As the long list of streaming price hikes gets even longer, free, ad-based streaming models are an oasis for the price concious consumer. Below, we count down the best streaming services available on the iPhone app store.
35 Best Free Streaming Services on iPhone
Read also:
True to its name, Documentary+ is a free ad-supported service that streams documentaries as well as non-fiction shorts and series. It has a straightforward interface that has categories like "award winners," "true crime," "festival darlings," "women stories," and "Black stories," as well as films from renowned directors including Werner Herzog, Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, and Terrence Malick.
Interestingly, the service also has a live channel you can put on anytime. It’s compatible with all major streaming devices, but you can also access it as a channel on live TV services like Amazon’s freevee and Sling’s freestream.
Distro TV is a free streaming service that features free shows, movies, documentaries, news, concerts, and more from all around the world. It specializes in global content, drawing from the US, UK, and Canada, as well as from other parts of Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. It has both live and on-demand content, plus it's easy to stream from many devices, making it an easy and affordable option for cord-cutters.
The CW is known for its iconic and even award-winning dramas, comedies, and reality shows. It has an enviable library to be sure, but it splits these among two streaming services: the self-titled The CW and the more modest CW Seed, which serves as a repository for the network's past and non-airing shows. That means you're free to watch classics like The OC, Pushing Daisies, Schitt's Creek, and America's Next Top Model for free on CW Seed. Its entertaining, zero-cost catalog is a sure major attraction (you don't even have to make an account to stream) but a potential downside is its limited title count.
As the name suggests, Classix is the ultimate repository of vintage titles; from film noir and screwball comedies to westerns and cartoons, it's all here. The service is completely free of charge, a true haven for classic fans, but for a one-time charge of $3.99 (no renewal fee) users can get access to even more titles, including full seasons of shows like Bonanza and The Pink Panther. The streamer works well on most major devices, and even though the films don't have the crisp, restored resolution of their more popular contemporaries, they're still a ball to watch.
Cineverse is a free streaming service that has both on-demand content and live channels, all of which feature a broad range of content. The new streaming service's mission is to offer as many titles as it can, so you won't find a lot of blockbusters or big studio productions here (unless they're available for rent on ROW8), but you will have access to a ton of vintage, international, and niche films and TV shows. Our personal favorites include Howard's End, Mustang, and The Little Shop of Horrors.
Since the streaming service is free, you'll encounter a lot of ads, but you can always subscribe to Cineverse's premium version, which costs $2.99/month, to get rid of the commercials and get access to even more content.
Price: free for 24 channels available
Device availability:
Channel lineup: Asian Crush, AsianCrush, Bloody Disgusting, CONtv, CONtv Anime, Crime Hunters, Docurama, El Ray Network, Fandor, GustoTV, Lodestar, Maverick Black Cinema, Midnight Pulp, Retro Crush, RetroCrush, Row8, Screambox, So…Dramatic, So…Real, The Bob Ross Channel, The Country Channel, The Dove Channel, The Elvis Presley Channel, The Film Detective
Asiancrush is a streaming service that brings plenty of Asian content, especially Korean, Japanese, and Thai content, to Western audiences. The lineup is pretty extensive, ranging from popular movies and beloved dramas to classics and indies (our favorites include Burning, House of Hummingbird, and All About Lily Chou-chou). They also have exclusive collections composed of shows, shorts, and K-pop showcases you won't find anywhere else on this side of the Globe. Asiancrush is mostly free, and therefore ad-supported, but users can opt for a paid monthly plan that costs $4.99 for no ads and more content. Notably, the service also has a live TV section, but as of this writing, it only hosts two channels: an Asiancrush live feed and Retrocrush.
If you have an Air TV streaming device, you'll automatically have free access to 1oo local channels from affiliates like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS all in HD. To be clear, the local channels are free in the sense that you don't have to pay a monthly bill to watch them, as you would on a cable or live TV subscription, but you do have to pay a one-time fee that sets you up with an Air TV device and an HD antenna. Depending on the bundle you pick, that can cost you anywhere from $150 to $250. It seems like a lot, but it makes sense when you consider that it comes with DVR, the ability to watch local channels anywhere, and for Sling TV subscribers, seamless integration in all your devices.
Although you don't need to be a Sling TV subscriber to start using Air TV, the two are perfect complements that save you a lot of money, in the long run. Sling TV has live TV channels equipped for sports, entertainment, and nationwide news, while the one-time-payment Air TV gives you constant and uninterrupted access to your local channels. If you do combine them, Sling takes care of any overlaps to ensure you're getting the best of both streaming worlds in all compatible devices.
Price: free for 3 channels available
Device availability:
Channel lineup: CBS local channels, NBC local channels, PBS local channels
Formerly known as the Military Channel, AHC or the American Heroes Channel specializes in programs related to history, military, warfare, and science. Some of its most beloved shows include Blood and Fury: America's Civil War and Gunslingers. All these and more are made available in AHC TV, an on-demand service that comes free with most pay TV subscriptions. You just need to sign in to your TV provider and you're good to go.
7 Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service that gives viewers the very best from Network Seven, one of Australia's major broadcasters. It has entire seasons of popular shows, movies, live coverages, and old and new content alike as the service's library is constantly updated. Because Network Seven is comprised of many channels, including those entirely dedicated to news, films, and sports, 7 Plus also has one of the most extensive catalogs of content out there. It's also fairly easy to use and available on a number of devices.
Ready to cut the cord? Here are the 14 live TV streaming services that offer a free trial.
More lists
Lists on how to save money by cutting the cord.
The streaming services on this page were chosen by our editors. If you choose to subscribe to a streaming service we recommend as a result of our research, analysis, and curation, our work is sometimes (but not always) supported by an affiliate commission from the streaming service when you make a purchase.