How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Every service below is licensed and legal in the US. Unlicensed streaming mirrors are left out on purpose, since they put your device and data at risk.
- Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Roku Channel, and Xumo are free with ads and need no subscription, while Kanopy and Hoopla are free through a public library card.
- Peacock is the only paid pick here, and it earns the spot with current NBC shows, originals, and live sports that free services do not carry.
- Two names from older lists are gone: Crackle shut down and Amazon Freevee was retired, so neither appears below.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Tubi | Viewers who want the largest free catalog | $0 | Yes |
 Pluto TV | Viewers who miss channel surfing | $0 | Yes |
 Plex | Viewers who also keep a personal media library | $0 | Yes |
 Roku Channel | Free movies and live news on any device | $0 | Yes |
 Peacock | Current NBC shows, originals, and live sports | $8.99/month | No |
 Kanopy | Film lovers with a library card | $0 | Yes |
 Xumo Play | Free channels without an account | $0 | Yes |
 Hoopla | Library users who want movies plus more | $0 | Yes |
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The best hydrahd alternatives
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Tubi is the closest free replacement for a site like HydraHD, minus the legal risk. Its catalog covers thousands of movies and shows across every genre, from classic comedies to recent horror, plus live channels for news, sports, and reality. Watching starts without an account or a credit card, and the service runs on nearly every TV, phone, and streaming device.
The trade is ads and timing. Free viewing means commercial breaks, and brand-new theatrical releases do not appear here first. If you want the widest free choice and can live with ads, Tubi is the first service to open.
What we like- Large free library of movies and shows
- Live channels included
- No account needed to start watching
Watch out for- Ad-supported, so breaks interrupt films
- Newest releases arrive late or not at all
- Catalog varies by region
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Pluto TV recreates the cable experience without the bill. Its grid of live channels covers movies, news, sports, reality, and genre channels that run around the clock, alongside an on-demand library for watching on your own schedule. The service is owned by Paramount, which keeps its catalog licensed and stable.
One honest flag: the homepage fetch for pluto.tv was blocked by the browsing tool, so this listing rests on the service's established presence rather than a freshly opened page, and it was not retried. Pluto TV remains a major, operating free service. If you like flipping channels instead of choosing a title, it is the best free pick.
What we like- Hundreds of free live channels
- Large on-demand library
- No sign-up needed for most viewing
Watch out for- Homepage fetch was blocked by our verification tool, so this listing rests on the established service
- Live channels mean fixed schedules
- Ads throughout
#3
Plex
Best for: Viewers who also keep a personal media library
Visit plex.tv
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Plex does two jobs at once. Its free streaming side offers movies, binge-worthy shows, and live channels, while its media server organizes your own video, music, and photo collection for playback anywhere. That combination suits households that own DVDs or downloaded media and also want free streaming without another subscription.
The free catalog skews toward older titles, and the server features need a computer left running plus some setup. Viewers who only want free streaming can ignore the server half entirely. For households that want both, Plex is the most flexible legal option here.
What we like- Free movies, shows, and live channels
- Doubles as a media server for your own files
- Wide device support
Watch out for- Free catalog leans older
- Personal server setup takes effort
- Some features need the paid Plex Pass
Starting price$0
Free planYes
The Roku Channel started as a perk for Roku owners and now streams free to anyone on the web and on most devices. It mixes movies, TV shows, and live channels, including live news, with no subscription and no Roku hardware required. The interface is simple, which suits viewers who want to press play without learning a new app.
The catalog is not as deep as Tubi's, and its original programming is thin. Treat it as a second free service to check when the first choice comes up empty, especially for live news. It costs nothing to keep in the rotation.
What we like- Free movies, shows, and live TV
- No Roku device required
- Live news channels included
Watch out for- Catalog is smaller than Tubi
- Originals are limited
- Some content rotates out
Starting price$8.99/month
Free planNo
Peacock is the paid upgrade in this list, and it earns the spot with content the free services cannot match. Current NBC and Bravo episodes, Peacock Originals, hit movies, and live sports including Premier League soccer and WWE all sit behind the subscription. A Select tier starts at $8.99 per month for TV favorites, while Premium at $12.99 per month adds sports, movies, and originals, with a student rate of $6.99 per month.
The honest catch is that Peacock has no free tier, so it is a real monthly cost rather than a free swap. Annual billing gives 12 months for the price of 10 on paid plans. If free services cover your movie nights but you want current shows and live sports legally, Peacock is the cheapest major option.
What we like- Current NBC and Bravo shows
- Peacock Originals
- Live sports including Premier League and WWE
- Student discount at $6.99 per month
Watch out for- No free tier
- Premium runs $12.99 per month for the full sports and movie lineup
- Some content still carries ads
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Kanopy is the film buff's free service. Partnering public libraries give cardholders monthly credits to stream acclaimed films, documentaries, world cinema, and kids' content, all without ads. The catalog leans toward quality over quantity, with Criterion-style titles that rarely appear on ad-supported services.
