The 50 Best Free Movie Streaming Sites in September 2023

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The 50 Best Free Movie Streaming Sites in September 2023

There are plenty of free streaming sites out there, some better than others. Free movie websites can offer a wide range of content that doesn’t only include recent movies, but even TV shows and old classics that are difficult to find today.

So, to help you find movies from the distant past and the present for a cozy night in or a movie night with friends, we’ve compiled a list of the 50 best free movie streaming sites :

1. Peacock TV: The best overall free movie website
2. Crackle: Free movie website including films from Sony Pictures
3. Tubi: A legitimate streaming experience with minimal ads
4. Cineb: Great categorization and classification of free movies
5. SolarMovie: Free movie website with the best personalization options
6. IMDb TV: Reliable movie website with good titles
7. Vudu: An up-and-coming legitimate free movie streaming platform
8. AZMovies: Popular website with an extensive collection of free movies
9. MyBundle.TV: Your directory for free movies online
10. FlixTor: Updated library with several free movies in HD
11. StreamM4u: One of the few movie sites that offers a completely ad-free experience
12. Music HQ: Great search functionality to help you discover the best movies
13. YouTube: Most popular streaming platform in the world with a great collection of old titles
14. YesMovies: A great overall free movie streaming website
15. Internet Archive: The best free movie website to watch classics
16. Afdah: Large collection of high-definition movies with few ads
17. Pluto TV: The best option to watch movies and shows from the Viacom network
18. Yify TV: The best bet to find obscure movie titles
19. GoStream: A great option to watch the latest hits in 720p
20. Xumo Play: Watch live TV in addition to free movies
21. Bounce TV: A free streaming website that focuses on Afro-American content
22. Yidio: A streaming platform aggregator
23. Popcornflix: User-friendly website that works across devices
24. VexMovies: A great option to watch movies without any ads
25. TinyZone: A YouTube clone for free movies and TV shows
26. Movies Found Online: Good variety of free movies and TV show streams
27. VidCloud: Updated with the latest episodes of TV shows
28. Kanopy: Excellent choice for users with a library membership
29. FMovies: Free movie streams in 4K and 1080p
30. MoviesJoy: A streaming platform with Google-like simplistic movie search functionality
31. StreamLord: Quick and easy access to high-quality streams
32. Putlocker: A simple and clean interface with blockbusters and classics
33. The Roku Channel: The best legal site to watch free content across devices
34. PrimeWire: Simple streaming website with an extensive library of free movies
35. CONtv: The best streaming site for Comic Con fans
36. Crunchyroll: The best site for anime content
37. Vumoo: Ideal for changing playback resolution
38. Plex: Smooth playback with media player features
39. MyFlixer: Varying resolution with numerous categories to choose from
40. WatchFree: Watch the latest releases in high definition
41. SFlix: A new free movie site that lacks filters
42. HiMovies: A free movie streaming site with Chromecast support
43. 5movies: Hollywood hits and international flicks
44. 1HD: An impressive new entry with an even more impressive UI
45. LosMovies: Broad variety of big–name movies and family content
46. Freevee: Amazon’s free movie streaming site
47. SBS On Demand: Free movies from Australia
48. FilmRise: A place to catch classic movies
49. Filmzie: Support lesser-known filmmakers
50. Rakuten Viki: A treasure trove of Asian movies and TV shows

Note that watching movies for free online can be risky if the site you’re using doesn’t have distribution rights for the content you want to enjoy. We recommend you only stream copyrighted content from legitimate distributors. Additionally, when you decide to venture to free streaming sites, make sure you use a VPN to protect yourself.

Wondering what the best VPN is for watching movies on free streaming sites? Our answer is NordVPN (currently with a solid discount). It’s fast, reliable, and has dedicated features for streaming.

NordVPN

Read the article below to find out more about the best free streaming sites, as well as which ones are legitimate.

Watching movies online and subscribing to popular streaming platforms may seem affordable at first. However, it quickly adds up when you include multiple subscriptions. This is why a lot of people prefer using some of the best free movie streaming sites. Anyone can access these sites and watch movies for free online. You don’t have to pay a cent!

And because we believe in having many options when streaming content online, we’ve tested the best free movie sites in the article below. Moreover, to ensure you stay safe online when accessing these sites and hide your personal information from prying eyes, we recommend using a VPN. Our No.1 choice when streaming is NordVPN, and it comes with a great deal!

Free Movie Streaming Sites: Are They Legal?

Some free movie websites we’ll list here are legitimate streaming platforms that own the distribution rights for the content they share. Others operate in a shadier area, offering a place to watch movies free online, even though they don’t have the relevant permissions.

The existence of free streaming sites is not illegal, and visiting these free movie websites is also legal.

However, streaming copyrighted content for free can be illegal in some countries if you don’t have the necessary permissions and rights. Depending on where you are in the world, this could be considered piracy and have serious consequences.

Luckily, there are plenty of options for streaming free movies. There are many legal alternatives, both paid and free. So, you can stream free movies no matter where you are, even if you’re on a budget or if they’re unavailable in your country.

You should, however, always use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when accessing such websites. A VPN will protect you from cyber threats when accessing potentially unsecured websites. It’ll also stop your ISP from seeing and logging your browsing history. When we need the utmost privacy and security, we turn to NordVPN, as it is our best VPN provider.

Important Notice:

VPNOverview doesn’t endorse piracy or illegal activity in any form. Free movie sites may or may not have permission to stream copyrighted content. The risks involved with accessing illegal content can, in the worst-case scenario, include termination of your internet connection, financial penalties, or prosecution.

The Best Free Movie Websites in Sept 2023

In the list below, you’ll find the best free movie streaming sites that were active at the time of writing this article. These are the most popular platforms on the web right now that people use to find good movies to watch for free.

Still, when you watch free movies online, you need to keep privacy in mind. Rogue, free movie sites, can attempt to install malware on your device. In addition, many free movie sites log your IP address.

We recommend installing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to remain secure before exploring our full list of the best websites with free movies.

1. Peacock TV: The best overall free movie streaming website

What We Liked

• Legitimate streaming platform
• Decent pricing for paid subscriptions
• Impressive library of movies and TV shows
• Perfect for watching new movies free online

What We Didn’t Like

• Unavailable outside the US

Peacock is our number one pick among the best free movie sites. It’s a platform we’ve written a lot about because it is an amazing place to watch new movies for free online. There are ways to access Peacock wherever you may be on the planet, and it’s one site where you can watch free movies without breaking any laws.

Peacock was launched in July 2020 and has an impressive library of free movies and TV series. All of this is available for free, as long as you’re fine with viewing advertisements. If you want to get rid of the ads, you can subscribe to Peacock TV for $4.99 a month.

Keep in mind, though, that Peacock is only available in the US. The one exception is for people located in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, who can access the service as part of a paid TV subscription with Sky or NOW TV.

If you want to access Peacock abroad for free, you’ll need to change your IP with a VPN. This way, the streaming provider will believe that you are accessing it from the country it is available in. NordVPN is the best option for unlocking free streaming sites in the US and masking your true location, therefore keeping you hidden.

2. Crackle: Features free movies from Sony Pictures

What We Liked

• No illegal content
• A varied library with lots of categories
• Low ad intrusion

What We Didn’t Like

• No subscription plan
• Outdated interface

Crackle, also sometimes referred to as “Sony Crackle” (since Sony bought it in 2006), is one of those relatively unknown free movie websites with great content. This is a shame because it’s completely legit and has a varied library, which is why we have included it in our best free movie streaming sites list.

