10 Best Apps Like Showbox: Updated Alternatives for 2024

Showbox shut down due to copyright concerns from producers and movie studios worldwide. Many clones have been popping up, but most of these services have malware, which puts your data and online identity at risk.

After testing dozens of streaming sites for safety, usability, and speed, I found the best free apps similar to Showbox that reliably work. Still, streaming and torrenting on free platforms is never 100% safe. Even the best ones may compromise your privacy by infecting your device with malware, so always be careful when visiting such websites.

Be advised. Streaming or downloading copyrighted content without proper authorization is illegal in most countries. Be sure to check the content you want to access before proceeding. My team and I do not condone unlawful streaming or copyright infringement.

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Best Apps Like Showbox in 2024

1. Pluto TV — Great Choice of Live and On-Demand Content in HD

I found Pluto TV to be the best Showbox alternative because of its content quantity and streaming quality. You can watch anything from the latest hits, classics, full seasons of on-demand shows, live sports, and news, most of it in HD. It offers 250+ free live TV channels, including the most popular cable networks like CBS, MTV, and Comedy Central, and thousands of free movies.

The first thing that caught my eye was its intuitive website design. On the top menu, you can choose live TV or on-demand content. It also has a clear search bar, so you can find the title you want.

You can watch hit movies on Pluto TV Spotlight

I love that you don’t even need to sign up, you can just start streaming right away. It’s one of the most reliable legal platforms without sketchy pop-up windows. However, a slightly annoying thing about Pluto TV is that you can’t skip the ads. Even if you’re fast-forwarding through the stream, you will still have to see full ads. Other than this, it's a great Showbox alternative.

2. Crackle — Watch Hollywood Shows and Original Content for Free

Crackle is another great Showbox alternative, with plenty of popular movies and TV shows. It’s also one of the rare free streaming platforms that offer original content — Crackle Originals. The size of the original collection might not be as big as Netflix’s, but it’s still significant for a free online platform. It’s an official on-demand streaming site owned and managed by Sony with millions of active monthly users.

The content automatically streams in the best possible quality

Crackle has a sleek user interface; you can browse movies by genre or use the search bar. Like Pluto TV, you don’t need to sign up to stream Crackle. However, if you choose to create an account, you can also enjoy other perks, such as the ability to make a personal watch list or block content inappropriate for children.

However, one minor con with Crackle is that it's available only in the US. So, you need a US IP address to access Crackle's content.

3. Stremio — Use Torrent Add-Ons To Get Free Content

Unlike some of the other Showbox alternatives on this list, Stremio uses torrents to stream. It’s a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform and supports BitTorrent as a streaming protocol. It also supports add-ons from popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Max, YouTube, etc. However, these popular streaming services will only show available content in your region.

Click on "Discover" and then select your add-on in the Stremio app

I like that Stremio suggests movies and shows that might interest you, including platforms where you can watch them. It’s a media center, which means it focuses on collecting content and making it easy to find. You can also create custom profiles and receive notifications about new episodes of shows added to your list.

On the downside, Stremio doesn’t have any dedicated app for iOS. However, you can use its web version on iOS. It also requires that you sign up. However, you can use the guest login without disclosing any of your personal information.

Note. You shouldn’t use this service to watch or download copyrighted content.

4. The Roku Channel — Regularly Updates Its Collection of Movies and TV Shows

The Roku Channel’s main attraction is its ever-evolving collection of free movies and shows, so there’s always something new to watch. However, it does require you to sign up with basic details like an email address, name, DOB, etc.

Roku doesn't require payment details to complete the subscription process

It also features a vast collection of live content from multiple networks. You can control your Roku TVs through your phone by installing the Roku mobile app. Plus, it offers parental controls with the option to set a PIN for content rated for higher ages.

However, like most free streaming apps, its content is ad-supported. However, Roku Channels premium subscription is ad-free.

5. Tubi TV — Appealing and Easy-to-Navigate User Interface

Tubi TV’s user interface across all Tubi apps is appealing and well-organized. This allows you to find and stream your preferred content quickly and easily. For instance, on the top, you will find various search options — Browse, Tubi Kids, and Live TV. There is also a standard search bar if you need to search for a title. Since it is owned by Fox, it's a legal streaming platform.

Click on Tubi Kids to change the homepage appearance to only kid-friendly content

I like that its content catalog is updated weekly. You can easily find more than 40,000 classic and quirky movies and shows, including K-drama and anime on the streamer. Plus, it doesn’t require any registration for streaming. However, Tubi TV is ad-supported, so you'll have to sit through some in-video ads while streaming.

6. Vudu — Filter Movies And Shows According to Its Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Fandango At Home (previously Vudu) allows you to sort movies that have a "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. You can also filter content via genres. Fandango is not a completely free platform but offers a very large free section which is supported by ads.

The Fresh rating filter is also available for free movies and shows

This Showbox alternative also offers family-friendly features like parental controls to ensure only kid content gets viewed by the young ones. You can sync your purchased movies across multiple devices (via Movies Anywhere) into a single library for easy access anywhere. However, you must sign up before you can watch anything for free.

