Our vpncheck team curated the best Putlocker alternatives in this guide so you can enjoy reliable, high-quality films even if your old favorite streaming method no longer exists. Many of these free online movie streaming sites can actually give you more choices and run more smoothly than Putlocker did.
Note: The free movie sites listed here are live and working at the time of writing. However, authorities (and some other factors) can cease the operations of these websites anytime. Rest assured that our team tries our best to keep this Putlocker alternatives post updated and fresh.
Our top choices contain large movie libraries à la Potlucker sites, including TV shows, with a tolerable frequency of ads. They require no sign-ups and no software downloads either. We know you can’t wait to get your eyes on those new film releases, so here you go!
For the detailed features of these sites plus 12 more Putlocker alternatives, just read on.
Looking for something else? We have a collection of the best entertainment sources you can find online.
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Putlocker had grown to millions of daily visitors since the website was launched sometime in 2010. Unfortunately, UK authorities shut it down with a court order due to copyright infringements in 2016. Like many free online movie streaming sites that get taken down, Putlocker has had many iterations and clones. When one host withdraws the site, the makers can upload it elsewhere. Also, other people make clones and mirrors of the same site, even with the same Putlocker name.
You can still find “Putlocker” online, but not on the same domains as at the height of its popularity. Nobody knows whether there are versions run by the same people who originally uploaded the site. What we do know is that there are many scams out there.
Likely, these sites are just trying to piggyback on the success Putlocker once had, sometimes to hustle you. At best, a Putlocker clone means poor speed and poor collections of TV and movies. At worst, it means you will be connecting to sites full of potential malware.
Now, you can see why safe and actually working Putlocker alternatives are so popular!
Whether you’re going to one of those Putlocker clones (not recommended) or you are streaming via the Putlocker alternatives we’ve mentioned in this guide, we strongly recommend using a reliable, if not the best VPN.
VPNs can help protect your privacy and make sure you’re browsing anonymously. They can also bypass regional streaming restrictions, as you can use servers worldwide to find localized versions of some of the streaming services out there.
ExpressVPN is an excellent option to protect you while you look for that new series you’re desperate to watch. You can keep your data secure and protect your identity while you stream.
Firstly, you need to choose the plan that works for you and sign up via ExpressVPN.com.
As you can see, you just need to enter your email address (this can be a new email for ultimate anonymity) and choose a payment method. Bitcoin is one of ExpressVPN’s supported payment options.
Once you sign up, you’ll get your activation code. Download and run your ExpressVPN setup file or the Express VPN app. There are versions for Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux.
Within the app, you’ll be asked to sign in.
This is where you can enter the activation code before you are ready to connect.
Assuming the code works, you’ll be met with a connection screen so that you can choose a server and start browsing. Only some of ExpressVPN’s servers are suitable for streaming. Remember this when you login; otherwise, you might find that you won’t be able to access some streaming services.
Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
FMovies works in the same way that Putlocker used to: It lets you stream movies and TV shows from around the world without any need to log in or download anything.
Even though you don’t need to worry about putting your details in, some of the ads and popups are a bit suspect, and it is best to protect yourself with a quality VPN.
The ads are a little annoying, but the site itself has an excellent interface that makes it really easy to find the show or movie you want. There’s a great selection, including some brand new films in HD.
The site claims to have over 20,000 movies and 5,000 TV series. We didn’t have time to check all of them, but we gave it a good go!
Another cool feature is the ability to look in categories, including countries and even the IMDB top 250.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
123Movies doesn’t make a fantastic impression if you go straight to the homepage. The English on the instructions isn’t excellent. However, where it matters, 123Movies is a good streaming site with many different options.
The streaming is reliable on every video. You can find fast, HD streams if you navigate through the categories.
The search function allows you to find TV shows and movies, but make sure you’ve typed in the name of the movie right, as it won’t recognize typos as Google would.
Some movies aren’t on the streaming platform, so don’t be too shocked if you can’t find what you’re looking for, but if you are happy to be led by categories and watch what is on the streaming platform, it is a great solution.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
Afdah TV is fast becoming popular as a Putlocker alternative. It seems to focus more on substance and is easy to navigate. You can instantly find selections by Featured Movies, Movies, and TV Shows mostly in HD. Alternatively, loads of categories are searchable by alphabetical order, genres, and release year. The site’s top menu includes Ratings, Trending, and a Premium option.
