It’s totally understandable. Not everyone can afford to pay monthly to watch movies or stream shows on popular streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
The fees these streaming sites charge for their watching experiences just don’t fit into some people’s budgets. So for the avid TV watchers or the occasional watch-a-movie-to-unwind crew who fall under this category, what solution could there be?
Cheaper or even completely free streaming sites, of course! Now the real question is, Can you stream movies online for free?
The answer to that is yes, you absolutely can. In the age of the internet that we’re living in today, millions of movies and shows are available to watch online, and the variety of them is inexhaustible.
The content available online ranges from the oldies to recently released and trending films and shows. Getting to kick back with your favorite snacks and drinks and watch a TV show or movie of your choice is a really fun activity, and so if you can get to do it for free, why not?
3 Pros of Streaming Free Movies Online
1. Reduced Cost of Entertainment
Having to pay for the entertainment is actually one of the biggest concerns harbored by TV watchers in respect of the movies and shows they love to watch.
A lot of people miss out on the fun solely because TV subscriptions, buying or renting new movies, or visits to the movie theater just don’t fall into their monthly budget.
Being able to stream movies and TV shows online provides the perfect solution to this because not only do you not have to leave the comfort of your home to access this entertainment, but you’re also able to enjoy it all for free!
The sites that offer free movie streaming provide you with unlimited access to millions of movies and TV shows at no extra cost. This way, TV entertainment will no longer have to create a dent in your pocket every month.
2. Eliminates Download Time and the Need for Storage Space
Anyone who has ever downloaded a movie from the internet knows that these downloads take a lot of time to complete, as well as a ton of storage disk space to save them.
Some movie files are so large, it can take up to hours to finish downloading them. The case is much worse when it comes to TV series because you have to download each episode of each season.
So what if there are up to 7 seasons with 13 or 20 episodes each? Having to wait all that time certainly isn’t fun, especially when you want to watch a movie or series now.
Thus, another advantage of streaming free movies online is that it totally eliminates the huge wait time between the beginning of the download process and the point at which you finally get to watch the show.
The entertainment becomes instant when you use a reliable site to stream movies or TV series directly on the internet, and you also eliminate the risk of losing time or interest in the shows, which could end up being the case when waiting for a download to complete.
Furthermore, smaller devices like smartphones or tablets don’t always have enough space to accommodate movie or series downloads. So if you’re watching from a device like that, online streaming is the best option.
3. Multi-Device Access
There’s been a steady evolution of film entertainment. It began from having to go to a movie theater to watch a new film, then it progressed to being able to watch a movie in your own home on your TV.
Then computers started gaining popularity, and people started watching whatever they wanted on desktop computers, then on laptops, and finally, on mobile phones and tablets.
Streaming free movies online offers you the convenience of being able to watch your favorite movies and TV shows wherever and whenever you want! You can access these free streaming sites and the entertainment they provide on multiple devices—
TVs, desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. As a result, you can enjoy a personalized movie-watching experience anyway that you want and for free too.
3 Cons of Watching Free Movies Online
1. Poor Internet Connection
Most people, when streaming content online, like the videos that they are watching to be in high definition (HD). This often tends to slow down their internet connection and consequently affect their viewing experience negatively.
Or, if your internet connection just happens to be slow on its own at the time that you’re streaming a movie or show online, this can frustrate the experience for you as well.
So most times, when streaming online, you either have to deal with high data consumption rates or incessant video buffering, which can be really annoying when you’re just trying to relax with a movie.
It isn’t uncommon as well to find free streaming sites that are so slow, you can’t even make use of video functions like rewind, fast-forward, or even play and pause without it affecting the video you’re streaming.
2. Reduced Quality of Entertainment
A lot of free streaming sites are swamped with unrated, C-grade, or low-budget movies or shows, so that unless you dig deep through these sites, you’re mostly stuck with low-quality entertainment at first. Some of these sites don’t even offer the top-rated blockbusters at all.
For the free streaming sites that do offer great movies and shows, you may not be able to access new, blockbuster movies as soon as they are released because it takes quite some time before these sites are able to make these kinds of movies available.
