A platform that allows users to broadcast content for free, Crackle offers a diverse selection of films and television series with the occasional commercial interruption.
Regrettably, Crackle is only accessible to US-based streams. If you attempt to access it from an unsupported region, the following notice will appear:
“There was a problem when trying to sign in. Please try again.”
The simplest solution to avoid this issue is to connect over a VPN.
How do I unblock Crackle using a VPN?
A VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, encrypts all communication to and from your device and tunnels it via a chosen intermediate server. Therefore, if you’re in Asia and attempting to access Crackle, you may be able to unblock it by connecting to a VPN server in the United States.
Additionally, using a VPN makes it very difficult for ISPs, hackers, and government surveillance organizations to track your online activity. After this post, we’ll examine further application scenarios.
We’ll walk you through our suggestion of what we believe is the best VPN to unblock Crackle in this section. It is rated according to the following criteria:
- Service responsiveness and stability.
- Sufficient number of server sites in the United States.
- Standards of encryption that are robust.
- Capability of unblocking stuff that has been blocked.
- Android and iOS applications.
- Convenience of usage.
Is it necessary to utilize a free VPN?
A short scan of the internet reveals a plethora of free VPNs.
The service looks alluring. To our knowledge, free VPNs do not require a credit card during the enrollment process. Additionally, they actively publicize their free status, duping people into believing that all their criteria can be completed without spending a dollar.
We would like to encourage you to read between the lines.
Free VPNs are known to use some quite weak encryption standards, and there is definitely no extensive server network to pick from. Under other circumstances, they’ll apply bandwidth restrictions and limit the number of simultaneous connections. This implies that you may be required to wait in line until another user disconnects, or that you may encounter very sluggish speeds even after establishing a connection.
Certain free VPNs are also in the business of mining user data via tracking cookies and profiting from the sale of the data to marketers. Others are pre-installed with malware. It’s critical to recognize that these services are trying to profit off of you, the end user. At a minimum, you can anticipate a barrage of intrusive advertisements and obnoxious pop-up notifications encouraging you to download esoteric software.
Avoiding such services is in your best interest. If you’re on a budget, have a look at our suggestions for top VPN that provide a free trial.
Certain VPNs to avoid
In the preceding section, we discussed why you should avoid free VPNs. However, when it comes to VPNs, one of the primary use cases is the need to stay anonymous and safe online. Nobody wants their digital imprint to be strewn throughout the web.
Our suggested VPN has done an excellent job of safeguarding users’ rights and privacy. However, some have violated their users’ confidence. We believe that avoiding them is in your best interests.
Two such instances are as follows:
Hola VPN
Israel-based Hola operates on a peer-to-peer network, which distinguishes it from more traditional VPN services. It had around 50 million downloads at a time, indicating its appeal among privacy advocates. It opted, however, to abuse the community by using them as puppets in a vast botnet army. A portion of Hola customers’ idle bandwidth was used to assault and disseminate infringing information on other websites.
PureVPN
There are some nefarious specifics in this case, but the TL;DR version is that PureVPN purposefully misleads consumers about its apparent policy of not retaining records.
The firm worked with the FBI to apprehend a cybercriminal who was exploiting the company’s software to conduct online blackmail. We do not support criminal acts in any way, but the exception here is that the corporation chose to heavily publicize its ‘no-logs’ policy. That was not clearly true, since the firm’s information was utilized to identify the perpetrator.
I’ve installed a VPN. What should I do next in order to have access to Crackle?
Once you’ve chosen a provider (we suggest one of the paid alternatives on our list), registered with the service, and downloaded the native software on your phone or PC, follow these easy steps:
- Clear your cookies and cache to ensure that no previous location markers remain.
- Restart your computer or device
- Log into the VPN app and choose a server in the United States.
- Allow for the establishment of a connection—this is often signaled by a green light in your taskbar or at the top of your smartphone’s screen.
- Open Crackle on your phone or browser as usual.
How do I access Crackle on a device that streams media?
Crackle is compatible with the following devices: Roku, Amazon Fire, Xbox, PlayStation, Android TV, and Apple TV.
These devices lack the built-in support for VPN applications that your PC or Mac has. However, if you use a VPN to create a virtual router—similar to how cellphones create mobile wifi hotspots—you can still access Crackle.
Learn how to configure a VPN on a virtual router for Windows and Mac devices using our guides.
Additionally, if the firmware is enabled, you may configure a VPN on a physical router. DD-WRT is one such firmware, a free and open source alternative that supports a broad variety of router types.
What else may a VPN be used for?
While the primary goal of this post is to detail the best VPN solutions for unblocking Crackle, that is not the only use of a paid VPN subscription.
Unblock additional streaming services
Finally, VPNs conceal your identity and make it hard for the host website to determine your true location. Therefore, if you log in from South Africa but pick a server in the United States, every website you visit will presume that you are truly from there. Vudu, ESPN, and Vevo, which are all based in the United States, will also instantly open.
Utilize public wifi
Additionally, a VPN is a safe choice for securely accessing public wifi in locations such as malls and coffee shops. These networks are often unsecure, and hackers lurk nearby. The last thing you want to do is access your online banking on an unsecured network, for fear that hackers may steal your password and steal all your money. A VPN encrypts and secures your connection, effectively keeping prospective hackers away.
We cannot guarantee that this way of securing your connection is impenetrable. However, by choosing to utilize a VPN, you are still preparing for the best-case situation.
Safely blog online
If you’re a blogger who writes about government wrongdoing or a whistleblower in a firm or governmental agency, the last thing you want is for your name to be discovered. Additionally, using a VPN when blogging may safeguard you. Our guide to blogging securely online is a good starting point in this scenario.
We’ll end by stating that you should always utilize a VPN, even for routine online surfing. After all, governments are expanding the breadth and extent of their internet surveillance and spying. This is despite an outpouring of public outrage after the Snowden leaks and subsequent discussions. Most governments are continuing their attempts to reclaim control of the internet, so don’t believe you’re automatically protected.
VPNs may significantly reduce the danger of privacy invasion. By choosing to use one, you are not violating any laws, and a few more bucks each month will go a long way toward ensuring your online safety and security.
Most VPNs, particularly our suggestions, are simple to setup and are built with inexperienced users in mind. You do not need to be afraid of the advanced algorithms that power the program or be anxious about any negative influence it may have on your device. It operates in the same manner that any other well-designed program would, by implementing suitable protections and using system resources efficiently.
What is Crackle’s history?
Before being acquired by Sony in 2007, Crackle was established in 2000 by Josh Felser, Dave Samuel, Mike Sitirin, and Aviv Eyal. It’s a free-to-stream portal that distributes original web series, Hollywood films, and television episodes with commercial interruptions.
If you’re curious about how Crackle came to be and the circumstances leading up to its 2007 purchase by Sony Home Entertainment, we suggest reading this fantastic interview with Recode. Fun fact: the agreement came perilously close to failure due to one of the founders’ desire to visit Burning Man.