Crackle is perfect for watching movies online. It features free movies and TV series from popular studios like Lionsgate, MGM, Sony Pictures, and DreamWorks.

As far as free streaming sites go, Sony Crackle looks great, and we found it easy to navigate. Compared to other free movie websites, which are normally operated on a shoestring budget, the difference is clear.

We found a huge list of fan favorites, like The Office. Crackle also has shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, so while you won’t find the latest releases, it’s not just limited to decades-old content.

Crackle doesn’t have a subscription model, but the ads on the platform aren’t too bad. You can enjoy Sony Pictures movies, from classics to newer releases.

3. Tubi: A legitimate streaming experience with minimal ads

What We Liked

• Distribution rights
• Access to content from Fox Corporation
• Decent library

What We Didn’t Like

• No subscription plan
• More ads than its competitors

Tubi is another of our best free movie streaming sites that owns broadcasting rights for all its content. You can watch free movies on Tubi without breaking the law. This platform is owned by Fox Corporation and has been around since 2014. It features media from big names in the entertainment industry, like Paramount, MGM, and Warner Bros.

Just like Peacock, however, Tubi is only available in the US, so you’ll need to use a VPN to change your IP to a US IP address if you want to access this free movie website. You can use NordVPN to access thousands of free movies and TV shows on Tubi.

Unlike Peacock, you can’t subscribe to a premium account and get rid of the ads on Tubi. If you use Tubi, you’ll have to view the ads.

4. Cineb: Great categorization and classification of free movies

What We Liked

• Good content updates
• Great content categorization and personalization
• Low ad intrusion
• Easily switch between servers

What We Didn’t Like

• Some shows don’t have links
• Messy interface in some sections

Cineb is one of the newer free movie websites that are trying to make a name for themselves in this niche. During our tests, we found that it has a nice minimalist design, decent video quality, and pretty low ad intrusion, which makes it a great site to watch movies online!

It has a “Trending” section on the main page and a decent slew of categories, although minimally populated. Cineb tries to capitalize on new audiences with its content personalization feature. Moreover, it’s on top of new releases, always uploading content as soon as it can get its hands on it.

Cineb also has a range of new releases. When testing, we found The Flash and The Mandalorian on Cineb, and both programs played flawlessly in high resolution. You can also click the quick-access buttons below your streaming window to switch servers if the one you’re using has problems.

5. SolarMovie: Free movie website with the best personalization options

What We Liked

• Strong personalization options
• Decent library
• Good categorization
• Features the latest releases

What We Didn’t Like

• The interface can be overwhelming at times
• A lot of ads

Like Cineb, SolarMovie is a new player in the scene of free streaming sites, but it’s gaining a lot of popularity thanks to its personalization options. Users will appreciate just how easy it is to sort media based on genre, country, and launch date, with several categories to choose from, including anime, fantasy, mythological, sci-fi, and a lot more.

But this can sometimes be a double-edged sword. The strong personalization and categorization of free movies and TV shows mean that SolarMovie’s interface seems a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Not to mention, ads on the platform can get annoying. But it’s still a decent website for anyone interested in free streaming.

Right from the offset, we found the homepage to be packed with the latest releases, including Scream VI and even Avatar: The Way of Water! Both launched and streamed in a high-resolution mode without trouble, though we did have to close three pop-up adverts just to get started.

6. IMDb TV: Reliable movie website with good titles

What We Liked

• Legitimate platform
• Quick-loading media player
• Contains lots of information about motion pictures

What We Didn’t Like

• Not a huge collection of movies and TV shows
• Unavailable outside the US without a VPN

If you’ve ever Googled a movie, TV show, director, or actor, you’ve probably already heard of IMDb. It’s a directory of information about any motion picture that can help you find good movies to watch.

IMDb TV is the service’s free streaming platform – yes, we were shocked to discover its existence, too! Like Peacock or Tubi, it allows users to watch movies online for free in a completely legal manner. However, it’s only available in the US, so you’ll need a VPN like NordVPN if you want to access it.

NordVPN has 1,970 servers in the US, so you should have no problem finding one that will give you a smooth streaming experience and fast speeds.

Since its acquisition by Amazon, IMDbTV is not on its own site anymore. But users can still enjoy its library on Amazon.

Just because IMDb TV is owned by Amazon, that doesn’t mean that the content variety is as large as you’ll find on Amazon Prime. It has a considerably smaller collection of movies and TV shows. But that’s probably why it’s free.

7. Vudu: An up-and-coming legitimate free movie streaming platform

What We Liked

• Legitimate and free streaming site
• Buy and rent content
• Stylish site that could pass for a premium streaming service

What We Didn’t Like

• Small library
• Unavailable outside the US
• Not a lot of recent releases

Vudu is a great, legitimate alternative to MovieStars, which recently went offline. Unfortunately, while testing the site, we found that it doesn’t have a vast library, and you probably won’t be able to find the latest releases here as soon as they hit other streaming platforms. Even so, it’s still one of the best free movie streaming sites that only show openly available content.

It’s a great way to watch free movies online without constant interruption from ads. Not all content on Vudu is free to watch, but you can use Vudu to buy or rent individual movies and TV shows for very low prices.

8. AZMovies: Popular website with an extensive collection of free movies

What We Liked

• A popular platform with a large library of movies
• Relatively low ad intrusion

What We Didn’t Like

• No TV shows
• Blocks a number of VPNs

AZMovies is one of the most popular free movie sites out there, and it’s been around for quite a while. It features thousands of movies and has a huge following of people tuning in every month. Unfortunately, it features no TV shows.

We recently revisited this website to assess how it has changed. Ads on the site used to get pretty annoying, but AZMovies has made changes. There are now far fewer adverts. We selected a movie, hit play, and it started streaming without a single pop-up.

However, many of the VPNs we used were blocked. AZMovies didn’t allow us to access movies with Proton VPN. Free VPNs weren’t the only problem, as the site also blocked Intego Privacy Protection, for example. We were able to bypass these blocks using the browser extension for NordVPN.

We don’t recommend accessing free movie websites without a VPN. If you do want to check out AZMovies, be sure to use NordVPN with its browser extension, as it will encrypt your traffic. We advise using this VPN with Google Chrome for the best experience.

9. MyBundle.TV: Your directory for free movies online

What We Liked

• Big directory of movies and TV shows
• Easy to find HQ streams
• Quick overviews of streaming options

What We Didn’t Like

• No content available on the platform
• Not all sources are free

MyBundle.TV is a very different streaming platform compared to what we’re used to. It doesn’t host its own videos. Instead, it’s one of the free streaming sites that help you find a platform where you can enjoy particular TV shows and movies. It’s like a directory or listing site for free movie streaming.

People use this service to find the best source for the content they’re looking for. Essentially, it’ll tell you where to watch movies free online and how to access them. With a huge directory like MyBundle.TV visitors are guaranteed to find the motion picture they’re looking for in 4K, too!

We put MyBundle.TV to the test, searching for a range of movies stretching from the 1980s to the present day. Whether it was Back to the Future or Black Adam, the website had recommendations for everything we could think of. We were impressed!

Just keep in mind that not all movie sources displayed on the site are free. For example, if you search for “Black Widow,” it’ll only display Disney+ as an option, which is not a free streaming site. On the flip side, it’ll tell you exactly how much you can expect to pay if you want to watch a movie or TV show.

10. FlixTor: Updated library with several free movies in HD

What We Liked

• High-quality files
• A huge library
• Low ad intrusion

What We Didn’t Like

• Ads can appear malicious

FlixTor is one of the best free movie websites to find the latest movies for free. We’ve actually written about it before in our piece on how FlixTor works and whether it’s illegal (it is in most jurisdictions!).

