The Best Free Streaming Services in 2024

With so much content on the internet nowadays, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out what streaming site is best for you. While you probably know the big ones like Netflix and Disney+, you might not know there is a whole world of completely free—and legitimate—streaming sites available. 

Sounds too good to be true? Most free streaming services are ad-supported or through government institutions like public libraries, so they are completely legal to use. Unsure about where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From genre-specific sites to fantastic all-arounders, we’ve gathered 25 of the best free streaming services. 

1. Tubi

Want a free streaming service that is the best all-arounder when it comes to content and availability? Tubi is that service. With a massive collection of nearly 50,000 movies and TV shows, you’ll never run out of things to watch. From popular hits like Hell’s Kitchen and Gossip Girl to Tubi originals like investigative documentaries and streaming films, Tubi caters to just about everyone. Boasting an impressive 80 million monthly active users, Tubi is available in the U.S., the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama. 

2. Pluto TV

With over 250 live channels covering news, sports, entertainment, and more, plus thousands of titles available to watch at any time, Pluto TV provides a cable-like experience without the cost. Owned by Paramount, Pluto TV is available in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, most of Europe, and Australia (via 10Play). You can watch a ton of premium Paramount content or tune in to show-specific channels featuring series like The Amazing Race, Frasier, and Murder She Wrote that loop 24/7 if you just want to throw on an old favorite in the background. Sign up for a free account to tailor your experience with watchlists, profiles, and more—because who doesn’t love personalization? 

3. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is the best streaming site for anime fans, and it’s available virtually everywhere in the world. It offers four subscription tier options, including a free ad-supported option. While the free tier is more limited in content than the paid options, there is still a ton of anime series available whether you’re looking to binge a classic or discover something different. 

4. TVNZ+

If you’re a Kiwi looking for a free streaming platform, there is no better option for you than TVNZ+. It features a vast library of local and international series to make binging super simple. New episodes of popular shows like The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon are also added weekly, and you can also stream news and sports, so you can keep up with your faves.

5. Kanopy

Need another reason to love the library? If you’re a public library user or university student in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, you may be able to access Kanopy for free. This streaming site offers “thoughtful entertainment” including an array of documentaries, classic films, and kids programming—with no ads at all. 

6. YouTube

YouTube is known for having content creator videos, but you might not realize it also has a wide variety of movies free with ads if you’re in the U.S. From spaghetti westerns and action thrillers to children’s movies and animated features, there is a lot on hand. To access them, you must be signed into your YouTube account, then go to “Movies & TV” and click on the “Free with ads” tab at the top. Then, grab the popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the movie. 

7. PBS KIDS 

PBS KIDS is an app that’s available in the U.S. and offers thousands of age-appropriate videos for kids. Tune in to popular kids’ shows like Arthur, Curious George, and Sesame Street or turn on one of the limited selection of kids movies to keep your kids entertained for hours. New episodes of the PBS original series air weekly through the app. 

8. Plex

Want to watch live and on-demand worldwide? Plex is a free ad-supported television platform that is available virtually everywhere, unlike other free, ad-supported television (FAST) services on this list. Note that, as with all streaming services, geo-restrictions mean that not all content is available globally. It’s incredibly easy to use, and you can use the Plex Media Server to add your own personal library of content to keep it all in one place. This could include your own home movies or content that you have the rights to own. Plex even allows you to share your library with friends and family, as long as they also have a Plex account. 

9. ITVX

If you’re looking for a way to binge your favorite British series for free, look no further than ITVX. 

ITVX is a fantastic destination for British TV lovers, featuring a mix of dramas, reality shows, movies, and live TV from the ITV channels and beyond. While there is a free version, you can also upgrade to the ad-free premium version for the ultimate uninterrupted binge. 

10. Viu

Viu is a popular go-to streaming site for K-dramas, J-dramas, and everything in between. With availability in 16 markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa, you can enjoy shows in several different languages and with subtitles. If you grow tired of the free, ad-supported service, you can always upgrade for ad-free viewing. 

11. The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is another place to catch free movies and TV shows, available in the U.S., the UK, and Mexico. If you have a Roku device, you can easily access it, but it also works on smartphones, smart TVs and through a web browser. With over 400 channels, there is a nice mix of classic and newer content, plus options for premium add-ons like Starz and Showtime. 

12. 7Plus

Want to keep up with all your favorites Down Under? 7Plus has got you covered. There are a ton of great blockbuster films, local series, reality shows, and live sports available on the app. All you need to do is sign up for a free account with an Australia postcode and start streaming immediately. 

13. Sling Freestream

Like many of the other services on this list, Sling Freestream is a free, ad-supported television platform. It offers a lot of the same or similar content as Tubi and Pluto TV and is only available in the U.S. currently. A major benefit to Sling Freestream though, is that it offers 10 hours of DVR storage even to free users (with an account), so you can record live shows and watch them later. 

14. CTV

While there are a lot of free streaming services for Americans, Canadians need not feel left out from the mix. With CTV, you can access a ton of local and international content, including catching new episodes of current shows as they drop weekly. 

15. ABC iView

Aussies rejoice! Here’s another free, on-demand video service just for you. ABC iView offers an array of local Aussie series that drop on the service shortly after they air and are available for free for a limited time—perfect if you missed an episode live. ABC iView also streams a ton of international content, such as fan-favorite movies and live TV, that airs across the ABC channels. 

