By Julia Newman 15 days ago, Apps and Software
Freeform (known as ABC Family) has evolved from the main American cable and satellite TV channel for teenagers into a free online on-demand streaming platform, so it will be helpful to know how to watch Freeform outside the US. If you try watching it outside the US, the channel will block its content with an error message.
Disney and ABC own the Freeform channel, delivering quality programming primarily for teens and young adults (some programs target young women) between the ages of 14 and 34. Outside of prime time, Freeform offers reruns of contemporary comedy and drama series.
Freeform can determine your location by the IP address of the viewing device. This is like the assigned personal name of the device that is accessed on the network. Also, it indicates which region you are accessing the network from.
A virtual private network (VPN) lets you technically change your location by redirecting your Internet connection to another preferred server, hiding your IP address, and replacing it with another one from an unrestricted region. When you connect to a US server, the IP looks like you live there. This unlocks Freeform, making it think that you are in a location where it is available.
Among other benefits of a VPN are the ability to encrypt network traffic and prevent it from being accessed by interlopers, like hackers or Internet service providers. In this way, you will be protected from targeted advertising, your ISP won’t be selling your browsing history to third parties, preserving your anonymity on the web.
STEP 1. Pick a VPN service with servers in the USA. Select one of the best VPNs for travel. ExpressVPN and Surfshark boast Smart DNS servers that can deal with any geo-blocking. NordVPN, PureVPN and CyberGhost are inexpensive and offer many specialized and speedy servers in the USA.
STEP 2. Download the VPN client by picking the proper version for your device or browser extensions. Then install the client.
STEP 3. Launch the VPN application or the browser extension and connect to the server in the USA. To improve speed, pick the servers that are located near the source of the broadcast.
STEP 4. Visit the Freeform website or log in to its app and pick the content to watch. Now you can watch Freeform as long your TV provider is added to the playlist. Some episodes are available without a provider – they are not marked with a lock icon. If you don’t have a TV provider, go to freeforminstantaccess.com and select a provider there.
If you aren’t subscribed to a local cable provider and want to access all the content available on Freeform, there are several streaming platforms (Sling TV, YouTube TV or PlayStation Vue) that offer a Freeform channel on the air. Hulu presents it as a part of the Live TV package, which also comes with an array of channels and streaming offers. Only those with an IP address in the US have an opportunity to access Hulu. In case you are outside of the US, try one of the best VPNs for Hulu to bypass the VPN service ban.
In case you wish to watch Freeform online, visit the Freeform website and search for the name of the show you are interested in. This way, you can catch up on the episodes that you have missed or want to re-watch. But since Freeform is available only to US residents with the local TV provider’s service connected, you will need a username and password from the provider’s account and VPN in order to log in. That’s where the best VPNs for streaming will come in handy.
Another way how to watch Freeform outside the US is to use SmartDNS. This technology is supported by ExpressVPN and Surfshark, as well as many services that offer their proxy servers individually. It conceals the real location by intercepting an Internet connection and redirecting requests from your domain name server (DNS) to a server in a different country. This way, you will control your IP address.
However, SmartDNS proxies and their services don’t have the same advantages as VPNs, except that your streaming speed will be the same as without the service. They don’t encrypt your traffic, so your data isn’t protected. Besides, they don’t have a privacy policy, so they can do whatever they want with your data.
SmartDNS can’t be configured on your own. You have to enable SmartDNS by contacting and registering your IP address with your VPN service. The service will grant you a DNS server address that can be used to manually configure DNS settings on the viewing device. As the devices and services vary, I suggest contacting the provider’s technical support for help.
There are a lot of them. Thanks to the Freeform app and the ability to view content via the streaming platform, the content is available on PC/Mac, iPhone/iPad/Android, Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku set-top box, Amazon Kindle, Samsung Smart TV. The main game consoles are available via Hulu.
Freeform provides its TV schedule on its website. So, you can find out when a particular show will air directly from the website. To find the schedule, go to the menu tab in the upper-left corner of the page and click Freeform TV Schedule.
Via the offered streaming platform. Currently, Sling TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV Now, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu with Live TV offer free access to Freeform without a cable provider.