FlixTor has a smooth interface. It has an immense library of high-quality movies and TV shows. If you search for any title on FlixTor, you’re almost guaranteed to find it in high definition.

The ads aren’t too intrusive either, though you’ll want to watch out for any adverts that claim your device is infected: don’t click on those! Also, we found that FlixTor would offer to install an app version on your device. We advise you to remain on your browser. Don’t install software recommended by free movie websites.

Contrary to popular belief, FlixTor isn’t a legitimate streaming platform. Watching your favorite piece of media on it can be considered piracy, so we recommend using one of the legitimate alternatives on this list instead.

11. StreamM4u: One of the few movie sites that offers a completely ad-free experience

What We Liked

• No pop-up ads whatsoever

What We Didn’t Like

• Small library
• Clunky interface
• R-rated adverts

StreamM4u lands a spot on our list of the best free movie websites thanks to its ad-free library. It doesn’t have the biggest selection of free movies, it’s not the prettiest, and not all files are high quality. Suffice it to say, it’s not anyone’s first option when looking for free streaming sites. But it’s free, so people still use it.

The homepage is a global search that lets you find specific movies. But there are tabs for recommended movies, new movies, and new TV shows. Unfortunately, navigation between these sections isn’t seamless. In our experience, the tabs disappear when choosing one.

While there aren’t too many adverts and no pop-ups, the ones we did find were quite explicit. We saw a lot of adult content in the banner and sidebar adverts.

12. Music HQ: Great search functionality to help you discover the best movies

What We Liked

• Filter by country and genre
• No pop-up ads
• Strong search engine

What We Didn’t Like

• Still features banner ads

Despite what the name might suggest, Music HQ is not a music streaming site. It’s a free movie and TV show streaming site with a very good search engine and a Night Mode option.

The best part is that it doesn’t have any pop-up ads, just the occasional banner. When you add it all up, Music HQ stands out among free streaming sites thanks to its great user experience.

We found the filters on this website to be quite useful. We filtered by Country, allowing us to find niche titles from more than 35 different countries. You can also search by Genre.

However, ads are still prevalent on the platform. If you want to protect yourself from potential malware like a computer virus that may infect your device and delete your files, it is best to use NordVPN’s Threat Protection, which will shield you against malicious software.

13. YouTube: Most popular streaming platform in the world with a great collection of old titles

What We Liked

• The largest video streaming platform on the internet
• A great selection of older titles
• Exclusive content from indie developers

What We Didn’t Like

• Quite pushy with their ads
• No new releases

We’d be very surprised if you haven’t heard of YouTube before. It’s the most popular video streaming platform on the Internet. You might not expect to find movies for free on YouTube. However, we found that that the website often features full-length movies and TV shows, which makes it a great contender in our list of the best free movie streaming sites.

You’ll have more luck looking for older, more obscure titles on the platform. That’s because streaming rights for these shows have largely expired, making them fair game. Shows like The FBI Files have entire seasons available in various playlists on YouTube. We also found a lot of exclusive content from indie developers, like the Fool’s Day short.

Moreover, remember to manage your privacy settings on YouTube, as the service provider will use your personal information to push ads on you.

14. YesMovies: A great overall free movie streaming website

What We Liked

• Great navigation
• Enormous library
• Options for personalization

What We Didn’t Like

• Riddled with ads
• Unauthorized platform

If YesMovies was a legitimate movie website, it’d be a treat. During our testing, we found that it has a friendly interface, good navigation, and an enormous library with thousands of free movies and TV series. It’s a popular free movie website for streaming, and it even has personalization features, like a favorite list.

Apart from that, it’s easy to search for titles. There’s a search bar to type what you’re looking for. Compared to the market standard — a page loaded with various titles — this is refreshing to see.

The only downside is that YesMovies is extremely intrusive with its ads. We were closing pop-ups left and right before you could enjoy our favorite show or movie on it.

Here’s a useful tip, though. We recommend using the Filter button to switch between TV shows and movies. The interface seems to prioritize TV shows, and we found it difficult to locate movies without filtering first.

15. Internet Archive: The best site to watch classics

What We Liked

• A special library of classic movies, likely unavailable anywhere else
• No ads
• Completely legal

What We Didn’t Like

• No releases outside the public domain

Are you passionate about golden-age media productions? Then, the Internet Archive is one of the free streaming sites for you. All content on the site is authorized, featuring classic movies that are in the public domain, so no distribution rights are needed.

If you’re looking for the latest summer blockbuster, there’s nothing on the Internet Archive for you. On the other hand, if you love classic movies, give it a shot. If you need any more convincing, keep in mind that the Internet Archive is also one of the free movie websites that have no ads, and it’s completely free to access for everyone.

The Internet Archive is much larger than just movies. On it, you’ll find millions of multimedia productions with historical value, plus books, audio recordings, news, and much more!

16. Afdah: Large collection of high-definition movies with few ads

What We Liked

• High-quality files
• A substantial library
• Low ad intrusion

What We Didn’t Like

• Cluttered user interface

Keeping the low ad intrusion trend going, Afdah is one of the best free online movie streaming sites and is very popular among streamers. It has a substantial library, offering high-definition quality for all of its movies and TV shows, and only features a pop-up ad occasionally. While the name might be harder to remember, the experience on the platform isn’t lackluster.

Across the top of the page, we could filter by genre. Down the right-hand side, we could also filter by year of release. Oddly, Afdah duplicates the genre filters here, making the interface feel a bit cluttered.

When accessing free movie streaming sites, it is best to ensure that your personal data is encrypted to keep it away from prying eyes. Afdah, generally, can be a safe site to use for streaming, but taking precautions is also important.

Therefore, consider using NordVPN to watch free movies online on Afdah, as it has excellent security features and top-notch encryption to keep your data hidden.

Note: This free movie website is now called Afdah 2, but the content is still very much the same.

17. Pluto TV: The best option to watch movies and shows from the Viacom network

What We Liked

• Great library of content from popular distributors
• Low ad intrusion
• Legally operated

What We Didn’t Like

• Ad timing is bad (in the middle of your content)
• No paid subscription options

Pluto TV is another platform owned and operated legally by a major broadcaster. It’s part of the ViacomCBS family and lets you watch the best movies and TV series from companies like MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central, which is why we have included it in our list of the best free movie streaming sites.

It doesn’t have a subscription model, so you can only enjoy Pluto TV for free. The good thing is that it has very few ads. You will need to suffer the occasional break during your content, but there are no pop-ups and no banners.

At first, we couldn’t access the site from the Netherlands. That’s because it’s geo-locked for viewers outside of the US. If you’re not from the US, you’ll need a VPN like NordVPN to access Pluto TV.

NordVPN is an unblocking powerhouse that will help you bypass online restrictions on Pluto TV within minutes.

18. Yify TV: The best bet to find obscure movie titles

What We Liked

• A large library
• Intuitive navigation
• Dedicated subtitles available

What We Didn’t Like

• Horrendous ad intrusion
• Majority of ads are adult-themed

Yify TV is one of the free movie websites that has a substantial library and a very simple interface. It also has subtitles available, which makes it a good entry on our best free movie sites list. Other than that, however, it’s an ad-filled mess.

When we opened Yify TV, we were met with banners and pop-up ads. The pop-up ads reappeared after being closed when we loaded a stream. There were then embedded ads within the video feed. We also found the majority of ads to be pornographic in nature or related to gambling.

People usually steer towards Yify when the title they’re looking for isn’t available on other free streaming sites. Given the high ad intrusion, we can understand why. Besides exclusive movies or free TV shows, there’s little incentive to choose Yify TV over an alternative.

