Top 10 123Movies Alternatives 2024: Watch Movies & Shows

123Movies’ shutdown has led to countless free streaming alternatives. Its mirror sites are unsafe, while other alternatives have limited content and intrusive pop-ups. The safe ones are either geo-restricted to certain countries or illegal due to copyright violations.

After extensive research, I’ve picked the best 123Movies alternatives. Many of them are free and legal but have ads. While these sites are safe, you should use a VPN to stay safe from snoopers, hackers, and potential phishing attempts.

I recommend ExpressVPN after testing 20 leading brands. Its Lightway protocol offers fast speeds for lag-free streaming while protecting you with quantum-resistant technology. You can try it confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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Why Should I Use 123Movies Alternatives?

Although it’s best to use paid platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video to avoid legal issues, 123Movies alternatives are better for casual streaming. Here’s why they’re worth it:

• Free of cost — you don’t have to pay anything to watch a movie on 123Movies alternatives, unlike subscription-based services.
• Content availability — you might find a movie or show on a 123Movies alternative unavailable on your Netflix or Hulu home library.
• Streaming quality — unlike many other free streaming sites, the ones I’ve picked provide high-quality streaming (at least 720p).
• Safety — there are a lot of other 123Movies mirror sites, but most have pop-up ads, broken links, and hidden malware.

The Best 123Movies Alternatives in 2024

Tubi TV

With over 20,000 titles, Tubi TV’s collection is on par with big names like Netflix. It only works in the US and has partnerships with Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate. You can type a specific movie or show in the search bar or go through content categories from the ‘Browse’ button.

I didn’t have to sign up to watch content, but doing so lets you build a watchlist and continue watching where you left off. Since it’s free, Tubi has non-skippable ads every 15 to 20 minutes. They didn’t disrupt my streaming too much, as I could just mute them.

Pluto TV

Available only in the US, Pluto TV has 250+ live channels and over 100,000 hours of on-demand content. Pluto includes live channels like CBS, Comedy Central, and CNN. You can choose a category in the live TV section and pick a channel you want to tune in to.

Pluto TV doesn’t require signing up to stream, though this enables content personalization and lets you favorite your channels. My US colleague got ads every 10 minutes while streaming The Wolf of Wall Street on Pluto — not too good, but acceptable for a free streaming service.

Crackle

Crackle is free and legal and has over 700 movies and 100 TV shows. It’s a Sony-owned platform that only works in the US. You can find over 40 original movies and TV series unique to the platform.

With a Netflix-like interface, finding your favorite content is super simple on the platform. You don’t have to sign in to stream and can easily search for a title or browse content categories on Crackle. My US team reported seeing 5 half-minute ad breaks per hour of streaming.

Freevee

Owned by Amazon, Freevee is the free version of Amazon Prime Video. It shares the same user-friendly interface, with live TV and 9,000+ titles divided into categories. You’ll occasionally find some content from Prime Video as a bonus if you haven’t subscribed to it.

For now, Freevee is only available in the US due to licensing restrictions. On average, my team reported 6 to 7 minutes of ads per hour of playback, with a 30-second in the beginning. Unlike Tubi or Pluto TV, you must sign in to your Amazon account to stream on Freevee.

Popcornflix

With 3,000+ movies and over 1,500+ series, Popcornflix includes original productions like Cossacks and Virtually Heroes. The content categories are available inside the ‘Movies’ or ‘Series’ tabs. The only catch is it’s not available outside the US, Canada, and Ireland.

Alternatively, you can search for a specific title from the home page. While free, you’ll get ads while streaming Popcornflix like broadcast TV. However, you can disable ad personalization from the Settings menu for privacy.

Plex

Plex is the most accessible free streaming service and works nearly everywhere. It has over 50,000 on-demand movies and shows, with 250+ live-streaming channels. This diverse collection is backed by partnerships with Lionsgate, MGM, and Warner Brothers.

It also works as a media server to create your personalized streaming hub that’s accessible anywhere. The ads are annoying, but Plex is fine for occasional streaming. Its paid version includes offline downloads, advanced music features through Tidal, and DVR for live TV.

Putlocker

You can find tens of thousands of free movies and TV shows on Putlocker. However, the platform is unofficial and unregulated, so you must ensure you don’t break copyright. I recommend sticking to public domain content to stay out of legal trouble.

A simple search is all it takes to find a title on Putlocker. To browse content categories, click the 3 vertical lines and click on ‘Movies’ or ‘Series.’ There aren’t any in-stream ads, but you’ll have to close a lot of annoying and unexpected pop-ups to start watching on Putlocker.

