Popcorn Time in 2025: Safe, Legal, or Risky Streaming?
The Popcorn Time app has been around for more than a decade and has had various versions over the years since different teams have been making different Popcorn Time apps since the original app team disbanded in 2014. Not all of these Popcorn Time versions are safe to use, however, and there are certain legal troubles you might get into if you download certain copyrighted products with Popcorn Times while unprotected.
That said, the app itself is still very useful and popular, so, below I thought I’d look into Popcorn Time’s safety and legality question, as well as go over the best way to use this app without needing to worry about getting in trouble.
Is Popcorn Time Safe?
Aside from any potential legal difficulties, the other concern is that using Popcorn Time involves torrenting, aka sequential downloading, of content from numerous sources at the same time. This naturally brings the inherent risk of accidentally exposing yourself to issues such as phishing, malware, DDoS attacks, spyware, hacking, and other security concerns.
As I list all of these, I’m aware they can make Popcorn Time sound quite unsafe. However, what I should also point out is that, 1) Popcorn Time has its own anti-malware and hacking security measures built-in to the app and 2) most Popcorn Time variants today are open source, which means that anyone can inspect the code at any time to make sure there aren’t any Trojan threads or other malware on it.
Still, there are always at least some risks when it comes to torrenting, even if they are usually just theoretical. So, circumventing such risks via a good antivirus program and/or a strong VPN is always a good idea.
Is Popcorn Time Legal?
The Popcorn Time app itself is perfectly legal, and simply having it on your device doesn’t violate any laws. However, using Popcorn Time to download copyrighted content – which is what most movies, TV shows, and other streamed content is – does violate most copyright laws and usually goes against the policies of most internet providers.
The extent and type of such violations vary depending on your local laws and the copyright of the specific content you are downloading. In the vast majority of cases, however, downloading content through an app like Popcorn Time is technically against certain laws.
So, while we don’t condone the breaking of any laws, I also ought to add that if you want to use Popcorn Time to download copyrighted content without being spotted and punished by your internet provider or copyright laws, you should do so with good privacy tools, such as a VPN that will keep your torrenting and streaming activities hidden from any and all third parties.
How to Stream Popcorn Time Safely?
While using Popcorn Time as is will usually work fine and without any issues, it’s always good to take extra precautions. Fortunately, these are easy to do:
1. Get a Good VPN
VPNs are great for many things, not least of which is to keep your identity and online activities private while you torrent and/or stream content. This is great if you want to use apps like Popcorn Time in states or countries where internet providers are stringent about torrenting and copyright infringement.
Not all VPNs are created equal when it comes to privacy and torrenting, however, as many don’t even support P2P. So, when choosing the right VPN for your Popcorn Time needs, I’d suggest that you pick one that supports P2P, has strong privacy tools, has a large enough server base, and offers good speeds so that it doesn’t slow down your torrenting speeds. We’ll offer a few suggestions below.
2. Install a Secure Antivirus Program
Having a strong antivirus is always a good idea, even if you’re not torrenting from Popcorn Time or other such apps. What’s more, some VPN services have built-in antivirus software, which is a good way to take care of these two steps all at once.
3. Download Popcorn Time from a Reliable Place
As there isn’t just one Popcorn Time app but several different forked apps, not all of them are equally reputable and safe. What’s more, the best Popcorn Time variant tends to change from year to year.
As of right now, I would recommend downloading Popcorn Time from the GitHub repository, although if you’re reading this at a later date, I’d strongly advise to do some extra research on your own and look for reviews and the latest information on the best Popcorn Time fork on Reddit and other forums.
Which are the 3 Best VPNs to Use for Popcorn Time
1. NordVPN – Best Speeds for Torrenting and Streaming Through Popcorn Time
For years now, NordVPN has been known as the VPN with the fastest speeds for smooth and buffer-free streaming and torrenting. This very much continues to be the case today, which alone is more than enough to make NordVPN one of the best options for apps like Popcorn Time.
More than that, however, NordVPN also has a huge worldwide server base of more than 7,100 servers spread across 100+ countries. This is great for Popcorn Time and other torrenting and streaming apps and platforms, as it gives the user servers in more countries to connect to.
Plus, the server speeds of a VPN also depend on how close you are to the server you’re using, so having servers near you is always a great benefit. With that being the case, the server speeds I had throughout my tests of NordVPN were always at or above 90% of the standard unprotected internet speed, which is why NordVPN is famous as the fastest VPN out there.
In addition, NordVPN also supports P2P, which is a must for Popcorn Time, but it also has a wide assortment of privacy and security features to keep you safe while you download content. Add the fact that NordVPN is very compatible with most Smart TV brands out there, and it becomes an easy choice for a Top 3 of the best VPNs for Popcorn Time.
The fact that NordVPN only allows for up to 10 device connections per account is a drawback, as is the lack of a dedicated router app. However, neither is a significant enough problem, in my opinion, as a VPN can be installed on a router even without an app and 10 device connections aren’t that low of a number.
Key Features
Custom NordLynx protocol with the fastest torrenting speeds out there
Split tunneling to use NordVPN for Popcorn Time but not for other apps
Kill switch to keep you safe if your VPN connection drops for even a second
Pros:
- Fast speeds
- Device compatibility
- Torrenting support
- Large server fleet
- Privacy and security features
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- 10 simultaneous connections
- No router app
2. ExpressVPN – Great Overall Experience with Popcorn Time
ExpressVPN has long been known as one of the best overall VPNs for virtually any task. While most other VPNs specialize in one thing or another, ExpressVPN has always managed to be either at or near the top in every regard, and this certainly applies to using it with Popcorn Time and torrenting in general.
