The 6 Best Free Streaming Services That Are Still Worth It in 2025

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Streaming services seem to pop up constantly, and keeping up with all those shows and movies can seriously strain your wallet, especially with regular price hikes from and Disney+ and more recently, Peacock. It's easy to feel like you're paying as much as a cable package just to stay in the loop.

But here's the good news: free streaming services exist and we're here to take full advantage of 'em. While the rise of streaming has brought more subscription-based services, it's also introduced ad-supported platforms that don't cost a dime. And no, we're not just talking about free trials — these are completely free alternatives to HBO Max, Hulu, and the like.

What's even better? These platforms offer a mix of old favorites and fresh originals, so you won't miss out. There's a staggering amount of content available for free right now, and all you need to know is where to find it.

We've tracked down the best free streaming services around, including options with great TV and movies, whether it is live or on-demand. We've avoided services that are locked to specific platforms and ones that require outside memberships like Kanopy and Hoopla. These are services you can use to start watching TV and movies for free right now.

Choosing the Right Free Streaming Service

All of the services listed here are free, so we recommend trying out a few different ones until you find one you like. Some focus on live TV, while others are great for watching titles on-demand.

These streaming services should all work on your web browser, and most of them also have mobile apps you can download for Android, as well as Apple iOS and Apple iPadOS. The services also work with most of the popular streaming devices like Roku. You'll need an internet connection that can handle video streaming to tune in. Generally, 25Mbps (Megabytes per second) is fast enough for streaming.

Note that you will no longer see Peacock in this list. While Peacock did initially have a free plan added to its mix, it no longer offers one as of early 2023. Big bummer.

Tubi

Best Overall

Tubi is likely one of the most popular free streaming services that doesn't skimp on incredible content. With over 275,000 movies and counting, its massive on-demand library lets you dive right in with no sign-ups required at all. However, if you do create a free account, you can save your favorites and pick up where you left off, even when switching devices. The app's user-friendly interface makes it easy to browse through categories, so you'll always find something worth watching.

Unlike other services, Tubi doesn't offer live channels or premium accounts, but that doesn't hold it back. While it does feature some HD titles, many of the shows and movies are older and stream in lower resolution. Unfortunately, there's no option for offline viewing or an ad-free experience, but for a completely free platform, it still delivers. From Pennywise: The Story of Itand The Mask to Terrifier and more, Tubi's got a solid lineup of entertainment.

Amazon Freevee

Best for Hit Movies

Amazon Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) is a fantastic spot to stream blockbuster films for free. With its sleek, user-friendly interface, finding your next watch is a breeze, and the platform is packed with a mix of popular classics and fresh Originals. Freevee offers over 280 live channels of constant looped content. This includes channels with reality TV, court shows, and more. While these aren't channels you'd see on cable TV, they act similarly with consistent content. In addition, you can also snag one FAST channel, which is a mix of regular streaming content and shopping content. The FAST channel is a way for customers to shop content they're watching live on their screen by clicking through a mobile device or tablet. Plus, expect a few more free channels, like a TMZ channel and news channels.

Here's one thing to note: you'll need an account to start watching. Since Freevee is owned by Amazon, you can easily sign in with your Prime account, adding a little convenience to the mix. Freevee is also available through Google Play.

Catch movies and TV series like The Boys, Schitt's Creek, The Twilight Zone, and more.

Sling Freestream

Best New Kid on the Block

Sling Freestream dropped in early 2023, so it's one of the newer free streaming services. If you're not familiar, Sling itself is a live TV streaming platform that's fantastic for watching live sports and other entertainment if you've cut the cord. Sling Freestream is the brand's free streaming services that offers an extensive catalog of programming that's completely free to watch, unlike Sling. While it doesn't have as much content as Sling, you can still expect 40,000 hours of on-demand content in addition to over 500 live TV channels ready to watch at your convenience.

With Sling Freestream, you do not need to create an account, but the user experience is better if you do. The service allows for multiple profiles under one account and can suggest various TV shows and movies depending on past content you've watched.

