The Hallmark Channel is one of the top destinations for sickly sweet, feel-good family entertainment all year round, and when the holiday season begins, it's the place for all the Christmas cheer you could fit into your stocking.
2024 is no different, with plenty of new Christmas movies to check out, including Nantucket Noel, A Very Merry Bridesmaid, Making Spirits Bright, A Christmas Together With You and many more. The Hallmark Channel's content is available through several channels, but this piece will focus specifically on what they call "Hallmark Channel Everywhere", which is available on iOS and Android devices through the Hallmark TV app.
How to unblock the Hallmark Channel
Perhaps you're an American ex-pat who still needs a fix of Holiday goodness that only the Hallmark Channel can provide, or maybe you're traveling through another country, and need a little something when you're feeling homesick. The only problem is that unless you pay for an additional subscription to access content through a second party like NowTV or Amazon, their content is geo-restricted to only the USA. That's where a VPN can make your life a lot easier. With a VPN, you can make your device appear to be located back home in the US, and be able to watch all the holiday-related movies you could want! Follow the steps below to unblock The Hallmark Channel:
- Sign up to your VPN service of choice – we've tested and chosen the best of the best, and curated them down below.
- Download and install the VPN software on your device – most VPN services these days will run on just about every device you own (even FireTV sticks) and will allow multiple connections at once.
- Log in and connect to a US based VPN server.
- Open the Hallmark TV app and enjoy all the Christmas cheer you can handle!
Why do you need a VPN to unblock The Hallmark Channel?
Unlike other streaming services like Amazon or Netflix, which require a simple sign up, access to the Hallmark Channel's services is a little more complicated. You can't just sign up to the Hallmark Channel as you would any other provider. Their content is only available to people who have an account with, or at least the login details for, a US cable TV provider such as Spectrum, Verizon or DirecTV. You can't even install the apps from the App/Play Store if your country is set to anything other than the US!
Where can I watch The Hallmark Channel?
Due to the way Hallmark has restricted access to both its content and apps, you'll need to connect through servers in the US. You can then stream content either through the website or in the app on your device of choice.
The best VPNs to unblock The Hallmark Channel
We recommend that our readers use the following VPN services for unblocking the Hallmark Channel.
ExpressVPN is an industry-leading VPN provider that's perfect for unblocking the Hallmark Channel this Christmas. ExpressVPN Demo ExpressVPN has been around for over ten years, so they know a thing or two about online security. Their easy-to-use VPN service can unblock The Hallmark Channel, Disney+ and more, and their website hosts a number of other tools such as a DNS leak checker to help make sure you're as secure online as you can be. ExpressVPN offers 160 server locations in 94 different countries, with 23 different servers in the US alone. Add to this support for multiple devices and operating systems and anyone, anywhere, will be able to access the Hallmark Channel from any device they might have. Not only that, but you'll be able to unblock plenty of other streaming services as well and the entire family will be able to watch at the same time with ExpressVPN's support for 5 simultaneous connections. Express utilizes the best encryption protocols, implementing OpenVPN with 256-bit AES encryption – giving you military-grade security, and means that your data is protected by the one of the most battle-tested encryption tunnels over the last 20 years. Add to that, Express even launched its own custom protocol called "Lightway" (based on WireGuard), which was audited by cyber-security firm Cure53. Security and privacy permeates everything ExpressVPN does, and it follows this up with a strict no-logs policy – so you can take peace-of-mind, knowing Express will never store your internet usage. You don't even need to provide personal details when you're paying for your subscription, as you can pay with Bitcoin! While there are cheaper options out there, ExpressVPN offers an easy-to-use app and a solid and reliable toolkit for anyone looking to secure their online presence while also offering access to geo-blocked services such as the Hallmark Channel. It supports all the most popular streaming services, and its fast connections and choice of locations ensure worry-free viewing no matter where you might be. All of this is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can put it to the test without risking your cash! NordVPN is a popular VPN provider, with plenty of worldwide servers to choose from and support for 6 simultaneous connections Nord Demo NordVPN is almost a household name at this point. Chances are good that if you've ever watched a YouTube video, then you'll have seen a sponsored segment for Nord (or Expres!), and for good reason. With plenty of countries and servers to choose from, a commitment to user security and an easy-to-use client, there's a lot to recommend them for. NordVPN has an impressive number of locations around the world to choose from. They claim to have 5,200 