With the advent of the internet, owning a television set or buying a cable package isn’t necessary to enjoy TV shows. Plenty of websites let you watch free TV shows online in 2019. However, not all of them are legal. While some sites scam visitors into signing up for fees, others try to coax you into adding suspicious extensions to your browser.
Y ou can watch free TV online, there is no need to pay a single penny for watching TV Channels. There are lots of websites available which can provide you free tv streaming of more than 1,000 to 5000 TV Channels. The only thing you need is a fast connection.
This is why I have curated a list of best sites for streaming TV shows for free and legally. Before moving ahead, do check out our other lists of free and legal websites you could use:
While all the TV services mentioned ahead are free, you can use a VPN service like PIA or NordVPN to access more content (and unblock shows) on Crackle, Pluto TV, etc. You can also read our reviews of top VPN services.
Free TV Shows Sites For 2019
1. Crackle
Crackle is a video entertainment platform that lets you watch TV shows for free. Sony owns this website so you can trust it regarding quality and reliability. It has a great collection of famous TV shows like Seinfeld, Firefly, The Shield and even anime shows. The content is well categorized along with a search option to help you explore more.
There is no limit to how many TV videos you can watch and the best part is that Crackle offers free Android and iOS apps to watch TV shows online. You can also stream episodes across multiple devices like Android TV or smart TVs. While the videos are not exactly ad-free but they are 100% legal to watch.
Why use Crackle for TV shows?
Visit Crackle
2. Tubi
This online TV show streaming site lets you watch episodes without signing up. However, if you choose to do so, Tubi lets you create a watch list of favorites and resume playback across different devices. It has a neat and clean interface with well-outlined categories like TV Dramas, TV Comedies, Reality TV and Crime TV.
Even though Tubi has a more extensive collection of movies compared its TV series collection, however, they are worth checking out. The good streaming quality enriches your viewing experience while letting you switch between multiple devices.
Why use Tubi?
Visit Tubi
3. Yahoo ViewFree Internet Tv Shows Channels Free Tv
A couple of years back, Hulu ended its popular free TV streaming plan leaving several viewers disappointed. Thankfully, Yahoo has picked up the role by partnering up with Hulu and launching a new service called Yahoo View which offers almost, if not all of the content that was previously available on Hulu for free.
Yahoo View has a vast range of free TV shows across various genres such as Comedy, Drama, Reality, Documentaries, etc. In the kid’s section, you can find famous cartoons like Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. For the anime lovers, this platform offers several famous series including Naruto (complete series), Fullmetal Alchemist, Ergo Proxy, etc.
The only downside is that the categories do not display all the shows in one place. But you can use this directory to find all the listings in a single page.
Why use Yahoo View?
Visit Yahoo View
4. Hotstar
Primarily focused on Indian users, Hotstar is known for its Cricket streams and HBO shows that are available at a very affordable price. However, the service also offers free Indian TV channels like Star Plus, Like OK, and Star Bharat, which makes it a great option for the lovers of Hindi TV shows. You get regional language TV channels as well.
Apart from the regular TV channels, this site to watch free TV online also provides content from National Geographic, Channel V, FOXLife, and selected programs shows like Malgudi Days, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Hotstar Exclusives, Masterchef, etc. As I told you above, if you wish to stream more content, you can choose the paid plan that costs just Rs. 999/year.
Why use Hotstar?
Visit Hotstar
5. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is another free TV streaming site for 2019 that lets you watch free TV shows legally. There are lots of original content hosted on the website across several genres such as action, comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, etc., rounding up to about 100 TV series altogether. And the best part is you can view them across multiple devices.
90’s kids looking for some childhood nostalgia should definitely check out it classic offerings such as The Adventures of Super Mario 3 Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, and more. There is also a special “Staff Picks” section which is a collection of highest-rated TV shows and movies – a must watch for all.
Why use Popcornflix for streaming TV?
Visit Popcornflix
6. Retrovision
Retrovision is the best website to watch free classic TV shows. The best part is, it offers a great collection of classic movies too if you are interested. The content hosted on this platform is available under the public domain and therefore, completely legal for downloading and streaming free TV series.
Navigating the website is pretty easy, and you will find all the shows listed on a single page. From Sherlock Holmes to Star Trek, Retrovision has an extensive array of shows straight from the ‘50s and ‘60s. In fact, it has an amazing collection of cartoons for kids like Popeye and Superman back from the old days!
Why use Retrovision?
