With movie theaters and other entertainment venues closed, for now, people all over the world have turned to streaming services. Signing up for a few of them is rather costly, but there’s also the option to use free streaming services, most of which are offering plenty of features and content.
Since they are free (with ads, but that’s what you’d otherwise get on cable), you can sign up for all the best free streaming services on our list. They have different advantages and disadvantages, so keep reading to find out what they have to offer.
The Best Free Streaming Services Right Now
Crackle
Crackle is a veteran in the free streaming service industry, launching in 2004 when Netflix was still releasing DVDs. Now co-owned by Sony and Chicken Soup for the Soul, the service provides users with free movies and TV shows and even original programming, which makes it unique in comparison to all the other free streaming platforms on the list.
The software doesn’t require registration, but an account would allow you to add favorites and save progress while watching a movie. The content library is wide, including originals featuring top actors like Martin Freeman and Rupert Grint.
Crackle can be used on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, iOS, Chromecast, LG TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Roku, Samsung TV, Vizio TV, and web browsers.
IMDBtv
IMDB is one of the most amazing resources for filmographies. Now owned by Amazon and called IMDBtv, it has expanded into the streaming niche, coming automatically on Fire TV and Fire TV Sticks. The service can also be accessed via the Amazon Prime Video app.
IMDBtv has a massive collection of free on-demand content, including recent and old movies as well as TV shows and even originals, giving the service credibility as one of the best streaming platforms. The service also makes originals.
The streaming platform supports the following devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick and via the Amazon Prime Video app on Android OS, Apple TV, iOS, Chromecast, PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Xbox One and 360, smart TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and web browsers.
Tubi
Tubi is considered a free version of Netflix and features an on-demand library of more than 20,000 movies and TV shows. It doesn’t offer the newer and high-profile content that Netflix or Hulu provides, not originals, but their collection is still outstanding for a free streaming platform.
The service is clean, the interface is neatly organized into sections, and the menu opens to offer more genres and curated collections, including a rather bold ‘Not on Netflix’ segment. You don’t have to sign in to use Tubi, but registering for an account allows you to parental control functions, a queue and viewing history.
Tubi is available on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android devices, 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, and web browsers.
Vudu
Vudu, the digital marketplace that offers the latest movies and TV shows, is also a free streaming platform. To use the service, you have to create an account, but once you do that, you can access more than 10,000 free movies and TV shows. The collection is superior in comparison to other free content streaming platforms; Vudu also plans to create original shows.
Its interface is easy to use, having the free content clearly marked and filters for free titles. Vudu is accessible from the following devices: Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android devices, Android TV, Apple TV, Apple devices, Chromecast, LG TV, PlayStation 4, Roku, Samsung TV, TiVo, Vizio TV, Xbox One, Blu-ray players, and web browsers.
Xumo
Xumo is another great free streaming service that has both live and on-demand content. The platform is available on a few major smart TV brands and can be downloaded on Roku, iOS, and Android, with no registration required.
The service provides users with more than 190 channels, including NBC News, Fox Sports, Funny or Die, and TMZ. The main menu is a grid-type guide, similar to that on a cable TV. The interface doesn’t make it that easy to see what TV shows are available, but the mobile app has a movie tab you can navigate.
Xumo supports Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Android devices, Android TV, Apple phones and tablets, Comcast Xfinity X1, PlayStation 4, Roku, smart TVs, and web browsers.
The Bottom Lines
Since all the streaming services are free, you don’t need to choose between them, unless you find it difficult to balance a few different apps. Then you could simply focus on one or two that you like best.
