When we come across a free streaming site, most people rush towards it without even thinking about whether it’s safe. WatchSeries was one of the most popular platforms, allowing users to watch their favourite TV shows and movies for free. But it shut down soon since the copyright issues tightened. Now, let’s explore what potential troubles you may face on such illegal movie streaming sites, and find out the top-rated and safe alternatives to WatchSeries.
What is the WatchSeries new site?
The straightforward answer is that there is no legitimate WatchSeries new site. Due to the excessive copyright violation complaints against the platform, the WatchSeries site has stopped working.
Since its shutdown, many similar domains and clones have emerged, so-called new WatchSeries websites that claim to be authentic. Users continued to visit these websites despite the risks they posed. You would note that these so-called new WatchSeries sites keep changing their URLs to avoid forced shutdowns. Whatever, the WatchSeries website is down and doesn’t come back; you’d better consider other legal and reliable alternatives.
Is WatchSeries safe to watch?
No, WatchSeries is not safe and legal to use.
If a platform is operating and sharing content without authorization, it should always raise your eyebrows. It means there is no accountability and less moderation on that platform. Most platforms with no official backing often rely on pirated content, which is itself a legal violation.
There are some other reasons as well that make such platforms unsafe. Let’s explore the risks briefly below:
- Malicious ads: You may see too many ads on such platforms because they are the only and most reliable source of income for such fake websites. These ads redirect to other risky websites, which can lead to malware or spyware.
- Excessive pop-ups: These pop-ups are integral to such platforms and can significantly affect your viewing experience. Some are even phishing attempts to steal your sensitive information. There are also scams. For example, it may pretend to offer huge prices or free gifts based on the lucky spins, and require you to enter your phone number and address.
- Browsing data collection: Some websites may also collect and sell your browsing data to third parties without your consent. Based on this information, you may start seeing unwanted ads because they are tracking your interests from your browsing patterns.
- Unwanted exposure to adult websites: You may also get the automatic redirection to some unsafe websites, including adult websites. This exposure of explicit content would be dangerous for minors.
- Legal risks: While Internet piracy is common, it still carries legal consequences. The U.S. Copyright Office states that streaming copyrighted content from unauthorized sources may constitute copyright infringement, depending on local laws and enforcement practices.
Explore the safest alternatives for free, legal, and family-friendly streaming.
Pirated WatchSeries alternatives you should know
- 123Movies
- Putlocker
- Soap2Day
- YesMovies
- FMovies
- GoMovies
For your safety and knowledge, the mentioned risky WatchSeries alternatives you should avoid. These websites work similarly to WatchSeries, using the same model. You get completely free access to the content, in exchange for just watching a few ads.
No licenses or sign-ups are required prior to showing any movie or TV program. They use third-party hosting links to present their platform and frequently change their URLs because they get banned. You will see a lot of ads and pop-ups on this platform. Some even have fake download and HD video buttons that take you to other harmful, phishing, or fraudulent websites.
8 Free WatchSeries alternatives for safe online streaming
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to avoid unofficial streaming sites and instead use legitimate, ad-supported platforms, which significantly reduce the risk of scams and malware. Let’s explore the top 8 free and legal streaming websites that are great alternatives to WatchSeries.
Here is the list:
PlutoTV
Pluto TV is a legitimate platform offering free streaming of movies, TV shows, and live channels. You can also have on-demand content. They get financial support by running ads, but you won’t end up on unwanted or risky websites. There are curated channels, some of which are family-friendly, and often require checking individual channel ratings.
Cost: 100% free
- Limited new releases.
- You have to wait for ads
- The content also varies depending on the region of viewership.
- No built-in parental control feature on this platform.
TubiTV
Tubi TV is also another great free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service. You can have thousands of options in movies and TV shows. It offers and maintains a massive variety of catalogues spanning multiple genres, most of which are ideal for family viewing. Some parental control features are present, like profile passwords and content filters.
Cost: Free with ads.
- You have to wait for the ads to finish or skip them.
- New releases are very limited.
Crunchyroll
This platform offers a wide collection of classic and newer anime series, movies, and asian dramas. It is a dedicated anime streaming service with a free, ad-supported option.
Cost: Free version is available, as well as a premium (paid) option.
- Not all full series are present on this platform, especially in the free version.
- Not for non-anime viewers.
- No parental control options.
- Premium content locked behind a paywall.
Roku Channel
Roku Channel is a widely recognized and popular platform that offers free movies and TV shows, as well as live channels. With a Roku TV device, web/app access, you can access a huge collection of content across different genres for free. Roku also offers parental controls, allowing users to control Roku channel media using a PIN code in device settings.
Cost: Free with ads.
- The free tier focuses on older or less popular titles.
- Shows are less in demand.
Peacock (free tier)
Peacock is a streaming service from NBC Universal, with a free package. But the free version is not available in all regions. Expect popular movies and TV shows; you can also watch live news channels. Peacock also provides parental control features, such as maturity filters and PIN protection, for different profiles.