In terms of the ads, this is one of the less annoying sites, with very few popups or big, spammy adverts. Instead, there’s a 15-second ad on many of the videos – you just have to wait to skip.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
Primewire is similar to many other streaming sites and Putlocker alternatives in several respects, with an extensive catalog that could rival Putlocker itself.
It boasts lots of TV shows and movies and can be used by an Android App, but for our purpose, we stuck to watching in a browser and encountered no issues.
The ads are on the less annoying side of the scale, and the site offers HD streams reliably with no signup required and mirrors available in most of the videos.
One of the features that really stood out was the search function, which reliably brings the results you are looking for and lets you filter by HD or SD streams and even see the IMDB rating and sort by the release date. It’s a great way to find a new show to binge on.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
Yes! Movies has gained a reputation for often being one of the first streaming sites to make movies available. It’s full of HD movies and TV shows to keep you entertained for…well, years! On top of that, it has very cool features, which competing free movie sites don’t – a fantastic search tool, for example. If you start typing in the title of a movie, it will bring up a number of options, including IMDB ratings and even a comments section.
One of the best things about this is the option to search by “Trending” so you can see what other people are watching. This usually gives you an indication of hot new shows and reliable HD streams.
Yes! Movies has a modern interface and isn’t too intense on the ads. There are loads of HD versions and mirrors, so you can be pretty sure there is going to be a high-quality option for whatever you want to watch.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
MoviesJoy is another one of those free online movie streaming sites that are so much better with a VPN and an adblocker. But we can’t fault the selection available at MoviesJoy.
As well as being able to search for your preferred title, movies are neatly categorized into genres, and you can also search by country, so if you’re looking for that British show everyone seems to be going on about, you can find it with ease.
The ads are pretty spammy in themselves, but they don’t render the site unusable, and you also don’t need to put personal details anywhere or create an account.
As the site draws from multiple servers, you can easily click another (mirror) and try again if one isn’t available. There are lots of very recent movies and TV series in HD quality.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
One of the clear things when you access the AZMovies site, is the huge selection on offer. As well as the latest films, there are lots of obscure movies including B movies and some old classics.
AZMovies offers multiple servers and plenty of HD videos, as well as some cool tools for finding stuff to watch. There’s a “Similar Movies” tab so you can find things related to the movie you already like.
Like some of the other Putlocker sites on this list, you can choose to search by year, and the site goes all the way back to the 1950s.
The site itself doesn’t have TV shows. Instead, it sends you to an external site Noxx.is which has plenty of television for you to binge on, including recent shows. It would seem the same people run these two free streaming websites.
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As of early January 2022, Popcorn Time has ceased operations with its developers attributing the decision to a drop in user interest over time, according to a press release on Popcorn Time’s shutdown on Yahoo news.
Registration: Not required
Download: An option but not required
Popcorn Time has been available in many iterations, and you can access it both via software or online. The developers created “Forked” versions, as some of them took the source code to develop their own versions, and this online Putlocker alternative seems to be one of these “Forks.”
Popcorn Time has such a simple and easy layout, and when you load the homepage, you are met with loads of recent releases. P2P software is used to ensure there are streams. There are even versions in different definition classes and subtitles, though loading these led to mixed success.
One of the best things about this service is the lack of ads, which is a stark contrast to some competing options. Also, did you know that Popcorn Time is available on Firestick?
How to Install Popcorn Time on Firestick
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Registration: An option but not required
Download: Not required
Watch Online Series is definitely one of the best sites like Putlocker if you enjoy a series binge. As the name suggests, it has loads of different series that you can watch in your browser, and while there is an option to create an account, we don’t recommend it.
Instead, you can enjoy the powerful navigation, excellent selection, and HD streams with at least two mirrors. We found this good for finding some of the more obscure series people may want to find a free stream.