Also, a good number of these free sites require you to sign up before you can access their content, and when you do, they may use your information to flood your screen with pesky ads and pop-ups.
Sometimes, it can take up to 3 clicks on the play button and a lot of site redirection before you are able to play a movie. This is yet another element that lessens the quality of entertainment obtained from sites like these.
3. Safety Risks
While there are so many free streaming sites that are available on the internet today, not all of them are safe.
One has to beware of the pop-ups and advertisements that appear on these sites because, oftentimes, they are linked with third-party sites that contain malware or viruses. Getting redirected to these third-party sites can put your device and your privacy under serious threat.
32 Best Websites To Stream Free Movies Online Without Downloading Anything
1. Crackle
Crackle is a free-to-air video streaming platform owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment. It is one of the principal streaming sites for budget-minded movie enthusiasts and in search of entertainment online that’s free to stream.
Crackle’s movie and TV library feature endless lines of both original content and programs sourced from other platforms such as CBS, Entertainment One, FilmRise, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, and many more.
Like most streaming services similar to it, Crackle is an ad-supported network—which means that it has a lot of commercials, but what sets Crackle apart is its library of content that is more robust than others, and its highly user-friendly search function that enables you to conveniently find trending movies and shows, just like with Netflix.
The service is available in 21 countries, on regular web browsers, and through its smart TV and mobile phone apps so that you have multi-device access with Crackle.
You can even access Crackle on a gaming console! It is also available as in-flight entertainment and in some hotel chains. The geo-restriction of Crackle to only a few countries can also be surmounted by making use of an effective VPN.
2. Vudu
Popularly known at first as a website where you can rent or buy digital movies and TV shows, Vudu now also offers free options to users.
Vudu is a streaming service owned by Fandango Media, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal. While you do have to open an account on Vudu to make use of the streaming platform, its ad-free payment plans are not strict requirements for use; it is up to you to upgrade to one of them.
If you opt instead to go for the movies and TV shows that are available on the app for free, you, of course, will have to deal with a couple of non-aggressive ads because Vudu’s free service is ad-supported.
Then again, if you watch a movie that you end up liking very much, you have the option of purchasing the movie so that it stays permanently in your Vudu library, and whenever you wish to re-watch the movie or show, you’ll be able to enjoy it without the interruption of ads.
Vudu is also available as an installable application for Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows PC. The biggest snag with Vudu is that it is only available to people within the United States, but this can easily be worked around using a quality VPN.
3. Xumo
Owned by telecommunications conglomerate Comcast, Xumo is a well-known movie streaming service that is available on both its website and as a downloadable application. Besides providing thousands of free titles on demand, Xumo also has hundreds of unique live channels that stream on its platform.
Xumo is ad-supported as well, but this is why it can make its services 100% free. And a big plus is that the content on Xumo has a very smooth playback, so that titles have such incredible quality when streamed!
Xumo was once only available in the United States, but the platform is now internationally accessible.
4. Tubi TV
Tubi TV by Fox Corporation has been providing streaming services on the internet since 2014. In the 7 years following its establishment till date, Tubi has evolved to become one of the highest quality free online movie streaming services.
The platform has one of the overall best and most extensive archives of movies and shows that you can stream at your convenience.
You can stream content from frontrunners in the movie industry such as MGM, Paramount, Lionsgate, and lots more on Tubi.
Also featured on the platform are a couple of rare genres like LGBTG shows, reality TV, home and garden, musicals, and so on; it isn’t often that you can find these genres on other free services.
Tubi also features handpicked collections of titles that share the same genre. This helps to ease your search when looking for a movie to watch under your favorite genre.
The best thing about Tubi is that you have full-fledged access to the thousands of TV series and films on the platform without having to pay a subscription fee or to sign-up. All that entertainment for free! But as you might expect, Tubi is also ad-supported.
Tubi is available for free on all platforms, including Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xfinity X1, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, PlayStation, and of course, the web.
