3 Best VPNs and 4 (100 %) Free VPNs for Popcorn Time in 2024

3 Best VPNs and 4 (100 %) Free VPNs for Popcorn Time in 2024

Popcorn Time is familiar in many online circles as a place where netizens can access a whole array of shows and movies without having to actually purchase them. In our increasingly price sensitive world, this site is celebrated by many as a relief for movie lovers everywhere who would prefer to not have to pay for all their content.

Predictably, this site, as well as others like it, have fallen under increased legal scrutiny as many of the materials available on Popcorn Time has been placed there in ways that violate copyright law in many jurisdiction. In fact, the site has been taken down in many countries on similar grounds.

A big issue in accessing Popcorn Time is the fact that the IP addresses of users can be traced back to them and as such potentially get individual users of the site in legal trouble as well. In situations such as these, it would behoove netizens to obtain the adequate level of privacy protection they need.

This is where VPNs step in. VPNs are more than capable of protecting the online activities of its users from the prying eyes of not just people who wish to do them harm, but also from nosy third parties that simply wish to know more about people and hold that information potentially hostage.

On top of all those, there are VPNs geared specifically to allowing users access to Popcorn Time so that they can enjoy streaming without getting into trouble. Legal issues are of course the responsibility of the netizen, but here are a few VPNs that are experts at delivering Popcorn Time right to your computer screen.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN devices

Features

  • Number of servers: More than 3,000
  • Speeds: Unlimited
  • Server locations: 160 in 94 countries
  • Maximum devices supported: 5
  • 24 live chat: Yes
  • 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

Pros/Cons

  • Fastest VPN out there
  • Strict no logs policy
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Few discounts
Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is widely known just about everywhere as a provider of top quality privacy protection. A 256-bit encryption is given to every connection protected under ExpressVPN’s umbrella. That is coupled with ExpressVPN’s strict no log policy, which ensures users can access any content online they wish, which of course includes Popcorn Time.

Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, the location gives ExpressVPN a further advantage, as it will not be required by major spying alliances to gather customer log data without notifying them. That is because they lie outside the infamous Five Eyes’ jurisdiction. This frees ExpressVPN up to focus on providing the best privacy possible to their customers.

ExpressVPN has a massive network of over three thousand servers that give them a truly global reach. Active in 94 countries so far, there is no corner of the world far away from an ExpressVPN server. No matter which continent you reside in, ExpressVPN has either already established a presence, or will do so before you even know it.

This global server network also comes in handy when preparing for contingencies. In the rare event that a server is taken out of commission, there are plenty right next to it that can pick up the slack. This means that if you are enjoying Popcorn Time, there will not be a moment where you are left exposed to prying eyes or unable to enjoy HD movies and shows.

With an ExpressVPN subscription, you gain access to a world class tech support system. Those who have minor issues can always take a look at their troubleshoot guide to look things up. If the matter is more urgent however, ExpressVPN has a 24/7 live chat option so that nothing stands between you and Popcorn Time.

When billed annually, ExpressVPN comes out to a very modest $6.67 a month, which is more than what people spend on a single Starbucks drink. Not only that, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money back guarantee, in case things do not work out. There is also an offer for three months added to the annual subscription, absolutely on the house.

  • Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
  • Lowest price: $6.67

NordVPN

NordVPN devices

Features

  • Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
  • Simultaneous connections: 6
  • Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
  • Servers: 5342 in 58 countries

Pros/Cons

  • Lots of pricing options
  • Netflix support kept up to date
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Slow app
Visit NordVPN

NordVPN has such an advanced system that users are able to check out which servers are most used and even which ones are specialized for streaming things like Popcorn Time. Imagine a top notch traffic app, but for Popcorn Time. That is what you get and more when you choose to subscribe to NordVPN.

Being based in Panama, NordVPN is also able to escape the clutches of both the Five Eyes and Fourteen Eyes security pacts, thereby not needing to secretly abandon their no log policy. This makes it one of the best VPNs for Popcorn Time, as users definitely want to remain anonymous when visiting that site.

NordVPN really takes the cake when it comes to its fleet of servers, having fielded over 5600 servers across 59 countries around the world. Having an active presence on all six continents, NordVPN is able to offer the maximum number of people possible access to its services for Popcorn Time fun and so much more, and will soon reach even more netizens.

