Maybe you’re sick of paying for streaming services you don’t actually use as much as you thought you would. Maybe you’ve just gone through all the movies you want to see on Netflix. Maybe you’re looking for something a little weirder or less mainstream than what you’ll find on traditional streaming services. Whatever the reason, there may come a time when you’re looking for something to watch that won’t dent your wallet. There are tons of sites and services out there, but some are less legal or trustworthy than you may feel comfortable using.

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That’s why we put together a list of sites where you can watch movies online for free — without breaking any laws or jeopardizing your computer’s security. The following are some of the most trustworthy video-streaming services on the web and, combined, they host more movies than you could watch in a lifetime.

The big players

Sony Crackle

Once known simply as “Crackle,” Sony Crackle features a robust lineup of movies and TV shows from Sony Pictures Entertainment — for now. In March 2019, Sony announced that it was selling Crackle to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSS), and that it’ll be partnering with CSS to rebrand the service as “Crackle Plus.” The updated service will include content from six of CSS’ ad-supported streaming services (Popcornflix, Popcornflix Kids, Popcornflix Comedy, Frightpix, Espanolflix, and Truli), as well as a number of Sony movies and television shows.

While that deal is being finalized, you’ll still find a good number of blockbuster hits and a generous smattering of obscure-but-interesting B-movies on Crackle. Crackle is a great resource, though the constant interruptions from advertisers can get old pretty quickly. The service is offered in 21 countries, but has shut down its Canadian and Latin American offerings.

Freedive

New to this roundup is the Amazon-owned IMDb Freedive. It has free, ad-supported TV shows and movies. So far, it’s not a very big library, but it has some decent titles. TV shows include Fringe, Heroes, The Bachelor and Without a Trace. Movies include Memento, Reservoir Dogs, Blade Runner, Monster, Legally Blonde, Groundhog Day, The Illusionist, It Follows, and more. You can watch Freedive on the web, or on Amazon Fire devices. It’s expected that Freedive will soon launch its own app. Freedive is U.S.-only for now.

Vudu

Walmart-owned Vudu might be better known for its subscription streaming service, but the platform also has an impressive and free ad-supported content section. Titles like Zombieland, An American Werewolf in London, and Air Force One are good examples of what you’ll find. If you take a cruise through the site’s selection of 4K/HDR titles, there are even one or two free-to-watch options, like Tucker. You’ll still need a Vudu account, but you can create one for free. The Vudu app is already supported by plenty of platforms including Roku, Apple TV, game consoles, and more. Plus there’s an app for most mobile devices. Vudu is only available in the U.S.

Hoopla

How’s this for a good deal: Sign up for a library card and get free downloads or streams of movies, with no ads at all. That’s the deal when you use Hoopla, a digital media streaming platform that has partnered with local libraries to let members access borrowable content online. It’s similar to Overdrive, but with more than just ebooks and audio books. Availability of any given title will depend on your location, and the number of copies available for download. Streaming will work on any device with a browser, while downloads require the Hoopla app on a mobile device. Not every library currently supports Hoopla, so make sure you ask. So far, libraries in the U.S. and Canada have access to Hoopla.

YouTube

This one is really a no-brainer. Everyone knows YouTube is the biggest video-hosting service online, and you probably already use the site for silly cat videos and footage of people getting hit with exercise balls. But YouTube has a sizable collection of feature-length movies on its free tier as well. Granted, the majority of these are B-list novelties, but there are a few quality flicks hiding in there.

In addition to the free, Google-curated movies, there are thousands of films on the site that won’t show up unless you search directly for them. If you’re looking for a particular flick, especially an older one, it’s worth performing a quick search on YouTube to see if someone has posted it. These aren’t always uploaded by the film’s rights holders, and many of them are divided into episodes and playlists, but as they say, beggars can’t be choosers.

Finding free movies on YouTube has gotten more difficult lately, as more rights holders are opting to offer their films for rent via the service, and YouTube also has subscription tiers like YouTube Premium and its live TV streaming service, YouTube TV. Still, you’ll find plenty to watch, especially if your standards aren’t too high regarding the quality of the stream.

