Best Free Streaming Sites (Updated)

What are the best websites for streaming movies, including both free & premium sites?  

Streaming sites have now officially surpassed torrents as the public’s favorite way to watch movies. They let you watch what you want, when you want – without having to wait for a download. What's not to like? 

But there is a catch. There are literally hundreds of streaming sites out there and, what's worse, many are downright dodgy and cannot be trusted.

So, how’s a person to figure out which ones to use?

We’ll do it for you! We’ve painstakingly reviewed dozens of streaming options so you don’t have to. Here’s the best of the best when it comes to movie streaming sites.

Best Free Streaming Sites

Want to watch a movie, but don’t have a paid subscription to any streaming sites? Not to worry. These streaming sites are not only free of charge, but most of them don’t even require registration.

YesMovies

YesMovies is one of the prettier options on our list. But it’s got the features and functionality to go with the shiny packaging.

And it’s fast, too! Whether you’re on your laptop, tablet, Playstation/Xbox, or mobile, YesMovies just zips right along with no problems.

Like Netflix/Hulu, etc., YesMovies even suggests movies that you might like.

Its only drawback is, like the name suggests, the site is geared more towards movies than TV shows, which may be a problem for some.

Vumoo Vip

If you like Netflix, you’ll probably like Vumoo too. Because one of the biggest ways Vumoo stands out is its Netflix-esque layout.

There aren’t many free streaming sites that can compare to Vumoo’s streamlined design and super easy search. Movies are filed in horizontal rows by category, like Popular This Week, New Releases, Recently Added, and even IMDB Top Rated.

The one area that holds Vumoo back is its new releases. Though it’s got an impressive library, they don’t always get the latest and most exclusive content releases as early as some of the other sites on our list.

Like Netflix, Vumoo is more about providing movies that are a few months to a few years old, all in a convenient package. But if you’re looking for the hottest new movies, check elsewhere.

Alluc.ee [Shutdown!]

UPDATE: Alluce.ee officially shut down in March 2018. Use one of the Alluc.ee alternatives highlighted in this post.

Alluc is a little different than the other entries on our list. It works more like a massive meta search engine that links together all of the different streaming sites.

Just type in the movie or TV show you want to see and let the results pour in. Don’t be surprised if you end up with dozens of options to choose from.

This means Alluc really shines when you’re trying to track down a hard to find movie that your favorite streaming site doesn’t offer. In fact, the one drawback of this site is that you sometimes end up with too many options.

But you can always count on Alluc – especially since it’s been around for over 10 years!

Putlocker

Putlocker was once the most popular streaming site around. In fact, at one point, it was ranked within the top 250 of ALL sites – and even broke the top 150 in the US. 

But as these things usually go, Putlocker's "success" was also its downfall. Since 2012, its official domain has been shutdown over and over again, including putlocker.com, putlocker.bz, putlocker.is, and putlocker.rs, among others.

There are still plenty of clones of the site, but there doesn't seem to be an "official" url anymore. And its doubtful whether the original owners are even involved anymore.

What does that mean for you? It means you're better off using one of the Putlocker alternatives on this list. And if you do keep using Putlocker proxies, make sure to do it behind a good streaming VPN. Otherwise, your data simply isn't safe.

Fmovies

FlixHQ

FlixHQ offers many of the same advantages of the above entry, with a UI that's nice to look at and easy to navigate, allowing you to quickly specific titles or just browse for something new to watch. 

Their library is huge and contains the latest Hollywood titles, as well as lesser-known movies and shows from around the world. 

You can also use the Android APK to install FlixHQ on your phone for easy mobile streaming. 

Tubi

Are the other entries on the list a little sketchy for your tastes, but you still don't want to pay for a membership?

Then you'll want to check out Tubi. It's a completely free streaming site that lets you watch movies and TV shows without paying, as long as you're willing to sit through the occasional commercial. 

And their ads are a bit less intrusive and dodgy than some of the other entries on our list. That being said, you won't find the newest or most popular titles on Tubi, but it's still got a substantial library of slightly older media. 