Two limits apply. First, monthly credits cap how much you can watch, so heavy viewers will run out. Second, availability depends on your local library's participation. The homepage itself loads as a JavaScript app shell, so this listing rests on domain confirmation plus the service's established library model. If your library supports Kanopy, it is the best free source for serious film.
What we like- Critically acclaimed films and documentaries
- Free with most public library cards
- No ads
Watch out for- Monthly play credits cap viewing
- Library participation varies
- Homepage loads as an app shell with little extractable text
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Xumo Play is the simplest free service to start: open it and watch, with no account, no login, and no subscription. It carries 350+ live channels and 15,000 on-demand titles, covering news, sports, movies, and lifestyle, and it runs on TVs, phones, and streaming devices. Xumo also sells TVs and stream boxes, but the Play service itself is free everywhere.
The channel mix leans toward niche and rerun programming rather than prestige originals, and ads run throughout. For background viewing, news, and casual movie nights, Xumo Play is a zero-friction legal alternative that asks nothing of the viewer.
What we like- 350+ free channels and 15,000 on-demand titles
- No subscription or login needed
- Works on any device
Watch out for- Channel lineup leans toward niche and rerun content
- Ad-supported
- Some features tie to Xumo TVs and boxes
Starting price$0
Free planYes
Hoopla extends the library model beyond film. A public library card gives access to movies and TV alongside ebooks, audiobooks, comics, and music, all in one app and all without ads. For households that already use their library, it adds a full media shelf at no extra cost.
Borrow limits cap monthly use, and not every library offers Hoopla, so check with your local branch first. The homepage renders as a branding shell, so this listing rests on domain confirmation plus the service's established model. As a bonus service on top of Kanopy, Hoopla is hard to beat for value.
What we like- Free with a library card
- Movies and TV plus ebooks, audiobooks, and music
- No ads
Watch out for- Monthly borrow limits apply
- Library participation varies
- Homepage shows branding only, with little extractable text
How we chose
We compared each service on legality, price, catalog depth, live channels, device support, and library access. Every homepage above was opened to confirm it loads and belongs to the product, except Pluto TV, whose fetch was blocked by the browsing tool; that listing rests on the service's established presence and is flagged. Kanopy and Hoopla homepages load as app shells with little extractable text, and those listings rest on domain confirmation. Crackle and Freevee were excluded because both services have shut down. Unlicensed streaming mirrors were excluded entirely.
What to check before you switch
Start with legality, since that is the whole point of this list. Licensed services carry ads or a subscription, but they do not expose your device to the malware and phishing that unlicensed mirrors are known for. Check whether your library offers Kanopy or Hoopla before paying for anything, since both are free with a card.
Next, match the service to your viewing habit. Channel surfers should start with Pluto TV or Xumo Play, movie browsers with Tubi or Plex, and sports fans with Peacock. Check device support too, since older TVs may lack some apps. Finally, remember that free catalogs rotate monthly, so a film available today may leave next month. Keeping two or three free services in rotation covers most gaps.
Ads are the other thing to weigh honestly. Free services pay for their catalogs with commercial breaks, usually a few minutes per hour, which suits casual viewing but can break the mood for a film night. If ad breaks bother you, Peacock's Premium Plus tier removes most of them, and the library services carry no ads at all. Setup is simple across the board: the ad-supported services need no account for basic viewing, while Kanopy and Hoopla need a library card number once, and then work on phones, tablets, TVs, and browsers alike.
Frequently asked questions
Is HydraHD still working?
HydraHD was an unlicensed streaming site, and unlicensed sites appear, disappear, and change domains often, with real security risks for visitors. The services above are licensed alternatives that stay available and do not put your device at risk.
Are these alternatives really free?
Mostly yes. Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Roku Channel, and Xumo Play are free with ads, while Kanopy and Hoopla are free through a library card with monthly limits. Only Peacock in this list requires a paid subscription.
Do I need a library card for Kanopy and Hoopla?
Yes, both work through participating public libraries. If your library does not offer one or both, the ad-supported services above need no card at all.
Why is Peacock included if it is paid?
Because it covers content the free services do not: current NBC and Bravo shows, originals, and live sports. It is the lowest-cost legal step up when free catalogs are not enough.
Can I watch these outside the US?
Availability varies by country, and some services are US-only or carry different catalogs abroad. Check each service in your region before relying on it while traveling.
Are unlicensed streaming sites safe to use?
No. They commonly carry aggressive ads, phishing pages, and malware, and they operate without licenses for the content they show. Licensed services remove both the legal and the security risk.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://tubitv.com
- https://pluto.tv
- https://www.plex.tv
- https://therokuchannel.roku.com
- https://www.peacocktv.com
- https://kanopy.com
- https://www.xumo.com
- https://www.hoopladigital.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.