Where to Watch TV Shows for Free Online: 15 Best Services
Tubi is the best choice if you’re wondering where to watch TV shows for free. In this article, I’ll explain the reasons and highlight 14 other options.
Written by Wisdom Sablah (Writer)
Reviewed by Kate Hawkins (Editor, Writer)
Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski (Fact-Checker, Formatter)
Last Updated:
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Key Takeaways: These Are the Best Free TV Streaming Services
- Tubi — Best for bingeing free TV shows and movies with minimal ads.
- Pluto TV — Great for live TV channels and on-demand classics in a cable-style format.
- Plex — Ideal for combining free streaming with your own personal media collection.
- The Roku Channel — Best for Roku users who want free TV shows and live entertainment.
- BBC iPlayer — Great for high-quality British dramas, comedies and documentaries.
- ITVX — Perfect for fans of British TV shows, including ITV exclusives.
- Cineby — Excellent for watching the latest TV show releases.
- Sling Freestream — Easy-to-use interface for streaming on-demand TV shows.
- Crunchyroll — The ultimate free destination for anime fans, with thousands of popular series.
- Fawesome TV — A reliable pick for streaming classic and niche TV shows.
Facts & Expert Analysis About Free Streaming Services
- AVOD services: Most of the platforms on this list are advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) services, which provide free content to viewers in exchange for watching ads.
- Don’t expect the latest releases: AVOD services typically offer classics and originals, plus independent and older TV shows. You likely won’t find new releases from popular providers like Netflix.
- A VPN can help: A VPN is necessary to access a geoblocked streaming service. It changes your IP address, making it seem as though you’re in another location.
Finding where to watch TV shows for free isn’t as hard as it used to be. There are a handful of legal streaming sites offering thousands of series without a subscription. In this article, I’ll highlight the 10 best platforms alongside five honorable mentions. I’ll also show you the best VPNs to stream safely without geo-restrictions.
The 10 Best Websites to Watch Shows for Free: My Top Picks
My top picks are Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, The Roku Channel, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Cineby, Sling Freestream, Crunchyroll and Fawesome TV.
1. Tubi
Pros:
- Extensive library
- No registration required
Cons:
- Ads
Tubi is home to thousands of popular TV shows, including classics, comedies and docuseries. I played a few TV shows, like ‘Scandal’ and ‘Mobsters,’ and the streams were smooth. I like that I didn’t have to register to enjoy my favorite TV shows.
2. Pluto TV
Pros:
- 24/7 live TV channels
- Hundreds of TV series
Cons:
- Frequent ads
Pluto TV is ideal if you love channel surfing. There’s a channel for nearly everything, from ‘Star Trek’ marathons to ‘The Walking Dead.’ You can also stream hundreds of seasons of classic series like ‘Degrassi’ and ‘Gunsmoke’ on demand.
3. Plex
Pros:
- Plex media server
- Many older TV shows
Cons:
- Small content library
Plex’s free TV shows section is great for fans of retro TV and unscripted series. Expect shows like ‘Forensic Files,’ ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ and vintage sitcoms from the ’80s and ’90s. Plex also has a media server, which lets you organize TV shows from different sources.
4. The Roku Channel
Pros:
- Roku Originals
- Hundreds of TV shows
Cons:
- Ads
The Roku Channel is another excellent option to stream TV shows without paying. I found several long-running TV shows, such as ‘Midsomer Murders’ and ‘Swamp People.’ There are also many Roku Original TV shows, particularly reality shows.
5. BBC iPlayer
Pros:
- Excellent range of BBC hits
- Ad-free, high-quality content
Cons:
- Exclusive to the U.K.
BBC iPlayer is a must-have for drama and documentary fans. It offers critically acclaimed series like ‘Doctor Who,’ ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Sherlock.’ You’ll also find comedies, crime thrillers and live broadcasts, all free for U.K. viewers.
