How To Watch Friends Online From Anywhere in 2023
For US fans, HBO Max holds the rights to stream Friends online, including Friends: The Reunion. Subscriptions start at $14.99/month. Some Netflix regions also have all 10 seasons of Friends. If you live outside the US and some regions, using a VPN to bypass geoblocking and watch Friends is your best bet. Two VPNs we tested are ExpressVPN and Surfshark.
Nothing epitomized the 1990s more than the much-beloved American sitcom Friends. The sitcom was a hit from the moment it premiered in 1994. It quickly became one of the most popular shows on network television and remained so for 10 seasons. In this article, you’ll learn a few ways to watch Friends for the first time, or all over again!
So has no one told you life was gonna be this way? Is your job a joke, are you broke, and is your love life DOA? Well, we’ll be there for you!
Where To Watch Friends Online from the US
For those living in the United States, accessing Friends is relatively straightforward. The show and all 10 seasons are streaming on HBO Max, including the reunion special Friends: The Reunion. Just be ready to fork out $14.99 a month if you want access to HBO Max.
The great thing about streaming Friends on HBO Max is that you have access to all 236 episodes of the show and various other content (legally, if we might add).
Netflix US used to have a deal with WarnerMedia (the company behind Friends) to stream the show, but this expired in 2020. Still, you can watch it if you’re lucky enough to live in a region where Netflix has a license agreement with WarnerMedia—or if you have access to a VPN (more on that below).
How to Watch Friends Online Outside the US
Accessing Friends can be a bit more challenging for those living outside the US. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you can overcome location-based restrictions and stream the show from anywhere in the world.
If you don’t live in the US or don’t want to get an HBO Max subscription, don’t fret! As we mentioned, some Netflix regions, such as Australia, India, and South Africa, still have all 10 seasons of Friends. Still, you can get or rent individual episodes rather than the entire 10 seasons on sites such as Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, or iStore.
Chromecast and Roku users will be glad to hear they can stream Friends using their devices. BUT! You’ll still need to install a VPN for Roku or Chromecast to bypass geo-restrictions.
- Best way to watch Friends in the UK
For our UK friends, you can watch Friends on Netflix. Other streaming sites in the UK that show Friends are Sky, Now TV, and Amazon. - Best way to watch Friends in Australia
If you’re from Down Under, unfortunately, the show is not available on streaming sites like Stan or Foxtel. Netflix Australia still has rights to stream Friends, so luckily, you can head on over there to watch the show. Bad news, Kiwis: Friends is not available on Netflix New Zealand. But you can use a VPN to connect to a server next door or the UK to watch all 10 seasons (yay!). - Best way to watch Friends in Canada
Canadian viewers looking to watch Friends online have a few options. They can stream the show on HBO Max, if they’re willing to pay the subscription fee and use a US-based VPN service to bypass geo-restrictions. Netflix also has all 10 seasons of Friends available in Canada, so viewers can sign up for a subscription there.
Anywhere else, you’d have to use a VPN to change your Netflix region to where Friends is available, such as connecting to a server in the UK, France, or India.
Watching Friends from Outside the US with a VPN
Unfortunately, if you try to access HBO Max from outside the US, you’ll find yourself blocked. That’s where a VPN comes in.
A VPN allows you to connect to a remote server in another country, making your device appear as if it were located in the same region. This way, you can bypass geo-restrictions and access content that’s only available in specific countries.
For this blog post, we tested ExpressVPN to watch Friends on Netflix and HBO Max.
How to watch Friends on Netflix with a VPN
As we’ve mentioned, Netflix US doesn’t have the rights to stream Friends. But some other regions do—for example, Canada or parts of Europe, such as Belgium, Germany, or Switzerland. So if you want to watch Friends on Netflix from outside these regions, you’ll need a VPN.
Follow these steps to use ExpressVPN to watch Friends on Netflix from anywhere:
- If you haven’t signed up yet, select Get Started on the ExpressVPN homepage to sign up for a plan.
- Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device, then launch it.
- Connect to a VPN server in the country where Friends is available (e.g., Canada).
- Log into your Netflix account, or create one if you don’t have one already.
- Search for Friends and start streaming!
