It would be tough to argue that the best value for a streaming service is paying nothing. After all, there are many services to choose from, and it’s challenging to determine which ones are worth paying for. But with a solid range of free and even FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) services available nowadays, it’s easier than ever to feel like you’re making off like a bandit.
While you may not have to worry about price hikes, pricing tiers, or even payment altogether, there is still the matter of selection to consider—and finding your new favorite free streamer can still be challenging. Let us solve that problem by highlighting the best free streaming services around.
These streaming services are either ad-based or have a free tier in addition to a paid tier.
10
Hoopla
Hoopla presents itself as a digital public library, offering free eBooks and audiobooks that can be accessed with your library card. And just like the library, there are movies to check out as well. Their selection includes classic Hollywood favorites like Grease and The Godfather, as well as more current movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and Terrifier 3.
While Hoopla isn’t the only streaming service you can access with your library card, it offers a diverse selection of media, including music, audiobooks, and comic books. It truly feels like taking a trip to the library and thumbing through all forms of media for old favorites or discoveries. Be sure to check out their BingePass section for the experience of a guided tour through Ken Burns documentaries and British comedies.
9
Fandango
Fandango is far more than just the app you use for buying movie tickets. Having absorbed Vudu, they’ve become the home for digital movie rentals and purchases, as well as a selection of free-with-ads movies and TV shows. There’s a decent selection of lesser-known pictures, such as the underrated Astro Boy, as well as more notable titles like the low-budget horror film The Blair Witch Project.
Although Fandango is better known for movies, the TV selection is far more impressive in their free section. The TV classics include the puppet sitcom ALF, the horror soap opera Dark Shadows, and the sci-fi adventure Sliders. There’s also a good chunk of the Japanese superhero series Ultraman, so there are some surprisingly niche genre shows to discover on Fandango.
8
Crunchyroll
For anime fans, Crunchyroll is the go-to service for catching up on the latest anime fresh from Japan. Under the free ad-supported tier, you can watch shows like the volleyball excitement of Haikyu, the eccentric comedy of A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof, and the fantastical action of The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows. There’s always a fresh dose of Japanese animation available on the service.
While the bulk of Crunchyroll’s catalog requires a paid subscription, it’s surprising how many noteworthy titles can be watched for free. If you’ve never watched the popular Demon Slayer, haven’t gotten around to Naruto in all these years, or were curious about that new anime adaptation of Anne of Green Gables, Crunchyroll is a solid free option for getting updated or dipping your toes into the medium.
7
Sling FreeStream
Sling has always branded itself as the cord-cutting alternative to cable and continues to be that to this day through Sling FreeStream. If you want options, there are over 600 channels to choose from, ranging from local Fox affiliates to boxing matches. There’s also a worthy catalog of on-demand classic movies, including the award-winning Driving Miss Daisy and the intense crime drama of Point Break.
Sling makes its movie offerings better known by highlighting the distributors in the thumbnails, which include Gravitas Ventures, Shout Factory, Filmrise, and Scream Box. The layout of the live broadcasts is immaculate and easy to navigate, whether you’re looking for old movies or the latest sports games. While Sling FreeStream isn’t the only service to offer hundreds of broadcast channels and on-demand programming, it is one of the most pleasant to pop open.
6
Xumo Play
With over 350 channels spread across twelve category tiers, Xumo Play is one of the best options for finding new and classic television. The service is particularly ideal if you want to keep up with news and sports. The new sources range from CBS to BBC, but the sports broadcasts are numerous, covering everything from the NFL to UFC to NASCAR.
Xumo’s biggest appeal might be its live broadcasts, but its on-demand selection also includes a few exclusives and original movies you can’t stream anywhere else. While they also have some noteworthy TV shows, the bulk of their offerings include cooking shows, home improvement programs, and travelogs. So if all that sounds like your kind of TV lineup, Xumo Play might be the best free choice for streaming.
5
Kanopy
If you need another reason to love public libraries, Kanopy is the stellar streaming perk of getting that library card. Available through libraries, colleges, and universities, all you need to set up an account is your library card and account password, or university login if you’re a student. Once logged in, you can find plenty of the latest movies, educational documentaries, and British television to stream for free.
Kanopy is the cozier alternative to venturing out to the public or campus library to find something good to watch. Their selection is also quite marvelous, with recent films like the 2024 thriller Longlegs and must-watch classics like Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. You can get a real education in film and television with Kanopy, whether you’re a student or not.
4
Plex
Plex is one of the more unique streaming platforms. It’s multi-faceted and functions more like a user-run platform than a standard streaming site. In addition to being a free ad-supported on-demand service, users can also set up a server through Plex to host their own movies and TV shows. The result is an experience that feels more communal and customizable, created by establishing an online streaming library of your own. If you ever did want to unlock extra features, such as remote access, downloading, and more, there are paid tiers such as Plex Pass.
Plex is just fun to explore with its extensive library of titles and engaging interface that boasts cast lists and user reviews. There’s also plenty of live-streaming channels and rentals of the latest movies if nothing in the on-demand sections sparks your interest. The selection is so varied that if you don’t like what Plex has to offer, you can make your own server to share with family and friends.
3
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is surprisingly bountiful, offering a wide selection of hit TV shows and movies, which come standard with Roku streaming devices. It’s the only service where you can watch classic cartoons like My Little Pony and exclusive films like the award-winning Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. There are even live broadcasts of ABC, CBS, and Fox, allowing you to catch up on the latest news.
The Roku Channel functions more like a general hub of entertainment rather than a platform. This is due to Roku making it easy to find particular programming that exists outside the platform, where you can easily add in services like Paramount+ and BritBox. So even if The Roku Channel doesn’t have your favorite British mystery show for free, they can still point you in the right direction.
2
Pluto TV
Pluto TV makes it easy to find something to watch, boasting the largest selection of live-streaming channels. From the moment you open the service, there’s already something playing. You can easily switch to a variety of channels, offering everything from classic movies to hit TV shows, including an entire channel dedicated to Star Trek episodes.
With dozens of channels, there’s no shortage of movies and TV shows to watch on Pluto. There’s even an on-demand section if you want to watch something specific instead of adhering to the broadcast schedule. Whether you’re into sci-fi, murder mysteries, or anime, Pluto’s selection is perfect for those who like to graze with their streaming and stumble onto something new or old.
Related
Pluto TV vs. Tubi: Which Free Streaming Service Is Right for You?
Netflix who? These two free streaming services are packed with movies & TV shows you love. No subscription needed.
1
Tubi
Tubi is easily the best free streaming service for offering a fine assortment of notable classics and rare finds. It’s the only service where you can go from watching the iconic Hitchcock classic North By Northwest to the campy violence of Death Race 2000. You browse through highly specific collections (Denzel-Verse, Summer Slaycation) or simply watch live TV broadcasts if you don’t feel like hunting something down, such as the many Westerns available on the service.
In addition to having an unbeatable selection, Tubi also has one of the best interfaces. It doesn’t require much navigation to easily find the sections for live TV, kids programming, or Spanish-language media. With new and old movies and TV shows present on the platform, you’re guaranteed to find something that interests you on Tubi, whether you love old-fashioned Westerns or low-budget horror trash.
The streaming age may have its ups and downs, but the opportunity to watch a wide range of new and classic movies from the comfort of home is undeniably a highlight. With multiple free on-demand selections and hundreds of streaming channels to choose from, we are no longer beholden to the costly bills of cable TV packages or subscription SVOD services. As someone who used to pay $40 just to watch one arc of Doctor Who, this is a glorious time to indulge in television.