10 Best Free Ad Supported Streaming Services to Binge in 2025
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If you’re tired of hefty Netflix, Disney+ and cable bills, you’re in luck: the best free ad supported streaming services have stepped up big time. These apps and platforms let you watch tons of movies, TV shows and even live channels for $0, as long as you don’t mind the commercials. In 2025, budget-savvy viewers and Gen Z alike are flocking to free, ad-funded options (often called FAST – Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) to cut costs.
For perspective, industry reports note the average U.S. household now pays about $61/month on streaming – up from $48 last year. Why pay that when you can catch thousands of titles on free apps? In fact, some free platforms have become massive: Tubi alone has roughly 97 million monthly users (surpassing even Peacock and Paramount+). These days I’ll sometimes find an old favorite movie on a free service and think, “Well, that’s a win for my wallet!” Here’s a friendly tour of how these free, ad-supported services work and which ones top the list in 2025.
What Are Free Ad Supported Streaming Services?
Think of these services like the streaming version of basic cable: you get live channels and on-demand shows without a subscription. There’s no monthly fee – instead, you watch a few short ads in each episode. It’s simple: you pay with your attention, not your credit card. This model is increasingly popular because it offers huge libraries for free. As one media analysis notes, FAST platforms combine the familiar “linear TV” experience (with an electronic program guide and scheduled channels) with the flexibility of streaming. For example, many smart TVs now come pre-loaded with free ad-supported apps, making it effortless to “channel-surf” without cable.
These services appeal to just about everyone on a budget. Students and families find them handy for background TV or kids’ shows, and cord-cutters love building a “good enough” streaming bundle with no monthly bill. Viewers appreciate that FAST content is still fairly polished – Tubi’s ads, for instance, are brand-focused commercials (think Wendy’s or Nordstrom) rather than random clickbait.
Media experts point out that viewers often prefer trading a few ad minutes for free access to tons of content. In fact, the ad load is usually quite reasonable: only about 4–6 minutes of commercials per hour on Tubi, versus 14–16 minutes on traditional network TV. In short, these free services are cost-free ways to discover movies and shows you might otherwise skip – and many folks say the trade-off is well worth it.
The Best Free Ad Supported Streaming Services Right Now
Here are the top free, ad-supported streaming services to check out in 2025. Each offers a unique catalog of content across apps and devices. (Almost all of them are available on smart TVs, streaming players or mobile – no cable box needed.)
- Tubi (Fox) – Arguably the giant of free streaming. Tubi boasts over 275,000 movies and TV episodes (including about 300 exclusive originals). You’ll find everything from recent network hits to cult classics (everything from Doctor Who classics to old reality shows). With roughly 97 million monthly users, Tubi’s library is enormous. The catch? Occasional ad breaks (around 4–6 minutes per hour), but most viewers say that’s a small price for zero subscription fees. It’s on pretty much every device under the sun.
- Pluto TV (Paramount) – The leader in free live-TV streaming. Owned by Paramount, Pluto offers hundreds of 24/7 live channels plus thousands of on-demand titles. Think themed channels like classic sitcom reruns, sports highlights, news, reality TV and more. In total it has roughly 100,000+ hours of content, curated by subject (from “Walking Dead Universe” marathons to comedy channels). It’s designed to mimic a cable guide, so you can “channel-surf” easily. (Fun fact: Pluto claims to be the largest FAST platform, with millions of viewers worldwide.) And yes – it really is 100% free, on any device (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, web, etc.) no signup needed.
- The Roku Channel (Roku Inc.) – Roku’s own free streaming hub. It’s available not just on Roku devices but also on Fire TV, Samsung TVs, mobile apps and even in browsers. The Roku Channel carries 80,000+ movies and shows on-demand, plus 500+ live channels (including news, kids, lifestyle, sports, and more). Its content is a mix of network series, classic films, and Roku Originals (from Quibi’s catalog, etc.). As of 2024, it reached about 145 million people in the U.S. – making it the most popular FAST service stateside. In practice, you’ll find a little of everything on Roku Channel, and the app tries to personalize suggestions if you create a free profile.