SolarMovie

Like Putlocker, SolarMovie is unofficial and has some copyrighted content. I was surprised that it supports 1080p high-quality streaming for some titles, though banner ads were annoying. After searching for a title, you’ll see its summary, IMDb rating, cast, duration, and other details.

You don’t need to sign in to stream on SolarMovie. I didn’t get buffering while streaming The House I Live In, but you can try another movie server if the current one isn’t working. I couldn’t find subtitles, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker due to high-quality uploads on SolarMovie

Flixtor

While not my #1 choice for free streaming, Flixtor is a good backup site. It only has 3,000 movies, but you can easily find popular public-domain movies. However, finding a working link might take some time. Many titles are camera-recorded and aren’t worth watching due to poor quality.

Most countries block Flixtor, as it distributes copyrighted content without consent. So, adhering to copyright laws is solely your responsibility. You’ll get a 30-second ad, prompting you to upgrade to the paid plan for ad-free streaming. You can try Flixtor here.

MoviesJoy

MoviesJoy is another unauthorized site, so you should be careful when streaming. That said, you can watch public domain content up to 1080p. MoviesJoy also has subtitles in multiple languages and an APK file to install the app on Android devices.

Surprisingly, MoviesJoy doesn’t have any in-stream ads. If the pop-up ads are too annoying, just use a VPN with an ad blocker to eliminate them and anonymize your watch sessions. The interface has a large center search bar to search specific titles. Click here to visit MoviesJoy.

The Best VPNs to Watch Movies on 123Movies Alternatives

1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN to Use With 123Movies Alternatives

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN is my #1 pick for 123Movies alternatives. Its proprietary Lightway protocol is the fastest across the industry. In addition, ExpressVPN offers military-grade encryption and protects you from malicious ads and annoying pop-ups on free streaming sites.

The Lightway protocol uses a small codebase to reduce the computational load required for data transfer — this makes the traffic flow from and to your device more efficient. Even on distant US servers, ExpressVPN didn’t dip my speeds by more than 6%. Meanwhile, local and nearby servers yielded near-baseline speeds.

With 3,000+ servers in 105 countries,ExpressVPN offers global coverage to stream securely anywhere on 123Movies alternatives. It has several servers in 20+ locations in the US, and each one is obfuscated and can’t be identified by anti-VPN detectors so you can stream freely, even on restricted networks.

A small downside of ExpressVPN is its premium price tag. However, my tests convinced me that ExpressVPN is worth every penny. You get the best-ranking VPN in 2024, with fast speeds and military-grade protection — just for a small extra cost.

I suggest ExpressVPN’s 2-year + 6 months free plan to get a 82% discount. You can try it confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day refund guarantee. I got my money back in just 3 days after asking for it via live chat. The support agent processed my request without questions.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

2. CyberGhost — Specialty Servers Prioritize Streaming Traffic for Lag-Free Watching

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,676+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost’s optimized servers are built for smooth streams. Although you won’t find a server for free streaming sites like Crackle or Tubi, one for another service will work just as well. For instance, you can use an optimized server for Amazon Prime Video for Freevee.

In my tests, CyberGhost’s optimized servers were 9% faster than regular ones. However, even the standard connections yielded 84Mbps in distant US locations — this is enough to stream UHD content on multiple devices simultaneously.

CyberGhost has good coverage, but its network spread is slightly behind ExpressVPN’s. However, CyberGhost works with all free streaming sites. Its 2,100+ US servers let you switch to another IP address if one doesn’t work, though this never happened with me.

Its 2-year + 4 months plan offers an 84% discount. You can try CyberGhost risk-free with its 45-day money-back policy. I submitted my refund request via live chat. Approval took less than 10 minutes, and I was reimbursed in 5 working days.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

3. Private Internet Access — MACE Blocks Pop-Ups on Free Streaming Sites

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

PIA’s MACE blocks annoying pop-ups on 123Movies alternatives. Free streaming sites are packed with such ads, many of which can infect your device. MACE prevents them from loading in the first place, putting you out of harm’s way due to accidental clicks.

Using PIA on an extra device won’t log out of others, as it supports unlimited simultaneous connections. I used it on 8 devices at once without the apps glitching. In contrast, many VPNs slow down or crash when you approach their connection limits.

A small downside of PIA is that it’s comparatively slower than ExpressVPN on distant servers. However, a 20% drop didn’t affect me much due to my fast baseline speeds. If your internet’s slow, you can reduce encryption to 128-bit, improving connection speeds by almost 10%.

