14 Best Free Apps for Streaming Movies in 2024

YouTube

YouTube has an awesome collection of totally free movies. The company actually puts together its own list, so you don't have to go searching through random people's profiles to find full-length films that are legal to watch.

It's super easy to find the better free movies on YouTube by simply opening the Movies & TV page. All the regular genres are included, so you can browse films marked as action, horror, science fiction, drama, comedy, etc. There's also an Independent section.

As you'd expect, you can stream YouTube movies on all the best smartphones and devices, such as iOS and Android mobile devices, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku.

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Tubi

This app looks almost identical to Tubi's website, but it's optimized so well for mobile that it's super easy to use. All the same genres and the search tool are available through the app, and every movie cover is large enough to see without having to tap on them. There are tens of thousands of movies and shows to pick from here.

Choosing a movie will take you to its description page where it shows the release date, duration, genre, and similar titles you might like. "Like" or "dislike" a movie to teach the app what it should recommend to you in the future.

One reason I've ranked Tubi as one of the best apps for free movies is because of its awesome curated collections, such as Cult Classics, Only Free on Tubi, and Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes. An added bonus is that you can start watching immediately without needing a user account.

Tubi works from not only phones and tablets, but also streaming devices and smart TVs.

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Prime Video (Freevee)

It might not seem like Amazon Prime Video belongs in this list, but there's actually an entire section of the app that lists only the movies and shows Amazon lets you watch absolutely free. This service is called Freevee.

Something I especially like is how these films are organized. There are the typical categories for helping you find popular and recently added movies, plus genre-specific lists for comedies, dramas, etc. But within each list, you can further refine the results by subtitle language and genre.

I've also seen useful collections like Movies of the month and Freevee Originals.

Like most movie apps, Freevee is also available in a web browser and as a TV app.

The links below are for the Prime Video app, but there's also a dedicated Freevee app. I prefer Prime Video because it has better sorting options, but the Freevee app is good if you don't want to see rent/buy options.

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Fandango at Home

This one is well known for movies you can buy, but if you're fine with the occasional ad, you can stream thousands of free movies at Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), too, including their trailers.

Viewing only the free options is easy; just open the Free page from the menu or browse for films that have the FREE WITH ADS label. From there, you can look through all the films by the ones that are new this week, are the most popular, or are in specific genres.

Something else you can do is see all of Fandango at Home's free movies on their website and then search for a specific film on the app to watch it from your mobile device.

Other helpful ways I like to find something to stream is through curated lists like Top 200, Hidden Gems, All-Time Movie Favorites, Captivating Dramas, LOL Comedies, Blast From the Past, Disaster Strikes, and Aliens and Outer Space.

I've watched Fandango at Home films through the Android, iPhone, and iPad apps, as well as through Roku and Chromecast. It also runs on Apple TV.

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Plex

Plex is a unique app. It offers free movie and TV streaming like these other apps, but it can also connect to your computer to access your own media files from anywhere.

All the typical genres are included, including one for just description audio titles. Plex also puts movies into unique categories like Based on a True Story and Women Making History. I also like the Leaving Soon section which lets me catch movies before they start to cost elsewhere.

You can also get alerts when watchlisted items are available to stream, see similar movies to the one you're interested in, watch movies with friends remotely, scroll through titles coming soon, and view movies that are available in your other streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.).

This app feels a bit cluttered because of all the stuff you can do in it. But after even a few minutes, you'll quickly find your way around. The free movies are easy to find if that's all you're interested in.

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Pluto TV

I like to open Pluto TV for free movies when I don't know what to watch. Because it works like cable TV, with a guide and something always playing live, it relieves some of the decision anxiety that comes with these other apps.

There are two ways to watch stuff here. The cable TV-like service plays something all day long. There are even specific movie channels that just cycle through films 24/7.

For an idea of the kind of movies you can find here, some titles I've seen come across my guide include Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Little Monsters, Orange County, Equilibrium, 12 Angry Men, and Labor Day.

The other method is as an on-demand movie streaming service. The app makes a clear distinction, so it's easy to switch between the two. This is where you want to be if you want more freedom when choosing your next film. It's easy to see popular, trending, and newly added movies, plus films listed in particular genres.