This VPN has over 3,000 servers worldwide, it has P2P support, it offers servers optimized for both streaming and torrenting, and it has server speeds that are more than fast enough for any streaming or torrenting needs. In all my testing, ExpressVPN always comes in second in terms of speed after NordVPN with speeds of around 88% to 90%, on average, which is fantastic for a VPN.
The privacy and security features on ExpressVPN are also top-notch, with both ChaCha20 and AES-256 encryption available on ExpressVPN’s servers.
All this comes with a higher price tag, as even the long-term subscription options for ExpressVPN are two or more times pricier than most other premium VPNs. This service also offers only 8 device connections per account, however, that is complemented by ExpressVPN’s router app and the optional custom Aircove router that customers can also take home.
Key Features
Aircove router app to you enjoy Popcorn Time on all devices at the same time
Audited no-logs policy to make sure your data stays safe while you torrent
Network Lock kill switch to keep your use of Popcorn Time private
Pros:
- Fast server speeds
- User-friendly app
- Privacy and security
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Great device compatibility
- 24-hour live chat support
Cons:
- High monthly fee
- 8 simultaneous connections per account
3. CyberGhost – Great Privacy, Torrenting, and Streaming Capabilities for Popcorn Time
I often see people refer to CyberGhost as one of the best VPNs for security and privacy, CyberGhost is also one of the premium VPN services with the largest server networks out there (11,700+ servers in 100+ countries), even if those two latter points are often overlooked by reviewers.
CyberGhost also offers speeds rivaling those of ExpressVPN, although they were a bit more inconsistent in my tests – sometimes as fast as 92%, sometimes closer to 80%, depending on the protocol and server used. Still, even the slower CyberGhost speeds are faster than those of most other VPNs on the market, which more than makes it worth it, in my opinion.
I’d say that this, together with CyberGhost’s P2P support, makes it a fantastic VPN for Popcorn Time and other such torrenting or streaming platforms.
In terms of privacy and security, in particular, CyberGhost offers a three-prong encryption strategy as it has not only ChaCha20 and AES-256 encryption but AES-128 encryption, too. This, together with this VPN’s other great security features, such as its kill switch, RAM-only servers, no-logs policies, and others, all make it a fantastic and safe way to torrent through Popcorn Time.
Key Features
11,700+ servers worldwide for optimal coverage and great speeds
RAM-only infrastructure to make sure your info remains private
Three-prong encryption ensures your Popcorn Time and all other activities stay private and secure
Pros:
- Great device compatibility
- Large and fast server network
- P2P support
- Excellent privacy and security features
- Fast torrenting speeds
- 24/7 live chat support
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- No server obfuscation
- 7 simultaneous connections
Quick Comparison Table: VPN Features for Roku
| VPN Name | NordVPN | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest Monthly Price | $2.99 | $4.99 | $2.19 |
| Streaming Optimized Servers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Protocols Supported | NordLynx, OpenVPN, NordWhisper | WireGuard, Lightway, IKEv2, OpenVPN, PPTP, SSTP, L2TP/IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Audited No-Logs Policy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Devices Supported | 10 simultaneous connections | 8 simultaneous connections | 7 simultaneous connections |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee | 45-day money-back guarantee |
| Live Chat Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Are There Better and Safer Alternatives to Popcorn Time Today?
As far as safety is concerned, the obviously safer (including legally safer) alternatives are standard paid streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu, and others. These platforms – while not immune to the occasional software problem of their own – are naturally much safer and perfectly legal than torrenting apps like Popcorn Time.
If you’re looking for free alternatives, the one’s I’d recommend are:
- FlixTor – a streaming site similar to Popcorn Time that often changes its mirror sites. Streaming through FlixTor is just as illegal as with Popcorn Time, however, and there have been malware issues with it in the past.
- Kodi – an open-source media player that also lets you stream YouTube, ESPN, and other platforms. Like Popcorn Time, however, the more popular Kodi forks are illegal to stream copyrighted content through, however.
- Stremio – probably the best free alternative to Popcorn Time, Stremio has great security, offers 4K HD streaming, and is very easy to use. There are paid add-ons that are really worth using, too.
All in All – Should You Use Popcorn Time?
If you want an easy-to-use free streaming alternative to paid platforms like Netflix and Disney+, Popcorn Time is a good choice, in my opinion. That is, as long as you don’t mind the fact that you’d be committing copyright infringement, and you’ll need to keep your Popcorn Time use private from your internet provider at all times. If that’s ok for you, however, using a good VPN like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or CyberGhost is a good way to get the most out of Popcorn Time.
FAQ
Popcorn Time works by torrenting content from other users onto your own computer. This means that once you’ve downloaded the given movie or TV show, you can watch it from your own device with no fear of buffering or connection issues.
In most cases, no. Depending on where you live and what the legal jurisdictions there look like, it may be safe to use Popcorn Time without worrying about your internet provider giving you trouble. However, this is true for fewer and fewer countries every year. What’s more, even if you’re not worried about your IP and copyright laws, the risk of malware and phishing attacks with torrenting is always present.
Since there are numerous different Popcorn Time forks out there and there isn’t one official certified website, installing the wrong installation files from an untrustworthy source can bring the risk of getting a virus.
That’s why it’s recommended to only get the app from trustworthy sources, such as the GitHub repository. Once you start using the app, torrenting content always has an inherent risk of getting viruses, but this is mostly hypothetical in the case of Popcorn Time, as the app is considered quite safe. Still, using a VPN just in case is a good idea, regardless.