Best app to watch local channels for free

Nowadays there are a ton of streaming services to use; from Netflix to Hulu, consumers can subscribe to a lot of different apps and platforms to watch series and movies on demand. But what if you wanted to watch classic TV or live local television? What about prime-time TV? Can you do that with just the internet? Yep. 

There are several platforms that allow you to pay for live TV and they range from pretty affordable to more pricey. One app is absolutely free, if you’re in its range. There is even a free classic TV streaming channel of sorts. The internet is grand, sometimes, and definitely offers some perfectly legal ways to enjoy television without cable and without gearing up for a binge marathon. 

Locast 

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Probably the best and most obscure service on this list is Locast. It’s a completely free platform that offers live TV in 31 TV markets, according to GroundedReason.com. It’s all local channels, so it’ll have ABC, NBC, and The (elusive) CW. 

Of those 31 places, Locast is available in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Puerto Rico, New York, and Boston. It has Chromecast capabilities on the app plus it’s available on Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, and more. This is the best, free option if you have internet and want live, local TV ASAP. 

ShoutFactory

As promised before, if you want a classic TV streaming channel, ShoutFactory is the place for you. There are a lot of networks that offer live streaming online, but ShoutFactory not only has classic movies but classic shows like The Beverly Hillbillies and The Johny Carson Show on-demand. Plus there is live TV you can watch on there as well. 

FuboTV, Sling, Philo

https://twitter.com/Sling/status/1377440613373775873

Getting into some of the paid options, if you don’t want cable and just have internet, one option is to subscribe to a live service. 

FuboTV starts at $64.99 a month and includes all local channels and then some. From ABC, Fox, CBS, Bravo, and more, that hefty price gets you a lot with 117 channels, plus you can add onto it.  

Sling is a way more accessible option at $25 per month. There are two different sets of channel options for that price with the different amounts of devices allowed and neither involves contracts. However, there are very few local channels.

Philo is the cheapest option here at $20 per month. It includes 64 channels, up to three devices allowed on the account, DVR capabilities, and add ons like Starz for $9. Unfortunately, like Sling, it doesn’t look like Philo boasts as many local channels but more specialty ones like BBC America, Cheddar, Animal Planet, Paramount, and more.  

YouTubeTV

Going into the more “elite” or upper-tier streaming services for live TV is YouTubeTV. It costs the same as FuboTV but it includes The CW which, for whatever reason, is hard to come by on some live streaming services that aren’t straight-up cable. It does have fewer channels than FuboTV however, depending on what you’re looking for, YouTubeTV might have more channels that you want. 

Hulu Live

Hulu is obviously known for its streaming capabilities up there with Netflix. But it also has a live TV option that you can subscribe to as well. It’s about the same as YouTubeTV in that it’s $64.99 a month. While it only comes with 65+ channels to YouTubeTV’s 85+ advertised channels, Hulu’s regular streaming platform is included.

So if you’re already a huge fan of Hulu’s selection of original content or just its general offering of binge-able shows and movies, this might be the best option for you. And, as with many, you can do add-on things including paying more to have unlimited devices on your account. 

Get the local channels you love, like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and more without a monthly bill. Watching local channels at home and on the go has never been easier—it's time to shred those cable bills and contracts!

If you’ve ever been under a cable contract, you’re probably familiar with frustrations like early termination fees, contract renegotiations, limited programming and consistently rising prices.

TV streaming apps are a viable alternative to cable, and the number of apps available seems to increase by the day. The apps make it easy to watch your favorite TV shows and discover new content without paying outrageous prices — or, with free TV apps, any fees at all.

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Top 11 Free TV Apps for 2022

Read on to discover some of the top completely free TV apps for 2022. Some of these services even offer free live viewing channels. Whether your preference is reality TV, world news, movies or sports, at least one of these free TV apps is bound to satisfy your taste for TV.

1. Tubi

Tubi is one of the leading on-demand video streaming service apps and offers thousands of free TV shows and movies. There is no subscription required, but Tubi programming does have commercial breaks.

Make Your Money Work for You

The app is available to download on most any device. Once registered and signed in, you can begin enjoying Tubi’s library of over 45,000 television shows and movies, including Tubi Originals, immediately. You can browse across dozens of genres and also filter content by popular categories such as Featured, Leaving Soon, New Releases and Trending Now.

For TV buffs, Tubi offers programming from 16 networks such as A&E, Fox and Lifetime, plus live news, sports and entertainment TV and special events such as FIFA World Cup 2022.

2. DistroTV

DistroTV has over 150 live and on-demand channels featuring free movies and TV shows from all over the world. You can watch everything from sports to news, comedy shows and lots of indie programming — or listen to radio and music channels. 

A standout feature of DistroTV is its broad selection of shows that feature global interests, categories and topics in multiple languages.

3. Pluto TV

Launched in 2013 and acquired by Viacom in 2019, Pluto TV lets cord-cutters and anyone else access hundreds of TV and movie channels, including programming from cable channels and broadcast TV networks. You may not see every show that you are used to watching on cable, but Pluto TV can be a reasonable substitute for your usual cable television content provider.

Make Your Money Work for You

You do not need to set up an account or subscription to use the service. You can simply visit the website or download the app to your device and begin watching immediately.

4. Xumo

Xumo offers nearly 200 channels you can watch via app on nearly any device or from any browser. The interface is well designed, making it easy to filter live program listings by category without leaving the guide grid. However, you can also browse on-demand programing from a list of movies, TV shows or networks.

The service is complete free, with no sign-up or subscription required, which means you can stream movies and TV shows on as many devices as you wish. In addition to live streams, which consist mostly of news, sports and shopping, some channels broadcast live special events.

