Launched in 2012, HBO Nordic is HBO's video distribution service covering Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Unfortunately, unless you live in that part of the world, you'll need a VPN to access it – and this guide will ensure you pick the best VPN for HBO Nordic as well as giving you some tips on unblocking the service successfully.
The best VPNs for HBO Nordic
The similarities and difference between these VPNs is discussed in more detail below, but here's a summary of our top picks:
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for HBO Nordic. It's lightning-fast and super secure, offers superb features and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value for HBO Nordic. It can easily bypass geo-restrictions, it's fast, and has a number of unique security features.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure VPN for HBO Nordic. Offers a no-logs policy that's been proven in court and a global server network.
- Surfshark - An all-around VPN for HBO Nordic. It's blazing-fast, feature-rich, and unblocks streaming sites on unlimited number of devices.
- CyberGhost VPN - User-friendly VPN for HBO Nordic. Slick apps for all platforms and a privacy policy you can trust. The cheapest VPN on this list.
To ensure you get the most out of a VPN for HBO Nordic we have chosen services with the following features:
- Fast servers in Scandinavia
- Strong encryption
- Ability to unblock other streaming services
The best VPNs for HBO Nordic: an in-depth analysis
We take a closer look at the best VPNs for HBO Nordic below. If you still want more information about the services in the list, take a look at our detailed VPN reviews.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for HBO Nordic. It has great coverage in Scandinavia and exceptional security features. It's lightning fast, and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN leads the way when it comes to striking the perfect balance between security features and speed optimization. Although it's one of the pricier VPNs available, it's also one of the best in terms of value for your money. ExpressVPN offers thousands of servers in 105 countries
worldwide, and for HBO Nordic, you can connect to any one of a number of servers in Scandinavia. It has an excellent track record when it comes to unblocking other sought-after geo-restricted content, such as Netflix US and BBC iPlayer. To keep you protected, ExpressVPN runs all its servers on RAM. This means data is completely wiped every time one is powered down and you can really trust their no logs policy. The provider also offers a kill-switch, protection against DNS leaks, and a stealth mode which means even your ISP won't know you're using a VPN. ExpressVPN is so confident in its product, that if you don't like it after a month, you'll get your money back. NordVPN is the best budget VPN for HBO Nordic. It's consistently quick and reliable, unblocks plenty, and offers security features to match – with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Nord Demo NordVPN is based in Panama, which has excellent privacy laws and means the company will never be pressed into action that jeopardizes user privacy. Even with that being the case, NordVPN does not keep any logs of its users' activity and has a double VPN feature that reroutes your traffic through two servers instead of one for an extra layer of protection. NordVPN also has a CyberSec function to block out adverts and malware, and uses the latest encryption protocols. Its security features help it stand out from the crowd, but it's also one of the quickest VPNs around. It's the speediest on this list by some way and thus an excellent choice for HBO Nordic – very few providers will be able to match NordVPN's lightning-quick connections. What's more, it has servers in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, which means you'll have plenty of locations to choose from. Try them all risk-free, with NordVPN's 30-day money-back guarantee. Private Internet Access is an ultra-secure VPN. Offers a huge network of servers, tried-and-tested security features to keep your privacy intact, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) is an astute choice for streaming HBO Nordic from outside of the region – it has hundreds of servers in Sweden and Denmark and plenty in Norway and Finland too, so you shouldn't have any trouble connecting to one and streaming your favorite shows. As mentioned previously, Private Internet Access has had its no-logs claim proven in court – no wonder it's such a popular VPN amongst Reddit users! They use state-of-the-art WireGuard encryption on top of all the standard encryption protocols and have recently launched a NextGen VPN Network which uses cutting-edge hardware designed to improve both speed and security. Private Internet Access has an impressive number of servers in 84 countries
worldwide, and is great at unblocking geo-restricted all over the world – so if you're planning on accessing other content blocked in your region, this could be the VPN for you. You can use PIA on up to 10 devices simultaneously, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you and your family can test it out before you invest long-term. Surfshark is a great all-around HBO Nordic VPN. You get awesome privacy features, rapid connection speeds, and unlimited connections, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark Demo Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands and performs very well on speed tests - the most recent one we conducted confirms it's the second quickest on the list. Surfshark has servers in all the countries you'd need it to in order to watch HBO Nordic, and the fact you can install one VPN account on an unlimited amount of devices means your whole family can enhance their online privacy for just a couple of dollars. Surfshark's security features are top-notch, particularly considering how cheap the service is. Camouflage mode is a great tool to have up your sleeve because it not only performs the standard VPN function of masking your IP address but also makes it impossible to tell you're using a VPN. And, on top of best-in-class encryption and a kill-switch, the multi-hop function allows you to reroute your internet traffic through 2 servers rather than one. Even though it costs a pittance, Surfshark will still give you your money back after 30 days if you're not satisfied. Cyberghost is an easy-to-use VPN that reliably unblocks HBO Nordic. It meets all your streaming and security needs affordably, and with a 45-day money-back guarantee. CyberGhost Demo CyberGhost is a reliable, well-maintained VPN based in Romania. This is where the provider's NoSpy servers are held – special servers with state-of-the-art hardware managed end-to-end by CyberGhost's team of security experts. Aside from this impressive option for customers, CyberGhost equips its users with AES-256 bit encryption, a kill-switch, and malware protection. This provider is a great option for watching shows on HBO Nordic because there's nothing more frustrating than having to mess around with your VPN settings as your favorite show is starting, and CyberGhost's app is highly intuitive and really easy to get going. It has a vast number of servers in 100 countries
worldwide, including hundreds across the Nordic region, as well as a long history of unblocking HBO Nordic as well as other geo-restricted content. With 45 days to try it out and still claim your money back, taking it for a spin is a no-brainer. 1. ExpressVPN
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ProPrivacy reviewing methodology
At ProPrivacy, we only recommend VPNs that we have meticulously tested and reviewed, both as a team and as individuals (in our spare time!). In other words, putting VPNs through their paces is a crucial part of our content-creating process. That's why, in our comparison pages and reviews, you'll only see VPNs with well-implemented encryption, great speeds and geo-spoofing capabilities, and excellent privacy features.
