At the end of a long day, there's nothing like seeing a great movie, but it can be easier said than done when you're on a tight budget.
Renting and buying movies can quickly get very expensive, just like going to the movies, but the good news is that you don't always have to pay for Hollywood entertainment. There are tons of free movie apps that let you watch tons of classic and hit movies, as well as more specialized genres like classics, kids, and anime.
Before your next movie night, consider these best free movie apps for the whole family.
Advantages and disadvantages
advantage
- no charge ever
- award-winning content
- New content every month
Contrast
- restricted content
- few new releases
More details
Specifications: Developer:AMZN Mobile LLC |Rating in the App Store:2.9 |Google Play Rating: 3,8 |simulcasts:Unlimited |original programming:Sim |Commercial:Sim
Freevee is a free streaming service from Amazon with thousands of movies and shows across all genres, as well as Freevee Originals. These releases come directly from Amazon Studios and include shows like Bosch: Legacy, Sprung, and Judy Justice. If you don't want to search for something to watch, there are also live channels that work 24 hours a day. They include tips for Freevee's Stories You Love and Crime 360 ββto keep you entertained any time of day or day. New originals are added every month so you never run out of options. When you want to start playing, just search by title, genre or actor. You don't need to provide payment information since the service is free, but you still need an Amazon account to start watching. It is compatible with a variety of devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, LG, Roku, Xbox, and PS5.
more purchase options
Advantages and disadvantages
advantage
- Recommended for string trimmers
- Sports and live news
- peacock originals
Contrast
- You must be up to date to access all content.
- Most content is restricted to the NBCUniversal family
More details
Specifications: Developer:Pavo Real TV LLC |Rating in the App Store:4.6 |Google Play Ranking:3.9 |simultaneous streams: 3 |original programming:Sim |Commercial:Sim
As part of NBCUniversal, Peacock is a leading streaming service great for new movies. It always offers exclusive content with new movies like The Bad Guys and They/Them. With access to major studios like Universal and DreamWorks Animation, there's no shortage of blockbuster movies to keep you busy. Peacock also includes its own catalog of shows like Modern Family, The Office, and Yellowstone. There's news on services like NBC News and MSNBC for the news junkie at home, and live sports for sports enthusiasts in the family, including access to the NFL, MLB, and WWE. You can also enjoy Spanish-language programming from Peacock Originals and Telemundo. Current programming is included on Bravo and NBC, but if you want access to everything Peacock has to offer, you'll need to upgrade to Peacock Premium for $4.99 a month.
more purchase options
Advantages and disadvantages
advantage
- 27 movie channels
- Several popular channels
- On live Tv
Contrast
- some new episodes
- restricted tv show
More details
Specifications: Developer:Pluto.tv |Rating in the App Store:4.8 |Google Play Ranking:4.3 |simulcasts:Unlimited |original programming:Sim |Commercial:Sim
Pluto TV has long been one of the best free movie apps for live TV and movies. You'll benefit from live TV with a variety of channels to choose from, as well as full seasons of shows like CSI and Narcos available to stream. You also have access to thousands of movies, including classics and blockbusters, as well as new releases. You can choose from popular movies like The Hitman's Bodyguard, Hitch, The Italian Job, Titanic, Insidious, and Friday the 13th.
No matter what you like, Pluto TV has 27 different exclusive movie channels so you never run out of things to watch. There are also more than 50 Spanish-language channels with native language and subtitle options, as well as reality, crime, and sports shows. There's also no cost to use the service, a rarity when it comes to live TV programming.
more purchase options
Advantages and disadvantages
advantage
- New content added every week
- Child lock available
- Watchlist function
Contrast
- Ad-supported content
- Older Movie Titles
More details
Specifications: Developer:tubes, inc. |Rating in the App Store:4.7 |Google Play Ranking:4.8 |simultaneous streams: Unlimited |original programming:No |Commercial:Sim
Tubi offers free streaming of movies and TV. It is an ad-supported app, which means it will have ads, but Tubi claims to have three times fewer ads than cable TV. And just like live TV, you also get access to live news, sports and entertainment channels. You'll also get access to blockbuster movies from studios like MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate. Special categories make it easy to find something to watch with options like Not on Netflix and Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes.
