How to Watch HBO in Australia

Warner Bros HBO is an entertainment giant and household name that deliver fantastic some of the best shows in television history, such as The Sopranos, True Detective, Game of Thrones, or movies like Justice League Snyder Cut, Wonder Woman, and comedy specials to keep you laughing.

The streaming platform keeps a vast audience inside the United States; however, watching HBO shows has been slow, with the global rollout not being as fast as expected.

Fans worldwide, particularly in Australia, are left wondering whether they will ever get HBO Max as a pure standalone streaming service?

How to Watch HBO in Australia

Access HBO from Australia - The Easy Way

  1. Install a Fast VPN – (ExpressVPN offers super-fast downloading speeds while protecting your privacy)
  2. Connect to a US Server
  3. Head to HBO and Enjoy unlimited streaming

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Things are far from clear with the streaming service since the company filed for a patent yet has gone off on a different route.

At present, if you are in Australia, you don’t have any direct access to any live or on-demand content. With the demise of HBO Go, Australia pinned its hopes on HBO Max being the prime streaming option; things appeared to be changing; however, it hasn’t yet panned out that way.

If you want to watch HBO shows, movies, and sports in Australia, you can use the rest of this guide and learn how to access the HBO streaming service or HBO content in Australia.

How to Get HBO in Australia (Quick Guide)

If you want to watch shows such as Game of Thrones and are in a pinch of which way to go, you have three primary options for accessing HBO down under. Here’s a quick overview of the three options you have.

Watch HBO Max on Foxtel

Foxtel has been given the name “the Home of HBO.” The agreement between the two companies halted HBO Max’s rollout, and you now find Foxtel offers access to shows from the HBO Max library.

For access to an extensive selection of movies and TV shows, it is the most straightforward way to access HBO Max shows in Australia. However, it isn’t the most cost-effective. You need Foxtel channel packs to be granted access.

Foxtel is $49 per month on a 12-month plan. With this, you can find shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Westworld, South Park, Game of Thrones, and more. You get a 10-day free trial with this provider.

To save, you can choose the Foxtel Now service, which is the streaming service of Foxtel. Foxtel Now starts at $25 per month with no contract, yet HBO Max content and TV shows will be watered down. (Read Can You Chromecast Foxtel Go)

Foxtel wants to use watching HBO as the key to customers signing up for the premium service, adding the Drama Pack ($15 per month), and accessing all that Fox Showcase offers.

HBO Max on Binge

The internet service provider owns Binge, and Binge is a pure streaming offering that contains some content from HBO in Australia. The service costs $10 per month, and new subscribers get a 14-day free trial.

The most significant downside being Foxtel won’t put all shows on Binge. Bing has a select choice of shows, yet you can find favourites such as Big Bang Theory, Silicon Valley, and lots more when you are a customer of Binge.

Use a VPN for HBO

To watch all of HBO in Australia, a VPN is the best option. You can sign up for the US service with no contract and experience the full library without it being diluted by distribution rights. While you do need a VPN to stream HBO, you will find compelling reasons to do so, as you can see later.

Best VPNs for HBO Australia

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN delivers VPN software covering many devices like Windows, Linux, macOS, Android TV, Apple devices, and mobile devices. ExpressVPN has over 3,000 server locations in over 94 countries.

It is possible to update the firmware on specific routers, which offers unlimited simultaneous connections, not the 5 connections you get as standard.

You can use the ExpressVPN Media Streamer smart DNS service for any devices that don’t have apps. With this, you can watch HBO shows and movies on Apple TV, Xbox One, or many Smart TV options by the service, effectively bypassing geo-restrictions to get HBO content in Australia.

ExpressVPN will mask the IP address and access streaming services such as watching Hulu in Australia straightforward.

ExpressVPN secures any internet connection using the kill switch (Network Lock), IP and DNS leak protection, split tunnelling, and the zero-logging policy the company sticks to. It also has a smart DNS service on each server for any web requests you send to secure your data. (Learn How To Watch CNN In Australia)

New subscribers can use the risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee to test all the features and performance.

Pros

  • The new Lightway Protocol offers per server DNS services for security and speed
  • Fast streaming speeds for buffer-free HD content
  • Military-grade security and privacy protection
  • Unblocks any streaming platform apart from HBO in Australia

Cons

  • Month by month plans may look expensive
  • No Ad-Blocker built-in

2. NordVPN

NordVPN delivers many security levels and is among the best providers to mask your IP address so that you can watch HBO in Australia.

You can use VPN apps on six devices simultaneously on most major platforms, such as Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android.

You can test the VPN offering using the 30-day money-back guarantee, and if you get stuck, just contact the company live chat support or use the knowledge base on the website.

The VPN provider uses many streaming servers, and it uses most of these bypass geo-restrictions to stream Hulu, US Netflix, SlingTV, BBC iPlayer, besides HBO Max.

The VPN server network comprises over 5000 servers with locations worldwide, so watching HBO in Australia isn’t an issue. You will have many IP address options, so governments can’t trace you.

The VPN uses the SmartPlay feature, which mixes VPN and Smart DNS technologies’ to make streaming flexible, safer, and worry-free.