There is tons of content to choose from, but classics like American Dad!, Bob's Burgers, Family Feud, and Bounty are solid places to start.

Pluto TV

Best for Live Channels

By offering over 250 channels that you can watch using web browsers, smartphones, or a number of different streaming devices, Pluto TV is a serious contender when it comes to free live TV. The offerings include many genre-specific channels, like comedy, horror, western. There are also channels dedicated to specific shows like the Degrassi channel and the Star Trek channel. There's no account required, but if you sign up for a free membership, you can customize which channels you see, so you don't have to scroll through every time. There's also a good selection of movies and shows to watch on-demand. 

Pluto TV is mainly focused on streaming TV channels live, so the service doesn't offer offline viewing options. And if you're mostly interested in watching on-demand titles, you might be better off using one of the other free options on our list. Most of the channels are specific to Pluto TV, so you won't find as many traditional TV networks on this service. 

Aside from the many genre channels that are available, Pluto TV has its own versions of MTV, BET, Fuse, as well as People TV. These channels are not the live channels you'd expect on traditional live TV, but they play shows and movies you'd expect to see on these live channels with cable. That said, what's happening on Pluto TV's version of MTV likely will not be streaming on actual MTV you'd get with a cable subscription. You can also watch movies on-demand like Snowpiercer and most of the old James Bond movies. There are also shows on-demand like Dawson's Creek, Beverly Hills 90210, and Big Brother.

Plex

Best Search Engine

Plex is a free streaming service that offers over 600 free live channels in addition to over 50,000 free titles from big names like MGM, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, and more. These films and TV series also include options from across the globe, which is helpful considering Plex is available in almost every single country. Live TV can be paused and actually recorded, which is a big difference when considering other free live TV alternatives. Access the app through a number of routes, including your web browser, Roku devices, Android phones, Apple TV, and more.

One standout feature of Plex is its powerful search engine. Looking for a show or movie? Just type the title into the top search bar, and Plex will not only tell you if it's available on its platform but also where you can stream it elsewhere. It's like having your own personal streaming guide! For example, if you search for The Acolyte and it's not on Plex, the search will point you to Disney+ or any other service where it's available. Plex makes it easy to find what you want, even if it's not in its own library.

Keep in mind that Plex isn't entirely free and premium features will cost you. For instance, if you're looking to utilize DVR, you're going to have to become a member. 

Some excellent shows and movies to consider streaming on Plex include The Walking Dead, Nip/Tuck, Winter's Bone, Mother's Day, and more.

The Roku Channel

Biggest Library

The Roku Channel is an increasingly growing collection of titles from Roku, including lots of old favorites that you're surely familiar with and some new original titles like The Spiderwick Chronicles. No longer limited to just Roku players, you can watch The Roku Channel on a browser and Amazon Fire TV Stick. Not sure if that helps settle the Roku vs Fire TV Stick debate. 

The Roku Channel is a curated collection that you can add to with premium subscriptions or enjoy as is at no cost. It contains thousands of hours of TV and movies, including over 500 free live channels that you can tune into at any time.

There is some confusion about the Roku Channel, which is really more like a library of movies and TV shows than it is a singular channel. The confusion comes through in the interface, which can leave something to be desired. Some of the shows you're looking for might be stuck behind a paywall that you'll have to subscribe to access. You cannot watch The Roku Channel offline, and you can't access it directly on competing set top services like Apple TV or Google Chromecast.

Popular movies on The Roku Channel include Fury, Eyes Wide Shut, and Space Jam. There are also a number of popular TV shows that you can watch on The Roku Channel including Friday Night Lights, Malcolm in the Middle, and 2 Broke Girls.

How to Watch free streaming services from anywhere with a VPN

Streaming free shows on Tubi, Freevee, or Pluto TV? You're in for a good time, but if you're running into access issues, it might be because of where you're located. Some of these platforms have region-based restrictions, meaning certain content might be blocked outside the U.S. A VPN like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access can help you get around that by switching your virtual location. Once you're connected to a U.S. server, you're all set to binge without borders.

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