Do you love to watch movies, TV series, and Anime? Are you a fan of all these things and love spending your time watching this stuff? Then, Popcorn Time can be your best buddy which will help you have fun and lots of entertainment.
Popcorn Time is one of the best movie and video streaming platforms that allow you to watch unlimited movies, TV series, and anime. It is a blessing in disguise for all anime lovers who want to watch anime but do not find it anywhere on the web.
Also, here in this blog, we will try to answer all your queries and concerns related to the piracy, legality, and safety of Popcorn Time. Make sure to read this one till the end!
⚠️Disclaimer: This guide is just for educational purposes only. Neither do I nor VPNHelpers support any kind of downloading copyrighted content.
⏳Short in time? Here is a quick guide for you:
- Download and Install ExpressVPN, to safely access this site.
- Connect any servers in Spain or Switzerland
- Visit the site Popcorn Time.
- Search your favourite movie, TV series, or anime.
- Stream/Download in HD and enjoy watching.
What Is Popcorn Time?
Popcorn Time is a famous torrenting software that is multi-platform and open source and allows users to watch, stream, and download unlimited movies, TV series, and anime. It comes as a downloadable application and serves to fulfil all your entertainment doses.
It uses torrenting to download and upload movies, TV series, and anime. Torrenting is a peer-to-peer network that uses the BitTorrent network to download and upload files. And this is what makes Popcorn Time distinct and different from other pirated movie streaming platforms.
It has got the latest and a vast number of releases due to its varied and diverse database of anime, movies, and TV series. And it also allows the user to keep a track of his/her downloads and streams.
Is It Legal To Stream Through Popcorn Time?
Even though Popcorn time allows users to stream their favourite movies or TV series through torrenting which is not done directly. But it is similar to downloading or accessing a torrent website. And this is what makes it illegal as it distributes and spreads the content without the permission of the real owner and, therefore, practices copyright infringement.
Copyright infringement is considered to be an illegal activity in many countries due to the piracy laws followed and practised there. Different countries have different laws and stand on piracy and copyright infringement depending on the beliefs and laws that they abide by.
Some of the countries and their stand on piracy are as follows:
1. Piracy is considered completely illegal: Britain, China, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, South Africa, United States, Portugal, Finland, Russia, etc. 2. Piracy is is considered illegal but no action is taken: India, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Greece, Netherlands, Philippines, Mexico, Iran, Singapore, etc. 3. Privacy is considered legal: Poland, Spain, and Switzerland.
This explains that if you live in a country like Germany, South Africa, Russia, etc., then you might be punished or fined if caught using Popcorn Time. If you live in a country like Canada, Israel, Singapore, etc., you may or may not be punished for using Popcorn Time but it is considered illegal. And if you live in countries like Switzerland, Spain, and Poland, then you can use Popcorn Time without any hindrance as it is completely legal to stream.
Is It Safe To Access Popcorn Time?
Since Popcorn Time practices copyright infringement, it cannot be expected to be safe to access. The sole reason behind this is that piracy and copyright infringement is considered to be illegal in many countries. And this has resulted in the banning and blocking of platforms like Popcorn Time.
Moreover, as Popcorn Time comes in the form of an application, a user has to download and install a file into his/her device which may turn out to be a risk. As there are many cloned copies or mirrors of Popcorn time available on the web and none of them is certified or verified. These files may contain dangerous malware or virus that might infect your device and prove to be a threat to your cybersecurity.
So, we can conclude that Popcorn Time may not be safe to access due to legal factors and the cybersecurity factor as well. Therefore, proper precaution like using a VPN needs to be taken before accessing or using Popcorn Time.
How Can We Access Popcorn Time?
Popcorn Time is an entertainment hub for all movie buffs but you should always remember to use a secure and reliable VPN such as Express VPN, Nord VPN, CyberGhost VPN, etc., before accessing this website.
Follow these steps to access Popcorn Time:
- Make sure you are connected to a reliable and secure VPN like ExpressVPN.
- Download and install Popcorn Time on your device.
- Tap on the search icon present in the application to search for your favourite movie.
- Among the list that is displayed on your screen, select the one you desire to watch.
How To Access Popcorn Time Safely?
As we have already discussed the threats of legality and cybersecurity related to accessing Popcorn Time, so you might be wondering about the ways through which we can access Popcorn time safely.
Of course, there is a secure and safe method to do so and that is by using a strong and reliable VPN or having good anti-virus software before accessing Popcorn Time. Using a VPN is a necessary precaution that you need to take to keep your data and information safe and secure.