- Amazon Freevee – (Previously known as IMDb TV). Freevee is Amazon’s ad-supported streaming tier. It offers a mix of movies and licensed TV series (and a few original shows). Notable titles have included Judy Justice and Alex Rider. If you have Amazon Prime Video, just browse the “Freevee” section – even non-Prime members can watch Freevee content without paying. Important 2025 update: Amazon announced it will discontinue the standalone Freevee app later this year. All Freevee content will move into Prime Video as a free-with-ads library. In other words, Freevee’s content lives on; you just won’t see it in a separate app after Aug 2025. But until then, it’s still one of the best no-cost services (since you don’t need a Prime subscription for it).
- Crackle (defunct) – A trailblazer for free streaming (launched in 2004 as Sony Crackle). Crackle used to offer movies, TV dramas and originals (remember Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’s early seasons?). Sadly, Crackle shut down in mid-2025 when its parent company went bankrupt. Its website now displays an error and the app no longer works. We include it here for completeness and nostalgia – Crackle once had a neat mix of older films and cult TV. But in 2025 it’s no longer an active option, so fans have to migrate to alternatives like Tubi or the Roku Channel.
- Plex (Free) – Better known as a media server tool, Plex also runs a free ad-supported streaming service. Launched in 2019, it partners with big studios (Warner Bros, MGM, Lionsgate, etc.). On Plex Free you’ll find thousands of on-demand movies and TV shows, plus a growing lineup of live channels (news, sports, documentaries and more). They also offer Plex Originals and indie content. It’s a convenient “all-in-one” app if you already use Plex for your own media. And yes, it’s completely free – ads included.
- Xumo Play (Comcast) – Comcast’s free streaming offering, often just called Xumo. It touts 350+ live channels and 15,000 on-demand titles. You don’t need to create an account or enter any login – just open the app to start watching. Xumo’s channels include news (NBC News NOW, etc.), movies, sports highlights, and themed content (food, travel, etc.). There are also on-demand movies and shows. Basically, Xumo is Pluto/Roku-like, with a large channel list and an easy interface. If you have a Comcast Xfinity set-top box or many smart TVs, it may already be installed for you.
- Samsung TV Plus (Samsung) – Built directly into Samsung Smart TVs, plus available on Samsung Galaxy phones and monitors, this service delivers 200+ free live channels (and growing) in the US. (Some sources report over 700 channels on newer TVs.) It’s pre-loaded on Samsung devices, so no download or sign-in is needed. You can watch everything from news and sports to classic TV and kids’ shows. Samsung TV Plus claims tens of millions of monthly users (around 88 million by 2024). Because it’s tied to Samsung’s hardware, it’s ideal if you already own a Samsung TV or phone. The content mix can vary by region, but expect 24/7 feeds of both on-demand movies and linear channels (like MLB highlights or cooking shows).
- Sling Freestream (Dish Network) – The free tier of Sling TV, rebranded as Sling Freestream. It offers an impressively large catalog: 400+ live TV channels and about 40,000 on-demand titles. These include major broadcast news channels (ABC News Live, CBS News 24/7, etc.) and cable staples (MTV, Comedy Dynamics, etc.), plus movie channels (IFC, Tribeca Channel) and lots of niche or genre channels. You can stream Sling Freestream without even creating an account – it’s open to everyone. (Signing up adds perks like watchlists and user profiles.) The ads are plentiful, but hey, it’s free. Think of Freestream as a massive “everlasting free trial” of live TV.
- ViX (TelevisaUnivision) – A top pick if you speak Spanish or watch Hispanic content. ViX (pronounced “veeks”) is TelevisaUnivision’s streaming platform. Its free tier offers roughly 40,000 hours of content across 100+ channels. That includes Spanish-language novelas, movies, news and live sports (ViX+ is the paid tier with even more). If you want Spanish dubs of Hollywood films or Liga MX soccer, ViX has a lot to offer. Ads here are generally in Spanish and lighter than traditional TV. For bilingual families or Latino audiences, ViX is easily one of the best free ad supported streaming services for culturally relevant content.
After checking out those, you might be asking: how do these compare to paid streaming?
