GoMovies holds a special place in the hearts of many who like to stream and download their favorite TV shows and movies for free. Unfortunately, due to breaching the copyright laws and hosting content without the owners’ consent, the official took the site down in March 2018.
While you can still access GoMovies through its copy websites or “mirrors,” it remains a question whether these sites are safe for streaming. Such clones often carry malicious files and inject them into your device.
Don’t fret; there are several reliable GoMovies alternatives you can use today. However, streaming with a reliable VPN like NordVPN can save you from legal safety hassles. In this article, we will also explain how to remain safe while streaming on sites like GoMovies.
DISCLAIMER: We at PrivacySavvy doesn’t support or endorse piracy. Watching content from untauthorized streaming websites can lead you to serious consequences as these services host content without the host’s consent. If you reside in a country where piracy is crime, you will face serious consequences, like hefty fine, jail, or both. Also, illegal platforms like GoMovies contain virus and malware that can severely damage your device and steal your personal information. Therefore, we recommend using legal streaming services instead. If you still prefer free sites, we advise you to subscribe an effective VPN service like NordVPN and get robust anitivirus program.
How to safely access free websites like GoMovies
Free streaming services often expose you to several legal and security risks. Below are some practices you need to stay safe:
- Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) is like digital armor in a world full of hackers and snoopers, even your ISP can track your activities. NordVPN tops our best VPN list due to its committed privacy and security.
- Get an antivirus: Free streaming platforms often come with sketchy downloads and harmful malware. They can even install malware on your device and steal your information. Therefore, installing TotalAV on your device can help you remove it.
- Install an adblocker: While streaming your favorite movie or show, how will feel if you experience continuous ads, frustrating, right? Well, an effective ad blocker like uBlock Origin can help you remove them.
- Don’t share personal info: Some free sites often ask you to sign up or share your personal details. It is a red flag—this can lead you to identity theft or worse. Switch to another free streaming platform that doesn’t ask for registration.
Best alternative sites like GoMovies (legal)
| Legal GoMovies alternatives | Details |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | A popular streaming service boasting a large and diversified content library. Its premium-quality selection of TV shows and movies and affordable subscription plans make it a reliable competitor to the giants like Netflix. |
| Netflix | Netflix is undeniably the king of streaming today, flaunting a vast library of classic and contemporary films and TV shows. It has become the go-to option for content consumers globally. |
| HBO Max | HBO Max offers a different content library than the other established platforms. Yet, it does feature premium shows like the highly acclaimed Game of Thrones. HBO Max is also working on expanding its content library to include new titles. |
| Disney+ | Disney+ typically focuses on Disney and Marvel content. Its strengths include many fairytale films, popular series, and films like MsMarvel and The Eternals. |
| YouTube TV | Amazon Prime is a popular streaming service boasting a large and diversified content library. Its premium-quality selection of TV shows and movies and affordable subscription plans make it a reliable competitor to giants like Netflix. |
| Sling TV | Sling TV is another streaming service providing access to TV networks and channels. However, it differs from YouTube TV by allowing personalization to the users. The preferred selection of networks also makes Sling TV a cost-effective option for choosy content consumers. |
| Hulu | Hulu is an excellent option for sports enthusiasts seeking live event streaming. It offers a more affordable subscription fee compared to Netflix, albeit with a smaller movie library. However, Hulu provides a solid selection of TV series and live sports coverage. |
Free GoMovies alternatives
1. YesMovies
- Website URL: yesmovies.at
YesMovies is distinctly different from GoMovies despite their visual resemblance to online streaming platforms. The platform focuses on movies and TV shows. It offers a highly inclusive content filter that enables sorting by type, quality, genre, country, and release year.
While most movies on YesMovies were released after 2014, the site also offers a considerable selection of older films for those seeking them.
However, you can run from the fact that due to its free nature, the site poses a severe threat to your privacy. It contains malware and sketchy downloads, resulting in damaging your device and stealing your data. Therefore, we recommend using a stealth VPN like NordVPN to stay.
2. FMovies
- Website URL: fmovies.fo
FMovies has excellent quality content, and the site is similar to GoMovies in many ways. However, most of the movies it links to are hosted on different third-party hosting providers, so even if one site is down, the other is generally up.
FMovies’ homepage has sections for suggestions, new movies, new TV shows, and desired movies. You may also discover which films and TV shows were popular in the previous day, week, and month. To avoid annoyance while watching FMovies, we recommend using an ad-blocker like uBlock Origin.