NordVPN presents a zero logs policy, uses military-grade encryption, offers IP leak protection and the CyberSec ad-blocker, tracking, and malware protection to back up the kill switch and secure your data.

Pros

  • Fast speeds to prevent buffering
  • Offers 24/7 live chat
  • Very secure VPN service provider for hiding IP addresses
  • SmartPlay smart DNS system to stream from region-blocked services.

Cons

  • Long-distance speeds may suffer in some regions
  • Desktop apps are not the most intuitive

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is another choice of how to watch HBO outside the USA. The company now has over 3200 VPN servers in 65 countries.

Watching any streaming provider is straightforward when using a VPN server from Surfshark; it offers HD streaming speeds and easily masks IP addresses to unblock countless other services like the US and UK Netflix, iPlayer, DAZN, and many more.

Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections to stream on many devices on your broadband connection with a VPN subscription. The VPN service hides online activities using 256-bit AES encryption protection for IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks.

Security is bolstered with a kill switch, ad-blocker, tracker, and malware protection to make your data hidden. The VPN offers a zero-log policy and goes through audits to verify they are secure.

You can start watching HBO in Australia using the VPN on macOS, Android, Windows, iOS, Xbox One, and Linux. You can carry out manual configuration on routers. You will also be able to test with a 30-day money-back guarantee. (Learn How to Watch Chernobyl Online)

Pros

  • Unlimited device connections
  • Good buffer-free TV shows and movies streaming
  • Great content unblocking ability
  • Strong security and privacy

Cons

  • Still new compared to other VPN providers
  • Automatic Fastest Server selection not always fast

4. Cyberghost

CyberGhost doesn’t sweat for bypassing geo-blocked streaming sites. It presents users with a list of services it unblocks on-demand content. Viewers can find HBO Max, Netflix, Disney Plus, and more.

The VPN provider is popular among new users because of its ease of use and frequently comes in the top four or five reviews. It delivers excellent performance from the VPN network of over 6,000 servers around the globe.

It offers a 45-day money-back guarantee to test using the VPN. CyberGhost uses 256-AES encryption and supports OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP-IPsec, and PPTP protocols for security. You can find an ad-blocker and tracking prevention and a kill switch. (Learn How To Add HBO To Kodi)

Pros

  • Lots of features
  • Easy to use
  • Long money-back guarantee
  • Live chat support

Cons

  • Struggles to unblock iPlayer occasionally
  • Problems with the kill switch

Guide to Access HBO in Australia

How to Watch HBO in Australia (Complete Guide)

To get the best experience when you want to watch HBO Max, you need to use a VPN. Here is the most straightforward way to sign-up for HBO and access content via the website direct from the USA.

  1. Subscribe to either of the recommended VPNs for Australia from above
  2. Install the VPN app and log in using your new account details
  3. Select and connect to a US-based server
  4. Head to the page listed here: play.hbomax.com.
  5. Sign in to watch your favourite HBO TV shows and movies in Australia.

You will have access to more hours of Warner Bros content in Australia with over 1300+ movies and show options from BBC, CNN, TBS, TNT, Looney Tunes, and a stream of HBO Max Original content.

Unfortunately, HBO has cancelled the free trial with your subscription, as have other streaming service providers.

Sign up for HBO Max

  1. Head to https://www.hbomax.com/subscribe in a browser
  2. Complete the account form, and select Create Account. Use these to sign in with your password.
  3. Add your payment option such as credit card details
  4. Select Start Subscription.
  5. Select Let’s Go, and you can sign in to start HBO streaming in Australia.

Pay for HBO Max

One drawback of HBO streaming Australia is you need an American credit card. You can find signing up in Australia isn’t possible with an Australian credit card.

However, you can use a workaround such as using HBO Now Gift Cards. Currently, there are no HBO Max cards, and you have to use HBO Now gift cards.

Here are the steps for using an HBO Now gift card to subscribe to HBO.

  1. Head to https://www.mygiftcardsupply.com/product/buy-us-hbo-card/ or another online retailer and purchase an HBO Now gift card.
  2. With your card details, navigate to https://subscribe.hbonow.com/gift. Enter the gift card code and a US state and zip code to redeem your HBO Now gift card.
  3. Enter the email address you wish to sign up with, along with your first and last name.
  4. Once you have entered all your details, navigate to play.hbomax.com.
  5. Sign in to HBO Max with the email address you provided in the previous step.

HBO Max works on all Apple devices such as iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Apple TV in HD and 4K. Besides, Android devices are compatible, Android TV, Smart TVs, PlayStation, and Xbox. You can use browsers directly from the website to stream HBO Max.

HBO Max in Australia

HBO Go vs. HBO Now vs. HBO Max

July 31, 2020, was when a few things changed with HBO. There was a lot of rebranding, and it was the introduction of HBO Max, which affected HBO Go and HBO Now.

HBO Go

Before July 31, any subscriber to HBO cable got HBO Go to watch content on mobile devices. From this date, it no longer existed, and new subscribers go to the next option.

