Where to Stream Old TV Shows in 2026

Pluto TV is another free streaming service with hundreds of on-demand classics. It may be a Viacom/CBS subsidiary, but its catalog isn't limited to network property. It streams sitcoms like Mork & Mindy and All in the Family, dramas like Twin Peaks, and Westerns like The Lone Ranger. It also has a live channel dedicated to streaming classic shows. As with other free streaming services, Pluto TV is not immune to annoying ads.

Not only is Tubi 100% free, it also happens to have the most extensive library of old shows in this list. It has everything from Tom & Jerry and Mr. Bean to Baywatch, Doctor Who, and Moesha. You’ll spend forever scrolling through your options. Its on-demand lineup is only rivaled by Roku, which is also free. Of course, Tubi is not immune to ads, and you’ll be viewing the unrestored version of the shows for the most part. But, hey, a classic TV win is a win.

Whether you're on a Roku device or browsing without an account, you can easily watch old TV shows on The Roku Channel for free. Their classics catalog is rich—arguably better and deeper than that of the paid services in this list. You can check out their live channels and on-demand shows to find what you like. The only downside of free streaming, however, is that it comes with those pesky ads in between.

Plex is a media management software that doubles as a free streaming service. Its main function is to organize your own library of content—that is, your own video, photo, or sound files—and make it streamable alongside Plex’s offerings of 200+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand movies and shows. Plex’s basic package comes at no cost, but it also has a premium package starting at $6.99/month that boasts additional features, such as the ability to download content and watch them offline, among other things.

FilmRise is another free way to watch old TV shows. Unlike Tubi or Roku, however, it has a pretty limited number of classic shows, perhaps because it's an independent service not backed by any major network. Another downside is FilmRise isn't streamable via website or desktop; you'll have to download the app to start watching. If you're okay with those potential issues, however, it still boasts nicely curated collections that include shows like The Dick VanDyke Show, That Girl, and Wiseguy.

If your idea of "old TV" is TV produced from the 1930s to 1970s, then Classix might be the one for you. The streaming service specializes in that specific period, streaming shows like The Pink Panther, Popeye, and Betty Boop. The catch? Only a select few of its films are streaming for free; to watch Classix’s shows, you'll have to pay a one-time fee of $7.99.

Shout Factory is a good fit if you're looking for more indie and cult-classic fare. Some of its shows include Mystery Science 3000 and Monty Python's Flying Circus. You can enjoy the service for free if you're on a budget, but you can also upgrade to a paid tier to get rid of ads. One thing about Shout Factory TV, however, is that despite its name, it's more of a film-centric than TV-centric streaming service. It still has a lot of shows, but not as much as it has films, and certainly not as much as the other services in this list.

Cineverse is a free streaming service that doesn't necessarily focus on classics, but it's still nice to have as an option. Some of the notable classics it streams are Street Fighter, Bonanza, Flash Gordon, and The Beverly Hillbillies. You can find the rest of its classic shows on other platforms, but some viewers might appreciate the fact that Cineverse has relatively fewer ads and a smooth interface. It also streams plenty of other shows in different genres.

Compared to Paramount+ and Peacock, Hulu’s classics lineup is stacked. From the Mary Tyler Moore Show and M*A*S*H to Ally McBeal and The X-Files, it has a wide and varied collection of oldies but goodies. This makes the streamer a great option for viewers who want a nice mix of classic and new shows, since Hulu is known for its fresh originals.

Thanks to parent company Warner Bros., Max streams more vintage animated content than any other service in this list. It has everything from Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo to South Park and Justice League. TCM films and HBO classics like The Sopranos, The Wire, and Sex and the City (sorry, those are considered old now) are only a bonus in this case.

Paramount is one of the oldest surviving studios in the world, so it's no surprise that Paramount+ has rights to stream classics like Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and Mission: Impossible (and their remakes, naturally). Apart from sci-fi, it's also packed with '90s favorites like All That, Daria, and The Real World. Additionally, the streamer has a live channel called TV Classics, which speaks for itself. Still, for a studio as gigantic as Paramount, its streaming catalog is pretty limited, especially when compared to the hundreds of classics found in free services like Tubi, Roku, and Pluto TV.

Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (previously Paramount+ Premium) is a Netflix-style streaming service, offering movies and TV shows on-demand like The Good Fight and Yellowstone. But unlike Netflix, it gives you access to Live TV from CBS. That means CBS local channels, CBS News (CBSN), CBS Sports, ET live, and some live sporting events like NFL on CBS Live. It also offers on-demand access to programming from Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Paramount Pictures, and Smithsonian Channel.

As of 2024, it increased its monthly price to $12.99, but with that comes a significant upgrade: members now have access to all of Showtime’s content, which includes movies and shows like Billions, Dexter, and Yellowjackets, as well as live coverage on sports including boxing, football, and MMA. Since Showtime shut down its standalone service in early 2024, this Paramount+ plan is now one of the few ways to watch Showtime without cable.

Peacock has the privilege of streaming NBC’s long-standing media franchises, making it perfect for hardcore comedy fans. Here you’ll find the entire catalog of Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, and Late Night. You'll also see classic NBC sitcoms like Cheers and Frasier, and dramas like Friday Night Lights and Roseanne. However, you won’t find much beyond what NBC owns; its on-demand catalog is pretty limited that way.

Despite its wobbly start in the streaming sphere, Peacock now has a growing and respectable catalog of titles to its name. It’s home to critically acclaimed shows like Poker Face and movies like Tar, not to mention a whole host of reality shows and sports events. But perhaps the greatest edge Peacock has over its competitors is that along with its on-demand content, it also features a solid lineup of live TV channels, many of them for free.

Peacock’s premium tier, often referred to as Peacock Premium Plus, has no ads, local NBC channels, and allows you to watch content offline.

Frndly TV is an affordable live TV streaming service most known for its family-friendly channels (hence the name). Among those channels are H&I, INSP, METV, and Grit, which all specialize in classic sitcoms and dramas like M*A*S*H, The Brady Bunch, Wonder Woman, and Happy Days. Frndly conveniently updates a list of classic shows it streams; as of this writing, it has more than 150.

Hulu on-demand already boasts an extensive collection of classics that range from The Golden Girls to The Flintstones. But Hulu’s live TV offering boosts that lineup with channels like TCM, CoziTV, and GetTV, making it a top contender in this list.

It sounds like an odd combo, but if you're a fan of both classic shows and sports, Fubo is your best bet. The streaming service is already well-known in the sports community for streaming local and national games, but not a lot of people know it has a good number of classic live TV channels, including Cozi TV, Grit, FETV, and FMC. Sadly, no TCM because of a carriage dispute, but the aforementioned channels are great alternatives.

DirecTV Stream isn't the first streaming service that comes to mind when you think "old TV shows," but it is first when it comes to completeness. The live TV service answers most cord-cutting needs, including streaming classic shows by way of channels like FMC and TCM. This is your best bet if you want a comprehensive cable alternative. If you want more classics, you can always complement your plan with DirecTV Stream's add-ons or the cheaper specialty services further down this list.

Philo’s base package already has notable channels like IFC, AMC, and Sundance TV on their lineup, but with the Movies & More Extra, you get a boost of films, particularly 20th-century classics, documentaries, and celebrity biopics, all for just $3/month. The add-on includes HDNet Movies, FMC, and FETV, which are great alternatives to TMC, as well as REELZ for celebrity stories, Fandor for more modern and intellectual fare, and Sony Movies for past blockbusters. If you’re on the fence about the add-on, Philo allows you to test it out for free for seven days.