These VPNs help you in many ways by providing you privacy and making you safe from dangerous malware and virus spread by cloned websites. The important features of these VPNs are:
- It changes your IP address giving you an anonymous identity.
- It makes sure that your IP address cannot be traced by anyone.
- It has got no logs, which makes your access history safe.
- It helps you to gain access to geo-restricted content.
- It saves you from any punishment or fine that you might be charged for accessing illegal content.
Moreover, if you are living in a country like the US, Netherlands, China etc., where piracy is considered completely illegal then having a VPN is very much necessary for you.
Can I Use A Free VPN For Popcorn Time?
Yes, you can definitely use a free VPN for Popcorn time as it allows you to save your personal information. It also saves you from threats to cybersecurity, dangerous malware and viruses, etc.
Some of the best and most reliable VPNs of 2022 are:
1. ExpressVPN
- 3000+ Fastest Servers in 160+ locations (94 countries)
- 256-bit military-grade encryption and double VPN feature for extra privacy
- ExpressVPN offers Unlimited torrenting support along with full security
- Allow Torrenting on all servers without any limit
- Contains tons of server locations with class-leading connection speeds.
- WebRTC leak protection with private DNS for the best privacy.
- 5 simultaneous device connections with a reliable kill switch
- No Log Policy.
- Unblock Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, and more
- 30 Days full refund policy
It is a highly secure virtual private network. ExpressVPN has got almost 3000 servers covering 94 countries. It also works best with Netflix, Gostream, iPlayer, Amazon prime video, Hulu, PrimeWire, etc. This VPN is well known for providing the fastest connection with reliability, mostly for watching movies.
It is an easy-to-use VPN that comes with advanced features like a kill switch, high-quality encryption, and an adblocker. Also, the variety of protocols that it provides is tremendous, and the security and speed are top-notch.
2. Surfshark VPN
- 3200+ Servers in 65 Countries
- Standard AES 256-bit encryption with OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols
- Unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime and HBO
- Whitelist and Cleanweb feature
- Multihop mode to stream the content in high quality without buffering.
- Static IP Address available
- Reliable Kill Switch
- No Log Policy
- Unlimited device connections.
- 7 Days free trial & 30 days refund policy
It is a highly reliable bypasser and is also a user-friendly VPN that works well with almost everything. Surfshark VPN allows you to connect all the devices simultaneously. There is a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leaks protection, no borders mode, camouflage mode, and much more.
Surfshark provides you with the most secure privacy tools such as supreme encryption and secure protocols, and you can also change your IP address. So, Surfshark is one of the best options that you can use to access Popcorn Time.
3. CyberGhost VPN
- 6900+ Servers in over 105+ countries.
- Fast VPN for Windows with all features
- Unblock Amazon Prime, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming platforms in high quality.
- Supports a maximum of 7 devices simultaneous streaming.
- Compatible with Android, iOS, Chrome, Linux, and other devices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- 45 days money-back guarantee.
It is a VPN that protects your privacy and is considered great for bypassing geo-blocks. It is great availing the benefit of fast speed. CyberGhost has got a fleeting 8911 servers covering almost all the countries of the world. It allows you to connect to more than seven devices at the same time.
The fast speed that it provides helps the users to stream videos without any hindrance of lagging or freezing. It also comes with an ad blocker that helps you to stream movies without any irritating interruption of ads. The most prominent features of this VPN are the split tunnel feature, no logs, and military-grade encryption.
4. IPVanish VPN
- 1500+ Servers in 75+ Locations
- Endless Streaming with optimized servers
- 10 devices support with a single account.
- Faster connection speeds with unlimited data caps
- Multi-platform iOS support with a reliable kill switch
- No Log Policy with superior anonymity
- 30 days Full Refund Policy
IPVanish VPN is the most secure VPN due to the additional privacy features that it provides. It has got almost 2000 servers spread across more than 75 countries. It comes with zero-traffic log-ins, unlimited bandwidth, and much more.
This VPN offers OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols and is user efficient as it is very easy to use. It comes with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and DNS protection. While accessing Popcorn Time through this VPN, you are ensured that your information is not shared with a third party. The 24/7 customer support that it provides is one of the supreme features that makes it more user-friendly.
Is It Okay To Use Popcorn Time Without A VPN?
It is not okay and safe to use Popcorn Time without a VPN because of the issues of legality, copyright infringement, cybersecurity, etc. related to this platform.