3. AZMovies
- Website URL: azmovies.ag
AZMovies, as the name implies, has movies from A to Z. Most movies on AZMovies are in Full HD, and each film is hosted on at least two servers to ensure its availability. Most movies include closed captions, so you should be fine keeping along even if English isn’t your first language.
Also, you can keep yourself up to date by following Reddit.
4. 123Movies
- Website URL: ww19.0123movie.net
For many years, 123Movies has been providing new movies to people worldwide. The site was recently re-structured, and the new 123Movies edition is cleaner, easier to use, and faster than the previous one.
Aside from movies and TV shows, 123Movies is a great place to watch anime and Asian dramas. Movies are posted to 123Movies as soon as they are released in theatres, and each film often has many mirrors.
5. Yify Movies
- Website URL: yifymovies.xyz
Yify Movies is a diverse online streaming platform that features movies sourced from various origins and available in different quality levels. Full HD movies, cam, and TS rips are on this widely-used movie torrent website. Whether to watch a film of lower quality or wait for a higher-quality release is left to your discretion.
6. Putlocker
- Website URL: putlocker.vc
Putlocker is one of the longest-running online streaming platforms, surpassing many others like GoMovies. Its reputation is built on delivering high-quality movie releases with exceptional speed.
With the Putlocker’s immense popularity, several clones and mirror sites appeared and are offering the same service. While they look the same, they contain several malicious and sketchy downloads. Therefore, exercising caution and exclusively relying on the genuine Putlocker website is crucial.
7. Movie4K
- Website URL: movie4k.fr/
Movie4k is a prominent and user-friendly platform for free movie streaming. It offers a wide selection of movies across different genres and ensures a seamless viewing experience with high streaming speeds.
The platform offers convenient sorting options such as arranging movies by quality, release year, or genre. Alternatively, you can let Movie4k surprise you by selecting a random film. Once you’ve found a movie of interest, click the play button and enjoy the streaming experience as the content begins to play.
However, sites like Movie4K distribute content illegally and can lead you to severe legal consequences. Therefore, we recommend you to use premium sites like Netflix.
Best sites like GoMovies comparison table
| Websites | Ads and pop-ups | Legality status | Security risk |
| YesMovies | Frequent ads | Illegal | Moderate |
| FMovies | Intrusive ads | Illegal in some countries | High |
| AZ Movies | Ads and pop-ups | Uncertain legality | Moderate |
| 123Movies | Redirects and pop-ups | Illegal in most jurisdictions | Moderate |
| Yify Movies | Intrusive ads and pop-ups | Illegal | Moderate |
| Putlocker | Heavy ads | Illegal | High |
| Movie4K | Frequent pop-ups | Illegal in most countries | Moderate |
Is using GoMovies legal?
The consensus over the legality of using GoMovies varies from place to place. Depending on the location, the laws on piracy differ and can range from no charge to a warning to a fine in some cases.
Furthermore, it is essential to research your location and the accompanying laws on piracy. This way, you do not infringe on any piracy laws.
Below are some of the significant places and just how they view piracy and the rules regarding the act:
| Stance on privacy | Countries |
|---|---|
| Pirating for personal use is allowed | Switzerland, Spain, and Poland. |
| Pirating is illegal | Great Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, China, Russia, Australia, South Africa, Finland, Portugal, and Latvia |
| While piracy is deemed illegal, there is typically no formal prosecution. | Colombia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Denmark, Canada, Greece, Czech Republic, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Uruguay, and Argentina |
Legal pitfalls of using GoMovies
| Countries | Fine | Legal penalty |
| Germany | Up to €1,500 | Send DMCA notices |
| US | Up to $150K | Send legal notices or ISP throttling |
| Canada | No fine | No legal penalty |
| Japan | Heavy fine | Jail time for a few months |
Are sites like GoMovies safe to use?
After knowing that GoMovies substitutes look safe to use regarding legality, you must now understand safety in another context. This context refers to the risks of using GoMovies regarding malware.
But to honestly answer whether websites like GoMovies are safe to use, we must specify what that means. Some alternatives to GoMovies usually disappear from the scene, but some mirrors have sprung up to replace them in its absence.
The issue, then, is, are these mirrors safe to use? And the answer is that the risk of using mirrors without protection is inadvisable. Ill-meaning admins run most mirrors and might pose a severe user risk.
Watch out for mirror sites
Accessing content on GoMovies alternatives is exclusively possible through website duplicates, known as “mirrors” or copycat sites. These sites are hosted and controlled by third parties who may or may not have been affiliated with the original source.
