The best free streaming services in 2024 (2024)

The best free streaming services in 2024 (1)

Jump to:

  • Tubi
  • Roku Channel
  • Pluto TV
  • Plex
  • Sling Free
  • Fandango at Home

The cost of cable continues to rise, but streaming services aren't getting much cheaper, either. Before you pony up even more cash to subscribe to yet another platform, stop and consider all of the free options out there. You may be surprised at what you can get from them.

The best free streaming services let you watch popular movies and TV shows, often current and recent, without paying a dime. These free streaming services have content stores, including both live TV and on-demand content.

While the best streaming services are undoubtedly some of the most useful additions to your home entertainment arsenal, it's just getting far too expensive to keep up with every single one of them — at some point, it just becomes cable with extra steps. 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 or with the cheapest plan on most subscription streamers.

And since they cost $0, you can check out 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

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Written by

The best free streaming services in 2024 (2)

Written by

Kelly Woo

Kelly Woo is a veteran entertainment journalist who subscribes to far too many streaming services. She oversees the streaming department at Tom's Guide, which includes reviewing and testing streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, and more.

Tubi

The best free streaming services in 2024 (3)

1. Tubi

The best free streaming service overall

Specifications

Live TV: No

Originals: Yes

Registration required: No

Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android phones and tablets, Apple TV, Apple phones and tablets, Chromecast, Comcast XFinity X1, Cox Contour, Nvidia Shield, Playstation 3 and 4, Roku, Samsung TV, Sony TV and Blu-ray players, TiVo, Vizio TV, Xbox One, Google Nest, Amazon Echo Show, web browsers

Reasons to buy

+

Some excellent films

+

Snappy apps

Reasons to avoid

-

Content is either great or not recent, with little overlap

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. So, they offer a mix of recent blockbusters as well as classic library titles.

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

Roku Channel

The best free streaming services in 2024 (4)

2. Roku Channel

The best free streaming service originals

Specifications

Live TV: Yes

Originals: Yes

Registration required: No

Supported devices: All Roku devices and Roku TVs, Android phones and tablets, Apple phones and tablets, Samsung TVs

Reasons to buy

+

Access to first episodes of big shows

+

Not just on Roku

Reasons to avoid

-

Older content doesn't impress all

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.

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

Pluto TV

The best free streaming services in 2024 (5)

3. Pluto TV

The best free streaming service for live channels

Specifications

Live TV: Yes

Originals: No

Registration required: No

Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Amazon Kindle and Fire tablets, Android phones and tablets, Android TV, Apple TV, Apple phones and tablets, Chromecast, Roku, web browsers

Reasons to buy

+

Linear and on-demand content

+

Channels devoted to popular shows and movies

Reasons to avoid

-

Mostly retro content

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 MTV, TV Land, VH1 and BET content. 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.

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 access 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.

Watch Pluto TV here

Plex

The best free streaming services in 2024 (6)

4. Plex

The best free streaming service that also hosts local media

Specifications

Live TV: Yes (with antenna)

Originals: No

Registration required: Yes

Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, PS4, PS5, Roku, Select Smart TVs, Web browsers, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Reasons to buy

+

One of the best local media servers available

+

Good discovery functionality

Reasons to avoid

-

Integration between free streaming content and local files is awkward

-

Doesn't offer enough unique streaming content

Plex once centered entirely around its Media Server, which allows users to organize their personal media and play it across a myriad of devices. However, the service has increasingly pivoted to content discovery and streaming over the past few years. In fact, the "What is Plex?" section on the official website doesn't even mention the media server functionality.

The main attraction of Plex for streamers is its discovery functionality. You can add the services you have to your profile and manage your watchlist for all of them in one place. You can also add other Plex users as friends to see what they're watching. Plex also offers some free programming but doesn't produce original content itself. Additionally, there is live TV functionality, but you must set up a Plex Media Server and connect a tuner and antenna to it.

Despite Plex's desire to go "legit," most people use it for the media server functionality. That's what really sets it apart from other services. If you're not interested in hosting local media, it's hard to recommend Plex over another streaming service due to its limited content.

However, there do seem to be more shows in limited numbers being added to Plex as of late, so it's still worth checking out if you're curious.

Watch Plex here

Crackle

The best free streaming services in 2024 (7)

5. Crackle

A free streaming service packed with originals

Specifications

Live TV: No

Originals: Yes

Registration required: No

Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android phones and tablets, Android TV, Apple TV, Apple phones and tablets, Chromecast, LG TV, Playstation 4, Roku, Samsung TV, Vizio TV, Xbox One, web browsers

Reasons to buy

+

Classic TV

+

Lots of UK television series

Reasons to avoid

-

A lot of stuff you've never heard of

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 movie 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 discovering new projects, we're also wary that there may be a bad reason why we don't know about these shows.

Watch Crackle here

Sling Free

The best free streaming services in 2024 (8)

6. Sling Freestream

The best free streaming service for watching classic shows

Specifications

Live TV: Yes

Originals: No

Registration required: No

Supported devices: Roku, Comcast devices, LG, Samsung, Vizio and Xbox

Reasons to buy

+

Easily accessible for Sling members

+

Some good TV shows

Reasons to avoid

-

A lot of lesser content to sort through

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.

Watch Sling Freestream here

Fandango at Home

The best free streaming services in 2024 (9)

7. Fandango at Home

The best free streaming service for watching popular movies

Specifications

Live TV: No

Originals: No

Registration required: Yes

Supported devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android phones and tablets, Android TV, Apple TV, Apple phones and tablets, Chromecast, LG TV, Playstation 4, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio TV, Xbox One, Blu-ray players, web browsers

Reasons to buy

+

Some great movies

+

Offers some beloved sitcoms

Reasons to avoid

-

A lot of the free content isn't family-friendly

-

Takes a while to find the best stuff

Previously called Vudu, Fandango at Home is a digital marketplace where you can purchase the latest movies and TV shows but also stream free content. To use it, you will have to sign up for an account. Once you do that, you can access over a ton of free movies and TV episodes. Few of them are new blockbusters but the selection is pretty good among free streaming services. The movie area is better than the TV section.

The interface is easy to use and free content is clearly marked. 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).

Watch Fandango at Home 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.

Are the best free streaming services actually free?

Yes, all of the free streaming services we've included in this guide are 100% completely, totally free. Some require you to sign up with an account, and some don't, but the cost of all of them is zero.

That comes with a major caveat: Ads. According to a report by Wurl Analytics, FAST services show an average of nine minutes of ads per hour.

That's lower than the 15 minutes per hour that's normal for cable TV, though higher than the ad-supported tiers of Netflix and Max (about four minutes per hour). Then again, those cost $7 and $10, respectively. Of course, you also get all the premium content those subscription streaming services offer.

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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TOPICS

The best free streaming services in 2024 (10)

Kelly Woo

Streaming Editor

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.

With contributions from

  • Brittany Vincent

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9 CommentsComment from the forums

  • 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

  • ziggyff

    admin said:

    Here are the best free streaming services, including Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, IMDBtv and more.

    The best free streaming services : Read more

    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

    Reply

  • benny78

    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

    ....and The Roku Channel is available on Fire TV too.

    Reply

  • 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

  • mark_887797

    benny78 said:

    ....and The Roku Channel is available on Fire TV too.

    what's so special about Roku channels?

    Reply

  • mark_887797

    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

    The blog is clickbait, nothing else IMO.

    Reply

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