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25 best free streaming sites for movies and TV: Legal and safe options

Looking for the best free streaming sites for movies and TV? We’ve compiled a list of the 25 best free streaming options across a range of content that you can view completely for free anywhere, whether you are in the US or abroad.

The best free TV and movie streaming services provide a safe and legal alternative to torrents and websites that illegally stream content. Websites that rely on torrents or unlicensed content streaming are more likely to carry malware or put users at risk of copyright infringement lawsuits.

Although there are no subscription fees, most free streaming sites use geographic content restrictions . So if you are currently traveling abroad, the only way to access free streaming sites back home is by using a Virtual Private Network , or VPN, that gives you a local IP address for your home country.

Note: Comparitech only recommends streaming services that have the legal rights to stream content, and only recommends using a VPN to access legally available TV shows and movies. Comparitech does not condone or support the use of piracy websites or services.

Below, we explore the 25 best free streaming sites you can use anywhere in the world, and when necessary, how to access their content libraries with a VPN.

25 Best Free Streaming Sites for TV and Movies

Based on our research, below are the 25 best free streaming sites for TV shows and movies.

Here are the best free streaming sites for TV and movies:

• ABC News Live – Excellent source for national US news broadcasts
• Adult Swim – Free streaming access to popular Adult Swim content
• Charge! – Focuses on action TV shows and movies, with some sports
• Comet – Serves up sci-fi content, including TV and movie classics in the genre
• CONtv – Offers a wide selection of nerd-culture TV shows and movies
• Crackle – A catch-all for free streaming access to shows and films, including Crackle originals
• CW Seed – Free streaming site hosting The CW’s popular original programming
• Fawesome.tv  – App-based service providing free kids TV shows
• FilmRise – Free movie streaming service carrying top-rated films (via YouTube)
• BBC iPlayer – A free British service with thousands of TV shows and a dozen live channels
• Amazon Freevee – Previously IMDb TV. Offers a huge range of free movies
• Kidoodle – Free kids TV programming with an ad-free premium option
• PBS – No-cost on-demand access to all PBS original content
• Peacock – Provides thousand of hours of free access to NBC content
• Plex – Free streaming of top-rated TV shows and movies
• PlutoTV – Free live TV and on-demand content with hundreds of channels from well-regarded networks
• Popcornflix – Carries hundreds of free TV shows and movies across most genres
• SBS On Demand – Large Australia-based free streaming site with top-rated TV shows and movies
• Sling TV – Delivers a little-known free tier offering live and on-demand content
• Stirr – Free TV shows and movies personalized to each user’s location
• Tubi – The largest free-with-ads TV and movie streaming service on the market
• Vudu – Small library but offers high-quality free content
• W4Free and Watch4  – EU-based streaming service carrying free reality TV content
• XUMO  – Similar to PlutoTV but with unique channel options for TV and movies
• YouTube – The well-known video platform has content that is geographically locked to different countries

How to use a VPN to stream free TV shows and movies

A VPN will help you securely access almost any free TV streaming service. Below we explain how to set up and run a VPN to change your IP address and watch free streaming sites for TV shows and movies.

Here’s how to use a VPN to stream free TV shows and movies:

• First, sign up for a VPN service of your choice. NordVPN works well for most streaming services, although Surfshark and ExpressVPN are reasonably-priced alternatives.
• Download and install your chosen VPN app onto the device you plan to use for free streaming. Unfortunately, most VPN services have no available app for some popular TV-connected devices (like the Roku) and most gaming consoles.
• Connect to a VPN server in the country where the free streaming services you want to use offer on-demand or live content. Most options we’ve listed geo-block any IP address outside the US, but there are several that US customers won’t be able to access without a VPN.
• Once connected , visit the streaming service website or app and try to load a stream. If it plays, you’re all set!

There’s a chance your streams won’t play on some devices despite a VPN connection . You may still get a message stating that your access is blocked. If that happens, try launching the website in a private web browsing instance (such as Incognito mode in Chrome). Additionally, delete cookies , clear your browser cache , and turn off browser or device location requests.

Why do I need a VPN for free TV streaming?

Most free streaming services are ad-supported. Ad-supported models typically result in lower profit margins, so services are usually forced to impose geographic content restrictions as part of the licensing agreement.

A  VPN will allow you to easily bypass these geographic content restrictions while traveling abroad. A VPN allows you to connect to an internet server back home in a country where the service is available. And thanks to anonymization technology, the VPN will prevent the streaming service from detecting your real location and identity .

There are hundreds of VPN providers on the market. Picking one that works to unblock free streaming sites and protect your privacy can be a challenge given how dense the market is.

The best VPNs for free TV streaming should meet the following criteria:

• Offer high-speed servers in dozens of countries (especially the US)
• Utilize well-respected privacy and security measures to protect your identity, particularly by providing a no-logs policy and data leak mitigation
• Provide multiple pricing options with discounts for longer service periods and a money-back guarantee
• Effectively works with the service you want to use
• Provides fast customer support and multiple ways to contact customer support
• Has app compatibility with multiple devices and operating systems

As an added note, we recommend you avoid free VPNs . They’re less secure, track your data, may sell your data to third parties, may display advertisements, usually have slower server speeds, and importantly, have data caps that make it impossible to stream TV shows and movies for more than a few minutes.

Best free streaming sites for TV shows and movies

We searched through hundreds of TV and movie streaming options to discover which services had free tiers, ad-supported subscription models, or free-to-air content. The following list comprises the 20+ services that have the best free streaming catalogs across a wide variety of genres. Some are not geo-restricted anywhere; however, most will require you to have a US IP address or a VPN that will give you one.

1. ABC News Live

If you’re hungering for TV news programs, you can’t go wrong with ABC News Live . The service provides completely unrestricted access to live news content directly from ABC News and operates 24/7.

This is a single-channel option for individuals who want to watch US news. What’s more, you don’t need a VPN to watch ABC News Live, regardless of where you live. It’s a truly free option for US news, without restrictions. ABC News Live is even accessible without a VPN in China , which often restricts content from Western countries like the US.

This site puts ads on all video content, which is to be expected. You can stream ABC News Live through its dedicated app on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV, or you can watch using any modern web browser.

2. Adult Swim

Originally part of Comedy Central, Adult Swim is now its own, separate TV network currently owned by WarnerMedia. The WarnerMedia ownership gives Adult Swim access to not just a selection of Warner’s content, but a fairly large library of TV shows that you’ll only find on Adult Swim—including the ever-popular cartoon action-comedy, Rick and Morty.

This service has 100+ titles available on-demand . Much of its content library is offered free-with-ads, while many episodes require you to log in with a cable TV service provider, such as Hulu + Live TV. In both cases, you’re trying to stream Adult Swim outside the US.

If you try to connect from outside the US, Adult Swim will display a message that says “ BLOCKED: Sorry, there must be some sort of restriction on the content we are streaming here. Come back later or select another stream”.

If you see this message from your location, use NordVPN to connect to a US server so you can acquire a US IP address and zoom right past the geographic content blocking. We’ve found NordVPN easily unblocks what Adult Swim offers for free.

Charge! is one of several genre-specific TV streaming provides that focuses on 24/7 live streaming with an ad-supported model. Charge! is geared toward fans of action TV, although it does offer some sports content on occasion.

To reiterate, this is not an on-demand streaming service. All of its TV shows and movies are broadcast live. Its model means it operates like traditional over-the-air TV stations, except that its content streams online.

If you try to connect from outside the US, Charge! will display the following message: “This stream is not available in your area” .

Connecting to a VPN server in the US easily bypasses this message and allows you to watch all content streaming live through Charge!. If you don’t want to use a web browser, there’s an iOS app available that you can pair with a VPN app for iOS devices.

If you think Comet looks familiar, you’re right. It’s owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which also owns and operates Charge! The only difference between Charge! and Comet is that Comet is focused on science fiction TV shows and movies.

To that end, everything we said about Charge! above applies to Comet, right down to how it operates and where you’ll find available apps for watching it outside of a web browser. You’ll even see the same location-based blocking message if you try to stream Comet from outside of the US. NordVPN easily unblocks content streaming free through Comet as long as you’re connected to any US server.

CONtv began its life in 2007 as the streaming service Viewster. Content distributor Cinedigm purchased the website in 2019 and rebranded it. Alongside a new name, CONtv also upended the content library. What was once a free service focused on anime is now a free service focused on action and US-based cartoons.

The bigger change that occurred with CONtv, however, was the newly implemented geographic content restrictions. As Viewster, the service was available to stream anywhere. As CONtv, however, you may not be able to access the service everywhere.

That said, CONtv’s FAQs explain that it is only available in the US. We’ve discovered that’s not actually true . Through testing, we’ve found CONtv works in many other countries outside the US, including Canada, the UK, and Germany. It’s possible that some of CONtv’s content is blocked due to licensing agreements, but we did not find any among the titles we tested (and we did not test every TV series and movie on the site for accessibility). If you do find blocked content, a VPN to a US IP address will likely unblock it for you.

This service has apps for Android and iOS devices.

Crackle was previously owned by Sony (and previously named “Sony Crackle”) until Sony sold a majority stake of the service to the company Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. The same company behind the well-known self-help book of the same name, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment immediately went to work by changing the name (back to Crackle) and ramping up the original content production.

This service now has 1,300+ titles available. Crackle lost most of its top-rated Sony content with the ownership change. However, its library still has a wide range of ad-free, on-demand streaming TV shows and movies across different genres.

If you try to visit Crackle from outside the US, you’ll see this message: “Thanks for visiting. Unfortunately, we’re not currently available in this region.” . Connect to a NordVPN server in the US to get a US IP address and bypass Crackle’s geographic content blocking .

Crackle has a large number of apps on almost any device you may want to use, including most that also work with separate VPN apps.

The CW has some of the best TV show content available in the US, especially if you’re a DC Comics fan. Impressively, The CW also provides much of that content available for free through its ad-supported streaming service, CW Seed. The company even advertises the service with the tagline “Free For All”.

This service offers 80+ titles available on-demand. 

You’ll see the following message if you try to load CW Seed TV shows from outside of the US: “Due to licensing restrictions this content is only available in the US” . That’s pretty self-explanatory. Using NordVPN and a connection to a US server, you can easily bypass that message and access both the on-demand and live content available through CW Seed.

If you plan to download the app on an Android, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV, there’s a NordVPN available on all of those devices that will still allow you to bypass geographic content blocking for the service.

8. Fawesome

This ad-supported streaming service is unique in its content is  only available through its dedicated apps. And its app library is fairly limited.

You can stream Fawesome’s 250+ titles on Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, using its Windows app or using an app for LG smart TVs.