5. Freevee

Formerly known as IMDb TV, Freevee is a free streaming service from Amazon. It offers thousands of ad-supported movies, TV shows and Freevee Originals, plus live entertainment. Most devices, including smart TVs, Apple TV, Google TV, PS4, PS5, Roku, Xbox and Xfinity, support the app, and you can also watch on any web browser from the Amazon Prime Video site. Amazon Prime members have the Freevee channel on their Prime App.

Make Your Money Work for You

Live and on-demand programming share the same home screen, but thumbnails for live shows have a “play” icon and “on now” banner. Hovering over the thumbnail displays a description, the time remaining and the name of the show or movie that follows. You can also display programs by channel.

6. YouTube

YouTube was the most-watched streaming service in October, according to Nielson, and it’s easy to see why. Most people likely it know it as a massive depository of user-generated content — with “users” running the gamut from folks posting home videos, to experts on every topic, to major media outlets — and clips from TV shows.

But select the Movies & TV category and and click “Free With Ads” and you’ll find a lengthy list of complete episodes of TV shows and feature films, both ad-supported. YouTube also has some live programming, although it’s confined mostly to news.

You can always upgrade your YouTube subscription to turn off ads or include premium programming, but the free version has more content than you could watch in a lifetime.

7. The Roku Channel

You don’t need a Roku device to stream over 300 live TV channels or thousands of TV shows and movies. You don’t need a paid subscription, either. Just register an account on the The Roku Channel website and start streaming from your browser or from a Roku or Amazon Fire TV device, a Samsung smart TV or from the free mobile app for Android and iOS. 

Free programming is ad supported, but Roku says its channel has fewer ads than traditional broadcast TV.

8. Peacock

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service, and although it’s primarily a premium service, it does have some free content. In addition to a small selection of movies and a number of older and more recent TV shows, the free version carries free first episodes of first-run TV shows like Yellowstone, Law & Order and Chicago P.D.

You’ll have to upgrade to a paid account, which starts at $4.99 per month, to watch subsequent episodes and the vast majority of Peacock’s other content, unless you’re eligible to receive Peacock Premium for free. Xfinity Flex and Xfinity X1 and video customers who also subscribe to internet or select other services get free Peacock Premium as part of their package. 

9. FreeCableTV

FreeCableTV isn’t a streaming service in its own right. It’s a search engine that helps you find videos from a wide variety of websites and lets you watch them for free in the FreeCableTV app. According to the website, the app provides access to over 300 channels with over 2,000 movies and 500 TV shows, plus live news. No cable login is required.

Fox, Discovery, TLC, NBC and Syfy are just a few of the channels represented. The app is available for iOS and Android devices only.

10. Redbox

You’re probably familiar with the ubiquitous Redbox kiosks, where you can rent DVD movies and games for a few dollars a day. You can still borrow disks or even stream your rentals, but Redbox also has live and on-demand TV shows and movies you can watch for free. Categories include sports and holiday movies, plus crime, news, action/sci-fi/westerns, food and lifestyle, comedy, kids and classics. A number of local news stations are also available.

Several brands of smart TV and streaming boxes support the app, as do smartphones, tablets and computers, including Chromebooks.

11. CW

The CW app lets viewers keep up with their favorite shows for free, with no cable subscription required. In fact, the app and companion website, CWTV.com, are the only ways to view new episodes for free during the TV season. Some series are available in their entirety, and some have just the five most-recent episodes. You’ll also find a small selection of movies and miniseries, plus a primetime schedule to help you plan your appointment-TV viewing.

The app is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Apple TV, Xbox One and Android TV, and Vizio and LG smart TVs have it, as well. It’s also compatible with iOS, Android, Amazon Fire and Windows mobile devices. Or use any browser to watch on CWTV.com.

How To Access Free TV Apps

Free TV apps can be streamed from almost anywhere, as long as you have a computer or laptop and an internet connection. You can watch free TV shows on the internet from the app’s website or by downloading the apps to a supported device. Some of the most popular streaming devices include:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• Sony PlayStation
• Roku
• Xbox

Good To Know

Some television networks allow viewers to stream specific shows, sometimes full-length episodes in a series, on their websites. Popular networks that offer free show streaming include the Food Network, HGTV, Fox and the History Channel. Be aware that there’s usually a catch to having access to this free programming — namely, you’ll have to sign in with your TV provider. So even though you can watch for free, you still have to be a paying cable TV subscriber.

What Is the Best App To Watch Live TV Free?

Whereas YouTube has the most variety by far, including some traditional TV shows and movies, it’s best for viewers who appreciate a blurred line between TV and social media. Viewers looking for a more traditional TV experience will find Roku to be a better match, and perhaps even a cable replacement because of its many live TV channels and enormous library of high-quality on-demand content.

While no app lets you watch every TV channel for free, the apps included in this roundup provide an excellent selection of programming, including live TV and new TV shows, originals and movies on demand. And with these apps being free, there’s no need to restrict yourself to just one — try several, or even all of them, and keep the ones you like best.

Kathy Evans contributed to the reporting for this article.

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Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy.

• Nielsen. 2022. "Broadcast dramas drive October viewing bump while streaming and sports stay strong."

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About the Author

Daria Uhlig

Daria Uhlig is a personal finance, real estate and travel writer and editor with over 25 years of editorial experience. Her work has been featured on The Motley Fool, MSN, AOL, Yahoo! Finance, CNBC and USA Today. Daria studied journalism at the County College of Morris and earned a degree in communications at Centenary University, both in New Jersey.

How can I watch local channels for free?

Which app can watch local channels for free?

What is the best app to watch local channels?