13 Legal Platforms to Stream TV Shows Without Cost

YouTube has emerged as the newest contender in the free TV streaming arena. While the platform initially gained popularity for hosting free content, it now offers genuine TV shows at no cost, provided you don’t mind the ads.

According to the company, you can access over 4,000 shows from its “Movies & Shows” section. Simply look for titles marked with the “Free with Ads” label instead of “Buy” or “Rent.” Some of the highlighted shows include Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, Unsolved Mysteries, Scream Queens, The Weird Al Show, and 21 Jump Street.

Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform, stands out among major streaming services by offering a permanent free tier—not just a trial. With a free account, you gain access to over 40,000 movies, TV shows, and additional content.

While the free version is somewhat limited compared to its paid tiers, it still includes premium shows like the first five seasons of The Office and the first two seasons of Parks and Recreation (arguably the main reasons to use Peacock).

Tubi is one of the largest free TV platforms available. Owned by FOX Entertainment, it boasts over 35,000 movies and TV shows, along with nearly 100 news channels from across the country.

The platform offers a diverse range of shows, particularly from the 2000s, such as Naruto, Rome, Kitchen Nightmares, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and Peep Show. Additionally, its “Live TV” section features sports, news, and entertainment, making it ideal for background viewing.

For sci-fi enthusiasts seeking a free TV platform, Comet is worth exploring. The site offers a curated selection of on-demand classics in the genre, including The X-Files, Quantum Leap, Farscape, and The Outer Limits. Additionally, Comet features its own live stream, perfect for those who prefer the service to pick their next show.

Longtime fans remember Crackle as the original platform for Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. Although Netflix took the popular web series, Crackle still offers a diverse library of shows. Highlights include The Dick Van Dyke Show, Forensic Files, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Real Ghostbusters, and Jackie Chan Adventures, alongside many others. Crackle also produces its own original content, though the selection is somewhat limited.

Don’t be misled by its dated appearance: Crunchyroll is a fantastic free platform for Anime enthusiasts. The site boasts an extensive collection of shows, including One Piece, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia. While a premium tier is available, you can enjoy plenty of content without paying a dime.

If you’re using a desktop, consider trying Crunchyroll’s beta version. It introduces additional features and a modernized interface, aligning the site with the expectations of a 2022 streaming service.

Fans of Adult Swim should know that a significant portion of their content is available for free online and through their app. While some shows require a cable login, many are accessible without one (sometimes entire seasons). It’s unclear what determines which content is restricted, as occasionally the first episode of a season isn’t free, which can deter viewers from starting the series.

Nevertheless, the platform offers a wealth of free, high-quality Adult Swim content, perfect for binge-watching hilarious cartoons. The channel also provides live streams of its shows, allowing you to tune in and enjoy random episodes anytime.

IMDB began as an online movie database but has evolved into much more. The platform now features original programming, including shows like Play-Doh Squished, Corner Gas, and Timewasters, alongside a vast library of popular series such as Mad Men, Schitt’s Creek, and Chicago Fire.

Since Amazon owns the platform, you’ll need an Amazon account to log in and stream. However, a Prime membership isn’t required—just a free Amazon account will suffice.

Now, let’s explore live TV options. Pluto TV stands out as one of the best and most widely available services. It offers hundreds of free channels across various genres, including movies, entertainment, reality TV, gaming, music, sports, and crime. The platform features well-known channels like Showtime Selects, Paramount+ Picks, MTV Pluto, and CNN, alongside lesser-known ones that provide equally engaging content.

Take some time to explore Pluto’s extensive channel lineup. You’re bound to find something that suits your taste.

Xumo TV is another excellent choice for live TV streaming. The service boasts what feels like hundreds of channels, as evident from its extensive TV guide. You’ll find news from ABC and NBC, movies from CineLife and Xumo Movies, game shows from Game Show Central and Family Feud, and kids’ content from Cool School and Xumo Kids.

Beyond its live TV offerings, Xumo also provides a range of on-demand options. Many of the same channels available in its live lineup are featured here, each with a collection of clips and shows. Whether you’re exploring History Shorts’ catalog or binge-watching Architectural Digest’s content, there’s plenty to choose from.

While Plex is widely known for its movie services, it also offers live TV. The platform features a variety of channels, including Crackle, AMC Thrillers, IGN, Fail Army, and World Poker Tour. My personal favorite is the Portlandia channel, which allows me to play random episodes in the background anytime—making Plex a must-have.

If you own a Samsung TV or Galaxy smartphone, Samsung TV Plus is worth considering for live TV. The service provides 100% free live TV, featuring channels like NBC News NOW, Stories by AMC, Vice, Court TV, Game Show Central, America’s Test Kitchen, and around 190 additional options, according to Samsung.

The only catch is that this service is exclusive to Samsung devices. If you don’t own a Samsung TV or phone, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you’re already part of the Samsung ecosystem, their live TV app could be the perfect choice for you.

For LG enthusiasts, LG Channels is an excellent choice. It’s typically pre-installed on LG smart TVs, offering seamless access to live TV features powered by Xumo. This eliminates the need to download additional apps, making it a hassle-free option for streaming.