The site is not all TV series, though, as it also contains lots of movies, including some of the very latest. There are some ads, but these are much more subtle than some of the other free movie and TV streaming alternatives. The site is even usable without an ad blocker, though we’d still recommend using a VPN.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
GoMovies is another alternative that doesn’t require any login and has a large selection of movies and TV shows. We found it a bit harder than some à la Putlocker sites to find recent Hollywood pictures, but they are out there.
This is one of the easiest free movie sites to navigate. Unlike some of the ad-heavy Putlocker alternatives, this one doesn’t really have any advertising until you’re ready to play the video itself. At this point, you will be glad if you have an ad blocker.
Most of the videos have multiple mirrors and servers and stream in 1080P, though we did find that some videos were only available in SD.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
Look past the popups, or use an ad blocker to stop them, and MegaShare Website is definitely one of the best Putlocker alternatives.
There have been other iterations of “MegaShare” sites, so it isn’t totally clear if this is a clone. Either way, it is working very well at the time of writing with plenty of top features and HD streams.
You can choose between multiple servers, so if the stream isn’t working, one of the mirrors will likely hook you up.
This is one of those free online movie streaming sites that is great for discovery, too. The homepage has a ‘trending’ section. You can use this to see what other people are currently watching on the platform, which means new shows and reliable streams.
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Registration: Not required
Download: Not required
It isn’t clear if this is a Putlocker Vip clone or just piggybacking off the name. However, for those who want the latest TV shows and movies on a free stream, with no download or account needed, Putlocker VIP gets the job done.
It’s got a very good selection, including some recent releases, but the ads can be quite incessant and more spammy than some of its competitors. For most of these types of sites, that’s something you are going to need to put up with (or get a great ad blocker).
Putlocker VIP’s selection is great, with reliable HD streams, but it will bring popup ads up when you click on pretty much anything.
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Registration: An option but not required
App Installation: Not required
Pluto TV is owned and run by ViacomCBS, and while it is not brand new (it was founded in 2013), it has shot to prominence in recent years with an excellent selection of free content and TV channels.
It is totally legal and funded by ads. Though there is some on-demand content, it is built around the channels. In that respect, it is something of a throwback. It feels like the “old days” of watching TV, just with a whole lot more choices.
While you can sign up for an account, you don’t have to do so to access the content. As you would expect, much of the content is either made by CBS and Viacom or licensed by the brands. There’s a great mixture of independent content and movies with high production values. At the time of writing, there’s a whole channel dedicated to James Bond movies.
The site is geo-restricted for only US viewers, but, of course, using a VPN would allow you to access the service from anywhere.
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Registration: Not required
App Installation: Not required
Another legal movie streaming service for US viewers to binge on loads of movies, Popcornflix is totally free, legit, and easy to use even within your browser.
This site may not be the very best if you are looking for brand new Hollywood movies, but it has a huge selection of more independent films and loads of older content from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
As well as movies, there are TV series and even some cartoons you can enjoy. It’s all totally free and legal, and while non-US viewers will need a VPN to access the site, it is a reliable streaming platform.
If you want to access Pluto TV via Firestick, we’ve written an easy-to-follow installation guide here: How to Install Pluto TV on Firestick and Kodi
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Registration: An option but not required
App Installed: Necessary
Crackle is owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, just like Popcornflix, though Sony used to own Crackle for a short time.
Like Popcornflix, the website offers free, ad-supported content and a mix between their own productions and licensed TV shows and movies. While the content isn’t all up there with some premium services in terms of quality and production value, there are plenty of gems. There are also some Hollywood productions, though these tend to be a few years old.
If you’re the sort of person who likes to look for new, exciting content, Crackle has categories like The Island of Lost TV where you can see some of the less popular shows made.
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Registration: Recommended but not required
App Installation: Not required
TubiTV is another movie streaming platform that has become much more popular in recent years for those wanting free and legal access. It started in 2014 as an independent service but in 2020 was acquired by Fox.
Whatever you think of the Fox Corporation (we know there are lots of jokes out there), this has brought Tubi access to loads of new content.
In 2021, the site hit over 33 million monthly users. It has an excellent mix of big studio productions and some more independent content.
The live channels on offer are another big bonus of the fact that this offers Fox content, as there are deals with Bein sports and other live sports and news channels you can access free of charge.