There are more than 40 genres available, including rarer categories like Spanish soap operas, Korean dramas, and British TV with international movies. When you find content that catches your interest, you can create your own personal playlist to organize your favourites. Parental controls also put parents at ease, helping to keep wayward children at bay.
more purchase options
Advantages and disadvantages
advantage
- 4K UHD content
- Possibility to buy other content.
- Integrated Rotten Tomatoes reviews
Contrast
- Ad-supported content
- old tv shows
More details
Specifications: Developer: VUDU, Inc. |Rating in the App Store:4.7 |Google Play Ranking:4.6 |simulcasts:3 |On live Tv:No |Commercial:Sim
Vudu claims to have the largest collection of 4K UHD titles, giving you an even better streaming experience. Here you will find content with Dolby Vision(R), Dolby Atmos(R) and HDR10 for excellent clarity and quality. There are thousands of free titles you can watch without a subscription through Vudu's Movies On Us feature. There are also over 200,000 movies and TV shows available to rent or buy, including new releases. Even if you have to pay for this content, there are plenty of discounts and combo packs that can save you some money.
You will also receive personalized offers based on your own preferences and viewing activity. Vudu is part of the Fandango family, which means you get access to Rotten Tomatoes reviews for free. You also benefit from VIP+ loyalty rewards and affiliate program discounts.
more purchase options
What is the best free movie app?
The best free movie app is Amazon's Freevee. In addition to 24/7 live TV programming, you'll find tons of content, including Freevee Originals from Amazon Studios. Plus, with unlimited simulcasts, there are no family fights on TV.
To see how Freevee fares, here's a roundup of the best free movie apps.
The best free movie app | App Store Ranking | Google Play Rating |
Freevee | 2.9 | 3.8 |
Peacock | 4.6 | 3.9 |
Pluto-TV | 4.8 | 4.3 |
Sugarcane | 4.7 | 4.8 |
vudu | 4.7 | 4.6 |
Which is the right free movie app for you?
To help you find the best free movie app for your needs, we offer recommendations from our experts based on our research.
Choose this free movie app... | If you want... |
Freevee | Popular movies and shows for the whole family. |
Peacock | To see the latest titles with your favorite stars |
Pluto-TV | To skip decision making and broadcast live on TV |
Sugarcane | the latest titles |
vudu | Streaming in high quality |
How did we choose these free movie apps?
When choosing the best free movie apps, we take several factors into account. That is why they are important.
Titles: We look at what content is available on each platform and look for a variety of genres and titles that appeal to a broad audience.
Ads β Many free apps opt for ads to earn money, which means you will be plagued with annoying ads. We check if an app is ad-supported and if another plan is available to upgrade to.
User Reviews: Viewers know a platform best, so we sift through thousands of real customer reviews to find the best free movie apps.
Simultaneous Streaming β If you come from a large family, simulcasting can be a lifesaver as multiple people can stream content at the same time.
The best free movie apps offer great benefits when it comes to streaming movies and TV shows.
What is a free movie app?
A free movie app is an app that allows you to watch content like movies and TV shows without the need for a paid subscription.
Are free movie apps really free?
Free movie apps are free to use, but some titles or services may incur a fee. It may be necessary to upgrade your subscription to premium content.
What kind of movies and shows can I watch on a free movie app?
The exact movies and TV shows on a free movies app can vary over time and from service to service, and many free apps regularly recycle old content. Before signing up, the best free movie apps will give you a selection of currently available titles so you know what to expect.
Are there any alternative free movie apps worth considering?
In our search, we also found other free movie apps worth considering.
For even more entertainment, check out our experts' tips for theBest Free Video Streaming Services, afive best Netflix alternatives,is inThe best live TV streaming services!
ZDNETrecommends
- What are bone conduction headphones and which one should you buy?
