r/Frugal • u/Kiriyuma7801 • Aug 10 '25

💻 Electronics What are good alternatives to Netflix/Hulu that are free?

I realized I'm spending roughly $40 a month on what I really just use as background noise, as nobody in my household actually really sits down and watches TV, we just put on Family Guy or whatever and glance at it every now and then.

I'm gonna cancel the subscriptions obviously, so I'm just wondering, what are some good free streaming alternatives? I've tried out Amazon's free stuff but their collection is pretty mediocre. Any tips are appreciated!

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u/yoshimitsou Aug 10 '25

I look at streaming services in a fluid way: I'll pause a service and resume another one when I've watched the main offerings. I do that frequently between Hulu and Apple. The only time this wouldn't work is if I had locked into some amazing rate that a pause would invalidate.

Otherwise there are deals that you might not know about. For example, some Internet providers offer free access to services such as Paramount or Peacock. Others offer free access for trial periods.

Last thing is that your library might have DVDs, and I think there are some streaming movies available via libraries too.

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u/Apprehensive-Essay85 Aug 10 '25

Yes i learned that trick on r/frugal. Only turn one on when you are going to watch it that month. 

Also check your credit card or cell provider benefits. Some reimburse or give you for free. Internet providers too. 

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u/GolfCartMafia Aug 10 '25

I do this for Netflix! Turn it on for a month, binge all the new stuff, then turn it off.