Original: The best free streaming services to escape subscription hell.
If you’re like us, you’ve probably noted the subscription hailstorm brewing in the wake of the streaming wars.
Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ are building up their libraries for what will no doubt be an epic showdown for the hearts and minds of viewers in the years to come.
There is good reason for this; American budgets for entertainment have grown in American households, but they are finite. And with the economy on the brink of a recession and inflation rising, we’re beginning to see households pulling the plug on services that don’t check every box.
But premium content isn’t the only game in town. We take a look at some pretty solid free streaming services most consumers probably aren’t taking advantage of today.
The best free streaming services
Tubi TV
Among international viewers, Tubi TV is one of the most popular free streaming services. Tubi TV boasts over 45,000 movies and TV shows and offers exclusive access (among free services) to content from MGM, Paramount Pictures, Starz Digital, and Lionsgate.
Using Tubi TV is intuitive and requires no subscription. Just open the app and stream. Subscribing to the service gives users more access and creates a profile that allows you to save your progress and playlists.
Tubi TV also offers exclusive content, including some new releases, lesser-known titles not available anywhere else, and live TV.
Tubi also has a significant sports selection, which may be where a clear distinction can be made if you’re a sports fan.
As of July 2022, Tubi hosted 13 channels dedicated to sports, including Fox Sports, NFL Channel, MLB, beIN Sports XTRA, fubo Sports Network, Stadium, PAC-12 Insider, Real Madrid, USA Today SportsWire, Fox Sports En Espanol, beIN Sports XTRA En Espanol, ACCDN, and NHRA TV.
Along with Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and Peacock’s MLB Sunday, Tubi is one of the best places to stream sports online.
Peacock
Peacock now boasts more than 13,000 hours of exclusive content. The streamer is now home to some of the most popular TV shows of all time, including Friday Night Lights, The Office, Battlestar Galactica, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock.
Not to mention the service is home to some of the biggest Universal films, including the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World series and Harry Potter. Jurassic World: Dominion is set to drop on Peacock in October.
At this stage of the game, Peacock feels like a premium streamer but is still, unbelievably, one of the free streaming services with ads or an Xfinity hub subscription.
Vudu
Vudu is Fandango’s online streaming service. It offers both movies and TV programming at no cost with limited commercials.
Vudu’s been bulking up on its content of late and now hosts a library of more than 800 TV shows and 10,000 movies.
And while Vudu is generally more inclined towards older family-friendly content, the streamer appears to be making a move to building its newer and original content.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is well-known among free streaming services with over 250 networks. It is owned by Viacom and has a vast collection of movies and television shows. However, its live TV channels have made it among the most popular of streaming services.
Viewers can use Pluto TV to watch TV Land Drama, Fox Sports, CNN, MTV’s Jersey Shore, and BET Her. The platform also has a simple interface, which makes it easy to find relevant content.
But it is ad heavy, not that it would bother most of us at this point.
Crackle
Crackle is best known for its retro 80s collection. It’s home to a lot of older content, but, that’s not to say that the platform isn’t fresh.
Purchased by Sony Pictures in 2006, Crackle has access to quite a bit of new content and has recently begun to add some original IP as well.
The decent selection of Crackle is easy to navigate, thanks to its simple user interface. And, viewers can access all content at 1080p quality. Crackle is quickly climbing the ranks among free streaming services.
Conclusion
While each service has its niche, the streaming wars have spawned significant competition in the free arena. As more and more content litters the web, the question is: which of the free streaming services is best for you?