Check Out the Best Paid and Free Netflix Alternatives

Note: Many of the streaming platforms we’ll list are only available in specific regions due to geo-blocks. So, you might not be able to access your content when traveling. But hey, it doesn’t mean all fun is lost — a virtual private network (VPN) will give you a hand in this case and help you dodge location limitations (stay tuned for some VPN 101!)

Free Netflix alternatives to try

Netflix (read the reason some people may not have a proper social life anymore) is often hailed as the king of streaming services. But it surely doesn’t mean it’s the only one — plenty of other options are out there as well, including free ones. Let’s take a look at what you can watch instead of Netflix free of charge with all the advantages and shortcomings.

Crackle

Crackle is an ad-supported service partially owned by Sony Pictures Television. Here you can watch content from Sony friends and subsidiaries. The content selection is not that extensive, but you can still watch some cult classics, critically acclaimed Hollywood films, and popular TV shows. The thing is that you’ll have to use a VPN when traveling outside the US and Canada and trying to access the content from another location.

Pros	Cons
Access to old favorites	Plenty of ads
Some exclusives	Can’t be accessed outside Canada and the US
Original content	Content selection is not that extensive

Amazon Freevee 

Formerly known as IMDb TV, Amazon Freevee is an American ad-supported streaming service. On this platform, you can enjoy anything from TV series and movies to IMDb TV originals. 

Unfortunately, the service is available to the USA-located users only. So, when not in US, you will stumble across geo-blocks.

Pros	Cons
Lots of original Freeve content	Available for US users only
Tons of hit movies, shows, and live entertainment channels	LOADS of ads
Available on many devices

Peacock

Although this NBC’s streaming service offers paid plans as well, its biggest feature is that much of its content is generously free, so you can watch classic series like Parks and Recreation, Battlestar Galactica, and more gems, both old and new. You can also tune into live TV and sports. A free plan does come with ads, though (free still comes at a price, doesn’t it?), and no 4K streaming option is available. 

Pros	Cons
Different price tiers, free one including	Has ads on a free plan
Live TV and sports	No 4K streaming option on a free plan
Lots of content to choose from	Has location limits

Popcornflix

If you are a movie fan, Popcornflix is perfect because you can watch over 700 all-genres movies for free here. The Kitchen Nightmares or Train to Busan will make any fan of zombies and horrors happy. Get ready to watch a great deal of ads, however, because the service is monetized through it.

Pros	Cons
Great choice of shows and movies	Lots of ads
Totally free to use	Available to the US-located users only

YouTube

There may be really no need to introduce this service. We’ll just say this: although many may think they can watch only video clips, concerts, and vlogs on YouTube, you can actually find some of the greatest movies for free. Just search by the title of the movie and see if it’s available. Also, ads can be excessive in the free version, but you have to be patient if you want to watch content for free.

Pros	Cons
A wide range of content to enjoy for free	Overall collection of movies and shows isn’t that good compared to other services
Lots of independent content	Myriad of ads
Accessible in many countries	No official big-screen releases

Vudu

Vudu is a movie rental service with a really rich and long history. Once sold and acquired, this platform still offers some content for free (with our beloved ads, of course). Their interface isn’t the best as well. But you can still watch nearly any genre on this service.

Pros	Cons
Lots of good family movies	Available to US users only
Plenty of old classic movies	Almost no good releases

Pluto TV

An online TV service, Pluto TV seems to be expanding more into the live TV space, with an increasing number of news and sports channels. Still, it’s home to plenty of on-demand free movies and TV shows.

Pros	Cons
Both live TV and movies and shows available	Available to users in the USA only
Different apps for your devices available	Lots of ads

Tubi

Tubi offers a wide selection of classics, sci-fi, and even some unknown titles. You will also enjoy it if you have kids because Tubi Kids can babysit from time to time. Tubi is kind of like regular TV that takes breaks at 12 to 15-minute intervals for ads, but where you get to choose what’s on.  

Pros	Cons
Wide range of TV shows and movies	Available in the USA only
Lots of content for kids (Tubi Kids)	Interrupting ads

Hoopla 

If you’ve got a library card, Hoopla will let you check out all kinds of stuff, from movies to different types of educational content. Hoopla’s mobile app also offers a download option to view stuff offline. 

Pros	Cons
Wide selection of different content	No latest TV shows and movies available
Lots of educational content	Available to US users only

Kanopy 

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re glad to introduce an ad-free service to you — Kanopy! Having made its way to thousands of college campuses and US libraries, this platform offers a solid selection of mainstream stuff, indie films and documentaries. So, you’ll definitely find something to your liking.

