Putlocker Alternatives for Watching Movies Online in 2024
People love free streaming websites because they allow them to enjoy their favorite TV shows and movies without paying any subscription fees. However, these sites are not so popular with law enforcement agencies and hosting companies which are always taking them down. Putlocker has been one such popular free streaming platform that has been taken down.
What is Putlocker?
Putlocker has been one of the most famous examples to stream movies online for free. The popular movie streaming website attracted 1.6 million daily visitors at one point.
Once ranked among the top 250 most visited websites by Alexa, in 2016, the UK high court shut down Putlockers after a long battle between the website and copyright owners. The Australian Federal Court also followed suit, blocking it and other controversial websites about a year later. Putlocker has been reported as a significant digital piracy threat by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
While Putlocker has changed its name several times since then and hides behind different domains to resist blocking, people have been looking for some great alternatives to watch free movies and TV shows. Today, there are tons of Putlocker alternatives available in the market, but you need one that is quick, has an excellent user interface, and has a wide selection of TV shows and movies. Moreover, these sites need to be available on PCs, mobile phones, iPads, and streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick.
When using these free Putlocker alternatives, keep in mind that because there is no fee, you are the product, and this service will cost you in terms of online privacy and security. To keep yourself safe on free streaming websites, you can take the help of a VPN that hides your IP address to conceal your whereabouts and encrypts all your incoming and outgoing traffic so nobody can intercept it.
The best VPNs like NordVPN are built with a focus on privacy, but many also offer high transfer speeds so that you can stream videos comfortably.
Putlocker Alternatives
If you are looking for the latest web streams, videos, movies, and TV shows for free, here are your options.
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Movie4U
Movie4u is a free online streaming website with a straightforward and easy-to-navigate interface to locate your TV shows and films. The site has a genre-wise and a year-wise list if you scroll down on the site, or you can look for movies using the search bar at the top. Movie4u also boasts films in HD from the 70s. You don’t need to have an account to access the VPN-friendly website that sees about 7k monthly visitors though you can get annoyed by the ads.
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Tubi
Find old classic movies for free on Tubi, where you can watch thousands of free movies and TV shows from anywhere. While you don’t need an account on Tubi either, it is not VPN friendly. As such, you have to use it with VPN split tunneling. Thanks to its content library and device compatibility, it has become quite popular since it arrived in 2014, and the site is now aiming for a million monthly visitors. Tubi streaming service is available on Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Roku, Sony Smart TVs, and the Web.
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123Movies
123Movies has one of the largest streaming libraries, which you can easily navigate through. Besides having a well-organized interface, it also has a large selection of live-action shows, including cartoons, anime, western hits, and Asian dramas. You can sort movies and shows alphabetically, by release year, or by the number of views. Moreover, no sign-up is required to start watching. This internationally renowned streaming website also has fewer ads than most free streaming sites. It is VPN compatible and records tens of thousands of customers every month.
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Crackle
Crackle is another popular streaming platform that has acquired thousands of titles that makes a great alternative to using Putlocker. Much like any free streaming site, Crackle, which sees more than 100k visitors every month, has ads running on its platform, meaning you have to deal with the popups that appear from time to time. This VPN-compatible platform doesn’t need any registration for you to use. Plus, the site has an app that you can install on your FireStick.
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Peacock TV
NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock TV, features thousands of free movies, tv shows, live channels, and more. It is not VPN friendly, and you also need an account to access it. Peacock has a quality free plan and an app for installation on many streaming devices, including the Firestick/Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, Android, iOS, etc. It has a sleek and clean interface to offer thousands of free titles, live channels, and much more that has helped it amass millions of subscribers.
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FMovies
Without registering on the platform, you can enjoy tons of movies and TV shows offered for free on FMovies. Its user-friendly and minimalist layout makes it easy to check films based on genre, most-watched, recently added, and country. FMovies boasts of more than 1.5 million monthly visitors and can be used with a VPN, but you would have to deal with the ads and popups quite a lot.
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Popcornflix
While you won’t find TV shows on Popcornflix, it has a massive library of popular movies and some great hidden gems. In addition to recently released hits, this website is a great place to find free movie classics. Because it is optimized for mobile layouts and desktop devices, Popcornflix is an excellent choice to stream on your iPhone or Android. It further requires no registration, has about 150k monthly visitors, and is VPN compatible.
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Megashare
A simple streaming solution, Megashare has a comprehensive library of films, TV shows, animations, and web series, plus a roster of international cinemas to enjoy for free without requiring any registration. You can search for titles by letters, country name, year of release, and IMDb highest rating filter. It also offers quality print and features subtitles. The website is non-HTTPS but supports VPNs for your safety. Megashare works pretty well on PCs and smartphones.
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FilmRise
On FilmRise, some of the top categories to navigate TV shows and films include Featured, Reality, Classic, New Releases, Documentaries, and more. However, this site of 100k monthly visitors needs you to set up an account first but does not support VPN. This streaming network also lets users watch HD quality content free of cost.
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Hulu
A top-rated streaming service in the US, Hulu is a subscription-based service that features exclusive original shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and has a vast collection of Hollywood movies. Hulu is owned by The Walt Disney Company, just like Disney+, and is only available in the US. Hulu, which provides both web and in-app experience, also has a Live TV service, which you can get by paying an additional subscription fee.
Why Do You Need a VPN to Stream Movies Online?
VPN or virtual private network is recommended when visiting Putlocker alternatives to ensure your safety and privacy online. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so that ISPs (internet service providers), hackers, and website operators, can’t track your online activities. This means you can stream movies anonymously, even on websites that violate copyright.
Are All Putlocker Alternative Movie Streaming Sites Free?
The majority of the Putlocker alternative movie streaming sites such as Movie4U, Tubi, 123Movies, Crackle, Peacock TV, FMovies, Popcornflix, Megashare, and FilmRise are absolutely free. If you’re willing to pay to watch, there are plenty of subscription services like Hulu, where you can enjoy the latest movies and TV shows.
Do You Need to Use a Torrent to Stream Movies?
No, you do not need to use a torrent to stream movies. Torrenting is a way to download files to your computer so that you can watch them later. You can use paid subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, and NowTV and free streaming websites like Movie4U, Tubi, and 123Movies to access online content in real-time without needing to save any files.
Final Word: Grab Your Snacks and Start Watching!
The best free streaming sites feature uncluttered designs, usable search functions, and fast loading times while minimizing ads and other popups. Also, they shouldn’t have a lengthy application process, ask for any payment or sensitive information, or try to trick you into upgrading for premium content.
Now that you have a list of Potlocker alternatives to stream your favorite movies and television shows for free, just put some popcorn in the microwave and get ready for your next streaming marathon.