HBO is home to top shows like Game of Thrones, Ballers, Westworld, The Plot Against America, and more. A lot of entertainment content including documentaries, sports, HBO originals, and movies are available on HBO GO and HBO NOW.
With HBO being one of the most popular streaming services, it could be extremely frustrating when you come across the “Not in service area” error message.
HBO GO and HBO NOW is available only in certain US territories, in addition to the US. So if you try to access it from a different location, you will see the “Not in service area” error message. HBO’s geo-blocker will block non-US IPs due to copyright laws and sadly, non-US viewers cannot access the streaming service.
But you can fix this error message by using an HBO VPN. This article explains why you need an HBO VPN and it includes the list of top VPN services we recommend to fix the “Not in Service Area” message on HBO GO and HBO NOW.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Fix HBO’s Not in Service Area Message?
If you have ever tried accessing HBO GO and HBO NOW while outside the US, you will be well aware of the “Not in service area” error message. This error occurs only because you are accessing the services from a location where they are unavailable. Unless you find a good streaming VPN that can unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW and fix HBO’s “Not in service area” error message, you cannot get rid of this error message.
A VPN is a security tool that has servers in multiple locations worldwide. When you connect to a VPN, you will be allowed to connect to a server in a different country where the streaming service of your choice is available. Now that you are trying to fix HBO’s “Not in service area” error, you will need to connect to a server in the US because HBO GO and HBO NOW are available only in the US.
Connecting to a US server will help you access HBO GO and HBO NOW just like US viewers as HBO will think that you are accessing it from the US. This applies to all other streaming servers like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
In addition to letting you access blocked streaming services, VPNs offer robust security features so that you can stay away from cybersecurity attacks, hackers and your ISP, as well. But at this point, you must understand that not all VPNs work in the same way and not all VPNs can help you get rid of this error.
Streaming services are aware of the fact that many use VPNs to evade their regional blocks. So they make it a point to detect accounts that use a VPN and block them immediately. Streaming services like Netflix take all possible measures to detect and block VPNs.
So you need to understand that not all VPN services that promise to unblock streaming services are able to do so. Only a few top-rated VPNs with a good server network are able to bypass restrictions and unblock streaming services like HBO GO, HBO NOW, Netflix, etc.
The best HBO VPN is the one that has a huge server network. If the VPN service you choose has multiple servers in the US, you can easily unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW and fix the error in the blink of an eye,
Likewise, if the server network is bigger and if there are many IP addresses, you will have hundreds of IP addresses to connect to if a few are identified by the streaming service and blocked. Some VPN services claim to have servers in the US and promise to unblock HBO but in reality, they may not have servers in the US and their unblocking capabilities may not be good. We tested a wide range of VPN services and in our research, the following VPNs unblocked HBO GO and HBO NOW and helped us fix the “Not in service area” error message.
Best VPNs to Fix HBO’s “Not in Service Area” Error Message
The following are the top five VPNs we recommend for getting around regional blocks and fixing the “Not in service area” error message on HBO GO and HBO NOW. These VPNs have a good server network in the US and possess strong unblocking capabilities.
- NordVPN
- Surfshark VPN
- ExpressVPN
- VyprVPN
- Ivacy VPN
1. NordVPN
With over 1700 US servers, NordVPN is an excellent choice for unblocking HBO GO and HBO NOW. You can effortlessly connect to one of these US servers and fix the “Not in service area” error message in a breeze. While keeping your data safe and secure online, NordVPN will also allow you to unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW from anywhere in the world.
Once you connect to one of NordVPN’s servers in the US, your IP will change and your original IP will be hidden. This way it will look like you are physically present in the US so that you can access HBO GO and HBO NOW like anyone in the US. You can access the whole library and watch any show at any time without restrictions.
You can stay completely anonymous while watching your favorite shows as with NordVPN, your traffic will pass through an encrypted tunnel which will make it impossible for even your ISP to monitor your online activities. Its strong security features like kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and IP leak protection will keep your internet connection safe.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
Poor video quality and slow speeds will be a thing of the past as NordVPN’s speedy servers are great for streaming shows in HD. Likewise, unlimited bandwidth is another plus as you can watch shows and movies back to back.
NordVPN’s SmartPlay feature will automatically connect you to a server that can unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW, thereby fixing the “Not in service area” message. You can connect the VPN on any device you like as it has apps for Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Android TV, and Linux and you can quickly connect to any six devices at a time
All these features male NordVPN an excellent choice for HBO NOW and HBO GO. Read our NordVPN review to know more about NordVPN.
