Freeform, formerly known as ABC Family, is a basic cable and satellite channel that has been owned by ABC since 2001. It is a subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company – Disney. Channel offerings include modern and family oriented shows that have a large audience, but there are many featured series and movies designed for females between the ages of 14 – 34. If you are in the US, you may watch for free online without logging in. If you are outside of the US, you would need to use a VPN to avoid geo-restrictions. Take a look at our list of the best VPNs for Freeform.
| Rank | VPN Service | Price | Visit | Server Locations | No Logs | Browser Extensions | Smart DNS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | $6.67 |  | 160 |  | | |
| 2 |  | $3.49 | | 87 | | | |
| 3 |  | $2.19 | | 110 | | | |
| 4 |  | $3.99 | | 73 | | ||
| 5 |  | $3.66 | | 46 | |
The types of programming you may expect to see on Freeform (ABC Family) include feature films, made for tv movies, religious programming, and syndicated shows. Roughly 82% of the US population that own at least one tv have access to this channel, so if you are in the US, there is a good chance you have it or know someone that does. Of course, since it is family oriented, the entire family can watch it. Let’s take a look at some of the programming.
- Melissa and Joey – Family show that ran for 4 years and featured the likes of Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, in a style similar to the show Who’s The Boss in the 80s.
- The Fosters – Teen and family drama about a same sex couple raising a multi-ethnic family.
- Last Man Standing – Family sitcom featuring Tim Allen as the father of 3 daughters and the director of marketing for a chain of sporting goods stores.
- Switched at Birth – The highest rated show for ABC family about 2 teenagers that were switched at birth and live in 2 very different worlds. It is the first series on network television to show entire scenes shot in American Sign Language (ASL). It also demonstrates some of the problems that deaf children face as opposed to the “Hearies” as they are referred to on the show.
- Greek – Drama/comedy show about students that participate in fraternities and sororities at the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University.
Depending on the time of year, the station will show full length, family movies that were released in theatres. Some examples of those are How the Grinch Stole Chtistmas and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Those are just a few of the shows and movies broadcasted, but there are many more. As the future of cable channels become less certain, the question is what will happen to channels like ABC Family? Some of that can already be answered. Freeform (ABC Family) has sold some of the licensing of shows to online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.
Change is something that ABC Family is familiar with. It actually began in 1977 as a division of a popular TV preacher named Pat Robertson. Over the course of time, it has evolved in to the family channel, and was purchased by Fox in 1998. In 2001, ABC purchased the channel and renamed it ABC Family. Not many stations have the longevity that it has, nor the commitment to showing family broadcasting.
Why use a VPN to stream content from ABC Family? It is great if you are currently in the US, but what if you are not? If you are a resident and traveling abroad or if you’re trying to watch from another country, you would be blocked from seeing the programming outside of the US. Blocking occurs because the technology that allows the content to stream, also reads where your computer is located. That is where using a VPN would be a smart idea. All you would have to do is connect to a server in US, and you are set. You may do this from any country you are in. By doing that, the technology is fooled in to thinking that you are located in the US, even if you are not.
Another useful function of a VPN deals with the security aspect. By using a VPN, you create a secure connection to a server in the US, or any other country you want to connect to. The VPN adds a layer of encryption to whatever you are doing online, whether you are trying to unblock content like this, or performing more sensitive actions. In fact, we would recommend using a VPN to protect your privacy. In today’s society, there are many people that would love to get their hands on your personal information.
You should see by now, that there are some good benefits to using a VPN, and it is a necessity if you plan on watching Freeform outside of the US. Which one is the best? All of the choices we mention in the table above are good options, and we feel you would be happy with any of them. However, we do have some favorites in the list. ExpressVPN is at the top, because we feel that it is the best VPN overall. They offer a reliable network, and servers around the world. They offer fast speeds which is good for unblocking and streaming content like ABC Family, or any others. We should also mention the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) feature. It will help you watch things like Netflix, ABC Family, and other without the overhead of encryption. It is a good solution if you have speed issues, but you watch the content unencrypted. SmartDNS will certainly work, but it lacks the privacy protection of a VPN. Fortunately ExpressVPN members have unlimited access to both services.
