Where you can Stream TV Shows and Movies for Free

Streaming services changed the way we watch television. A couple of years ago, you had to wait until a specific date to watch an episode of your favourite TV show or movie.

Today, you can binge-watch a complete season of favourite and new TV shows and movies from the comfort of your home. As a bonus, you can watch on multiple devices such as smartphones, PCs, tablets, smart TVs and more.

While streaming services have made it easier to watch TV shows and movies, the subscription services are not cheap. Research shows that 50.5% of UK households subscribe to at least one streaming service. That translates to 14.2 million people.

Did you know you can stream movies and TV shows for free? Yes, you can, and we’ll show you how.

In this guide, we’ll explain where you can legally stream movies for free in the UK.

Free Streaming Services in the UK

Film4 is an ad-supported service owned by Channel 4 television. It develops and co-finances films. Examples of films they created or co-financed include 12 Years A Slave, The Favorite, Slumdog Millionaire, Iron Lady and Ex Machina.

The service has more than 30 films available for streaming. Such films include Everybody’s talking about Jamie, Louis Wain, Dream Horse, Wildfire, Rocks and Greed. These movies are usually updated regularly to ensure you have access to the latest releases.

My5 from Channel 5 is an on-demand video service that offers a wide range of TV shows, movies, documentaries and drama from the Channel 5 family. You can watch TV shows such as the Arrangement, WWE Raw Highlights, Storage Wars, Forged in Fire and much more.

Compatible with multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and streaming sticks, My5 is available for free. To catch your favourite TV shows and movies, register for a free account. Now you can watch My5 exclusive shows, and access premieres of brand new shows from the comfort of your home.

As one of the leading on-demand video platforms, Rakuten TV offers the latest Hollywood blockbusters and the best indie films. The streaming service also provides popular TV series from around the world.

Previously known as Wuaki TV, Rakuten TV is currently headquartered in Barcelona. Besides streaming free movies and TV shows, Rakuten TV also allows you to rent new releases or buy and keep your favourite TV shows and movies. Unlike Netflix, Rakuten TV displays an odd ad from time to time.

Netflix ‘Watch Free’ Page

Netflix is the most popular online streaming service in the world. As a premier destination for all your entertainment needs, Netflix is home to popular TV shows and movies such as:

• Stranger Things
• Murder Mystery
• Bird Box
• Love is Blind

Most people do not know that you can watch these TV shows and movies for free without signing up for a 30-day free trial. All you need to do is visit Netflix Watch Free and select from various movies, TV shows and press play to watch. It’s that simple.

Watch Movies for Free Under a ‘Free Trial’

Netflix has an extensive library of TV shows, movies, and even award-winning original Netflix content. If you want to watch anywhere, anytime on your PC, smartphone, tablet or smart TV, all you’ve to do is sign up for a free 30-day trial.

There are no commitments or pesky contracts. You can cancel your 30-day free trial online in two clicks.

Amazon Prime Video is an American online subscription over the top streaming service from Amazon, Inc. Launched in September 2006, Prime Video offers access to thousands of movies and TV episodes for a fee. Per month, Prime Video costs £5.99. The good news is, you can watch Prime Video content for free by signing up for a 30-day free trial.

Watch your favourite TV shows, live sports and the latest movies from multiple devices at home or on the go thanks to Now TV. Now TV has over 300 binge-worthy content, including must-see kids’ TV.

You can watch movies and TV shows from your home without a contract. Now TV offers a 7-day trial. Remember, if you fail to cancel the free trial, it’ll auto-renew monthly at £11.99 for Sky Cinema, £9.99 for Entertainment Pass and £3 for Boost.

Apple TV is the latest entrant in the online streaming business. It offers access to completely free content with no strings attached. You can watch channels such as CBS News, Bloomberg, Crackle, CBS Sports and more once you sign up for the free 7-day trial. For a complete list of channels offered by Apple TV, read “Apple TV Channels.”

YouTube Premium is the ad-free version of the traditional YouTube we have come to love. As a subscription service, it offers ad-free access to premium YouTube Original shows. You can now enjoy 30 days of ad-free content by signing up for a free trial. Once the free trial elapses, it will cost you £8.99 a month to stream on YouTube Premium.

ITV and BBC partnered to take on big streaming services such as Prime Video and Netflix. Founded in March 2017, BritBox offers binge-worthy content such as:

• Poldark
• Doctor Who
• Luther
• Downtown Abbey
• Spitting Image
• Faulty Towers

BritBox provides a 30-day free trial, and you can start watching your favourites instantly.

MUBI is a free video streaming platform that provides a handpicked selection of films. Founded in 2007, you can watch cult classics such as El Topo and modern masterpieces like the Staggering Girl. To watch these films and more, sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Stream your favourite reality TV shows on any device, on-demand for free. HayU is a video streaming service owned by NBCUniversal. Launched in 2016, it’s available in Europe, North America and parts of Asia. If you sign up for the 1-month free trial, you can watch reality shows like the Real Housewives, Kardashians, Love and Dating.

Watch your favourite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies and TV shows exclusively on Disney+. Launched in November 2019, Disney+ offers access to classics such as The Simpsons and Disney Animated Films. To watch these and more, sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Final Thoughts…

There you have it. Our guide to free streaming services in the UK. With the great list of free streaming sites above, you can watch your favourite TV shows and movies as well as catch up with new binge-worthy releases.

Remember, specific streaming services offer a free trial which you can take advantage of. But don’t forget to cancel before the trial period expires or else, it’ll auto-renew monthly.