Fawsome has some excellent content available, despite inflexibility on how to watch it. Its multi-genre library includes major TV and movie hits, like Third Rock From the Sun and The Contract .

No VPN is required as far as we can tell, but blocking may be imposed if you’re in a country known for blocking American content, such as China.

9. FilmRise (via YouTube)

FilmRise is a content distribution company that acquires licenses for various TV shows and movies. Its content is available on a large number of different streaming services, but you can access most of it through the company’s YouTube channels or its dedicated iOS, Android, and streaming device apps.

This service carries 1,500+ titles in its library.

Geographic content blocking on FilmRise is a real hit-and-miss. We’ve found that some TV shows and movies on its YouTube channel are blocked to non-US users, while others will play almost anywhere.

For example, FilmRise has full episodes of the US TV show 21 Jump Street , but you can’t watch those episodes through FilmRise’s YouTube channel if you’re a country outside the US, such as Canada, the UK, or Germany. Instead, you’ll get YouTube’s standard content blocking message: “Video unavailable. The uploader has not made this video available in your country” .

Grab a US IP address by connecting to a NordVPN server located in the US to bypass any content blocking you might find when using FilmRise. If you’re in the US and you see a geographic content blocking message from FilmRise, you will also need a VPN. However, you may need to do some trial and error by connecting to servers in different countries to determine where that content is available.

10. BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer is the UK’s largest free-to-watch streaming platform, carrying a regularly-updated library of TV shows, movies, and radio broadcasts. What’s more, it allows users to watch around a dozen channels live. These include the big ones, such as BBC One and BBC Two, as well as regional channels like S4C and Alba, which are some of the only places you can stream Welsh and Gaelic content online.

The only catch is that you’ll need a TV license to use this platform. Still, with around 95 percent of UK households currently paying for one, there’s a strong chance you can watch BBC iPlayer without spending anything extra.

BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK, so if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need a VPN to continue using the service.

11. Amazon Freevee

This service used to be called IMDb TV, but after being bought by Amazon, it has since been integrated into the company’s streaming library. Don’t worry, though: you do not need an Amazon Prime account to watch , though you will have to create a free Amazon account (if you have one that you use for shopping, this will do nicely).

According to JustWatch, Freevee currently has over 3,000 ad-supported titles to choose from. This includes high-profile movies like Hellraiser , Reservoir Dogs , and District 9 , but there are also plenty of great TV shows, such as Hell’s Kitchen , The West Wing , and Syfy’s drastically-underrated Dune series. Freevee even has a steadily-growing catalog of original content, which isn’t something most other free services can say.

Now, it’s important to note that Freevee is region-locked, which means the exact content will vary based on where you are in the world. Still, you can continue to access your home country’s library as you travel with the help of a VPN.

12. Kidoodle.TV

The Kidoodle.TV streaming service has an ad-supported “freemium” version and a paid version that has a few additional features, including an ad-free experience. Similar to HappyKids.tv, Kidoodle.TV has very few geographic content restrictions in place.

The company states its service is available in over 140 countries, so you’ll likely find it works just fine wherever you live. If you find you’re getting blocked, we recommend you try to connect to a VPN server in a country where it’s likely to be available, such as the US, Canada, the UK, or most EU countries.

Also similar to HappyKids.tv, Kidoodle cannot be streamed using a web browser. However, there are apps available for most Android and iOS devices, several smart TV brands, and popular TV-connected devices, including the Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV. Just note that there is are no VPN apps for Roku devices or smart TVs, so if you do find the service blocked in your country, the simplest workaround is to use a different device.

Often considered the US version of the BBC, PBS does have one distinguishing factor: You don’t need to pay a TV license to access much of its content. That means it’s a legitimately free streaming service. PBS does lock some of its content behind a donation paywall, but a fair amount is freely available.

This service has 190+ titles in its content library.

PBS employs content blocking across its site. In some cases, you won’t be able to see available episodes for a show’s page. If someone without a US IP address does manage to get access to an episode’s page, PBS will display this message on the stream: “We’re sorry, but this video is unavailable” .

A VPN connection to a US server is required to access PBS on-demand TV shows and documentaries from outside the US. Note that PBS will also give you varied content based on your location if you’re trying to use the live option. The server you choose will impact what content you get in that case.

14. Peacock

As a counter to Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access), NBC launched its own streaming service called Peacock. Peacock chose to go a different route than its competitor, however, and provides an ad-supported free tier for subscribers.

This service offers 1,300+ titles in its free library.

The free content available through Peacock comes with two conditions: 1) You need to create an account, and 2) You must be in the US (or have a US IP address). These are easy hurdles to jump, but if you’re outside of the US Peacock will block your entry completely. Going to the website with a non-US IP address yields the following message: “This service is unavailable in your region” .

Grab a US IP address using NordVPN, then load up the Peacock website. From there, you can register using any email address and some other basic information. Peacock does not ask for credit card details for the free account, so anyone can sign up to use it.

This service is also available via apps for most popular devices, many of which can be paired with a VPN app where available.

This service offers 7,100+ titles on-demand.

However, Plex will serve different content libraries and live TV channels to different users based on geographic location. So while it doesn’t use content blocking, you may want to install and load up a VPN, then connect to different servers worldwide to unlock the full library of free content Plex offers.

The service also has apps for popular operating systems and devices where VPNs will unblock content, including Android, iOS, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

16. PlutoTV

This service was one of the first to start offering free, ad-supported live TV channels streaming over the web. It’s now among the largest and best free streaming sites for TV and movies thanks to an extensive amount of corporate from 170+ content providers, including Lionsgate, MGM, and many US cable TV networks.

PlutoTV carries 6,800+ titles on-demand.

The good news is that PlutoTV is available almost anywhere in the world. The bad news is that the complexity of its content library means it displays different content to different people based on location. NordVPN works with PlutoTV and allows you to access its content libraries anywhere its available, including the US, Canada, UK, and EU countries such as Germany.

The Pluto.TV app is available on devices that also have a working NordVPN app: Android, iOS, and Fire TV.

17. Popcornflix

This service is a fairly generic free TV and movie streaming site. There’s nothing flashy about it, but it does carry an excellent variety of TV shows and movies across every popular genre.

There are 1,300+ titles available through this service.

From what we can tell, it does not impose a site-wide content blocking. In fact, the ads it plays on videos are localized based on your IP address. Live in Hong Kong? You’ll get ads for Hong Kong residents. Live in Canada? You’ll get ads for Canadian products and services.

There might be some title-specific geo-blocking applied, as this is common when sites like this have licensed content. However, we did not see any during testing. If you do find any content that’s blocked, we’ve verified that Popcornflix does work with a VPN.

If you plan to watch Popcornflix on devices outside of a desktop or laptop computer, its Android, iOS, and Fire TV apps can be paired with VPN apps for those devices.

18. SBS On Demand

SBS On Demand is singlehandedly one of the best streaming sites for TV shows and movies anywhere in the world. It carries top-rated streaming from around the world, including many Oscar-winning titles.

There are over 11,000 hours of content available through this service.

SBS On Demand is based in and serves the Australian market. Accessing its impressive content library requires an Australian IP address. If you try to go to the SBS On Demand website from outside of Australia, you’ll see the following message: “Content unavailable in your location. Most of our content is only available to stream within Australia due to publishing rights” .

We’ve found this service does not block VPNs. Connect to a VPN server in Australia to get an Australia-based IP address and stream SBS On Demand from anywhere, including from the US.

19. Sling TV

Although it’s known more widely as the second-cheapest virtual multichannel video programming distributor in the US (Philo takes the top spot there), Sling TV has an almost hidden free streaming section that anyone with a US IP address can take advantage can use, even without creating a Sling TV account.

The free version offers 550+ titles on-demand.

Sling TV imposes site-wide geographic content blocking. Even trying to access its homepage will give you the following message: “We’re sorry. Sling TV is only available inside the US. Thank you for your interest” .

To get rid of this message and get to the free content, connect to a VPN server in the US. Sling TV will then let you right in and allow you to enjoy its free TV shows and movies.

Stirr offers free TV and movies to anyone, but you’re going to be extremely limited if you’re outside of the US. This service takes a unique approach by mixing your free channel and movies based on what US city you live in, and not by country. If you try to use Stirr with an IP address from outside of the US, the service will show you its “National” package of content, which is almost nothing.

Connecting to a US VPN server through NordVPN or other VPN providers is necessary to gain access to Stirr’s content libraries. But you may also want to hop around to different servers in the US to see what type of content you get.

That recommendation also applies to US users, as well. Since Stirr will show you different channels based on your city, you may want to use a VPN to get the full benefit of the service.

Stirr has apps several devices that also work with VPN apps: Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV.

Tubi’s winning free-with-ad model allowed it to grow to become one of the largest and best-streaming sites for TV and movies. It also caught the attention of Fox Corporation, which purchased the site in 2020.

This service carries 28,000+ titles in its content library.

Tubi was previously available in multiple countries and offered different libraries where available. Now, however, its expansive library of top-rated TV shows and movies is only available to those with a US IP address.

If you try to stream from outside the US (but from a non-EU country), the service displays the following block message: “Content unavailable. Sorry, this video is not currently available”.

And if you try to connect from an EU country, you’ll get this message: “I’ll be back. – Terminator. Tubi is the largest free movie and TV streaming service in the US. We are not available in Europe due to changes in EU laws. The GDPR went into effect on May 2018; Tubi is working on compliance and planning to re-launch in European countries soon”.

There may be hope in the future that Tubi will bring its services overseas. For now, a VPN works well to bypass its existing content blocks.

Tubi is available through multiple apps for devices that work with a VPN, including Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV.

Although it primarily operates as a service for buying and renting digital TV shows and movies, Vudu also carries many free titles that are supported by advertisements.

You can watch 8,700+ titles through Vudu.

The service is only available in the US, however. It doesn’t even both to provide an IP block message. If you try to access the site from outside of the US, you’ll just see an HTTP ERROR 400 page.

Connect to any US VPN server to get an IP address and bypass this restriction. You can also watch with a bypass on multiple devices thanks to a large library of dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, and more.

23. Watch4 and W4Free

Although most of the best free streaming sites for TV and movies are locked to the US, there still many options available elsewhere. Watch4 is an EU-based streaming website primarily serving German speakers across Europe. It also has an English-language version called W4Free that’s only available in the UK.

While both sites will let you make a connection if you’re outside of their respective licensing zones, the content libraries will be mostly blank. We’ve verified that a VPN connection using NordVPN will work with both services, regardless of where you’re located.