5. FilmRise
FilmRise is a streaming website that is popular for its wonderful collection of over 20,000 classic titles, both movies, and TV shows.
The FilmRise website is also available as an app for download and installation on a good number of devices, including Roku, Android, iPhone, Firestick/Fire TV, and lots more.
6. IMDb TV
IMDb TV is a spin-off from the entertainment industry database, IMDb, and an ad-supported streaming service likewise owned and operated by Amazon. It is a fantastic website where movie lovers can have their fill of all sorts of movies and celeb-related content.
You can stream documentaries, movies, TV shows, and IMDb original shows on IMDb TV. You can also view movie showtimes, trailers, movie reviews from critics and regular watchers equally, “Recommended for You” titles, and just generally have access to a huge library of free movies online.
The streaming channel is available only in the US and UK on the IMDb website, IMDb app, and Amazon. In addition, the site requires that you have an Amazon account to access its content, and it also has too many ads.
So yes, this is yet another streaming site with geographical limitations, but once again, if you want to use IMDb TV outside of its limited areas, a good VPN will always have your back.
7. Plex TV
Plex TV is an ad-supported online media library for free online movie streaming. The original Plex Media Server provided personal media library services that users could access anywhere in the world.
Now, Plex TV that was released only a few years ago, is Plex’s very own free movie streaming website. It can be accessed either within a browser (that is, on its website) or from the app.
With a free Plex account, you can also share your personal and customized media libraries between different devices of your own or to your friends, and you will have access to Plex’s content library of ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) and free-to-stream live TV channels on any internet-connected device you own.
8. Peacock TV
Peacock TV is a new streaming service that contains several free movies, TV shows, and live channels that you can choose from.
You can watch around 13,000 hours of content for free on the platform—that’s an automatic free binge! You’ll just have to deal with some ads during your binge session because the service is ad-supported.
Peacock TV is run by NBCUniversal and was launched recently on the 15th of July, 2020. It has an impressive library (with shows produced by established names such as Universal Studio and, of course, NBC), smooth content playback, and offers totally free access to its content.
These are some of the reasons why millions have already subscribed to the platform since its recent launch. Peacock TV is also available as an app for installation.
It is, however, only available to stream in the United States, so outside of that, you’ll have to connect to a VPN to access the platform.
9. Sling TV
Sling TV offers more than 5,000 shows and movies for free! Sling TV has been recognized as one of the best streaming services and best cable TV alternatives in the market.
It is ad-supported, does not require registration to access its content, and can be used on a majority of streaming devices as long as they are connected to the internet.
Sling TV is available on the Sling website or via the app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Android mobile devices. The platform has a few paid packages that you can also upgrade to for enhanced usage.
10. Hulu (free trial)
Hulu is an online streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company and Comcast. The service offers a 30-day free trial, which gives you access to their regular on-demand streaming service.
When you sign up for this free trial on Hulu, you get a free month to have a taste of Hulu’s impressive library.
The service features classic movies, recently released smash titles, documentaries, as well as incredible Hulu Originals, making it a something-for-everyone type of service.
The free trial, however, will not be available to students who sign up for the discounted 65% off subscription rate, although this is hardly a loss in light of the size of that discount.
Also, to get the one-month free deal, you will need to sign up with a valid credit card. Don’t panic, though, as you won’t be charged a cent until after the free trial period lapses.
And if, afterward, you don’t want to pay and continue with the service, you can simply cancel your subscription before your free trial is up.
In 2010, Hulu became the first streaming service to add “Plus” to its name when it launched a subscription service, initially branded as “Hulu Plus”.
The subscription service featured full seasons of programs from Hulu and its other partners and prompt access to new episodes.
Today, Hulu is partnered with HBO Max, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX and, STARZ, making the services of these streaming platforms also available on Hulu as add-ons. So if you’re wondering whether the Hulu free trial is worth it, I can assure you that it certainly is.
11. The Roku Channel
If you have a Roku device, then The Roku Channel is the best free online movie streaming platform for you. Even without the device, you can still access the platform through a web browser on any other kind of internet-connected device.