By letting the user know how each server is being loaded in real time, they allow them to minimize the chances of any disruptions occurring. Not only that, by notifying customers of the servers that specialize in HD streaming, the path to enjoying a season binge of a TV show on Popcorn Time just got that much shorter.

With a very comprehensive FAQ section, as well as a troubleshoot guide, NordVPN covers all its bases by giving customers the help they need, as well as being able to satisfy curiosity inquiries. If the matter is a pressing one, there is also an email drop box that is replied to very promptly.

NordVPN has a very interesting subscription offer where the 3-year deal comes down to only $3.49 on a monthly basis. On top of all that, you can try NordVPN for a whole month with their 30-day money back guarantee. There really is no reason why you should not at least give these guys a try.

  • Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
  • Lowest price: $3.71

Surfshark

Surfshark devices

Features

  • Free trial? Yes
  • Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
  • Ad blocking? Yes
  • Servers: 1000+ in 61 countries

Pros/Cons

  • No footprints
  • Allows torrenting
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Not the fastest
Try Surfshark

One of SurfShark’s claim to fame is its ability to bypass the Netflix barrier. But one lesser known quality of a SurfShark service is that it is also secure enough to allow users to enjoy the usage of Popcorn Time and its selection of TV shows and movies, among other benefits.

Having headquarters in the British Virgin Islands, SurfShark is able to escape the grasp of the Five Eyes security pact, which enables them to legitimately provide the privacy protection that users of Popcorn Time, as well as other controversial sites, need to avail the material on these sites without anxiety.

SurfSharkVPN counts over a thousand servers among its privacy arsenal spread over 61 countries around the world. Being in all six continents, SurfSharkVPN is able to cater to a wide range of netizens from all walks of life, and the speed at which they are adding to their server network is truly remarkable.

SurfSharkVPN has a very interesting feature, which is the ability for users to whitelist certain sites from being put through the VPN’s encryption system. This helps SurfSharkVPN concentrate its efforts on what people are really looking for, which is the ability to stream from Popcorn Time and other sites like it in peace and secrecy.

SurfSharkVPN provides their customers a very user friendly tech support interface in case they run into some issues. All major assistance categories are softly laid out on the left of the main support screen. For the more pressing case, SurfSharkVPN also has a live chat feature to put users’ minds at ease.

Although the monthly subscription for SurfShark will set you back by $11.95 a month, the discounts for long term subscriptions are truly remarkable. The two-year plan brings the monthly cost all the way down to a mere $1.99 a month. SurfShark is one of the cheapest VPNs we have tried.

  • Pros: No footprints; Allows torrenting; 256-bit AES encryption;
  • Lowest Price: $2.49

Best Free VPNs for Popcorn Time

Asides from the risk-free VPN services we discussed above, there are some totally free ones for you to consider. Here are our top contenders:

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN devices

Features

  • P2P support? Yes
  • 30-day money-back guarantee? Yes
  • Country of origin? Switzerland
  • Servers: 600+ in over 40 countries
  • Simultaneous devices: 5

Pros/Cons

  • Professional support
  • Modern interface and apps
  • AES-256 encryption
  • Lesser known provider
Try ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is our top recommended free VPN service. The provider is the trendsetter when it comes to the provision of free services. We recommend it for use in accessing content on Popcorn Time.

ProtonVPN has both a paid and a free version. On the free version, you will use the full gamut of features the provider has. However, the free version grants you only limited access. For one, you will be able to connect to servers only in 3 countries – the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.

However, the servers are primed for speed. Your internet speed is not affected because you are on the free plan. Similarly, there is no data or bandwidth cap. Streaming is not fully supported on this free plan. Nonetheless, you can still mask your original IP address and stay hidden from third parties who may be interested in your online activities.

One other area ProtonVPN takes very seriously is security. This provider uses the AES 256-bit encryption protocol to secure its servers. Hence, even users of the free plan are safe. Similarly, the provider maintains a strict no-log policy.

It is relatively easy to sign up and use ProtonVPN’s paid plans. This provider requires just your email address upon signing up. Furthermore, it does not spam you with ads just to get you to get on a paid plan. If you do change your mind, you can subscribe to a paid plan. This provider gives you a 30-day window within which you can use the service and request a refund, no question asked.