There are several ways to stream Pluto TV. The mobile app runs on Android and iOS, and while this is how I stream from here sometimes, I much prefer the TV app because it fits a larger screen better.

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Filmzie

Filmzie is built for independent filmmakers and small studios. It's my go-to when I'm looking for something totally new.

Your typical genre categories are available, like most apps, but I love the unique ways Filmzie organizes its films. Some examples include Directed by Women, Top Rated on IMDb, Cuddle-Up Comedies, and Undiscovered Gems.

The app is simple to use, it has a really smooth interface, and you don't even need to make a user account to start streaming. It runs on Android and iOS.

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Redbox

You can watch free on-demand movies available from Redbox through their mobile app. Just pick WATCH FREE from the menu to find all the ad-supported movies you can stream online.

One way I think this is one of the better free movie apps is how the titles are organized. It's easy to see which ones are leaving the free section soon, which movies just recently got added to the collection, and the popular free movies. They're also organized by genre.

The app runs on Android, iPhone, and iPad. You can also stream these free movies on your Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

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Filmrise

More free movies and shows can be streamed from the Filmrise app. They add new content every day in genres like horror, crime, action, drama, and documentaries. Some other categories include Animals, Biopics, Coming of Age, Animated Films, Cops & Robbers, and Action Comedies.

You don't need a user account to stream movies from this app, nor do you need to sign up to create your own watchlist to keep track of what you want to stream later. You'll see related videos on each movie page to help you find something else you might like.

Filmrise movies can be streamed from most devices, like Android and iOS, as well as Xbox and Roku.

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Crackle

Crackle supports just about every device imaginable, including all popular mobile devices, most smart TVs, streaming players, and gaming consoles, in addition to a regular web browser.

The interface is easy to work with, and the videos stream smoothly. You don't have to log in to watch movies and TV shows, but the option is there if you need it.

One thing you won't find in lots of movie apps is the option to sort and filter the results. Although I think there could be more done here to make it even better, it's nice that Crackle lets you filter by genre and sort by title and the date that the movies were added to the app.

This app works with several devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Android.

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Popcornflix

Popcornflix is another free movie app that lets you watch free movies away from your computer. I used to rank this one higher, but the UI changes made a few years ago makes it a little harder to use.

Unlike some apps, this one makes a clear distinction between TV series and movies. Once you land on the movies, pick a genre to narrow down the collection until you find what you want to watch. There are crime, sports, action, drama, horror, documentaries, thriller, and sci-fi movies, and interesting sections like Dark Forces Unleashed, Based on True Stories, Fight Night, and Mobster Movies.

Movie streaming from Popcornflix is supported on iPhone, iPad, Android, and other devices like Roku and Apple TV.

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The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is another source I use for free movies. The app isn't all that interesting since it closely resembles Roku's website (which is pretty bland), but there are several genres to pick from, and it's easy to watch the movies on your phone or TV.

It's easy to find recent releases, featured and recommended films, and relevant categories at certain times of the year, like Holiday Comedies and Cozy Autumn Movies.

There's also a live TV area that has channels that play movies. Of course, your options are more limited than they are with the on-demand films, but it's a great place to visit if you're not sure what you're in the mood for.

This app mainly serves as a remote for the Roku, so it's particularly useful if you have a Roku. But you don't need one to watch movies here. It runs on iPhone and Android.

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Yidio

Yidio is more of a streaming guide than an app that lets you watch free movies. This means you can't watch anything directly from this app. Instead, it's useful for telling you exactly where you need to go to find free movies around the web.

To reiterate, this is more of a search engine for free movies. You can filter the list in numerous ways, such as by premiere date, MPAA rating, IMDb rating, and genre, and even hide the titles you've already seen. Once you land on something to watch, you'll be told where the movie is available for free online.

On that note, since the movies here aren't actually hosted on Yidio's website, you'll be told to install other apps like Crackle or Vudu. However, a beneficial feature is the ability to filter by installed app. This lets you find movies available in the apps you already have on your device.

Supported devices include iPhone, iPad, and Android.

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