Netflix was the first streaming service that I subscribed to, and the one that made me realize that we were entering a brave new world of on-demand entertainment, where an entire video rental store could be plucked from the ether. These services began piling up as more “essential” movies, shows, and documentaries came into the fold, and before long, my monthly streaming bill had ballooned to rival most cable packages.
After one too many Netflix price hikes and evenings disappointed by the lack of fresh content, I decided enough was enough, and it was time to seek an alternative. To my surprise, I discovered a wealth of free, legal, high-quality apps offering movies, TV shows, and even live TV channels that I didn’t realize I was missing. Some of these services were so good that they made it especially easy to cut ties with my subscribed streaming platforms.
Plex
Stream for free and manage your own media
Credit: Jack Mitchell/MakeUseOf
I am relatively new to Plex, but it has quickly become an essential part of my home entertainment setup. If you are a movie lover or a home media tinkerer, it’s well worth setting up a private media server to organize your collection. I started down this route, but Plex has now evolved into a fully-fledged free streaming service as well.
Plex offers thousands of on-demand movies and TV episodes, as well as an impressive live TV service that offers more than 300 channels. These include everything from news and sports to retro shows and cult films. It can be downloaded onto many devices, from smart TVs to game consoles, or used with a TV streaming stick. If you’re looking to cut down on the number of apps you use, this dual-purpose solution, which combines your home media with free streaming, is hard to beat.
OS
MacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, Andriod
Plex is a powerful media management and streaming service that centralizes your personal media—like movies, music, photos, and TV shows—into one easy-to-access library. It also offers free streaming of movies, TV, and live channels, making it a versatile entertainment hub for all your content.
Tubi
A Titan among free streaming services
Credit: Jack Mitchell/MakeUseOf
Tubi should be on the radar of anyone looking to break from paid TV subscriptions. It boasts a massive collection of over 50,000 titles, from Hollywood blockbusters to cult classics, favorite TV series, and even anime and niche genres. I like it for its refreshingly simple interface and overall decent image quality, with many newer titles in HD.
As with most free streaming platforms, the only drawback is sitting through ad breaks, but these are shorter and less intrusive than the TV commercials that I remember. On the positive side, there is an incredible variety—from Oscar-winning dramas to old-school sitcoms—and the element of surprise when I come across something I was hoping to see or that offers a welcome dose of nostalgia. Whatever my mood, Tubi usually has something on offer that immediately hits the spot.
founded
2014-00-00
number of users
100 million+ monthly
Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers thousands of movies and TV shows across a wide range of genres without requiring a subscription. It provides on-demand access to both classic titles and modern releases from major studios.
Pluto TV
Free cable for the streaming era
Screenshot by Dave Parrack. No attribution needed.
I slept on Pluto TV for too long, and having recently downloaded it, I am a faithful convert. As someone who likes to channel surf rather than commit to long, drawn-out series, Pluto, with its live TV format and over 250 channels, is a breath of fresh air. Here, I can tune into 24/7 channels dedicated to true crime, classic TV, sports, and film, as well as channels for shows like CSI and Star Trek, and genres like Comedy Central.
Alternatively, Pluto TV offers an impressive on-demand library with thousands of films and TV episodes across every imaginable genre. As Paramount owns the platform, it can draw from the vaults of major studios and features plenty of big-name titles alongside old gems. This mix of live, familiar favorites and ambitious on-demand titles makes Pluto an indispensable freebie for those seeking a quick fix of spontaneous entertainment.
founded
2013-00-00
number of users
80 million+ monthly
Pluto TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers live TV channels and on-demand content across news, entertainment, sports, and movies. It provides a traditional TV-like viewing experience with hundreds of curated channels available online.
The Roku Channel
Much more than a native device add-on
I was first made aware of The Roku Channel as an added perk that was available to device owners. It has since evolved into a standalone, free streaming service available to everyone, and because Roku partners with major studios, it’s brimming with recognizable content.
While The Roku Channel is accessible via web browsers and its mobile app, it can only be installed on selected smart TVs and Roku-enabled devices. However, it’s well worth the extra effort, as its curation sets it apart, with premium licensed material and exclusive content that make it feel more like a paid platform than most of its rivals. I also enjoyed its easily navigable interface and modern aesthetics; so much so that I’m tempted to shell out on a Roku Streaming Stick.
founded
2017-00-00
number of users
145 million+ monthly
The Roku Channel is a free streaming service offering thousands of movies, TV shows, and live TV channels without a subscription. Available on Roku devices, mobile, and the web, it features a mix of classic favorites, news, sports, and premium content with optional paid add-ons for more entertainment.
Are you ready to break away from paid TV streaming services?
Canceling Netflix felt like a major lifestyle shift at the time. I had been paying for my subscription for years, and I wasn’t sure that ad-supported entertainment would cut it in the long term. However, having made the decision, I’m not sure I would go back to streaming television, as one by one, my other subscriptions eventually got the chop.
What I’ve found is that I watch less TV and spend more time doing other things, as I am not compelled to finish a series or roped into binge-watching episodes over a weekend. Of course, I get the occasional ads, but these provide a welcome break to check my phone or fix myself a drink, and considering all the money I save, the inconvenience is a small price to pay. It’s worth trying some of these free services for yourself; you will see they can be every bit as entertaining as your paid subscriptions.