Vimeo

YouTube might be the biggest video-hosting site, but Vimeo is probably the best. Yeah, them’s fighting words, but Vimeo has the muscle to back them up. The site dons a clean layout that’s devoid of ads and benefits from an active user community that’s widely considered more professional and constructive than YouTube’s. From this community emerges a lot of great original short and feature-length films. Vimeo also has an On-Demand section where users can purchase full-length movies and television shows. The majority of these are independently produced by Vimeo users, but some offerings are produced by major studios as well. Either way, Vimeo is a great place to find free, high-quality movies.

The Roku Channel

When Roku initially launched its free, ad-supported Roku Channel, it wasn’t technically eligible for this roundup, because you had to have one of the company’s streaming media devices in order to see it. Roku devices certainly won’t break the bank, but they aren’t free. Now, however, the Roku Channel is available to anyone, via the web, as well as through the company’s free apps for iOS and Android. The service boasts more than 10,000 titles to choose from, including old favorites like Gravity, Lethal Weapon, and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. You’ll need to create a free Roku account before you can watch, but that’s a quick and painless process. If you ever decide to expand your choices, the Roku Channel is now home to several premium subscription options including Showtime, Epix, and Starz. The Roku Channel is available in the U.S. and Canada.

Pluto TV

Though it may not be as well-known as the above services, Pluto TV is absolutely worthy of your attention. Not only does it host free films on-demand, it’s also a totally free live-TV streaming service, hosting content curated from across the web. While the channels vary wildly, we’re focused here on the movies. Pluto TV currently features multiple live movie channels, perfect if you want to watch something but don’t know what. There are two general purpose movie channels, with the rest being focused on specific genres or categories, including Action movies, Flicks of Fury, Horror 24/7, Classic Movies, Black Cinema, Gravitas Movies, and The Asylum. The service works in the U.S., as well as many international locations.

Pluto TV’s on-demand movie library is relatively small and rotates frequently, but offers just as much variety as its live movie channels. It’s also available on a ton of devices in addition to your computer, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku devices, and more. To find out more about Pluto TV, see our full guide to the service.

Tubi TV

Another up-and-comer, Tubi is very similar to Sony Crackle, in that it offers both free movies and TV episodes. No matter which device you use, chances are pretty good that you’ll be able to watch Tubi, as it’s available on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the web. As with the vast majority of services on this list, you’ll need to watch a few commercials, but that’s what keeps the service free.

Tubi has content from over 200 partners, including NBCUniversal, which brings with it nearly 400 classic titles like Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The A-Team, Punky Brewster, and the original versions of Magnum, P.I., The Bionic Woman, and Transformers. Cult classics like Assault on Precinct 13, Sleepaway Camp, and Piranha, along with soon-to-be cult classics like Cockneys vs. Zombies and Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda, can also be found in the growing catalog. If you’re using this service to supplement Netflix rather than replace it, the “Not on Netflix” section will help you find new and interesting films to watch.

Independent and documentary films

SnagFilms

Snagfilms is a video-on-demand site that sports a selection of films you can’t find anywhere else on the web. Founded in 2008, it’s amassed around 10,000 independent documentaries and narrative films. There are plenty of rare gems to watch here, and since the founders have worked to establish dozens of partnerships, there are also plenty of different streaming devices which support free SnagFilms. The service is currently available as a free app for iOS and Android, but it’s also compatible with various Roku devices, Kindles, and a host of other streaming devices. The main website is also a breeze to navigate. Snagfilms is available internationally, but some titles are only available in the U.S. and Canada.

Kanopy

Just like Hoopla, Kanopy is not only free to use, it’s commercial-free if you have a library card. Originally founded in 2008 in Australia as an educational tool, Kanopy now offers a library of over 30,000 films through its partnerships with more than 200 libraries. There is a heavy focus on independent movies and documentaries (the company even has access to many recent films from the A24 catalog), but you’ll find all sorts of films available, and even more are on the way thanks to a deal that will see the entire catalog of filmmaker Fred Wiseman coming to the service. Kanopy is available internationally, but the content may vary by location.