On The Roku Channel, you can watch a whole lot of free movies and TV shows, as well as live TV broadcasts. There is no payment involved at all because—you guessed it—the service is ad-supported.
12. YouTube
YouTube is the home base for millions of content creators, vloggers, and makers of all kinds of original video content. This is what the website is popular for. However, what many people don’t know is that YouTube has a library of free movies that you can stream as well.
While this library might be less extensive than most, there are still numerous categories under which you can find good titles to watch on the site.
To watch free movies on YouTube, it is not required that you sign up. It is totally up to you whether you wish to sign in to YouTube with your Google account.
Then again, if you sign in, you get to save movies to your “Watch later” playlist, gain access to content that has been rated “Mature” for younger audiences, as well as general access to the wide-ranging functionalities of YouTube.
YouTube—like most people that are accustomed to the platform know—also has a lot of ads between the video content posted on it.
Some channels can even be very aggressive with their ad placements in videos so that you can find yourself running into an average of up to 10 ads in the course of watching some movies.
The good thing, though, is that YouTube has a handy little tool that allows you to skip these ads after a 5-second timer. There are also ways to watch YouTube without ads today.
13. Hoopla
Those who know Hoopla know it as a web and mobile library media streaming platform for audiobooks, comics, e-books, movies, music, and TV.
What many people might not know is that if your local library supports Hoopla, as a patron, you can have unlimited, free-of-charge access to its collection of digital media.
Hoopla has tons of free movies and TV shows, so if you happen to have a participating library in Hoopla’s service nearby, you can stream all of this content online or through the mobile app.
In addition, Hoopla has stacks of audiobooks, comics, e-books, and music on its platform, so with it, you will also have all-around access to all kinds of entertainment.
Note, however, that Hoopla does work similarly to your regular library, so you can only “borrow” or save a limited number of movies, TV shows, or books at a time, and there will be a set time for you to finish them before they are compulsorily checked out of your personal library.
14. AZMovies
With a site slogan that states, “Watch your favorite movies here without any limits, just pick the movie you like and enjoy! It’s free and always will be,” AZMovies is one of the free movie streaming sites that have been in existence the longest!
The site boasts a vast and top-notch movie collection made available in extremely high-quality resolutions, including 1080p and 720p.
It is important to note, however, that the site is subject to a couple of glitches. It has often been reported by the site’s users that they needed to click the play button on a movie multiple times and face several ad page redirections before the movies they wanted to watch eventually actually begin playing.
Nevertheless, this was only noted to occur majorly in the first movie watched on the site, as in subsequent movies watched, the site would allow easy streaming without opening any new tabs or ads. Therefore, after your first movie on the site, you should be totally fine.
15. 123Movies
Sporting a very simple interface that makes the site extremely easy to use and a no-ad support feature that guarantees uninterrupted streaming, 123Movies is a well-known and long-standing free movie site that offers very high-resolution streaming of many of your favorite movies and TV shows.
One snag, however, is that when you select your movie or show, you may discover a glitch as well where you need to click the play button more than once before streaming commences. This isn’t always the case, though.
16. Gostream
GoStream is a free movie site with a very fast response time and a wealth of content for free movie streaming online. Ad-free and easy to function on any device, you can’t go wrong with this website.
There are no ads on the site, and it is really easy to use and access on any device. You get to watch movies online on GoStream in full high definition and with subtitles if you need them. Plus, once you select a movie, it automatically begins to play without fret or fuss.
The only thumbs down that GoStream gets is for the unavailability of TV shows for streaming on the site.
17. SolarMovies
Even as one of the newer platforms in the industry, SolarMovies has already gained widespread fame as one of the best websites to watch full movies online for free.
The site provides high-quality watch links and offers a personalized streaming experience so that if you register on the platform, you will receive constant movie updates and more.
The site also offers easy functionality by providing a catalog of movies arranged into genres and countries of origin so that you can effortlessly filter through the collection of movies on the site.
18. MoviesJoy
The MoviesJoy site provides free streaming services through an absolutely uncomplicated interface and access to movies and TV shows from every genre and occasion, including action, comedy, history, thriller, sports, and so on, with new titles being updated on a daily basis.
