Stream it up!

Streaming movies and TV shows over the internet has become incredibly popular in the recent times. High-speed internet coupled with affordable streaming services have made it easier than ever to watch your favorite movie or a TV show episode. There are a ton of streaming services to choose from when it comes to streaming movies and TV shows. Many popular services such as Netflix and Hulu offer monthly subscriptions. However, some websites offer free content streaming services. So, the question is why you should pay for a service like Netflix if you can watch the same content for free on a website?

Well, the answer to this question is not as simple as one might think. While some legitimate streaming sites such as Crackle offer free licensed content, most of the free sites do not. Most of the websites that offer to a stream of movies and TV shows do so by blatantly disregarding copyright laws. Although it is not ‘illegal’ to stream content per se, it does cross a moral and an ethical line. These so-called free streaming sites essentially break copyright laws, and by consuming content from these sites, you contribute to it as well. Getting free stuff is awesome, don’t get me wrong. However, there are some things that you should consider before you stream from a random ‘free’ website.

Free streaming sites can be unsafe

One of the most important things to consider if you want to watch movies online free is security. As there is no control over these websites, they can easily mask a virus and get your system infected. Some websites also cloak some shady software as being essential and force you to download them.

On the other hand, paid services such as Hulu or Netflix have trusted websites that implement state-of-the-art cyber security technologies. You can rest assured that no virus or bloatware is going to infect your PC using these services.

The quality of the content

Another issue with the ‘so-called’ free movies streaming sites (123 movies being an example) is the quality. More often than not, these website videos are not High Definition that you can enjoy on a great screen. The content is often old and outdated and lacks freshness. Although some sites such as Crackle do an excellent job of providing the best video quality, the selection is very limited.

Paid services such as Netflix and Hulu have an insane amount of content that seems to grow with each passing day! You can watch a ton of classic and contemporary content in the best HD quality available.

Unfair to the creators

Content creators do an incredible job to provide you with the best. If you chose to stream content from a ‘free’ website, chances are, the content is not licensed. By streaming this content, you are enabling the thieves and snubbing the creators. Imagine if someone does this to you. It wouldn’t be a pleasant experience, now would it?!

Paid streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu ensure that their content is licensed and the creators get their fair share of the revenue. At a relatively small price, you can contribute to the creative process as well.

Several of the ‘so-called’ free websites offer content that is not licensed properly. Stick to the sites that provide free but silenced content like Crackle or YouTube. Paying for services such as Netflix or Hulu isn’t that bad either. You get a great selection of TV shows and Movies in impressive HD quality. Plus, you will be consuming the media in a way that is fair to you as a consumer and to the creators as well!