Freevee, formerly known as IMDb TV, is a free ad-supported streaming service owned by Amazon that offers thousands of hit movies and TV shows available for free viewing. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about Freevee including its history, content library, streaming quality, how to install on popular devices like Firestick and Roku, tips for getting the best experience, and how it stacks up to competitors like Tubi and Pluto TV.
Here‘s what I‘ll cover in this in-depth Freevee setup guide:
- Background on Freevee and its origins as IMDb TV
- Content library specifics – titles, shows, resolution
- Step-by-step installation on Firestick, Roku, Android TV
- Using Freevee on mobile devices
- Streaming quality comparison to other free services
- Tips for the optimal viewing experience
- Pairing Freevee with a VPN
- How Freevee stacks up to the competition
Let‘s get started!
The Origins and Evolution of Freevee
First launched in January 2019 as IMDb TV, Freevee began as an ad-supported streaming extension of IMDb, the popular online movie database owned by Amazon.
Over the next three years, IMDb TV saw tremendous growth. According to Amazon, IMDb TV tripled its monthly active users between 2020 and 2021.
In April 2022, Amazon announced that IMDb TV would be rebranded as Freevee to better communicate the free, quality streaming experience. The name "Freevee" invokes both "free" and "TV" to highlight the main draw of the service.
What‘s Available to Watch on Freevee?
As of August 2022, Freevee offers over 20,000 movies and TV shows available to stream for free. The content library includes a mix of both older, classic titles along with more recent hits.
Some examples of popular movies on Freevee include:
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- La La Land
- Rain Man
- The Hunger Games
- Memento
Hit TV shows available include:
- White Collar
- Person of Interest
- Desperate Housewives
- Ally McBeal
- 24
Freevee also produces a small amount of original content such as UNinterrupted‘s Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers and the Bosch spinoff series Bosch: Legacy. However, the majority of the library consists of licensed, back-catalog content.
How to Install the Freevee App
One of the best parts of Freevee is that it‘s readily available on most major streaming platforms and mobile devices. Here are step-by-step guides to installing across different devices:
Amazon Firestick and Fire TV
As an Amazon-owned platform, Freevee comes pre-installed on the home screens of Firestick and Fire TV streaming devices. Simply scroll over to the Freevee icon and select to open the app. Your Amazon account will automatically sync to resume watching and get personalized recommendations:
Roku
On your Roku player or streaming stick, open the Roku Channel Store from your home screen. Search for "Freevee" and select the Freevee app. Choose Install to download it, then select Open once installed to start watching:
Android TV / Chromecast
Owners of devices like the NVIDIA SHIELD, Chromecast with Google TV, or meCool Android TV box can install Freevee from the Google Play Store. Search for Freevee, choose the app, and tap Install. Once downloaded, select Open to begin enjoying free movies and TV:
iPhone and Android Phones
You can also access the Freevee app on iPhone and Android smartphones by installing from the App Store or Google Play Store respectively. Sign in with your Amazon account to pick up where you left off across devices.
Freevee Streaming Quality
One advantage of Freevee is the ability to stream movies and shows in up to 1080p Full HD resolution with 5.1 surround sound.
This matches the HD quality of paid services like Netflix and surpasses the maximum 720p resolution offered by other free competitors such as Tubi TV and The Roku Channel.
Having access to the highest quality HD streams available helps provide an immersive, cinematic viewing experience on Freevee.
Tips for the Best Freevee Experience
Here are some recommendations for getting the most out of the Freevee streaming service:
- Create user profiles – Set up different profiles for personalized recommendations
- Utilize the watchlist – Add titles to your watchlist queue for easy access
- Download on mobile – Use the app to download select content for offline viewing
- Enable parental controls – Lock down access to mature content as needed
- Browse genres – Dig into category hubs like Action, Comedy, and Kids TV
Taking advantage of these features can help tailor Freevee to your preferences and make streaming seamless across devices.
Using a VPN with Freevee
I always recommend pairing Freevee with a virtual private network (VPN) service to enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic so that your ISP or hackers cannot see what you‘re accessing online. It also hides your IP address and location.
When using Freevee, a VPN prevents your streaming data from being logged and hides the fact you‘re accessing this streaming content from any snoopers. I suggest VPNs like Surfshark and NordVPN to use alongside Freevee.
Freevee vs. The Competition
How does Freevee stack up against others in the ad-supported and free streaming space? Let‘s compare key competitors:
- Tubi TV – Offers around 25,000 titles, maximum 720p resolution
- Pluto TV – Over 250 live cable-style channels but lesser on-demand library
- The Roku Channel – Roku devices only, ~40,000 free titles to choose from
Freevee holds its own against these services with a robust content library, top-notch 1080p streaming, and availability across tons of streaming players, TVs, and mobile devices.
The ad load also appears lighter compared to alternatives like Tubi TV and Pluto. Just don‘t expect the breadth of originals that paid services provide.
Overall, Freevee should rank among the top options for free, ad-supported streaming thanks to the strength of the Amazon brand.
The Future of Free, Ad-Supported Streaming
While subscriptions services like Netflix and HBO Max grab headlines, Freevee represents the rise of free, ad-supported streaming options.
According to Decider.com, Tubi TV and services like it represent over 25% of total TV streaming as of mid-2022. That share appears poised to grow as consumers look to cut costs on entertainment.
Amazon clearly sees major potential in this space by rebranding IMDb TV to Freevee. And their streaming tech and experience gives them an advantage over scrappy startups like Tubi.
Don‘t expect paid subscriptions to go away entirely. But look for ad-supported free options like Freevee to gain further traction across on-demand and even live TV streaming.
In Closing
I hope this guide has provided lots of valuable information about getting up and running with Freevee. The service offers an unmatched free streaming experience in terms of device support, content quality, and ease of use.
Take advantage of this Amazon-powered movie and TV vault to enjoy stellar entertainment with minimal ads and zero fees. Click here to learn more about compatible streaming devices to install Freevee such as the Firestick.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to help walk through getting Freevee set up on your preferred platform.