The movie links are very high quality, and the movies play extremely fast. There is no signup required to make use of the site, but the ad-supported site is subject to the glitches of ad obstruction, so it may take some time of having to close these ads before you can play your selected movie or show.
19. SpaceMov
SpaceMov is another free movie site that provides a high-definition streaming experience. The ad-supported site features a user-friendly menu with flexible options that enable you to search and filter movies by genre, country, and lots more.
Some outstanding features that SpaceMov provides include movie descriptions and a “Watch Trailer” button.
These enable you to get a little idea about the movies so that you have some assistance in selecting what movie or show to settle for. Oftentimes, the movies have numerous sources available from which you can choose the best to stream from.
20. FlixTor
FlixTor is a free movie and TV show streaming site with a remarkable and smooth user interface, high-quality playback, and low ad annoyance. The site has a pretty impressive collection of movies and shows, including titles that are currently trending.
In the “About Us” section of the website, the platform claims to be “a fully automated video search engine,” which, based on user feedback, has been proven to be true. FlixTor is, however, a website with which it is strongly advised that you use a VPN.
21. Yes! Movies
With its sleek user layout, simple search tool, and tons of movies and TV shows to choose from, Yes! Movies is another great streaming website on the internet. It also has Movies/TV Shows categories at the top of the website for easy browsing and to help you narrow down your choices.
Yes! Movies is completely free to use, and you are not required to pay, sign up, or be subject to any malware risks to have full access to its content library and features.
Watching a movie on Yes! Movies can be a little tricky as you sometimes have to click the play button multiple times for movies to play, but the streaming links are usually in high definition, so an amazing streaming experience is assured.
22. FMovies
FMovies is an exceptionally popular free movie streaming site that is loved by millions of movie watchers on the internet. The crowd-favorite streaming platform features the latest movies and TV shows in numerous categories and a convenient range of streaming qualities.
It is ad-supported, so you will run into a ton of ads right from its home page. The site also has several mirror websites, but if you happen to click on any of these URLs, you will always be automatically redirected to its leading site.
23. PrimeWire
Formerly known as “LetMeWatchThis” and then, later on, became “1Channel”, PrimeWire is another popular name in the world of websites that offers free movie streaming services.
While a large number of ads on the site has been observed as one of its shortcomings, its even larger collection of TV shows and movies easily undermines that. The website also has a very comprehensive list of genres to help you navigate through this collection.
The PrimeWire site’s domain name frequently changes, so if you’re searching for it online one day and can’t find it, feel free to choose from any of the other streaming services on this list as an alternative.
24. Vumoo
The Vumoo site has a lower ad frequency than most streaming sites. It also has a lot of trending movies and TV series too.
The entertainment content on the site is played using an integrated media player on redirected pages, so you shouldn’t worry if you click on a movie and a new page loads—the site is only taking you to where the movie will be played right in your web browser.
On Vumoo, you can also stream recently released titles on some key streaming platforms like HBO, Netflix, and so on. There is also an incredible suite of intercontinental films that you can find on Vumoo.
25. Putlocker
Whenever people ask for a website where they can stream movies for free, Putlocker is a name that often comes up as an answer. This tremendously famous streaming site is totally free and has an extraordinary movie compilation for the public’s viewing pleasure.
Besides a list of genres, Putlocker also categorizes movies and shows according to their IMDb rating, so you also have that to help you narrow down your search when looking for a movie to relax with.
Putlocker is also ad-supported and has numerous domains, so for anyone with concerns about the site’s safety, as long as you have a good ad blocker, antivirus/anti-malware software, and a VPN with unlimited data, you’ll be able to safely stream all the TV shows and movies on the platform risk-free.
26. Yidio
Searching for free entertainment streaming without signup? Then Yidio is the website for you. The site presents itself as more of a search engine with which you can search and find specific movies or shows that you’re looking to stream for free.
Besides streaming, Yidio also serves as a movie and TV guide with which you can track, discover, and find where to watch TV shows and movies from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Showtime, and over 100 more services.