Not only is it one of the most affordable monthly VPNs, PIA’s 2-year + 2 months plan costs just $2.19 per month. You can try it risk-free for 30 days with its refund guarantee. After verifying my invoice number, the live chat support agent approved my request, and I got my money back in a week.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

3 Easy Steps to Watch Movies on 123Movies Alternatives

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs to Use With 123Movies Alternatives

To find the best VPNs to stream on 123Movies alternatives, I had to find a balance of speed and security. I judged every contender on the following criteria:

• Speed — most VPNs slow down speeds due to encryption. I ran extensive speed tests to ensure my top picks maintained near-baseline speeds, even on distant servers.
• Global coverage — a good server spread provides nearby servers no matter where you are. Nearby servers are faster and better for lag-free streams.
• Ease of use — you should pick a beginner-friendly VPN that works on smart TVs and other streaming devices and can protect multiple devices simultaneously.
• Ad and malware protection — besides military-grade encryption and leak protection, I prioritized VPNs that block ads and malicious pop-ups on free streaming sites.
• Refund guarantee — lets you try the service risk-free. The VPNs on my list provide a window of at least 30 days.

FAQs on 123Movies Alternatives

Is it legal to watch content on 123Movies alternatives?

Some platforms like Tubi TV are entirely legal, but most are unofficial and distribute copyrighted content without consent. Always pick a free streaming site that has legal partnerships with major studios. They mostly offer ad-supported content, but you’ll be safe from potential legal violations.

Are free streaming sites safe to use?

The legal ones on this list are safe. Sites that upload copyrighted content and operate illegally often have malicious ads, phishing scams, and intrusive ads. They’re risky at best. Using a top VPN lets you stream anonymously, but you should avoid shady streaming sites altogether.

Why has 123Movies shut down?

123Movies shut down due to copyright issues and pressure from governments and the film industry. However, you can stream on these 123Movies alternatives verified as legal. 123Movies shut down in 2018 after the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) cited considerable financial losses due to piracy. The US government worked with Vietnamese criminal investigation to shut down 123Movies.

How can I unblock 123Movies alternatives?

With a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN. However, some sites like Tubi TV are geo-restricted to certain countries, mostly the US. Using a VPN to unlock these sites outside the countries where they work could violate platforms’ terms of service and copyrights. I don’t condone using a VPN to break any laws.

What’s the best 123Movies alternative?

I’d choose Tubi TV as it has one of the largest content libraries. However, it only works in the US. If you’re not based in the US, Plex is a good option as it’s available in most countries outside North America.

Does 123Movies have proxy and mirror sites?

Yes, but you shouldn’t try to access a blocked site, as it could get you in trouble. Instead, you can use the top 123Movies alternatives. They’re free and legal, though they have ads. A mirror site is a replica of 123Movies to avoid being completely shut down. However, if the original site is banned, using its mirror is unlawful, too.

Why should I use a VPN on 123Movies alternatives?

To protect yourself against snoopers and hackers. I suggest using a reliable VPN like ExpressVPN, which provides military-grade protection and uncompromising speeds for lag-free streams. A VPN encrypts your data and routes it through another location, changing your IP address — this makes you anonymous on the web.

Can I use a free VPN to watch content on 123Movies alternatives?

Yes, but it’s risky. Instead of free VPNs, you can use a premium brand like CyberGhost. It gives you a 45-day window to try completely free. Before your money-back period ends, request a refund via live chat or email support, and you’ll be reimbursed.

I got my refund in 5 working days through CyberGhost’s live chat support

Most free VPNs aren’t safe and sell your data to third parties. The worst among them can even infect your device with malware. I found a few free but safe VPNs, but they have constraints like limited servers, congested networks, and data caps.

Get a VPN (That Works) for 123Movies Alternatives

With so many free streaming sites out there, the chances you’ll go to the wrong one and infect your device are pretty high. There are very few free and legal 123Movies alternatives, but I found them after much research. However, you should still use a VPN to protect yourself from malicious ads and potential phishing attempts.

Unfortunately, most VPNs can’t protect you well enough and provide fast speeds simultaneously. After extensive testing, ExpressVPN is my #1 choice to stream on 123Movies alternatives. It provides blazing-fast speeds and military-grade protection. You can try ExpressVPN confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day refund guarantee.

Summary: Best VPNs to Use With 123Movies Alternatives

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked Top Choice

1.

9.8

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$4.99 / month Save 62%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.19 / month Save 82%

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Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.