XUMO is owned by Comcast and was designed to take on PlutoTV. It utilizes the same style and concept that PutoTV developed, but carries some notable differences. The biggest distinguishing factor is probably the most important one: XUMO has a notably different package of 24/7 channels and on-demand TV shows and movies. That means you’ll find enough difference between XUMO and PlutoTV that it’s not really an either/or situation; both will have value for you.

This service provides 10,000+ in its on-demand library.

None of that matters if you can’t access XUMO’s content . XUMO is currently restricted to US IP addresses. If you attempt to access XUUMO from outside the US, you’ll see the following message: “We’re sorry. XUMO is currently only available in the United States. If you’re in the United States and are having problems accessing this site, please visit www.xumo.com/support” . XUMO will then automatically redirect you to its corporate site.

We’ve found VPNs work to bypass Xumo’s geographic content blocking, but the service uses fairly effective anti-VPN countermeasures. You may need to contact your VPN provider’s customer support to determine which VPN servers effectively bypass its content blocking.

25. YouTube

Although it’s available almost everywhere, YouTube’s content is not universally available. Many content uploaders place geographic content restrictions when they upload the content. YouTube then employs its own software to enforce those restrictions by detecting each users’ IP address to determine location.

YouTube’s content licensing arm offers 270+ titles on-demand, alongside the millions from its userbase.

FimRise (mentioned above) is just one example of a channel that uses geographic restrictions. Given its size, there are hundreds, if not thousands more that also block content. Thankfully, a VPN will work to bypass any geographic content restrictions you find through YouTube.

Best free streaming sites: FAQ

What are the best free streaming sites.

This depends on what type of content you’re looking for. If you want variety and well-known titles, SBS On Demand and Tubi TV are hard to beat. Both have the best quality of content we’ve found. You’ll also find that their libraries don’t intersect too often, so there’s value in using both services instead of one or the other.

Is 123movies safe? Is 123movies legal?

While it’s a popular go-to for people who want free TV shows and movies, 123movies is neither safe nor legal. It does not maintain any licensing agreements with copyright holders for any of the content you will find on the website. And as a pirate streaming site, it also does not have any reason to protect users from malware or other threats. We do not recommend this site for streaming. The options listed above are all free, just like 123movies, but without the privacy, security, and legality risks.

Where can I stream for free?

Any option on this list will allow you to stream for free. Crackle, Tubi TV, YouTube, Peacock, SBS On Demand, and all of the others are ad-supported streaming providers. Most do not even require an account.

Which illegal free streaming sites should I avoid?

Illegal streaming sites are platforms that offer pirated content for free, often in exchange for users watching ads. These sites are not only illegal but also pose significant risks to users. This can include potential legal trouble, exposure to malware, hacks, poor-quality content, and viruses.

Some of the most frequented illegal streaming sites for movies and TV shows include Moviesjoy, Putlocker, 123Movies, IndoXXI, SportsBay, WatchSeries, DramaCool, The Pirate Bay and uTorrent.

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Roundup - best VPNs for

PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can find out who you are

The following information is available to any site you visit:

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

This information can be used to target ads and monitor your internet usage.

Using a VPN will hide these details and protect your privacy.

We recommend using NordVPN - #1 of 72 VPNs in our tests. It offers outstanding privacy features and is currently available at a discounted rate.

The best free streaming services in July 2024

Binge with the best free streaming services including Freevee, Pluto, Tubi and more

Tired of paying a hefty streaming bill? The best free streaming services let you watch popular movies and TV shows — without paying a single cent. These free streaming services offer both live TV and on-demand content, mostly older and classic titles but also some newer hits and originals.

The best streaming services have more than proved their usefulness in entertaining everybody at home. But signing up for all of them is just not financially feasible for most people. That’s where the best free streaming services come in. They can provide hours of free TV and movies at no cost. You will have to watch ads, but that’s no different than what you get through an expensive cable package. Again: They’re free!

And since they cost $0, you can sign up for all of the best free streaming services on our list. We've ranked them anyway since nobody has an endless amount of time.

The best free streaming services right now

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Amazon Freevee , a rebrand of the service formerly known as IMDb TV, features an impressive library of free on-demand content. The TV selection consists of the typical free shows like Hell's Kitchen but also past hits like Lost, Desperate Housewives and Mad Men. Plus, Freevee also makes originals, like the revivals Bosch: Legacy and Leverage: Redemption and courtroom reality sensation Jury Duty.

The movie lineup is better than competitors, with recent titles including Deadpool, The King of Staten Island, Spy, Emma and The Invisible Man.

Watch Freevee here

2. Roku Channel

The Roku Channel app comes automatically with any Roku TV or device, but it’s also available for download on mobile phones and tablets. You can also access it on the web. The Roku Channel doesn’t force you to register for an account (you can watch as a guest) but signing up allows you to continue watching content on another device.

Like the other services, it offers on-demand movies and TV shows. The Roku Channel also rolled out a Roku Live TV Guide , so viewers can channel surf. The best part of Roku Channel is that it often streams the first episodes of premium cable shows, like Game of Thrones, Billions, Outlander and Watchmen. But when it comes to having whole shows, you don't have series of that caliber, but stuff like This Old House instead. Some of our staff lit up at that news, while others, well, we kept clicking around in Roku looking for something else. And remembering that Peacock is better for more-recent content.

The Roku Channel has risen in our free streaming service rankings after adding all the originals from the now-defunct Quibi. That includes some really good series, like Free Rayshawn and Reno 911. Roku is also the place for original movies like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Plus, they get our thanks for saving the NBC-canceled series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist with a Christmas special. 

Watch The Roku Channel here

3. Pluto TV

The Viacom-owned Pluto TV has a decent selection of on-demand movies and shows but where it really shines is in live TV streaming. Viewers can browse live channels in a grid, similar to the cable TV guide experience. The lineup draws heavily from Viacom’s other properties, so you can tune into TV Land Drama, BET Her, MTV's Jersey Shore and VH1's I Love Reality. They also offer other recognizable brands, like CNN and Fox Sports — though those run curated clips, not the actual live broadcast you’d see if you watched them on cable.

We're still waiting for Pluto to add dedicated channels for shows that we really care about — recent editions include Baywatch, Stargate and Degrassi — but we do know people who love those shows, and keep going back to Pluto to binge-watch. For more modern content, check our Peacock.

As we poked around Pluto, we noted its interface is clean and simple, making it easy to toggle between live and on-demand. Both are organized into categories, making it easy to find the kind of content you want to watch. Yes, there are ads, but no more than what you’d get watching cable. And Pluto TV doesn’t even require registration, though users can special features if they do sign up for an account, such as the ability to designate favorite channels and resume watching a program on a different device. As for the latest, a recent update to Pluto TV added a ton of free TV , including two huge channels: Rocky and Sailor Moon.

Watch Pluto TV here

Think of Tubi as a free version of Netflix, with an on-demand library of over 20,000 movies and TV shows. Of course, Tubi doesn’t have the newer, high-profile titles that a subscription platform boasts, nor originals. But their catalog is still impressive for a free streaming service. 

Tubi (now owned by Fox Corporation) was able to build it by partnering with over 250 providers, including Hollywood heavyweights Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM. Recent available titles include The Terminator, Foxcatcher, Kill Bill, The Craft and Fruitvale Station. Personally, our streaming media editor Henry T. Casey loves Tubi for one show and one show only: Lucha Underground, a stylized wrestling show on El Vez. Recently, Tubi added the former HBO series The Nevers.

Tubi has a clean, streamlined experience. When we tested Tubi, we saw that its home page is organized into sections like Recently Added, Family Movies, Action and Black Cinema. Clicking the menu for even more genres and curated collections, we saw the clever and cheeky Not on Netflix area. While you don’t have to sign up to use Tubi, registering for an account gives you access to parental controls, a queue and viewing history. 

Watch Tubi here

Crackle is a pioneer in the free streaming space, launching in 2004 — back when Netflix was still shipping DVDs. Owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Crackle houses free movies and TV shows and even original programming, which sets it apart from many of the other free streaming services on this list. Crackle doesn’t require registration, though an account lets you add favorites and save progress while watching a movie.

The movies library is much bigger than the TV one and much more interesting. Crackle is one of the best free streaming services because it goes further than most, with originals featuring top actors including Martin Freeman, Bryan Cranston and Rupert Grint. It's just that these are their lesser-known titles, and while we're open to discover new projects, we're also wary that there may be a bad reason why we don't known about these shows.

Unlike Peacock, Crackle doesn't require signing up for a service to watch content. You can just open their page, click on a show or movie, watch and ad and then see the thing you want.

Watch Crackle here

6. Sling Freestream

Sling is one of the best cable TV alternatives in the market at $40 per month for 50-plus channels. Recently, they relaunched a no-cost service with the name Freestream that boasts live and on-demand content. We love Sling, as multiple TG staffers have used it to cut the cord, and a free version may be the ticket to getting more users to try the platform. 

Sling Freestream launched with 210 channels and 41,000 on-demand titles across genres including news, sports, game shows, crime dramas, nature, home improvement and cooking. Some of the channels are familiar names like ABC News Live, ESPN On Demand, Family Feud, Forensic Files, Hell's Kitchen, Rick Steves Europe, VH1 I Love Reality and The Walking Dead Universe. Plus, users can add on premium streaming services like AMC Plus and Showtime. 

Expect more channels and on-demand titles as Sling Freestream continues to build out its offering.

Watch Sling Freestream here

The Walmart-owned Vudu is a digital marketplace where you can purchase the latest movies and TV shows but also stream free content. To use Vudu, you will have to sign up for an account (or use your Walmart account). Once you do that, you can access over 10,000 free movies and TV episodes. None of them are new blockbusters but the selection is superior among free streaming services. The movies area is better than TV, with recent titles including Troy, The Prestige, All Is Lost, Hoosiers, Four Weddings and a Funeral. And unlike other free services, Vudu is planning to produce original shows, like the sci-fi series Albedo with Evangeline Lilly.

Testing Vudu out, we found that its interface is easy to use. Free content is clearly marked and you can filter for just free titles. The ads are about as frequent as other free services, but they tend to be more repetitive (and sometimes annoyingly interactive, requiring you to choose an option). Poking around Vudu's free section, though, we couldn't help but notice multiple titles that seemed a bit risque for the top of the stack — titles that we'd have a hard time explaining to kids. That's not a problem on most of the above services, as Peacock, Pluto, Roku Channel and other services don't promote that content as highly.

Watch Vudu here

Xumo is another free streaming service with live and on-demand content. The app comes on several major smart TV brands and can also be downloaded on Roku , iOS and Android. No registration is required. Xumo offers more than 190 channels, including top brands like NBC News, Fox Sports, Funny or Die and TMZ.