It becomes challenging to rely on GoMovies replacements reviews to determine their safety, as mirror site owners can potentially inject malicious code or track user data. Moreover, these platforms often display intrusive ads and pop-ups.
Consequently, the unfortunate reality is that the safety of mirror sites varies. Therefore, we strongly advise employing a VPN service and antivirus software to ensure your security.
How to safely watch GoMovies alternative sites
We do not categorically support using free sites like GoMovies since they is illegal in many countries. There are locations where GoMovies is legal, but even in these locations, you still need to stay protected.
Below are the two chief methods you can use to access GoMovies substitutes safely:
Use an antivirus
While VPNs can offer some protection against unauthorized access to online activities, they are flexible regarding security. One significant risk that arises when using the internet is the presence of harmful software like malware. For example, GoMovies, a platform that hosts numerous ads, pop-ups, and redirects, can expose users to malicious software.
To enhance privacy and security while using GoMovies like platforms, we recommend combining a VPN with a reputable antivirus program. In our tests to identify the best antivirus software for GoMovies, we found that Norton360 was the most effective option.
With its advanced security features, Norton360 provides high protection for users who access GoMovies. Additionally, by utilizing both a VPN and Norton360, users can substantially mitigate the risks associated with GoMovies like sites and similar streaming platforms.
Use a VPN
Premium VPN software provides internet users with a secure and private browsing experience. These trusted services protect your online and streaming activities from your local internet service provider (ISP) and malicious third parties, including law enforcement agencies.
Moreover, premium VPN services often offer the option to extend protection to others, such as family and friends, using the same paid subscription. This guide will delve into the details of reliable premium VPN services specifically designed for streaming, including NordVPN.
Can a VPN really help me safely use alternative platforms like GoMovies?
VPNs are the best recommended option for safely using GoMovies alternative sites. With a VPN, you can switch your IP address, keep your main IP hidden, and protect yourself from intrusive ads. A VPN also helps you access geo-restricted content not commonly available in your location. It does this using an alternative IP address that bypasses any firewalls meant to keep you out.
All your internet traffic is encrypted and safe, so you need not worry less about the prying eyes of your ISP or third parties. There is also the issue of data throttling, which happens when your ISP reduces your connection speeds so you don’t use too much data. A VPN will bypass this throttling, letting you enjoy the fullness of your connection.
There is also the case of ad-blocking — VPNs can help make your internet experience much more convenient and hitch-free. Lastly, it’s important to mention that VPNs work great with an antivirus; ensure that the antivirus does not clash with the VPN. You can toggle this in the settings.
Best VPN for safe streaming GoMovies substitutes – NordVPN
A rich-featured VPN network that boasts unbreakable encryption and stealth security features to keep you safe even while accessing illicit websites. It has a large number of servers and noticeable features.
Contains over 6,800 efficient VPN servers scattered in over 113 countries
Reliable threat protection (malware, tracking, and ad blocker)
Industry standard, most secure encryption available: AES-256
A user-friendly kill switch feature
Split tunneling feature with high efficiency
Offers multi-hop VPN for double encryption
Provides seamless Onion over VPN functionality
Ensures that no logging is done
Users can connect up to ten devices simultaneously with each account
A 30-day money-back guarantee with no questions asked
Pros
- Reliable protection against malware and adware
- Fluently unblocks almost all major streaming platform
- Offers special discouts to students
Cons
- Lacks free version
NordVPN takes pride in its vast server network, covering over 113 countries, and comprises over 6,800 servers. This extensive server network ensures that users can easily find a nearby server for optimal streaming speeds. NordVPN simplifies connecting to a location where the restricted streaming service is accessible.
Regardless of server distance or location, NordVPN consistently maintains impressive speed, delivering HD-quality content without noticeable drops in streaming quality.
NordVPN boasts advanced features and privacy protocols like perfect forward secrecy and Threat Protection, safeguarding your private information from malicious entities. Also, it has set up a RAM-only server network to ensure no user data is stored. Besides, its vigilant ad-blocking feature keeps your streaming experience ad-free.
Moreover, NordVPN is a top choice for unblocking GoMovies and other popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, and Crunchyroll.
FAQs
Yes, you can use these alternatives on any device you want on the go. You just need to choose the platform open it in your browser and start streaming. However, for Chromecast, you need to download a dedicated app (only for Android) and configure it on your device.
Technically, no, not all of them have malware. But we can run from the fact that free streaming platforms usually contain malware and viruses, especially the clones and mirror sites. Therefore, we advise you to do proper research and choose the service wisely.