When putting together this guide, I personally went through (and double-checked) that each of my recommendations meets the following criteria:
- Robust security - In this list, you'll see only the VPNs that pack strong, well-implemented encryption, along with multiple VPN protocols.
- Uncompromising privacy – A good VPN must stick to a strict no-logs policy and offer advanced features, like a kill-switch!
- Large server network - To easily geo-spoof your location and access a great variety of content online, you need a VPN with a superior server network.
- Great speeds - I only recommend VPNs that can handle data-intensive tasks (like streaming and torrenting) with ease.
- Device compatibility - Nobody has time for confusing and unresponsive software. You should always opt for a no-nonsense VPN with easy-to-use apps for all platforms.
- Value for money - The best VPNs are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Besides, I always check what's included in VPN plans – for example, it's important that you get multiple simultaneous connections, unlimited data traffic, and great customer support.
- Try it before you buy it – This is the rule I live by, so I've only included VPNs that offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, or longer.
What's on HBO Nordic?
The streaming service shows HBO's self-produced films and TV shows but with subtitles. It has a number of popular TV shows including big-budget epics Game of Thrones and Vikings, as well as other widely-watched dramas like True Blood and Banshee.
However, in the last couple of years, they have started to produce originals on the platform, including:
Beforeigners – A Norweigan film that follows the lives of a group of 'time migrants' – refugees from different periods in the past – who appear in Oslo in mysterious circumstances.
GÖSTA – A comedy series that focuses on a 28-year-old child psychologist whose ambition is to become the kindest person in the world – but things keep going wrong.
And there's more coming in 2024, including:
Beartown – Directed by Peter Grönlund from a novel by best-selling author Fredrik Backman
Untamed – A kooky Norwegian comedy following a chain of vengeful actions that take place in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
Kamikaze – An adaption of author Erlend Loe's novel, Muleum, this will be the first original Danish drama on the platform.
There will likely be more to follow – Netflix has released its first Norwegian film this year, and other streaming providers seem to be getting to grips with Scandinavian cinema.
How to set up a VPN for HBO Nordic
- Sign up for one of the best HBO Nordic VPNs on our list.
- Download and install your VPN on your device.
- Choose a server from the server list located in a Nordic country.
- Navigate to the HBO Nordic homepage.
- Create an account and enjoy the show!
Unblock other HBO services
A VPN service will also enable you to unblock other HBO services such as HBO Max or HBO Go. See the pages below for more information unblocking these services.
Can I use a free VPN with HBO Nordic?
There's no doubt there are some top free VPNs out there – but unfortunately, going with a non-paid service is simply riskier.
Any provider running both a free and premium version of a product wants to encourage their users to invest in the more expensive one – so there has to be some visible cost to not doing so.
Providers that run just free versions, on the other hand, have no financial incentive to keep their users happy or safe, nor the money to keep up with the market leaders. For this reason, it is unlikely the pound-for-pound best VPN will ever be free.
Several of the most popular free VPNs – many of which appear near the top of search results on the Apple and Google Play stores – not only do very little to protect user privacy but even worse, they deliberately jeopardize it.
What to do if you can't watch HBO Nordic with your VPN
If you're struggling to get on to HBO Nordic with your VPN, there are a few things you can do to fix it:
- Connect to a different server – HBO Nordic is available in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, so simply rerouting your traffic through another server in the region may solve your problems.
- Delete your browser cache and cookies – although VPNs can stop websites 'profiling' you with cookies, it does not prevent them from being installed on your device, so this is at least worth a shot.
- Use a different device – all the VPNs in this article allow for at least 5 simultaneous connections, so try it out on another device.
- Contact your provider's customer support line – they will be able to instruct on the best steps to take to get HBO Nordic up and running.
Conclusion
HBO Nordic is set to have a big 2024 when it comes to original shows, so get your VPN sorted now and you won't miss a minute. If you're still not quite decided on a provider yet, here's a reminder of our top picks:
- ExpressVPN - The best VPN for HBO Nordic. It's lightning-fast and super secure, offers superb features and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NordVPN - The best value for HBO Nordic. It can easily bypass geo-restrictions, it's fast, and has a number of unique security features.
- Private Internet Access - The most secure VPN for HBO Nordic. Offers a no-logs policy that's been proven in court and a global server network.
- Surfshark - An all-around VPN for HBO Nordic. It's blazing-fast, feature-rich, and unblocks streaming sites on unlimited number of devices.
- CyberGhost VPN - User-friendly VPN for HBO Nordic. Slick apps for all platforms and a privacy policy you can trust. The cheapest VPN on this list.