Xumo’s main experience is a grid-type guide, just like you’d get with cable TV — and Pluto and Peacock. You can watch live as you channel surf. The on-demand area lists all the channels, broken down by genre. The interface doesn’t make it that easy to see what TV shows are available, though. It looks like Xumo has the usual free fare: 21 Jump Street, Forensic Files, Family Feud and Unsolved Mysteries. The mobile app at least has a movies tab that you can browse.

Watch Xumo here

Note: Peacock Free is being sunset for new users. Existing account holders will still be able to access Peacock Free for the present.

NBC's Peacock TV is a behemoth, with over 13,000 hours of content available in its Peacock Free tier. That content is top-notch, too. You'll find titles like The Office, 30 Rock, Battlestar Galactica, Cheers, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood and Parks and Recreation. And there are a lots of older movies to watch, from Harry Potter to Jurassic Park.

When we used Peacock, to see what it's like, we found that the free tier is definitely a sort of gateway drug. It's nice that the first episodes of big-name original shows such as Girls5Eva are available for free, but we get that NBCUniversal doesn't want to give whole shows away — that's what the $4.99 Peacock plan is for (although it might come in a little less with the right Peacock TV promo code ). Peacock Free didn't require us to to enter our credit card info, but you must create an account to watch — something that Pluto, Xumo and others don't enforce. 

There are also "live" channels, based on brands like Saturday Night Live and the Today Show. If you don't know what to watch , channel surf and check out what's playing at the moment. All in all, we'd call Peacock Free a steal — but it doesn't cost anything! Check out our full Peacock review to learn more.

Watch Peacock TV here

How we test the best free streaming services

Shows and movies on free streaming services come and go with the frequency of Spinal Tap drummers, red-shirts on Star Trek and roses on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.

So, first and foremost, we check these services frequently to make sure they're still providing some good content (specific shows and movies are subject to the whims and contracts we're not privy to).

On top of that, we also look at these services on the best streaming devices to make sure that everyone gets a quality experience. This is how we know that Freevee is more prominent on Fire TV hardware than elsewhere.

Lastly, we do the hard work and actually watch the shows and movies, to make sure these apps actually work well. We don't expect them all to function as well as paid services, but we love it when they have the same high-quality apps.

How to choose the best free streaming service for you 

Luckily, since they are all free, you don’t need to choose just one of the best free streaming services. However, you may find it difficult to balance a bunch of different apps and want to focus on just one or two. 

The first consideration should be whether you want to be able to watch live channels. If that’s the case, you may want to use Pluto TV, Sling Free, Xumo, Peacock or the Roku Channel. If you only care about finding movies and TV shows on-demand, then try Freevee, Peacock, Crackle, Tubi or Vudu. 

Content selection is the other major thing that distinguishes the free streaming services from each other. Aside from Peacock, with its library of name-brand content, almost all of them have the same core of free TV shows, like Hell’s Kitchen and Roseanne. But some, like Freevee and Crackle, have more robust movie libraries. Others provide access to top past shows, like Peacock and the Roku Channel. So, peruse the available titles and see if the streamer has options that appeal to you. After all, even if these services are free, doesn’t mean they have stuff you want to watch.

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Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.

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• kep55 We have a Samsung "smart tv" which comes with their TV Plus service, and a LG not-so-smart tv. We have tubi and pluto on the Sammy. And we have kanopy courtesy our library. How does one get any of these on a not smart tv? We do have an amazon tv box. Reply
• Sid23 Buy a Roku. I just bought a Roku streaming stick 4K and am using it on my old Samsung (2013) non smart tv. As long as it has an HDMI port and is within distance of good WIFI signal you can get all those apps on the Roku. I got the streaming stick because it is supposed have long range WIFI reach. It is usually $49.99 and now is on sale online only for $29.99 (Walmart) I still have cable and am using the Rokus to get rid of cable boxes. Working my way slowly to cutting the cable. Reply
• Barefoot Mike You indicate that Tubi has no originals. Actually, they have at least one original show: "The Freak Brothers" - an animated series based on the original "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers" comics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fabulous_Furry_Freak_Brothers#Animated_TV_series Reply
• Mikeylito I wonder whether this article is an updated regurgitation of an earlier article. Walmart hasn't owned VUDU since 6 July 2020. It's owned by Fandango Media, which is owned by WarnerMedia (25%) and NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. Comcast also owns XUMO and Peacock Free, which are also on your list. Some watchers like myself wonder what Comcast will do with these different services. Reply

admin said: Here are the best free streaming services, including Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, IMDBtv and more. The best free streaming services : Read more

ziggyff said: Someone should "re-review" this article. Almost ALL content on Peacock requires you to be on a pay tier starting this past Summer....examples: Psych, Warehouse 13 I was about 90% through Warehouse 13, 5 episodes to go.. now I need to join a pay version to see any more episodes... I skipped watching when SYFY re-ran this show because I thought I had free access through the Peacock website.. nah, I'm screwed

• mark_887797 Meh. None of the recommendations are good. Lots of OLD free content. Your best bet is to search Reddit and use an APK on your Android device. If you want to use a PC then Kodi is what you want to use. It's free although some "channels" require you to have a Real Debrib or Premiumize. You can also buy a Taiwanese TV box (Android) called EVPAD and Unblock Ubox for a few hundred US dollars and never have to pay for a subscription. Reply

benny78 said: ....and The Roku Channel is available on Fire TV too.

• View All 9 Comments

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20 Best Free Live TV Streaming Services

Free cord-cutting services are multiplying, but that doesn't mean they're all worth your time. Many in fact create their own "channels"—TV shows that they have rights for and which they play on repeat. 

The leading free live TV services are Pluto TV and to a lesser extent Xumo TV. In this list, we count the best free live TV services.

Sling TV Freestream

In response to the growing popularity of free streaming services like Tubi, Xumo, and Pluto, Sling TV has come up with Sling TV Freestream, an ad-supported version of its live TV and on-demand streaming service. Compared to its paid tier, Freestream has fewer channels and premium titles, but with more than 200 live channels and on-demand content to boot, it's certainly worth giving a try—you don't even need to sign up for an account to start watching.

Sling TV has been at the forefront of live TV for years, but it breaks new ground with Freestream, a platform designed to both entertain and entice users to upgrade to their meatier packages. Recently, Freestream also added free DVR.

Price: free for 43 channels available

Device availability: AirTV, Amazon Fire TV , Android, Apple TV , Chromecast, Cox, Google TV, iOS, LG TV, Roku , Roku TV, Samsung Smart TV, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio, Website, Xbox, Xfinity Flex

Channel lineup: AajTak International, ABC News Live, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera English, Always funny, Anthony Bourdain A Cook's Tour, Architectural Digest: Open Door, ARY News, Bein Sports XTRA, Buzzr: Family Feud, CBS News, Cheddar News, Defiance, Dilemma, Documentary Plus, Electric Now, ESPN On Demand, ESR, FailArmy, Fear Factor, FilmRise: Hell's Kitchen, Forensic Files, Fox Weather, France24, Fubo Sports, Glewed TV, GoTraveler, Heartland, Life OK, Maverick Black Cinema: Boxed In, Noticias Univision 24/7, Rick Steves Europe, Scripps News, SonyKal, TD Ameritrade Network, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Pet Collective, The Walking Dead Universe, TVP World, USA Today, VH1 I Love Reality, World Poker Tour, Zona TUDN

Dubbed "The Free Netflix," Tubi is one of the best options for streaming quality movies and TV shows online. The completely free, ad-supported service has one of the most extensive title lineups, plus it's compatible with most devices, making it an extremely popular option for cord-cutters. Though it has been noted to have a less than stellar resolution, most viewers don't mind due to its easy interface, constantly updated library, and of course free titles. Parents will also be glad to know that the service has parental control features.

Price: free for 79 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Android, Android TV, Apple TV , Chromecast, iOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Roku , Samsung Smart TV, Sony, TiVo, Vizio, Website, Xbox One

Channel lineup: 21 Jump Street, ABC Localish, ABC News, ACC Digital Network, AFV Family, All Real, Baywatch, Bein Sports XTRA, bein Sports Xtra en Espanol, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Quicktake, Brat TV, BUZZR, Caught in Providence, CBC News, Cheddar, CINEVAULT: 80's, CINEVAULT: Classics, CINEVAULT: Westerns, Circle, Comedy Dynamics, Cosmos, Deal or No Deal, Dove Channel, El Rey, Estrella News, EuroNews English, Fear Factor, FilmRise Classic TV, FilmRise Westerns, Forensic Files, FOX, Fox Deportes, FOX SOUL, Fox Sports, Fox Weather, fubo Sports Network, Game Show Central, Gordon Ramsay, Heartland, ION Mystery, Johnny Carson TV, live now from Fox, Lone Star, Masked Singer Channel, MLB, Moviesphere Free, My Time Movie Network, Mystery Science Theater 3000, NBC News Now, Newsy, NFL Channel, NHRA TV, Nosey, Pac-12 Insider, Pattrn, People TV, Real Madrid TV, REELZ Famous & Infamous, So Real, Sports Wire, Stadium, Supermarket Sweep, The Biggest Loser, The Bob Ross Channel, The Carol Burnett Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Grio, the NFL Channel, The Only Way is Essex, TMZ, TODAY All Day, Tubi Originals, Unsolved Mysteries, USA Today, Vice, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Weather Nation, Wipeout Xtra

The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel can't replace Netflix or a cord-cutting service like Sling , but it's a nice added bonus if you already have a Roku device. The selection of live channels is limited, but there's something for everyone, including news, sports, and entertainment.

Price: free for 2 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Roku , Roku TV, Samsung TV, Website

Channel lineup: ABC News Live, ION Mystery

Pluto TV Live

Streaming services do not come cheap. But what if you can access live TV streaming services for free? Enter Pluto TV Live , a free live TV streaming service that lets you watch around 250 different live TV channels without even needing you to sign up. This Viacom-owned live TV service may not have as nearly as the popular cables you’re used to, but it’s enough to serve as a supplement to your needs for news, sports, and entertainment without spending a dime.

Price: free for 34 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Android, Android TV, Apple TV , Chromecast, iOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku , Shareplay supported, Virgin Media, Vizio SmartCast, webOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Channel lineup: BBC Food, BBC Home, Bein Sports XTRA, Bloomberg Television, CBS Sports HQ, CBSN, Check with Pluto TV for the full channel lineup, Cheddar News, CNN , ET Live, Food TV, Fox Sports, Hallmark En Espanol, Hip Hop Family VH1, Love & Hip-Hop VH1, Major League Soccer, MLB, MotorTrend FAST TV, NBC News Now, Newsmax, NFL Channel, NFL Super Bowl Classics, Nosey, People TV, PGA Tour, Pluto Channels, Sky News, Smithsonian Channel, Stories AMC, TBN, Today, TV Land Drama, WeatherNation, WPT

Plex is a media management software that doubles as a free streaming service. Its main function is to organize your own library of content—that is, your own video, photo, or sound files—and make it streamable alongside Plex 's offerings of 200+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand movies and shows. Plex 's basic package comes at no cost, but it also has a premium package starting at $4.99/month that boasts additional features, such as the ability to download content and watch them offline, among other things.

