6 Best Free Streaming Services
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Streaming began with the promise of watching TV for significantly less than cable. As streaming has matured, the value is eroding in the minds of many who cut the cord on cable.
The average monthly streaming bill is $74, according to J.D. Power. Additionally, the average household subscribes to four paid streaming services, according to Deloitte. For Americans looking to reclaim savings, free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) services offer substantial value.
If you don’t mind ads, FAST platforms offer a wide range of content, including past popular TV shows and live sports on occasion. Here are the six best free streaming services to use to cut your TV costs.
Tubi
Tubi TV is one of the most popular FAST platforms in the space. The service boasts over 275,000 movies and TV show episodes, as well as more than 300 originals. Fox owns Tubi, but you can stream content from various studios.
Tubi also offers access to nearly 300 live channels. Cord-cutters don’t have to sacrifice sports either, as Tubi offers channels like NBA G League TV to content from the NFL Network. The platform even streamed Super Bowl 59 for free.
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a strong competitor to Tubi. The platform offers over 500 live TV channels as well as thousands of movies and TV shows to stream at your convenience.
The parent company sells the popular Roku devices, but those aren’t necessary to watch content. Baseball fans can watch MLB Sunday Leadoff games on the platform at no cost, plus various other sports.
Pluto TV
For Americans who love sit-back TV, Pluto TV is worth considering. The platform specializes in channels devoted to specific shows or themes, such as marathons of the “Yellowstone” series, for example.
Paramount owns Pluto TV, but you can stream shows and movies from numerous studios. The platform doesn’t disclose specifics, beyond stating that it offers thousands of free movies and TV shows, as well as hundreds of live channels.
Hoopla
Don’t overlook your local library as a free streaming option, thanks to Hoopla. All you need is a library card to use Hoopla. Through that, you can use Hoopla to access free movies and TV shows. Getting access to music, audiobooks, ebooks and comics is also possible.
To use Hoopla, visit the site and locate your local library, and create an account.
Sling Freestream
Sling is a legacy paid streaming service, but it also has the Freestream service for interested customers. A paid subscription isn’t required to access Freestream. The FAST platform has nearly 700 live channels and over 40,000 hours of on-demand content.
Freestream is a good, free alternative for consumers wanting live national news, game shows, true crime and more.
YouTube
YouTube isn’t just for funny cat videos; it’s the leading service Americans use to watch content, according to Nielsen, comprising 12.6% of all streaming time as of September 2025.
The free platform is home to a wealth of free content, even full movies and TV shows. That’s in addition to content you can stream from independent creators to fill your time.
In a time where it feels like everything is increasing in price, reducing paid subscriptions and using a FAST platform is a simple way to save money. Most platforms don’t require an account, though having one may unlock additional features. For Americans who pair a FAST platform with an over-the-air antenna, they may be able to significantly reduce their monthly streaming costs.
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