HBO Now

HBO Now used to be a standalone streaming service in the same vein as Foxtel Now. You could sign up with no cable subscription. On July 31, HBO Now lost its title and was rebranded to just HBO.

Any subscriber wanting to sign up without a cable subscription find they, by default, get HBO Max. Subscribers who have a TV subscription have the shorter named HBO services.

HBO Max

HBO Max content contains all HBO has on offer plus newer HBO Max originals. The services cost $14.99 per month, and users on HBO Now will upgrade to the HBO Max app. You can have three simultaneous streams at once on a wide range of devices. (Read Stan On Kodi)

Best Movies and Shows on HBO

If you want to watch HBO series and movies, here’s an example of what’s on offer.

HBO Max Movies

  1. Argo (2012)
  2. Babe (1995)
  3. Pitch Perfect (2012)
  4. Dunkirk (2012)
  5. Lincoln (2012)
  6. Get Shorty (1995)
  7. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
  8. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)
  9. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
  10. A Better Life (2011)
  11. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
  12. Independence Day (1996)
  13. True Grit (2010)
  14. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
  15. High Fidelity (2000)
  16. The Invisible Man (2020)
  17. Clerks (1994)
  18. He Got Game (1998)
  19. Joker (2019)
  20. Alien (1979)
  21. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
  22. Cast Away (2000)
  23. Die Hard (1988)
  24. Behind the Candelabra (2013)
  25. Jaws (1975)
  26. School of Rock (2003)
  27. Birds of Prey (2020)
  28. Midnight Run (1988)

HBO Max Shows

  1. It’s a Sin
  2. Beartown
  3. Generation
  4. The Investigation
  5. Roots
  6. Gen: Lock
  7. Babylon 5
  8. 30 Coins
  9. Snowpiercer
  10. Search Party
  11. Batman: The Animated Series
  12. Warrior
  13. The Flight Attendant
  14. His Dark Materials
  15. Southland
  16. Rick and Morty
  17. Raised by Wolves
  18. Lovecraft Country
  19. Perry Mason
  20. The Outsider
  21. I May Destroy You
  22. The Plot Against America
  23. Watchmen
  24. Euphoria
  25. The Young Pope
  26. Big Little Lies
  27. Westworld
  28. Game of Thrones
  29. The Night of
  30. Treme
  31. Avenue 5
  32. Harley Quinn
  33. The Wire
  34. True Detective
  35. The Sopranos
  36. Boardwalk Empire
  37. Sharp Objects
  38. Eastbound & Down
  39. Random Acts of Flyness
  40. Silicon Valley
  41. Flight of the Conchords
  42. High Maintenance
  43. Veep
  44. Curb Your Enthusiasm
  45. Barry
  46. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  47. Chernobyl
  48. Doom Patrol
  49. Six Feet Under
  50. Deadwood

Access to HBO Max in Australia

FAQ

Can I get HBO in Australia?

You can only get HBO via Foxtel, which has access to HBO Max in Australia. Foxtel has access to HBO and starts at $49 per month on a 12-month plan. You can also use Foxtel Plus to find a range of new and classic content like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Westworld, and The Sopranos.

What channel is HBO in Australia?

Most of the HBO content is screened on Foxtel’s Fox Showcase channel in Australia. It is also possible to find a couple of comedies such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Silicon Valley. Both channels are available under the Foxtel Plus bundle.

Can I watch HBO for free on Amazon Prime?

No, you need to add the channel for $14.99 per month to get access to HBO.

What is the cheapest way to get HBO?

If you want access to all HBO content, the cheapest way to watch HBO in Australia is by using a VPN and sign up with HBO in the USA.

If you only want a watered-down solution, you can sign up to Binge for $10 per month. To see if this is good enough, you can use the 14-day free trial to watch on-demand content such as Game of Thrones.

Can you get HBO on Netflix?

No, HBO isn’t available on Netflix, and many HBO shows have already been pulled. HBO Max is a rival to Netflix streaming platforms.

Is HBO Max in Australia?

You won’t find HBO shows on a direct streaming service. The company filed for a patent in Australia.

However, as part of the agreement, Foxtel has become the home of HBO and exclusive distributor of Warner Bros produced and original content made for HBO Max. Any changes to this agreement will come in 2022 at the earliest.

How much is HBO per month?

$14.99 per month, no matter where you subscribe, via Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or Apple TV. Any other TV plans offering shows won’t have access to the full library of HBO shows.

Is HBO Max-like Netflix?

Yes and No – Netflix has no live TV, yet it offers a larger library.

Is HBO max free with Hulu?

No, HBO content is $14.99 on Hulu and is available as an add-on.

And Finally…

HBO is one of the largest streaming platforms you can enjoy besides Netflix. However, it is a direct competitor in many ways, as it isn’t available directly to Australian fans as a stand-alone streaming service.


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You have to go through Foxtel, Foxtel Now, or Binge to access any shows from down under. Even the Stan plans have lost most of the shows it used to have.

Things may change next year or so, but like the rest of the HBO-loving community. To stream HBO is best done with a VPN to mask your IP address and deliver HBO shows right to your device.

How to Watch HBO in Australia

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