Let’s jump right in and take a closer look at the best VPNs for Freeform.
1. ExpressVPN
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We feel that no one should have to miss out on watching their favorite sports. Luckily, ExpressVPN agrees with that thought. If you like to travel abroad, are an expat, or you are otherwise outside the viewing area, you may have an issue when you try to watch your home team. The solution to that is to connect to a VPN in the region you want to join. It will get you past any geo-blocking software so you can enjoy the live streams of your favorite sporting events.
If you play games online, you may have heard about Distributive Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Those are attacks that can put a stop to your gaming experience in a hurry. However, the way around that is to connect to a VPN server. By doing so, you can get around those types of attacks because it changes your IP address. Whether you play competitively or casually, you have better things to concentrate on than not being able to compete in your favorite game.
The ExpressVPN team goes the extra mile to provide a feature rich service. They are also strong privacy advocates. They offer a $5,000 Future of Privacy scholarship every year to help promote privacy among college students. Just a quick example of their dedication to spreading the message of privacy around the world. Just as important, they offer a premium network to allow for fast connections. This makes the service an excellent choice for downloading and streaming. Test their network for yourself with their 30-day money-back guarantee. Sign up for 12 months and get 3 months free with our ExpressVPN deal.
2. NordVPN
While all providers promise security, some may not be protecting your privacy when using their service. However, NordVPN does an excellent job of doing that. You can quickly test their DNS security by using the leak test on their website or checking an independent site. By doing so, you will see if others can detect your location. If they can’t, though, you won’t have to worry about groups or organizations tracking you if you are connecting to a VPN. DNS leak protection is a must-have for VPN users.
If you are looking for a VPN service that will help you unblock some of the top streaming services in the world, NordVPN has you covered. As you probably know, some services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have different libraries, depending on the country you are accessing. Additionally, certain services are specific and only available in some countries. Whether you are traveling abroad or just want to check out the libraries from other regions, you can do that by connecting to a NordVPN server.
3. Private Internet Access
If you are a big sports fan, you may find yourself watching sports you would have never thought of watching previously. While that may not be true for all, many have discovered that to be the case. For everyone that has developed a fondness for other sports than the normal, connecting to a VPN server from Private Internet Access is a good idea. By doing so, you don’t have to miss out on some of your new favorite sports and can cheer on the participants.
As far as privacy goes, Private Internet Access supports five different encryption protocols. Those include OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSEC/L2TP, PPTP, and the SOCKS5 (proxy). While there are arguments to be made for using each type of encryption, the best option is to use OpenVPN. That is because it provides the best mix of privacy and speed. WireGuard is a relative newcomer, and some people are afraid to try the protocol. Of course, there are set up guides for each type of connection on their website.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish operates more than 1400 servers located in 75+ different places. While that may not be as many as some, you can bet that they have them where it counts. If you are not aware, encryption overhead can slow down your internet connection. However, we can tell you the service is fast and performs very well in the United States. That means that no matter what you choose to do while on the network, you won’t have to worry about issues with performance.
No matter where you are from, you probably know that the US has some excellent streaming services. Whether it is an stand alone service like HBO Now, a package of channels like Sling TV, or others, you will miss out on them unless you connect to a VPN server. Luckily, IPVanish makes it easy. All you have to do is pick a server from the US if that is the region you wish to use. Then, log in with your credentials and you are all set.
5. StrongVPN
If you are a gamer, you know that DDoS (Distributive Denial of Service) can cause serious issues. Those occur because hackers attempt to flood a server or computer to overwhelm them. However, you can help solve that issue by connecting to a VPN server from StrongVPN. Of course, no one wants hackers to stop them from playing their favorite games. All you have to do is select a server close to you, connect, and it will protect you from those types of attacks.
If you are in a country or visiting one that has strict rules on censorship, you can help keep yourself safe by connecting to a server from StrongVPN. One of the ways it does that is by providing its users with a “no-logs” policy. What that means is the promise never to track, store, or sell your data to 3rd parties. Not only will that help stop advertisers, but it will also help prevent the prying eyes of those that would otherwise want to do you harm.
