3 legal alternatives to kino.to and kinox.to
There are alternatives to legally questionable film sites like kinox.to, movie2k or the illegal predecessor kino.to, which have two decisive advantages: They are legal and much more convenient to use. We present three well-known video-on-demand portals - including key data such as offer, price and availability.
1. Netflix as a legal alternative to kino.to
The streaming service "Netflix" is still new on the German market. Nevertheless, it can already be used as an alternative to kinox.to:
- Costs: "Netflix" currently has three different packages. You can get the cheapest for just 7.99 euros per month. Here you can watch films in normal resolution on one device. If you want to stream on two devices at the same time and enjoy films in HD resolution, you pay two euros more per month. You can get up to four devices and Ultra HD for 11.99 euros. Every package includes all available films and series. The subscription can be canceled monthly.
- Availability: Watch movies on "Netflix" either via the browser on your PC, the app for iPhone / iPad or Android, on your Smart TV or Blu-ray player, via Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast or on PlayStation 3, 4, Xbox and Wii (U).
- Advantage: "Netflix" not only supports most platforms, but also provides you with in-house series such as "House of Cards" or "Orange Is The New Black". In addition, you can create multiple accounts with this service and share the subscription with your family or friends without their films and series episodes being shown as seen by you. So the suggestions are always tailored to the person in question.
- Disadvantage: "Netflix" currently does not allow you to save films and series offline so that you can watch them on the go. In addition, the film offer of the video-on-demand service is (still) quite small. It is therefore more suitable for series lovers than for film fans.
2. The well-known streaming service maxdome
The video-on-demand portal maxdome has already established itself on the market:
- Price: With "maxdome" there is only one package. For this you pay 7.99 euros per month. The package includes many series and feature films. However, you have to rent some new films, which incurs additional costs. "maxdome" can be canceled monthly.
- Availability: "maxdome" runs on many Smart TVs as well as in the browser. You can also use the streaming service on PlayStation 3, 4, Xbox One and selected set-top boxes. Certain hard disk recorders and Blu-ray players are also supported. There is also an app for iPhone and iPad as well as Android.
- Advantage: Here you will find the currently largest range of videos on demand. Popular series such as "How I Met Your Mother" are also there - even with a preview before TV broadcast. If you shy away from the monthly financial burden for the service, you can also pay for each film rented. The video will then be available for 48 hours for around three to four euros.
- Disadvantage: "maxdome" advertises with over 50, 000 content. However, there are also many TV shows from ProSieben-Sat.1. The range of international feature films and series is therefore less than it seems.
3. Amazon Prime Video instead of kinox.to or movie2k
Converted to the month, "Amazon Prime Video" is the cheapest of the video on demand providers presented:
- Price: For 49 euros per year you get the full film and series offer of the service. You will also become an Amazon Prime member and benefit from other advantages such as premium shipping and the Kindle lending library. Before you pay, you can try Amazon Prime Video for free for 30 days.
- Availability: "Amazon Prime Instant Video" works on Sony TVs (and other Sony devices), in the browser, on the iPhone / iPad and Kindle Fire as well as on the PlayStation 3, 4 and Xbox. You can also access the offer with the new Amazon Fire TV.
- Advantage: "Amazon Prime Instant Video" is the cheapest provider. You pay just 20 euros more per year than for the "old" Prime membership, which did not yet include the streaming. In addition, the service integrates films and series episodes you have bought from Amazon into the video store and also lets you save films offline.
- Disadvantage: "Amazon Prime Instant Video" (still) misses many popular series. However, none of the services presented currently offer a truly satisfactory overall package.
Tip: Stream series and films on TV
The alternatives presented have one thing in common: they all work on current Smart TVs. So you always have your favorite films and series in your living room on call. You can't get more home theater feeling!
- If you don't yet have a Smart TV, you should start thinking about an investment. The Internet-enabled TVs are currently cheaper than ever: You can get the first models with good equipment for less than 200 euros.
- If it can be a little bigger, you can find sharp Smart TVs in our best list of televisions over 42 inches.
- Alternatively, real movie fans can get the best picture in the living room with these inexpensive UHD TVs.
Another practical tip will tell you how the new provider "Netflix" performs compared to "Watchever".