The TV industry has shifted from network TV to streaming. Many households have “cut the cord” to eliminate expensive cable or satellite plans and replaced them with streaming service subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Paramount+. But it can still add up. And even with multiple subscriptions, you won’t be able to find everything on every service. A good way to supplement the one, two, maybe even three paid streaming services you subscribe to, maybe even in lieu of them all, is to take advantage of one (or more) of the best free streaming TV services in Canada.
These services don’t require a sign-in nor credit card information. You get entirely free streaming, usually with ads. The selection is limited and it’s often changing but also growing. You can find both legacy and current content, on-demand and even live TV.
How do you know what’s available where? Visit the service’s website or app and run a search, browse the detailed guides, filter by genre and other parameters, or check out live listings. If there’s something specific you want to watch, use a website like JustWatch.com. Change the region to Canada and search for the title of any movie or TV show you are looking for to see the available options. If it’s one of these free services listed here, you’re in luck because you can watch without signing in or paying a dime.
Tubi
Tubi affords access to a massive library of movies and TV shows as well as live TV channels, all for free. At the time of this writing, for example, some of the movie highlights include Step Brothers, Terrifier, The Addams Family, The Mask, and The Shawshank Redemption; while TV shows you can watch include Gotham, NYPD Blue, Lie to Me, and Baywatch. For live TV, a guide pops up just like you’d see with a linear cable or satellite TV subscription where you can choose from a variety of shows like Crime Files, Chicago Fire, and Grace and Frankie. There’s also a selection of Tubi Original shows. Browse by genre, collections, networks, or most popular, even narrow it down to Tubi Kids. Watch on a wide variety of devices, including Samsung, Sony, and LG TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, iOS, Android, Xbox and PS4, Apple TV, and more. You don’t need to sign in or even register: just click on a title and start streaming. There is an option to set up a free account, which allows you to easily access content on all your devices, sync your watch lists, and stop watching from one device to resume watching on another.
Pluto TV
Launched in Canada two years ago, Pluto TV, a Paramount company, offers access to 110 channels with more than 20,000 hours of free programming across various genres and from different global media partners, as well as Paramount itself. Visit the website or app, browse, select something, and start watching. There’s everything from classic sitcoms to retro crime dramas, courtroom TV, reality TV, sports, library titles movies, and more. There are also more than 30 channels dedicated specifically to Canadian content, including Home and DIY channels, Food, Kids, and national and local news, as well as French-language channels. There are live channels, delivered in a traditional guide style so you can pop in and start watching a show already in progress, like Hawaii Five-o, Taxi, or even movies like Kill Bill. Some of the on-demand content available at the time of this writing includes The Conners, Married…With Children, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Three’s Company. In September 2024, Pluto TV added four CBC channels to the mix as well. You can watch from Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, Chromecast, Samsung and LG TVs, mobile apps on iOS and Android, web browsers, and more. Once again, you don’t need to, but you can sign in for additional features, like the ability to create a watch list.
The Roku Channel
When you buy a Roku device like a streaming stick or media player, you also get access to The Roku Channel, a free selection of movies and TV shows, live TV channels, and Roku Originals along with the ability to tap into your subscription-based services using the same integrated menu. Right now, for example, you can watch shows like Z Nation and movies like The Lighthouse as well as live TV from CTV News, CBC News Explore, MLB Channel, and more. All you need to access everything is a free Roku account. As noted, there’s an option to add your premium subscriptions right to the Roku Channel so the offerings come up in the menu as well. It’s a nice way to organize everything in one view, including both paid and free content. If you prefer, however, you can keep them separate, still accessing your other service subscription apps individually through the same Roku device. Speaking of which, even if you don’t own a Roku device, you can still download the Roku app for iOS, Android, or web, and use it without one.
CBC Gem
For homegrown content, CBC offers its CBC Gem streaming app with access to some of its library content. You can connect an existing CBC account, set up a free one, or sign in using Apple, Google, or Facebook. Once signed in, access full series of shows like Ghosts, Younger, Schitt’s Creek, and Murdoch Mysteries as well as live TV including local news. Save favourites or keep track of shows you’re watching to resume later. See what’s trending or browse programming by genre, including everything from kids to enthralling documentaries and guilty pleasure reality TV shows. There are movies, too, like The Babadook, Parasite, and BlackBerry. Watch via web browser, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV devices, select smart TVs from brands like Samsung and LG, Xbox, and a relatively recent addition, Roku.
Plex
While Plex does have a paid subscription tier, you can also opt for the free version that affords access to live and on-demand TV from a multitude of devices, including web browser, smartphone, and compatible TV or media player from brands like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Samsung, Xbox, LG, and more. Right now, there are shows like Weeds, Nash Bridges, Corner Gas, and Donnie Darko available to stream. Browse what’s available under the on demand or live TV sections, filter by genre, and simply start watching.
Stream For Free
If you want to get the most high-profile shows and their new seasons, you won’t find those on these services and will have to get a subscription to the service that hosts it. But for older movies, classic shows, local news, and other content, chances are you’ll find something worth watching on one of these free streaming services. As you try them all, one or two may even emerge as a favorite. Before spending your hard-warned money to rent or buy a movie to watch with the family, run a JustWatch.com search and see if it’s available on one of these services. For November 2024, for example, Tubi is adding movies like Charlie’s Angels, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Megamind, and Shrek, and the classic series Gilligan’s Island. You’ll be surprised at how diverse the selection is. After giving these services a shot, you’ll be wondering why you hadn’t been tapping into them all along.
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