27. VexMovies
VexMovies is quite popular and has a very sizeable amount of monthly visitors to its website to show for it. While the site might be a little late in uploading the latest movies, it still has a lot to offer in terms of movie genres.
Also, the movies featured on the site have their synopsis, IMDb ratings, trailers, and cast lists displayed, so you can select your movies based on those.
The VexMovies site’s domain, in spite of its significant audience, is not secure, so you should have all the necessary online security precautions in place before streaming on this site.
28. Kanopy
Kanopy is yet another library-supported streaming platform (just like Hoopla), so all you need to access its content is a library card.
Normally, your local library would have to support Kanopy first, and if luckily it does, then hooray! You’ll have completely free-of-charge as well as ad-free access to Kanopy’s little treasure chest of online movies and shows from a broad array of genres.
Often, you find this kind of arrangement with Kanopy in school and university libraries, so if you’re a high schooler or college student, you should check if your school library supports Kanopy, or for college students, you can simply register on the platform with your university email address.
The platform can be accessed online (on its website) or through the service’s mobile app.
In truth, the collection of content on Kanopy is more limited than most streaming services, but you won’t have to deal with any ads whatsoever on the platform, thereby you’re guaranteed smooth and enjoyable entertainment.
Additionally, the site allows for multi-device use, so you can stream the movies and shows you like using just one account on as many devices at a time as you want.
29. Popcornflix
Popcornflix was founded by Screen Media Ventures in 2010, and both were acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment in 2017. The streaming service has seen rapid growth over the decade of its existence in the movie scene.
It hosts many films, TV shows, and documentaries that you can watch online for free. There are various movie categories on the site through which you can browse to find something that piques your interest; content featured includes new arrivals, foreign films, and even Popcornflix originals.
Popcornflix does not require that you have an account before you can make use of the platform. The website also comes in an app that works on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Xbox, Android, and iOS devices.
Popcornflix is also subject to peculiar geographical limitations, so if you find that you are in a location that is outside of its service area, using a quality VPN to change your IP address will easily sort this out for you.
30. Vimeo
Vimeo is a streaming service that focuses on delivering high-definition video to its users across a range of devices. You can either join Vimeo for free or upgrade to one of its pricing plans for added benefits on the platform.
You have to sign in to the platform, and you can do so easily with a Google account. The site has unique categories in its on-demand collection through which you can find the right content for you. There’s also always a movie that is being live-streamed on the site.
Vimeo also caters purposely to content creators and businesses with functionalities that they can use to sell or monetize their videos, collaborate on the platform with fellow creators in their niche, market their businesses, and communicate internally with team members. The user types on Vimeo to this effect are enterprises, small businesses, and creative professionals.
31. Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is, in every sense of the word, an archive of TV shows and movies that you can stream online for free.
Within its collection, you’ll find movies and TV shows from 2021 all the way back to the mid-1900s! The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library, and all of its content is either uploaded by users or falls within the public domain. In addition, you can also access music, images, books, and more on the Internet Archive.
Is a VPN Required for Free Movie Streaming Websites?
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an effective tool that encrypts your online activities and hides your real IP address so that you cannot be tracked unwantedly on the internet. A VPN works to keep your digital presence consistently private and protected.
While connecting to a VPN is not a strict requirement for free movie streaming websites—as long as the content you want to watch is available in your country—it is still advisable to use a VPN for this, specifically a VPN with a quality that is effective.
Why You Should Use a VPN to Watch Free Movies Online
Connecting your device to an effective VPN before opting to use any of the sites listed above is something that you should give some serious consideration to. This is because when it comes to the security of your personal data and privacy on these sites, this cannot be guaranteed 100%.
This issue originates from the fact that whenever you stream a video online, there is a communication that occurs between your device and the video hosting server.
Your device exchanges information with this server, and unless your internet connection has proper protection, your sensitive data can easily be accessed this way.
Therefore, the more you stream content online, the more your online security is at risk. This is why a VPN is necessary. An effective VPN will provide adequate protection for any of your devices connected to the internet against this kind of breach of online privacy.
