How to Watch HBO Max in Germany with a VPN
Max is the latest addition to the Home Box Office (HBO) family. It’s now the primary streaming platform for HBO that launched in 2020. You can watch exclusive HBO shows, same-day streaming of all Warner Bros. movies, and thousands of hours of other exciting content with HBO Max.
Unfortunately, HBO Max is currently unavailable outside the US and some of its territories. So, you cannot stream its great content from Germany. HBO Max would eventually get to other countries. However, until then, HBO is using geo-restrictions to deny foreign access to their service. Luckily for you, a VPN can help you access HBO Max from Germany.
How to Unblock HBO Max in Germany with a VPN
If you’re in Germany, you’ll need to trick HBO into thinking that you’re connecting to the platform from the US. Now, if you believe this location spoof would be challenging, you most likely haven’t heard of VPNs. A virtual private network (VPN) allows you to change your IP address. So, you can ditch your original IP address and assume one from another country.
You need to change your IP address because this is how HBO Max will identify your location. After granting you a new IP address, a VPN would encrypt your internet connection. This encrypted connection would ensure that unscrupulous third parties can’t hack or steal your data.
The steps below can get you into HBO Max.
- Download a VPN from the list below, preferably ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a US server and get a US IP address
- Now, log into the HBO Max platform and start streaming shows
If you want to watch specific shows, it would be best to test this setup before its time.
5 Top VPNs for Watching HBO Max in Germany
Many VPNs out there promise to get you past HBO’s strict geo-blocks. Well, many of these are bogus claims. So, we’ve compiled a list of the top VPNs that can actually help you watch HBO Max from Germany.
ExpressVPN
Features
- Number of servers: More than 3,000
- Speeds: Unlimited
- Server locations: 160 in 105 countries
- Maximum devices supported: 5
- 24 live chat: Yes
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
Pros/Cons
- Fastest VPN out there
- Strict no logs policy
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Few discounts
ExpressVPN is atop every worthy VPN ranking list because of its premium services. So, it’s naturally the best option for watching HBO Max in Germany. ExpressVPN has about 3,000+ servers in 160 server locations in 94 countries. Out of these many servers, ExpressVPN has over 23 fast servers in the US. These would indeed be sufficient to watch HBO Max in Germany.
With ExpressVPN’s servers, you can also combine watching HBO Max with torrenting in Germany. Moreover, you wouldn’t have to worry about online security threats while using ExpressVPN. This is because it uses the solid 256-bit encryption on your HBO Max connection. In addition, ExpressVPN’s privacy policy is one of the most reliable amongst VPNs. Its strict no-log policy ensures that it doesn’t store or share your connection logs with third parties.
In addition, ExpressVPN has apps for most devices and operating systems. If HBO Max works with the gadget, ExpressVPN most likely has an app for it. Such compatible devices include Windows, macOS, iOS, Smart TVs, Linux, and Android. Furthermore, one ExpressVPN subscription is sufficient for five of these devices at once.
One seeming disadvantage of watching HBO Max with ExpressVPN is that it’s slightly costlier than the other VPNs. However, the fact that you’ll be getting the best available VPN service makes its price more reasonable. More so, ExpressVPN subscriptions have a 30-day refund window in case you change your mind.
- Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $6.67
NordVPN
Features
- Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: 6
- Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
- Servers: 7,000+ in 111 countries
Pros/Cons
- Lots of pricing options
- Netflix support kept up to date
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Slow app
After ExpressVPN, NordVPN is the one you want to set your sights on. This VPN’s features are just as remarkable as ExpressVPN’s. For example, it has about 5,200+ servers in 60 countries worldwide. Notably, over 1970 of these servers are in 15 US locations. This alone means NordVPN has the most US servers on this list. Consequently, getting a US IP address to unblock HBO Max wouldn’t be a complex issue with NordVPN.
Furthermore, NordVPN’s US servers have both general and special features. For instance, the specialty servers include P2P-dedicated servers. They also have the DoubleVPN option and Onion over VPN. However, the general and specialty servers are fast enough to ensure that slow speeds don’t spoil your HBO streaming experience.
Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN invests heavily in users’ security by offering end-to-end 256-bit encryption. It also guarantees your online anonymity while watching HBO Max. In addition, through its no-log policy, you can rest assured that your online connection logs are safe from all third parties.
With NordVPN, you can also choose to watch HBO Max on any of your devices. This is because NordVPN has apps for popular gadgets and operating systems. For devices on which you can’t install a native NordVPN app, you can set up the VPN on a router and connect the gadget. Finally, NordVPN is much cheaper than ExpressVPN, and it also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest price: $3.71
Surfshark
Features
- Free trial? Yes
- Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
- Ad blocking? Yes
- Servers: 1000+ in 61 countries
Pros/Cons
- No footprints
- Allows torrenting
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Not the fastest
Surfshark is a good choice for watching HBO Max in Germany. VPN rankings often list multiple servers as a crucial criterion for choosing a VPN. Therefore, if you care so much for a VPN’s server spread, you should consider Surfshark. It has 3,200+ servers in 65 countries. However, what really checks this box is that Surfshark covers 23+ US cities with over 600 US servers. So, you’ll easily get a server fit for unblocking HBO Max in Germany.
In addition, all these servers guarantee unlimited bandwidth so that it won’t slow down your HBO Max streaming. This combination makes it suitable for torrenting content too. With Surfshark, your digital privacy is also guaranteed. This VPN wouldn’t store your activity logs while watching HBO Max. Surfshark also ensures your digital security with AES-256-GCM encryption when on HBO Max.
Furthermore, you can use Surfshark across multiple devices and do this simultaneously. The compatible gadget list includes macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, and Smart TVs. For simultaneous connections, you can connect all these gadgets on one Surfshark subscription. Now, all these stellar offerings don’t make Surfshark subscriptions unreasonably costly.
Instead, you can watch HBO Max with this VPN for only $1.80 monthly on a bi-annual subscription. In addition, even this ridiculously low price comes with a 100% 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pros: No footprints; Allows torrenting; 256-bit AES encryption;
- Lowest Price: $2.49
PrivateVPN
Features
- Killswitch Yes
- iOS App Yes
- Data logging No
Pros/Cons
- Servers in 63 countries
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 2048-bit Encryption With AES-256
- App can seem complicated
PrivateVPN is another decent option for watching HBO Max from Germany. It would help if you didn’t think less of this VPN because of its relatively low popularity. Furthermore, you’d need this open mind when you learn that PrivateVPN has just over 200 servers in 63 countries. More so, it has a little over ten servers in the US. However, it’ll help to know that, with PrivateVPN, it’s less about the servers and more about their quality.
So, rather than invest in multiple servers, PrivateVPN develops its existing servers to optimum capacity. That’s why all its servers operate at reasonably fast speeds. In addition, they have superior unblocking capacities for streaming platforms like HBO Max. Therefore, PrivateVPN’s US servers would easily get you past HBO’s geo-restrictions.
While watching HBO Max in Germany, this VPN would also protect you with 256-bit encryption. PrivateVPN doesn’t slack on customer anonymity either. Instead, it guarantees you online privacy with military-grade encryption. What’s more? PrivateVPN has an easy user interface. So, you can quickly set up this VPN on any of your devices you want to stream on HBO Max. You can even connect up to six gadgets on one subscription plan.
Yet again, PrivateVPN’s prices are customer-friendly. For example, you can pay only $2.50/monthly to watch HBO Max in Germany on this VPN for two years. You also get multiple payment options. And whatever subscription you buy, PrivateVPN backs it up with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Pros: Servers in 63 countries; 30-day money-back guarantee; 2048-bit Encryption With AES-256;
- Lowest price: €2.04
CyberGhost
Features
- Connected devices at once: 7
- Automatic kill switch? Yes
- One click connect: Yes
- Servers: 5900 worldwide
Pros/Cons
- No logs policy
- 24/7 live chat
- Apps for mobile devices and routers
- No free option
CyberGhost is another excellent VPN for watching HBO Max in Germany. It’s especially fitting because it has one of the largest US servers on this list. CyberGhost servers currently count at 6973 in 113 locations across 91 countries. In the United States alone, CyberGhost has 1193 servers. So, you can comfortably get the best server for streaming HBO Max from Germany.