- The best holiday deals available for iPad, iPad Pro and iPad Mini
- What is the brightest flashlight in the world? Main competitors ordered by lumens(Video) π΄FREE FIRESTICK MOVIE APPS 2022
- The best Cyber ββMonday laptop deals still available
FAQs
What is the most popular free movie app? βΊ
Crackle. Sony's Crackle is one of the most popular free movie apps on mobile. It boasts a bunch of hit titles, various TV shows, and a bunch of genres to choose from. It even has Nielson tracking software, so you can be a part of the stats when it comes to popularity.
What's the best movie app right now? βΊ- Netflix. Best for Original Movies. Jump To. ...
- Hulu. Best for Movie Variety. Jump To. ...
- Peacock. Best for Free TV and Movie Streaming. Jump To. ...
- Amazon Prime Video. Best for Popular Movies. ...
- Disney+ Best for Family-Friendly Movies. ...
- HBO Max. Best for WarnerMedia Movies. ...
- KweliTV. Best for International Films. ...
- Tubi. Best for Free Movies.
Based on a strict testing criteria, the best free and legal movie streaming sites are Crackle, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Tubi, and SBS On Demand. They're legal, completely free, and have a huge selection of full-length movies to choose from.
What is the best streaming app for free? βΊ- Peacock. See at Peacock.
- Roku Channel. See at Roku.
- Pluto TV. See at Pluto TV.
- Tubi TV. See at Tubi TV.
- Freevee. See at Freevee.
- Amazon Freevee.
- Redbox Free Live TV.
- More free streaming apps.
- Crackle.
- Kanopy.
- Hoopla.
- Vudu.
- Tubi TV.
Tubi is available on 10 streaming devices. You'll find Tubi on the popular Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, Playstation, and Chromecast devices. It's also available for TiVO, Android TV, Xfinity, and Cox Contour.
What app is the movie everything everything on? βΊEverything, Everything, a romance movie starring Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, and Anika Noni Rose is available to stream now. Watch it on Prime Video, Vudu, Redbox. or Apple TV on your Roku device.
What is like Hulu but free? βΊCrackle is a free alternative to Hulu that is probably the most similar site on this list to it. It's run by Sony and its affiliate production studios, and allows you to watch as many of their movies and TV shows as you like (at least, from the limited selection that they choose to put on Crackle).
What's the best free movie app for Android? βΊMovieBox. MovieBox is by far the most popular online free movie streaming app, thanks to its smooth UI and easy navigation. The App is the most talked-about online streaming App having many features offered to the user without any cost.
What app gives you free TV? βΊTubi. Tubi is one of the leading on-demand video streaming service apps and offers thousands of free TV shows and movies. There is no subscription required, but Tubi programming does have commercial breaks. The app is available to download on most any device.
Which movie app is better than Netflix? βΊ
Netflix Alternative | Price | # of Titles |
---|---|---|
Hulu | Starting at $7.99/month | 3,000 |
Amazon Prime Video | $14.99/month (with Amazon Prime membership) or $8.99/month | About 26,000 |
HBO Max | Starting at $9.99/month | More than 2,500 |
Apple TV+ | $6.99/month | About 80 |
Peacock: Stream TV and Movies Online, Watch Live News and Sports. Plans start at $4.99/month. Cancel anytime.
Is Popcornflix safe to use? βΊIs Popcornflix safe? Popcornflix is considered one of the safest free streaming services available. Unlike sites such as The Pirate Bay, it's also legitimate and legal.
How do you get full Netflix for free? βΊNetflix does not offer free trials, but you have the freedom to change your plan or cancel online at any time if you decide Netflix isn't for you. There are no contracts, no cancellation fees, and no commitments.
What is a safe free movie site? βΊTubi. Tubi is a completely-free movie service featuring News and popular old-school action films, comedies, horror movies and so much more. There are also family-friendly movies that you can watch with the kids. There is no option to upgrade without ads, as the platform is free all around.
Is there a better app than Tubi? βΊtv's top 5 competitors in December 2022 are: justwatch.com, popcornflix.com, yidio.com, crackle.com, and more.