  • Pros: Professional support; Modern interface and apps; AES-256 encryption;
  • Lowest price: €4

Hide.me

Hide.me devices

Features

  • Number of servers: 2000+
  • Server locations: 75 locations
  • Maximum devices supported: 10
  • 24 live chat: Yes
  • 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

Pros/Cons

  • Has free option
  • No log policy
  • Secure connection
  • Not very cheap
Try Hide.me

Hide.me is the second free VPN service we trust for use with Popcorn Time.

Like ProtonVPN, this provider has a paid and free plan. Users can connect to any of its 2000 servers in 75 locations on the paid plan. It provides stellar security features, including a kill switch, support for split tunneling and encryption using the AES 256-bit encryption model.

However, the free plan also works, although in a limited capacity. The free plan promises you access to servers in 5 locations. You can connect to any of the servers to encrypt your network and evade the prying eyes of the authorities. Remarkably, servers in all the free locations all support peer-to-peer file sharing. This is remarkable because only a handful of free providers allow this feature. In any case, you can rest assured that unlocking Popcorn Time from any remote location will not be a challenge.

Hide. me’s free plan does not have any speed limits. However, you are allowed only 10GB of data per month. Once this expires, you can either wait for the next month or get on a paid plan. This data cap is not ideal, especially if you are looking to stream videos on Popcorn Time. However, you will have to make do if you are looking to use Hide.me.

Hide. me’s free plan is for life. Hence, you can renew it indefinitely. Furthermore, it has no ads, trackers, or malware. The provider does not store any logs about your internet activities. Thus, you are not at the risk of being exposed if the authorities come after you.

  • Pros: Has free option; No log policy; Secure connection;
  • Lowest price: €4.99

TunnelBear

TunnelBear devices

Features

  • Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes, bitcoin
  • Dedicated IP-adresses? Yes
  • Simultaneous connections: 5
  • Locations: 28 countries

Pros/Cons

  • Unlimited browsing
  • Account manager
  • Military grade encryption
  • Free version allows only 500MB data
Visit TunnelBear

TunnelBear is another free provider that we recommend for use with Popcorn Time. Ordinarily, this provider has three plans, one of which is the free plan. Unfortunately, you can only use 500 MB of data on this service. Once it gets exhausted, you will need to pay for a plan.

During TunnelBear’s free phase, you will be able to use all of its features. Hence, you can connect to servers in any of the 41 countries where it has available servers. Doing this encrypts your network, preventing third parties, including your Internet Service Provider, from being aware of your online activities. In addition, you can choose to activate TunnelBear’s GhostBear mode. This hides the fact that you are using a VPN, effectively blocking anyone on your trail.

TunnelBear promises you lightning-fast speeds. This might be hampered by its data cap, though. It has the Vigilant mode, which does the work of a kill switch. Hence, it takes you off the internet if your VPN service falters. This provider maintains a strict no-log policy. Thus, while you access videos on Popcorn Time, this provider will not retain your details. It will also not share them, even if the authorities or your ISP requests them.

This provider is good enough to provide the security and streaming capabilities you need for Popcorn Time. The only drawback is its data cap. However, if you want to stream just one video on Popcorn Time, this service will suffice.

  • Pros: Unlimited browsing; Account manager; Military grade encryption;
  • Lowest price: $3.33

Trust.Zone

Trust.Zone devices

Features

  • Complete anonymity? Yes
  • Unblocking of all websites? Yes
  • Pricing options: 4
  • Servers: 164 in 80+ zones
  • Free trial: Yes

Pros/Cons

  • Military grade encryption
  • Bitcoin accepted
  • App for mobile devices
  • Lesser known provider
Try Trust.Zone

Trust.Zone is another free provider that operates the same model as TunnelBear. It allows you to use its service free for 3 days or until you exhaust 1GB of data. However, within this window, all of the VPN provider’s features will be available to you. Hence, you can stream content on Popcorn Time without any hitches whatsoever.

There are several benefits to using Trust.Zone’s free offer. One of such is access to 187 superfast servers in 98 world zones. The servers are so fast that they will deliver the content you need with no lags or buffering. The provider supports peer-to-peer file sharing and torrenting. This makes it a perfect choice for Popcorn Time. It also does not throttle your speed when you use its services. The encryption it employs also prevents your ISP from throttling your speed.

This provider uses the military-standard AES 256-bit encryption model to secure your traffic. It also supports stellar security protocols, including OpenVPN and L2TP. In addition, it has a kill switch and maintains a strong no-log policy. Thus, it will neither retain nor share your data with third parties.