16. Documentary+

Looking for content that educates and informs, as well as entertains? Documentary+ is a streaming site with high-quality and award-winning documentaries across topics and genres. The films are available on-demand through the app, but you can also watch it live through FAST services like Sling Freestream and Tubi. 

17. RTÉ Player

RTÉ Player is a great free streaming service for fans of Irish TV. It offers a ton of popular RTÉ series in English and Irish, along with international content—both live and on-demand. If you’re in Ireland, you’ll have full access to the site, but viewers outside of Ireland can also watch selected content for free (with ads), or you can choose to upgrade to an ad-free international version. 

18. ThreeNow

ThreeNow is another option for New Zealand viewers that offers free, ad-supported content on-demand and live. It’s especially great for catching up on local favorites like The Block NZ, 7 Days, and Te Reo Māori content, as well as international hits, documentaries, and reality TV. 

19. Fandango at Home

Fandango at Home, formerly known as Vudu, offers a mix of paid and ad-supported content through its “Free with ads” section, making it unique among streaming platforms. While it doesn’t have an extensive library, it’s great if you like watching classic television or older, less well-known films. 

20. Crackle

Crackle is a streaming service with a particular emphasis on classic films and original programming. Crackle frequently rotates and grows its selection of content, which ensures that there’s always something new to discover. Although its TV selection can be a bit lackluster, it offers a ton of movies that aren’t available on comparable services. 

21. Arte

If you’re living in France, Germany, Monaco, Luxembourg, Austria, or Switzerland, Arte is a great free streaming option. It’s a culture-focused public service channel that features documentaries, independent films, and more, with no ads to bog you down. The content is very accessible with a variety of languages and subtitles available across the platform.

22. Retina Latina

Looking to explore Latin American film and culture? Retina Latina is a free streaming platform with short films, documentaries, and features from across Latin America and the Caribbean, featuring some of the best cinema the region has to offer. It’s funded by the Colombian Ministry of Culture with support from other Central and South American countries. 

23. Hoopla

Like Kanopy, Hoopla is a streaming service that is accessible through eligible public libraries in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s more limited in its availability than Kanopy and often has more obscure titles, but with no ads and no subscription it’s a great option if your library already offers it. 

24. Films for Action

Similar to Documentary+, Films for Action offers thousands of documentaries and short films that focus on social and environmental issues with no ads and no sign-up required. The films range from BBC and PBS documentaries to content-creator videos, so be aware that not all films on the site come from the most reputable sources. 

25. Joyn

Joyn is a free German streaming service that offers live TV streaming of more than 60 channels, plus many international and German series and movies on-demand. With everything from Blockbusters and hit TV shows to sports and game shows, Joyn is perfect for finding something new to watch or rediscovering an old favorite. 

Are free online streaming services legal?

Yes, there are plenty of free online streaming services that are perfectly legal—like all the ones included above. These platforms have licensing agreements which allows them to add a variety of content to their sites for streaming, supported by advertisements or funding from elsewhere.  

On the flip side, not all free streaming sites are legal or legitimate. Many others, like piracy sites, don’t have the rights to put up content on their sites. Accessing content from piracy sites or downloading it to watch at home may be illegal and can lead to fines or other penalties, depending on your location. 

Beyond just the legal issues, many of these sites can be risky to use as they often have malware or other security threats embedded in the content or the ads on the site themselves. You don’t want to risk a pesky computer virus or stolen personal information just to watch the latest episode of your favorite show, after all. To avoid any issues, stick with well-known streaming sites and ones that are owned by major companies, such as the ones we’ve listed above. 

Safely stream online with a VPN

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for streaming your favorite content. Whether you’re on a public Wi-Fi network at school or work, ExpressVPN encrypts your traffic, allowing you to bypass network restrictions for a seamless streaming experience just like if you were back at home! With support for up to eight simultaneous connections, including on smart TVs, smartphones, and other devices, you can enjoy your shows from home, on the go, or even while traveling. 

Stream securely with ExpressVPN in three simple steps!

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN and its blazing-fast service.
2. Connect to one of our global VPN servers optimized for speed.
3. Let ExpressVPN run in the background as you stream on the best free streaming services.

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How to choose a streaming service that is best for you

Getting overwhelmed with the amount of sites available at your disposal? Before signing up—even to free sites—it’s best to figure out exactly what you’re hoping to get out of a streaming service and whether you’ll actually use it. You should consider:

• Price: Are you willing to pay to get better content, higher quality videos, or perks like DVR storage? If so, what’s your monthly budget? If not, what are you willing to give up in exchange for free streaming?
• Content availability: Take stock of what you most frequently watch. Are you an anime fan, a reality TV show enthusiast, or a film buff? Figuring out what you watch most frequently will help you find the service that is right for you. 
• Location: Unfortunately, not all streaming services are available in all regions, and content may vary even for global services. You’ll need to figure out which services are available where you live that fit your needs. 
• Device capability: It’s also important to consider how you like to watch content. Do you stream on your phone, your computer, or a smart TV? Not all streaming services offer device compatibility, so be sure to look into this before subscribing.