Flixtor: Is It Safe And Should You Use It?

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Flixtor in a Snapshot

Flixtor is an online illegal streaming platform that lets users watch TV shows and movies for free. While that may sound appealing, in many countries using Flixtor is an infringement of copyright laws and you can actually run into legal trouble even if you just watch.

That’s why we recommend using legal alternatives like Netflix, HBO Max or Disney+. Some people might use a VPN to stay anonymous and watch Flixtor without getting a fine, although it is recommended to refrain from any illegal streaming activities.

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The rise of on-demand streaming made most of the movies and TV shows you could possibly want to watch readily available online.

Whether you’re in the mood for a classic comedy, or curious about the newest releases, platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and Peacock are there to satisfy your binging needs.

But for people that don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, there are free alternatives available on the internet. Flixtor is one of the websites that let you do that. So let’s see what this platform is (or was?) and how people use it.

What is Flixtor?

Flixtor is an infamous online streaming platform. It works much like all those streaming platforms mentioned earlier, but with a slight difference. The movies and TV series available have been published on the site without rights over their distribution.

That means anyone visiting Flixtor can watch movies and TV shows for free… but it also means that the platform is illegal in many countries, and watching or downloading those movies via Flixtor is in turn not allowed. Sometimes it is straight-up illegal, and in other cases it is merely discouraged.

To its credit, Flixtor is one of the best designed illegal streaming platforms. It has no ads, because it only supports itself from the VIP member contributions, and it allows you to both stream content and download it.

But that’s not the whole story.

Is Flixtor Still Available?

Flixtor is currently up and running on a few domains. However, Flixtor has a long history of being taken down and then showing up on different domains. On top of that, the official status of Flixtor as communicated by its creators (available here) clearly shows that there are a lot of problems with copycats and phishing campaigns.

The following domains are mentioned as being official Flixtor sources:

  • flixtor.to
  • flixtor.is
  • flixtor.se
  • flixtor.vc
  • flixtor.it
  • flixtor.nu

Since Flixtor is quite popular, the various official Flixtor sites regularly face issues with servers reaching their capacity. Visitors will get a message stating ‘We’re sorry… all our servers are full right now“. If that happens though, many users simply try one of the other Flixtor sites.

Flixtor full server message

So let’s take a look at the history of this site.

In November 2018, Flixtor went offline for the first time, with no fuss or announcements from anyone. People assumed government action, but in fact the developers did it on purpose to update the interface of Flixtor.

Since then, Flixtor has gone through a lot of shutdown attempts and domain changes, which in turn gave birth to those copycats we mentioned earlier. A lot of people steer clear from Flixtor because of that, even though various official versions of the website are up and running with an impressive library, no ads, and no malware.

One thing was not clear from our research. We could not confirm if the current “legit” version of Flixtor is made by the same people that made the original Flixtor. Take that however you want, the bottom line is that there is a “usable” version of Flixtor out there.

Is Flixtor Illegal?

Flixtor is generally seen as an illegal platform. The developers themselves can face legal action for keeping it online, just like how the creators of KickassTorrents were prosecuted a few years ago. Flixtor is in the crosshairs of authorities for shutdown attempts, and the people that stream content from Flixtor can face legal action as well.

That’s because Flixtor distributes copyrighted content without the approval of its creators, which is a felony in basically any state of the globe, although there are some exceptions.

What Can Happen To Me If I Stream From Flixtor?

If you stream content from Flixtor, the consequences depend on where you live. In the US, the DMCA cooperates with ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to track people that use Flixtor. You probably won’t end up in jail, but you might end up with a lawsuit on your hands.

In the rest of the world, consequences will depend based on how much the government is tracking Flixtor. In places like Eastern Europe or Latin America, regions known for inaction against piracy, or bad execution of piracy laws, you probably won’t have any problems streaming from Flixtor. Some governments allow streaming pirated content for private use.

However, that may change in the future, so wherever you are, keep reading to find out how to be careful with the websites you access, and generally stay safe on the internet.