servers in 60 countries, with 15 of those being based in the US, giving you plenty of choice for unblocking the Hallmark Channel. They support multiple types of devices and secure their OpenVPN connections with military-grade AES-256 encryption, meaning you can browse, game and stream with confidence that nobody can snoop on your online activities. Nord also has a no-logging policy which has been independently audited and confirmed, so should anyone come looking, they won't find anything at all! NordVPN uses its own custom version of the WireGuard protocol which they call "NordLynx",which makes connecting to Nord's servers faster and even more private. It also means you'll be able to stream all the sickly-sweet HD-quality Christmas movies your heart could desire without ever needing to worry about that annoying "buffering" message. The added security of NordLynx ensures that P2P/torrent activity can be carried out without needing to worry about download speeds, no matter where you are. And, of course, NordVPN can unblock Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and more. With NordVPN you can be sure that your mobile devices are protected when you're using public wi-fi, or even just using someone else's wi-fi if, for example, you're round visiting the family for Christmas and need a fix of Hallmark TV goodness while you're there. Just open the NordVPN app, hit the quick connect button and your browsing and streaming is protected when you're out and about! Nord even makes it easy to pay for your subscription, with a wide selection of payment options, including direct debit, card payments, Google/Amazon Pay and even a selection of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. They also boast a 30 day money-back guarantee so you can try NordVPN risk-free! Private Internet Access is an excellent VPN, with a fully-featured Linux app, support for 10 simultaneous connections and great speeds for streaming. PIA Demo Private Internet Access (PIA) might not be as well known as Express or Nord, but it's got plenty to recommend it for anyone looking to keep themselves safe online. As well as helping to protect you online, it's also very capable of working around the geo-blocking restrictions for the Hallmark Channel and other major streaming services. It's easy to get started with PIA, with user-friendly desktop and mobile apps, and with 29,000 servers in 78 different countries, there's plenty of choice for locations to connect to no matter where you are in the world. PIA also sports 16 servers in the US to make sure that you've got plenty of options for unblocking the Hallmark Channel and other popular streaming sites. We've tested and confirmed that PIA works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and more. PIA sports apps for the Fire TV stick and can be set up on most smart TVs, meaning you can secure more devices in your home. It also sports something known as Shadowsocks, which can reroute your internet traffic to ensure you're even more secure. Shadowsocks hides that you're using a VPN by disguising the VPN traffic to look just like other normal internet traffic. This means it's pretty good for getting around China's Great Firewall and other nasty instances of censorship, so it could be useful for folks trying to access Hallmark TV from countries that have strict internet restrictions. Add to this support for port forwarding and split tunneling and PIA is a tempting proposition for anyone looking to secure themselves online in countries where internet use is restricted. When you're traveling, or even just when you want to stay as anonymous as possible, it's good to know you've got multiple payment options available to you for PIA. Maybe your card doesn't work in this particular country, or your payment processor isn't available, or maybe you just want to stay anonymous. PIA has you covered. Not only can you pay by credit card, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin, you can even pay in gift cards from retailers like Starbucks, Walmart and more! Top all of that off with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you've got a cheap premium VPN that you can compare to its competitors without losing a penny. PrivateVPN offers 6 simultaneous connections, access to the Hallmark Channel and other streaming services, PrivateVPN is a great all round provider. PrivateVPN Demo PrivateVPN is one of the more underrated VPNs out there, with a lot of features to recommend it. With options for an HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy (which helps to keep your traffic even more secure by disguising that you're using a VPN at all), customizable encryption for the security-conscious, a kill switch to keep you safe if your VPN connection is interrupted, port-forwarding for folks who like to torrent and more, it's a great all-round option. PrivateVPN is no slouch in unblocking streaming services, sporting 150 servers in 62 countries to choose from. As well as unblocking the Hallmark Channel (thanks to its 12 US based servers), we can confirm it also works with Netflix, the BBC iPlayer and even DAZN for those who like their sports at Christmas. Whilst PrivateVPN does support torrenting, and offers good speeds, you will need to make sure and connect to the servers that specifically support torrents. PrivateVPN is one of the few providers that offers SmartDNS technology (which makes it better at accessing geo-restricted content), but even more than that, PrivateVPN