How to Watch TV and Movies For Cheap (Or Free)

Are there a bunch of TV shows you’ve been hearing about or that you love, but you just don’t know how to watch them — or you just don’t want to pay to watch them? Fair enough! Well, you can say so-long to huge cable bills with these savvy money saving tricks for catching all the programs you love.

Get channels for free

Think you’re tied to your cable company to watch TV? Not so! Local channels like ABC, NBC and CBS still broadcast for free — and all you need is a digital antenna to tune in.

Even better: Depending on where you live, you can pick up a whole range of channels like BUZZR, which airs classic game shows, and Movies! which airs feature films. Check out Antennas Direct to see what’s available in your area, and find a digital antenna at Best Buy or Walmart starting around $10.

Stream shows and more for free online

Cast from a computer to your television with an HDMI cable or log in from your set if you have a smart TV, and you can access streaming services without paying a subscription! For instance, Crackle has more than 40 TV series and more than 150 movies, Tubi offers both free TV shows and movies, and Yahoo View has tons of free content, including kids’ shows.

Another option: See if your library belongs to Kanopy, a streaming service that offers more than 30,000 documentaries, classic, and indie films, as well as children’s programming — all free!

Zero in on the just-right internet service

Want to go online to stream programs? It’s important to make sure your internet service is fast enough —trouble is, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the plans offered by providers and then end up overpaying for bandwidth and options you don’t need!

The easy fix: Head to BroadbandNow. The free site lets you compare plans, costs, and ratings for every internet service provider in your area, so you can choose the one that works best for you at the best price.

Find the best service at the best price!

Subscribe to a streaming service to watch your favorite television shows? They can cost anywhere from $8 a month for a basic Netflix account to $40 or more for services like DirecTV — and if you sign up for several, those costs can add up quickly!

Fortunately, it’s easy to sort through all your options and pay for only what you need, thanks to Untangle.tv. The free site asks you questions about your viewing habits, then recommends exactly what equipment and streaming services you need to see the shows you want to watch.