Popcorn Time would be jostling for the top spot if there were a prize for the app name that best summed up what it did.
As you’ve probably guessed by now, Popcorn Time is an app for streaming TV and movies.
However, Popcorn Time has something of a colorful past, having been launched and then withdrawn suddenly in 2014. Then it re-appeared grafted onto other software before finally resurfacing again in its own right in 2020.
Don’t you just love an interestingly checkered back story?
But back to the plot. Popcorn Time, when it’s not generating its own thriller plot lines, is an app that lets you stream movies and TV shows for free. And therein lies the rub.
While the app itself is entirely legal, it permits users to view content held on the computers of others. The video files are known as torrents as they are flowing peer-to-peer directly with no ‘middleman’ involved.
However, distributing files of copyrighted material in this manner can be unlawful. This holds particularly true in the US or UK, which have strict anti-piracy and copyright laws. If you reside in these countries, it would be best to use a Virtual Private Network if you plan to use Popcorn Time.
As far as Popcorn Time users are concerned, the app gives them access to a free library of movies and TV series, not unlike the way Netflix presents them. So it’s easy to find something to watch.
If you decide to use Popcorn Time in conjunction with a VPN, be sure it supports BitTorrent and has dedicated torrent servers.
Using a VPN is necessary to safely mask your actual IP address and watch video streaming in countries where there might be legal issues. Popcorn Time aside, using a VPN service provider is a good idea anyway to protect your identity and prevent being tracked by advertisers, hackers, and other bad actors online. A good VPN service costs around $10 per month or substantially less than that if you take out a long-term contract.
It’s free
No ads
Stream or download movies and TV shows
HD quality video
User-friendly interface
In a grey area legally in some countries
May be best used with a VPN service
You can’t download videos to Windows’ devices
You won’t find the Popcorn Time app on Google Play or the App Store. But a quick search on Google or other search engines will throw up multiple reputable places to download the APK for Android. The app is also available for iOS and macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Plus, the app will work with Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, etc. However, as the app is in constant development, compatibility can change quickly.
In a nutshell, it’s not illegal to use Popcorn Time in the US or the UK. However, it is illegal to download and share copyright-protected content. Americans and Brits are advised to use a VPN service and be wary of which torrents they download.