Visit Retrovision
7. Internet Archive
Many of you would be aware of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine as a means to access offline web pages and track a website’s history. Surprisingly, it also features a collection of vintage recorded TV shows, government videos, TV documentaries, event footage, etc. While the overall appearance of this free TV site might not impress you, it has all the important filters like year, topics, creator, language, etc.
Why use Internet Archive?
Visit Internet Archive
8. Yidio
Yidio is actually an aggregator of free TV streaming sites that points you towards third-party websites where you can watch a particular show. And there is no point for guessing that many of those hosts charge a fee. However, there is a separate section of free TV shows to stream online.
It features episodes from popular shows like Rick and Morty, Grey’s Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, The Flash, Gotham, etc. However, I have placed Yidio lower in this list because there are a couple of downsides to it: The free listings aren’t always accurate, and some of it might contain only short chips instead of full episodes.
Why use Yidio?
Visit Yidio
9. CW TV
CW Network lets you stream some of its content for free on its website. This platform has a good collection of superhero flicks like Arrow and The Flash. For those interested in supernatural drama can check out series like The Originals or Supernatural.
However, the content is limited on this free TV series streaming site, and many of them are removed after some time. But overall the video quality is outstanding, and the streaming is pretty fast compared to other websites.
Why use CW TV streaming site?
Visit CW TV
10. CW Seed
CW TV has a subsite called CW Seed that you should definitely visit. Despite its name, which sounds a little illegal, I can assure that this website is a completely legal and you can stream free TV series hosted on the platform any time you want.
The surprising part is that CW Seed does not have any content from CW on its website. Instead, it is home to many original Web series and DC animated series that are a must-watch.
Why use CW Seed?
Visit CW Seed
11. Pluto TV
Pluto TV actually works like a regular television where you can flip through TV channels to find what catches your fancy. This free TV show streaming website has several channels where you can watch daily soaps, sports, news and more. Use this directory to see all the listings in one place.
There are separate sections for comedy, entertainment, lifestyle, movie, music and even curiosity which has channels like Science TV and NASA TV. You can choose to watch the content through mobile, PV or a smart TV but the only downside is that you get to watch stuff that is available at the moment.
Why use Pluto TV?
Visit Pluto TV
12. Snagfilms
Snagfilms covers a lot of topics such as Drama, Kids, Family, World History, Wildlife, and Environment. However, if you are looking for a current TV series, you might get a little disappointed. But in case you are interested in watching some rare classic movies and award-winning documentaries on this website, you will love this website.
This free streaming site for 2019 also offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Roku and Smart TV. While watching, you might come across in-video ads but I suppose that’s okay as long as we get some awesome free videos to watch.
Why use Snagfilms for TV shows?
Visit Snagfilms
Watch TV Shows OnlineFree Local Tv Channels Over The Internet
Apart from the 10 websites mentioned above, there are two other platforms where you can watch free TV shows online and are worth mentioning:
Grab some popcorns!
These free TV series streaming websites for 2019 have not been ranked in any particular order as all of them have different content to offer. This is why I have tried to outline their USPs which will help you in making a selection according to your preference. Go through all of these legal websites to watch free TV shows online and let us know which one you liked the most. So what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorns and start binge-watching right now!
No money in the budget for a cable subscription? Or even for Hulu, arguably the best streaming-TV bargain at $5.99? Fear not: As long as you've got internet, you can enjoy a wealth of free TV.
Granted, you may not be able to binge-watch entire seasons, nor will you be able to access every show you want to see. But you might be surprised at how much content is available online, and how many options you have for viewing it.
There are, of course, some limitations. Many networks, for example, won't let you stream unless you're a paid cable or satellite subscriber. And as with broadcast television (remember that?), you'll likely to have sit through some commercials. Let's take a look at some the best free, legal ways to indulge your inner coach-potato. (Prefer movies? Check out these 10 free Netflix alternatives.)
Read more: The best live-TV streaming services for cord-cutters
Now playing:Watch this: How to watch TV online for free
Crackle
Sony's Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service, one that offers mostly movies, but also some TV shows -- including some original content. It's available on a wide variety of devices and doesn't even require you to set up an account, though doing so enables you to save favorites, get recommendations and resume playback if you switch between devices.
What you can watch: Crackle's commercial-supported selection is pretty extensive, with a smattering of great series like Community, Happy Endings and Rescue Me. Unfortunately, not every series is complete; in some cases you might get only one or two seasons, or even just a partial single season.
