Best Free Legal TV Streaming Sites

In this guide, we list the best free legal TV streaming sites and apps, explain what each one is good at, and show you a few library-card services many people do not know about.

Please note: “Free” here means free with ads or free with a library card. Catalogs and channel line-ups change often and vary by country, so check the official app for what is available where you live.

Best Free TV Streaming Sites at a Glance

Best Free Legal TV Streaming Sites and Apps

1. Tubi

Tubi, owned by Fox, is one of the biggest free streaming services around. It is mostly on demand, so you pick what you want to watch, and it has a very large library of movies and TV series across almost every genre, plus a set of live channels. You can watch without an account, but a free account lets you save your progress and build a watchlist.

2. Pluto TV

Pluto TV, owned by Paramount, is the closest thing to free cable. It has a channel guide with hundreds of live channels covering news, sports, comedy, reality TV, movies, and kids’ shows, plus an on-demand library. You can often start watching without signing up. If you miss the feeling of flipping through channels, start here.

3. The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is free with ads and offers movies, TV shows, Roku originals, and a large live TV guide. Despite the name, you do not need a Roku device, because it also works on the web and in the mobile app. Roku also sells premium add-on subscriptions inside the app, so look for content marked as free.

4. Samsung TV Plus

If you own a Samsung TV, phone, or tablet, Samsung TV Plus is already built in. It is a free, ad-supported service with hundreds of live channels in the US and an on-demand section. There is no sign-up needed on most Samsung devices, which makes it one of the easiest free options to use.

5. Plex

Plex started as an app for organizing your own media, and it still does that well. It also offers free, ad-supported movies and shows plus a large guide of free live channels. You can watch on almost any device with a free Plex account.

6. Prime Video free content

Amazon shut down its separate Freevee service and moved that free content into Prime Video. You do not need a Prime membership to watch it. Look for the free-to-watch section in the Prime Video app, which includes ad-supported movies, series, and live channels. Everything else on Prime Video needs a Prime membership or a rental.

7. Xumo Play

Xumo Play is a free, ad-supported service focused on live channels, with a good mix of news and entertainment channels plus some on-demand titles. It works in a web browser, on mobile, and on many smart TVs and streaming devices.

8. Kanopy

Kanopy is a hidden gem. If your public library or university supports it, you can stream films, documentaries, classic movies, and kids’ titles for free with your library card, with no ads. Your library decides how many titles you can watch each month.

9. hoopla

hoopla is another free library service. With a participating library card, you can borrow movies and TV episodes, along with e-books, audiobooks, and music. There are no ads, and your library sets your monthly borrowing limit.

Other free options worth checking

• Your TV’s built-in service: Many smart TV brands include their own free channel service, such as LG Channels on LG TVs.
• Network apps: Apps from broadcasters such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS sometimes offer recent episodes free, while others need a TV provider login or subscription.
• A TV antenna: A one-time purchase that gives you free local channels in the US with no monthly fee.
• Streaming guide apps: Apps like JustWatch and Reelgood help you find which legal service has a show, including free ones.

Free Legal TV Streaming in Other Regions

United Kingdom

• BBC iPlayer: No ads, but you need a valid TV Licence to use it.
• ITVX: Free with ads, with a large on-demand library and live ITV channels.
• Channel 4 streaming: Free with ads, with Channel 4 shows and box sets.
• 5 (formerly My5) and U (formerly UKTV Play): Free with ads.

Remember that watching live TV on any service in the UK requires a TV Licence.

India

• Amazon MX Player: Free with ads, with movies, web series, and dubbed content.
• JioHotstar, ZEE5, and Sony LIV: Mostly subscription-based, with some free content. Many mobile plans include access.

Why We Don’t Recommend Unlicensed Streaming Sites

Older versions of this article listed some sites and apps that link to or share shows without permission. We have removed them, and here is why we suggest you avoid that kind of site:

• Malware: Fake player updates, download buttons, and apps from unknown sources can infect your device.
• Scams: Pop-ups, fake prize alerts, and phishing pages are everywhere on these sites.
• Legal risk: Streaming or downloading pirated shows can break copyright law where you live.
• Poor quality: Broken links, missing episodes, wrong subtitles, and constant buffering are common.

With so many free legal services available, there is really no reason to take those risks.

FAQ

What is the best free TV streaming site?

For on-demand movies and shows, Tubi is a great starting point. For live channels, try Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, or The Roku Channel. If you have a library card, Kanopy and hoopla are excellent ad-free choices.

Are free TV streaming sites legal?

The services on this list are legal. They license their content and pay for it with ads, or through your local library. Sites that show content without permission are not legal, even if they look professional.

Do I need to sign up to watch free TV online?

Not always. Pluto TV, Tubi, and Samsung TV Plus can often be watched without an account. A free account usually lets you save progress and create a watchlist. Kanopy and hoopla need a library card.

Can I watch free TV on my smart TV?

Yes. Most of these services have apps for smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, and Apple TV. Some, like Samsung TV Plus and The Roku Channel, come built in on certain devices.

Conclusion

Free TV streaming has never been better. Between Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Plex, Prime Video’s free section, Xumo Play, and library services like Kanopy and hoopla, you can watch a lot of TV without paying a cent or putting your device at risk.

Which free TV streaming service do you use the most? Let us know in the comment section below.