The best free and premium streaming TV services

Streaming TV services can be broadly divided into two categories: free and paid.Everyone loves free stuff, but paid options clearly offer more and newer content.Next, we've listed the best free streaming TV apps and the best paid streaming TV apps for you.

The best free streaming TV services

1. Crackle

Owned and operated by Chicken Soup for the Soul, Crackle has been one of the best free TV apps for cord-cutters since it launched in 2007.The company has content partnerships with several leading film and television studios, including Universal, Disney, MGM and Warner Bros.

Crackle has also started investing in original programming in recent years.Some of the best TV shows to watch on Crackle include The Oath, Sports Jeopardy and Entrepreneurship.

Crackle is available in the US and its territories, since 2014 it has been deactivated in the UK.

2. Tubi TV

Tubi TVA free alternative to Netflix, it has a library of over 12 TV shows and movies for you to dig through.The company has partnerships with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal.

Despite the partnership, we feel that the quality of the content is not as high as on Crackle.There's some fine stuff, but there's also a fair amount of sub-par shows that you probably won't really want to watch.and,Tubi TVThe streaming service is also ad-supported.

3. Pluto TV

Pluto TVRather than offering on-demand video, it's a live TV streaming service.Again, it's free to use.Although the service has been around since 2013, it's currently getting a sizable investment thanks to Viacom (now known as Paramount) acquiring it for $2019 million in January 1.

Some of the channels you can expect to find include NBC News, CNN, Bloomberg, FOX Sports, Eleven Sports, and adaptations of MTV.

There's also a 24/7 channel dedicated to series like Doctor Who, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, and more.You can even find Paramount, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon content on Pluto's own in-house streaming TV channel.For sports fans, there is also a dedicated MLS channel.

4. The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is an on-demand TV streaming app.Since its launch in October 2017, it has rapidly risen to become one of the best free TV streaming services.

It features TV series and movies from Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures Entertainment.There's also content from streaming TV providers that already have apps in the Roku Channel Store (such as American Classics, FilmRise, OVGuide, and Popcornflix).

Roku Channels is only available to users in the US, UK, and Canada, and the service is ad-supported.

5. freevee

Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) has grown in popularity since its launch in January 2019.Amazon rebranded IMDb TV as Freevee in April 1.

Freevee has already struck deals with Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM Studios.You can be sure that there will always be something worth watching on this platform.Previously, you could only use the platform on Amazon's own Fire Stick.But now, you can find the app on your phone and web browser, including the browser on Android TV, to watch any show or movie you want.

6. Sling TV

Sling TVOffer free movies and TV shows to anyone in the United States.

Of course, the app is best known for its live TV subscriptions; it's a competitor to Fubo and Hulu+ Live TV.But in 2019, a free version of the app was released.Unfortunately, it only offers on-demand programming.So, while you can't watch live TV with it, there's a surprisingly decent selection of content.

The best paid streaming TV services

While these free options are great, there are also plenty of excellent streaming TV services available to those willing to shell out for a subscription.

1. Netflix

Despite increasing competition, Netflix remains the gold standard for premium streaming TV services.It invests billions of dollars in producing its own original content, while also offering hundreds of your favorite TV shows and movies from other creators and studios.

The company has expanded to more than 190 different countries.Available content varies by region, but Netflix's original shows and movies are available anywhere.

In the US, the Basic plan (one screen and no HD) costs $9.99 per month, the Standard plan (two screens) is $15.49 per month, and the Premium plan (four screens and Ultra HD) is $19.99 per month.

2. Hulu

Hulu offers several different streaming packages to choose from, starting at $6.99/mo and going all the way up to $75.99/mo.

Disney owns the company, so some Disney shows and movies are available in the on-demand catalog.However, you'll also find numerous Hulu originals and plenty of non-Disney content.Additionally, Disney is offering a bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for a lower monthly price.

Hulu+ Live TV comes standard with 65+ channels.You get access to major networks like NBC and CBS, sports content from ESPN and FOX, and other mainstream channels like CNN, National Geographic, History Channel, and Cartoon Network.You can purchase add-ons for more sports and foreign language content.This service is only available in the United States.

3. Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is one of Netflix's biggest competitors.Like Netflix, Amazon invests heavily in its own original content, while offering a vast library of content from other networks and studios.Much of the streaming service's original content has been well-received.

In order to use Amazon Prime Video, you must be an Amazon Prime member; there is no way to open a separate account.Amazon Prime benefits and fees vary by country.In the US, a Prime subscription costs $12.99/month.

4. HBO Max

Because of its name, you might think the service is HBO-centric.Sure, you'll get access to the company's vast catalog of content, but you'll also find plenty of non-HBO TV shows or movies.You'll also find plenty of critically acclaimed movies and classic TV shows, as well as sitcoms.

There are two plans to choose from in the US.One is an ad-supported plan for $9.99/month, and one is an ad-free plan for $14.99/month.

5. Peacock

Peacock is the name of NBCUniversal's streaming app.It launched with much fanfare in April 2020 and quickly became the second-fastest-growing brand in the U.S. that year.

Three subscription plans are available.The ad-supported free plan provides access to thousands of hours of content, but not the most popular shows on the platform.

The two premium plans ($4.99 per month and $9.99 per month) give you access to the full library of content, but the cheaper of the two is ad-supported.

Peacock is available in the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy.

6. YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers live TV and on-demand programming from over 85 networks in the US.The service's wide selection of content partners means it has something for all tastes.Movie lovers can find the latest Hollywood hits, while sports fans can tune in to the World Series and the NBA Finals.

The service also has great DVR features (unlike many competitors, included in the base price), a choice of add-on packages that let you customize what you can watch, and a competitive price ($64.99 per month).

7. fubo tv

You may be a complete fubo TV beginner, but this paid streaming service is perfect for sports fans in the US.If you like sports, fubo TV is the best TV streaming service around.It starts at $64.99/month but offers a wide range of live games including the Premier League, NFL, MLB, MLB, MLB, MLB, and more.

One of fubo TV's biggest selling points is its add-on packages.They include premium channels like SHOWTIME, STARZ, EPIX, plus additional niche packages like sports, foreign language programming, news, and add-ons for specific sports channels like NFL RedZone and NBA TV.

enjoy your leisure time

The apps we discussed above are some of the best TV streaming services available today.You can make the choice that suits you and enjoy your leisure time to the fullest.

If you're still not satisfied and want to know more options, check out niche services like MUBI and IndieFlix, which cater to independent film lovers.