Pros	Cons
Ad-free	Library card required
Great selection of content, for Kids including

Top paid Netflix alternatives

Free is great. But it still comes at a price (read ads or limited content). So, if you want to find a true match for Netflix, we think it’s time to move to our paid group. Note that lots of the platforms we’ve mentioned above offer paid subscriptions as well, so if you want to access their best features and top content, you can always subscribe. However, we’ve handpicked other paid services that will bring you tons of perks and joy. Let’s check them out. 

Amazon Prime Video

One of the best services to replace Netflix and perfect for Amazon users, Amazon Prime lets you enjoy plenty of popular movies and TV shows, as well as many originals. Some of the shows you might adore include The Man In The High Castle or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The service suits nearly everyone, so if your family is big, all of you will find something cool to watch daily.

Disney+

There’s so much more to Disney+ than just Disney shows. So, both Disney fans and overall movie lovers will find something to their liking — the service offers plenty of content, from classics to family shows. You can also download an extremely user-friendly app and enjoy products from various studios.

This service will cost you $7.99 per month and $79.99 per year. Needless to say, a yearly subscription will give you two months for free. Besides, to stream even more content, you can purchase a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ for $13.99 per month (ad-supported) or for $19.99/mo if ad-free.

HBO Max

Another great alternative that has much to offer. HBO MAX can get you hooked up on all kinds of amazing content. Binge fan-favorites Westworld and Game of Thrones or pick among the latest releases. Besides, lots of new Warner Bros. movies are released on HBO Max. 

Wondering how HBO differs from HBO Max? Well, the latter includes plenty of additional content that you won’t find on HBO, for example: 

1. Sitcoms, including Friends, South Park, and others
2. TV dramas, including Doctor Who and Pretty Little Liars
3. Classic and newest Warner Bros. movies
4. Shows from TNT, TBS, TruTV, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, and CNN
5. Movies from Criterion and anime from Crunchyroll and Studio Ghibli

HBO Max prices start at $9.99 per month, and in the cheapest plan, you’ll see 4-minute ads each hour. This platform may not be the most affordable one, but it for sure is worth its cost due to the rich selection of goodies.

Hulu

We’re sure this one will surprise you — Hulu’s price starts at just $6.99 a month. Still, at such a cost, you’ll have to watch ads from time to time, and an ad-free plan will cost you $12.99 a month. Besides, starting at $69.99 per month, you’ll be able to get a whole bunch of content, including Starz, Cinemax, HBO, and Showtime, as well as Live TV channels.

Hulu is a great alternative to Netflix, but if you live outside of the US or Japan, you may not be able to enjoy it all the time (we said may because you can use a VPN to access geo-blocked content when traveling). The good thing about Hulu is that you can watch new episodes of hit shows the day after they appear on TV, while on Netflix, you must wait until they release the whole season. 

Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus rounds out our list. Although the number of exclusive shows and movies isn’t that vast, the service is constantly working to increase it. Previously called CBS All Access, Paramount Plus is home to loads of great content from ViacomCBS, and you can enjoy both old and latest films from Paramount Pictures and various TV shows from MTV, BET, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and others. You can also tune into live news and various sports broadcasts like NCAA basketball, NFL football, soccer. 

The cheapest package will cost you just $4.99 per month, but it includes ads, and there is no live CBS stream. To watch ad-free and stream CBS live, you’ll need to pay $9.99 a month.

Use a VPN to enjoy all perks of Netflix alternatives

To bypass any restrictions on every platform, use a VPN. It changes your virtual location and keep your data safe. This is needed since almost all the services we’ve mentioned, no matter free of paid, can restrict their content in certain regions.

What you need here is a VPN for streaming. Enter VeePN! Download the app to make the most out of your streaming experience. VeePN lets you enjoy the best content with its servers around 89 locations across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. It also boosts your security, protects your privacy, and doesn’t let your Internet service provider slow down your connection speed. Just connect to one of the VeePN’s servers in, say, the UK to binge-watch your favorite content when away from home. You can do it hassle-free. And with blazing speeds. 

FAQ

What is similar to Netflix but free?

Some of the best free alternatives to Netflix include Peacock, Crackle, Amazon Freevee, Popcornflix, Vudu. Find out more in our article. 

What’s better and cheaper than Netflix?

If you’re looking for more affordable streaming services but with equally great content, pay attention to Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+. Learn more about Netflix alternatives in our article.