MyDownloadTube Inactive

LookMovie

An impressive newcomer, LookMovie is a free online streaming website with the newest movies and television shows.

It boasts titles in 1080p quality without sign-up. It claims to add new movies and episodes every hour, but already boasts a wide variety of categories and genres.

TopDocumentaryFilms.com

In the mood for a documentary? Then make your way over to TopDocumentaryFilms, a totally free streaming site dedicated to – you guessed it – documentaries.

Though you can still find documentaries on some of the other sites on our list, there aren’t nearly as many in one place as what you get on TDF. The site even has its own reviews and comments section – along with being sorted by category – which makes it easy to find the best ones to watch.

UPDATE: 123movies was shutdown in May 2021. There are still sites using the name, but we'd recommend using one of the 123movies alternatives on this page instead. 

At one time, 123movies was the most popular (free) streaming site on the web.

But the owners didn't too much appreciate the heat this brought their way. So, in March 2018, just days after being named the "most illegal site in the world" by the MPAA, 123movies officially closed up shop. 

However, the site still exists through numerous "clone" sites. And these clones still boast pretty extensive libraries and snazzy interfaces.

That being said, since there's no way of knowing who runs these sites or what their motives are, we'd recommend using one of the 123movies alternatives highlighted above.

But you insist on using a 123movie clone, make sure you're protected by a good VPN. Free streaming sites can be a little shady as it is, but your data is definitely vulnerable on unverified clones.

Best Paid Streaming Sites

After seeing all of these great ways to stream your favorite movies and TV shows for free, you’re probably ready to kiss your paid service goodbye.

But for the sake of completeness, we’ll give a quick rundown of a few of the better paid streaming sites out there. After all, they may still come in handy on certain occasions and are getting cheaper all the time. 

If you want to see which streaming service has the channel or network you want to watch, check out a resource like this updated streaming service channel line-ups chart. 

Each country has a slightly different library, meaning a movie that’s unavailable in the US may be accessible on the UK or Brazilian Netflix, for example. Note: This guide will allow you to access other country's Netflix libraries without leaving home. 

All in all, Netflix is quite limited compared to free sites, but it does benefit from a certain level of convenience, along with great original programming (though these too are available on most of the free sites).

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is a fairly new contender in the world of paid streaming sites (so is Amazon Prime Video UK). How does it stack up against some of the more established names, like Netflix?

There are two ways Amazon’s service stands out. For one, it comes complete with a membership to Amazon Prime, which gives you free 2-day shipping on all your Amazon orders – along with some other goodies. If you’re already a regular Amazon shopper anyways, you’ll be getting a ton of value with your $99/year subscription.

The second bonus is that Amazon allows users to watch movies offline, for those times when you don’t have (good) Internet access. Netflix is just starting to introduce this feature, but they’ve definitely been behind the curve on this.

On the other hand, Amazon Video’s selection isn’t the strongest, especially compared to free sites. But they are starting to change that and improve their library.

Hulu

At $8 a month, Hulu is a solid choice for TV buffs – but not much else. Not only does it have a lot of TV shows Netflix doesn’t have, it usually adds new episodes a lot quicker, meaning it’s easy to keep up with the current season of your favorite show. But its movie library is definitely lacking.

Hulu also offers a free membership, though it’s very limited in what you can watch. But if you’re not picky, it’s at least worth a whirl.

Best Streaming Sites Wrap-up

There you have it, the best of the best when it comes to streaming sites. That should be enough to keep you busy for… oh, we don’t know, the next 10 years? 🙂

Seriously, there’s a nearly an endless amount of content to choose from here. Of course, whether you’re using free or paid sites, it’s always a good idea to have a solid VPN keeping you safe. 

It’ll protect your info and your computer while browsing free sites, as well as allowing you to access country-specific content on sites like Netflix that impose geo-restrictions on what you can watch.

So what are you waiting for? Time to get that movie marathon started!