offers it on every server! That means you can unblock the Hallmark Channel seamlessly this year, accessing all the latest and greatest movies to pull at your heartstrings like a cat with a ball of yarn. With all its security features, PrivateVPN really is a very private VPN, with no hint of IP or IPv6 leaks to compromise you while you're browsing or torrenting. Your real identity and location are kept nice and secure. The only thing to be aware of is that even with their no-logs policy, they are based in Sweden, which is a Fourteen Eyes Alliance country (a group of 14 countries that have agreed to share intelligence with one-another). This means that, if you're a political activist, dissident, or journalist, you may want to keep an eye on Swedish data laws. PrivateVPN is an all round solid choice, and while it might not have as many servers in the US as some others, it's got plenty enough to get the job done when it comes to accessing the Hallmark Channel's Christmas goodies. PrivateVPN is also one of the only VPN providers to offer a 7-day free trial alongside its 30-day money-back guarantee – so you can put it through its paces before you even consider signing up for a full subscription! Surfshark has unlimited simultaneous connections, strong security and the ability to unblock even AppleTV, Surfshark is a tempting prospect for anyone looking for a VPN. Surfshark Demo Surfshark marries low prices with a premium app and plenty of functionality to present a VPN package that's attracted a lot of happy users around the world. With 3,200 servers in 65 countries to open up multiple content libraries, unlimited simultaneous connections and military-grade AES-256 encryption to secure your online traffic, it's got something to keep everyone happy. Surfshark is definitely one of the most generous VPNs when it comes to connecting devices. You can't ask for more than unlimited simultaneous connections after all! Add to that other features like split tunneling, which lets you route some of your online traffic through the VPN while the rest accesses the internet directly It's got SmartDNS, which changes the DNS addresses on your device from your local one to one of Surfshark’s DNS servers in the US, which means you can open up all those US content libraries you might otherwise not be able to access. Add in dedicated P2P servers for torrenting and you've got one impressive package of capabilities to attract streamers, torrenters and the security conscious alike. Surfshark has more feathers in its cap and arrows in its quiver than some other VPNs on the market. It can unblock the notoriously finicky AppleTV, and even Netflix in Japan. Add to that the usual bevvy of other streaming services such as DAZN, HBO and the BBC iPlayer and you've got one full-featured VPN client that can unlock just about anything you could ask for. That also includes the Hallmark Channel, with 23 different server locations in the US to pick from to make sure that you've no problems accessing all the Christmas cheer you could ask for. Surfshark is a great choice for more than just people who want to unblock the Hallmark Channel, Netflix or other streaming services. It's remarkably unobtrusive when being used during day to day online activities, with barely any detectable slowdown with page loading, social media browsing, or general online responsiveness. Downloading torrents is easy as well, and Surfshark will even recognize when you're torrenting and will switch you from a regular VPN server to one of the specialized P2P servers to help boost speeds unlike some other VPN providers that require you to connect manually. 1. ExpressVPN
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We've tested and compared the best VPNs for unblocking The Hallmark Channel and made sure that all of these providers met the following criteria:
- Fast servers in the US for streaming seamlessly
- Plenty of server choices within the US
- Reliable and consistent access to the Hallmark Channel
- Plenty of robust privacy feature to keep you protected online
Can I use a free VPN to watch The Hallmark Channel?
Free VPNs will always come with restrictions, whether that be in terms of slow network speeds, limited server locations or sub-par encryption, and that's assuming that they're legitimate and not just out to infect your machine with malware or steal your identity.
They also tend to be feature-limited, trying to entice you into spending money to upgrade. The biggest drawback is that most of the free VPNs are well known by streaming services and will be blocked, rendering them useless to you. Another thing to keep in mind when using a free VPN, or really any free service, is that a lot of them remain free by selling your personal data to third parties. The old adage continues to ring true – If the product is free, then you're the product.
Final thoughts
The Hallmark Channel has become something of a Christmas institution for many folks, and the VPNs on this list will ensure that anyone outside of America's borders will still be able to get their recommended dose of Christmas saccharine and schmaltz, no matter where in the world they might find themselves. They have done their very best to make sure that nobody outside of the US is able to watch it without going through a third-party provider, which is where a reliable VPN comes to the rescue. Here's a reminder of our top VPNs for unblocking the Hallmark Channel:
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