These steps shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes. Once you’re done, you can watch Friends (or your other favorite shows) on Netflix from anywhere in the world.
How to watch Friends on HBO Max with a VPN
Unfortunately, users outside the US can’t watch Friends on HBO Max without using a VPN. HBO Max is only available in the US and its territories at the moment, which means you’ll need to get a subscription. Still, watching the sitcom from outside these regions—even with an active subscription—might be tricky without a VPN.
To watch Friends on HBO Max, here’s what you need to do:
- Open ExpressVPN on your device and log in with your credentials.
- Connect to a US-based server.
- Go to the HBO Max website or open the app (if you have it on your device).
- Sign in to your HBO Max account with your US credentials.
- Search for Friends and enjoy!
With ExpressVPN, you can watch Friends from anywhere in the world. The process is simple and straightforward. Plus, there are no bandwidth caps or data limits, so you can stream all your favorite shows beyond Friends on HBO Max.
What VPN Should I Use to Watch Friends?
You deserve the best and only the best when it comes to VPNs. That’s why we recommend ExpressVPN and Surfshark when watching Friends from outside the US. Both providers offer lightning-fast speeds and unrestricted access, plus a whole host of other features to whet your viewing appetite.
Here’s how the two compare in terms of connection, security, pricing, and other features and what we didn’t like about both:
- Connection
ExpressVPN offers a huge network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, so you can connect to any region around the world. It also offers unlimited bandwidth and up to 5 simultaneous connections per subscription.On the other hand, Surfshark has over 3,200+ servers in 65 countries, so you can access streaming sites like HBO Max and Netflix from anywhere. It also has unlimited bandwidth and allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections with one subscription.
- Security
ExpressVPN comes equipped with military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, kill switch protection, DNS leak protection, and more. Surfshark also offers top-notch security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) feature. - Pricing
ExpressVPN is slightly pricier than Surfshark, but it does offer more features and better security for your money. However, if you’re on a tight budget, Surfshark can be a great choice as it has the same level of security and is much cheaper.ExpressVPN costs $12.95 per month when billed annually ($99). This is slightly more expensive than Surfshark’s monthly subscription of $3.99 (billed at $59.76 each year). But if you’re looking for the best value for money, both are well worth their prices.
- Other features
ExpressVPN and Surfshark both offer a range of other features, including unlimited server switching, split tunneling, automatic app protection, and more. Both providers also provide 24/7 customer support via live chat in case you run into any issues while using the service. - The not so great
ExpressVPN is slightly pricier than Surfshark, and it doesn’t offer a free trial or money-back guarantee. It also has fewer servers than Surfshark. But the sheer number of countries where you can connect to should still be enough for most users.Surfshark, on the other hand, has a shorter list of features than ExpressVPN and doesn’t have any extra options like split-tunneling or automatic app protection. But the unlimited simultaneous connections make up for this.
Whether you’re looking to watch Friends from anywhere in the world or just want to stay secure online, both ExpressVPN and Surfshark have you covered.
What Is Friends All About?
For new fans who don’t know, Friends is a classic sitcom that first aired in 1994 and ran for 10 seasons. It follows the lives of six close friends living in New York City as they navigate their way through life, love, and all sorts of pitfalls along the way. Critics have hailed the show as one of the most iconic TV series of all time and it has remained popular over the years.
The series follows six Friends — Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), and Ross Geller (David Schwimmer). It’s filled with lots of humorous moments, heartwarming relationships, and iconic catchphrases.
Is Friends a Good Watch?
Ask that to any fan of the show, and you’re almost guaranteed a resounding yes! Friends has truly stood the test of time and is still beloved by viewers all over the world. The series has been praised by critics and fans alike for its sharp writing, well-crafted characters, and unique humor.
It’s an easy watch that’s still as entertaining today as it was when it first aired over two decades ago.
Watch Friends with Your friends Anywhere in the World!
Suffice to say, you can’t talk about sitcoms without mentioning Friends. Now, you can watch the iconic series with your friends from anywhere in the world. With a VPN, you can access streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Max from any corner of the globe—no matter where you are.
Simply download and install a reliable VPN service, unblock streaming platforms, and get ready to relive the iconic 90’s show with your friends.
