Locast is a free tool that allows users to access all their regional networks via the Internet. This allows them to watch shows on their computers or mobile devices on the go!
Originally designed for individuals who can’t get reception for their regional broadcasts, even with an antenna, more and more people are turning to Internet streaming as their preferred way to enjoy their favorite shows.
Unfortunately, Locast’s content is restricted to the US, but don’t worry! Use one of the best VPNs for Locast and enjoy watching from anywhere!
In a hurry? Here’s how to watch Locast outside US
What is Locast?
Locast is a streaming service for people who live in areas where they don’t get reception from their regional TV stations, even with an antenna.
Created in 2018 by the non-profit organization Locast.org, the service allows users to access their regional networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, though a later court ruling decided they could not claim to be a not-for-profit. Court ruling aside, it is still a great way to enjoy watching your favorite shows!
Why you need a VPN for Locast
The streaming service is only available in the United States. That’s because the non-profit organization that created it intended it to be for individuals who could not access all the channels on their local stations even with the help of an antenna. To ensure the streaming service is used for its intended purpose, and to protect copyright agreements, it uses geo-blocks to restrict access from other locations.
A good VPN allows you to re-direct your internet traffic to a remote server in another country while masking your true location and VPN usage. Once you’ve connected to a server in the USA using a Locast VPN, the website won’t know you are in a different country and you won’t get blocked!
Where is Locast available?
Locast’s streaming service is available in 36 cities in the US, including:
Atlanta
Baltimore
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago
Columbus
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Houston
Indianapolis
Los Angeles
Madison
Miami
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
New York
Orlando
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Phoenix
Portland
Puerto Rico
Raleigh-Durham
Rapid City
Sacramento
San Francisco
Scranton
Seattle
Sioux City
Sioux Falls
Tampa Bay
Tri-Cities (Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol)
Washington, DC
West Palm Beach
How to sign up for Locast
You can easily stream all the channels on local stations online for free! Here’s how to get their services:
- Go to the Locast web page.
- Register using your e-mail or Facebook.
- Open your email to retrieve your verification code.
- Enter your verification code.
- Enjoy all your favorite channels!
Can I watch Locast outside the US?
If you are outside of the US, or your city isn’t on the list, the only way of accessing Locast is with a high-quality Locast VPN. A good VPN can spoof your location and make it appear that you are in a permitted area, which will allow you to enjoy all of Locast’s content from anywhere.
Why you need a VPN for Locast
The best way to watch Locast from outside of the US is with a reliable VPN. VPNs bypass the geo-blocks that restrict access by tricking them into believing you are in a permitted location. Just connect to a US server with a high-quality VPN and enjoy.
How to choose the best VPN for Locast
If you want easy access and smooth streaming to geo-restricted websites, here is what you should look for.
- Speed. Select a VPN with good speed to avoid buffering, pixelation, or dropped connections while streaming.
- Bypasses geo-blocks. Select a VPN with a strong record of being able to unblock popular streaming sites.
- Server network. Get a VPN with a broad server network for easy access to geographically restricted content and prevent slowdowns from heavy internet traffic.
- Device compatibility. Ensure the VPN that you select has intuitive apps that are compatible with your home devices and allow for multiple simultaneous device connections.
- Customer support. Stick with providers that offer a money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.
3 Best VPNs for Locast
After reviewing dozens of VPNs, we found these three best VPNs for Locast.
1. ExpressVPN
The highly reliable service, lightning-fast speeds, and broad server network put ExpressVPN at the top of our list for best Locast VPN!
Features: There are 3000+ servers in 105 countries in the network. They are secured with military-level encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and a verified no-log policy. Users also get split tunneling, a password manager, an ad blocker, and more!
Speed: ExpressVPN offers blazing-fast speeds that support flawless streaming, gaming, browsing, and torrenting online.