How They Compare to Paid Streaming
There’s no question: free services come with more ads. But think of it this way: the price is right. You trade subscription fees for a few commercial breaks. Most of these platforms offer literally all of their content at zero cost, which is a huge perk for bargain hunters. And the ads aren’t nearly as bad as old TV commercials – for example, Tubi shows only 4–6 minutes of ads per hour, compared to 15+ minutes on cable channels. So even though you might see a 30-second spot every so often, many people find it a small price to pay.
Content-wise, the trade-off is that you’re usually not getting the very latest originals. The hottest new shows (Marvel movies, Disney+ exclusives, HBO dramas, etc.) generally require a paid subscription. But these free platforms often fill that gap with older hits or curated libraries. For instance, Tubi lets you binge classic Doctor Who episodes from the ’60s–’80s (all free, with ads). The Roku Channel bags the Quibi library as “Roku Originals.” Sling Freestream even offers cable news feeds that you’d otherwise only get with a live-TV plan. Many users call these offerings some of the best free ad supported streaming services precisely because they’re so generous with content for nothing.
In practice, many viewers say commercials on FAST services are tolerable. In a survey, people found that Pluto TV’s ads were actually more engaging and less annoying than some other platforms. And experts note that ad-supported streaming isn’t a “step back” – it’s more like combining decades of TV wisdom with the internet The bottom line: if you don’t want to pay $10–20 a month, enduring a few ad breaks is a worthwhile compromise. You’re still getting loads of free movies and episodes.
Who Should Try Them
These services aren’t just for penny-pinchers. They’re perfect for casual viewers and anyone who wants entertainment without commitment. College students, for example, can watch late-night stand-up or anime on Plex while cramming for exams. Busy families might use Xumo Play or The Roku Channel as background TV during dinner or playtime. Even those who already have Netflix/Hulu can use free apps to explore shows they missed or to keep the kids busy. If you like having something on while cooking or exercising (“Is that the new Star Trek on Pluto TV or am I dreaming?”), these platforms can fit right in.
Personally, I love using free services as a supplement. Sometimes I skip a paid subscription for a month and rely on Tubi and Samsung TV Plus. One friend jokes that Sling Freestream is like the streaming “free sample” you never unsubscribe from. If you’re someone who just wants variety, nostalgia, or basic news/sports without the bill, these free services are your friends. As a rule of thumb: if you balk at subscriptions but still want streaming, try one of the best free ad supported streaming services first. You might find that the content you care about is already there – and if not, it’ll save you money to add a paid tier only when something you really want comes along.
The Future of Free Streaming
Free streaming is no fad – it’s booming. Industry analysis predicts the FAST market will skyrocket in the coming years. One report estimated the global FAST market at $8 billion in 2023 with ~23% annual growth through 2030. Why? Internet speeds and smart TVs make it effortless, and as pure subscribers hit fatigue, ad-supported models shine. We’re already seeing big players invest more here. Tubi, for instance, boasts 300+ original titles in its catalog. Expect more ad-free “premier” tiers, more free movies on big platforms (see Paramount adding Yellowstone reruns to Pluto), and even new FAST channels popping up. Advertisers are pouring cash into streaming, too, because unskippable ads mean guaranteed views.
We’ll likely see more specialty FAST channels and even more originals on these free platforms. Imagine a future where the “HBO of free streaming” exists – creators are already making content specifically for ad-supported apps. And with devices launching with FAST apps built-in, more viewers will discover these services. For now, the best free ad supported streaming services are only getting better – more titles, smarter recommendations, and even some live sports or exclusive events. It’s a great time to be a viewer: the free streaming library you can binge is richer than ever, and it’s still just one click away.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, these best free ad supported streaming services let you enjoy great shows and movies without the bills. You might have to sit through a commercial or two, but in return you get access to a world of entertainment on your couch. Think of them as treasure troves of content – a surprise classic movie or your childhood cartoon could be waiting. So why not give them a shot? You could discover your new favorite series or catch up on something fun without adding another subscription to your tab. With these options, you can really have your popcorn and eat it too – all on the house, thanks to the best free ad supported streaming services.
