Best Free Sites to Legally Stream Movies

Make Tech Easier ^ | 4/20/17 | Ryan Lynch

[markomalley]

It’s no secret that the future of entertainment is streaming, and the future is now. After the meteoric success of Netflix, virtually every content provider on the planet was eager to get in on the streaming game. For many, the arrival of streaming services meant finally ditching their cable companies and their astronomical bills. Unfortunately, would-be cord cutters found that Internet streaming could still be costly. With Amazon, Hulu, HBO, SlingTV and countless others all throwing their hats into the ring, subscription fees can add up quickly.

In addition to these paid options, there are a plethora of subscription-free websites that allow you to stream to your heart’s content. Of course, the legality of these websites is always a concern. The rise of streaming ultimately led to a rise in copyright infringement and piracy. However, this doesn’t mean that every free streaming site is breaking the law. To keep yourself out of hot water, you’ll want to know how to spot a potentially shady content provider.

How to Spot an Illegal Streaming Site

The law surrounding piracy is complex and can be hard to interpret. Whether or not just watching an illegal stream can land you in prison or have you  facing a hefty fine is still up in the air; however, there are other inherent risks. Illegal streaming sites can try to infect your PC with malware, steal sensitive personal information or bog you down with intrusive ads. Have a look at some of indicators of a legit streaming service.

• There is an “About Us” or “Contact Us” section. Legit streaming sites are run by people who are transparent about who they are and want user feedback. Lacking these sections could indicate that the owners of the site are trying to remain anonymous.
• They tell you where the movies are coming from. Legal streaming sites will disclose how they obtain the rights to host the content they offer. Generally this is done via partnerships with movie studios.
• They make money through advertisements. Free sites need cash to keep the lights on. Ads that interrupt viewing (similar to when you’re watching a longer YouTube video) are common.
• There’s an app. Android and iOS apps go through a review process before hitting the market to make sure they don’t violate any policies. Simply put, an illegal streaming app would never make it to the public.
• There are newer films available. If a streaming site is offering a film that is still in theaters or hasn’t hit home video yet, there’s a good chance it’s illegal.

Legit Free Movie Streaming Sites

While the world of Internet streaming can be scary, there are many free services that are legitimate. While there are many streaming sites currently in operation, the following list highlights some good places to start.

Crackle

Crackle is owned by Sony Pictures and offers a good selection of free movies and TV shows from Sony’s back catalog. New content crops up at regular intervals; however, titles are usually only available for a limited time. The site is ad-supported, meaning you’ll have periodic interruptions during your stream.

PopcornFlix

A subsidiary of Screen Media Films, PopcornFlix has a ton of free-to-watch independent films, so long as you don’t mind the occasional ad. In addition to feature-length films, PopcornFlix also boasts original content.

TubiTV

An ad-supported TV and movie streaming platform, TubiTV has the largest library of free TV shows and movies on the Web thanks to partnerships with Hollywood heavyweights like Paramount and MGM. In addition to the more than 40,000 titles currently available, TubiTV boasts new content uploaded every single week.

Classic Cinema Online

Featuring lots of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Classic Cinema Online is your one-stop shop. The site features embedded videos from other sites, mainly YouTube. As with a lot of “classic” video streaming sites, its library is mainly comprised of films that have fallen into the public domain.

Top Documentary Films

Have a hankering for real life? Top Documentary Films has you covered. Featuring a wide variety of subjects from conspiracy theories to climate change, Top Documentary Films will undoubtedly give you food for thought.

Viewster

Viewster has an eclectic library of TV shows and movies to watch with no registration or fees. This ad-supported service features everything from anime to documentaries; however, the titles available change from country to country due to regional licensing agreements.

Do you agree with our list? Which streaming services did we miss that are worth a mention? What is your favorite free streaming service? Let us know in the comments!

[HeadOn]

I just got a Roku device, and I agree, not terribly impressed with any streaming movie sites. I’ve found some decent (older) movies on Crackle, not yet on Popcorn, but “free movie” doesn’t rhyme with “B movie” by coincidence. :-)

None of the free ones have too many blockbusters.

I kinda like Sling TV, because you can get some good live feeds.

[PeteePie]

Thanks Mark! bfl

[Buckeye McFrog]

your Internet account may have been involved

I don't even play a lawyer on TV, and I can knock THAT one out of the park.

[Gamecock]

Thanks for posting this.

I think I am going to cut the cord tomorrow, this is very timely.

[Moonman62]

I haven’t used it in a few months, but some good things can be found on Dailymotion.

[Leaning Right]

Thanks for posting this.

[mrsmith]

For classics the best free legal site is https://free-classic-movies.com/
Stream or download.

[napscoordinator]

I agree with kodi. Great product!

[gaijin]

Later

[knittnmom]

I had the opposite reaction: after watching their devious and conniving behavior, I decided I would rather NOT have servants!

[Sergio]

Tech/Free TV bookmark.

[V K Lee]

This might be of interest
FILM ON
https://www.filmon.com/tv/fotv-usa

[txhurl]

I also would never have servants; OTOH, imagine a life where the to-do list doesn’t exist. Still not sure of the intended slant of the producers... socialists and gheys are not given much applause. I am sick of hearing m’lady and m’lord every third word.

[AppyPappy]

The local university library has over 7,500 DVDs.

[V K Lee]

You might find something here to assist you.
ALLUC
http://www.alluc.ee/

[TomGuy]

I tried several of these ‘free’ movie sites. They typically have commercial breaks about every 10 minutes.

Too many times, I have had them stall out on a commercial about half-way through and fail to return to the movie.

When I tried to restart and relocate to the portion were the stall occurred, it will show a dozen or more commercials.

Frankly, they became too much of a hassle, considering their offerings were lacking.

I did notice that HULU recently added a ‘no commercials’ subscription for about $12/month. I have not tried it, but I did notice in the small print that some programming would still show commercials at the beginning and/or end of some selections.

[kalee]

Thanks! Saving for later.

[V K Lee]

VUDU
http://www.vudu.com/movies/#new/movies_on_us
VIEWSTER
http://www.viewster.com/
YI FY
http://yify.tv
ZANY LOL
http://zanylol.com/movies.html
GO MOVIES
https://gomovies.to/
Z MOVIE
http://www.zmovie.co/

You Tube Users
The Paramount Vault has a diverse library of movies
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzMVH2jEyEwXPBvyht8xQNw/featured

Turner Classic Movies
https://www.youtube.com/user/TurnerClassicMovies

Timeless Classic Movies library
https://www.youtube.com/user/TimelessClassicMovies

Thanks for your thread. Added a few more on my list :)

[TexasTransplant]

BKMK

[roadcat]

The local university library has over 7,500 DVDs.

Wow! My daughter gets DVDs from the local public library, but selection is a bit less (a lot less!). Thanks for the tip.