Watching movies at home is something my family loves to do when we want to relax. We often watch free movies online as a form of entertainment that lets us enjoy a film without spending money.
Thanks to streaming services you can do the same thing. Whether you want to catch the latest movie, or are in the mood for a classic, you can watch both.
Our guide shares the best ways to get free movies online.
Table of Contents
How to Watch Content Online
It is fairly simple to safely watch new movies online for free. All you need is an internet connection and a device to stream content.
Here are some devices that will let you watch free HD movies online:
There are plenty of Fire Stick alternatives that help you stream content. If you have a smart TV, you may not even need a device.
If you don’t have a TV, you can still watch free streaming movies online through your computer.
Best Free Movie Websites
Free movie sites can be an excellent way to entertain your family at no cost. If you don’t mind dealing with ads, you can choose between thousands of flicks to watch.
Here are the top legitimate choices to watch movies online.
1. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is a terrific place to watch free HD movies online. The site has over 1,500 movies available thanks to their parent company, Screen Media Ventures, LLC, and is safe option to watch movies.
The site has newer and older films, including:
- Action
- Comedy
- Documentaries
- Drama
- Horror
- Romance
You can even find a few TV shows on this site.
Popcornflix is simple to use. You don’t have to sign up for an account or download any special programs to start watching films.
If you’re looking for a free movie website, Popcornflix is a must.
2. Vudu
Vudu is known largely as a platform to buy movies and TV episodes, but it does offer lots of free content. If you don’t mind a few ads, the site is a legit way to safely get free movies online.
*Related: Want to enjoy a free new release movie at home? Sign up for a Redbox account and receive a one-night free DVD rental!*
What sets Vudu apart is that they tell you how long a movie will remain available to watch. This helps ease frustration if you expect to watch something, only to learn it’s gone.
Vudu has hundreds of well-known, popular movies, and you can stream them on most devices.
3. YouTube
YouTube is a terrific resource to get free movies online. It’s the top video sharing website in the world, but it does have its share of feature-length films uploaded illegally.
However, the platform does carry a good number of licensed movies available to stream. To find those, you need do the following:
- Go to the Movies & Shows channel
- Click “View All”
- Click “Free to Watch”
New releases will usually cost money to rent, but other options are commonly free.
4. Crackle
Crackle is one of the best sites to watch movies online. The site partners with Sony Pictures, allowing them to have tons of full-length HD quality movies you can watch.
As a result, it’s one of the top free Netflix alternatives that provides a lot of content.
You’re bound to see some titles and actors you know while searching through the inventory. Like Popcornflix, you don’t have to sign up or download anything to start watching.
Just click on the movie you want and enjoy.
There are usually ads at the beginning of each movie and some may occur once or twice during the movie, but it only lasts a few seconds.
If you want a way to legally get free cable TV, Crackle is worth considering.
5. Snagfilms
If you’re looking to enjoy movies online you don’t always see advertised on the big screen, Snagfilms is a site that shows philanthropic movies and TV shows.
*Related: Looking for the perfect cable replacement? Check out our Sling TV channels list to learn how the platform replaces much of cable at a fraction of the cost.*
They have over 2,000 movies including documentaries and exclusive original comedy shorts. There’s also a Snagfilms app you can download for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
6. Vimeo
Vimeo is a popular video sharing website. Many don’t people realize that Vimeo is another safe online movie site.
While you won’t be able to watch the latest movies for free on Vimeo, it is a popular site for indie movies and one of the best alternatives to YouTube.
If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, Vimeo is a suitable choice to watch content online.
While you can watch free videos on Vimeo, they also offer four different paid plans, starting at $7 per month, that are geared towards video hosting.
You can get a free 30-day trial to try out any plan or stick with Vimeo Basic (their free plan) and pay nothing. The latter allows you to watch content without signing up or downloading anything.
7. Yidio
Yidio is a little different from the other sites. It searches all free streaming apps and compiles a list of all your options so you’ll have them in one place. You can also narrow down your search by choosing certain genres and ratings.
When you sign up for the site, you can even create a watchlist to receive updates on new TV show episodes and movies related your interests.
8. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is not only an excellent resource for free movies, it also has hundreds of TV shows to watch. The ad-supported service is free to use and has over 100 channels users can watch.
The service doesn’t carry new-release movies, but you can find plenty of classics. Some common movies you can find include:
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind, When a Stranger Calls, and Golden Child
- The Italian Job and Donnie Darko
- Yentl and Jackie Chan: Kung Fu Master
The app is free to install, and is often included in newer smart TVs. Read our Pluto TV review to learn more.
9. Hoopla
The library isn’t just a resource to get books, it’s also a great choice to stream free movies through hoopla. All you need to use hoopla is a library card and an email address.
When you create a free account, hoopla gives you access to movies and TV shows. It works with Midwest Tape to offer this free service.
The app is available on most devices, including your phone.
FAQs
It is possible to stream free movies online, but many people have questions when starting out. Here are a few common questions people ask when searching for ways to watch films on the internet.
Is it illegal to stream movies online?
If you’re simply streaming the content, there is nothing wrong. The above sites all operate legally, and offer a safe way to watch content.
If you start downloading or pirating anything, then it becomes a legal issue.
Where can I watch TV shows for free?
Many of the above sites allow you to watch TV shows for free. Just be mindful they may be limited in what they offer.
You can also watch local channels without cable very simply – you just need an over-the-air antenna.
Is Popcornflix really free?
Yes, Popcornflix is free. All of the other sites on our list are also free.
The sites are ad-supported, so you will need to put up with ads.
Are free movie streaming sites legal?
Yes, if the sites operate within the public domain like the ones on our list then the streaming site is legal.
Just find a site you like, and start watching.
Summary
It’s possible to watch films online without a struggle and you don’t have to feel dishonest for doing it. There are plenty of safe and reliable sites to use that provide a vast array of options.
If you’re looking for entertainment options for your family, and are open to a variety of genres, there’s no need to keep a pricey cable contract.
What are some of your favorite sites to watch movies?
Choncé is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), personal finance freelance writer, and blogger who focuses on helping others manage their money better in order to live a life with more possibilities and fewer limitations. Her work has been featured on Business Insider, LendingTree, Credit Sesame, and Barclaycard.