19. GoStream: A great option to watch the latest hits in 720p

What We Liked

• Decent quality files
• Comprehensive library

What We Didn’t Like

• Pretty high ad intrusion
• No TV shows
• Some adverts are malicious

GoStream offers TV shows and free movies online at a decent quality and has a pretty comprehensive library. It used to be that GoStream only specialized in movies, but TV shows are now available. We found some of the latest releases, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3.

What we didn’t like about GoStream was the kind of adverts that the site uses. When we tried to play a TV show, a new tab opened, which asked us to verify that we weren’t a robot by clicking “Allow.” This would’ve enabled spammy desktop notifications.

Worse, it wasn’t even GoStream that was asking us to do this. It was an unrelated advert, which could pave the way for potential malware infections like Trojans if you interact with a malicious ad.

20. Xumo Play: Watch live TV in addition to free movies

What We Liked

• Operated legally
• Shows live content as well as on-demand
• Available on multiple devices

What We Didn’t Like

• Small library
• Confusing interface at times

Xumo Play is another legal, free movie site. It used to be known as Xumo TV but was rebranded in 2022 after Comcast created a new joint venture with Charter Communications.

Xumo Play offers both VODs and live content. While testing the site, we noticed that you can choose from an array of free movies and TV shows. Just don’t expect much in terms of content variety.

Xumo Play is available on a suite of devices that is not so common for free movie websites. First-time users may find its interface pretty confusing. It automatically displays the live content streaming at the moment when you visit its site.

Unfortunately, Xumo is one of the free streaming sites that is only available in the US. If you want to access it from outside the States, you’ll need to use a VPN to get a US IP address. We recommend NordVPN for this.

21. Bounce TV: A free streaming website that focuses on Afro-American content

What We Liked

• Focused on a specific niche
• Low ad intrusion
• High definition available

What We Didn’t Like

• Only available in the US

Bounce TV is a US-based free movie website targeting the African-American community. It features shows and movies with a diverse cast and has a very specific niche.

It’s free to access, has high-definition media quality, and the ads are not really annoying, which is why it is worth mentioning in our list of the best free movie streaming sites.

22. Yidio: A streaming platform aggregator

What We Liked

• Large directory of media sources

What We Didn’t Like

• No content available on the site itself
• Not all options are free
• Outdated interface

Yidio is not your average free movie site. Much like MyBundle.TV it’s a directory where you can find the sources for any movie or TV show.

Although Yidio doesn’t host content on its servers, it still makes it on our list of the best free websites. The sources for media can sometimes offer movies for free, and Yidio itself is always free.

The only difference between Yidio and MyBundle.TV is that Yidio’s interface is a bit outdated. Other than that, both sites feature pretty much the same links to content on free streaming platforms.

23. Popcornflix: User-friendly website that works across devices

What We Liked

• Few ads
• Available on multiple devices
• Library with many TV shows

What We Didn’t Like

• Small movie collection

Popcornflix is a free movie streaming site that’s easy to navigate. It’s also extremely easy to use on a variety of devices, which is rare for free streaming sites. And it is one of the most popular Popcorn Time alternatives out there.

This is one of the free movie websites mostly focused on TV shows, so movie buffs won’t be blown away by this site. When we tested Popcornflix, we couldn’t find any of the latest blockbuster releases. But it’s still not riddled with ads, so it’s a pleasant choice for people who want to catch the latest episodes of their favorite show, especially if you want to enjoy them on the go.

24. VexMovies: A great option to watch movies without any ads

What We Liked

• No ads
• Decent library size
• Lots of HD titles

What We Didn’t Like

• Potentially malicious ads

VexMovies is a free movie website that provides free access to a lot of HD titles, both movies and TV shows. It has a collection of new and old content. VexMovies has no ads and a pretty massive library, so it’s still a good pick for the best free movie streaming sites list.

However, it wouldn’t be our first choice to watch free movies online. While some ads can be annoying, others are just downright dangerous. When we visited VexMovies, a potentially malicious advert opened in a new tab. It encouraged us to download an “antivirus.”

Never download these kinds of files, especially when prompted to do so by an unverified website or advert. Also, it is always wise to use the best antivirus software when visiting any streaming site. In reality, that pop-up ad on VexMovies will almost certainly install malware.

If you want to have peace of mind when accessing content on VexMovies, it is also best to get NordVPN for your device. With its Threat Protection feature, you don’t have to worry even if you accidentally click on something you shouldn’t have, as it safeguards you against malware like keyloggers that record your keystrokes and then pass on this information to hackers.

25. TinyZone: A YouTube clone for free movies and TV shows

What We Liked

• Great loading time
• An extensive collection
• Easy to navigate

What We Didn’t Like

• Tries to enable spammy desktop notifications

While it’s clearly ripping off YouTube’s interface, TinyZone is a free movie streaming site. It’s easy to navigate, not too intrusive with its ads, and it boasts an extensive collection of both movies and TV shows.

Add to that the fast loading time and little to no buffering, even on slow connections, and you can see why we chose to include TinyZone among the best free movie sites. This website also allowed us to create a favorites list, and we appreciated that the quality of each title is clearly listed under the stream.

Some ISPs may block access to free movie websites, including TinyZone, as was the case when we tested this website. As usual, you can unblock TinyZone with a VPN like NordVPN to gain unrestricted access.

26. Movies Found Online: Good variety of free movies and TV show streams

What We Liked

• Good content quality
• Variety of free movies
• User-friendly

What We Didn’t Like

• Public domain movies
• Tons of ads

The next free movie streaming site on our list of free movie platforms is Movies Found Online. We found that it has a decent library of free movies ranging from old cult classics to newer independent films. The site even offers animated shorts and films, documentaries, stand-up comedy, and TV series.

Because of the range of content it offers, we thought it would make a great addition as one of the best free movie streaming sites. However, it’s not one of the free streaming sites that is a fan favorite because you’re met with tons of ads before you get to hit play on your favorite show or movie.

It’s not higher on our list because ads on free movie sites aren’t just a small annoyance. When they’re so abundant, it’s difficult to enjoy even the best movie, TV show, or standup comedy act. It also exposes users to adware and other malware.

27. VidCloud: Updated with the latest episodes of TV shows

What We Liked

• Non-intrusive advertising
• Frequent updates with new episodes
• Library has some popular shows

What We Didn’t Like

• Not a vast library

VidCloud is a free movie website that is often updated with the latest episodes of popular shows, but its library isn’t impressive. When users are looking for a timeless classic, VidCloud isn’t the first option. Still, it finds a place on our list of the best free movie sites thanks to its non-intrusive advertising.

If you can look past the minimal ads, the VidCloud interface offers a fairly seamless experience. Navigating between episodes was quick and easy for us. You can even “turn off the lights,” dimming the rest of your screen while you stream!

28. Kanopy: Excellent choice for users with a library membership

What We Liked

• Completely legitimate ad-free platform
• A great option for users with library memberships
• Allows simultaneous streaming

What We Didn’t Like

• The content library is fairly limited

Kanopy is one of the more interesting options to watch free movies online. For starters, you’ll need a library card to access the movies on this website. This can be a library card from your university or even a public library. Once you sign up using the card, you get free access to some of the latest movie titles.

The best part about Kanopy is that it’s totally legit and completely ad-free. It also works beyond the US, so you’ll be able to use it as long as the platform accepts your library or university card. Keep in mind, though, that this is one of the free movie websites where the overall selection of movies is pretty limited, which is typical of ad-free, free movie sites.