Top Documentary Films

Love documentaries? So do we. You know what they say, truth is stranger than fiction. The aptly titled Top Documentary Films is, hands down, the best site for documentaries. Not every selection is full-length, but a good documentary doesn’t have to be long — some of the best are under the 60-minute mark. Boasting a library of more than 3,000 films, the site also has a simple and straightforward layout and categorizes all of its films based on subject matter, making it really easy to find something you’re interested in right away. The content isn’t hosted by the site, but rather curated and embedded from other sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Daily Motion, etc. It’s available internationally, but not all content will work in all locations.

Sources for classic films

Archive.org

Chances are, you’re reading this article because you’re looking for a place to watch newly released movies online. While there’s nothing wrong with that, you definitely shouldn’t ignore all of the fantastic older films the internet has to offer. Archive.org offers a veritable treasure trove of old movies you’ve probably never heard of, as well as a handful that you’ll recognize.

The Archive — which is also the home of the famous Wayback Machine that shows you how the internet used to be — has silent films, black-and-white horror flicks, obscure sci-fi movies, and an assortment of other movies. They may not have all the fancy CGI we’ve all grown so accustomed to, but the occasional throwback is a great way to mix things up.

Open Culture

Open Culture is designed to be your one-stop shop for all things free and cultured. The site offers hundreds of free online classes to enroll in, thousands of free ebooks to read, and hours upon hours of lectures from prominent figures such as Carl Sagan and Leonard Bernstein. It also offers a ton of free movies. Here, you’ll find everything from silent films and Hitchcock-helmed projects to Westerns and film noir. The site even houses some early shorts by legends like Quentin Tarantino and Stanley Kubrick. Open Culture may be difficult to navigate, but with more than 1,000 free movies available, it’s definitely worth the slog.

Big Five Glories

If the name seems kind of corny, that’s because the folks behind the project spent their time compiling hundreds of free movies from the 1920s to the ’50s — aka the “Golden Age” of Hollywood — instead of coming up with hip and edgy names. (If you’re curious, it’s a reference to the former big five movie houses: 20th Century Fox, RKO Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.) If your idea of a fun weekend is kicking back and watching Turner Classic Movies, you’ll dig Big Five Glories. All of the movies are considered public domain, so there’s no restriction on availability.

Retrovision

Retrovision is another public domain site that features hundreds of classic movies from several different eras. The word “classic” might be up for interpretation — there are some films here that were made as recently as last year, and not all of Retrovision’s movies are high-quality — but there’s still plenty of good stuff here. Retrovision is also a well-designed site that allows users to filter based on genre. It’s not limited to feature-length movies, either, as there’s a robust collection of classic TV shows to choose from.

Shocker Internet Drive-In

Shocker Internet Drive-In is a bit niche, and its website looks like it was made in the ’90s, but it’s a great resource. The site is updated weekly with “featured” horror classics, which are then made available for free download as WMV files at the website’s “Snack Bar.” The site is a fun little blast from the past, with weekly showings framed in a digital drive-in. Users can also purchase DVD copies of any film on the website for a mere $3. If you miss the old days of the internet when it was more like the Wild West and everything was less polished, this might be for you.

The downside to so many different services being available is that if you have a film in mind but don’t know where to watch it, you have a lot of different catalogs to wade through in the hopes of finding it. Fortunately, as long as you have a smartphone, you probably have access to a tool that can help you. Apple’s TV app, which is available on iOS as well as the fourth-generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, lets you search across more than 50 different streaming services.

For Android users, the Google Play Movies & TV app offers similar functionality, though the number of connected services is smaller. Roku devices now include the ability to see all of the free content available on the platform, whether you have a specific channel installed or not. This is in addition to its existing cross-service search, though most of what you’ll find will either be available for purchase or rent, or will be on a service that requires a subscription. Either way, while these tools can’t guarantee you’ll find a way to watch what you’re seeking for free, they can be a good place to start.

