Popcorn Time was a popular streaming platform that allowed visitors to watch movies and TV shows for free. But it started facing problems over time. Authorities started cracking down on the platform because it didn’t have the proper rights to stream content. Plus, the website had a high ads-annoyance ratio, and most of these advertisements were full of malware.
All of these reasons led to the shutdown of the website. With the original platform no longer reliable, people started to look for its alternatives. To help you through, we’ve put together a list of 8 free and legal sites like Popcorn Time in 2025. This list has everything you need, from websites with huge libraries to sites that don’t require registration.
The Best Popcorn Time Alternatives: Quick List
Short on time? We are giving below a quick overview of the top free platforms like Popcorn Time:
- Kodi: Has a wide range of content with exceptional add-ons.
- Stremio: An on-demand video streaming platform that has a Real-Debrid service and doesn’t support ads.
- Plex: Popular for its clean setup, excellent features, and reliable performance.
- BBC iPlayer: Allows you to access a wide range of content for all kinds of audiences regardless of age and preference.
- DuckieTV: Offers a customizable TV series calendar that keeps track of the films you’re interested in.
- Tubi: Has many great features, including parental control, viewing watch history, and adding titles to a personal queue.
- Popcornflix: An excellent Popcorn Time alternative site that not only has a similar name but offers many movies to stream without buffering.
- Crunchyroll: Your top destination for watching many anime series and movies.
Best Websites Like Popcorn Time: Detailed List
1. Kodi
Kodi makes it to the number one. It is a free and legal streaming service that allows you to access its media collection without any extra requirements. Kodi has a clean and easily navigable user interface. It organizes its content into various types of content, which enables its users to quickly explore what they want.
The library has so much to offer. You will also see additional information gathered from the internet to give you an insight about the movies you select. This information contains movie poster art, cast information, descriptions, albums, and other related media from your library collection. During our review, we tested and assessed the site on various devices, and it didn’t disappoint us. Kodi supports all systems and processor-intensive formats, such as Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos, and HDR.
Kodi isn’t just for playing media. With its exceptional add-ons, users can stream video and audio from many online sources. Besides this, you can check for weather forecasts, and even add features like a live TV DVR. The best part? The service works legally, so you’re not breaking any law when you download movies or install the app on your device.
Kodi is famous for its add-ons, and most people use it for this reason. As the site offers many official add-ons, some users try and install the unofficial ones. We don’t recommend it. You might not be aware these these add-ons can land you in legal trouble.
2. Stremio
At first view, Stremio looks like a basic media player and content aggregator. But with the right add-ons and a Real-Debrid service, it can become your favorite on-demand video streaming app.
Stremio supports many devices, such as iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, macOS, Steam Deck, Apple Vision Pro, and many others. An interesting fact about the service is that it doesn’t support ads; you can stream videos without any interruptions. Like Kodi, you can also install plugins and add-ons on Stremio. However, make sure to stick to the official ones.
3. Plex
Plex is another media powerhouse that allows you to access local content on a wide range of platforms. It has a unique and clean interface and it is compatible with multiple devices. The platform has earned a great reputation for its easy setup, excellent organizational tools, and reliable performance.
As long as you have the Plex app, you can access your media library across multiple devices. You can also share your library collection with third parties.
Plex also offers the Watch Later feature that lets you download movies for offline viewing. However, the team is removing some of these features to upgrade them for later release. The service also offers a paid plan. But you can stream content conveniently with the free version and benefit from features like media server capabilities, remote access, and subtitle support.
4. BBC iPlayer
Free
Covers content for a diverse audience
Ad-free for only UK-based fans
BBC iPlayer is a video-on-demand platform owned by BBC. This website lets you stream movies on many different devices. Whether you’re a mobile phone, computer, smart TV, and tablet user, you won’t face any problem access it. BBC iPlayer is also ad-free for UK viewers.
By law, a valid TV License is required to use the service. You can download shows to enjoy offline, so you never miss out, even without an internet connection. With the site, you can pause and restart live TV anytime at your convenience. It offers a wide variety of categories and channels to choose from. Its personalized recommendations help you to discover new shows based on your viewing history.
BBC iPlayer is family-friendly. It features popular children’s programs from CBBC and CBeebies. Users can use its built-in TV guide. It allows you to see what’s coming up next and search for shows from A to Z. The platform also has accessibility features like audio descriptions and sign language support for all audiences.
5. DuckieTV
DuckieTV allows TV fans to organize their viewing schedules and manage torrent downloads. It’s especially useful for tracking and downloading favorite TV shows. The site features a personalized calendar that keeps users updated on upcoming episodes so they never miss a show.
The information is always current to give you a clear view of what’s airing and when. DuckieTV has a built-in blocking-resistant torrent search to find the right downloads directly within the app. Using the integrated DuckieTorrent client, you can connect DuckieTV to popular torrent clients such as BitTorrent, µTorrent, BitTorrent, Transmission, qBitTorrent, and many others.
This allows you to monitor your downloads without having to switch between apps. The site can even automatically download new episodes as soon as they’re available, just for your convenience. Plus, it supports subtitle search and offers show information with the option to mark episodes you’ve already watched.
The service is available in 18 languages and accessible anywhere in the world. This makes managing and downloading TV shows simple and efficient.
6. Tubi
Many premium streaming websites aren’t free. They can take up a large part of your monthly budget. However, Tubi is a free alternative with a vast library of popular TV shows, with over 50,000 titles. The site is also available on all major platforms such as web and mobile devices.
However, there are downsides, too. For instance, Tubi’s maximum streaming resolution is 720p, but not all of its movies reach that quality. Many popular films are only available in about 540p resolution. Also, Tubi doesn’t allow you to download movies for offline use.