29. FMovies: Free movie streams in 4K and 1080p

What We Liked

• Large and updated content library
• Clean and simple interface
• High-quality streams are available

What We Didn’t Like

• Search results aren’t well-prioritized
• A lot of ads

FMovies is also one of the best free movie streaming sites out there. It attracts more than a million users every month and owes its popularity to its vast and updated collection of movies. The titles on the site are available in 1080p HD, and some even in 4K.

There are, however, a couple of drawbacks to using FMovies. The first is that we had to navigate through several ads before getting our movie stream. The second is that the search doesn’t prioritize movies well. For example, when we searched for The Avengers, we had to scroll through several rows of releases to find the latest movies in the Marvel series.

A VPN will add an extra layer of protection when streaming content with FMovies, especially since there are lots of ads on the site that may include some carrying malicious software. Along with its Threat Protection function, NordVPN has a special feature called a kill switch, which will disconnect you from the internet if the VPN malfunctions.

Therefore, you will always be protected with NordVPN when using FMovies.

30. MoviesJoy: A streaming platform with Google-like simplistic movie search functionality

What We Liked

• User-friendly Google-like interface
• HD streams for most movies
• Ads are not intrusive

What We Didn’t Like

• Aggressively pushes a premium plan

If you’re looking for a simple free movie website with better search functionality than FMovies, then MoviesJoy is the best option for you. The free streaming site has a minimalist design with a powerful search tool. You can find the latest blockbusters as well as older classics on the website. Movie streams are also available in HD.

While you will see ads on MoviesJoy, they’re not too intrusive. Moreover, the site doesn’t feature pop-ups.

However, the biggest drawback we found was that MoviesJoy tried to push a premium plan. When we tried to stream Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, we were served a 60-second ad for their premium subscription. We couldn’t start streaming until the ad had disappeared.

31. StreamLord: Quick and easy access to high-quality streams

What We Liked

• No ads
• Easy-to-use website
• No login or sign-up required

What We Didn’t Like

• Potentially malicious ads

StreamLord is another great free movie website. It features high-quality streams of some of the latest flicks and TV shows. When testing the website, we found it easy to use, though it didn’t sort movies by genre or year of release.

StreamLord’s biggest plus point is that it’s virtually ad-free. We didn’t encounter a single ad while using it despite not having created a free account. You should be able to watch the movie of your choice within a few clicks of landing on StreamLord.

Just be wary of adverts on free movie websites, including StreamLord. Like with VexMovies, when we tested this website, we saw potentially malicious ads. This included the advert that opens in a new tab and offers to install an antivirus.

32. Putlocker: A simple and clean interface with blockbusters and classics

What We Liked

• Well-organized website that makes it easy to find content
• Features HD streams of the latest movies and TV shows

What We Didn’t Like

• Intrusive ads
• Exists through mirrors that change frequently
• Authorized streaming website

Putlocker is one of the most well-known free online movie streaming sites in the world. Although the original project is no longer in existence, the site continues to operate through a series of mirrors and clones that still offer TV shows and movies for free.

The Putlocker site makes it easy to watch free movies thanks to its effective search functionality. It also sorts movies by genre, country, and release date.

Since Putlocker exists only in the form of mirrors, users can sometimes land on the wrong site and end up infecting their computers with malware like a Remote Access Trojan that can control your webcam and steal your data. That’s why it’s important to always use Putlocker safely.

However, bear in mind that some ISPs block Putlocker. We were unable to access this website using Sky Broadband. We had to use NordVPN to access this free movie site, as it can reliably bypass most content blocks.

33. The Roku Channel: The best legal site to watch free content across devices

What We Liked

• Legitimate ad-supported platform
• High-resolution videos
• Provides free live TV streams

What We Didn’t Like

• Site layout makes it difficult to discover new titles and shows
• The library is limited in comparison to other free streaming websites

The Roku Channel is an ad-supported movie streaming platform that allows you to watch Roku originals, movies, and TV shows for free. You can access the website from your web browser or even add The Roku Channel to your streaming device.

The streams are high-quality and buffer really quickly. You can also use The Roku Channel to watch free TV. The content library of this free movie website is limited compared to others. Also, the site doesn’t sort movies into any categories, which can make exploring new films and shows a challenge.

34. PrimeWire: Simple streaming website with an extensive library of free movies

What We Liked

• Large repository of high-quality free movies
• Basic but effective and efficient interface

What We Didn’t Like

• Mirrors change frequently
• Lots of ads

PrimeWire is one of the original free movie websites. It’s been around for a while and continues to be one of the best free movie streaming sites for users due to its up-to-date and extensive collection of movies.

The site design is pretty basic, but you can easily find the movies you want without difficulties. Most streams that we tried out were available in HD, but some of the latest releases were CAM-rips.

Much like Putlocker and other free streaming sites, PrimeWire also functions through copies and mirrors. To avoid getting your device infected with unwanted malware, it’s probably a good idea to learn how to use PrimeWire safely.

35. CONtv: The best streaming site for Comic Con fans

What We Liked

• Completely legal website
• No sign-up or sign-in required to watch most movies
• Perfect for watching Comic Con-related content

What We Didn’t Like

• Site can be a little buggy
• Available only in the US

CONtv is a unique movie streaming site that would appeal to fans of Comic Con. It’s dedicated entirely to movies, TV series, and other content that is popular among Comic Con fans. This includes anime, cult films, and classic martial arts films.

The site is completely free to use, and you don’t even need to create an account to start watching your favorite movies. However, we found that the CONtv website isn’t the easiest to use and can be a little buggy. But hey, it is a free service!

CONtv is available only in the United States. So, if you’re trying to access it from elsewhere, you’ll probably need to use a VPN. We recommend using NordVPN to watch CONtv from abroad as it has 1,970 US servers, making it easier and faster to stream your content.

36. Crunchyroll: The best site for anime content

What We Liked

• Extensive library of anime content
• Legal and free
• Works on several devices

What We Didn’t Like

• Ad-based free movies site
• Some content is only available with a subscription

Anime is one of the most popular genres among the younger generation today, and Crunchyroll is by far the best free movie streaming site for anime films and TV shows online. It features classic titles, such as Naruto Shippuden, in addition to mangas, news, and even games.

While streaming on the website is free, you will encounter ads. If you want to get rid of these ads entirely, you can opt for a premium subscription to access the Crunchyroll website. The premium subscription also lets you watch the latest shows and movies a day after their release in Japan.

37. Vumoo: Ideal for changing playback resolution

What We Liked

• Offers different resolutions for each movie
• The site is quick and responsive
• User-friendly platform

What We Didn’t Like

• Potentially malicious adverts

Vumoo is one of the best free movie websites. It allows users to pick from multiple different resolutions to watch free movies online. This free streaming site is pretty clean and runs smoothly as well. You can watch Saint X and other popular TV shows on Vumoo.

Again, watch out for potentially malicious adverts on this website. You may see pop-out adverts in a new tab that offer antivirus or other cybersecurity software. Installing software from ads like these can infect your device with malware.

38. Plex: Smooth playback with media player features

What We Liked

• Built-in media player features
• Good compatibility with a range of devices
• A really clean, feature-rich interface

What We Didn’t Like

• Supported by advertisements
• Limited content compared to other free movies sites

Plex Media Server allows you to stream movies for free. You can also watch several TV shows, and you’ve even got access to live TV. Plus, you don’t need to create an account, either.

This service works with a VPN, and while you’ll have to withstand the usual advertisements, the interface and media server playback are really good for a free movie website. However, content on this platform is limited compared to the other platforms on our list of best free movie sites.