Trust.Zone has apps for the major device types. You can download, install and use the VPN apps, regardless of the device you use. In addition, if you decide to pay for a plan, this provider allows you to pay with cryptocurrency. This further strengthens your privacy.

  • Pros: Military grade encryption; Bitcoin accepted; App for mobile devices;
  • Lowest price: €3

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a VPN Service

As with any other product, there are many varieties of VPNs to choose from out there. Some VPNs might cater to certain niches that you are not a part of, whereas some try to be the jack of all trades and cater to as wide a market as possible. Here are some things to be cognizant of.

Server Selection

VPN services differ widely in terms of their server network. Some have global networks numbering in the thousands, while others are upstarts or cater to regional markets with several hundred servers in their arsenal. Sometimes, your preferred servers to connect to might not be within reach of a VPN’s server network, so it is very important to find out.

Connection Speeds

Some VPNs have gone full steam into maximizing connection speeds, whilst others have diverted resources to beefing up their encryption systems and provide modest bandwidths. Neither strategy is superior, but simply catering to different people. Find out which one you are and choose accordingly.

Do Free VPNs Work With Popcorn Time?

As attractive as it might sound, the sobering truth is that free VPN services are not a sustainable choice for the simple fact that without subscriptions, these VPNs need to find other revenue streams. The more innocent way of doing this is to post a nauseating amount of ads on the main page of the VPN app.

The other, more sinister way is to sell users’ information to unscrupulous third parties. This can be extremely problematic for those who rely on the anonymity afforded by VPNs to conduct their activities in peace, including streaming on Popcorn Time.

We recommend using any of the risk-free providers in this article. You get a refund within a stipulated window. Hence, you could potentially be using the service totally for free. Unlike free VPNs, security, unblocking ability, and internet speed will be guaranteed.

Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs for Popcorn Time

Since this article considers both paid and free VPNs, you may be wondering which is a better option. Free providers are great because you do not get to pay to use their services. However, aside from this one benefit, there is hardly any other perk with using free VPNs. Conversely, drawbacks abound.

A free VPN will most likely have subpar services, weak security infrastructure and might not even work with Popcorn Time. The drawbacks could even make using the VPNs more of a chore than a delight.

On the other hand, the only disadvantage of paid VPNs is the subscription fees you have to pay. However, most, especially the ones on this list, make sure you get value for your money. Most have affordable subscription options that you could easily pay for.

More so, if you are interested in using the VPN to access Popcorn Time just for a short while, you could use the paid provider’s money-back guarantee period. The money-back-guarantee allows you to use the VPN for a short while and request a refund within a stipulated window. This works to your advantage because you could potentially use a free service for free.

Frequently Asked Questions About VPNs for Popcorn Time

Can I use a proxy for Popcorn Time?

In theory, you can. A proxy will be able to give you a new IP address compatible with any location you want. Hence, if Popcorn Time is blocked in your location, this gives you easy access.

However, a proxy fails in one crucial area: it does not encrypt your traffic. Thus, you will be open to all the dangers torrenting platforms have to deal with. More so, third parties will be aware that you are accessing Popcorn Time. Thus, you could be unfairly targeted by hackers and cybercriminals. Additionally, you could get into trouble for copyright infringement. Thus, a VPN is always better suited for this sort of situation.

Are there alternatives to Popcorn Time?

Yes, there are several alternatives to Popcorn Time. One of such is Kodi. Kodi is a free app where you can use to stream videos. It operates just like Popcorn Time. Hence, there is hardly any movie online that you wouldn’t find on the platform. Unfortunately, some of the content on Kodi violate copyright stipulations. You will be best served if you use a VPN when accessing the platform.

Other streaming platforms you could consider include Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and ESPN. These platforms employ geo-restrictions. Thus, you could find that some content is restricted in your location. Here, a VPN is also very useful.

Popcorn Time is a legal platform. The challenge is with the content hosted on the site. In addition, using a VPN is legal in most jurisdictions. Thus, using a VPN to secure your traffic while accessing legal content on Popcorn Time poses no challenge.

However, it is an entirely different ball game if you use a VPN to violate copyright laws. Thus, when you stream copyrighted material on Popcorn Time, you could be running afoul of the law. In such a situation, the authorities could come after you.