A YouTube TV membership has a lot to offer, but for those who want to cut back on paid streaming subscriptions, YouTube’s list of free movies and TV series is worth checking out as it has slowly been growing.
YouTube adds new free movies and TV shows every month, which vary depending on which country you’re streaming from. These selections are free to watch with ad breaks that range from 5 to 8 minutes. Titles rated PG or G can be watched without creating a YouTube account, but more mature content requires signing in. You’ll also need to sign in to create a Watch Later list or resume a video where you left off.
Every month brings a new collection that can be watched on smart TVs, tablets, and mobile devices either through the YouTube app or website. YouTube’s collection of free programs includes Primetime movies and shows, comedies, animation, drama, horror, musicals, and documentaries. This December, YouTube’s Free With Ads channel has Corpse Bride, Mary and Max, Naruto, and Oklahoma!.
YouTube started offering free movies with ads in 2018 and in March of 2022 added television shows to the mix. In addition to cutting cable TV and moving to streaming, reports show U.S. audiences are scaling back on the number of streaming services they pay for. The State of the Market: Streaming Video Services report said 31% of U.S. households watch ad-supported video on demand or free ad-supported streaming, and decreased monthly subscription budgets by $17 compared to 2021.
To find the freebies, open YouTube and select Movies & TV under the dropdown menu on the left. From there, you can Browse, search for Free With Ads titles, and find any content you’ve purchased. The Free With Ads selection is comparable to what you’d find on other free ad-supported platforms like Freevee or Peacock, watching a few ads in exchange for a random variety of free content.
For those who want the full TV experience, a YouTube TV membership costs $72.99 a month with the option to add the NFL Sunday ticket for $349 a year.