Streaming: As one of the most reliable VPNs for bypassing geo-blocks, you can easily stream all the global content libraries on popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Compatibility: The ExpressVPN apps are highly intuitive and are compatible with all sorts of devices including computers, mobile devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more. Subscribers are allowed to connect up to 8 devices at the same time.
Pricing: Pay $6.67/month plus 3 months free when you select the 12-month subscription. It includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Excellent speed
- 8 simultaneous connections
- Bypasses geo-blocks
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Higher cost
2. NordVPN
A great value, NordVPN is a premium Locast VPN that costs a fraction of what you pay for ExpressVPN. It is fast, secure, and has no trouble accessing popular streaming services.
Features: This Locast VPN has 5,800 servers in 60 countries around the world. It does not store data, and offers a kill switch, leak protection, and military-level encryption. Additional benefits include an ad blocker, malware protection, split tunneling, dedicated IP addresses,, and more!
Speed: NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve found, so you can enjoy watching movies or TV shows on your favorite streaming service without any buffering or pixelation.
Streaming: Not only will you have no trouble accessing Locast from outside the US with NordVPN, but you can also access all of your favorite streaming services including Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more!
Compatibility: The apps on NordVPN are user-friendly and work with all common devices including your computer, smartphone, iPad, tablet, gaming console, router, and more. It’s compatible with Android, Linux, Windows, macOS, and iOS operating systems. You get 6 simultaneous connections with your account.
Pricing: Pricing for subscribers varies depending on the type and length of plan you select. The lowest price is the 2-year standard package, which costs $6.67/month and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Fast
- Bypasses geo-blocks
- Large server network
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Fewer server countries
- Fewer simultaneous devices
3. Surfshark
The best budget Locast VPN, Surfshark, has good speed and reliable service, plus it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a popular choice for large households.
Features: The Surfshark server network is made up of 3000+ servers in 100 countries worldwide. Internet traffic is secured with a kill switch, leak protection, secure protocols, and military-grade encryption. The service doesn’t store data and offers split tunneling, ad blocking, malware protection, and more!
Speed: We did get occasional buffering during peak hours or HD streaming, it was quickly remedied by connecting to a faster server, which the 24/7 customer service was happy to help us find.
Streaming: Surfshark can access most streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more!
Compatibility: You can use Surfshark on your computer, mobile device, smart TV, router, and more. It’s compatible with Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS. Users are allowed unlimited simultaneous devices at the same time!
Pricing: You can get the Surfshark starter package for just $2.29/month and get 2 months for free when you sign up for 24 months. It includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Low cost
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Bypasses geo-blocks
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Occasional buffering while streaming
Can I use a free VPN for Locast?
You could give one of the free VPNs a try, but they rarely work for gaining access to geo-restricted sites. They are more easily identified as VPNs and don’t have as advanced software for spoofing your location, making it difficult to get past web blocks.
In addition, free VPNs often limit data, speed, bandwidth, and data, which leads to slow speeds, buffering, dropped connections, and pixelation.
Finally, many free VPNs profit by selling your browser history to third parties, putting you at increased risk for hackers and phishing attempts.
How to use Locast with a VPN
You can access all of Locast’s programming from anywhere by following these steps.
- Select and subscribe to a high-quality VPN, like ExpressVPN.
- Download the VPN onto your device.
- Open the app and connect to a US server in the city with the programming you want to watch.
- Search for your favorite shows and begin streaming!
FAQs
Yes. Just be sure to use a high-quality VPN, or you may get blocked.
Yes. You can watch from outside of the US using a premium VPN.
Conclusion
Locast was designed as a way for individuals to access content on their regional networks on the internet. It’s ideal for people who can’t get reception, even with the use of an antenna. It’s also a great way to enjoy your favorite shows for free while you are on the go.
Due to copyright regulations, Locast’s content is only accessible in the USA, but if you use one of the high-quality VPNs recommended in this article, you can access the site for free from anywhere in the world!