39. MyFlixer: Varying resolution with numerous categories to choose from

What We Liked

• You can stream in high-definition
• A good, clean UI, despite the ads
• More content than some free movie sites

What We Didn’t Like

• A lot of adverts

MyFlixer doesn’t just give you movies for free; you can also choose your preferred resolution on this free movie site, and the user interface is pretty slick.

Aside from allowing you to watch free movies, it also has a ton of TV shows to choose from, and this is one of the main reasons it has made it in our list of the best free movie streaming sites. You can select the Top IMDb category to get the best-rated movies, in case you’re not sure what to watch.

We did have to click away quite a lot of adverts before we could start streaming. But otherwise, we could add movies and shows to our favorites and “turn off the lights” for a better, dimmed experience.

40. WatchFree: Watch the latest releases in high definition

What We Liked

• Easy to navigate
• Has the latest Hollywood releases
• Very slick and simple user interface

What We Didn’t Like

• Loads of pop–up ads that open in new tabs

The first thing that struck us when testing WatchFree is that it’s pretty ad-heavy. We saw two ads pop out in new tabs when trying to click into the search bar. We got another when clicking on an Insidious: The Red Door stream and a fourth when we tried to play the movie. After that, it was smooth sailing – and the movie was perfect quality.

Navigation is simple. There are categories, like Trending Movies, and each entry has handy tags that help you choose a stream. We could see, at a glance, the movie’s runtime, quality, year of release, and a star rating for each title.

You can take care of those annoying ads with an ad blocker. NordVPN’s built-in ad blocker is perfect because you’ll get the protection of the best premium VPN at the same time!

41. SFlix: A new free movie site that lacks filters

What We Liked

• Simple user interface that just works
• Numerous servers to choose from

What We Didn’t Like

• A lack of filters can make searching difficult
• Supported by adverts

SFlix is pretty new to the scene, but its interface is highly familiar. The website follows the tried-and-tested method of displaying horizontal reels of movie posters, making it easy to find what you’re looking for – provided it’s a new release. There’s a serious lack of filtering options, though you can view movies by genre.

Adverts can get annoying on SFlix, and we recommend using one of the best ad blockers to avoid frustration. When we tested the site, every other click on a menu or movie launched an ad within a new tab. Get yourself an ad blocker, and you’ll be able to browse without interruption.

These teething issues aside, SFlix is a solid new addition to the free movie streaming scene, in our opinion. Clicking into a movie gives you more information on the title and a choice of server to stream the movie, reducing the chance of dud links.

42. HiMovies: A free movie streaming site with Chromecast support

What We Liked

• Supports Chromecast – watch on your TV!
• Up-to-date content library
• Very few, small pop-up adverts

What We Didn’t Like

• Some streams didn’t load

HiMovies is one of the newer additions to the free movie streaming scene, and it’s a new entry on our list. While testing the site, we had a smooth experience. We were able to load an HD movie quickly after accessing the site, and we only saw two adverts.

That said, and perhaps it’s because the site is newer, we saw some broken links. Some streams and adverts simply displayed a message that the image could not be loaded.

One of the best things about HiMovies is that it is one of the free movie websites that supports Chromecast. So, you can stream HD content directly on your TV if you own a Chromecast device. Check out our guide to using a VPN on Chromecast to stream content with the protection of a VPN.

We confidently recommend NordVPN for Chromecast because of its vast server network, fast streaming speeds, and effective unblocking features.

43. 5movies: Hollywood hits and international flicks

What We Liked

• No account required
• Features both Hollywood and international movies
• Content neatly organized into categories

What We Didn’t Like

• Some movies aren’t true HD
• Lacks the library size of other free movie sites

5movies is a popular free movie site with vast reams of Hollywood content and a simplistic user interface. We found it a great place to search for international films too, like French and Spanish movies! The UI was very easy for us to navigate, thanks to extensive filtering options and categorization.

The trade-off here is that 5movies doesn’t have quite the same size of library as some other alternatives. MoviesJoy, for example, felt similar to us, but that platform offers a wider selection of flicks.

Unlike some other free movie sites we’ve tested, 5movies doesn’t require you to create an account. We loaded straight into a Barbie stream – and while the site tried to serve up ads, our ad blocker stopped them. We didn’t see a single advert between landing on the website and diving into Barbie World.

44. 1HD: An impressive new entry with an even more impressive UI

What We Liked

• Minimal advertising
• Crisp, slick UI that rivals major streamers
• You can download content

What We Didn’t Like

• “Latest movies” feed makes finding new content harder

You’d be forgiven for thinking that 1HD is a fully licensed streaming platform. It’s not – but with minimal adverts and a super–click user interface, we were surprised to come across this new entry to the free movie scene, so we thought to include it in our best free movie streaming sites list.

As huge horror buffs, we tested a Nun II stream. It was a CAM–quality link, but we knew what we were getting into, thanks to the resolution labels. There’s plenty of other information about each movie, too, once you select a stream.

Our only complaint was that the “Latest Movies” feed includes any recently added titles. It quickly becomes cluttered with older movies that have just been added, making it harder to find newer flicks. But that does make for a very broad content library that’ll give you heaps of options!

45: LosMovies: Broad variety of big–name movies and family content

What We Liked

• Minimal adverts
• Broad variety of content
• Numerous server mirrors prevent dud links

What We Didn’t Like

• Russian–hosted website

LosMovies is a pretty great movie information resource, besides being a good free movie streaming site. Each entry includes details like movie ratings, cast, genre, directors, and so on. The library features everything from Hollywood blockbusters to kids’ movies.

LosMovies offers numerous servers for most of the content it hosts. When we tested an Oppenheimer stream, the website gave us four server options to make sure we weren’t impacted by dud links. The stream launched in high definition, too, with zero adverts.

Make sure you use a VPN if you’re going to visit LosMovies. You should always connect to a VPN on free movie streaming websites, but particularly, given world events, when you’re visiting a Russian–hosted website. Get NordVPN for complete protection.

46. Freevee: Amazon’s free movie streaming site

What We Liked

• Safe, secure website (Amazon-owned)
• Watch free movies legally
• Snazzy user interface

What We Didn’t Like

• Lacking content compared to other free movie sites

Freevee is a place to watch free movies online as long as you’re willing to put up with adverts. Since this free streaming belongs to Amazon, you don’t have to worry about watching illegal content. Also, the website is safe and secure for movie streaming, which makes it one of the best free movie websites.

The only drawback is that there’s not as much content on Freevee compared to other free movie sites.

47. SBS On Demand: Free movies from Australia

What We Liked

• Free movie on-demand service
• New content is added regularly
• Official, legal website poses little risk

What We Didn’t Like

• Content only scales to 720p
• Must create a (free) account
• Requires an Australian VPN

Much like Freevee, SBS On Demand is an official website that operates within the law. It belongs to SBS, an Australian broadcaster. That means that you’ll need to use an Australian VPN server to change your IP address to an Australian one and watch free movies.

SBS On Demand is regularly updated, so there’s always a good library of content to choose from. And while it doesn’t have an extensive list of free movies as on other sites, you might find some hidden gems that aren’t seen elsewhere.

The downside here is that all content on SBS On Demand is capped at 720p, which isn’t full HD. Still, you won’t have to worry about breaking the law when you watch free movies here!

48. FilmRise: A place to catch classic movies

What We Liked

• Both free and legal to use
• A good place to catch classic movies

What We Didn’t Like

• May be blocked in some countries – use a VPN
• Lacks the latest blockbuster titles

FilmRise is a breath of fresh air in that the website hosts free content while remaining legal, and it doesn’t sacrifice usability, so we thought it was worth mentioning in our list of the best free movie streaming sites. There are tens of thousands of titles to find, with a whole range of movies from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.

