If you’re tired of paying for TV packages or stacking up streaming subscriptions, you’re not alone. Free, ad-supported streaming services let you watch movies and shows at no cost. Here’s what’s actually still around in 2026, what’s changed recently, and what to watch out for.
In this guide:
- The Roku Channel has actually overtaken Tubi in viewership, here’s what that means for you
- Pluto TV offers both live channels and on-demand content
- Two well-known names, Crackle and Freevee, have both shut down as standalone services
- Beyond the big three: library-card options and Plex are worth knowing about too
- Most free services are ad-supported, expect commercials during viewing
The services that are actually still around
The Roku Channel: now the most-watched free service
This is the most significant shift since this guide was last updated. According to Nielsen’s February 2026 Gauge report, The Roku Channel captured 2.9% of all US streaming viewership, more than any other free, ad-supported service, ahead of Tubi’s 2.2% and Pluto TV’s 2.1% (when combined with Paramount+). It’s pre-installed on Roku devices and requires no extra sign-up, but it’s also available as a standalone app on other platforms, so you don’t need to own Roku hardware to use it. Roku has been investing heavily in exclusive licensing deals, which is a real driver behind this shift.
Tubi: still the deepest library
Tubi remains the strongest pick for sheer catalogue depth, with 25,000+ titles and a genuinely wide spread of genres and eras. Don’t expect brand-new blockbusters, but there’s real depth here, and the platform adds new titles regularly. If Roku Channel wins on total viewership, Tubi still wins if what you actually want is breadth to browse through.
Pluto TV: live channels plus on-demand
Pluto TV combines live, scheduled channels with an on-demand library, closer to a traditional scheduled TV experience than most competitors, backed by Paramount Global’s licensing. It offers dedicated channels for movies, news, comedy, and niche interests. Content quality varies channel to channel, but it remains a solid choice if you like flipping through channels rather than searching for something specific.
A word of warning: two big names have shut down
Crackle shut down permanently in 2025 after its parent company, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024. The website was kept limping along by the bankruptcy trustee only until mid-2025, and as of the most recent reporting, no buyer has relaunched it. If you see Crackle recommended as a current option anywhere, that information is out of date.
Amazon Freevee also shut down as a standalone service, officially going offline in August 2025. Its content didn’t disappear though, it was folded directly into Amazon Prime Video’s free, ad-supported tier, labeled “Watch for Free” on title pages. You don’t need a Prime subscription to access it, just a free Amazon account, but the standalone Freevee app and branding no longer exist.
Beyond the big three: options most guides skip
Library-card streaming (Kanopy and Hoopla). If your local library participates, these give you genuinely ad-free access to independent films, documentaries, and classic cinema, closer in quality to a paid art-house service than typical FAST content. Worth checking your library’s website before assuming you need to sign up for anything.
Plex’s free tier. Plex offers ad-supported streaming with adaptive bitrate up to 1080p, which automatically adjusts to your connection to reduce buffering, a genuinely useful feature if your internet connection isn’t consistently fast.
UK viewers: start with UK services. Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel offer free viewing in the UK, but catalogues and device support vary by country. BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4 also offer free programmes with their own sign-in and, where applicable, TV Licence rules. Peacock is a paid US service, so it is not a free UK recommendation.
Understanding the real cost of “free”
Are there hidden fees? Generally, no. These services are genuinely free to access, and you typically don’t need a credit card to sign up. The trade-off is ads, not a hidden subscription.
The role of advertisements. Free streaming services make money by showing ads, similar to traditional TV but usually with fewer interruptions. The exact amount varies by service and by content, industry analysis of user complaints across these platforms consistently flags ad frequency as the most common frustration, so go in expecting it rather than being surprised.
Comparing costs with paid TV
| Feature | Paid TV | Free Streaming |
| Monthly cost | Varies by provider | £0 subscription |
| Ad breaks | High | Medium |
| Content library | Wide | Growing, but more limited |
| Contract required | Usually | None |
Choosing the right service for you
Do you need live TV? Pluto TV and The Roku Channel both offer live, scheduled channels closer to a cable experience. Tubi is more purely on-demand.
How deep is the content library you want? Tubi currently has the largest catalogue by title count. If you want breadth to browse, start there.
What device do you already own? If you have a Roku, The Roku Channel is the path of least resistance, and now also the most-watched option overall. If you’re an Amazon Prime user, check Prime Video’s free tier before looking elsewhere.
Do you have a library card? Check whether your library offers Kanopy or Hoopla before assuming you’ve exhausted your free options, this is the one category most streaming guides miss entirely.
Getting the most out of free streaming
- Use more than one service. Since they’re free, there’s no downside to having Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel all installed and checking each for what you want to watch.
- Explore beyond the homepage. Free services often bury genuinely good content in subgenres rather than the main page.
- Expect the library to shift. Licensing deals expire and change regularly on ad-supported platforms, what’s available today may not be there in a few months.
- Don’t ignore your library card. It’s free, ad-free, and rarely mentioned alongside the bigger streaming names.
Looking for more streaming coverage? Check our guide to new streaming service launches and where the industry is heading.
Frequently asked questions
Are Crackle or Freevee still around in any form?
No. Crackle shut down entirely in 2025 with no relaunch to date. Freevee shut down as a standalone brand in August 2025, but its content lives on inside Amazon Prime Video’s free, ad-supported “Watch for Free” tier.
Do I need to pay anything for these services?
No. Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel are all free to use, supported by ads rather than subscription fees.
Can I watch live TV on free streaming services?
Yes. Pluto TV and The Roku Channel both offer live, scheduled channels. Tubi is primarily on-demand.
What devices are these services available on?
All three are widely available on smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, mobile apps, and most web browsers. The Roku Channel is pre-installed on Roku devices but also works elsewhere.
How does the ad experience compare to cable?
Generally fewer interruptions than cable, though exact ad load varies by service and by what you’re watching. User feedback across these platforms consistently names ad frequency as the biggest downside, so temper expectations accordingly.
Is Tubi still the biggest free streaming service?
It depends on what you mean by “biggest.” Tubi still has the largest title count. But as of Nielsen’s February 2026 data, The Roku Channel now leads in actual viewership, meaning more people are watching it overall, even though Tubi’s catalogue is deeper.
