Cineby review

Cineby is closed. The free movie and TV streaming site – one of the biggest in the world, with about 160 million visits in July 2026 – announced its shutdown in August 2026 and took all its domains offline in early September. If you see a site called Cineby today, it is not the original.

What happened to Cineby?

In August 2026 Cineby posted a short message – “It’s been a good run, but the time has come to stop” – and then closed in stages, as reported by TorrentFreak and Betanews:

• 25 August: sister sites Fmovies+ and Cineplay started redirecting to Cineby;
• 26 August: anime and sports streams went offline;
• 27 August: downloads stopped;
• 28 August: the account system was switched off and user data deleted;
• 31 August: movie and TV streaming ended;
• 5 September: all remaining domains went offline.

The operators never gave a reason. In the months before, Cineby had been hit by court orders in the UK and Canada and by an injunction from the Delhi High Court, so legal pressure is the most likely explanation.

Is Cineby coming back?

There is no sign of an official return. Pirate sites sometimes “close” and reappear under a new name, but nothing links any current site to the original Cineby team – and the court orders already cover future rebrands of the operation.

Cineby clones: cineby.vg and other copies

After big sites close, copycats grab the name to catch the millions of people still searching for it. Domains like cineby.vg use the Cineby name and look, but they are not run by the original team. Copies like these typically:

• are full of pop-ups, redirects and fake “Play” buttons;
• ask you to create an account or “verify” with your card to watch – never do it;
• push “players”, extensions or apps to install, which are often malware.

Our Cineby status page checks the original domain automatically: if it ever comes back, you’ll see it there first.

Best Cineby alternatives: sites like Cineby

If you used Cineby for movies and series, these are safer ways to keep watching:

• Stremio – a media center for TV, PC and phone, best with a debrid service;
• Cloudstream – an open-source Android app with extensions;
• free and legal services such as Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel, with ads but no risk.

You’ll find every site we’ve tested in the streaming category and on the Cineby alternatives page.

Cineby FAQ

Is Cineby down?

Yes. Cineby shut down permanently on 5 September 2026; it is not a temporary outage.

Why did Cineby shut down?

The operators gave no reason, but the site was under court orders in several countries.

Is cineby.vg the real Cineby?

No. It is a copy using the Cineby name. The original team is not behind it.

Did Cineby delete my account?

Yes. Cineby said it would switch off the account system and delete user data on 28 August 2026.

What sites are like Cineby?

Sites like Cineby that are safer to use include apps such as Stremio and Cloudstream, and free legal services like Tubi and Pluto TV. Be careful with sites that copy the Cineby name or design – they are not the original.

What is the best alternative to Cineby?

Stremio or Cloudstream if you want an app, or free legal services like Tubi and Pluto TV. See our full list of alternatives.

Our verdict on Cineby

Cineby is gone for good, and the sites using its name now are copies, often packed with aggressive ads and scams. Don’t give them your data or card details, and move to a tested alternative instead.