Free Movie Streaming Sites
The best free streaming services aren't meant to compete with the likes of Netflix. They don't have the latest TV series, blockbuster movies or high-quality originals. You're not going to get next-day episodes of popular shows or watch award winners with Hollywood's biggest stars. And that's fine since, well, they're free.
All of the best free streaming services (Free movie streaming sites) are ad-supported. They play 30-second to 60-second commercials, generally at the same rate as a cable network. Yes, watching commercials is annoying but again, that's what enables these platforms to be free.
Amazon Prime
There's a lot going for Amazon Prime Video. First, it's an add-on for Amazon Prime, so you get a free one or two-day shipping on tons of items with Amazon as well as the streaming video options in Prime Video.
And there's a ton to watch on Amazon Prime Video. IT has a constant stream of movies coming onto the service as well as original content like Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel for subscribers. It's also edging into the TV subscription realm, allowing you to add services like HBO onto your Prime Video membership.
YouTube
YouTube has a paid tier, but it's quite expensive and a lot more like traditional TV service than a streaming media option. At $40 per month or more, it's something only those looking to supplant their cable subscription should consider.
Elsewhere, YouTube has excellent options when it comes to user-generated content. You can often find older content housed on YouTube as well, or snippets of shows and movies uploaded to the service. A great example is a show "How IT's Made," which uploads content to YouTube while entire shows live on services like Hulu.
Most of the content is not professionally made, but it's an avenue for streaming content. It's an especially good option if you love documentaries, as many unheralded - but excellent - documentaries find their way to YouTube.
You can also use YouTube a bit like 123movies. Apps like Elmedia Player and Downie have excellent options to download content from sites like YouTube. All you need is the URL of the content you're looking to download, and the apps do the rest.
Netflix
How can we have this list and leave Netflix out?! The most recognized and ubiquitous streaming service there is, Netflix is a class leader in most regards. It's one of the most cost-effective options around, has a ton of excellent content, a seemingly endless supply of original shows and movies - and you can watch Netflix offline legally on Mac.
Netflix has a deep catalogue of older shows and movies beloved by many, but makes its name on original content like Stranger Things, Tiger King, and Umbrella Academy. The service can be shared with multiple people having access, and lets you watch shows anywhere you like.
You can download shows via an app named Capto, an excellent screen recording tool for your Mac. You can record and download entire shows, or clips, and watch them anytime you want. So long as you keep the content for yourself and don't distribute it, Capto is a great option for downloading and watching Netflix offline.
All of these services are available on the web. If you want to cast the content to a smart TV or Apple TV, we think JustStream is an excellent option. It lets you quickly cast content from your Mac onto a smart device, so you don't have to re-discover content in an app; just stream on your Mac and send it to your TV!