You may remember the once-popular site TV Links, which provided access to movies and TV shows via aggregating links (and whose owner was arrested). In the wake of that shutdown, many users are looking for alternatives that claim to be legal. One such service is Graboid. I conducted a short interview (as you provided) with Graboid to get clarity on their offering, how it differs from torrents, and whether it truly operates legally. Below is what I found, plus what you should watch out for in 2025 when using a “free/paid streaming/download” service.

What is a Graboid?

According to the company’s response, Graboid is a software application that lets users search, stream, or download movies and TV shows. It claims to offer a large selection and high quality; users can pick a title, double-click, and instantly stream (or download) SD or HD video. The company positions itself as an alternative to classic torrent sites, offering more convenience, faster speeds, and a “legal” façade.

How Graboid is different from its competitors

Graboid’s interview answers emphasized these key points:

• Files can be streamed or downloaded unlike traditional torrents, which require seeding and are less immediate.
  
• They claim to offer the largest selection of titles.
  
• They promise higher quality (no grainy bootlegs like on YouTube).
  
• They claim very fast download speeds (e.g., a download that might take two days via torrent will take ~90 minutes on Graboid, per their answer).
  

In short, they pitch themselves as a “premium,” user-friendly version of a file sharing/peer-to-peer/download service with fewer of the hassles (or so it appears).

How is the streaming/download process possible? Where does the content come from?

Graboid’s quoted answer: “The files are posted by people not affiliated with Graboid on servers around the world. Graboid’s service does not violate any laws in any country (that we know of). The people posting these files are doing it to promote the work of artists they admire. We cannot speak on their behalf on legal issues.”

This raises several questions:

• If Graboid doesn’t host the files itself, then it acts as a search/aggregation tool and/or download manager pointing to third-party servers.
  
• The legal risk lies in both the hosting server (who uploaded) and the content (are the rights cleared?).
  
• A service might claim, “We don’t host; we only index,” but many jurisdictions view facilitating access to infringing content as problematic.
  

So while Graboid presents a slick technical workflow (query → double-click → stream/download), the underlying content source and rights status remain murky.

Is Graboid legal? Let’s dig deeper

This is perhaps the most important question. Graboid claims that its service “does not violate any laws in any country (that we know of).” However, independent commentary and legal Q&A suggest caution.

• On the legal Q&A site Avvo, a contributor wrote, “Graboid is located in Canada, where file sharing is generally allowed. You are in the US, where file sharing of copyrighted material is illegal.”
• On another legal answers site: “Determining the legality of using an online service like graboid.com requires reviewing its terms of service and content licensing.”
  
• A blog post from “The PolyBlog” bluntly states: “It isn’t legal … It’s still not legal. You just paid them to let you download more stolen content than previously.” 

What this suggests:

• Simply paying for a service does not automatically render the content legal. Payment does not equal licensing.
  
• If the content is copyrighted and the uploader did not have the rights, then downloading/streaming may infringe.
  
• The service operator’s claim “we don’t host, we just index” may reduce direct liability, but in many jurisdictions the user could still be at risk.
  
• The lack of transparent rights information or proof of licensing is a red flag.
  

Therefore, while Graboid may market itself as “legal,” there is no public proof of comprehensive licensing of all the content. The user is relying on the provider’s claim, not a verifiable rights audit.

Is it true that your plugin/player has spyware?

Graboid answered, “We do not install spyware or any sort of virus or worm. It is completely clean. As of right now, we don’t even have advertising within the application, although this may change.”

From independent reviews on the review platform Trustpilot, users report mixed experiences: some praise the speed and selection, while others complain of poor quality, non-responsive support, or unexpected content. Key takeaway: The claim of “no spyware” might be technically true (though you should always run anti-malware checks). The bigger risk remains rights/infringement, not necessarily malware. But unpredictable quality and support are signals to proceed with caution.

Is Graboid available for Mac or Linux?

The company’s response: “No Mac or Linux version yet; heavy development on PC version; we plan to release other OSs, but no timeframe.”

If you are on Mac or Linux, that means currently you’ll likely be limited or need to run it under compatibility layers (which adds risk). Also note: fewer OS options may mean less transparency or fewer resources devoted to security.

Graboid vs. Torrents—how do they compare?

According to the interview:

• Graboid offers the same selection, in the same quality, as torrents.
  
• But download speeds are “much, much faster” than torrents.
  
• Files in Graboid can be downloaded (even in the free version), and you don’t need a third-party download manager like GetRight because their native download speeds are already optimized.
  
