The Best Free Streaming Apps for Movies, Shows and Live TV in Nov. 2023

Are you looking for the best free streaming apps to watch movies, TV shows and live channels? With the high costs of cable and paid streaming services, free streaming apps are a budget-friendly way to access tons of entertainment.

This guide compares the top completely free, ad-supported streaming apps for on-demand movies, shows and live TV available in Nov. 2023. I‘ll also cover the best free trial options for premium streaming services like Hulu and YouTube TV.

Whether you use Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV or another streaming device, these apps offer thousands of hours of free entertainment. Let‘s dive in!

Best Completely Free Streaming Apps

Here are the top streaming apps offering 100% free movies, TV shows and live channels supported by ads:

Tubi

With over 25,000 movies and TV shows available on-demand, Tubi should be your first stop for free streaming. The library includes blockbuster hits, cult classics, and popular shows soon after airing.

Content comes from major studios like MGM, Paramount and Lionsgate. The catalog refreshes weekly, so there‘s always something new to watch. You‘ll encounter a few ads, but it‘s a small price to pay for the huge selection.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

Pluto TV

Pluto TV offers over 300 free live TV channels spanning categories like movies, news, sports, comedy and more. Flipping through channels gives a similar experience to cable TV.

There is also a large on-demand library with thousands of movies and shows from major studios. While ad-supported, the interface is slick and content is high-quality.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

Crackle

Owned by Sony Pictures, Crackle is an excellent source of free movies and TV. The catalog includes Hollywood blockbusters, award-winning classics, and Crackle original content. New titles are added monthly.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

IMDb TV

IMDb TV offers thousands of hit movies and TV shows from top studios like MGM, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros. Standout titles include Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, Shrek and more. It‘s ad-supported and available through Amazon Prime Video.

Supported devices: Fire TV, Roku, iOS, Android

The Roku Channel

Available on Roku devices, The Roku Channel offers free movies, TV shows, and live news. There is a broad selection of Hollywood hits, award-winning films and popular shows. It also offers 80+ free live channels.

Supported devices: Roku streaming devices

Vudu

Vudu, owned by Walmart, offers over 150 free ad-supported movies ranging from family favorites to new releases. Its catalog of free titles refreshes regularly. You can also rent or buy new release movies.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

Hoopla

Connected to local libraries, Hoopla allows you to borrow free movies, TV shows, ebooks, audiobooks and music. The catalog is regularly updated with new releases. Just enter your library card to get access.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

Kanopy

Also tied to public libraries, Kanopy has over 30,000 indie movies, documentaries and foreign films available to borrow free with a library card. The catalog covers topics like social justice, art, and more.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

Plex

Plex aggregates free movies, TV shows, webshows and other content into its app. There are over 50 channels spanning categories like Classic TV, Horror, Extreme Sports and more to browse through.

Supported devices: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, iOS, Android

With these free streaming apps, you have access to an expansive library of movies, shows and channels without paying a dime. Let‘s compare some key stats between paid and free streaming options.

Paid vs. Free Streaming Apps

*Hulu‘s base plan has ads, ad-free option costs $12.99/month

Source: JustWatch, Nielsen

While paid streaming apps offer greater convenience, larger catalogs and no ads, free options give you thousands of hours of movies, shows and channels to watch at no cost. Combining free and paid apps can maximize your entertainment.

Next, let‘s look at the best free trials for premium streaming services.

Best Free Trial Streaming Apps

Free streaming trials allow you to sample premium subscription services like Hulu and YouTube TV for a limited time, usually 7 days. Here are some top options:

Hulu

Hulu offers a 30-day free trial to try out their streaming service. You get full access their entire catalog of 85,000+ movies, shows, Hulu Originals and more. Their base ad-supported plan starts at $7.99/month after the trial.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV has a 7-day free trial to sample their live TV service with over 100+ channels. Their plan with unlimited DVR storage costs $64.99/month after the trial.

fuboTV

fuboTV offers a free 7-day trial to try their service with access to over 120 channels. Their plans with 100+ channels start at $69.99/month after the trial.

Philo

Philo offers a free 7-day trial of their 60+ channel live TV service focused on entertainment and lifestyle programming. Plans start at $25/month after the trial.

Paramount+

Paramount+ has a free 7-day trial to sample their library of movies, shows and exclusive Paramount+ content. Ad-supported plans start at $4.99/month after the trial.

Sling TV

Sling TV offers a free 3-day preview of their live TV packages. Sling Orange and Sling Blue plans start at $35/month after the trial.

Trying out these free trials is a great way to evaluate which premium streaming services offer the content you want. You can stream top movies, shows, sports and more without committing.

More Favorite Free Streaming Apps

Beyond the major services above, here are a few more excellent free streaming apps worth checking out:

• Plex – Offers free on-demand movies, TV shows and online videos from their partner channels. Also allows you to access your personal media library.

• Tubi Kids – Tubi‘s free app just for children‘s shows and family movies.

• PBS – Watch full episodes and live streams from PBS stations across the US.

• CW – Current seasons of CW shows like Riverdale, Batwoman and All American available for free.

• Xumo – Over 160 free live channels including movies, news, sports, food and more.

• Stirr – Free streaming service from Sinclair Broadcasting with 100+ live channels.

• Redbox – Selection of free ad-supported movies available on-demand.

• IMDb Freedive – Ad-supported movie app from IMDb featuring Hollywood hits and classics.

• Yahoo View – On-demand streaming of shows from ABC, NBC, Fox, Comedy Central and more.

With the apps above, you can watch tons of free movies, TV series, news, sports, cartoons, and channels on your favorite devices. Never pay for cable again!

I hope this guide helps you discover some new free streaming apps to enjoy. Let me know if you have any other questions about cutting the cord. Happy streaming!