Another Netflix price-hike? To quote Darth Vader: 'Nooooooooooo!!!' If the price of the service was already pushing your streaming budget to the limit, maybe it's time to look at alternatives?

Fear not: As long as you have an internet connection, you can continue to enjoy movie night. Granted, you may not be able to stream Hollywood's latest, but you can still watch gems such as Lady Bird, The Big Lebowski, The Grand Budapest Hotel and plenty of classics, all without spending an extra penny.

Here are 10 services -- including newcomer FreeDive -- offering totally free, totally legal movies you can watch online. Just be prepared to sit through commercials, because that's how many of these services pay the bills. And note that because selections change regularly, not all the titles listed here may still be available.

Read more:The best free movies you can stream right now

Crackle

Sony's Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service, one that offers both movies and TV shows -- including some original content. It's available on a wide variety of devices and doesn't even require you to set up an account, though doing so enables you to save favorites, get recommendations and resume playback if you switch between devices.

What you can watch: Crackle's selection continues to expand, with around 200 movies available at any given time. (The selection changes periodically). At this writing, you'll find gems like A Few Good Men, Aliens, The Big Lebowski and The Natural. They're all older films, to be sure, but there's still plenty of quality stuff to watch -- with commercials, alas.

Where you can watch:Crackle's list of supported devices is extensive. The service offers apps for all mobile platforms, game consoles and major streaming devices, and it's even baked into many smart TVs. It does not offer the option to download movies for offline viewing.

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FreeDive

This newcomer is part of IMDb, the Internet Movie Database, which is owned by Amazon. In other words, FreeDive is Amazon's way of offering ad-supported movie streaming independent of Amazon Prime. And it's not limited to movies; there are TV shows available as well.

What you can watch: FreeDive appears to have around a hundred titles at present, including a handful I haven't seen elsewhere. Some notable films include Foxcatcher, Glory, Memento and Run Lola Run.

Where you can watch: For now, viewing is limited to two options: Your computer and any of Amazon's Fire TV devices.

Hoopla

Got a library card? Check to see if your library has partnered with Hoopla. This digital-media service allows you to check out all kinds of stuff -- including movies. When you 'borrow' a movie, you have 72 hours in which to watch it. Your library determines the total number of movies you can borrow each month.

What you can watch: It's hard to get a bead on how many movies Hoopla has available at any given time, but you can browse a huge range of genres -- everything from animation to westerns. There's also a generous selection of family friendly content. Some noteworthy picks available at this writing: Bridget Jones' Diary, Chicago, Like Water for Chocolate and No Country for Old Men.

Where you can watch: Hoopla content can be viewed on your PC in a browser, or on Android or iOS devices. The service now supports most streaming devices as well, including current-generation Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku devices. Surprisingly, Hoopla's mobile apps offer not only streaming, but also a download option for offline viewing.

Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is home to all things public domain, including thousands of feature-length movies. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there's no cost to use the service, nor do you need an account (though you can create one if you want to mark favorites and such).

What you can watch: 'Public domain' is code for 'old' or 'mostly black-and-white,' making this the place for folks interested strictly in classic films. Thus you'll find the likes of His Girl Friday, Plan 9 from Outer Space and Gulliver's Travels.

Where you can watch: The Internet Archive exists solely on the web, so you'll need a browser to access it. However, most mobile browsers (including Safari on iOS) can stream the content.

Kanopy

If your library doesn't offer Hoopla, maybe it has Kanopy? This commercial-free (yay!) service, which began life in Australia, has made its way to thousands of college campuses worldwide and, more recently, various US libraries. Check the website to see if your library has it -- and ask for it if it doesn't.