CyberGhost servers are also compatible with torrenting and have fast connectivity for whatever purpose you need them. With this VPN, you can also rest assured that your HBO Max connection wouldn’t be susceptible to cybercriminals and other online threats. This is because you also get 256-bit encryption. Similarly, CyberGhost would keep your HBO streaming connection logs private per its zero-logging policy.
HBO Max has wide device acceptability. Well, so does CyberGhost. So, you can unblock HBO Max with CyberGhost from Germany on whatever device you want. The list would include Android, Windows, iOS, and Linux devices. Furthermore, you only need one CyberGhost subscription to watch HBO Max on seven of these gadgets.
This CyberGhost subscription wouldn’t cost a fortune either. Instead, you get very affordable plans. So, you can secure HBO Max access with CyberGhost for as low as $2.25/monthly. Finally, this subscription plan would come with the longest money-back guarantee on this list – 45 days.
- Pros: No logs policy; 24/7 live chat; Apps for mobile devices and routers;
- Lowest price: €2
How to Create an HBO Max Account in Germany
Watching HBO Max from Germany is more than just connecting to a US server. Instead, you’d still need to sign up to HBO Max to stream content. After signing up for your VPN, you’ll have to download HBO Max on your iOS or Android device. The steps below can get you an HBO account on Android and Apple gadgets.
- Ensure that you connect to your US VPN server
- Create a new Google account if you’re an Android user
- Apple users need a new Apple ID
- In this new account, select the US as your country
- Now, download the HBO Max app
- Create an account and wait for HBO to verify you
- After your verification, you can now stream on HBO Max
Although a VPN gets you into HBO Max, you still need US payment information. So, at this point, you may have to call in favors from your American friends. The HBO Max website accepts Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express cards. These cards must be US-issued and must support automatic recurring payments. Conversely, the app can allow you to pay through alternative means such as Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and Google Pay.
Frequently Asked Questions on How to Watch HBO Max in Germany With a VPN
Is it legal to unblock HBO Max with a VPN?
Yes, it’s perfectly legal to use a VPN in both Germany and the US. So, you wouldn’t run into any legal troubles for watching HBO Max with a VPN. HBO doesn’t support the use of VPNs, though. However, this doesn’t make VPN usage illegal. Also, using a VPN for unlawful activities doesn’t legalize those actions. For example, torrenting content protected by copyright behind a VPN will remain unlawful. Furthermore, committing cyber crimes with a VPN will also get you into trouble with law enforcement.
Can I watch HBO Max in Germany with a free VPN?
Technically, yes, you can unblock HBO Max with a free VPN. However, the real question is whether you should do so. Many free VPNs have servers in the US from which you can unblock HBO Max. However, these servers are often few and overcrowded. This means that you’d have to deal with buffering while streaming on HBO Max. In addition, free VPNs can sell your connection data to third parties. Mischievous parties can then use this data to target you with ads and possibly malicious content.
What devices can I stream HBO Max on?
HBO Max is compatible with many devices and operating systems. Firstly, you can watch HBO Max on smartphones and tablets running on iOS and Android. Secondly, Windows, Linux, and Mac computers also work with HBO Max. Next up, there are smart TVs and TV Box systems, including Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV Stick, and Roku. Finally, you can also stream HBO Max on PlayStation and Xbox. The great news, though, is that the VPNs above are all compatible with these gadgets.
Conclusion
HBO has long been the hub of exclusive entertainment content. The case isn’t different with HBO Max now. Instead, HBO Max has an impressive line-up of live and on-demand content, even upcoming titles. So, it would be really sad to miss all these wonderful shows because HBO hasn’t come to Germany. You wouldn’t have to miss them, though, if you just use any of the VPNs above.