How many streaming platforms do you pay for? No, really, we’ll wait while you count them up. Want to know how you stack up against other streaming subscribers? According to some recent surveys, the average American pays about $60 across four different streaming services. That’s a lot.
Between must-watch shows like Severance on AppleTV+, Game of Thrones and The White Lotus on HBOMax, Shogun and The Bear on FX, Adolescence and Squid Game on Netflix, and Daredevil and The Mandalorian on Disney+, it can get dizzying quickly.
At the same time, you may subscribe to six or more streamers and still not have access to the movies or shows you want to watch. Enter the free streaming services like Tubi and Crackle.
Generally ad-supported, these streamers can extend your streaming library with a wide range of exciting options—assuming that you’re willing to put up with ads in the process. Here’s our rundown of the best free streaming services in 2025.
Looking for more streaming recommendations? Check out our guides to the best TV shows available on Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV+, and HBO Max, plus the best movies on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and Tubi.
Tubi
Top Titles: Legally Blonde, Scandal, Happy Gilmore, Godzilla, ATL, The Creator, Spring
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: None
Tubi’s tagline is “See You In There”—and with so much to offer, it’s hard to imagine you not finding a few movies worth checking out on the free streamer. From classics like Ben-Hur and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to modern comedies like Happy Gilmore and Spaceballs, there’s really something for everyone on Tubi.
Aside from movies, Tubi also offers an array of free TV shows to stream. Offering true crime greats like The First 48, mysteries like Midsommer Murders, and reality television ranging from Hell’s Kitchen to Dance Moms, Tubi manages to pack a lot of entertainment into one ad-supported platform.
Fandango at Home (Vudu)
Top Titles: The Blair Witch Project, Son of Bigfoot, The Illusionist, The Librarian, Season of the Witch
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: Pay to rent ad-free movies and shows
Offering more than 1,000 free movies to stream (plus more to rent), Fandango at Home (formerly known as Vudu), is a solid streaming service to have in your back pocket. Offering well-known films like Killing Them Softly alongside b-movie cult classics like Sharknado and Spirit Halloween: The Movie, Fandango at Home’s free library of films is one of the more eclectic services on this list.
Plex
Top Titles: Snowpiercer, Machete Kills, Life After Beth, Down to Earth, The Conners
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: Plex Pass ($4.99/mo)
Plex markets itself as your media concierge, combining its free streamable options with other services you pay for to offer one app to rule them all. The movies available to stream on Plex span from action and comedy to horror, animation, and documentary. In the world of television, you’ve got hit dramas like Weeds, Mad Men, and Fear the Walking Dead — alongside comedy favorites such as The Drew Carrey Show and The Conners.
If you want to take your free Plex subscription to the next level, becoming a Plex Pass member for $4.99 a month offers you additional features like unlimited DVR and offline downloads.
The Roku Channel
Top Titles: We Live in Time, The Terminator, White House Down, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: Premium subscription to other services offered
If you use a Roku device to stream content on your television, you already likely have The Roku Channel—but have you taken a look at it lately? Featuring Roku Originals as well as live television, there’s a lot packed into the app you probably ignore in favor of other paid apps on your Roku.
While Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is their biggest Roku Original hit, other original content worth checking out on the platform includes the TV series The Spiderwick Chronicles and the romantic comedy This Time Next Year.
Crackle
Top Titles: Megalodon, Forensic Files, Halloween, Girlfriends’ Getaway, The Enforcer, Kitchen Nightmares
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: None
Much like Tubi, Crackle is a free streaming service with no paid tiers. While Tubi may have more recognizable titles in the world of movies, Crackle excels when it comes to off-the-wall niche collections of films and comfort TV favorites.
For example, who knew you might want a curated list of films under the theme “Summer Shark Splashdown” (featuring Megalodon, the Mega Shark franchise, and such b-movie delights as Ouija Shark)? Or, maybe you’re in the mood for a collection like “Raunchy Romps” (Losin’ It, Beginners Guide to Sex) or “Mankind vs Aliens” (The War of the Worlds, Age of Tomorrow). If b-movies are your jam, Crackle is here to serve you the perfectly-curated comfort you crave.
Amazon FreeVee
Top Titles: Reacher, Den of Thieves, Terrifier, Knowing, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Ads: Yes
Paid Tiers: No, but integrated into a “Free” section of Amazon Prime Video
If you already have Amazon Prime Video, then you may be more interested in streaming Twisters, Beast Games, or The Boys. However, if you’re not a paid subscriber, you still have access to Amazon FreeVee, an ad-supported, free section of the popular streaming service that doesn’t require you to pay a subscription fee to access content.
As it turns out, there are nearly as many free streaming platforms worth considering as their paid counterparts. Whether you’re looking for curated television channels or commercial-supported classic movies to fold your laundry to, the services above are here to give you access to great content without charging you an arm and a leg.
You may end up with a few more services to juggle, but at the very least, you won’t worry that you aren’t getting your money’s worth by not opening the app often enough if you subscribe to the streamers above.