The streaming wars are in full swing, with giants like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and newer services like Disney+ and HBO Max battling it out. With so many options, it can get expensive to subscribe to multiple platforms just to watch the shows and movies you want.
There are ways to legally
watch great films without committing to yet another monthly subscription. With
an open mindset and a bit of digging, you can find plenty of streaming service
alternatives to fulfill your cinematic fix.
Leverage Your Existing Library Card
Your local public library can
be an excellent free source of films without needing any new subscriptions.
Take advantage of what's available through their physical and digital
collections:
Borrow Physical DVDs and Blu-Rays
Libraries often have
extensive catalogs of movie titles you can check out on disc for free with your
membership. Classic, obscure, and foreign films are frequently available.
Access resources and Apps
Libraries provide apps and
online resources like Hoopla, Kanopy, and OverDrive that allow digital
borrowing of movies to stream on your devices, usually with decent catalogs and
no waitlists for popular titles!
Request Inter-Library Loans
Can’t find a specific movie title in your local branch? Inter-library loan systems allow you to request titles from any affiliated library to be delivered to your location, opening up many more possibilities.
By fully utilizing everything
on offer from your local library and avoiding late fees, you can enjoy a steady
stream of movies without paying a cent!
Explore Quality Free Streaming Options
While subscription platforms
dominate, there are quite a few free streaming services that let you watch
acclaimed films without any cost:
Tivimate IPTV Player
Tivimate Iptv player is a live TV streaming
platform where you can watch TV shows at affordable price options. People have
this issue sometimes that their tivimate not working but it will solve gradually in few seconds.
The Roku Channel
Roku’s free streaming channel
offers an extensive library of full-length movies across many genres without
needing a Roku device. No sign-up is needed either.
YouTube
In addition to user content,
YouTube has hundreds of free films available in full, including acclaimed
classics and international selections, via its “Movies” section.
Kanopy and Hoopla
These apps offer limited
complimentary monthly views of their quality film collections to public library
members, with no rental required. Create an account through your local branch.
PlutoTV
This free live-streaming service has dedicated movie channels playing uncut theatrical films 24/7, though the selections rotate fairly frequently. Still a neat option.
While paid platforms spend
big on marketing, some of the best free streaming options go under the radar.
Take advantage of these services to supplement your viewing selection.
Swift Streamz
Swift streamz is a free streaming service you
can watch everything on this like TV shows, games, sports, news, etc at any
time.
Rent or Buy Digital Films à
La Carte
Rather than commit to a
monthly subscription, consider paying only for the specific movies you truly
want to see as digital rentals or purchases. Many platforms offer this model:
Transactional VOD Services
Services like iTunes, Vudu,
YouTube Movies, and Prime Video let you pay for individual new releases or
catalog movie rentals or purchases. Costs are usually very reasonable.
Digital Retailers
Major retailers like Amazon
and Walmart frequently offer digital movie rental and sale pricing on par with
or better than subscription services. You can buy only the movies you love.
Disc to Digital
For physical discs you already own, tools like Vudu and the Movies Anywhere app allow converting them to digital for a small fee so you can watch online.
By buying and renting à la
carte judiciously when films appeal to you rather than subscribing monthly, you
gain more control over spending while still watching legal quality movies.
Take Advantage of Limited Free Trials
If you do want to
occasionally test out the catalog of a premium streaming platform, limited free
trials give you legal access to discover their offerings at no cost:
Standard Free Trial Offers
Leading services like HBO
Max, Paramount+, Showtime, and Starz offer 7-day free trials for first-time
subscribers. Sign up only when needed.
Promotional Free Trials
Special extended 1-month free
trial promotions are sometimes offered for particular platforms to incentivize
signups. Look for these limited deals.
Trial Extensions via Gift Cards
You can often extend free
trial periods by signing up with a small value gift card which is not charged
initially, buying you extra viewing time.
Cancellation Before Renewal
Remember to cancel before the trial ends and auto-renews if you don’t want to continue your paid membership. Set reminders so you don’t forget!
Leverage free trials
selectively on occasions when you want to indulge in a specific platform’s
offerings for a limited binge period without paying long-term.
Conclusion
Rather than resigning yourself to expensive perpetual streaming subscriptions to watch top movies, know that you have many alternative options. Public library offerings, free streaming services, and used physical media can all fulfill your movie fix without long-term commitments or breaking the bank.
Mix and match strategies for
accessing films legally without paying for a dedicated platform. With an open
approach, you can readily discover plenty of cinematic content to enjoy outside
of major subscription silos.
Are free streaming movies legal?
Yes, as long as you use
reputable platforms sanctioned to share free public domain and licensed movies
legally. Pirated movies on shady sites are still illegal.
What are some places to borrow physical movie DVDs?
Your local library, rental stores like Redbox, mail-order
rental services like Netflix DVD, dollar stores, and peer-to-peer rental
platforms like PeerFlicks are good options.
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