Why can I never get to stream the shows I want using a VPN?

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There's the third series of a show I really want to watch but hasn't arrived here yet, if at all. It's streaming in the US on Hulu, Max, Apple and Prime. I bought the VPN, I used a US server, tried to create an account on Hulu (wouldn't accept my card payment or PayPal), Max (kept saying wasn't available in my region), Apple (just couldn't move past first screen).

What am I doing wrong? Do I need a US address?

The companies know you’re using vpn, same with Netflix

I use a VPN and it works fine with Netflix, but I struggle with the others.

What I do is set up two netflix accounts. Turn on your VPN and SWITCH to the other account. You don't really need this step, but it makes things a lot easier.

Netflix and a lot of the other services get confused if you're in the UK and then suddenly in the US, so if you have a different account, one can be UK and the other US. If you don't do this, and you're watching VPN US, then you won't be able to come out of Netflix and watch iPlayer for example. You'll need to disconnect the VPN and wait a while for it to work.

Also to add, go onto Google and look for uNoGS. Do a search here for a movie you fancy, and it will list the countries it's currently playing in (Netflix). So you'll know what VPN to switch to.

I do think some VPNs are better than others. My current one works fine on Netflix, Disney, paramount and Sky (between Australia and UK). Last one was useless.

I do sometimes have to disconnect, close the relevant app and sometimes sign back out and in again to make it work.

I'm not sure I understand, sorry. Do i set up an account on Hulu, for example, before I sign onto the VPN? It wouldn't let me

I was using VPN pure

I haven't got hulu to work, but I wouldn't pay for it so... if you want it to work, I'd sign in to VPN and wait a few minutes, THEN go into the hulu app and sign in, etc. That would be your best chance.

I can use vpn for Netflix and Max no problem

I think some of them are better than others - I tried Express VPN a few years ago and it only worked for a few days and then just stopped.

I have been using Surfshark for a while now and it works fine.

But I'm mainly watching UK programmes on BBC Iplayer and ITVX, which I can't get access to in Ireland usually. I haven't tried US channels yet.

OP you could try the suggestions on this thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5094153-to-ask-how-you-pay-for-us-channels-via-vpn

years ago when I wanted to use Hulu, I used a vpn and also I had to get a prepaid American credit card. I used a fake American address. It was a right palaver but I really wanted to watch a show on it.

What is the show? It’s probably on eztv or pirate bay?

I had the same issue until I realised some streaming platforms block known VPNs. I switched from a standard VPN to using Datacenter Proxies, and suddenly things worked a lot better. They seemed less likely to be blacklisted, probably because they're not shared as widely. It’s not perfect, but it’s been way more consistent than before.