Price: free for 86 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Android, Android TV, Apple TV , Chromecast, Google Daydream, iOS, LG Smart TV, Nvidia SHIELD, Oculus, PlayStation, Roku , Samsung Smart TV, Website, Xbox

Channel lineup: 80s Party, AFV Espanol, AFV Family, AsianCrush, BAMBU, Beast Mode, Bedroom Beats, Channel With, Choppertown, Comedy Dynamics, CONtv, Cooking Panda, DarkMatter TV, Deal or No Deal, Docurama, Dove Channel, DrinkTV, EDGEsport, Electric Now, Electro Anthems, ESRevolution, FailArmy, Footballers Live, Friday Feels, fubo Sports Network, Game Show Central, Glewed TV, Gravitas Movies, Hip Hop Bangers, Hollywire, Hollywood Classics, Hometalk TV, Hot R&B, Hottest of the Hot, IGN TV, ION Mystery, Kidoodle.TV, KidsFlix, KMTV, Law & Crime, Like Yesterday, Love Destination, Made In Hollywood, MAV TV Select, Maverick Black Cinema, Midnight Pulp, Monster Kids, Neural Focused, Nosey, Only 90s Kids Will Understand, Party, Party Tyme Karaoke, People Are Awesome, PlayWorks, Popstar!TV, Real Nosey, RetroCrush, Reuters TV, Revry, Revry 2, RevryNow, So…Real, SportsGrid, SQAD, SURF NOW TV, Tankee, Tastemade, TG Junior, That 70s Channel, That’s Hot, The Archive, The Boat Show, The Design Network, The Film Detective, The Pet Collective, Toon Goggles, Trending, TV Classics, Unidentified, Unwind, WASH TV, Wipeout Xtra, Wu Tang Collection, Yacht Rock, Yahoo! Finance, YUYU TV

Amazon Freevee, or simply freevee , is a free, ad-supported streaming service powered by Amazon. It has a notable library of licensed titles and original shows, not to mention 24/7 live channels, plus it's easy to access since it runs on most if not all available devices. Although other free streamers have it beat in terms of range and variety, freevee is still a great option for newbie cord-cutters, especially since it already comes on most Amazon platforms.

Price: free for 40 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Android TV, Apple TV , Echo Show, Google TV, LG, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku , Samsung Smart TV, Xbox, Xfinity Flex

Channel lineup: ABC News Live, Amazon Originals, Bosch, Confess by Nosey, Court TV Live, Criminal Minds, Filmrise British TV, From Asia With Love, Hot Ones, Hunter, ION Mystery, Judy Justice, Jury Duty, Latino Vibess, LiveNOW by Fox, MLB, Neighbours, NHL FAST, OUTtv Proud, PGA Tour, Project Runway, QVC, Real Crime, Swerve Sports, Tastemade en Español, Teen Wolf, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Price Is Right: The Barker Era, The TED Channel, The Washington Post, Top Gear, Unsolved Mysteries, Unspeakable, USA Today, USA Today Sports, Vevo, Washington Post, World's Most Evil Killers, XITE, Zona TUDN

ViX is an ad-supported streaming service by Univision, the largest Spanish-language content provider in the US. Spanning the usual movies, series, and telenovelas , the ViX library also boasts live TV, news, and sports programs. The latter, in particular, comes as a strong suit since the streamer covers events in conjunction with TUDN, Univision's sports arm, as well as hosts football events in many parts of South America. The free-to-watch service also has an on-demand section, meaning you can easily search for a title you want to watch instead of scrolling from the multiple channels available.

Price: free for 1 channels available

Device availability: Amazon Fire TV , Android, Android TV, Apple TV , iOS, Roku , Samsung Smart TV, Website

Channel lineup:

Stirr is an American ad-supported streaming service owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. It was launched in 2019. Not only is it free, but it provides access to live local news, 120+ TV shows, and 8,000+ hours of on-demand movies. This service is for viewers who don’t want to commit to a cable fee and don’t mind intermittent ads when watching their favorite movies and shows.

Device availability: Android, Android TV, Apple TV , iOS, Roku , Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Website

Samsung TV Plus

All Samsung Smart TVs come with a free Samsung TV Plus app, the company's own streaming service that offers more than 200 live TV channels and on-demand content to users around the globe. There's no need to subscribe or even sign up for an account to access the app. 

Aside from its TVs (specifically those released from 2016 onwards), Samsung makes its streaming platform available to all Galaxy Devices, mobile and tablet, as long as their operating systems are updated to Android 8.0 or higher. It's a worthy option for cord-cutters, especially if you want a fuss-free and cost-efficient way to watch your favorite channels.

Price: free for 216 channels available

Device availability: Android, Samsung Smart TV

Channel lineup: 21 Jump Street, 80s Flashback, 90s Throwback, ABC News Live, ACC Digital Network, ALL ACTION, All Reality WE TV, All Weddings WE TV, All-Out Reality, ALTER, Always Funny Videos, America's Test Kitchen, Anime All day, Antiques Roadshow, Are We There Yet?, Asian Crush, Backstage, BBC Food, BBC Hom, Bein Sports XTRA, Bloomberg Quicktake, Bon Appétit, Bounce XL, Brat TV, BUZZR, Canela.TV, Cars, CBS News, Cheddar News, Chicken Soup for the Soul, CHIVE TV, Cine Romántico, CINEVAULT: 80's, CINEVAULT: Classics, CINEVAULT: Westerns, Circle, CJ ENM, Clarity 4K, Classic Doctor Who, CNN Replay, CNN RESUMEN, Comedy All Day, Comedy Dynamics, Court TV, Crime 360, Crime Zone, Dallas Cowboys Cheer, Danger TV, Deal or No Deal, Degrassi, Documentary+, Dove Channel, Dr. G: Medical Examiner, Drama Life, Dry Bar Comedy, DUST, EDGEsport, ElectricNOW, Estrella News, Estrella TV, ET Live, Fail Army, Family Ties, Fear Factor, FilmRise Action, FilmRise Free Movies, FilmRise Western, Forensic Files, FOX SOUL, FTF, fubo Sports Network, FUEL TV, Game Show Central, GOLFPASS, Gravitas Movies, Grit Xtra, Gusto TV, Hallmark Movies & More, Halloween Movies, Heartland, Hell’s Kitchen, Hollywire, Home Refresh, Home.Made.Nation, HSN, Hungry, IGN, IMPACT Wrestling, INSIGHT TV, InWonder, ION, ION Mystery, ION Plus, Journy, Kidoodle.TV, Kitchen Nightmares, Law & Crime, LiveNOW from FOX, Loupe 4K, Love & Hip Hop, Love Nature 4K, Lucky Dog, Magellan TV Now, Maverick Black Cinema, MAVTV Select, MHz Now, Midnight Pulp, Midsomer Murders, Million Dollar Listing, MinecrafTV, Moonbug Kids, MOTORVISION.TV, MovieSphere, MTV Pluto TV, NBC News Now, NBCLX, NEW KMOVIES, NEW KPOP, Newsmax, Newsy, NHRA TV, Nick Pluto TV, Nosey, Operation Repo, Origin Sports, Outdoor America, Outside, Pac-12 Insider, Paramount Movie Channel, PBS Digital Studios, PBS Kids, People Are Awesome, People TV, Plated, Pluto TV Fantastic, Pluto TV Westerns, pocket.watch, Portlandia, PowerNation, PrendeTV Lo mejor de Liga MX, PrendeTV Novelas de Oro, PrendeTV Novelas de romance, PrendeTV Novelas en familia, Project Runway, Pursuit UP, QVC, Real America’s Voice, REELZ Famous & Infamous, Revry, Ride or Drive, RiffTrax, Rock On, Rotten Tomatoes, Shades of Black, Shout! Factory, Skills + Thrills, Sony Canal Comedias, Sony Canal Competencias, Sony Canal Novelas, SportsGrid, Stadium, Stingray Naturescape, Stories by AMC, SURF NOW TV, T2, Tastemade, Tastemade Travel, TED, Telemundo Al Día, TG Junior, That Girl, The Asylum, The Bob Ross Channel, The Challenge, The Design Network, The Hotel Inspector, The Jack Hanna Channel, The LEGO Channel, The Movie Hub, The New Detectives, The Pet Collective, The Preview Channel, The Walking Dead Universe, This Old House, This Old House Makers, Tiny House Nation, TODAY All Day, Toon Goggles, Top Gear, Tu Cine, TV Land Drama, TV Land Sitcoms, TYT Network, Unsolved Mysteries, USA Today, Vevo 2K, Vevo Country, Vevo Hip-Hop, Vevo Latino, Vevo Pop, Vevo R&B, Vice, ViX Grandes Parejas, ViX JaJaJa, ViX Villanos de Novela, Waypoint TV, WeatherNation, WeatherSpy, Whistle TV, Wild 'N Out, Wipeout Xtra, World Poker Tour, XITE Just Chill, Xplore, Yahoo! Finance, ZooMoo

No longer just a physical DVD kiosk, Redbox has expanded to become an online space where you can rent and purchase films and TV shows as well as watch live channels for free. Like Vudu and Amazon Prime, Redbox gives you access to a plethora of movies, including fan favorites and indie gems (these can cost anywhere from $2 to $5) and movies currently screening in cinemas (these usually cost more, around $20). Redbox also has a live TV streaming feature that you can access even without a registered account. Although most of the channels are not that notable, they cover the essential categories: news, sports, and entertainment.

Price: free for 18 channels available

Device availability: Android, Android TV, Chromecast, iOS, LG, LG Smart TV, LG TV, Roku , Samsung, Vizio, Vizio TV, Xbox

Channel lineup: America's Test Kitchen, beIN Sports Extra, Billiard TV, Bloomberg, CBC News, Cheddar, Family Feud TV, Glory Kickboxing, Hard Knocks, Johnny Carson TV, Now This News, Outdoor America, Pac-12 Insider, Scripps News, Unsolved Mysteries, USA Today, Vogue TV, World Poker Tour

Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.

The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.

• Services & Software

Article updated on April 11, 2024 at 6:00 AM PDT

Best Free TV Streaming Services: Tubi, Pluto TV, Freevee and More

Tired of spending so much on the big streamers? It may be time to explore free alternatives.

