Top 10 Free Streaming Video Services US Viewers Can Watch Now (2026)

Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel are the three best free streaming video services for US viewers. Tubi has the deepest on-demand catalog, Pluto TV is the closest thing to cable-style channel surfing, and The Roku Channel works as an all-in-one hub beyond Roku devices. The other seven fill gaps, from library films on Kanopy and Hoopla to local news on NewsON and Spanish-language shows on ViX Gratis. This guide is for anyone cutting a subscription or adding a free backup. The main caveat: most of these run ads, and catalogs change, so check a specific title before you commit.

10 Free Streaming Video Services at a Glance

1. Tubi

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: free on-demand movies and TV with ads, with no subscription or credit card needed for ordinary viewing. Tubi has the largest all-purpose free catalog in the research and also carries some live channels. It costs $0 and is built for US viewers. Choose it when you want to browse titles rather than follow a channel guide.

Open the Tubi app on your TV or phone, or use the website, and search by title before creating anything. If you watch on an Amazon stick, our list of free movie apps for Firestick shows how it fits with other legal options.

Watch out: titles leave the catalog without much notice, and ad breaks interrupt films. Tubi is the best starting point for most people because the library is deep and the barrier to entry is zero. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Tubi.

2. Pluto TV

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: more than 250 free live channels plus on-demand shows and movies, all with ads. Pluto TV is part of Paramount and gives the closest free match to cable-style channel surfing. It costs $0 and is open to US viewers. The channel count comes from a 2026 roundup of free ad-supported services, so expect it to shift.

Open the app or pluto.tv, go to the live guide, and tap any channel to start watching. Switch to the On Demand section when you want to pick a specific episode or movie.

Watch out: live channels follow a schedule, so you often join a show midway and have less control over playback. Pluto TV is the right pick if you miss flipping through channels and do not want to choose every title yourself. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Pluto TV.

3. The Roku Channel

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: free movies, TV shows and live channels with ads, with no Roku device required. The Roku Channel is available beyond Roku players and TVs, and it is the easiest free option if you already own Roku hardware. It costs $0 to watch the free section. It also carries Roku Originals.

Install the Roku Channel app on a phone or another TV platform, or find it on your Roku home screen. Stick to the free rows, since the service can display paid content alongside them. Our free streaming video services checklist helps you confirm what is actually free before you press play.

Watch out: paid rentals and add-ons sit next to free titles, so look for the free label. Best for Roku households that want one hub for movies and live TV. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via The Roku Channel.

4. Sling Freestream

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: free ad-supported channels and on-demand programming without a paid Sling plan. Freestream is Sling's free tier and is the strongest pick here if you want a live-TV guide at $0. Whether it asks for a free sign-in is not confirmed in the research, so check the page for your device.

Go to the Freestream page, choose your device, and open the guide to see which channels are currently included. Look for the specific channels you care about before you rely on it, because lineups can change.

Watch out: the free lineup is separate from Sling's paid packages, and you will see upgrade prompts for channels outside Freestream. Choose it when a live-TV grid matters more than a deep on-demand library, and compare it with Pluto TV's channel lineup. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Sling Freestream.

5. Plex

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: free ad-supported movies, shows and live channels, with no Plex Pass, antenna or personal media server required. Plex is best known for media-server software, but its free streaming library works on its own. It costs $0 to watch the free catalog. Open the free Movies & Shows area on Plex to browse the ad-supported catalog.

Install the Plex app, open the free movies and shows area, and start watching. If you already keep your own video files, you can add them later with Plex's server tools, though that is optional.

Watch out: live channels generally give you less playback control than on-demand video, so you may not be able to pause or skip the way you expect. Plex is the right choice when you want free streaming now and a path to organizing personal media later. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Plex.

6. Kanopy

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: films and documentaries through a participating public library or university, with borrowing limits set by that institution. Kanopy has no ads in the usual sense and no subscription for you. Eligibility depends on your library card or school login, and the exact monthly cap is not confirmed because each institution sets its own.

Visit kanopy.com, search for your library or university, and sign in with your card number or school credentials. Check your library's Kanopy page for its borrowing rules. Students can find more campus perks in our freebies for college students guide.

Watch out: if your library or school does not participate, you cannot use Kanopy at all, and caps may limit how many titles you can play each month. Best for film fans who want fewer commercial interruptions. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Kanopy.

7. Hoopla

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: streaming video you borrow with a library card, with monthly borrowing limits and catalog set by your library. Hoopla costs nothing beyond a participating library membership. Whether you can use it depends entirely on your library, and the exact cap is not confirmed because libraries choose their own.

Go to hoopladigital.com, find your library, and sign in with your card. Then borrow a movie or show and watch it in the app or browser. Hoopla also covers other media types, but this guide is about its video catalog.

Watch out: borrowing limits reset on the library's schedule, so a heavy month can run out early. Pair it with a free ad-supported service so you are not rationing borrows for casual viewing. Hoopla suits people who already have a library card and want a legal on-demand backup. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via Hoopla.

8. The CW

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: selected CW episodes and series streamed free, typically with ads. Availability is limited to the titles and episodes the service currently makes available, so it is not a full archive. It costs $0 and is aimed at US viewers who want to catch up on specific network shows.

Open the CW app or its website, browse the shows list, and check the latest episodes of the series you follow. If you are chasing anime instead, our guide to best anime streaming sites covers better-suited options.

Watch out: older seasons and recent episodes may be missing, and what you can watch can change. The CW works best as a supplement for network shows rather than as your main free service. Skip it as a first install unless you already follow CW series. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via The CW.

9. NewsON

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: free streams of newscasts and local-news coverage from participating stations. NewsON is a free way to watch local TV news without cable. It costs $0, but its usefulness depends on whether stations in your area are included, and the research does not list coverage by city.

Install the NewsON app or use its site, set your location, and check which local stations appear. Use it for morning, midday or evening newscasts and for coverage of weather and local events.

Watch out: if your market's stations are not on the service, there is little else to watch, since it is a news-first app rather than an entertainment library. NewsON is a narrow but practical addition for cord-cutters who want local headlines. Confirm your stations are listed before you delete anything else. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via NewsON.

10. ViX Gratis

WHAT YOU ACTUALLY GET: a free, ad-supported tier with Spanish-language shows, movies and channels, while some programming is reserved for the paid tier. The link above is a Prime Video channel page for ViX, which serves as a locator rather than a standalone site. The free tier costs $0, but check each title for a free label.

Open the ViX listing, pick the free tier, and browse Spanish-language films, series and live channels. If you watch on an Amazon stick, our Firestick free movie apps watchlist is a useful companion.

Watch out: paid-tier titles sit beside free ones, so a title may prompt you to subscribe. ViX Gratis is the best pick here for Spanish-language viewing on a budget. Last checked: November 3, 2026, via ViX on Prime Video.

Verdict: Start here

• Best overall: Tubi, because its free on-demand catalog is the deepest and needs no subscription or credit card for ordinary viewing.
• Best for a specific reader: Kanopy or Hoopla if you hold a library card, since both use library-funded access instead of ad breaks.
• Skip if: you cannot tolerate ads and your library does not offer Kanopy or Hoopla, since every other service here is ad-supported.
• Try first this week: install Tubi and Pluto TV on your main TV, then search for three titles you actually want to watch.