Top 12 Free Movie Streaming Platforms You Need to Know About 2024
Watching free movies online is a convenient and economical way to enjoy the films you love from the comfort of your own home. While many sites claim to offer “free” movies, I’ve carefully selected and verified the ones listed below to ensure they are virus-free and, importantly, 100% legal to use, though they are ad-supported.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Tubi
Tubi offers thousands of free movies and shows, including big titles and a section for kids.
Best for User Feedback: YouTube
YouTube features free movies with ads curated by their staff, among millions of other videos.
Best for Popular Titles: Freevee
Amazon’s Freevee provides a large collection of well-known films at no cost.
Best for High-Quality Movies: Vudu
Vudu’s free section offers high-definition movies sorted into unique categories like Blast From the Past, Hidden Gems, and Big Time Movie Stars.
Best for a TV Experience: Pluto TV
Pluto TV simulates a cable TV experience with free on-demand movies and live TV channels streaming 24/7.
Best for a Variety of Movies: Popcornflix
Popcornflix allows you to dive right into watching movies on your TV, phone, or computer without setting up an account.
Best for Finding Movies Around the Web: Yidio
Yidio doesn’t host content but has a robust search feature to help you find where movies and shows are available for free online.
These sites offer a wide range of movies, from big-name studios to older and independent films, in genres like drama, comedy, action, and horror. Make sure you have a good TV for the best viewing experience.
I regularly update this list to ensure these sites are still functional, free, and worthwhile. The list was last updated in June.
Comparison of the Best Free Online Movie Sites
Many of these sites have mobile apps for on-the-go viewing. Check out our list of the best free streaming apps to take movies with you anywhere.
01. YouTube
What We Like:
- Movies rated by real viewers
- Comment section available
- Easy-to-scroll list
- Subtitles for most movies
- No ads for Premium subscribers
What We Don’t Like:
- Few genres
- No dedicated search tool for free movies
YouTube offers free movies curated by staff. Recent finds include “The Girl on the Mountain” and “Ava,” both in 1080p with captions. Use the browser’s Find function to search for specific free titles.
02. Vudu
What We Like:
- High-quality movies
- Multiple ways to find free movies
- Popular, well-known films with subtitles
- Filter and sort movies
What We Don’t Like:
- Some movies cost
- Requires login
Vudu, now Fandango at Home, offers thousands of free movies with a few commercials. Browse by genre, popularity, or release date.
03. Tubi
What We Like:
- High-quality, popular movies
- Many categories
- Subtitles available for most movies
- Kid-friendly section
- No login required
What We Don’t Like:
- Genres mix movies with shows
Tubi offers thousands of free movies and TV shows. The “Leaving Soon” page is great for catching films before they become paid, and “Trending On Social” helps discover popular picks. Popular titles this month include “We’re the Millers,” “Rush Hour,” “Night School,” “I, Robot,” and “Independence Day: Resurgence.” There’s also Tubi Kids for child-friendly content.
04. Freevee
What We Like:
- Great collection of newer free films and shows
- Easy movie browsing
- Includes original videos
- Subtitle options
- Clean video player
What We Don’t Like:
- Requires user account
- Long ads
- Limited search tool
- US-only access
Amazon’s Freevee, previously IMDb TV, offers high-quality movies and shows. Genres and collections are well-organized, with options to filter by genre and subtitles.
05. Pluto TV
What We Like:
- Cable TV feel
- Thousands of on-demand movies
- Streams TV shows, news, music, and more
- No user account necessary
What We Don’t Like:
- Few movie-only channels
- Live-streamed movies can’t be watched again
- Always-on video player can’t be stopped, only muted
Pluto TV offers a free cable TV-like experience with hundreds of live channels and thousands of on-demand movies. Unique categories include Hollywood Icons and Cult Films.
06. Yidio
What We Like:
- Easy to find free movies around the web
- Unique filtering options
- Sort by popularity and date added
- Helpful for renting and buying too
What We Don’t Like:
- Streams through other sites
- Incorrectly labels some paid movies as free
- Shows wrong synopsis and photo for some films
Yidio acts as a search engine for free movies, making it easy to find where films are available for free online. Filters include MPAA rating, decade, genre, and IMDb score.
07. Plex
What We Like:
- Subtitles for most movies
- No user account required
- Multiple ways to browse films
- Create a queue for easy passive watching
What We Don’t Like:
- Mostly uninteresting genres
- Lists shows alongside movies
- Huge lists that can’t be sorted
Plex offers a wide selection of free movies and TV shows along with live TV. Unique collections like Feel Good Films and Midnight Movies make browsing fun.
08. Popcornflix
What We Like:
- Includes subtitles
- One-page list of all movies
- ‘Continue watching’ feature
What We Don’t Like:
- Can’t sort by date or popularity
- Complicated navigation
Popcornflix offers a constantly updated selection of movies without requiring an account. Though navigation is tricky, it’s great for resume playback and new titles.
09. Filmzie
What We Like:
- No user account needed
- Also features TV shows
- Save movies to a ‘Watch Later’ list
- Includes trailers
What We Don’t Like:
- No sorting or filtering options
- Distracting ads
- No age verification for NC-17 films
Filmzie focuses on independent films and a few big studio releases. Collections include Directed by Women and LGBTQI+, among traditional genres.
10. Crackle
What We Like:
- Big selection, including recent films
- Good video quality
- Excellent mobile app
What We Don’t Like:
- Can’t sort by popularity
- Available only in the US and territories
Crackle offers a wide range of big-name movies and unique categories. Closed captioning is available, and parental controls can be set up with a free account.
11. Kanopy
What We Like:
- Thousands of free videos
- Adds new movies regularly
- No ads within movies
- Loads of genres
- Unique films
What We Don’t Like:
- Requires a supported library card or school account
Kanopy requires a library card or university login to access its ad-free movies. Categories include Short Film, LGBTQ Cinema, War & Action, and Sociology.
12. The Roku Channel
What We Like:
- High-quality movies
- Includes newer films
- Works on multiple devices
- Customizable captions
- No user account needed
What We Don’t Like:
- Can’t filter or sort genre lists
- Mixed lists of movies and shows
- Paid videos appear next to free ones
Roku Channel offers free movies, TV shows, and live TV without requiring a Roku device. The home page features unique categories and actor/director searches.
