For 2026, cord cutters can save money and enjoy great content by utilizing free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) platforms. FAST has quietly become the smartest way to watch, especially if you’re tired of paying for dozens of channels you never open.
These services give you real choices of live channels that feel like TV, on-demand libraries for binge sessions, and niche catalogs that actually surprise you. If you’ve been sticking with the same three apps forever, try one of these for a week and you’ll probably find something you didn’t know you were missing.
The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a free entertainment hub with live channels, movies, TV shows, sports, and Roku Originals mixed, so you never have to hunt. A favorite of Cord Cutters News readers, The Roku Channel won Best Free Streaming Service of 2025 with 30.6% of the Cordie Awards votes, edging out Tubi and Pluto TV. The large library of on-demand shows and movies varies by region. The streamer is built into Roku devices, giving Roku owners easy access. You can also stream inside The Roku Channel app or website.
The Archive
If you love film history, cult curiosities, or public-domain treasures, add The Archive to your streaming lineup today. Instead of algorithm-sanitized streaming, you’ll find restorations, newsreels, early TV, and films that rarely show up elsewhere. It doesn’t have the polished UI as other streamers, but the content brings cultural value that film students, historians, and nostalgia seekers will love.
Philo Free Channels
Reality, lifestyle, true crime, nostalgia channels, and bingeable entertainment are the mainstays of Philo Free Channels. 120+ free live channels and quality on-demand favorites make up a valuable platform to have for anyone who enjoys lifestyle and entertainment content without the need for sports or local news. Philo Free Channels also offers 30-day DVR (on select titles), so you can record and rewatch your favorites if you miss their original airing.
Prime Video
Cord cutters who enjoy the Amazon ecosystem should give Prime Video a try. Prime offers a free tier (formerly Freevee) with a rotating catalog of movies and shows that are conveniently located within one app. Plus, the free tier offers 500+ channels, covering news, entertainment, sports, movies, kids’ content, and local stations, so there’s something for everyone and no subscription is required.
Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is built into new Samsung TVs and Galaxy devices, offering thousands of on-demand content with hundreds of live channels for free. The easiest, no-hassle FAST option allows Samsung owners to start streaming the minute their screen powers up, or Android owners can find the app in the Google Play Store. There’s no login required, making streaming on your device simple.
TCL+
Another branded FAST app worth trying is TCL+. TCL’s app comes preinstalled on their TVs, making it easy to adapt if you own a TCL set. The streamer offers several hundred linear channels and thousands of on-demand titles across multiple genres. A TCL device isn’t required to stream TCL+, and the streamer constantly updates the 350+ channel lineup with fresh content.
Plex
Tech-savvy users who want one app for everything they own and stream must add Plex to their setup. Plex combines your personal media files with 600+ free live channels all in one place. Plex offers a polished free FAST service, plus industry-leading personal media server tools (DVR, library management, remote streaming). You can integrate your own movies, TV, and music from anywhere, and within its interface, Plex acts as a unified search tool to browse content from other major streaming apps.
YOW.tv
Cinephiles who enjoy indie curated films, festival picks, and documentaries may want to add YOW.tv to their lineup. Instead of the broad studio libraries found on most FAST streamers, YOW.tv focuses on fresh indie storytelling, which supports creators. The platform was founded by filmmakers, void of algorithms, built around discovery with a social-first design. The rotating lineup has a wide range of programming, including genre surprises, micro-series, short films, and breakout independent features.
Sling Freestream
Sling Freestream is a strong sampler if you’re thinking about giving Sling TV’s paid options a try. The FAST platform has a broad collection of news, entertainment, and niche genres in its 600+ channel lineup, with thousands of on-demand favorites. With an easy-to-use UX for channel-surfers, and up to 10 hours of DVR for no additional charge, Sling Freestream lets record and rewatch your favorite channels.
MyFree DIRECTV
DIRECTV has a decades-long legacy in the world of television, but its FAST platform, MyFree DIRECTV, brings those years of experience to the free-streaming space. With 130+ free channels, including 24/7 sports, MyFree DIRECTV offers a DIRECTV-curated selection without a subscription commitment. The free platform offers a quality mix of entertainment, movie channels, and niche feeds with on-demand options. Just enter your email and unlock a premium DIRECTV user experience without paying for a full package.
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