What you can watch: Given its educational bent, it's not surprising that Kanopy offers a large selection of indie films and documentaries from the likes of PBS and The Great Courses. But its sizable library also includes titles from the esteemed Criterion Collection, which is code for 'films.' There are also some fairly mainstream titles to be found, including Donnie Darko, Ex Machina, Lady Bird and Moonlight.

Where you can watch: Kanopy has Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku channels and apps for Android and iOS. It's also available on Chromecast.

Pluto TV

A relative newcomer, Pluto TV is noteworthy for offering not only on-demand movies, but also live TV channels including CBS News and, ahem, CNET. It's ad-supported, of course, but definitely one of the best free-content options currently available.

What you can watch: It's hard to say for sure how many movies Pluto has, but there are lots of categories, each with lots of titles. There's a lot of C-grade junk, to be sure, but also some decent titles. A current sampling: Adaptation, Batman Begins, Layer Cake and family favorite Fly Away Home.

Where you can watch: Pluto TV works in desktop browsers, but also offers a Windows client. It has apps for Android, iOS and various smart TVs and channels for Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku.

Roku Channel

The Roku Channel isn't a free-movie provider, but rather an aggregator of new and existing no-cost content. Thus, don't be surprised if there's some overlap with some of the movies available on other services. You'll find movies from Roku partners such as Lionsgate, MGM, Sony and Warner, along with free content from existing Roku channels such as FilmRise, Popcornflix and Vidmark.

What you can watch: Like pretty much every free-movie channel, Roku's rotating selection is a mix of schlocky stuff and some standouts. The latter include Contact, It Follows, This is Spinal Tap and the absolutely bonkers (in a good way) The One I Love. Keep in mind, you can probably find many of the same titles from the likes of Crackle and Tubi TV; the Roku Channel is merely putting some hand-picked selections under one roof.

Where you can watch: On Roku devices, natch. But there's also a browser-based Roku channel so you can watch at your PC. But don't plan on going mobile just yet; the Roku apps don't currently allow for streaming from the Roku Channel.

Tubi TV

Home to thousands of free commercial movies (though definitely not commercial-free), Tubi TV offers content from studios including Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount.

What you can watch: Tubi TV has a lot of movies, but chances are good you haven't heard of most of them. To help separate the wheat from the chaff, check out the Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes and Not on Netflix categories. Even then, the current selection is pretty meh; the best titles I found were The Cabin in the Woods, Paddington and True Grit.

Where you can watch: Tubi TV's list of supported devices is very comprehensive; the service offers apps for Android and iOS, the major game consoles, major streaming devices and some Samsung TVs. It does not offer the option to download movies for offline viewing.

Vudu

Walmart's Vudu video service has been consistently expanding its ad-supported section, which allows viewers to choose from a generous selection of movies (mostly older titles, alas) to watch at no charge. This option does require you to have a Vudu account, but it's free to set one up.

What you can watch: It's hard to get super-excited about Vudu's selection, which is extensive but consists of mostly older and direct-to-video-caliber titles. My picks from the oldie-but-goodie list: Mystic Pizza, Platoon, Risky Business and Witness.

Where you can watch: Vudu is available pretty much everywhere: all major streaming devices, mobile devices, game consoles and so on. While the mobile apps do allow you to download paid movies for offline viewing, however, free titles can only be streamed.

YouTube

You might think Google's video service is nothing but clips and more clips, but it now hosts some free full-length movies as well. (This is not to be confused with YouTube Red, the subscription service that includes some original movies.) Just head directly to the free-to-watch section to see what's available.

What you can watch: If there's an old movie -- old enough that the copyright has expired -- you're interested in seeing, you may be able to find it on YouTube. Indeed, there are at least 11 great movies there. But you can also find ad-supported 'modern' titles including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Jiro Dreams of Sushi and Moonstruck. Beyond that, it's a lot of dreck.

Where you can watch: Needless to say, anywhere you can access YouTube (which is just about everywhere), you can watch YouTube movies.

Originally published on Feb. 21, 2017.
Update, Jan. 16, 2019: Updated movie selections and services.

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