Our Experts

• Though Kourtnee hasn't won any journalism awards yet, she's been a Netflix streaming subscriber since 2012 and knows the magic of its hidden codes.

• Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

What to consider

Do you prefer on-demand or live?

Some free streaming platforms offer both live and on-demand content or only one type. If you like to channel hop, then a service like Pluto may be your first pick over Tubi or Freevee. Because they're all free, you can get more than one without hurting your wallet.

Only one service on this list is completely ad-free, so you should decide if the commercials are worth the tradeoff during your viewing experience. The ads are not that heavy in Tubi, but you may discover they are unbearable on another service. Choose according to your tolerance level.

Kids' content?

Not every free streaming service is loaded with kid-friendly titles, so scroll through the live and on-demand lineups to see who carries the most age-appropriate content. You can also check out our best streaming services list for kids for recommendations on free platforms.

What's the best overall free TV streaming service?

When it comes to free TV streaming services, you might as well not limit yourself. After all, you can switch between as many of them as you want, as often as you want, without parting with a penny. If we had to choose only one free TV service to wear the ultimate crown, it would be Tubi . The Fox-owned brand touts an easy-to-use interface and excellent on-demand library, and the inclusion of popular DC movies on the platform is an impressive perk.

Still, you shouldn’t shut yourself off from other options on this list; Pluto TV could easily take the top spot for you if you are a dedicated channel flipper. While there are plenty of benefits of streaming TV for free, you should keep in mind that in most cases, ads are the price you’re paying for no-cost entertainment. Most of the free services have older shows and movies, sort of like basic cable reruns. Here's more on why we think Tubi is the best and other legal ways to indulge your inner couch potato.

Read more: The Best Live TV Streaming Services for Cord Cutters

Best free TV streaming services of 2024

• Impressive on-demand library
• Appealing interface
• Designated Tubi Kids section
• Lower live channel count than some competitors

Best free TV streaming service overall

Tubi TV  offers considerably more free movies than TV shows, but it continues to grow its extensive library and its live channel lineup. This ad-supported network doesn't require an account, although signing up for one enables you to save favorites and resume playback if you switch between devices.

Tubi offers nationwide and local news livestreams in addition to live sports, weather and entertainment channels. The streaming site's TV selection offers some of the reality shows we've come to expect, such as Hell's Kitchen and Dance Moms, plus oddball inclusions such as the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters. As of this year, DC movies like The Batman and Black Adam are available on demand.

To watch TV series on demand, you can browse by title, network or genre, including a Tubi Kids category. Not every show has full seasons available, but you'll find Hannibal, Columbo and 14 seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation among the choices. There are also a handful of Tubi originals as well as feature films such as Get Out and Paddington 2.

• 250+ channels
• Popular movies on-demand
• No way to pause livestream
• Smaller on-demand selection than some others

Best for channel flippers

Pluto TV  is noteworthy for offering not only on-demand, free movie streaming, but also more than 250 live and linear channels on the platform, including BBC Food, CSI, Star Trek and CBS News. Because it's a Paramount-owned brand, Pluto also has episodes of shows like Criminal Minds and Survivor.

Pluto offers an impressive selection of live channels sorted into categories like news, reality, sports, comedy and movies in a grid format. On-demand TV content is organized into TV drama shows, sitcoms, crime, action series, sci-fi and more. The layout is not nearly as slick as the live channels, but there's a variety of genres. One oddity: If you're watching a live stream, there's no way to pause. You can only mute it.

• 350+ channels
• Works on any Roku streaming device
• Streaming is better outside of mobile app

Best for Roku users

Roku channel.

Roku Channel is a free TV streaming service designed for people who own the company's streaming devices and TVs, but it's also available via Roku's apps for phones and tablets as well as online . 

The Roku Channel offers more than 350 live channels including a channel guide, with its existing selection of on-demand content. While the linear TV includes live news and lifestyle channels, the on-demand content ranges from Roku originals (like the  Weird Al Yankovic biopic ), to reality TV (Hoarders, Kitchen Nightmares) to popular series like 2 Broke Girls and House. You'll also find anime (live and on-demand) and crime shows. 

Unfortunately, not every TV series is complete (Bewitched, for example), and the service offers only a single episode in some cases. There's plenty of stuff to watch, including a dedicated kids section. There's also a solid array of classic movies, including It's a Wonderful Life and The Usual Suspects. In addition, you can subscribe to premium services including HBO, much like you can via  Prime Video channels or the Apple TV app.

• Full seasons of Prime Video original series
• Notable Freevee originals
• May only offer one episode of Prime Video show for free

Best for originals, cult favorites, TV shows

Formerly known as IMDb TV, Freevee is Amazon's ad-supported streaming service that features a motherlode of TV shows and movies. In addition, you can stream Freevee originals and a string of 24/7 live channels.

Although the service's initial focus was primarily on movie streaming, it's now filled with TV shows too. Popular movies like The Terminator are available, as well as Leverage and all 11 seasons of The X-Files. Other titles include MacGyver (the reboot), Good Times, Freevee original Jury Duty and nine seasons of the Gen X classic Little House on the Prairie, starring Michael Landon.

Notably, full seasons of Prime Video original series like Homecoming and Upload (plus movies like The Vast of Night) are also available to stream for free with ads on the service.

• 400+ channels
• Reportedly considering adding a free DVR
• Paid sling better for replicating cable experience

Best recently revamped service

Sling freestream.

Though Sling's live TV packages start at $40, Sling Freestream offers more than 40,000 titles of free on-demand TV, and movies and over 400 live TV channels. Sling Freestream is a bulked-up and rebranded version of Sling TV's former offering, Sling Free.

Sling TV's free streaming service includes live streams for news, entertainment, sports, kids and more. You'll find channels for ABC News Live, The Walking Dead Universe and Bon Appetit and on-demand selections including Ryan's World, Kim's Convenience and The Goonies.

You do not need to create an account when watching Sling Freestream, but if you do, it makes it easier to personalize what you watch, create profiles or use parental controls. The service also gives new users who create an account access to a free DVR . Sling Freestream is available to watch on a web browser and via the Sling app. No payment information is required for viewing.

• Focused on on-demand movies

Best for classics and B-list movies

Crackle  is an ad-supported streaming service that offers mostly movies, but also some TV shows, including original content. It doesn't require you to set up an account, although doing so enables you to save favorites, get recommendations and resume playback if you switch between devices.

Crackle's commercial-supported selection has expanded with over 300 different shows and mainly consists of older releases such as The Carol Burnett Show, Alf and Highway to Heaven. As with other free services, not every TV series is complete -- you might get only one or two seasons or even just a partial season. There are movie selections from the 1940s to the present, including Sophie's Choice and Halloween.

• 600+ channels
• Other features in addition to free movies and shows
• On-demand movie selection isn't as great as Tubi's, Pluto's

Best for extra features

Starting as a way for users to stream content stored on users' computers, Plex has evolved to incorporate other sources such as OTA broadcasts, Tidal and free streaming TV. You don't need to install the Plex server, you just stream it with the basic Plex app, or if you want, sign up for an account.

Plex's free streaming service operates similarly to Pluto. The offering started with a modest slate of ad-supported content, mostly movies, but Plex has since entered a partnership with Crackle, offering thousands more TV shows and movies from that service. In addition to on-demand content like Broadchurch and Kitchen Nightmares, Plex also offers live TV channels like Stories by AMC, Hallmark and niche 24/7 streams for certain series, including The Walking Dead. 

Movie fans can search by title and genre. Or you can check out themed collections such as Cheap Thrills or Midnight Movies.

• Only available through certain libraries

Best for library card holders

Hoopla digital.

Got a library card? Check to see if your library has partnered with  Hoopla . This digital-media service allows you to check out all kinds of stuff -- from ebooks to movies to TV shows. When you "borrow" one, you have 72 hours in which to watch it. Your library determines the total number of titles you can borrow each month. A bonus for this service is no commercials are interrupting your viewing experience.

Hoopla's TV selection is something of a hodgepodge, with a smattering of well-known shows mixed in with a lot of self-help, documentary and family fare. For example, you'll find two seasons of Chewing Gum, both seasons of The Jim Gaffigan Show and lots of Ken Burns documentaries. Hoopla also has instructional videos from The Great Courses series, various PBS Kids shows and plenty of Acorn TV content that would otherwise require a subscription. Film selections rotate on and off the platform, so be sure to check the rotation on a regular basis.

Factors to consider

• Use them all: As all these services are free, you have nothing to lose by trying multiple out and determining which suits you best. You could also take a different approach by searching for a movie or show you want to watch and see if any free services offer it.
• On-demand or flipping through channels: The free TV streaming services often feature both on-demand content and live channels, but not always. You may prefer Pluto for channel surfing and Sling Freestream for on-demand binging, or the opposite. Think about what you want to get out of a free TV service, and what's on the table.
• Ads on ads on ads: With most of these TV services, ads are the price you pay to watch titles for free. If you really can't stand ads, you may need to stick with premium subscriptions from streamers like Netflix and Max.
• Kids offering: Consider whether the free service offers kid-friendly content, and that ads may be a factor. Hoopla, if you can get it through your library, is an ad-free option on this list.

How we test streaming services

With more than 200 streaming services in existence -- globally -- it can be hard sifting through each brand and its offerings. We narrowed this list down based on several factors, including accessibility, popularity, on-demand content, live channels and reliability. We watched each service on a TV and mobile device to evaluate its user interface and channel roster.

These apps can be easily accessed on virtually any media player, smart TV, web browser or mobile device, and they offer a variety of content to suit genre preferences or age ranges. Because they're free services, there's added value for those that offer originals and live channels. When doing test runs of these services, we didn't encounter problems with crashing, lag time or choppy live broadcasts, but your mileage may vary.

Other streaming services we tested

Peacock : The main way to access Peacock is by being a paying customer. Plans include Premium, which is $6 a month or $60 a year, and Premium Plus, which is $12 a month or $120 a year. NBCUniversal's streaming service also has a free tier, which may or may not be good news for you. As of January 2023, you must already be a Peacock Premium subscriber to use the free version of Peacock. In addition to being exclusive to older users, the tier severely limits what you can watch compared to if you paid for Peacock, so we opted not to include it on this version of our best list. If you've had a Peacock account long enough, the free tier should be available if you aren't actively paying for a Peacock subscription.

Free streaming services FAQs

What about free apps for networks like abc, nbc, pbs, cw and others.

These are also viable options. You can watch shows from your favorite networks on their dedicated apps but we opted to not include them on this list as some (like ABC) require you to be registered with a cable/TV provider to view the most recent content. Network apps typically allow you to watch new episodes of your shows the next day -- or week -- via their app or website. In some cases, you can also watch live news broadcasts or episode reruns for TV series. 