6. ITVX
Pros:
- Live ITV channels
- Huge variety of U.K. shows
Cons:
- Exclusive to the U.K.
You should bookmark ITVX if you have a soft spot for British series. It’s home to many British classics like ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Brideshead Revisited.’ If you like to binge-watch movies, you’ll love ITVX’s themed 24-hour channels that focus on specific shows or genres.
7. Cineby
Pros:
- Latest TV shows
- Option to turn off ads
Cons:
- Copyright strikes could take it down
Cineby is a smart pick if you’re looking for the latest TV show episodes and releases. It often has streams of the latest shows across different providers, including Netflix, Prime Video, Max and Apple TV. Impressively, Cineby allows users to turn off ads.
8. Sling Freestream
Pros:
- Feature rich free account
- Thousands of free TV shows
Cons:
- Ads
Sling Freestream is the free tier of Sling TV, offering thousands of on-demand TV shows. You can stream everything from classic sitcoms and crime dramas to cooking shows and reality TV directly through the Sling app or website. The interface is well organized and easy to browse.
9. Crunchyroll
Pros:
- HD streaming
- Huge selection of anime titles
Cons:
- Ads
Crunchyroll is the go-to streaming service for anime fans, offering thousands of episodes from classics like ‘Naruto’ and ‘One Piece’ to newer hits like ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and ‘Attack on Titan.’ That said, the free version includes ads and new episode releases are sometimes delayed.
10. Fawesome TV
Pros:
- Large library
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons:
- Content varies by country
Fawesome TV is a solid choice if you love investigative, reality and true crime TV shows. I like that you can browse movies and shows from different decades.
Other Free Movies and TV Show Services I Like
If you want more options, here are five other platforms with huge TV show collections across different genres.
- YouTube: Many networks and studios upload TV show episodes and entire seasons to their official YouTube pages.
- Fandango at Home: Formerly Vudu, this platform has many classic sitcoms and family series.
- Popcornflix: This service has action-packed series, true crime stories and family-friendly content.
- Kanopy: You can access many educational, independent and documentary TV shows with a library card.
- Filmzie: This platform focuses on niche, offbeat, international and independent movies.
Premium vs Free vs Pirated TV Sites
The table below compares the features of premium sites, legal free sites and pirated sites.
| Feature: | Premium Sites | Legal Free Sites | Pirated Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment & Subscriptions | Paid monthly or annually | No subscription | No subscription |
| Legality & Copyright | Legal | Legal | Illegal (often links to or hosts copyrighted content) |
| Content Selection | Extensive | Limited | Extensive |
| Ads | Depends on plan | Intermittent ads | Frequent ads |
| Security | Safe | Safe | Potentially unsafe |
| Quality | 4K or full HD | HD | Inconsistent |
| Best For | Viewers who want premium, ad-free streaming | Budget-conscious users who don’t mind ads | Risk-takers willing to trade safety for free access |
| Limitations | Requires payment or subscription | Smaller, rotating library & frequent ads | Legal risk, pop-ups & unreliable streams |
Why Use a VPN With Free TV Show Streaming Sites?
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, enabling you to stream safely on streaming sites. A VPN is also a smart choice if the streaming service has geoblocked content. Connecting to a VPN server will change your online location, helping you access restricted content or streaming platforms.
My top VPN recommendation is NordVPN. It has servers in 127 countries, fast speeds and a robust server network. Surfshark is an affordable alternative, while ExpressVPN is a beginner-friendly option.
Final Thoughts
You can watch free TV shows without a subscription on several different platforms. I recommend Tubi, thanks to its thousands of free TV shows and simple interface.
What’s your all-time favorite TV show? Which of the platforms on my list have you used to watch free movies online? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: Sites to Watch TV Shows for Free
Yes, you can stream TV shows for free on Tubi TV. It has a massive collection of classic and independent TV shows.
The best live TV streaming site is Sling Freestream which stands out as the top free option. It offers more than 400 live channels covering news, sports, entertainment and lifestyle.