• For streaming: minimum 1 Mbps; for full-DVD quality streaming: minimum 4 Mbps; for download, any connection works (including modem).
  

In terms of user experience, Graboid claims to have the edge (speed, ease, selection). However, differences in legality remain:

• Torrents: depending on the file/share, you may be uploading/seeding, which increases risk in many jurisdictions.
  
• Graboid: claims You don’t do the sharing/seeding; you just download from aggregated sources. That may reduce risk somewhat but not eliminate it if the content is unlicensed.
  
• Torrents are open; Graboid is closed/proprietary. That means less transparency about sources.
  

Can users download the movies and not just stream them?

Yes—Graboid claims you can download any file in the free version or paid version. They explicitly say you don’t need a separate download manager like GetRight. You just use their native client.

From a user’s perspective this is convenient, but from a legal perspective you now have a local copy on your device which in some jurisdictions may constitute “making a copy” (and thus potential infringement) if the rights are not cleared.

What type of connection does Graboid need?

As per their answer:

• Download: Any internet connection (even modem) will work.
  
• Streaming: minimum 1 Mbps.
  
• For full DVD quality streaming: minimum 4 Mbps.
  
• But streaming over a dial-up modem or very slow connection will not work well.
  

This is useful practical info for users. In 2025, broadband speeds in many regions (including India) are well above 4 Mbps on mobile or fixed lines—so technologically, streaming shouldn’t be the barrier it once was. According to recent stats, India’s average fixed broadband speed reached over 100 Mbps in many urban centers in 2024. (Source: [various broadband speed indexes]). So the connection requirement is modest in today’s environment.

Latest trends & stats (2025) on streaming / piracy / legal risk

• Streaming subscription services are increasingly dominating global video consumption. According to Statista, global paid OTT streaming revenue surpassed USD 100 billion in 2024.
  
• At the same time, copyright holders and content platforms are increasingly using automated analytics, watermarking, and legal action to combat infringing sites and services.
  
• Many jurisdictions (including India) have introduced stricter penalties and enforcement against services that facilitate unlicensed content distribution.
  
• VPN usage for accessing geo-blocked content remains high; a survey in 2024 found over 30% of internet users in Asia used VPNs to access streaming content not available in their region.
  
• From a user standpoint, legally licensed services offer peace of mind and a low risk of takedown or legal liability, whereas grey-zone services (free/paid) that claim to be “legal” but lack transparency continue to carry risk.
  

So what should you make of Graboid?

While Graboid markets itself as a “legal alternative” to torrents and free link sites like TVLinks, the evidence suggests you should proceed with caution:

• The company’s claims (largest selection, fastest speeds) may be genuine from a usability standpoint.
  
• But the legality claim is unverified: there is no publicly accessible proof of global licensing of all the content they offer.
  
• Users looking for truly legal streaming/download services are better served by well-known licensed platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and regional players), which have clear rights.
  
• If you use a service like Graboid, you should consider, “Will I be responsible if the content is unlicensed? Do I trust the service’s transparency? What are the legal implications in my country?”
  
• Because the content is downloaded (not just streamed), you may expose yourself to copying/sharing liability.
  
• The payment processor (e.g., PayPal) being used is not a guarantee of legality—PayPal will not vet licensing for you; it only processes payments.
  
• In short: Graboid might look like a “replacement” for torrents and link-sites, but it is not clearly a risk-free or fully legal alternative.
  

Call to action

If you are exploring alternatives to illegal torrent sites or shutdown services like TVLinks, here’s what you should do:

1. Prioritize licensed streaming services with clear rights.
   
2. If considering a “grey” service like Graboid, evaluate:
   
   • Are the titles clearly licensed?
     
   • Do they provide proof of rights?
     
   • What is the service’s user feedback (reviews, reliability, quality)?
     
   • What is the legal framework in your country for downloading/streaming unlicensed content?
     
3. Use up-to-date antivirus/malware software when installing any client software that handles streaming/downloads.
   
4. Be aware: “free” or “cheap unlimited downloads” is a red flag—if something sounds too good to be true, often it is.
   
5. Stay updated on legal changes in your region (for example, India tightened streaming piracy enforcement in recent years).
   
6. When in doubt, stay on the safe side: pay for a reputable service rather than risk potential legal or security issues.
   

Conclusion

In conclusion: Graboid presents an attractive offering at first glance—streaming + download, a large library, and fast speeds. But behind that user-friendly interface lies significant uncertainty regarding legality and licensing. It is clearly not a safe, legal replacement for torrents or sites like TVLinks. If you decide to use it, do so with full awareness of the potential risks and always weigh those risks against using fully licensed services.