Where you can watch:Crackle's list of supported devices is also extensive. The service offers apps for all mobile platforms, game consoles and major streaming devices, and it's even baked into many smart TVs. It does not offer the option to download shows for offline viewing.
Hoopla DigitalInternet Shows Channels Free Web Tv
Got a library card? Check to see if your library has partnered with Hoopla. This digital-media service allows you to check out all kinds of stuff -- including TV shows. When you 'borrow' one, you have 72 hours in which to watch it. Your library determines the total number of titles you can borrow each month.
What you can watch: Hoopla's TV selection is something of a hodge-podge, with a smattering of well-known shows mixed in with a lot of self-help, documentary and family fare. For example, you'll find three seasons of the SyFy original Humans, both seasons of The Jim Gaffigan Show and lots of Ken Burns documentaries. Hoopla also has instructional videos from The Great Courses series, various PBS Kids shows and plenty of Acorn TV content that would otherwise require a subscription.
Where you can watch: Hoopla content can be viewed just about anywhere: mobile devices, streaming devices and on your PC in a browser. Surprisingly, the mobile apps offer not only streaming, but also a download option for offline viewing.
Network apps and sites
Just about every major network lets you stream shows via a web site and/or mobile app, which seems like great news for cord-cutters. So what if you couldn't watch, say, the latest episode of Bob's Burgers? Just fire up the Fox Now app and stream it on-demand. At least, that's the idea.
What you can watch: If there's a show that's currently on the air, chances are good you can watch it online. However, in some cases there's a Catch-22: Many networks require you to have an active service provider like AT&T U-verse, Dish or Xfinity. Unless you can supply valid sign-in credentials, you can't stream. That's true of networks like AMC and Syfy, meaning no episodes of The Walking Dead or Deadly Class for you. But CBS (which owns CNET), TBS, The CW and a few others will let you watch at least some episodes of some shows without a sign-in. So you'll have to poke around a bit.
Where you can watch: This also varies from one network to another, but in most cases you can watch shows in a browser, on a mobile device or via a media-streamer app. But download options are few and far between, so don't expect to be watching shows offline unless you pay for them.
Pluto TV
A relative newcomer, Pluto TV is noteworthy for offering not only on-demand movies, but also live TV channels including CBS News and, ahem, CNET. It's ad-supported, of course, but definitely one of the best free-content options currently available.
What you can watch: Pluto offers a pretty impressive selection of live channels, all of them sorted into categories like news, sports, comedy and movies. On-demand TV content consists mostly of crime and reality shows, and it's actually not organized nearly as well as the live channels. One oddity: If you're watching a live stream, there's no way to pause; you can only mute it.
Where you can watch: Pluto TV works in desktop browsers, but also offers a Windows client. It has apps for Android, iOS and various smart TVs and channels for Apple TV ($169 at Walmart), Fire TV and Roku.
Tubi TV
The name belies the content: Tubi TV offers considerably more movies than it does TV shows, but that's not to say you shouldn't check out its extensive library. Similar to Crackle, this ad-supported network is available on a wide variety of devices and doesn't require an account, though signing up for one enables you to save favorites and resume playback if you switch between devices.
What you can watch: Tubi TV definitely isn't Hulu; its TV selection consists of a lot of British imports and various shows you've probably never heard of. Indeed, there's not even a dedicated TV section, just a few TV-specific categories (comedies, dramas, etc.) within its much larger content list. I can't say I found much to recommend, save for season 1 of Everybody Hates Chris and lots of episodes of Taxi. Ironically, Tubi TV does better in the movie department.
Where you can watch: Tubi TV's list of supported devices rivals that of Crackle. The service offers apps for Android and iOS, the major game consoles and streaming devices, and some Samsung TVs. It does not offer the option to download content for offline viewing.
Yahoo View
Although Yahoo's streaming service has a smattering of movies, the big focus is on TV shows. It has lots of them, thanks to a partnership with Hulu, and you don't even need a Yahoo account to get in. Indeed, this is perhaps the most abundant source of free online TV.
What you can watch: Yahoo View offers many of the same shows Hulu does, but not nearly as many episodes, and still with commercials. For example, View has only the four most recent episodes of Bob's Burgers, while Hulu offers the entire series. Even so, if you're looking for a place to watch a wealth of both current and classic TV (Happy Days, anyone?), Yahoo View is an excellent source.
Where you can watch: Unfortunately, Yahoo View's TV selection remains stubbornly web-only. No mobile apps, no support for streaming devices.
Originally published on Feb. 28, 2017.
Update, March 11, 2019: Added new information.
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