Best Free Streaming Sites 2026 (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.

Cineby

The hottest free streaming site at the moment is, without a doubt, Cineby. It features all the latest movies and series, packaged in a sleek and intuitive interface. 

Plus, it even gives you tons of subtitles options to choose from when you're watching a movie or show. 

XPrime

If you're looking for an alternative to paid streaming sites, XPrime is a great option, giving its very slick UI that is very similar to Netflix. 

HydraHD

HydraTV offers a huge selection of the newest movies and TV shows, which you can stream at any time.

But if you’re a sports fan, you might also be interested in its Live and 24/7 sports channels, which allow you to catch the big game live – or catch a replay after it’s finished. This includes NBA basketball, NFL (American) football, and soccer (football). 

Nunflix

One thing that sets Nunflix apart is the ability to change your interface language when entering the site, along with a huge selection of subtitles in different languages. 

So, if you're not a native English speaker and feel more comfortable with subs in another language, Nunflix is a good option.

Rive

If you’re a fan of Korean media, you’ll love Rive’s sections dedicated to the latest and most popular K-Dramas.

But that’s not all of course, as you’ll also find all of the other movies and series you’re looking for. 

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.

Best Legal Free Streaming Sites

These sites allow you to stream movies, TV shows, and more legally, usually through some combinations of ads. You won't find the biggest selections of newest content here, but they're still useful options.

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. 

PlutoTV

Pluto TV functions a lot like normal cable, with a large selection of channels to choose from, including TV shows, movies, and more.

The only downside is, like cable TV, channels run on a schedule – not on-demand. So, you’ll have to plan ahead if you want to catch the beginning of that movie. 

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.

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!