Do I have to sit through ads on these services?

Yes. The tradeoff for receiving content to stream for free is that you have to tolerate commercials. Whether you're watching a live channel or on-demand video, each of these services will run ads during your viewing experience. To keep the content free, they have to pay the bills with ads. The only exception on this list is Hoopla.

Which app has the most family-friendly content?

If you're looking for age-appropriate shows and movies, you'll find plenty of titles on Tubi, Roku Channel and Freevee for young children, tweens and teens. Pluto also features dedicated kids' channels with content from Nickelodeon, Lego, Garfield and more. 

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The Best Free TV Streaming Apps and Sites for 2024

Here's where you can get tv for free online.

In the exponentially stimulating culture of media production and consumption that we live in, TV shows have become close to impossible to keep up with. It seems that everyone and their mother has a show suggestion to offer any unexpecting individual. Assuming that one could feasibly keep up with all of the most popular and talked about series in the world, they are all scattered throughout the various streaming services available today, making it difficult and potentially expensive to do so. If you're hoping to watch TV without needing a Netflix subscription or a free trial of a service , we’ve gathered a list of the best sites to watch TV shows for free without any sort of financial requirement attached.

If you're looking for a site or app that will allow you to watch episodes of something without costing a dime, these are your best free TV streaming options in 2024. You can also check out our list of free movie streaming sites if you want our picks of the best places to watch films.

The Roku Channel

Getting its start as a small, material add-on for one’s home TV, The Roku Channel is a product of competition between multiple streaming services. While Roku does support the use of rival streaming services, it provides free access to some well-known series as well as some well-rated original shows. As with most options on this list, Roku does contain ads while viewing in order to deliver that free content right to your living room.

The Roku channel is available on most modern smart TVs built for streaming and you can also use a Roku streaming stick or any other streaming device to gain access to free TV and movies. Some of the best free TV shows you can stream right now include clasic TV shows like Bewitched and the Price is Right. You can also find episodes of Bones and House available for free.

Acting as Amazon’s selection of absolutely free streaming movies and TV, the selection of available shows for free are expectedly of a slightly higher quality and demand. With shows such as Schitt’s Creek, Blue Mountain State, Top Gear, Taxi, and The DIck Van Dyke Show, options are a bit more varied than the average free streaming site. While there are some quality shows to find for free here, viewers will still have to create an Amazon account before watching Freevee . And it's worth noting that you get access to both this and Prime Video when you sign up for a Prime membership

This is also the only place you can currently watch Jury Duty, which actually a Freevee original that has gained popularity.

Crunchyroll

For the avid anime fans out there, Crunchyroll is the site to check out right away. With all the anime one can imagine to be available, all one has to do is go to the website, endure a minute or two of ads, and begin streaming your new favorite anime absolutely free. Available on the site is a 14-day free trial that lets you watch certain seasons of select shows–with ads–without creating an account. Crunchyroll also has a free 24-hour anime channel that is available on Roku and Amazon Freevee.

You can check out our Crunchyroll review and also the list of the best anime streaming sites for more info.

One of the more unique additions to this list of streaming options, PlutoTV acts as less of a streaming service than an online cable TV guide for live TV. Even without creating an account, anyone can go to the site and start watching live TV straight from their computer. A huge difference between watching TV the old school way and PlutoTV is that on PlutoTV, you can choose to start the program you are watching from the very beginning. As this is the closest relative to watching cable TV, there are definitely ads as if one was watching cable TV.

In addition to live channels, you can get on demand episodes of classic shows like Survivor, King of Qeens, Cops, and more.

Good news for fans of some older, classic TV shows, Tubi TV allows viewers to watch select seasons of shows like the Bachelor, Lois and Clark, Degrassi, and more. As one of the most popular and well-known free streaming services, Tubi can be found already available on most smart devices. Due to its popularity, it has gained quite a few beloved shows and movies that put it a step above the others.

The free streaming platform from Fandango, Vudu grants viewers access to a variety of shows for free upon account creation. Since it is linked to Peacock, it will often try to navigate users to create a Peacock account and sign up for a premium membership. Luckily, it is very easy to find all of the shows that are actually free–with ads–with a quick check of the box “Free TV only”.

A service that has attempted to keep up with the paid streaming services for the last two decades, YouTube has increased their catalog to include a large amount of free and premium content. While its selection of movies is a bit more diverse, the shows available are still bound to catch some attention from unwary scrollers.

Standing out as one of the easier platforms to navigate, XumoPlay is a site that grants immediate access to multiple shows for free. Featuring shows and series that are more similar to something one might watch on the discovery channel, this site is for lovers of documentary, research, and reality TV shows. No account creation is required to start streaming–with ads–right away.

An international, free streaming platform and app, Crackle has access to shows from around the world as well as some acclaimed, original series that are worth checking out. A site that is designed for absolutely free content, most–if not all–shows on the platform are free to watch as soon as you arrive. A great thing about this site is its ease of navigation: it makes it incredibly easy to find shows of all kinds and one can even filter by genre.

Somewhat like Pluto TV, Plex TV takes on the format of a TV guide screen for navigation. Prioritizing favorite channels and providers, one is able to find shows easily based on what channel they originally aired. What separated Plex TV is its additional ability to search through available shows to watch on demand, making it a tasteful combination of abilities that are typically one or the other on other free streaming platforms.

For those looking for more options based on specific titles you care most about getting access to, including paid options, see our recently re-ranked list of the best streaming services . In 2024, it's also a good time to explore the options you can get from a VPN when your top need is to access specific content outside of your local region (e.g. sports games).

How to Get Live TV Channels fo Free

If you don't have a smart TV capable of downloading any of these free TV apps, you can still get access to live TV the old-fashioned way. There are quite a few HDTV antennas that allow you to pull live channels out of the air. You can also purchase one of the more popular streaming devices on the market that will help give your television smart TV capabilities.

For the best streaming deals right now and latest on all things streaming, see below for more:

Connor Sheppard is an Oregon-grown entertainment writer for IGN with a love for pop culture and movies.

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9 Free Streaming Services to Save You From Subscription Hell

The main casualty of the streaming wars has been your wallet. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+: They all demand a monthly tithe. Toss in a live service like YouTube TV , the music app of your choice , and whatever gaming concoction suits your needs , and you’re suddenly ringing up a pretty grim bill.

Fortunately, there are other services out there that can keep you entertained without destroying your budget, and they’re the perfect cure for subscription fatigue .

The old adage that you get what you pay for does still apply here—to some extent. Free streaming services typically don’t have as many viewing options as their paid counterparts, and most make you watch a few ads along the way. But they’re also better than you might expect, and they continue to improve with time. Some even include original programming, or something close to it; the Roku Channel acquired the rights to dozens of shows that originally appeared on the ill-fated Quibi streaming service , for example.

While you shouldn’t expect any of the following free streaming services to replace Netflix or HBO Max in your streaming regimen, you shouldn’t count them out either. Think of these as appetizers. Sure, a new series on Disney+ may be the main meal, but there’s no reason you can’t chow down on some free breadsticks while you’re waiting for the next content drop.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more .

A rebrand of IMDb TV, Amazon’s Freevee has one of the most comprehensive catalogs of all the ad-supported streaming options. A few of the popular series available to watch on-demand include: Mad Men , Bones , The X-Files , Desperate Housewives , and Burn Notice . Pop a little extra popcorn for snacking on during ad breaks and enjoy free movies like: The Shape of Water , Hidden Figures , Pride & Prejudice , A Single Man , and The King of Staten Island . Freevee includes a few live channels that broadcast news and reruns of reality TV shows.

Roku offers subscriptions to other platforms, like BritBox and Shudder , but it also operates a free Roku Channel, which has an eclectic mix of movies and TV shows. Some of the entertainment options include crime series like Murder, She Wrote ; The Mentalist ; and Without a Trace . Planning for an action-packed movie night on a budget? The entire John Wick trilogy is available to stream. Roku also acquired exclusive global distribution rights to the shows Quibi produced before it flamed out, so you get some content here you can’t get anywhere else.

The Roku Channel’s other neat trick is that it offers free linear programming—which is to say, it acts like a traditional television channel rather than on-demand viewing—including news reports from ABC and NBC, indie movies, classic TV, game shows, and comedy programming.

The catalog of content offered for free on Peacock is much smaller than it used to be, with hit shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation now only part of paid subscription tiers. Despite that, the streaming service does include an OK selection of random TV shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Pawn Stars . Looking for something to keep the kids busy for free? Try playing the Minions movie .

For anime lovers, there’s not much better out there than Crunchyroll, especially on a budget. You can watch hours of shows like One Piece or My Hero Academia , so long as you’re willing to sit through some ads. Like, a lot of ads.

You’ll also have to wait longer for new episodes than premium subscribers, but since most other services don't even carry most of the anime that Crunchyroll does, waiting a week for new episodes fresh from Japan seems like a square deal.

Do you have a library card? Then you have Kanopy ! Well, sort of. You have to sign up for a separate Kanopy account, and your public library needs to be a Kanopy customer. Some big ones aren’t; the New York Public Library system dropped it in 2019 because of ballooning expenses. While you can watch movies on the platform for free, your library pays per stream.

If your library does offer Kanopy, you can’t do much better in terms of quality indie fare. It includes dozens of movies from the storied Criterion Collection . A cinephile’s dream, and the perfect excuse to renew your library card.

Hoopla is another library-connected service that has a great selection—but no Criterion. On the plus side, you can also manage your library ebooks, comics, and other media through it, while Kanopy is strictly video.

This streaming service with a free option is owned by TelevisaUnivision and great for Spanish speakers. Similar to other ad-supported picks, ViX offers live channels with news, sports, and movies as well as on-demand entertainment. The movies and TV shows on ViX are a mix of content created first in Spanish and dubbed options.

Most of the streaming services on this list specialize in on-demand content. Viacom-owned Pluto TV does have that—including movies like The Godfather , The Host , and The Addams Family —but its primary aim is to replicate the traditional cable-viewing menu with specialized channels serving up nonstop Doctor Who , Judge Judy , and even Survivor .

It also carries clips from traditional networks like CNN and Fox Sports, and there are hundreds of channels to surf through in all. Basically, if you’ve got decision fatigue—if you’re tired of wasting an hour scrolling through Netflix before you actually watch anything— Pluto TV is the elixir you’re looking for .

Fox-owned Tubi lacks the name recognition of some of its peers, but its library outpaces most of them, with thousands of ad-supported TV and movie titles. You don’t even need to register an account to watch. It also arranges its haul into helpful categories—including a Not on Netflix collection to help you better appreciate what you’re not paying for. There’s still a lot of junk to sift through on Tubi, but it doesn’t take long to turn up rewatchable movies, from cool comedies like Legally Blonde to sci-fi thrillers like Blade Runner 2049 .