Navigating the FilmRise platform is easy. We could choose to catch a film or watch the latest TV shows from the homepage. Each of these menus breaks down into submenus with categories, allowing you to quickly find your favorite content. We did see some ads, but they’re not intrusive.

We were surprised to find that FilmRise is one of the free streaming sites that offer an app, too. Right now, you can choose to download FilmRise to your iPhone or Android smartphone. You can also install FilmRise on a Roku, Firestick, Android TV, and more.

49. Filmzie: Support lesser-known filmmakers

What We Liked

• Works great on mobile, plus other devices
• Entirely free but still legal
• Support budding filmmakers in the industry

What We Didn’t Like

• Requires you to create an account
• VPN needed to access Filmzie in some countries

Filmzie is a free streaming site like FilmRise in that it offers free, ad-supported movies and TV shows. And, like FilmRise, it also offers an app that’s compatible with a whole host of devices. We tested Filmzie out on our iPhone, and everything felt really easy to use. Categories are filtered into easy scroll bars, a little like Netflix.

While Filmzie is one of the free movie websites that offer some mainstream content, it’s a good platform for aspiring filmmakers. You can find movies here that you won’t find anywhere else. This does, of course, mean that you might find some content that isn’t up to the same production quality as Hollywood flicks. But it’s also a good way to find hidden gems.

50. Rakuten Viki: A treasure trove of Asian movies and TV shows

What We Liked

• Fast and responsive navigation
• Unique shows not seen elsewhere
• No cluttering from adverts

What We Didn’t Like

• Some content requires a subscription
• No Western movie or TV show content

Rakuten Viki is one the best free movie websites if you’re interested in focusing on Asian TV shows and movies. We found a whole range of content directly from countries such as China, Korea, and Japan. While you can use the website for free, some content is paywalled at $4.99 per month.

The website is well-designed and easy to use. Rakuten Viki uses the side-scrolling categories layout that’s become popular with big platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix. This made it very simple for us to see what kinds of genres were available and dive straight into fresh content that we’ve not seen anywhere else!

While you do have to pay to access some content on this free streaming site, that was all clearly labeled, too. Look for the “Watch Free” tag to find the content you can access on the free streaming service. Anything that requires payment is tagged as “Standard.”

To access this platform, you’ll need to get a US IP address. You can do this by signing up with NordVPN.

What Are the Risks of Using Free Movie Sites?

Many of the best free movie streaming sites contain pirated content. Most anti-piracy authorities focus on the owners of pirate sites, not users. Still, there’s a risk. There are other dangers involved in watching free movies online, too. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Free streaming websites can infect your device with malwareif hijacked by a malicious third party.
• Adverts on free movie sites are prolific – and malicious ads can also target your device with malicious software.
• In some countries, your ISP may try to terminate your internet connection if you engage in piracy.
• You may be contacted by a third party with a cease and desist. While uncommon, this can result in serious fines.

The legal consequences can depend on where you live. Eastern Europe, for example, is infamous for a lack of action against piracy. However, consuming copyrighted content is still illegal in many countries, and we urge you to avoid it.

At the very least, you should always be using a VPN on free movie sites. NordVPN offers robust protection against data snooping and malware attacks. Don’t visit a free movie site without it.

Why You Need a VPN to Watch Free Movies Online

We’ve already touched on how a VPN can protect you from free movie sites and the potential risks of using them. But there’s another benefit of VPNs. Some free streaming sites are geo-blocked, meaning you can’t use them from every country, but a virtual private network can help you bypass these restrictions.

To summarize, in using a VPN to visit free movie websites, your location is protected, your activity is hidden, and you’re safer from malware attacks. You will also be able to access blocked sites from anywhere.

If you’re new to the VPN scene, we’ll give you a helping hand in getting started. We tested every free movie site on this list with NordVPN – the absolute frontrunner in online security.

How to use free movie sites securely with NordVPN: Step–by–step guide

1. Get NordVPN. Its Threat Protection feature will keep you safe from malware and block malicious, hijacked websites.

Most Frequented Illegal Streaming Sources for Movies, Shows, Music, Games, and More

One of the greatest benefits to the advent and growth of the internet has been the increasingly easy access to entertainment via streaming services. While there are plenty of streaming sites available that offer both paid and free programming, many streaming sources of movies, television shows, games, books, and music aren’t legal, and they aren’t 100% safe for consumers, either. While it’s almost always true that paid streaming sites are legal (e.g. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV+, etc.), it can be tricky to know which free streaming sites are legal and which ones are not. To help out, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most frequented illegal streaming sites on the internet, so you can be sure to steer clear of them and keep yourself and your family safe in the process. But first, let’s answer some basic questions about online streaming.

Common Questions About Online Streaming

Are Streaming Websites Illegal?

Yes and no. Watching your favorite movies, documentaries, and anime films online or listening to your favorite musician can be 100% legal or illegal—it just depends on what site you’re streaming from. If the website you’re using to watch the latest movies or live stream of your favorite sports doesn’t have the legal authority to stream that content, then the site is violating copyright laws, and the streaming website is illegal. However, if the site does have the legal authority to provide copyrighted content via online streaming, then the website is legal.

Is Using an Illegal Streaming Site Really Unsafe?

Yes. Illegal content, regardless of how it’s accessed (e.g. unauthorized site, streaming box, app, etc.), exposes the user to a host of potential hazards, including malware, fraud risk, malicious pop-ups, hacking, and potential legal trouble.

Which Free Streaming Site is the Best?

There are a number of 100% free streaming websites available, many of which provide high-quality content that ranges from public domain movies to free TV shows from years past. It’s hard to say what the best free streaming site is, because it depends on what sort of online content you’re looking for, but some of the top free streaming services, include Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, NBC’s Peacock, Popcornflix, and IMDb TV. Most free streaming sites pay for their programming with ads, so the streaming experience is more like traditional TV. To watch your favorite online movies or TV series ad-free on a legal website will almost certainly require a subscription or fee.

How Do Illegal Streaming Sites Work?

Illegal streaming platforms can work in a variety of different ways. Some of them allow for illegal downloads or allow video streaming of television shows and movies directly from the site in violation of copyright laws. Some facilitate peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing between users that allows users to illegally bypass copyright holders’ claims to the content and their ability to monetize views or streams. Another common way illegal streaming sites work is to function as a search engine, so visitors to the site can search for content and find it on other servers to either stream or download. Usually, streamers of illegal content are required to watch ads to get to the illegal content, and the ad revenue goes to the site owners and advertisers. Oftentimes, the streaming quality is lower than with a legal streaming service.

Now that we’ve answered some questions about streaming sites, here are some of the most frequented illegal streaming sites.

123Movies

123Movies is a cost-free movie and television viewing site based in Vietnam, where it’s also technically legal. However, as a file sharing platform, 123Movies is notorious for being a distribution site for viruses and malware.

The site is illegal in the United States and other countries, because the content being shared via their site is not licensed to be viewed there.

Area 51

Area 51 is an IPTV app that makes illegal content available to users. The app has faced legal trouble from the Netflix-, Disney-, and Hollywood-driven MPAA and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global anti-piracy group. In addition to the illegality of some of Area 51’s offerings, users have been exposed to hacks, malware, and other online threats.

Chitram TV

Chitram TV is an IPTV that specializes in TV streaming, specifically, it illegally streams Indian TV channels and TV content outside of India. In December, 2021, Chitram TV was ordered to pay $31 million to DISH Network for piracy and copyright infringement.

