HBO Max is a premium streaming platform that is available in the US and a few European countries except for Ireland.
The only way to watch HBO Max in Ireland is with the help of a reliable VPN and by connecting to the US server.
If you try to access HBO Max from Ireland without a VPN, you will see an error message that says:
“Sorry, HBO Max isn’t available in your region”
I was able to unblock HBO Max with the help of ExpressVPN and the other best VPNs that we have mentioned in the guide.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice when it comes to unblocking HBO Max in Ireland as it easily crosses its geo-restrictions and keeps your online identity safe while streaming.
Get yourself ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee so use all of its features risk-free for 30-days.
How to Watch HBO Max in Ireland
The only way to watch HBO Max in Ireland is to first subscribe with HBO Max using a gift card and then access the HBO Max website using a VPN.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Subscribe to your VPN of choice (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and install it on your device
Step 3: Open the VPN app and connect to the US server (e.g. New York)
Step 4: Go to the HBO Max website and click on Sign Up
Step 5: Click on “sign in with your account”
Step 6: Enter your email/password OR click Subscribe to create an account
Step 7: Choose either Movies OR Series
Step 8: Select your profile icon
Step 9: Select any TV series that you want to watch i.e. House of the Dragon
Step 10: Start streaming!
What are the Best VPNs to Watch HBO Max in Ireland?
We’ve tested around 35+ different premium VPN services, and we have come to the conclusion that only 3 of them were able to access HBO Max from within Ireland and within the first attempt.
Here’s a list of the top 3 VPNs to unblock HBO Max in Ireland:
1. ExpressVPN
When it comes to unblocking HBO Max from Ireland, we prefer ExpressVPN because it has servers in 30+ US cities.
In total, it has 3,000 US servers that help unblock other streaming services apart from HBO Max, these include 6Play, Pandora, ProSieben, etc.
Some of the security features of ExpressVPN include 24-hour customer assistance, AES-256 encryption, a kill switch option, DNS and IP leak protection, and other amazing features.
It offers a blazing fast speed (i.e 89 Mbps out of 100 Mbps) to avoid every kind of buffering, so you won’t have to worry about that. ExpressVPN app is very easy to use and supports all types of devices including Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux.
This high-performance VPN costs $6.67/month and provides the usual 30-day money-back guarantee. With a single subscription, you can use ExpressVPN on 5 different devices simultaneously.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is another excellent VPN for watching HBO Max in Ireland as it has 500+ servers in the United States alone, allowing you to conveniently unblock sites based in the US.
Because of its clutter-free user interface and design, this VPN sits well with newcomers to the VPN concept.
It also allows an unlimited number of devices to log in at the same time. With 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, and DNS for data protection, this VPN’s security is also remarkable.
Android, Linux, Mac, Windows, iOS, Fire Stick, and Amazon Fire TV are all supported by Surfshark. It also has plugins for Google Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Surfshark is extremely reasonable at $2.49/month and comes with a typical 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is the third VPN on our recommended list because it has 1,900+ US servers (out of 5,440 servers) that help bypass HBO Max geo-restrictions.
NordVPN also boasts some unique features, such as double VPN protection, which covers your web traffic with an extra layer of security, and CyberSec, which protects you from dangerous content.
NordVPN’s 2-year subscription plan is similar to Surfshark’s, except it is somewhat more expensive, at $3.29/month. With a single NordVPN account, you can connect to 6 devices simultaneously.
Like many other premium VPNs, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out with HBO before committing.
Why Do You Need to Use a VPN with HBO Max?
The reason why you need a VPN when using HBO Max is that the service is unavailable in the Irish region. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) changes your virtual location and disguises your original IP address.
HBO Max is currently available in the US and 21 European countries, but it is blocked in Ireland due to copyright ownership and licensing agreements.
If you try to access HBO Max website from the Ireland region you will see an error message that simply says:
“Sorry, HBO Max isn’t available in your region yet”
Once you connect to the US server of a VPN, you will be assigned a US IP address. After that, you will be able to access the HBO Max website without any trouble or error.
A VPN service will also help you protect your online privacy because it hides most of your online actions, ensuring that your privacy is protected.
What Can You Watch on HBO Max?
HBO offers a terrific collection of movies and shows in their service. And if you are confused as to what you can watch, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to assist you.
- House of the Dragon
- Band of Brothers
- Curb your Enthusiasm
- True Detective
- Game of Thrones
- Ad Astra
- Watchmen
- Suicide Squad
- Birds of Prey
- Aquaman
How to Sign up for HBO Max from Ireland?
As I discussed earlier, HBO Max isn’t available in Ireland so you won’t be able to sign up for the service. In fact, it won’t even access the Irish credit card as well.
However, in the steps below, we have discussed a way to get around this problem and to subscribe HBO Max in Ireland:
Step 1: Close all the apps OR clear the RAM before you proceed
Step 2: Connect to the US server over ExpressVPN
Step 3: Open the Google Play app on your Android device
Step 4: Click on the Profile icon
Step 5: Then click on Settings
Step 6: Then select General > Accounts and Device Preferences
Step 7: Click on Country and Profiles
Step 8: Change the country to the United States
Note: If the ‘Country and Profile’ section is not clickable then use another Gmail account and try with that!
Step 9: Add a payment method for that country
Step 10: Now sign up using that payment method and sign in to watch HBO Max content
How to Get HBO Max on your Mobile
HBO Max may not be available on either Play Store OR iTunes outside the US because of geographical restrictions. However, you can download HBO Max APK on your Android Phone instead.
Here are the steps you need to watch HBO Max on your Android Phone:
Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN and connect to the US server (i.e. New York)
Step 2: Download HBO Max APK on your Android device
Step 3: Click Install
Step 4: Open the HBO Max app and click on the Profile icon
Step 5: Click ‘Sing into your account’
Step 6: Enter your email/password
Step 7: Select any show to watch i.e. Westworld
Step 8: Select any season or episode
Step 9: Start streaming!
FAQs – HBO Max
What countries have HBO Max available?
HBO Max is available across America and other 39 Latin American territories. But there is a chance that it will be available in some of the European countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and 14 other European markets by the end of this year.
Is HBO Max available on Amazon Prime?
No, HBO Max is no longer available on Amazon Prime Video. But if you have a Hulu membership, you can watch it there.
Other Streaming Services to Watch in Ireland
Similar to HBO Max, we have listed some of the streaming services that you can watch in Ireland but with the help of a VPN:
On top of that, you can find the best cord-cutting options in Ireland to watch some of the best content from Ireland and outside.
Conclusion
HBO is a mainstream tv powerhouse, not only due to its vast library but also because of its dedication to the creation of incredible TV Shows and Movies.
The only way to watch HBO Max in Ireland is with the help of a VPN (such as ExpressVPN) because HBO Max is unavailable in the region.
So, don’t simply think of a VPN subscription as an additional expense to your streaming service; it’s also an added layer of liberty and safety in an age when we spend so much of our time online.