Cost: Free with ads and limited content. The paid version is available with no ads and premium, in-demand content.
- The free tier may not be available in all regions.
- Limited content on free tier.
Plex TV
Plex TV is a personal media organizer app, but it now also lets users watch movies and TV shows for free, including on-demand series, along with live TV channels. They offer a huge catalog with a diversified collection to choose from.
The app also offers parental control features. You can block content by rating a movie or a TV show. You can also manage users and their profile access from settings.
Cost: Free
- The latest movies and TV shows are usually not available.
Archive.org (Internet Archive)
To see public domain movies, Archive.org may be your best bet. It’s a digital library that offers a huge collection of public-domain movies and shows, as well as educational videos, all free. The best part is that this platform will not show you any ads. It is the best choice for watching historical movies and biographies. It doesn’t offer any parental control features because all content is in the public domain.
Cost: Free (no ads)
- Not an ideal option for entertainment or fun movies that aren’t in the public domain.
- The platform interface is also not intuitive.
Hoopla
Hoopla works on a completely different model. It is a digital library that lets you borrow movies and TV shows for free with a valid library card. You can also download the content based on your card. No direct parental control features are present on Hoopla, but the kid content is separately present. Some controls depend on the platform.
Cost: Free (no ads). You only need a valid library card to access this platform.
- No access without a valid or expired library card.
- There is a limit to borrowing content in a month.
Subscription-based streaming services
- Netflix: Extensive library, multiple profiles, strong parental control settings.
- Disney+: Highly family-focused, strict content guidelines, excellent kids’ profiles.
- YouTube Kids: Curated content specifically for children, with extensive parental settings.
- Amazon Prime Video: Broad content, good parental controls, often bundled with Prime membership.
- Hulu (US) / Max (US) / Apple TV+: Official content and a wide range of offerings and respective parental control features.
By using these legal and safe alternatives, you can be sure of your personal and financial data safety. You will not get into any legal trouble using these platforms. You will also not experience any unwanted data other than legitimate ads.
How to stay safe on alternatives to WatchSeries?
Even when using legitimate platforms, good online habits matter. Here are practical safety strategies for streaming users, whether you’re using a free or paid streaming service.
Always use official apps or websites
Double-check that the website or app you’re using to watch a movie or TV program is official. Some websites use different domain names or extensions; their URLs may also change from time to time. You must avoid using such unsafe websites. If an app is not available on official app stores (iOS or Android), it is most probably not safe to download.
Don’t click on suspicious ads or pop-ups
Even if you are using official websites and apps, you must be cautious of clicking through ads and pop-ups. Some ads may take you to unwanted sites, where you may encounter explicit content or some fake get-rich-quick schemes. They may steal your personal or financial data and hence compromise your overall safety and security.
Update your device and browser
Always keep them up to date with the latest versions. Many new kinds of threats and unsafe methods of cyberattacks keep emerging over time. Updating your devices and browsers will keep you safe from such threats. Safety features are usually updated with new updates. So, if you don’t update your browser or device, new threats may attack you in different ways without you noticing.
Use strong passwords for your accounts
If you use a streaming website or app that asks you to log in, always use a strong password for those accounts. Using weak passwords makes your account an easy target for cyber attacks. Also, try to change your password every few weeks or months so that your accounts remain safe even if your device’s data leaks by mistake.
Bonus: Parental tips to ensure kids’ safe online streaming
With the rise of mixed online streaming apps and websites, kids are more likely to engage in unsafe practices or encounter inappropriate content. Parents should take extra steps to ensure children have a safe viewing experience and overall safety online.
- Set up parental controls: Most official streaming services and devices offer built-in parental control features, so you can set content restrictions and filters, see what your kids are watching on their devices, and get instant notifications on your phone.
- Monitor and manage their screen time: You can use parental control apps like FlashGet Kids to limit their daily or weekly screen time. Block known piracy sites at the device or router level. Encourage them to engage in age-appropriate offline activities.
- Ensure safe content and check ratings: Pick kid-friendly streaming platforms for your little ones. Review the content rating and warnings before, and guide them to watch informative series that enhance their understanding and critical thinking. Regularly review your child’s watch history and app access.
- Maintain open discussion about digital safety: Teach kids to avoid clicking unknown streaming links Mention the potential harms of using unsafe websites or streaming platforms. Educate them about the benefits they will get from watching age- and understanding-level content, and how exposure to unsafe content may affect them negatively in the long run.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you must always exercise caution about free online movie streaming sites. There is a wide range of WatchSeries alternatives, offering both free, ad-supported, and premium, ad-free options. While many platforms claim to offer free content, only a few are legitimate. You may get your favourite movie or a TV show from an illegitimate platform, but that may cost you much more in terms of compromising your online safety.
You must take proactive steps to ensure you always use legal sources to avoid issues and enjoy a safer, better streaming experience. Parents must always keep their children safe from visiting illegal and unsafe websites. The best way to have stricter and continuous monitoring is by using a third-party parental control app like FlashGet Kids.
