The top 11 free movie streaming sites

Let’s face it, paying for Netflix and Hulu is expensive. Add ever-increasing prices for just about everything, and at some point, you need to draw a line in the sand that says, “No more.” If you’re looking to save money and pare down to a few streaming services that offer the best value and are willing to tolerate some ads, explore the cheapest options available. You’ll find plenty of free and legal platforms on the best streaming devices.

While most streaming sites are good, only a handful are exceptional. We did the hard work for you and selected the top 11 free movie streaming sites.

YouTube

You may know that YouTube has all types of independently made vlogs and shows, and some of it is good. You may not know that YouTube has a large collection of free movies and TV shows. These aren’t limited to public domain pieces from the 1950s (which are also available if you use search filters to find what you’re looking for).

YouTube’s movie selection is limited, but it tends to change often. Some well-known films like Happily Ever After make appearances, as well as acclaimed indie films like Adrift in Soho. YouTube has not made its free Movies and TV service available outside the U.S., but, hopefully, that will come.

Crackle

Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service previously owned by Sony Entertainment. While it has since changed hands, it still features over 1,000 movies, including The Aristocrats and Bernie, and nearly 100 television shows. We’ll be honest here and say Crackle is sort of like shopping in a thrift store. You have to dig a little to find something good, but it’s worth the effort. It displays several movie categories from the sidebar. You can use it to filter through a large catalog.

Crackle also has a healthy helping of animated shows, reality TV, action, and thrillers. Ads on Crackle are reasonably frequent, appearing every 10 to 15 minutes during a movie or show.

Pluto TV

Paramount Streaming owns and runs Pluto TV as an ad-supported, free streaming platform, meaning that a lot of the content available on Pluto is directly from Paramount. Although it is often B-tier or older content, there’s a lot to choose from, and Pluto is expanding its roster with exclusives. The recent addition of a search button streamlines the viewing experience.

You can access Pluto TV from anything that has a web browser, and there are Pluto TV apps for about every device under the sun, including the PlayStation 4.

Freevee (formerly IMDb TV)

Freevee’s catalog is not nearly as plump as other free services, but there are worthwhile shows and films, including Mad Men, the Fifty Shades series, and Schitt’s Creek. Freevee carries original titles such as Rowdy, Hotel for the Holidays, America’s Test Kitchen, and more. Some older titles are also available that were quite popular in their day.

Freevee is only available in the U.S., U.K., and Germany. You need at least a free Amazon account to access Freevee content, which makes getting around any geo-blocking a little more challenging. Amazon Prime members can access Prime Video, with hundreds of ad-free films and series to stream.

Fawesome

While Fawesome is available globally, you need to download a clunky app to view content. The app is available on LG TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android, iOS, and Windows. Fawesome has everything from reality TV, docuseries, and kids shows to a variety of action, comedy, and drama shows. It even has a handful of popular anime series.

You can pick from over 10,000 movies and shows from 25 genres, such as Action, Comedy, Kids, Horror, Thriller, and more.

Tubi TV

While Fox’s Tubi TV content is hit or miss, you’re sure to find something worth watching. With over 20,000 shows and movies, you’ll likely find something to keep you busy on a Friday night. You might want to look somewhere else if you’re looking for something specific. Still, Tubi has a healthy helping of action, comedy, drama, documentaries, and a handful of animation and anime classics.

Tubi had to pull out of the U.K. and EU because of GDPR laws. So, for now, U.S. viewers have access to Tubi’s entire catalog of content, and international viewers from Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand have access to a limited range of free content.

Crunchyroll

Anime fans are probably aware of this one, but Crunchyroll has the most extensive library of anime and manga. Not everything is free, and you have to create a free account to watch anything. Still, it’s a great way to watch anime without going to unscrupulous websites. The cherry on top is Crunchyroll’s updated user interface across all apps.

The free content is limited, though. If you want to explore more, sign up for a 14-day free trial on Crunchyroll.

Plex TV

If you like a combination of independent films, documentaries, B-movies, and vintage productions, Plex TV should be on your radar. Along with a comprehensive catalog of on-demand shows and films, Plex has a host of live TV channels spanning various genres, from news to fitness and even live sports.

Plex doesn’t force you to create an account to watch, but if you decide to create one, you can use Plex to access your other subscriptions or upload content, so everything is in one place. Plex is available outside the U.S., but the quality and amount of content take a dip when you leave the U.S.

The CW

Yes, The CW isn’t a movie streaming service, but it’s full of trashy shows that are perfect for mindless binges. Have an afternoon and want to watch something absolutely ridiculous? Every episode of Riverdale is a train wreck. Do you want to watch a historical drama where all the facts are wrong, and everyone has an American accent? You’re going to love Salem.

The CW has a solid assortment of some of the network’s newest offerings, but some notable movies are missing. Streaming via The CW is only available in the U.S., but you might be able to get around that limitation with a VPN since you don’t need an account to access the site.

Popcornflix

Popcornflix is another solid website to catch free movies online. It constantly adds new titles from Screen Media Ventures to keep the library fresh. You can watch Kung Fu classics, offbeat comedies like American Hero, Almost Pregnant, and Barry Munday, and murder mysteries such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dead Tone, Stoker Hills, and Don’t Go In The Woods.

Unlike some websites, Popcornflix offers a clean, easy-to-use user interface, neat categorization to find titles quickly, and a handy Continue watching section. You don’t need to create a new account. Just visit the website, pick any movie, and enjoy.

Vudu

If you’re ready to bear a few commercials, Vudu can be your ideal companion to catch high-quality movies for free. You can visit Vudu on your desktop and enable the Free movies only filter to check a large catalog. Some movies are available in full-HD (1080p) resolution.

Some notable titles include All Good Things, Vice, The World’s Fastest Indian, Castle Falls,and Train to Busan.You can also buy or rent movies from Vudu. The streaming service requires registration to unlock the movie library.

Cut the cord in style

While these streaming sites don’t offer something like Amazon Prime Video Watch Party to watch content with friends from other locations, they unlock access to a robust movie collection without paying a single dime. What are you waiting for? Pick your favorite movie streaming site and start your weekend in style.