As Popcorn Time supports copyrighted content that is the reason behind it being banned in many countries and its mirrors being formed. These mirrors or cloned copies are neither certified nor verified and that is why they may be unsafe and dangerous to be accessed.
Since Popcorn Time is banned in many countries, there are certain consequences of accessing or streaming movies through it in those regions.
The consequences or the type of punishment that a person will face while using Popcorn Time completely depends on the country he/she lives in and the laws followed by the country.
If you live in a country like India, Iran, or Canada then maybe you won’t be punished for using Popcorn Time but piracy is considered illegal in such countries. There is no need to take an unnecessary risk while trying to stream movies in the above-mentioned countries. You can always use a strong and reliable VPN while accessing pirated websites in these regions.
If you live in countries like Poland, Switzerland, or Spain then there is no risk or punishment in accessing Popcorn Time because piracy is considered completely legal in these regions.
Thus, using a VPN is a necessary precaution that needs to be taken while accessing any pirated or illegal website. Proper research should be carried out about the country you live in and the piracy laws followed by that country before accessing Popcorn Time. And then precautionary measures such as using a VPN should be taken care of.
What Are The Best Alternatives To Popcorn Time?
Many people are not able to access, find, or download Popcorn Time due to this site being blocked or geo-restricted in their area or country. Because these free video streaming websites and applications have become extremely popular among users, there are many alternatives that movie buffs can use instead of Popcorn Time.
Here, you will be provided with a complete list of substitutes both legal and illegal that you can use instead of Popcorn Time and enjoy your movies and TV series.
Some of the best alternatives for Popcorn Time in 2023 are:
1. Netflix
The most legal and reliable alternative to PrimeWire is Netflix. It has created quite a name for itself in the market due to its variety of movies in distinct and varied genres.
It has got an extensive catalogue of movies and TV series and has become the world’s favourite movie streaming platform. There are many movies or TV series on Netflix that have been geo-restricted in some areas but you can always use a VPN to access them.
2. Kodi
Kodi is the ultimate entertainment centre and the most suitable alternative to Popcorn Time as it enables the users to stream and download every type of content ranging from sports to movies. It is basically a kind of open-source theatre that can be streamed on any device or operating system such as android, windows, Linux, etc.
3. Amazon Prime Video
Amazon prime video is another legal alternative to PrimeWire where you can watch movies and TV series. But it is a paid service and requires you to register and subscribe to the forum by paying a monthly amount.
It is cheaper than Netflix, broadcasts selected content, and has a smaller database or collection of movies and TV series. It also published or broadcasts its exclusive content for the users.
4. Plex
Plez is also an open-source software that allows users to stream and download their favourite movie or TV series among the diverse database collection that it has. It also allows you to watch any type of video including Youtube videos on any device such as Smart Tv, android, windows, etc.
5. Hulu
Hulu is the cheapest legal alternative to Gostream as it is cheaper than Netflix. But it has got a smaller catalogue of movies and TV series because it is mostly famous for sports.
FAQs Related to Popcorn Time
Is it safe to use Popcorn Time without a VPN?
We cannot suggest you to use or access Popcorn time without a VPN because it might cause a threat to your cybersecurity and personal information.
Since popcorn time has been banned in many regions due to the copyright infringement issue that it has faced, there are many cloned copies of the same platform available on the web that are highly unsafe as they contain dangerous viruses and malware.
That is why Popcorn time should always be accessed only after having a strong and reliable VPN.
Does Popcorn Time work in 2023?
Popcorn Time was shut down in January 2022 due to the copyright issue that it faced. But it may still be available in many countries like Poland, Switzerland, and Spain where piracy is considered legal.
However, there are many cloned copies or mirrors of popcorn time available on the web that can be used in 2023.
What are the best alternatives to Popcorn Time?
There are many legal as well as illegal alternatives to Popcorn time such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon prime video, plex, Kodi, etc.
Conclusion
⚠️Caution: There are tons of Popcorn Time cloned copies and mirrors on the internet, they are fake and contain viruses.
Popcorn Time is a very famous movie, TV series, and anime streaming and downloading platform that uses torrenting to provide entertainment avenues for movie buffs. But due to copyright infringement, it has been banned in many countries which has caused the abundance of cloned copies and mirrors of popcorn time available on the web.
These cloned copies can contain dangerous malware and virus, so using a VPN like ExpressVPN, SurfShark VPN, IPVanish VPN, etc., to access Popcorn Time can be the best precautionary measure that you can take.
