Best Method to Watch and Pay for Hotstar Premium Outside of India (2025 Edition)
Hotstar is India’s largest premium streaming website with hundreds of thousands of hours of movies, and live sporting events. With programming in many languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, and English, we don’t need to tell you the benefits of Hotstar Premium. In 2025, the platform has expanded to include over 100,000 hours of content, including exclusive Disney+ originals, Marvel series, and premium sports coverage including IPL, Pro Kabaddi, and Premier League matches.
(Updated August 2025) – This comprehensive guide provides the most current methods and workarounds for accessing and paying for Hotstar Premium from anywhere in the world.
For many Indians living outside of India, this streaming service contains premium Indian TV shows that are unmatched with any other streaming service. Unfortunately the drawback is that while a version of Hotstar is available outside of India (now rebranded as Disney+ Hotstar in many regions), it is severely limited in terms of Live Sports, English, and Premium TV content. Hotstar holds back the premium content and restricts it only to Indians residing within India. As of 2025, this includes exclusive access to HBO content, latest Bollywood releases, and regional cinema that international versions don’t offer.
Simply put, if you want to watch ALL the content that Hotstar Premium has to offer outside of India, not only will you need a VPN (for an Indian IP address), you will also need to find a way to pay for Hotstar Premium using PayTM or other Indian payment methods outside of India.
Understanding Hotstar’s Geo-Restrictions in 2025
Before diving into the solution, it’s important to understand why these restrictions exist. Hotstar implements geo-blocking due to licensing agreements with content providers. The Indian version offers different content than international versions because of regional broadcasting rights. In 2025, these restrictions have become even more sophisticated, using multiple detection methods including IP verification, payment method validation, and even device fingerprinting.
How to Access Hotstar Outside of India
Yes, Hotstar launched different versions of itself in various different countries such as USA, UK, Canada, and Singapore. However, it’s not the same premium content as it is in India. The international versions typically cost 3-4 times more and offer significantly less Indian content.
Step 1: Choosing the Right VPN Service
The first step of the process is to have a VPN service that provides an Indian IP address. I won’t get into too much details, as there are various VPN providers out there that provide this service. However, in 2025, not all VPNs work with Hotstar due to their enhanced detection systems.
We recommend VPNArea.com as it has been tested to work consistently with Hotstar. Other reliable options include ExpressVPN and NordVPN, which maintain dedicated Indian servers optimized for streaming.
Pro Tip: Always connect to Mumbai or Delhi servers for best streaming speeds and reliability. Avoid free VPNs as they’re often blocked by Hotstar’s detection systems.
Step 2: Sign up for a Free Hotstar Account
Once you have your Indian IP address, go ahead and sign up for a free basic Hotstar account using your Indian IP address. This process has become more stringent in 2025 with additional verification steps.
Note: You will be required to provide a phone number from India in order to sign up for Hotstar now. You need this in order to verify you are indeed from India. Don’t have an Indian phone number? Get one now! MobileSMS.io’s non-VoIP numbers work perfectly for Hotstar verification, ensuring your account won’t get flagged or suspended.
Before you can sign up for Hotstar Premium, make sure to create a free account first. During this entire process, you should be using an Indian IP address. Clear your browser cookies and cache before starting to avoid any location conflicts.
Current Hotstar Premium Plans in 2025
As of 2025, Hotstar offers three main subscription tiers in India:
- Mobile Plan (₹149/month): Single device streaming, 720p quality, mobile and tablet only
- Super Plan (₹299/month): 2 devices, Full HD streaming, all devices except TV
- Premium Plan (₹499/month or ₹1499/year): 4 devices, 4K streaming, all devices including smart TVs
These prices are significantly lower than international Disney+ Hotstar subscriptions, which can cost up to $50/month in some regions.
How to Upgrade to Hotstar Premium Outside of India
There are many guides on how to access Hotstar Outside of India, usually trying to tout their VPN service. However none of them will grant you access to Hotstar Premium while you are outside of India without the proper payment method.
What’s the point of being able to access Hotstar if you don’t have access to any of the Hotstar Premium Content?
With just a VPN, you get access to the basic Hotstar content, which is worthless in my opinion. The reason all of you are reading this is because you want access to all the premium Hotstar content outside of India, including exclusive shows, latest movies, and live sports.
There are three proven methods to paying for Hotstar Premium while outside of India in 2025:
- Method 1 – Fiverr Service: Pay someone from Fiverr.com to pay on your behalf. These people live in India and have access to Indian payment methods. All you need to do is provide them with your Hotstar username/password, they will log in, then pay for the service on your behalf. Once they make the payment, you can log in, change the password, and start enjoying Hotstar Premium! Average cost: $5-10 service fee plus subscription cost.
- Method 2 – PayTM Wallet: The second method is more involved, and it requires you to jump through a few other hoops. This is not recommended unless you are advanced and want to create your own Indian Payment method for use outside of India. You can sign up for PayTM yourself using an Indian disposable phone number. Once verified, you’ll need to fund the wallet through international cards or cryptocurrency exchanges that support PayTM.
- Method 3 – Virtual Indian Debit Cards (New in 2025): Several fintech services now offer virtual Indian debit cards that can be funded internationally. Services like Paytm Payments Bank or Jupiter Money allow international users to create accounts with proper KYC verification using MobileSMS.io’s verification numbers.
Troubleshooting Common Issues in 2025
Even with the right setup, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:
- VPN Detection Error: Clear cookies, use incognito mode, and try different server locations
- Payment Failure: Ensure your PayTM wallet has sufficient balance and is KYC verified
- Account Suspension: Avoid switching between too many IP addresses; stick to one or two VPN servers
- Streaming Quality Issues: Choose VPN servers with lower ping times, typically under 100ms
- Mobile App Not Working: The mobile app has stricter checks; use the web browser version for initial setup
Why MobileSMS.io Numbers Work Best for Hotstar Verification
Unlike VoIP numbers that are often blocked by streaming services, MobileSMS.io provides real non-VoIP Indian numbers that pass all verification checks. These numbers are essential for both initial account creation and ongoing two-factor authentication requirements that Hotstar implemented in late 2024. Consider our “All Services” 30-day rental plan if you need numbers for multiple streaming services or extended verification needs.
Legal Considerations and Fair Use
While using a VPN to access geo-restricted content exists in a legal gray area, it’s important to note that you’re still paying for the service legitimately. Always respect copyright laws and terms of service. This guide is for educational purposes and to help legitimate users access content they’re willing to pay for.
Frequently Asked Questions (2025 Update)
Q: Can I share my Hotstar Premium account with family abroad?
A: Yes, the Premium plan allows 4 concurrent streams, but all users need to connect through Indian IP addresses.
Q: How often do I need to reconnect through VPN?
A: You’ll need to maintain the VPN connection throughout your streaming session. Some smart TV apps may cache your location for up to 30 days.
Q: Will this work on all devices?
A: Yes, but setup is easiest on computers and mobile devices. Smart TVs and streaming devices may require router-level VPN configuration.
Whether you want to watch live cricket, IPL 2025, your favorite Indian TV shows, the latest Bollywood blockbusters, or enjoy the heavily discounted prices that residents in India get from Hotstar Premium, you can now fully enjoy Hotstar Premium outside of India. With MobileSMS.io’s reliable verification numbers and these proven methods, you’ll never miss your favorite content again.