Before that, though, a word of caution. We don’t recommend streaming content from Flixtor in most cases. First, because it’s illegal in many places, and if you don’t take the right safety precautions it can all end up with you as a defendant in a court of law. Second, because it’s unfair towards the creators of the content you’re streaming, and there are legal and ethical alternatives. However, if you’re going to do it regardless of that, for instance because you live in a country that allows streaming pirated content for private use, you should understand what the safest way to use Flixtor is.

How People Stream With Flixtor And Avoid Detection

First, streaming with Flixtor is often seen as piracy, so it’s important to understand the stance of different countries on piracy. From our research, this is the legal stance of the following countries:

STANCE ON PIRACYCOUNTRIES
Pirating is legal or allowed (for personal use)Poland, Spain, Switzerland
Pirating is illegalAustralia, China, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, United States
Pirating is illegal, but individuals are not actively prosecutedArgentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, India, Israel, Iran, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Uruguay

In the countries where Flixtor is not legal, people often access it using a VPN. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are pieces of software that will send traffic through servers all across the globe, changing people’s IP addresses and making them anonymous and untraceable.

VPNs are a good way to protect your privacy while browsing the web, but pirates also use them to stream from Flixtor and avoid detection. However, VPNs are good for more than just that. You can use them to secure your internet connection, protect your privacy, and enjoy regionally blocked content on platforms like Disney+ and Netflix.

So let’s take a look at some of the best VPNs people use for protecting their privacy and streaming online content.

ExpressVPN: The best out there

ExpressVPN is the best VPN service for streaming, regardless of the streaming service you want to use. It has hundreds of servers to change your IP to, advanced functionalities for streaming, and even a special geo-unlock feature to help you stream content that is regionally locked.

You can even use it to stream content from platforms like BBC iPlayer or Peacock, which you can find out more about by clicking on those hyperlinks. However, it’s not the cheapest VPN on the market, so let’s talk about some alternatives.

ExpressVPN
Deal:
Great discount on annual subscription + 30-day money-back guarantee!
From
$6.67
8.9
  • Very easy to use VPN
  • Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e. Netflix)
  • 3000+ servers in 94 countries
Visit ExpressVPN

Surfshark: A cheap alternative

Surfshark is not the most advanced VPN out there, but it’s not a bad choice by any stretch of the term. It has hundreds of servers, no limit on the devices you can use it on, and it’s a very cheap VPN, with special offers and deals available all the time.

If price isn’t an issue and you’re looking for something more beginner-friendly, there are other options out there.

Surfshark
Deal:
Safe and anonymous internet for only $2.30a month
From
$2.30
9.0
  • Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
  • 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
  • Cheap with many extra options
Visit Surfshark

CyberGhost: A user-friendly VPN

CyberGhost is a solid VPN choice that lets its users stream content from Flixtor safely, as well as movies and TV shows from legit platforms. It has dedicated servers for specific streaming platforms, and it’s extremely easy to navigate.

If you haven’t heard of VPNs before and you don’t want to bother too much learning about what they do, Cyberghost is a good pick.

CyberGhost
Deal:
Try CyberGhost for $2.15 per month!
From
$2.29
8.8
  • Very user-friendly
  • High quality for a low price
  • Torrents and Netflix possible
Visit CyberGhost

That’s that for VPNs. However, considering the amount of negative public attention Flixtor receives, the Flixtor websites might be taken down from time to time. What streaming services do people use as an alternative to Flixtor?

Other Websites Like Flixtor

When Flixtor is down, pirates have a lot of other options for streaming and downloading movies for free. We already covered 123Movies and PrimeWire in a detailed manner. Below are a few more websites that function much in the same way as Flixtor, so you might want to check if it’s safe to use these before visiting.

MoviesJoy

Much like Flixtor, MoviesJoy has no ads, a large library of old and new releases in 720p or 1080p, and a reputation as a reliable source of free movies and TV Shows. Its library is not that large when compared to Flixtor, but it’s a site many people use nonetheless.

SubsMovies

This platform is very similar to MoviesJoy in terms of interface and the library of movies available, but we mentioned it because it has a twist. SubsMovies focuses on providing subtitles in a ton of languages to help people enjoy content of any kind.  It’s not as popular as Flixtor, but it’s still a good alternative to it.

Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time is not a website like all the other platforms we mentioned so far, but rather it’s an app similar to Kodi. It has a huge library of HD and SD titles, and it’s a very famous choice for streaming movies and TV shows for free. With this notoriety, increased governmental action was soon to follow, and individual users that used it to stream content were fined, especially in countries across western Europe.

These three streaming apps are used by people as an alternative to Flixtor, but none of them is legal by any means (in most countries, at least). All of them are platforms that let you stream content for free by infringing on copyright laws, so again, we don’t recommend you use these services. Rather, we recommend you take one of the legal alternatives out there.

It is important to note that as of January 2022, Popcorn Time and its mirror websites are currently down, with the exception of one possible site.

Enjoying a movie or a TV show at home, on your own time, doesn’t have to be a borderline illegal activity. There are a lot of amazing platforms that let you stream content legally.

The cost is not something to be discouraged by either. Most streaming platforms offer a huge library of content, at your disposal, for under $10/month. Some of them even let you stream content for free. Here is a list of the best ones out there, the content they feature, and a link to a tutorial on how to access them from anywhere in the world:

  • Netflix. It was the first big player in the streaming service market and has become a phenomenon in and of itself. You can enjoy a ton of content from classics like Lord of The Rings or Harry Potter, new releases like Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction and Netflix originals like Atypical or The Queen’s Gambit.
  • HBO Max. This is HBO’s latest streaming platform, aiming to unite all of their media brands under one big name. It features big names like Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire, and HBO Max is on track to add new content in the near future.
  • Disney+. As you might have guessed, this is Disney’s successful attempt to enter the streaming market. Right now, The Mandalorian is its biggest attraction, but its roster of multimedia content is set to expand a lot in the coming months and years.

If these platforms don’t fit your budget, or if they don’t have the title you’re looking for, go ahead and consult our complete list of the best streaming services out there.

Conclusion

Flixtor is a big online streaming platform that’s free to use, and has none of the usual intrusive ads or clunky navigation. This explains why it has been so popular over the years.

However, Flixtor is as much an illegal platform as The Pirate Bay in most countries, and generally, we don’t recommend streaming content with Flixtor if that means you are breaking the law in your country. Rather, we suggest taking a look at some of the legal alternatives and watching content from Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and other great streaming services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flixtor

Flixtor, and illegal streaming platforms in general, can be confusing to some people. Here are the most frequently asked questions about the platform:

Flixtor is an online platform that lets you stream movies and TV shows for free. It has a well designed interface, and no ad intrusion, which is pretty rare for websites like Flixtor. However, Flixtor uploads content without its owner’s approval, so you may run into trouble for using the service. Read our Flixtor article to find out more.

Yes, Flixtor is still available on its .is domain, as well as a few other domains as outlined by its developers in a press release. However, there are a lot of copycats and phishing campaigns going around pretending to be Flixtor, so we don’t recommend using the platform if you don’t trust the domain you’re on. You can read more about this in this article.

Yes, Flixtor is considered illegal in many cases, just like Popcorn Time and The Pirate Bay. That’s because they publish copyrighted content without having distribution rights over said content, and you can actually end up with a lawsuit if you use Flixtor without a VPN. However, even if you do use a VPN, streaming Flixtor still means taking part in illegal activities, so we’d advise you against using the platform.

Tech writer
Theodor is a content writer passionate about the newest tech developments and content marketing strategies. He likes privacy-friendly software, SEO tools, and when he's not writing, he's trying to convince people they should uninstall TikTok.
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  1. The thing with legality also has to do with rights. For example, I pay HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Disney + and do not have access to most of its catalogue as Latin America is left out, even when you try to “rent” in Amazon, for example. So at the end, you do whatever you have to in order to not be left out of the contents, especially for indie material. Otherwise, we only get the blockbuster crap.

    • That’s very true. Due to all of the geoblocking happening across countries, the amount of content even paying customers of official services get access to, differs greatly. That’s also why many people use a VPN to get equal access to entertainment on these official platforms.

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