Life Hacks

7 Free TV Apps That Let You Watch Your Favorite Shows Without the Bill

Elizabeth
July 27, 2021

Despite a shift towards non-traditional TV viewing methods (i.e. the entire Netflix and chill culture), the average American still watches a bit over four hours of TV a day. This means that most households are still paying for cable TV or other services.

Why?! With so many great free TV apps around, you shouldn’t ever have to pay for basic TV content. From some of the hottest new TV shows to older shows you want to rewatch for the tenth time, here are some of the best free TV apps to check out if you want to enjoy good TV this year.

The Best Free TV Apps 2020

1. YouTube

YouTube TV is a thing, and you can try it out for free if you’d like. However, due to the sheer volume of content on YouTube, you don’t even have to use YouTube TV to enjoy streaming some of the best TV shows. Some networks such as TLC and AMC will upload content for free. Or, you can find fragments of certain shows for free on the streaming platform as well.

Depending on who owns the TV show or film, you might be able to find full-length content on YouTube as well. Always stream this content, as you can potentially run into malware issues if you try to download it to your computer. Kids’ content is usually available for streaming, as are numerous documentaries.

2. Crackle

Crackle is easily one of the best free movie and TV apps of 2020. It’s like a normal streaming library mixed with cable television. This means that you have to watch commercials occasionally to view a movie or show. But, it’s free, so it’s well worth it.

You’ll notice that the Crackle TV show library doesn’t feature super recent shows or ones that you’d find on Netflix, HBO, or even Hulu. However, it’s a great resource for those interested in streaming older TV shows such as Unsolved Mysteries, Starsky & Hutch, and the classic Charlie’s Angels.

3. PBS Kids

Looking for free children’s TV shows? PBS Kids is a fantastic place to start. Download the PBS Kids Video app and check out all of their fun, educational content. While they stream hours and hours of premium kids content, you’ll also note that you can watch live programming via their Live TV option in the app.

Popular shows that your little ones might love include Sesame Street, Curious George, and the ever-popular Wild Kratts. We’d suggest downloading this to a tablet and letting your child navigate within the app as it’s a great way to ensure they’re not streaming other content that’s less educational.

4. Funny or Die

Need a good laugh? Funny or Die should be your go-to place for premium comedy content. The website offers free streaming content that they’ve produced in-house plus hours and hours of other shorter videos that will keep you laughing and entertained.

Definitely be sure to check out their Quarantine Binge section. It’s a place where they’ve curated special content for those needing a bit of an extra funny pick-me-up at the moment. They’ve also got a list of special online shows that are “social distancing approved.”

5. Pluto TV

Pluto TV is pretty similar to a regular cable network in that they allow you to view sports content, live news, and even movies and TV shows. What’s great about Pluto TV is how they organize their platform. It’s easy to find what you’re looking for, whether that’s sports, news, or even binge-worthy TV shows.

And, the best part is that most of the content is new. Kids will enjoy Nickeloden classics such as The Fairly Oddparents, but adults can enjoy streaming popular TV shows such as Forensic Files, Doctor Who, and even Hell’s Kitchen. Sure, you have to watch it “live,” but it’s worth it.

6. Tubi TV

Tubi TV is actually part of FOX Entertainment, which means they offer free TV content via their partnerships with studios like Paramount Pictures and MGM. You can view TV shows such as The Masked Singer and even Dance Moms or stick to their great movie content. 

The only downfall of this free TV app is that you do have to watch ads, and they can sometimes be quite frequent. However, if you can’t find the show you’re looking for anywhere else for free, it’s a great option.

7. FlixTor

From hot new movies to some of the best TV shows of 2020, FlixTor definitely makes our list of the best free TV apps. Not only does the streaming platform offer premium content for free (i.e. recent, popular movies and TV series), but the website is super easy to navigate and doesn’t constantly flash tons of ads across the screen.

You can sign up for VIP content if you’d like, but their free TV shows include everything from Search Party, 90 Day Fiance, and Million Dollar Listing to American Dad and even 13 Reasons Why.

Need to Sign Up for a Streaming Platform?

With so many free TV apps available, chances are that you won’t ever need to sign up for any streaming platform. But, if you want to watch something super specific, you might eventually have to get a subscription to Hulu, Amazon Video, or other streaming services.


If that’s the case, don’t forget to sign up using a debit card that’s optimized to earn you cashback. You know, so you can basically earn enough extra cheese to offset the costs of your subscription service.


Our Cheese Debit Card comes with $0 in monthly fees and lots of opportunities to earn extra cash on your savings: cashback and saving bonus. Put that cheese back into your TV subscription addiction. Sign up today to get started.


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