Max app
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Verify your purchase if needed.
Tap ‘skip’ if the app store asks you to add payment information to your iOS/Google Play account before you’ve installed HBO Max.
Create a new account in the HBO Max app with your email address and password
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Choose whether you want the ad-supported or ad-free plan and if you want to pay monthly or annually.
Use PayPal as your method of payment (this can be a UK account)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
Verify PayPal with your phone number if you have two-factor authentication set up.
Once your account is verified, you can sign in from any device.
Sometimes, the Google Play Store does not change to the US version, even when creating a new account.
The way to get around this is by connecting to a VPN on a PC, signing into the Google Play Store US website , searching for the app you need, and sending it to your phone (whilst still connected to the VPN). You can see an example using Peacock below:
There have been reports of users not being able to install HBO Max on iOS as the app store forces users to register their payment details and doesn’t accept UK PayPal if you try to register with this account.
To get around this, we recommend purchasing US App Store credit via a digital gift card – which can be added as a US payment option.
You’ll need a website that allows you to pay with UK bank details. The typical minimum amount you can purchase will be $25 – enough to cover one month’s subscription to HBO Max.
When the site asks you to put in the recipient, enter your own email address and the code to redeem the money will be sent to your inbox. Then when you need to add payment information in the app store, select ‘redeem gift card or code’, and you should be able to add the money as credit on your account.
NordVPN
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
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