- Seven legal streaming services with free films
- Streaming services side by side
- Ads, library cards and sign-ins on each service
- Library partners and country licensing limit what you see
- How to spot a site that isn't legal
- Finding a film to watch tonight
- Ebooks, audiobooks and offline viewing
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Plex stream free movies with ads, Kanopy and hoopla give you free films through your public library card, and in the UK, Channel 4's streaming service is free too. They're all legal, but what's available depends on your country, and the library services need a card from a library that has signed up.
Free movie sites have a bad reputation, mostly because of the dodgy ones full of pop-ups. The legal options are better than most people realise, and some have big libraries. They make their content free in one of two ways: ads, or your library. Knowing which is which tells you what to expect before you press play.
Seven legal streaming services with free films
In no particular order:
- Tubi: best for a big on-demand library of free movies and TV shows.
- Pluto TV: best for live TV-style channels alongside on-demand films.
- The Roku Channel: best for free movies and shows, including in a web browser.
- Plex: best for a large free on-demand library plus live TV.
- Kanopy: best for ad-free films, documentaries and classics through your library or university.
- hoopla: best for borrowing films, plus books and music, through your public library.
- Channel 4 streaming: best for UK viewers who want free films and shows from a UK broadcaster.
Streaming services side by side
| Service | How it's free | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Tubi | Ads | Free account available |
| Pluto TV | Ads | The app or website |
| The Roku Channel | Ads | The website or app |
| Plex | Ads | Free account to keep your place |
| Kanopy | Your library or university | Library card or university login |
| hoopla | Your public library | Library card |
| Channel 4 | Free UK service | The Channel 4 app or website |
Availability varies by country and changes often, so check each service where you live.
Ads, library cards and sign-ins on each service
Plex says it streams 50K+ titles on demand and offers free live TV as well. Its own page explains that once you register for a free account, it keeps your place from screen to screen as long as you're signed in, so a film you start on your phone picks up where you left off on your TV.
Kanopy works differently. It says it partners with public libraries and universities to bring you an ad-free experience across TV, mobile, tablet and online, and that you sign up with your public library card or university login. hoopla is built on the same idea, describing itself as books, videos and music, all free from your public library.
The Roku Channel invites you to watch hundreds of free movies, TV shows and more. Pluto TV describes its app as a free streaming app with a curated lineup of live channels covering movies, shows, live events and kids' programmes. In the UK, Channel 4's help centre states that Channel 4 streaming is a free service, and that it won't ask for anything to download the app or register an account.
Library partners and country licensing limit what you see
Library-based services depend on your library. If your local library hasn't partnered with Kanopy or hoopla, your card won't work there, so check your library's website first. And because these are lending services, libraries can set their own limits on how much you watch.
The other catch is location. Free services license films country by country, so a title you see recommended online may not be available where you are, and some services aren't available at all in some countries. If a service says it isn't available in your location, that's licensing, not a fault on your device.
How to spot a site that isn't legal
The illegal free movie sites tend to give themselves away. Watch for new films that are still in cinemas, a wall of pop-up ads, prompts to install a player, a codec or a browser extension, and requests for card details before a free stream starts. Legal free services are funded by ads or by your library, so they don't need any of that. If a site's name changes every few months, that's another warning sign.
Sticking to the official apps on your TV, phone or streaming stick is the simplest protection. You'll find Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex and the library services in the normal app stores, and that's where you should download them.
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Finding a film to watch tonight
- Check whether your library card works with Kanopy or hoopla for ad-free films.
- Search Tubi, Plex and The Roku Channel for the title you want.
- Create a free account where it helps, so you can pick up where you left off.
- In the UK, check Channel 4's streaming service too.
- Avoid sites that ask for downloads, browser extensions or card details to watch free.
Ebooks, audiobooks and offline viewing
If you'd rather read or listen, see my lists of free ebook sites and free audiobooks. Planning to watch on a flight? Read whether YouTube works in airplane mode before you go.
My advice: start with your library card. Kanopy and hoopla are the most underused free services I know, and there are no ads interrupting the film.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch free movies legally?
Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Plex stream free movies with ads. Kanopy and hoopla offer free films through your public library card, and in the UK, Channel 4 streaming is free.
Is Kanopy free?
Kanopy is free through participating public libraries and universities. You sign up with your library card or university login, and it's ad-free.
Do I need an account to watch free movies on Plex?
You can watch free, but Plex says registering a free account keeps your place from screen to screen as long as you're signed in.
Is Channel 4 streaming free?
Yes. Channel 4's help centre states that Channel 4 streaming is a free service.
Are free movie sites safe?
The legal services in the official app stores are. Avoid sites that ask you to install a player or browser extension, or ask for card details to watch something free.
Can I watch free movies without ads?
Kanopy says its service through public libraries and universities is ad-free. Most other free services are funded by ads.
Why isn't a free movie service available in my country?
Free services license films country by country, so availability changes depending on where you are.
