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Free Movies: 9 of the Best Netflix Alternatives to Entertain You – CNET [CNET]
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Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET’s popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook “I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie”).
Kourtnee Jackson Senior Editor
Kourtnee covers TV streaming services and home entertainment news and reviews at CNET. She previously worked as an entertainment reporter at Showbiz Cheat Sheet where she wrote about film, television, music, celebrities, and streaming platforms.
Expertise Kourtnee is a longtime cord-cutter who’s subscribed to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, Sling, Spotify and more. As a real-life user of these services, she tracks the latest developments in streaming, the newest re Credentials
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If you remove Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, you’re still left with what seems like an endless supply of streaming services. Yes, it’s become more convenient than ever to watch movies, but it’s also overwhelming with all the choices. Finding out where movies are streaming is one headache, while the mounting number of monthly subscriptions is another — and don’t forget the dent in your wallet it creates. It can be a real pain in the neck.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of services out there that can help keep you entertained without spending a dime. We’ve pegged Tubi as the best option, but you should check out all nine services that offer totally free, totally legal movies you can watch on smart TVs, media streamers and mobile devices. Some offer TV shows as well. Just be ready to sit through some commercials while streaming movies, because that’s how most of these services pay the bills. And don’t expect the option to download free movies for offline viewing. At present, only Hoopla allows you to do that.
Note: Because selections change regularly, not all the titles listed here may still be available, but we’ll try to keep it up to date.
Read more: Best Live Streaming Services for Cord-Cutters for 2024
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Vudu has been consistently expanding its free, ad-supported section, which lets you choose from a generous selection of Hollywood movies (mostly older titles, alas) to watch at no charge. To watch free movies online, you’ll need a Vudu account, but it’s free to set one up. Word of advice: Use parental controls — you’re going to need them if you have kids.
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Kanopy offers some mainstream stuff but also a large selection of indie films and documentaries from the likes of PBS and The Great Courses. Its library also houses titles from the esteemed A24, including Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hereditary and Pearl. There’s also a Kanopy Kids section with loads of family-friendly content. Other notable titles on the app include Moonlight, The Big Short and The Secret of Kells.
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If your library doesn’t offer Hoopla, maybe it has Kanopy? This commercial-free (yay!) service, which began life in Australia, has made its way to thousands of college campuses worldwide and various US libraries. Check the website to see if your library has it — and ask for it if it doesn’t.
Kanopy offers some mainstream stuff but also a large selection of indie films and documentaries from the likes of PBS and The Great Courses. Its library also houses titles from the esteemed A24, including Everything Everywhere All at Once, Hereditary and Pearl. There’s also a Kanopy Kids section with loads of family-friendly content. Other notable titles on the app include Moonlight, The Big Short and The Secret of Kells.
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- Parental controls: Some services don’t provide the ability to change age ratings or block certain content for kids. Look for this feature if you want to control access to mature content.
- Library: The biggest question to ask is whether there is anything you want to watch on the service. Do you prefer well-known feature films, obscure releases, classics or campy low-quality titles? If you have kids, you’ll want platforms with enough free movies to keep everyone entertained.
- Finding content: Is the interface user-friendly? It should be fairly easy to search for what you want, including titles, genres or designated “free movies” if applicable.
Yes, for the most part. The trade-off for streaming free content is that you have to tolerate commercials. Whether you’re watching a live channel or on-demand video, most of these services will run ads during your viewing experience. The only exceptions on this list are Kanopy and Hoopla.
What about free apps for networks like ABC, PBS, CW and others?
These may also be options. You can stream a small amount of movies from your favorite networks on their dedicated apps, but we opted not to include them on this list as some (like ABC) require you to be registered with a cable/TV provider to watch. We’ll note that The CW has a limited slate of feature films available on its app such as Looper, Men in Black and Shrek the Halls.
What if I like the live TV experience?
You can still stream free movies on a services like Pluto or Tubi via their live channel offerings. Keep in mind that titles are pre-programmed, so you will have to wait until a specified broadcast time to watch a movie that you want like traditional TV.
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Do I have to watch ads?
Yes, for the most part. The trade-off for streaming free content is that you have to tolerate commercials. Whether you’re watching a live channel or on-demand video, most of these services will run ads during your viewing experience. The only exceptions on this list are Kanopy and Hoopla.
What about free apps for networks like ABC, PBS, CW and others?
These may also be options. You can stream a small amount of movies from your favorite networks on their dedicated apps, but we opted not to include them on this list as some (like ABC) require you to be registered with a cable/TV provider to watch. We’ll note that The CW has a limited slate of feature films available on its app such as Looper, Men in Black and Shrek the Halls.
What if I like the live TV experience?
You can still stream free movies on a services like Pluto or Tubi via their live channel offerings. Keep in mind that titles are pre-programmed, so you will have to wait until a specified broadcast time to watch a movie that you want like traditional TV.
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