Paid streaming subscriptions are bumping up their rates while offering a handful of cheaper tiers. Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and Hulu offer great movies and shows, but you don’t have to stay locked in to meet your entertainment needs. There are a bunch of free alternatives to the big streamers, and we’ve gone through the testing and research to find the best ones for you.
Many of these services are ad-supported, so you won’t be able to skip commercials on these platforms. Most have older shows and movies, sort of like basic cable reruns. Some network sites (including ABC) won’t let you stream every show unless you’re a paid cable or satellite subscriber, but there are services like Sling Free, which offers a free tier in addition to paid plans.
Here’s a look at some of the best free streaming sites, which are all legal ways to indulge your inner couch potato. Prefer movies? Check out these 10 free Netflix alternatives.
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How we test streaming services
With more than 150 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.
Free streaming services FAQs