Tubi also has apps for media streaming devices like Android TV and Apple TV. It’s not compulsory to sign up on the platform. But, if you do, you can get perks like parental controls, watch history details, and the ability to add titles to a personal queue.
7. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is one of the best Popcorn Time alternatives you can use. The site makes streaming easier and more convenient for you on any device. One noteworthy aspect of this site is that you don’t need to log in to watch movies. Just visit the website, search for a title, and start streaming immediately.
You can stream tons of movies for free and only have to watch a handful of ads, which isn’t a bad trade-off. With Popcornflix, you can’t experience buffering while watching movies. This only happens when you have a slow device or internet connection and is not a problem with the site itself.
The site had recently faced a shut down from authorities. Although it’s still working though a new mirror site, it might not be safe to access. Fortunately, there are many great alternatives to Popcornflix available that you can access.
8. Crunchyroll
Free + Premium plan for $7.99/month
Has customizable watchlist
No captions on English dubs
Crunchyroll is a great online streaming service that offers a large catalog of anime. It is available on most major streaming players, such as Google TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. You can also access it on mobile devices like Android and iOS, and has a web version. The user interface is slightly different across platforms, but the content is the same.
The website has a calendar that shows episode release dates, similar to an electronic programming guide. Crunchyroll offers a free plan, but you can’t access complete library.
If you want access to the entire ad-free catalog, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial of any premium subscription tier. Just remember to cancel before the 7 days period or else you will be charged after the free trial ends. The premium plan starts at $7.99 per month.
Top Platforms Like Popcorn Time: Quick Comparison Table
If you’ve read up to this point and you are about to choose a platform that aligns with you, here’s a comparison table. This table also gives insight into each platform’s strengths and weaknesses.
| Website | Requires sign up | High-definition quality | Geo-restrictions | VPN compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kodi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stremio | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Yes | Yes, you need a VPN to access some restricted regions | Yes |
| Duckie TV | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Tubi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Popcornflix | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Plex | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Crunchyroll | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Best Popcorn Time Proxy Sites (Updated 2025)
Since the original Popcorn Time website shut down recently, many similar sites have started to pop up. These websites share a similar layout to the official domain and offer a huge content library.
Here are the top Popcorn Time proxy sites that are working at the time of writing:
| Sr No. | Alternative/Proxy | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | https://popcorntimeonline.xyz/ | Working |
| 2. | https://popcorntimetv.com/ | Working |
| 3. | https://popcorntime.app/ | Working |
| 4. | https://popcorntimeonline.cc/ | Working |
| 5. | https://tmdb-popcorn-time.netlify.app/ | Working |
Note that while these sites provide access to the website, some of them may not work in your region. Plus, these links display ads containing malicious software that can harm your devices. Get ExtremeVPN and connect to a server, and you can protect yourself and bypass the restrictions in no time.
Why Should I Use the Alternatives to Popcorn Time?
There are many reasons why you need an alternative to Popcorn Time. We’re highlighting them below:
Security Issues
If you’re using Popcorn Time or any other free website that hosts pirated content, you’re in danger. Several states take copyright violations seriously and in extreme cases, you can get fined heavily, or even jail time.
Plus, as mentioned above, many free platforms are full of risks. So, make sure you pick legal sites that operate with proper hosting rights.
Vast Library
Popcorn Time is free, so its library is limited. If you want to access a wide range of content, you need an alternative. The sites mentioned above are full of options you can enjoy without paying any price.
Many of these alternatives offer the latest movies and episodes right after they release. This makes them appealing to people who want to stay up-to-date with new content without waiting.
They also have a wide range of content, from classic movies to the latest TV shows. You can even get hard-to-find indie films or international content that may be difficult to find elsewhere.
Ease of Use
All of the sites we mentioned here are user-friendly, with simple interfaces that don’t require complex setups. You can start watching immediately here. They also work across different devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, and even smart TVs.
These flexibilities make it easy for you to watch content wherever and whenever you want. Many of these platforms are also ad-free or have minimal ad interruptions.
What is the Best VPN I Can Use for Popcorn Time Alternatives?
ExtremeVPN is your best bet for streaming safely on free websites like Popcorn Time. Our stealth VPN servers protect your privacy and help you avoid tracking or slow speeds while streaming.
That’s not just all; ExtremeVPN offers many other features that include:
Hides Your IP Address
ExtremeVPN hides your real IP address, so no one can see your actual location or track what you’re watching. It does this effortlessly because of strong features like AES-256 encryption and an automatic kill switch. These features add an extra layer of security to your device.
Therefore, you can keep your online activity private and avoid getting tracked by your internet provider. This encryption also scrambles your data so that others can’t read it. That is, hackers or trackers can’t easily see what you’re doing online.
Bypasses Geo-restrictions
With ExtremeVPN, you can connect to servers in different countries. We offer a fast and global network of over 6500 servers in more than 78 countries. With its intelligent algorithm, ExtremeVPN finds and connects you to the optimal server location. You can also select a server location from the servers list that more closely aligns with your needs.
This lets you access content that might not be available in your country and, as a result, watch a wider variety of shows and movies.
Prevents ISP Throttling
Sometimes, internet providers slow down or throttle your speed when they see you’re streaming a lot. ExtremeVPN protects you from this bandwidth throttling by creating an encrypted VPN tunnel between you and the VPN server. With this, your ISP can’t monitor your streaming, and there won’t be any grounds for throttling.
You can also enjoy ultra-secure, easy-to-connect, and high-speed VPN servers that will provide a buffer-free streaming experience.
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