As convenient as today's grand selection of paid streaming services is, sometimes it feels good to watch a movie knowing that you aren't paying for a subscription. Luckily, there is an array of websites and services that make this possible, even with the existence of their fierce competitors. While they are less sought-after or convenience incentivized than services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max, free streaming sites are perfect for those penny-pinching movie viewers looking to save.
Since there are so many options that come up from a simple search, this list will be a guide for the free streaming sites that tend to be less risky. There are plenty of sites that are illegal in multiple provinces and countries, so it should be noted that the free movie websites and apps on this list are all legal in the way that the streaming rights were acquired.
You can also check out our guide on the best streaming services with free trials or how to reduce your streaming bill.
Here Are the Best Free Streaming Sites in 2026:
Since there are so many paid streaming services in 2026, for many–if not all–of the sites on this list, advertisements are an obvious obligation. There are some cheaper ad-free streaming services out there, but none of them are completely free.
Sling TV FreeStream
While you do have to sign up for an account, Sling TV's Freestream compiles over 600 free streaming sites and channels into a single service. Like most other free streaming sites, Sling TV offers both free live TV and free streaming of movies and shows on demand. Whether you want to watch anime, action movies, or even local news, Sling TV is a great starting point for finding out what's streaming for free.
The Roku Channel
One of the few options on this list that has its own original content, The Roku Channel is a unique option for the casual viewer. With no need to sign up or register, it’s easy to start streaming one of the many titles available. While it is one of the favored free sites to stream, the quality of content is somewhat limited, making it a good option to catch an arthouse film you may have missed. There are also quite a few Roku originals, and the service recently launched its own arcade game.
If you're looking for an ad-free experience, Roku also recently launched a service called Howdy that does just that for $2.99 per month. The library is definitely more limited compared to any of the major streaming services, but it's one of the cheapest ways to watch movies and TV without ads.
Plex
A site with a higher standard of big movies available for free, Plex is a good choice for the money-saving cinephile. After a quick sign-in through Google, Facebook, or Apple, you can watch many popular movies with the cast, internet ratings, and reviews from mainstream sites right there in the film summary section. Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Sorry to Bother You, and Ex Machina are just some examples of what's free to stream on Plex.
Plex also hosts the Plex Media Server, a platform which allows you to keep all of your media library in one place, starting at $2.99/month. The service also offers a "lifetime" subscription plan which will be getting a massive price hike in July. This is an especially useful for anyone with a large 4K Blu-ray or DVD collection as you can store the digital versions of those films and stream them rather than having to break out the Blu-ray player each time you want to watch something.
Pluto TV
With a surprisingly impressive interface, Pluto TV acts almost as an interactive TV Guide of movies and TV shows. With multiple options for the layout, anyone who visits this site–no registration required–will have access to a fairly large catalog of movies. While there are no popup or banner ads, there are still ads that may interrupt in the middle of a scene or dialogue. Movies you can currently stream on demand include Midsommar, Snowpiercer, and Pulp Fiction.
You can also watch live TV on Pluto, with channels dedicated to categories like anime as well as individual series like CSI and Bar Rescue.
Tubi
Another of the sites on this list growing in popularity, Tubi rivals the best when it comes to layout and movie selection. While it resembles Netflix in look and interface, Tubi is one of the few options here that is only available in some countries. It's got great horror movies, like The Ring and Train to Busan, as well as nostalgic classics that might interest the millennial crowd. Tubi is also a great place to stream anime for free, with top picks like Death Note, Inuyasha, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure making it a very well-rounded service.
Tubi is also now the only place you can actually stream Looney Tunes shorts and tons of Cartoon Network shows after HBO Max removed them from its streaming library.
Crackle
While Crackle carries a lot of generally unknown sequels or continuations of movie series, the sheer amount of content is enough to justify a visit. Regarding safety, this site is among the more easily trustworthy sites, as Sony is held to a much higher standard than your everyday streaming site. Along with these other pros, the ads are actually a bit lower in frequency and annoyance than the other sites.
XUMO Play
Another site where streaming live TV is an option, XUMO Play has some pretty great movie options that arguably rival the other services, depending on what a viewer is looking for. Xumo is where you'll find Denis Villeneuve's Enemy and Sean Baker's Red Rocket as well as TV shows like Hell's Kitchen and Trailer Park Boys. With specialized lists of movies and vast device compatibility, this is an underrated underdog of a streaming site.
More Ways to Watch Free Movies Online
Another great way to watch free movies online is by taking advantage of free trials from different streaming services. If you're not already a member, both Prime Video and Hulu offer a 30-day free trial, but the latter depends on what plan you're interested in. At the moment, you can take advantage of the 30-day free trial on Hulu by signing up for their No Ads plan (which is $14.99/month once the trial ends). Crunchyroll and Apple TV+ also offer a free trial period, though they're both 7 days long rather than 30 days.
Connor Sheppard is a contributing culture writer and critic of all things media at IGN with previous work on The Manual.
