Cutting the cord is supposed to save you money, but numerous premium streaming subscriptions quickly add up. I actually cut the cord for free, with no premium subscriptions, and you can do the same. Here’s how I did it.
Everything You’ll Need
There is a small upfront cost, but it’s possible you already have what you need. For instance, I already had a smart TV and high-speed Internet when I decided to cut the cord.
You’ll either need a smart TV or a streaming box/device, such as Roku, Fire Stick, Google TV Streamer, or Apple TV. Of course, you also need reliable, high-speed Internet. Otherwise, you won’t be able to access all the free services I’ll cover later in this post.
Of course, if you want to stream your own local content, such as home videos or content you’ve downloaded legally, you can set up a Plex server. As long as you have a computer and router to support it, it’s completely free to set up everything.
For my setup, I started with a smart TV, but it was a little older and tended to lag significantly when trying to access apps. So, I opted for the Roku Ultra LT, mainly for the voice remote and I got it half price on a Black Friday sale. But, the cheapest entry points are the Roku Express, Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, and Google Chromecast for TV for just $30.
Also, if you want to watch local content, you may also need an HD antenna, such as the GE Outdoor HD Digital Antenna or the Philips Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna.
Endless Free TV and Movies
Now for my favorite part – free tv and movies. It’s easier now than ever to cut the cord for free. Many free streaming services are partnered with premium services and networks, so you actually get an excellent variety of new and older content.
For example, Paramount owns Pluto TV, so much of what you can stream on Paramount, including CBS shows, are on Pluto TV. Love Fox and all the various reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen and The Masked Singer? Just watch on Tubi. And, of course, Amazon bought Freevee, which means you get some Amazon content.
Currently, I have the following free streaming apps, though you definitely don’t need all of them:
- Roku Channel – Roku’s free streaming service (you don’t need a Roku device to access it). Includes original content, recent and older shows and movies, and live channels.
- Pluto TV – My personal favorite. Pluto includes on-demand and live channels featuring new and older content. Many CBS shows are available a week after originally airing.
- Freevee – Offers both on-demand and live channels. Has an increasing amount of original content along with some Amazon originals.
- Tubi – My second favorite free service. Has the best selection of free movies from Paramount, MGM, Lionsgate, WB, and more. Also includes TV shows, original content, and live channels.
- Xumo Play – Offers live channels and on-demand content. It’s owned by Charter and Comcast and you can even buy Xumo TVs and streaming boxes.
- Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) – While it’s mainly known as a streaming rental service, you can also access a variety of free movies and TV shows. There isn’t as much available here as some other services, but I have found some movies here I couldn’t find elsewhere.
- Kanopy – This is only available for free via local libraries. So, you’ll need to check if your library participates. Rent (for free) TV shows and movies, including recent releases.
- Plex – In addition to being a media server app, Plex also offers free on-demand TV shows and movies, along with live channels.
- YouTube – I was surprised to find numerous free movies available on YouTube. It’s a more limited selection, but worth checking out.
- Sling Freestream – You don’t need a Sling subscription to access over 500 live channels. My favorite part is that each month, a few premium channels and on-demand shows/movies are included for free.
I highly suggest using free apps to help you search all the services at once for the content you want.
I used to have Redbox and Crackle, but are owned by Chicken Soup for the Soul, which filed bankruptcy. Redbox is already gone and Crackle has stopped working on many platforms at the time of writing.
Naturally, all of these are ad-supported, but in my experience, the ads are the same or less than your average cable network. Plus, they’re free versus having to pay for cable.
Watching Local Content, News, and Weather
The most common complaint I hear about trying to cut the cord for free is no local content. It’s true, streaming local stations isn’t always easy, but there are a few options:
- Use an OTA antenna to stream digital channels for free
- Check if your local station or news network has a free app for your TV/streaming box
- See if your local news/weather network is available on Local Now, Haystack News, Very Local (my favorite), or Zeam (all offer live channels and some on-demand content)
I use an OTA antenna and can watch CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, and more. If you want to DVR local content, check out AirTV 2, which works within Sling (the free version).
Be Prepared for the Downsides
I’ll admit that I cut the cord for free, but have subscribed to a few premium services since then just for convenience. However, premium really isn’t necessary. A few things I did miss when going completely free:
- An ad-free experience – At least with a DVR, I could skip through commercials.
- Access to the the latest trendy shows and movie releases (most movies are available within a year or year and half for free).
- A regular schedule – Free live channels often have very random schedules
Overall, saving $200+ a month is well worth the inconveniences. For less than $100 upfront, I cut the cord for free and never lack great content to watch.
With Netflix customers already fighting back against price increases, it’s clear consumers want cheaper pricing. Learn how to save money with streaming services or just go free.
Image credit: Pexels, All other images and photos by Crystal Crowder
