Updated on: September 1, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best way to pay for Hulu without a US credit card in 2024:
- Hulu gift cards. Hulu accepts payments through gift cards sold by third-party retailers. Just buy the gift card, copy-paste the activation code you’ll receive over email, and redeem it on Hulu’s website to pay for your subscription.
Hulu is only available in the US, so it only accepts US credit/debit cards. So, if your subscription expires when you travel abroad, or if you simply want to start using Hulu on vacation, you won’t be able to pay for the service without a US card on hand.
Luckily, Hulu accepts other payment methods apart from credit cards. I cover the most straightforward ways you can pay for Hulu in this article and provide step-by-step instructions for each method.
You might also have privacy concerns about giving your card details to a streaming service. Given that other streaming sites have suffered data breaches, this is understandable. Read on to find out more about what you can do to secure your financial data when you pay for Hulu.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
5 Ways to Pay for Hulu Without a US Credit Card
1. Use a Hulu Gift Card
This is the easiest option in my opinion, as gift cards are one of the main payment methods accepted by Hulu. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Buy a Hulu gift card — I recommend using MyGiftCardSupply, though you can also buy a Hulu gift card from Amazon, Walmart, or other third-party retailers. MyGiftCardSupply has Hulu gift cards with amounts ranging between $25 to $100. You’ll need to create an account on MyGiftCardSupply to buy a Hulu gift card, and you can pay for it via credit/debit card, PayPal, cryptocurrencies, and more.
2. Wait until you receive the gift card via email. Based on my research, it might take more than a few minutes to get the email if this is your first time using MyGiftCardSupply. Once you get the gift card email, you’ll just need to find the gift card code and copy-paste it.
3. Access Hulu’s site and redeem the gift card. Hulu has a dedicated web page where you can do this, which you can access via this link. Just copy-paste the gift card code in the blank field and click REDEEM. If you don’t have a Hulu account, you can set one up now, though keep in mind you’ll need to use a US address and zip code to do this.
4. Log into Hulu and start streaming. Use your MyDisney account credentials to access your Hulu account and start watching whatever shows and movies you want!
2. Get a Virtual US Card
It’s actually possible to get a virtual US card that you can use to pay for Hulu. A virtual card works just like a physical card, but it’s digital. Here’s how to get one and use it to pay for Hulu:
1. Create a StatesCard account. While there are many web services that offer virtual cards, I think StatesCard is the best for this situation since it specifically mentions on its site that you can use it to pay for Hulu (other virtual card platforms don’t mention streaming services). When creating your StatesCard account, make sure to use your real name and address — don’t worry, this information won’t affect the billing address used on the virtual card.
2. Verify your identity and fund the card. To verify the personal information you provided, you’ll need to either upload photos of a document confirming your identity or record a short selfie video. Once you verify your information, StatesCard will provide you with your virtual card details. After that, you can log into your account and add funds to your virtual card via PayPal or a credit/debit card (it doesn’t have to be a US card).
3. Pick the Hulu subscription you want — if you’re not sure which preset subscription to choose, Hulu also lets you customize your subscription. If you already have a Hulu account, just log into it. Then, use the virtual card details you got from StatesCard to pay for your Hulu subscription.
4. Access your Hulu account and start streaming. You should now be able to watch any content you want on Hulu without any issues.
3. Use a US PayPal Account
This method only works if you already have a US PayPal account. You can’t set up a US PayPal account abroad, as you’ll need a US address and a US phone number to do that. That said, if you have a US PayPal account, here’s what you need to do:
1. Log into PayPal and fund your account (if necessary). If you don’t have any funds on your account, you can use different methods to fund it — do a bank transfer, use a credit/debit card to add money (it doesn’t have to be a US card), receive money from friends or family, or add cash to your account by visiting a supported retailer in person.
2. Pay for your Hulu subscription via PayPal. If you don’t already have a Hulu account, create one, pick the plan that works for you, and pay for it via PayPal. If you have a Hulu account, just log in and use PayPal to pay for your subscription.
3. Start streaming on Hulu. Enjoy all the shows and movies the streaming platform has to offer.
4. Pay Through Google Play or iTunes
Hulu supports payments through these app stores — I decided to cover Google Play and iTunes in one section since the steps are basically the same for both of them. Bear in mind that this only works if you have a US Google Play or iTunes account. If so, here’s what you need to do:
1. Buy a US iTunes or Google Play gift card. You can buy the gift card from third-party retailers (like Amazon) and then redeem it in your iTunes or Google Play account to add funds to your account balance. If you already have a US payment method linked to your account, this step won’t be necessary.
2. Download Hulu’s iOS or Android app. You can find the app on your device’s app store — downloading and installing it won’t take more than 1–2 minutes.
3. Log into the Hulu app or create an account. If you already have a Hulu account, just log in and use your account balance (or linked US payment method) to pay for your subscription. If you don’t have an account, set one up, pick the subscription you like, and pay for it.
4. Use the Hulu app to stream content. You should now be able to watch anything you want on Hulu’s streaming mobile app.
5. Use a US Amazon Pay Account
I’m saving this method for last because it’s not the best one — it only works if you already have a US Amazon Pay account, and if it’s already funded, or if it has a US payment method linked to it. If you have all of that, here’s what you should do:
1. Access Hulu. Either log into your existing account or create a new account if you’re a new user.
2. Pay for your Hulu subscription. Just pick Amazon Pay when you see it in the list of payment options.
3. Start using Hulu. Enjoy being able to watch whatever TV series and movies you want!
Why You Need a VPN to Pay for Hulu
The main reason to use a VPN while paying for Hulu is to secure your internet traffic. A good VPN encrypts all your web data, which means it makes it 100% unreadable. So, cybercriminals wouldn’t be able to monitor the information you exchange with Hulu and compromise your financial data.
There’s also the fact that Hulu is only available in the US. You could, in theory, use a VPN to connect to a US VPN server to gain access to Hulu’s website or mobile streaming app when you’re traveling abroad. You could also use the VPN to sign up for Hulu abroad, provided you have access to a US payment method and a US address.
Quick summary of the best VPNs for paying for Hulu without a US credit card:
- 1. 🥇ExpressVPN — Best VPN for paying for Hulu without a US card (high-end security).
- 2. 🥈Private Internet Access — Very good VPN with servers in almost all US cities.
- 3. 🥉CyberGhost VPN — Good VPN for beginners (simple-to-navigate apps).
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you pay for Hulu with a gift card?
Yes — Hulu accepts gift cards from third-party retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, MyGiftCardSupply, and more. You just have to buy the gift card, receive it over email, and copy-paste the activation code on Hulu’s site to redeem it. After that, just access your Hulu account and start streaming.
Can I use an international PayPal account to pay for Hulu?
No, as Hulu only accepts payments via US PayPal accounts. If you have a US account, this is what you need to do to pay for your Hulu subscription. If you don’t have a US account, I don’t recommend trying to set one up abroad, as it very likely won’t work — to create a US PayPal account, you’ll need a valid US address and a valid US phone number.
Is Hulu only available in the US?
Yes — there’s also Hulu Japan, but that version is significantly different from the US version. In addition to only being available in the US, the site also requires you to have a US payment method. Luckily, if you don’t have a US credit/debit card, there are some alternatives you can try.
Does Hulu accept payments through Google Play and iTunes?
Yes, you can pay for Hulu via your device’s app store balance. Just keep in mind you need to have a US Google Play or iTunes account. If you don’t have a US payment method linked to the account, you can buy a Google Play or iTunes gift card and redeem it to add funds to your account balance.