Best Free Streaming Services You Can Use on Your iPhone Right Now
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Let's face it: streaming services aren't getting cheaper. For a lot of us, continuing to pay over $10 per month for just one streaming service is already hard enough.
However, it seems every major platform is now getting its own streaming service. With Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, NBC's Peacock, CBS' Paramount+, and more, it's hard to keep up — and it's nearly impossible to pay for all these streaming services.
Fortunately, there are some free alternatives. Believe it or not, there are many streaming platforms out there that'll show you great movies and TV shows at no cost.
How does it work? Well, unfortunately, you do still sort of have to "pay" for the service — but it's by watching ads instead. That may feel as if you're watching regular cable TV, but at least you won't have to pay extra for it. Some of these offer quality shows, movies, and even anime, and several of them have pretty recent content. Plus, they all offer apps you can download to watch on the go.
Streaming services are a dime a dozen, but you don't have to pay for all of them to catch some great shows or movies. These platforms will keep you entertained 24/7 without having to spend extra money. Of course, you'll have to watch some ads here and there, but that's a small price to pay for free stuff.
But by far, the best part is that you can try all of these great streaming platforms without spending a single dime on any one of them. Here are the best free streaming services you need to download for your iPhone or iPad.
Freevee
You're probably not yet familiar with Freevee because Amazon recently changed its name. It's the same service that used to be known as IMDb TV, but Amazon decided a new name was the best way to show the app is free for everyone.
And it's true — the name says it all. With Freevee, you'll find some cool shows and movies at absolutely no cost. You can watch timeless classics or go a little more modern with superhero flicks like Logan and Deadpool.
There's a lot to watch on Freevee, and the best part is that it'll only take you a few ads to get through it.
Sling TV
While it's not the most popular option on the list, Sling TV is still a great streaming service you can use on your iPhone for free.
What makes Sling TV stand out is that it offers a huge list of free live TV channels. You can catch some local news or shows live or select one of the on-demand titles the platform has to offer, all without spending a dime.
While you can use Sling TV for free, you won't be able to access its full roster of programming. For that, you can still subscribe to its premium subscription plan to get full access to all of its channels and on-demand content for around $40 per month.
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is a streaming service that needs no introduction, especially if you love watching anime. It's the go-to platform for anime lovers, and you can watch all of its content for free.
While the platform does have a few premium plans you can subscribe to, you can start using Crunchyroll at no cost. Of course, that means you won't have access to a few features, like the ability to watch anime as soon as it comes out in Japan.
Plus, you'll have to watch some ads between every episode, which can get annoying if you love binge-watching your shows. However, for folks or a budget or those who just don't mind looking at ads, Crunchyroll offers one of the best experiences for anime lovers out there.
YouTube
Yes, we all know YouTube already offers millions, if not billions, of videos that are available to you for free. However, did you know that YouTube also features a Movies and Shows section?
As you can guess from the name, there's a lot of good stuff there, and while you'll need to buy or rent some of the more popular titles, YouTube still offers a lot of content for free if you're willing to sit through a few ads. Of course, if you already use YouTube, you're probably used to watching ads by now.
Granted, YouTube's library of free titles isn't as big as other platforms on the list, but you can still watch movies and shows with all the benefits YouTube has to offer.
The Roku Channel
You might be thinking from the name that The Roku Channel is exclusive to Roku users. While that used to be true, things have changed and it's now available for everyone — even if you've never used a Roku device in your life.
The Roku Channel offers many movies, shows, original programming, and live TV, all for free.
Sure, you'll still have to endure some ads, and you won't have access to some key features like the highest video quality or the option to download content, but there's still a lot to watch, whether you're on your couch or on the go. Plus, if you want to, you can access other channels if you're willing to pay for them.
One of the best parts is that if you do have a Roku device, you can use The Roku app to turn your iPhone into a TV remote. You'll be able to control, type and give voice commands to your Roku device without using anything other than your iPhone.
Crackle
Crackle was one of the first free streaming services that existed, and it still remains one of the best to this day.
Crackle offers a ton of movies and shows that'll be hard to find on other streaming platforms, like Sherlock. On top of that, its library is constantly changing so you'll be able to find new content to watch regularly.
The best and probably worst part about Crackle is that it's completely free — there's no paid option at all. While that means you won't have to worry about spending money, it also means that if you get tired of ads, there's no way for you to stop watching them, even if you're willing to pay for them. Not only that, but the platform isn't the best in terms of user interface and quality-of-life features. Still, it's a great site to watch amazing movies and shows at no cost.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is perfect if all you want to do is sit down and watch TV. You don't need to create an account or go through the trouble of letting the platform know what you like. You just open the app and start watching.
Pluto TV's library is really big, and you'll find both newer titles and older classic films and television shows. Plus, you'll be sure to find something you love since the platform offers a wide variety of genres that range from TV cartoons to anime and cooking shows.
Sure, that doesn't mean the platform is perfect. You'll still have to endure watching quite a few ads and a user interface that's not the best for 2023. But still, Pluto TV offers a simple solution for people who don't want to do anything other than watch their favorite shows for free.
Tubi
Tubi is a great streaming platform for finding some of the best, most well-known movies and shows out there. You can find a lot of content thanks to its library of over 20,000 titles, which means you're sure to find something you like, whether it's comedies from the early 2,000s or more popular content like Naruto and 3rd Rock From the Sun.
Not only that, but the ads aren't as intrusive as they are on many other platforms, and as a whole it feels almost like you're dealing with a premium service. Overall, it's one of the best options you can try.