2. Surfshark VPN
SurfShark VPN is one of the top choices for fixing the “Not in service area” error message on HBO GO and HBO NOW. Surfshark VPN has streaming servers in 24 locations in the US and connecting to a server in one of these locations will help you to easily access HBO GO and HBO NOW and other streaming services available in the US.
You can download the VPN for any device you use as Surfshark VPN supports a number of platforms and devices including Linux, Fire TV, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, and Firefox. You can connect any number of devices and watch any number of shows in a day as there are no restrictions or limitations when it comes to the number of concurrent connections and bandwidth you can use. This is one of the most sought-after features when it comes to a streaming VPN as it is a great option for people who wish to share their connection with their families.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
In addition to fixing the error message and unblocking HBO GO and HBO NOW, you can stream shows in HD and remain completely anonymous while doing so. Surfshark VPN’s robust security features include DNS/IP leak protection, kill switch, malware protection, and 256-bit encryption.
If you’d like to know more about the features of the Surfshark VPN, you can take a look at our expert review on Surfshark VPN.
3. ExpressVPN
Well known for its speeds, ExpressVPN is also great at evading geoblocks and helping you access HBO GO and HBO NOW. In addition, it will hide your location and encrypt data, as well. You can quickly fix HBO’s “Not in server area” error message by connecting to one of ExpressVPN’s US VPN servers in over 20 locations.
Once you are connected to ExpressVPN, you can stream any number of shows on HBO GO and HBO NOW as it also offers unlimited bandwidth. ExpressVPN protects its users’ data with top-notch security features so that you can also forget about internet censorship. 256-bit encryption, kill switch, and IP leak protection are among the security features it offers.
ExpressVPN will keep your data hidden from almost everyone which includes your ISP, as well. With ExpressVPN’s fast streaming servers, you can avoid ISP throttling and stream shows or movies without interruption or your connection slowing down.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
You can install ExpressVPN apps on any device as it is compatible with all major platforms, smart TVs, and routers and at the same time, you can use the VPN on five different devices.
Click here to read our extensive ExpressVPN review to know more about its features.
4. VyprVPN
VyprVPN is our next choice for fixing the “Not in Service Area” error message on HBO. No matter where you are in the world, you can connect to one of VyprVPN’s global streaming servers and unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW in just the click of a button.
VyprVPN’s Chameleon protocol is an additional feature that will make sure your ISP does not find out that you are using a VPN. It offers airtight security features to make sure you stay anonymous and secure online.
Likewise, it offers military-grade encryption and IP address protection for strong security and anonymity. Apps for macOS, Android, Windows, routers, BlackPhone, and iOS are available.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock Kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
VyprVPN can be installed on any device you use and at the same time, you can connect the VPN on any five devices. You can stream shows, watch movies, play games on five devices without any interruptions or without any speed loss.
Read our extensive review of VyprVPN to know more.
5. Ivacy VPN
With over 70 VPN servers in the US and 12000 IP addresses worldwide, Ivacy VPN is one of the top VPNs for fixing HBO’s “Not in service area” message. Though Ivacy VPN is quite new in the VPN industry, it has speedy servers for online streaming.
You can quickly unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW and many more streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more using Ivacy VPN.
Ivacy VPN offers strong security features like strong encryption and an internet kill switch. It also offers IPv6 leak protection and DDoS protection. Its Purpose Selection feature will help you choose servers for your specific need – Secure Download, Streaming, and Unblocking.
- 3500+ Servers in 100+ Locations
- 10 Devices Simultaneous Logins
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Malware Protection
- P2P Support
Ivacy VPN is compatible with macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and Xbox and it has extensions for Firefox and Chrome. You can install the VPN on all these devices and connect the VPN on five devices concurrently.
Read our detailed Ivacy VPN review to know why it is one of the top five VPNs to fix HBO’s “Not in service area” message.
How to Unblock HBO GO and HBO NOW Using a VPN?
- The first thing you need to do is to choose a VPN service with a good server network in the US. Surfshark VPN and NordVPN are our top choices for fixing the “Not in service area” error message.
- You will be able to download the VPN app once you subscribe.
- Once the VPN is downloaded, you can install and launch the app.
- Sign in and connect to a US server.
- Now, visit HBO GO or HBO NOW, you will no longer see the “Not in service area” message.
Summary
A top-rated VPN will allow you to get around blocks and access HBO GO and HBO NOW from anywhere in the world. While gaining access to blocked streaming services, you can also stay anonymous and secure online with a trustworthy VPN service. We hope this article will help you fix HBO’s “Not in service area” message and watch your favorite movies and shows.