Traditionally a media server service, Plex entered the free streaming market a couple of years ago. If you already use it to store your digital content, it’s a very small jump to try out some of its gratis movie and TV options as well. The selection is a little hit or miss, but science fiction fans may enjoy watching 2001: A Space Odyssey again. Love thrilling series? You may enjoy watching Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal .

Plex also has dozens of narrowly targeted linear television channels as well, which offer a 24-hour fix of everything from poker tournaments to IFC hits. Plex gets tons of extra content via Sony’s Crackle , so you can search two libraries in one place. Crackle has been around in one form or another since 2004, and features gems like Train to Busan and a selection of episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 .

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Home » TV Service

Best Free Streaming Services

What if we told you there are free streaming services that have excellent on-demand content, live TV channels, limited ads, and a chance to get you out of your monthly cable bill?

And who doesn’t like free ? Who doesn’t like watching TV shows and movies?

We have gifted you with details of the five best free streaming services that you can start using today while you need to kill some time or destress.

• The Roku Channel : Most frequently updated content
• Pluto TV : Best for live TV
• Vudu : Most on-demand content
• Tubi TV : Best for nostalgic content
• Amazon Freevee : Best for popular content

Top free streaming services

The Roku Channel: Most frequently updated content

The Roku Channel details

What we like

• On-demand content and live channels
• Limited ads
• Don’t need to create an account

Live channels and regularly updated on-demand content

The Roku Channel gives you both live TV channels and great on-demand content that you can watch any time of the day.

Some of the live channels you can watch with the Roku Channel:

• Comedy Central
• Cheddar News

Movies on the Roku Channel include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,  all of  The Hunger Games, Secondhand Lions,  and Escape From Planet Earth . And you can enjoy series such as Alone, Hell's Kitchen, Forensic Files, The Bachelorette, and 60 Days In.

The best part? Limited ads!

When we watched Schitt’s Creek on The Roku Channel, the first episode didn’t have any ads whatsoever. But there were two ads in our second episode.

We couldn’t find a trend, but it’s definitely nice when an episode or two has zero ads for zero interruptions. Other free services will have up to three ads in one 30-minute episode, which can get a little bothersome (to say the least).

You and your family can watch The Roku Channel through the app, on your laptop, Roku TVs, or other TV-connected streaming devices with the Roku app.

No need to give your information

We don’t know about you, but we know we don’t mind when we can use a service without giving them our full name. Oh, and our email address so they can blow up our inbox with “suggestions” or “what’s new.”

But if you do create an account with The Roku Channel, you’ll get the following benefits:

• Access to premium channel subscriptions
• Continue watching movies right where you left off
• Get recommendations based on your interests

So, it might actually be worth giving your information. Because you know you like the simplicity of jumping to the scene where you left off and getting “Recommended for You” suggestions.

The Roku Channel summary

• Good : The Roku Channel has great frequently updated on-demand content and offers live TV channels.
• Bad : The downside to free content is unavoidable ads, and the Roku Channel doesn't offer an ad-free, paid subscription option.
• Full review : If you want more updated, popular content, check out our review on Netflix and Hulu + Live TV .

Pluto TV: Best for live TV

Pluto TV details

• Live TV streaming
• On-demand content

What we don’t like

• Lots of ads

Free live TV cable channels

First of all, similar to The Roku Channel, you don’t even need to sign up or create an account for Pluto TV. You can just start watching TV when you open the website or app.

Pluto TV is the best free service for live TV with more than 250 channels. It’s a cable-like streaming service with the following channels:

• History Channel
• Nickelodeon

Also, there are channels dedicated to one particular TV show, such as  Tosh.O ,  Degrassi , and  Deal or No Deal .

And perfect for Spanish speakers, there is a Latino section with Peliculas, Telemundo Telenovelas Clásicas, and Nickelodeon Latino.

Tons of on-demand content

The massive amount of content Pluto TV offers includes 70 different movie genres. Anyone will find something to watch when you’re waiting in the long line at the grocery store or when you need to kill some time at home.

Movies include  Whiskey Tango Foxtrot ,  What Lies Beneath ,  Bull Durham , and all of the original James Bond movies.

The on-demand shows on Pluto TV include  The First 48 ,  Hell’s Kitchen ,  Rosanne , and  Leverage .

Watch Pluto TV on the app, on your computer, or with one of these devices:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android smartphones and tablets
• iPhone and iPads
• PS3 and PS4
• Samsung smart TV
• Vizio smart TV
• Hisense smart TV

Ads in on-demand content

While we shouldn’t complain too much about a free service, we must let you know: there are quite a few ads.

Yes, they need to make money somehow.

But just so you don’t get blindsided, expect three 30-second or one-minute ads in your 30-minute TV episode.

Pluto TV summary

• Good : Pluto TV is the best for live TV and also offers on-demand content.
• Bad : You might have to pick through the on-demand content and deal with the ads.
• Full review : If you want more channels, check out our full review of the  best live TV streaming services .

Vudu: Most on-demand content

Vudu details

• Loads of movies and TV shows
• Rent movies
• Ads are minimal

Over 10,000 movies and TV shows for free

Vudu’s free titles are well-known. But keep in mind, they seem to exist in the late '80s to early 2010s.

Download the Vudu app to watch Black Hawk Down , Mr. 3000 , King Arthur , Magic Mike XXL , and Road House .

There are also lots of movies and TV series your kids will enjoy, such as Escape from Planet Earth , Norm of the North , Pokemon , and My Little Pony . If you want to find more streaming services for your little ones, check out our top streaming services for kids .

Rent movies for a few dollars

Rent newer movies from $1.99–$5.99 like Spider-man: No Way Home , Sing 2 , Ghostbusters Afterlife , Encanto , and Moonfall .

They also have a “Fandango at Home” section that has all of the brand new movies you can rent for $19.99, including The Batman , X, The Outfit , and Infinite Storm (but if you wait a little longer, you can buy the movie on Vudu for the same price).

This feature might sound similar to Amazon Prime Video , but you don’t have to worry about paying for a monthly subscription with Vudu.

Ads aren’t placed in the middle of your movie

Ads aren’t inconveniently in the middle of a sad scene or the middle of an actor’s sentence.

When you watch a movie, a 30-second to one-minute ad will pop up at the beginning, and that’s it. (Thank you, Vudu.)

Vudu summary

• Good : Vudu has lots of on-demand content, and you can rent or buy videos anytime you want.
• Bad : Yes, there are ads, but luckily they’re placed at the beginning of your show to avoid a frustrating interruption.
• Full review : If you want even more and newer on-demand content, check out our full review of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video .

Tubi TV: Best for nostalgic content

Tubi TV details

• Movies dating back to the late '80s to early 2000s
• Lots of genres

Solid content of its time

Tubi TV has all of the nostalgic content you need from Alf and The Dick Van Dyke Show to The Bachelor and Hell’s Kitchen .

You’ll also have movie choices such as Barber Shop 2 , Shrek Forever After , Boondock Saints , and Donnie Darko .

And when we watched Into the Blue , there were no ads throughout the entire movie. Now that’s a super big bonus.

Visit the past by streaming Tubi TV on your Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xfinity X1, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, PlayStation and online.

So many movie types to choose from

The big list of genres and categories on Tubi TV goes on and on. Everyone (I mean everyone) will find a category they like.

There are categories such as Crime TV, Family Movies, Preschool, Sports Movies & Shows, Good Eats, and Movie Night.

This free streaming service is worth checking out, but you’ll have to sign up for an account before you can view all of its nostalgic content.

Tubi TV summary

• Good : Tubi TV gives you lots of free content of different genres that will remind you of the old days.
• Bad : Arguably, most of the content is not for the younger generations.
• Full review : Speaking of nostalgia (if you want more), check out our review of Disney+ , a streaming service that has all of the movies you watched when you were a kid.

Amazon Freevee: Best for popular content

Freevee details

• Only popular content, no fillers
• Awesome app

Solid content, free of fluff

Although Amazon Freevee (previously IMDb TV) may not have as much on-demand content as other free streaming services, Freevee is free of filler content.

Freevee doesn’t feel the need to say “over 500,000 hours of content.” They just want to deliver content everyone will want to watch including the following series:

• Schitt’s Creek
• White Collar
• The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer
• Chicago Fire
• Friday Night Lights
• Desperate Housewives
• Almost Human

Freevee also has great movies, including the following:

• Eat Pray Love
• Failure to Launch
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• The Big Short
• Nightcrawler
• Monsters vs. Aliens
• The Neverending Story

Freevee app is perfect for movie buffs

Before Amazon Freevee came to fruition, its former name, IMDb, was an app that gave you information about movies, author bios and filmography, and a place to rate movies.

Now, you can  also  watch movies and TV shows, as well as create a watchlist (some free streaming services don’t have a watchlist option).

It’s also worth mentioning here that Freevee has a lot of ads.

Similar to Pluto TV, when we watched  Schitt’s Creek , there were  three  ads (ugh!). But again, we can’t complain too much about a free streaming service.

Amazon Freevee summary

• Good : Freevee has great content with little to sift through.
• Bad : Prepare for quite a few ads, and just remember it’s free.
• Full review : If you love the Freevee app, you’re likely to be a big movie fan. Check out our review on Amazon Prime Video , a streaming service where you can rent and buy movies.

If you’re needing a new, faster internet provider, check out our top internet providers for seamless streaming.

Recap: Which is the best free streaming service?

These free streaming services are an excellent alternative to traditional streaming or cable TV, but you won’t get a lot of newer content.

We sorted through more than a dozen free streaming services to highlight some of the best. We considered content, channels, and ads to determine which streaming service deserves your attention. Overall, we can say this about each:

• The Roku Channel : The Roku Channel will give you frequently updated on-demand content, live channels, and limited ads.
• Pluto TV : If you’re looking for the most live TV channels for free, Pluto TV is the service for you. Enjoy channels for news, kids, entertainment, reality, and sports.
• Vudu : With Vudu, you’ll get access to loads of movies and TV shows. It’s also a service where you can rent and buy new movies without a monthly subscription.
• Tubi TV : If you’re looking for a movie from the early '80s to early 2000s, Tubi TV at your service. Also, enjoy all of the filtered categories to find what you’re really in the mood for.
• Amazon Freevee : Freevee may not have a lot of content, but it has content you’ll most likely want to watch. The movie app is also a great spot to find more information about a new release or an actor’s background.

What do you think?

Which streaming service do you think is the best? Tell us what you think in the comments.

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