How to Watch Hulu in Canada in 2024 [7 Working Methods]

You‘ve heard about the latest hit show on Hulu, grabbed some snacks, settled onto your couch, opened your browser, and… wait. "Hulu is not available in your region." If you‘re in Canada, this frustrating message is all too familiar.

The good news? You‘re not out of options. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through seven proven methods to watch Hulu in Canada in 2024, breaking down exactly what works, what doesn‘t, and everything in between.

Does Canada Have Hulu?

Let‘s address the big question right away: No, Canada does not have Hulu. While Hulu is one of the biggest streaming platforms in the United States with over 48 million subscribers as of early 2024, the service remains officially unavailable in Canada due to complex licensing agreements and regional content restrictions.

Hulu is currently only officially available in:

• United States
• U.S. territories like Puerto Rico
• U.S. military bases

Unlike Netflix or Disney+, which have expanded globally, Hulu has remained primarily a U.S.-focused service. This limitation isn‘t because Hulu doesn‘t want Canadian viewers—it‘s due to a complicated web of content licensing deals, broadcast rights, and market competition.

The Canadian Streaming Landscape

To understand why this matters, let‘s look at Canada‘s streaming market in 2024:

According to recent statistics from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), over 78% of Canadian households subscribe to at least one streaming service, with the average household subscribing to 2.5 services. This fragmentation means Canadians typically spend $29-$45 per month on streaming—yet still miss out on Hulu‘s extensive library.

Why Isn‘t Hulu Available in Canada?

Several factors keep Hulu out of Canada:

1. Content licensing agreements: Many shows on Hulu are licensed for U.S. distribution only. The rights to these same shows in Canada often belong to different services or networks.

2. Market competition: Canada has established streaming services like Crave (owned by Bell Media) that have secured exclusive rights to content that would otherwise be on Hulu.

3. Disney‘s strategy: Since Disney owns Hulu (having acquired full operational control in 2019), they‘ve chosen to incorporate some Hulu content into Disney+ Star in international markets rather than launching Hulu separately.

4. Canadian content regulations: Canada has specific requirements for Canadian content that streaming services must meet. The CRTC‘s Bill C-11 (Online Streaming Act) requires platforms to promote and fund Canadian content, which creates additional regulatory hurdles.

5. Historical licensing deals: Many of Hulu‘s content partnerships were established before international streaming expansion was prioritized.

What Content Are Canadians Missing?

Hulu‘s content library spans over 4,000 titles, including:

• Hulu Originals like "The Handmaid‘s Tale," "Only Murders in the Building," and "The Bear"
• Current-season episodes from major networks (ABC, NBC, Fox)
• Extensive FX content library
• Acclaimed documentaries and films
• Live TV options (with Hulu + Live TV subscription)

While some Hulu content appears on Canadian services (like "The Handmaid‘s Tale" on Crave), many shows and movies remain exclusively on Hulu, creating a significant content gap for Canadian viewers.

Method 1: Using a VPN to Access Hulu on Your Computer

The most reliable method to watch Hulu in Canada is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. A VPN masks your actual location by routing your traffic through servers in different countries—in this case, the United States.

What You‘ll Need:

• A reliable VPN service with U.S. servers
• A Hulu subscription
• A payment method that works with Hulu (more on this shortly)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Sign up for a reliable VPN service
   Choose a VPN with multiple U.S. servers and a proven track record of working with streaming services. Not all VPNs can bypass Hulu‘s geo-restrictions.

2. Install the VPN on your device
   Most premium VPNs offer apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

3. Connect to a U.S. server
   Launch your VPN app and connect to a server located in the United States.

4. Test your connection
   Visit a website that checks your location to confirm you appear to be browsing from the U.S.

5. Visit Hulu.com and sign up for an account
   While connected to your VPN, go to Hulu.com and create a new account.

6. Enter payment information
   This step can be tricky for Canadians (see Method 6 for payment solutions).

7. Start streaming Hulu content
   Once payment is processed, you can access the full Hulu library.

Technical Insights: How VPNs Work with Streaming Services

VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, routing your traffic through servers in different locations. When you connect to a U.S. server, websites see the VPN server‘s IP address instead of yours, making it appear as if you‘re physically located in the United States.

However, streaming services like Hulu employ increasingly sophisticated methods to detect and block VPN usage:

• IP address databases: They maintain lists of known VPN server IP addresses
• DNS leak detection: They check if your DNS requests match your IP location
• Deep packet inspection: Some services analyze your traffic patterns
• Cookie and account analysis: They look for inconsistencies in login locations

This is why not just any VPN will work with Hulu. Premium VPNs regularly refresh their IP addresses, implement obfuscation techniques, and use residential IP addresses (which are less likely to be flagged as VPN servers).

Important tip: If Hulu still detects that you‘re using a VPN, try connecting to a different U.S. server or clearing your browser cookies. Some VPNs also offer dedicated streaming servers specifically optimized for accessing services like Hulu.

Method 2: Watching Hulu on Android Devices in Canada

Android users have two main options for getting Hulu on their devices in Canada.