7. BBC iPlayer — Wide Range of British Content From Dramas to Documentaries

BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular British streaming platforms, featuring TV shows, movies, documentaries, and more. It provides better picture quality than other free platforms. Its content also comes with professional subtitles, some with sign language and various audio options. Its mobile apps also support downloads for offline viewing.

You can also use the search bar to find your favourite movies or shows

I like its personalized recommendations, which helped me discover new shows and movies. However, BBC iPlayer is restricted to the UK, so you need a British IP address to watch it. You also need to sign up and have a valid UK TV license, although the site does not require proof.

8. Crunchyroll — Vast Collection Of Anime Shows and Movies for Free

Crunchyroll is one of the best platforms for Anime content. It offers classic and new anime series, including One Piece, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc. Although its free version is supported by ads, it offers HD streaming. Plus, its content library is regularly updated and some episodes are even aired at the same time as in Japan.

Premium shows are marked by a crown, otherwise all content is free

However, the ads are the most annoying thing about Crunchyroll. You can’t skip them, and minimizing or changing your Crunchyroll browser tab will pause the ads. This means that unless you resume and watch all of the ads, you won’t be able to watch your content.

9. Plex — Free Streaming App With Live Channels

Plex features 1000+ live TV channels from all over the world, offering a solid line-up of movies, TV shows, anime, documentaries, and more. The live channels are sorted via specific genres. However, like most Showbox alternatives, this streaming platform has a lot of ads. Still, Plex is that it doesn’t require you to sign up.

Our tests found the video quality for live streaming much better than standard definition

10. Xumo Play — Watch Movies And TV Shows Without Subscribing

Xumo Play is another great alternative to Showbox for watching free movies, TV shows, and live channels without signing up. It is fairly easy to use, but doesn’t have a search bar. So, you'll have to manually scroll through genres or categories to find your desired content.

It also offers dedicated tabs for movies and TV shows on the main page

How To Stay Safe While Using Apps Like Showbox

Even with the safest sites, there are many risks associated with free streaming. For example, you may mistakenly click on a bad link and download a virus or other malware. Worse still, torrenting-based streaming sites can expose your IP address and online activities to third parties.

Here are some ways you can to stay safe while using free streaming platforms:

• Examine the page layout. Check the design and general appearance of the website. Copycat sites usually have a poor layout, grammatical and spelling errors, or other unreadable material.
• Read the About Us page. The About Us page of a legitimate website tells a lot about the company. A fake streaming website doesn’t offer a lot of details about it.
• Look out for an unreasonable number of ads. Copycat pages want to make money through pay-per-click by placing ads everywhere they can.
• Avoid too-good-to-be-true sites. Some websites may claim to have the most recent and popular titles. These links may be malware, so always avoid such websites.
• Watch out for warnings on your web browser. In most cases, your browser will warn you when you try to open a suspicious website. Pay attention to these warnings, as they can help you identify malicious sites.
• Only watch copyright-free content. Copyright infringement is a serious offense in some parts of the world so always try to stream content from the public domain. Also, stay up to date with your local laws to avoid any legal issues.
• Use a VPN. VPNs encrypt internet traffic and change IP addresses, making it possible to safely access global content from anywhere.

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FAQs on Showbox Alternatives

Can I install Showbox alternatives on my iPhone or Android?

Yes, it is possible to stream Showbox alternatives on your smartphone, like iPhone or Android. Most of the Showbox alternatives on this list are compatible with Android and iOS. However, to protect your data while streaming on your phone, make sure to download these alternatives from official sources and avoid any similar-looking (fake) apps.

Can I still install the Showbox APK?

No, the official Showbox APK platform has been shut down. Although you may find apps with a similar name or icon e.g. Showbox APK, they are not related to the actual app and may put your data at risk. Such mirror websites and apps have malicious links that can compromise your online data. You can try using Showbox alternatives instead.

Why do I need to use a VPN with apps like Showbox?

Using a VPN with Showbox alternatives can keep your data secure, as it encrypts your connection. On top of that, a VPN can safely access popular streaming platforms or apps like Showbox from anywhere by changing IP addresses. In addition, some VPNs have built-in security features that can block adware, malware, and trackers.

Can Showbox alternatives be used on Fire Stick, smart TVs, Android, and other devices?

It depends on the Showbox alternative you're using. If the platform offers support for these operating systems then yes otherwise no. All listed apps like Showbox are compatible with major operating systems, including Fire TV, Android, iOS, etc.

Can I use a free VPN for Showbox alternatives?

It is highly unlikely a free VPN would work due to speed and server limitations. They rarely offer reliable servers in different locations and almost always come with speed or data restrictions. Instead, you can try a low-cost premium VPN that has a money-back guarantee.

Using free VPNs also puts you at risk of hackers and snoops. Many contain malware and may sell your data to third parties for a profit

Conclusion

There are many alternatives for Showbox, but only some are genuine. This is because many copycats tried to fill the gap after Showbox shut down. However, these websites were full of invasive ads and did not shy away from showing copyright content.

We've shortlisted the best apps like Showbox that you can use to watch your favorite content. However, you should still be careful while browsing these websites and stay away from any suspicious-looking links.