Flixtor

Flixtor, like many illegal streaming platforms, does not own the rights to distribute the movies, documentaries, and television shows on its site. Because of this, it has been shut down many times, and its future is in doubt. Not only might Flixtor site operators face legal scrutiny, but so might anyone who streams content from Flixtor—especially since ISPs now routinely track illegal streaming site use among their customers.

iStreamitAll

• One of the largest piracy sites in the U.S. before it was shut down, the creator of iStreamitAll was recently handed a 57-month prison sentence and $1 million fine for the following:
• money laundering
• conspiracy to commit copyright infringement
• criminal copyright infringement by distributing a copyrighted work being prepared for commercial distribution
• misdemeanor criminal copyright infringement by public performance
• misdemeanor copyright infringement

Kodi

Kodi is a highly versatile app that can turn just about any connected device into a streaming hub. While it has many impressive features—it can support just about any audio or video file format, and once installed, users can use it to access any files stored on a device from another device—and it’s not in and of itself illegal, there are many Kodi addons that allow users to engage in illegal streaming. While Kodi is legal, using it to watch unauthorized and copyrighted content can land users in legal turmoil.

MediaBox HD

MediaBox HD is a website and an iOS and Android app that allow users access to a vast collection of TV series and online movies made available via torrenting or other direct sources, even legal sources like Netflix. The catch? Mediabox HD doesn’t always own the rights or have authorization to the content it provides for streaming or downloading. While considered safer than some other illegal streaming sites, MediaBox HD can still violate copyright law.

Mobdro

Mobdro is one of many internet apps seeking to take advantage of free streaming content, while looking the other way when it comes to legality. While Mobdro itself is not illegal—It enables users to crawl for free streams on the internet and then capture and categorize them for later viewing—any time a user watches copyrighted content they haven’t paid to access via the app, that action is illegal. For now, Mobdro seems to be operating in a legal gray area—especially since their disclaimer specifically aims to place all responsibility for content on the user. For users who access copyrighted material on their streaming devices, however, the gray area is much more black and white, i.e. clearly illegal.

Moviesjoy

Free and illegal streaming site Moviesjoy offers pirated streaming content for free to users, who watch ads in exchange for content. In addition to being illegal to view, the content on Moviesjoy isn’t always secure. Ads on Moviesjoy often come from low-budget ad networks that promote bad information and misleading content to viewers.

Putlocker

Putlocker originally started back in 2011 in the UK, but throughout numerous seizures and suspensions, its domain has changed repeatedly, and it’s unclear, at this point, who runs the site. How does Putlocker work? Putlocker is both a streaming site for movies and TV shows and an online index. At least one Putlocker user has been convicted of violating federal copyright law.

Roja Directa

Roja Directa (also known as Rojadirecta) has long been one of the most frequented sports streaming sites on the internet, but it has been embroiled in legal battles for years regarding links to live sports events provided on its platform that were not authorized. Streamers looking for live sports content have plenty of other options, including traditional television outlets and streaming services like fuboTV, Sling TV, ESPN+, and others.

Some IPTV Services

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, is television content that is delivered over IP networks as opposed to television content that is delivered over cable, satellite, or radio waves. Using IPTV is perfectly legal when watching free-to-air (FTA) content or paid subscription services like Max or Apple TV. However, when IPTV is used to stream illegal content, it is still an illegal and unsafe act.

Streamango

A once-heavily trafficked and free torrent site, Streamango was shut down (along with Openload) in 2019 due to piracy and copyright infringement. A lawsuit brought against Streamango by the MPA, ACE, and other international companies resulted in the termination of the site, as well as a sizable settlement.

The Pirate Bay

A peer-to-peer file sharing site that uses the BitTorrent protocol, The Pirate Bay (TPB) is an index of online content. It has been shut down many times and has faced plenty of legal trouble since its inception in 2003. In fact, the founders have all served jail time for copyright infringement.

Today, The Pirate Bay is still in operation on the dark web.

uTorrent

uTorrent is a free file sharing software program used to download very large files. It is part of BitTorrent’s portfolio. While using uTorrent (and torrenting in general) is legal, any torrenting of unauthorized copyrighted material via uTorrent is illegal. Because internet service providers (ISPs) and copyright trolls routinely monitor peer-to-peer file sharing sites like uTorrent, any copyrighted material that is shared could result in litigation.

Also, while uTorrent is not a virus in and of itself, it has been a distribution source for malware, cryptomining software, and invasive advertisement, so it can have negative effects on users’ computers and other devices.

Vumoo

Vumoo functions as a search engine for illegal and pirated content. Many users access the files they receive from Vumoo via a virtual private network (VPN), which routes the user’s internet activity through an encrypted connection that keeps others from seeing their online behavior. While a VPN may offer Vumoo users some protection from litigation, even the best VPN can’t protect against viruses and malware, which can affect Vumoo users.

While this list is incomplete, and many of the sites listed here may come and go due to legal pressures in the future, the truth about illegal streaming sites remains the same. While it might seem appealing to watch movies and TV shows for free, the risks—legal trouble, malware, hacks, poor quality, viruses, etc.—are high. With so many good, free, and paid, legal alternatives available, there’s really no reason to run the risks required to view copyright protected material over the internet. Check out our Legal Streaming Sources page for information on where you can watch free, legal content that won’t put you, your devices, or your legal future in jeopardy.

Streaming Devices that Can be Used to Watch Free and Paid Content

Whether you’re wanting to access a free TV streaming service or streaming on-demand movies, you’re going to need a Wi-Fi- or internet-connected device to do so. Here is a list of some of the most popular devices you can use to stream free and paid content from the internet:

Smart TV

There are a lot of smart TVs on the market, including models made by Samsung, Philips, VIZIO, RCA, Sony, and LG. Keep in mind that to use an operating system like Android TV on your smart TV, you’ll need an additional device like an Android TV box or Nvidia Shield.

Gaming Consoles

Gaming consoles from companies like Xbox and PlayStation make it possible for gamers to play games online and to also stream their favorite movies, TV shows, live TV channels, and more.

Sticks and Boxes

There are a number of sticks and boxes that, when connected to a television or monitor, allow users to stream movies, television shows, music, and even games. Popular sticks and boxes include Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast with Google TV, and Roku.

Devices

Laptops, Desktops, and Mobile Devices. Streaming content is also available via different stream platforms on almost any connected computer, mobile phone, or tablet.

Look out for these devices!

This may look legitimate, but it is actually an illegal streaming box.

You plug it into your TV, monitor, or projector and watch shows and movies — but, it’s not what it seems. On top of being illegal, it may also corrupt your TV and wireless network with malware.

FAQs

Is it illegal to stream movies online?
Streaming movies online can be either illegal or legal, depending on the site you use. By watching movies from an unlicensed website, you are engaging in illegal streaming, which will result in prosecution if caught. A video stream from a site or company with a copyright license to broadcast a movie or a certain movie is legal.

Is 123movies illegal?
Yes. 123movies is illegal in the United States. 123movies does not acquire copyright licenses for the content available on their websites. Even though they do not host this illegally acquired content on their site, it is still illegal to access it and could result in prosecution.

Is the Pirate Bay still working?
Yes, the Pirate Bay is still working, but as an illegal torrenting site, it is not safe to use. Users are sometimes victims of malware, hacking, bloatware, and legal trouble. To access copyrighted material legally and safely, use a safe and legal streaming site.

Are illegal streaming sites safe?
No. Illegal streaming sites can compromise users’ security and safety in a variety of ways, including identity theft, bloatware, malware, invasive ads, viruses, phishing scams, and more. There’s also always the potential for legal prosecution when using an illegal streaming site.