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Registration: Required
App Installation: Necessary
Peacock TV is owned by NBCUniversal and is one of the few OTT video streaming platforms available in the UK, too, with a different library of programming.
As well as free streaming, Peacock has a premium service with around 10 million users as of 2021.
The selection of TV shows is outstanding, and there are some good movies, too. There are over 40,000 hours of content on there to consume. Peacock has even delved into creating original shows, including some hard-hitting documentaries.
The free selection has ads, but you can watch the shows ad-free if you pay for the top-tier premium membership. One of the reasons for this platform’s rapid growth is the fact that it also has excellent compatibility, and you can watch it on multiple devices.
One downside is the fact that you need to create an account and sign in to watch shows, even when streaming free.
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What else can we say about Netflix? As one of the top streaming services, it houses thousands of shows and movies, regionalized content, and original shows that have become viral all over the world (We’re sure “Tiger King” rings a bell).
Netflix offers reasonable value when you consider the sheer depth of content, especially if you share your account with others in your household. Because Netflix runs on regional programming, you will need a Netflix VPN to enjoy specific titles.
You can stream in up to 4K and even enjoy Netflix recommendations as the clever algorithm recognizes the sort of shows you’ll love.
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If you’re a Prime subscriber on Amazon, this is one of your many perks. There are thousands of shows and movies available to watch.
Amazon Prime Video has some films within months of their cinema release, and they also create some exclusive content you can see first on the site.
If you want to pay for extra channels, HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, CBS All Access, and Cinemax can all be added to your package for a cost.
Prime Video can be installed on virtually any modern device and stream in UHD and even HDR, so you can make the most of that TV you splashed out on.
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Another top streaming service that needs no further introduction, when Disney+ launched, everyone seemed to know about it. Disney owns so much media content that they were able to launch with an incredible catalog.
Aside from enjoying loads of existing Disney, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, and Star Wars content, new original shows such as The Mandalorian have been exclusively available on Disney’s streaming platform.
It’s easy to navigate, with an excellent search function and seemingly endless content, including world-famous shows like every episode of the Simpsons.
If you want to access Disney+ on your large TV screen, check out our guide on how to install Disney+ on Firestick.
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VUDU is a little bit of a different proposition. It has a huge free catalog that you can access even without an account, but there are quite too many ads.
The site has excellent access to some brand new content as well, but this is all premium content. So, you’ll have to pay for each rental. This is frustrating, and it is easy to spend a lot on content.
Free users can enjoy 1080P, whereas 4K video is available for those who pay for rentals.
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Hulu was actually one of the first streaming services to grow to a huge level of popularity in the US. It is not available in Europe at the moment, so many people use a VPN to sign up and log in.
There are many different plans and bundles, so you can choose to bundle this with Disney Plus and ESPN, but only if you are in the US.
On top of this, Hulu has its own exclusive shows, including Nine Perfect Strangers, that are critically acclaimed. The site is majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, so there is some crossover in terms of the content.
One frustrating factor is the fact that the cheapest membership plan still has ads. To remove these, you’ll have to pay for the Hulu (No Ads) service. You can also pay for a live TV service, but this is far more expensive.
With a VPN, users can access sports, live TV, and some American-exclusive shows by signing up to Hulu.
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Putlocker definitely left a big gap in streaming services. However, there have been loads of free online movie streaming sites, and premium ones, that have cropped up and risen from the ashes (or just existed anyway).
Putlocker alternatives are often best paired with a VPN. You can ensure you can stay safe and avoid any risk of using free sites, or just access global catalogs and ensure thousands of hours of streaming.
Putlocker was a huge free online movie streaming site taken offline in 2016, even though mirrors and copycat sites are still available. Putlocker shut after legal threats, including some from the Motion Picture Association of America.
The free Putlocker alternatives on this list can all do a good job of helping you to find the shows you’re looking for. FMovies is one example of a great resource for finding the latest films and old ones alike.
It depends on where you are streaming from. Some sites are completely above board, but not all are. It’s a good idea to use a VPN to stream from free movie sites, and this also helps unblock geo-restricted content on some premium services.
