Watch Live TV, Shows, and Countless Movies Without Paying For Cable!
This guide gives you options to watch movies, shows, and local TV for free. It takes a tiny bit of work and small investment but the payoff saves you tens of thousands of dollars over time. You'll get over a dozen free apps that supply an endless amount of content and learn how to get this all set up easily!
Part 1: Small Investment • Digital Antenna: $15.00 • Home WIFI: $40.00 - $80 a month. • Either Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, or Smart TV:
Streaming Device Prices For Any of The Following...
Apple TV Box: $149.00
Roku: $30.00
Amazon Fire Stick: $35.00
Smart TV's: They cost around $100 more than a comparable TV that lacks smart-services.
Let’s Begin: Digital Antenna
No need for internet and the Antenna alone connected to your television will pick up anywhere from 10-20 local and cable channels that are just floating in the air around your area. You can buy a decent one at Walmart for $15.00. The more powerful you go, the more channels you may be able to get, and unlike old school rabbit ears, it’s digital and gets a clean reception most of the time.
Next: WIFI Alone This was the hardest part. Finding a provider that didn’t bundle cable into WIFI was difficult, but I did it! It took close to a year but eventually Xfinity became the first in my area to do it. It’s costing me no more than $40 a month, and that’s with renting the gateway.
**Update 1** Bad news...It's 2021 and I originally posted this guide in 2019. They haven’t raised rates, yet. Comcast purchased Xfinity and I fear they are going to raise rates because the streaming wars are heating up.
**Update 2** It's now 2022 and sadly my fears came true, Xfinity (Comcast) jacked my rates up. I'll be searching for a new internet provider that doesn't bundle. My monthly rate have more than doubled. Comcast is evil! I'll keep you updated. If you know of a internet provider that doesn't bundle, message me.
**Update 3** It's now 2023 and if I want to save money on internet, I have to use Xfinity. They're the cheapest but I had to bundle. It sucks but it is what it is. I suggest to keep searching for a company that offers just internet in your area.
Streaming Devices
Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or a Smart TV.
Any of the listed will do. Apple TV is perfect for me. It pairs with my iPhone and allows me to bring music, videos and photos on to my Apple TV. Smart TV's are great, Roku and the Fire TV Stick are other options people love. Most of the new DVD / Blu Ray players and video game counsels are set up to let you stream. As I mentioned above, the prices on these devices vary and to start getting free content you have to have a streaming device.
Part 2: The Apps!
Once you’re set up and comfortable working your streaming device, these are the apps to download directly to your TV or devices to begin watching free content. Keep in mind that these apps (unlike others) don't require a paid subscription. Some have 1 commercial for each show or movie every 15-20 minutes, which is still better than cable or regular TV, and there's a very large amount of content to choose from.
PLUTO TV LOVE this app! As you'll see, it's set up like a cable TV guide. The designers were geniuses. Pluto TV runs as an app on platforms, including Apple TV, Android TV, Firestick, Chromecast, Roku, and PlayStation consoles. The company currently has more than 75 content partners, over 100 free channels, and reaches over 6 million monthly active users. Pluto TV generates revenue from video advertisements between programming, with plans to always remain a free television provider. We shall see!
Xumo Play
Xumo Play is 100% free and legal with half the ads of cable. It's part of the new growing trend of offering better quality free content. I love it because I'm a UFC junkie and there's lots of MMA! There's an interactive guide so you can jump ahead, peruse and more, all while continuing to watch whatever you want for free!
Tubi TV The Tubi TV catalog includes hundreds of movies from all genres: action, comedy, science fiction, drama, martial arts, etc.
VUDU
Lots of cool movies, shows, and kids programming. You also get the option to buy or rent popular new releases.
CRACKLE
This is just like Vudu but like NETFLIX, you get original CRACKLE programming and it's been free for 10 years! Where have I been?
PopcornFlix PopcornFlix offers free add-supported streaming of feature-length movies and webisodes.
STIRR TV
Watch free TV channels on your Apple TV, iPhone and iPad. STIRR shouts to all kinds of people with a little bit of something for everyone -- LIVE local news, TV series, LIVE sports, movies, the latest viral videos and much more.
YouTube I don’t need to explain to you all the benefits of YouTube. An endless amount of cat videos, food porn, viral videos, podcasts, music and crazy content.
Spotify
This may seem like an odd suggestion because Spotify is more of a music app but not too long ago Spotify invested heavily into podcasting and currently streams the number 1 podcast on the planet (Joe Rogan) and along with Rogan's podcast, Spotify has other shows streaming video along with the audio from those shows.
Freevee
Freevee is a premium free streaming service. Watch thousands of hit movies, shows, Freevee Originals, and live 24/7 entertainment channels.
NewsON
Watch Live Local News. Great news for news junkies!
Stream live local news, previous newscasts, and local news clips for FREE from nearly 200 trusted stations across the U.S. Enjoy local news with NewsON anytime, anywhere.
SNAG FILMS SnagFilms is an app that offers advertising-supported documentary and independent films. Films are streamed on the website, which contains a library of over 5,000 films. There are limited adds. This option is very cool....Filmmakers can submit documentaries for consideration as well. The site also includes documentary films produced by National Geographic.
Prime Video
Yes, you need a membership for Amazon Prime to get full access BUT even though it's close to being a Fugazi app (something you'll learn about below) it still has tons of free content if you're willing to sit through commercials every now and then. It's not even close to the amount of commercials you have to deal with on cable or network TV.
Sling TV: Live TV + Freestream
Like Prime, you need a membership for full access and like Prime, it's close to a Fugazi app BUT again, it still has tons of free content if you're willing to sit through commercials every now and then.
WARNING! The Fugazi Apps.
NBC and or (Peacock), ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS, HBO, SHOWTIME, PLEX, and Many Others. These apps are free / aren’t free and they're annoying. They supply you with some free programming but try to hook you back into cable TV by locking up content and asking you to sign into your cable provider. A sneaky attempt, but it's too late because the cord is cut!
As time goes on, more apps to free content will become available and I’ll update this, but if you know of any I missed, message me and I’ll get them posted.