A VPN also offers accessibility benefits. If you are resident in or travel to a country with geographical restrictions—for instance, some Netflix shows are only available in some countries and unavailable in others—a good VPN can alter your IP address to enable you to have access to content that was previously unavailable to you due to these restrictions.
One last advantage of connecting to a VPN is that the network tool offers your devices protection against malware.
Some streaming sites are subject to the use of malvertising to spread malware and track users via their IP addresses with the aim of gaining access to private information. A VPN will ultimately protect you from any potential issues and privacy breaches such as these.
Why You Should Stream Free Movies Online Without Downloading Them
Streaming is a method of entertainment through which audio or video is played online and watched or listened to immediately. In other words, you watch the video or listen to the audio instantly without having to download the media files beforehand.
There is Video-on-demand streaming (VOD) which allows users to select and watch or listen to video or audio content on demand; this is the type of streaming service discussed in this article.
On the other hand, there is live streaming or live casting, which involves real-time broadcasting (for example, a news broadcast), live video footage, or video feed to an audience accessing the video stream over the internet. The recording and broadcasting processes occur simultaneously.
Alternatively, downloading involves saving the media to your computer, tablet, smartphone, or other devices. After you download a video, you have complete offline access to its content and can watch and re-watch it whenever you want.
Now here’s why you should stream free movies online without downloading them. Streaming provides you with immediate entertainment, therefore you don’t have to wait ages for the entire file to download first.
The moment you press play, your watching experience begins more or less instantly, regardless of how large the video file may be.
Another reason why streaming is better is that it doesn’t require storage space. You don’t need a large hard drive to keep the content you want to watch, unlike how you would need sufficient storage space before you can even initiate a download.
Streaming offers you increased freedom and flexibility in selecting your entertainment. As long as a movie has been released, you can stream it online without delay.
With downloads, your immediate options lie solely within the movies and series you have saved on your device. However, with online streaming, you have an extremely wide instant pick of content that you can freely choose from.
Streaming also protects your devices from the dangers of unintentionally downloading infected files. This can occur, especially if a download consists of multiple files.
While you should always have an effective antivirus program running on your device, online streaming entirely eliminates the risk of falling into this sort of dilemma.
When it comes to copyright laws, people generally have more peace of mind with authorizing streams as opposed to allowing downloads. Downloading content makes it much easier for the content to be pirated.
Streaming video technology is harder to copy and can give better assurance of protection against piracy to producers distributing their content online.
Thus, with the downloading of certain content being barred by many uploaders, you are more likely to only have access to a lot of free movie content through online streaming alone.
Which is the Best Free Online Movie Streaming Website?
So you must be wondering, Which is the best free online movie streaming website? Well, based on the ranking of number of monthly visitors as well as other public polls, FMovies ranks as the number 1 website for streaming free movies online.
FMovies has a whopping 1.6 million movie lovers visiting the site every month! It is a popular streaming site with an unmatched excellent collection of movies and an attractive interface that keeps users entertained.
The site is also VPN compatible, has no limits at all, and the ads and commercials on it are only averagely bothersome.
Other top-rated and largely visited free online movie streaming sites are:
- VexMovies: 1.6 million monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- AZMovies: 510,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- FlixTor: 500,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- Putlocker: 361,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- Vumoo: 341,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- 123 Movies: 287,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- SolarMovies: 276,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
- Tubi TV: 253,000 monthly visitors and VPN compatible.
In terms of streaming free video content in general, YouTube is the most popular of them all, with a staggering approximately 2 billion visitors every month!
YouTube does have a very strict copyright policy, however, so movie content gets taken down quite often if the appropriate patent rights haven’t been given due regard.
There are several ways to watch and stream free movies and TV shows online without downloading them. Some of these ways are safer than others but what is certain and safest is that you should always be using a reliable VPN to stream free movies and TV shows online.
The peace of mind you get knowing that your internet browsing is safe from being intercepted by hackers or tracked by your ISP is well worth it.