Option A: Change Google Play Store Region

1. Install and connect to your VPN with a U.S. server
2. Clear Google Play Store cache and data:
   • Go to Settings > Apps > Google Play Store
   • Tap on "Storage" > "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data"
3. Open Google Play Store (it should now show U.S. content)
4. Search for Hulu and install the app
5. Log in with your Hulu credentials

Option B: Sideload the Hulu APK File

If changing the Play Store region doesn‘t work, you can sideload the app:

1. Enable installation from unknown sources:

   • Go to Settings > Security
   • Toggle on "Unknown Sources" (on older Android versions) or
   • Go to Settings > Apps > Special Access > Install Unknown Apps (on newer Android versions)

2. Download the Hulu APK:

   • Using your VPN connected to a U.S. server
   • Visit APKMirror or similar trusted APK sites
   • Search for "Hulu" and download the latest version

3. Install the APK by tapping on the downloaded file

4. Open the Hulu app with your VPN connected and log in

Android Device Compatibility Analysis

Based on my testing of popular Android devices in Canada, here‘s how they perform with Hulu:

These figures are based on testing across multiple VPN services and network conditions in major Canadian cities.

Pro tip: APK files update less frequently than Play Store apps. For security and feature updates, periodically download the latest APK. Most modern Android devices now include malware scanning for sideloaded apps, but always download APKs from reputable sources.

Method 3: Accessing Hulu on iPhones and iPads in Canada

Apple‘s ecosystem makes it slightly more challenging to access geo-restricted content, but it‘s still possible.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create a new U.S. Apple ID:

   • Sign out of your current Apple ID on your device
   • Go to Settings > iTunes & App Store > Create New Apple ID
   • Select "United States" as the region
   • Complete setup with a U.S. address (use a hotel or business address)

2. Add a payment method:

   • You can select "None" for payment method
   • You‘ll need to add a U.S. address (use services like Google Maps to find a valid address)

3. Sign in with your new U.S. Apple ID

4. Install a VPN app from the App Store

5. Connect to a U.S. server

6. Download the Hulu app from the App Store

7. Open Hulu and log in with your account credentials

iOS Technical Considerations

iOS devices present unique challenges for region switching:

• App Store region linking: Your Apple ID‘s region is tied to your payment method and affects all Apple services (iCloud, Apple Music, etc.)
• GPS-based location: iOS uses both IP and GPS for location services, so ensure your VPN is properly configured
• App updates: You‘ll need to switch back to your U.S. Apple ID to update the Hulu app

Recent iOS updates (iOS 16+) have implemented additional security features that can occasionally interfere with VPN connections. To mitigate this:

• Enable "Load TP Resources" in VPN settings if available
• Disable "Private Wi-Fi Address" in WiFi settings
• Consider using IKEv2 or WireGuard VPN protocols for better performance

Note: You can switch between your Canadian and U.S. Apple IDs as needed, but you‘ll need to use the U.S. account to update the Hulu app.

Method 4: Setting Up Hulu on Smart TVs in Canada

Smart TVs present unique challenges since they don‘t always support VPN apps directly. The approach varies depending on your TV‘s operating system.

For Android TV / Google TV:

1. Install a VPN that supports Android TV:

   • Many premium VPNs offer Android TV apps
   • Install directly from the Google Play Store on your TV

2. Connect to a U.S. server

3. Download Hulu using the method described in the Android section

4. Log in and enjoy

For Samsung, LG, and other non-Android Smart TVs:

These TVs don‘t support direct VPN installation, so you need a workaround:

1. Set up a VPN on your router:

   • This routes all connected devices through the VPN
   • Requires a VPN-compatible router or flashing your router with DD-WRT or Tomato firmware
   • Follow your VPN provider‘s router setup instructions

2. Change your TV‘s DNS settings:

   • Go to Network Settings on your TV
   • Set Manual DNS configuration
   • Enter the DNS codes provided by a Smart DNS service

3. Create a U.S. account for your TV‘s app store:

   • Requirements vary by manufacturer
   • May require factory reset and initial setup with VPN connected

Smart TV Compatibility Chart

Alternative solution: Rather than configuring your Smart TV directly, use a streaming device like Amazon Fire Stick, which offers easier VPN installation (see Method 5).

Method 5: Using Streaming Devices to Watch Hulu in Canada

Streaming devices offer a more flexible way to access Hulu on your TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick Method:

1. Purchase an Amazon Fire TV Stick (available in Canada)

2. Before setting up your Fire Stick:

   • Change your Amazon account region to U.S.
   • Log into Amazon.com
   • Go to Accounts & Lists > Content and Devices > Preferences
   • Change your country/region to United States
   • Add a U.S. address

3. Set up your Fire Stick with your U.S. Amazon account

4. Download a VPN app on your Fire Stick:

   • ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all have native Fire TV apps
   • Install directly from the Amazon App Store

5. Connect to a U.S. server

6. Download the Hulu app from the Amazon App Store

7. Log in to Hulu and start streaming

Roku Method:

Roku doesn‘t support VPN apps directly, so you‘ll need to:

1. Set up a VPN on your router (as described in Method 4)

2. Create a U.S. Roku account:

   • Go to Roku.com using a VPN
   • Create a new account with a U.S. address

3. Factory reset your Roku device

4. Set up with your new U.S. account

5. Add the Hulu channel and log in

Apple TV Method:

Apple TV doesn‘t support VPN apps directly (except for newer models running tvOS 17+), so you have two options:

1. Option A: VPN on your router (as described above)

2. Option B: Smart DNS:

   • Subscribe to a Smart DNS service
   • Configure DNS settings on your Apple TV
   • Many premium VPNs include Smart DNS functionality

Streaming Device Performance Comparison

Based on extensive testing with Hulu in Canada, here‘s how different streaming devices perform: