W ith the advent of the internet, owning a television set or buying a cable package isn’t necessary to enjoy TV shows. Plenty of websites l...
With the advent of the internet, owning a television set or buying a cable package isn’t necessary to enjoy TV shows. Plenty of websites let you watch free TV shows online in 2020. However, not all of them are legal. While some sites scam visitors into signing up for fees, others try to coax you into adding suspicious extensions to your browser.
This is why I have curated a list of best sites for streaming TV shows for free and legally. Before moving ahead, do check out our other lists of free and legal websites you can use:
Free TV Shows Sites For 2020
- Crackle
- Tubi
- Yahoo View
- Hotstar
- Popcornflix
- Internet Archive
- Retrovision
- Yidio
- CW TV
- CW Seed
- Pluto TV
- Snagflims
1. Crackle
Crackle is a video entertainment platform that lets you watch TV shows for free. Sony owns this website so you can trust it regarding quality and reliability. It has a great collection of famous TV shows like Seinfeld, Firefly, The Shield and even anime shows. The content is well categorized along with a search option to help you explore more.
There is no limit to how many TV videos you can watch and the best part is that Crackle offers free Android and iOS apps to watch TV shows online. You can also stream episodes across multiple devices like Android TV or smart TVs. While the videos are not exactly ad-free but they are 100% legal to watch.
Why use Crackle for TV shows?
- Hosts around 40-50 TV series and more than 150 full-length movies
- Stream videos across multiple devices
- Free mobile apps available
Visit Crackle
2. Tubi
This online TV show streaming site lets you watch episodes without signing up. However, if you choose to do so, Tubi lets you create a watch list of favorites and resume playback across different devices. It has a neat and clean interface with well-outlined categories like TV Dramas, TV Comedies, Reality TV and Crime TV.
Even though Tubi has a more extensive collection of movies compared its TV series collection, however, they are worth checking out. The good streaming quality enriches your viewing experience while letting you switch between multiple devices.
Why use Tubi?
- Good collection free TV shows
- Free Android and iOS apps
- User-friendly interface
Visit Tubi
3. Yahoo View
A couple of years back, Hulu ended its popular free TV streaming plan leaving several viewers disappointed. Thankfully, Yahoo has picked up the role by partnering up with Hulu and launching a new service called Yahoo View which offers almost, if not all of the content that was previously available on Hulu for free.
Yahoo View has a vast range of free TV shows across various genres such as Comedy, Drama, Reality, Documentaries, etc. In the kid’s section, you can find famous cartoons like Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. For the anime lovers, this platform offers several famous series including Naruto (complete series), Fullmetal Alchemist, Ergo Proxy, etc.
The only downside is that the categories do not display all the shows in one place. But you can use this directory to find all the listings in a single page.
Why use Yahoo View?
- For watching both current and classic TV shows
- High-quality videos
Visit Yahoo View
4. Hotstar
Primarily focused on Indian users, Hotstar is known for its Cricket streams and HBO shows that are available at a very affordable price. However, the service also offers free Indian TV channels like Star Plus, Like OK, and Star Bharat, which makes it a great option for the lovers of Hindi TV shows. You get regional language TV channels as well.
Apart from the regular TV channels, this site to watch free TV online also provides content from National Geographic, Channel V, FOXLife, and selected programs shows like Malgudi Days, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Hotstar Exclusives, Masterchef, etc. As I told you above, if you wish to stream more content, you can choose the paid plan that costs just Rs. 999/year.
Why use Hotstar?
- Lots of free Hindi TV shows
- Low-cost premium plan
Visit Hotstar
5. Popcornflix
Popcornflix is another free TV streaming site for 2020 that lets you watch free TV shows legally. There are lots of original content hosted on the website across several genres such as action, comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, etc., rounding up to about 100 TV series altogether. And the best part is you can view them across multiple devices.
90’s kids looking for some childhood nostalgia should definitely check out it classic offerings such as The Adventures of Super Mario 3 Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, and more. There is also a special “Staff Picks” section which is a collection of highest-rated TV shows and movies – a must watch for all.
Why use Popcornflix for streaming TV?
- Clean interface and well-categorized sections
- Watch TV shows and movies without signing up
- Free Android and iOS apps available
Visit Popcornflix
6. Retrovision
Retrovision is the best website to watch free classic TV shows. The best part is, it offers a great collection of classic movies too if you are interested. The content hosted on this platform is available under the public domain and therefore, completely legal for downloading and streaming free TV series.
Navigating the website is pretty easy, and you will find all the shows listed on a single page. From Sherlock Holmes to Star Trek, Retrovision has an extensive array of shows straight from the ‘50s and ‘60s. In fact, it has an amazing collection of cartoons for kids like Popeye and Superman back from the old days!
Why use Retrovision?
- To stream free classic TV shows online
- Neat interface and properly outlined categories
- No sign-up required and free Android app available
Visit Retrovision
7. Internet Archive
Many of you would be aware of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine as a means to access offline web pages and track a website’s history. Surprisingly, it also features a collection of vintage recorded TV shows, government videos, TV documentaries, event footage, etc. While the overall appearance of this free TV site might not impress you, it has all the important filters like year, topics, creator, language, etc.
Why use Internet Archive?
- Completely free and public domain content
- Lots of classic content
Visit Internet Archive
8. Yidio
Yidio is actually an aggregator of free TV streaming sites that points you towards third-party websites where you can watch a particular show. And there is no point for guessing that many of those hosts charge a fee. However, there is a separate section of free TV shows to stream online.
It features episodes from popular shows like Rick and Morty, Grey’s Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, The Flash, Gotham, etc. However, I have placed Yidio lower in this list because there are a couple of downsides to it: The free listings aren’t always accurate, and some of it might contain only short chips instead of full episodes.
Why use Yidio?
- High-quality videos available
- Hosts several popular sitcoms
Visit Yidio
9. CW TV
CW Network lets you stream some of its content for free on its website. This platform has a good collection of superhero flicks like Arrow and The Flash. For those interested in supernatural drama can check out series like The Originals or Supernatural.
However, the content is limited on this free TV series streaming site, and many of them are removed after some time. But overall the video quality is outstanding, and the streaming is pretty fast compared to other websites.
Why use CW TV streaming site?
- To watch content from CW TV network
- No subscription required or signing up
Visit CW TV
10. CW Seed
CW TV has a subsite called CW Seed that you should definitely visit. Despite its name, which sounds a little illegal, I can assure that this website is a completely legal and you can stream free TV series hosted on the platform any time you want
The surprising part is that CW Seed does not have any content from CW on its website. Instead, it is home to many original Web series and DC animated series that are a must-watch.
Why use CW Seed?
- To watch DC’s animated series
- No signup or subscription required
Visit CW Seed
11. Pluto TV
Pluto TV actually works like a regular television where you can flip through TV channels to find what catches your fancy. This free TV show streaming website has several channels where you can watch daily soaps, sports, news and more. Use this directory to see all the listings in one place.
There are separate sections for comedy, entertainment, lifestyle, movie, music and even curiosity which has channels like Science TV and NASA TV. You can choose to watch the content through mobile, PV or a smart TV but the only downside is that you get to watch stuff that is available at the moment.
Why use Pluto TV?
- Most extensive collection of TV channels covering every topic
- Loads quickly and has a neat interface
Visit Pluto TV
12. Snagfilms
Snagfilms covers a lot of topics such as Drama, Kids, Family, World History, Wildlife, and Environment. However, if you are looking for a current TV series, you might get a little disappointed. But in case you are interested in watching some rare classic movies and award-winning documentaries on this website, you will love this website.
This free streaming site for 2020 also offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Roku and Smart TV. While watching, you might come across in-video ads but I suppose that’s okay as long as we get some awesome free videos to watch.
Why use Snagfilms for TV shows?
- A curated collection of classics and documentaries
- Offers great compilation of movies too
Visit Snagfilms
Apart from the 12 websites mentioned above, there are two other platforms where you can watch free TV shows online and are worth mentioning:
- YouTube: We all are familiar with this name, and most of us have turned to YouTube to watch episodes. You can watch full episodes of TV series here, however, all of them may not be legal. This is why I did not place it in the list above, but you can always check out this video-streaming site for both old and new content.
- Internet Archive: This is one website which finds a place in almost all of my lists because let’s admit it, Internet Archive is awesome, and it offers almost everything you need. There is a good collection of TV shows here, but they might be a little scattered so make use of the filters to sort through content hosted here.
Free TV Website FAQs
What is cord cutting?
Cord cutting is the act of cancelling your monthly cable subscription and opting to consume content via internet-based TV providers and paid streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.
How do you know which TV series sites are 100% legal?
Legal TV websites like Vudu, Popcornflix, Crackle, etc., deliver free content and balance the cost by showing you ads. There isn’t a single test for the legality, however, if the site is showing tons of popup ads and VPN recommendations to hide your IP, chances are that you’re watching content on an illegal website.
What is the best alternative to cable TV?
There are two kinds of alternatives to regular cable: free and paid. While paid services like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, etc., offer fresh content, websites like Vudu, Crunchyroll, Pluto TV, etc., showcase comparatively older content for free.
What can I watch for free on Netflix?
Netflix offers some episodes of its most popular shows for free at Netflix.com/free. The website doesn’t require you to sign up to check out shows like Stranger Things, Our Planet, Lost In Space, etc. This catalog keeps getting updated from time-to-time.
Can I watch free TV on Roku?
Roku users can visit The Roku Channel and enjoy all free content on Roku in one place. This ad-supported channel hosts content from Roku partners and Roku channels like Sony, WB, MGM, YuYu, FilmRise, Popcornflix, etc. You can access it here: therokuchannel.roku.com
Do I need to use a VPN to stream free TV online?
You can use a VPN to stream free content that’s not available in your region; services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost let you bypass these restrictions and enjoy more content.
Grab some popcorns!
These free TV series streaming websites for 2020 have not been ranked in any particular order as all of them have different content to offer. This is why I have tried to outline their USPs which will help you in making a selection according to your preference. Go through all of these legal websites to watch free TV shows online and let us know which one you liked the most. So what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorns and start binge-watching right now!
COMMENTS