Top 30 Best Free Streaming Services In Canada (Legal Websites)

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Top 30+ Best Free Streaming Sites and Services In Canada Today. Photo KnowInsiders

While streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have entirely taken over the world of TV viewing, it’s impressive that there are still free live tv streaming services available.

There are various reasons why many people prefer to stream television online. They can save money on cable costs, have a massive selection of free channels to choose from, and enjoy TV shows without any ads. Check out the list of 30+ best free streaming sites and services in Canada today.

What is Free Streaming TV?

Free online streaming TV lets you watch your favorite movies and shows for free or almost free.

Free TV streaming is “television programming that is free”. It can be free-to-air, free-to-view, or free online streaming.

Free-to-air and free-to-view require a decoder and set-top box, but all other modes of free TV do not.

You only need to invest this far. You can now watch all “free to air” digital TV and radio channels and free TV stations.

You must buy cable or satellite for TV and sometimes specific channels. Given that the average Canadian spends $52 on cable, free streaming services are appealing.

How To Watch Free TV Shows In Canada?

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Some people might need a whole week in the Bahamas to really relax and recharge.

For some, it might be as easy as turning off all of their electronics and relaxing in the living room while they watch their favorite TV shows all at once.

It can cost a lot to keep your Direct TV, DISH, Comcast, ViaSat, or any other cable or satellite TV service. It adds up really fast. That's when it's useful to watch free TV shows online.

Watch TV shows for free One thing that makes online streaming platforms different is that they don't need any special physical infrastructure. All you have to do to watch your favorite shows is go to the service through a browser or a special app.

READ MORE: How to Watch CNN Plus - New Streaming Service?

Use OTA (Over The Air HD Antenna) To Stream Free TV Channels In Canada You might not be interested in any of the streaming services we've talked about so far, or you might still be looking for more choices. An over-the-air HD antenna is all you need to watch a lot of free local channels. Even though it's cheap to buy this cheap plastic antenna, keep in mind that it blocks free terrestrial channels. You may sometimes be able to pick up signals from channels in other places. Where you live has a big impact on how many channels you can receive. In general, people who live in cities get better reception and more channels than people who live in rural areas. Some things still depend on the antenna you choose—directional or omnidirectional—as well as whether you put it inside or outside. No matter what, most over-the-air HD antennas can receive signals well (about 50 to 80 miles) and cost as little as $50.

How To Set Up Free TV Shows Online?

The way to set up each free TV service may be different.

Some free TV platforms need an HDMI cable, a good remote, and a streaming device that can handle HDMI, like the Fire TV Stick, the Android TV Box, or the Home Theatre PC.

Some free TV services don't need to be set up at all; you just plug them in and start watching.

No matter what, the money you save by not using a cable or satellite TV provider will be much greater than the cost of setting up your TV for free.

What are benefits of free streaming TV in Canada?

• It is entirely free for its viewers

• It is perfectly legal

• You can easily pause, forward or rewind in between shows

• Some streaming services allow you to download their content

• You can view some of your favourite shows in HD or 4K quality

How about downsides of free streaming in Canada?

Your selection of films and shows can be limited depending on the service

Sometimes you can only stream low-quality videos

Live games, especially sports, are rarely available

The best shows and films usually require you to pay

How do I get free TV in Canada? Streaming free TV shows online gives you access to free TV in Canada using the platforms we have listed above. Can I get free cable in Canada? No. To get cable in Canada, you have to pay an installation fee and a monthly service subscription. Where can I watch live TV shows online for free? There are plenty of websites that will let you watch free online TV, like Pluto TV and Roku Channel.

Top 30+ Best Free Streaming Sites and Services In Canada Today

Photo Movie Binge

1. Youtube

Youtube is one of the best options for free content that you can find. Not only can you watch thousands of content creators, but you can also get access to a lot of movies and TV shows. It has a free version that you can access but it will have ads as most free services do, so you will have to deal with that.

The major network TV show catalog on Youtube is less impressive than you might want, but there are still some impressive names like Westworld, Euphoria, The Rookie, and more.

2. Roku

Roku is another interesting option but the one big caveat is that it isn’t readily available like Youtube. Instead, if you want access to Roku, you need to have a Roku device or Roku TV. Roku itself is free to access if you have either of those things.

As for the content library, Roku isn’t the most up-to-date platform, so it is best for a casual movie night or background noise. It is also ad-supported, so ad breaks will be there but they will be brief.

Can I Watch Sports On Roku? The simple answer is yes. Roku has access to over 170+ sports channels including NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and beIN SPORTS plus health, fitness and yoga channels. Some are free and others require a subscription.

3. Tubi

Photo VidPaw

Tubi is very similar to The Roku Channel, as far as TV and film offerings go. Like Roku, all of Tubi’s content is ad-supported, so you’ll have plenty of commercial breaks in between.

The upside of Tubi is that it’s 100% free and you don’t need to buy any special devices. You can watch Tubi on your smartphone, Amazon Firestick, Xbox, Playstation, PC, Roku app, or Apple TV app.

The content is mostly older TV shows, movies, and documentaries. However, there are some real gems hidden in Tubi’s vast library.

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4. Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a great option if you want a huge content library. It has one of the biggest content libraries for a free streaming service. It is also 100% free and you don’t even need to register to watch. Simply open the site and start watching.

Of course, there are a few cons, such as a slow and laggy website that is due to the ad-supported nature of the platform.

Is Pluto TV Really Free? Of course yes. Whether you choose to download the App or visit their site, you’ll not find any adverts or subscription package information. You can be assured that you won’t have to key in any card details or bank details here. Also everywhere on their website, it’s mentioned “FREE TV”. You can see the FREE message even while watching Live Television on their website. Pluto TV is positioned differently. It feels less like a content streaming platform and more like a content curation (recommendation) service.

What Channels Are Available On Pluto TV? Pluto's free TV streaming platform gives you instant access to over 100 live TV channels. A good selection of online TV shows and movies are also available. Pluto TV can be downloaded from the Playstore or App Store to instantly stream 100+ live channels on smartphones. Pluto TV's website has two options at the top center: Live TV and On Demand. Pluto Live TV offers Entertainment, Sports, News, Binge Watch, and Explore. Again, each category has live channels. Select the category and channel you prefer. Watch and stream Pluto TV on the web, mobile app, desktop app, or TV by downloading the app.

5. CTV

This list wouldn’t be complete without CTV. It is one of the biggest broadcast companies in Canada and it is undoubtedly one of the oldest. You do have to sign up to get access but you can easily and freely catch up with your favorite movies and TV shows. It also has American shows in its selection.

CTV is ad-supported but the website is quick and doesn’t lag, which is a plus.

6. Food Network

Sometimes you just want to look at the food being made and drool over it. Or maybe you are interested in cooking and want to learn new recipes or even draw inspiration. Luckily, the well-known Food Network is free to watch. Though, if you want access to full-length episodes, you will have to get a subscription.

7. Vice TV

Vice TV has gained a lot of popularity recently for its authentic portrayal of global communities, cultures, and its unbiased coverage of world events compared to corporate TV networks.

Vice TV is free to an extent, it offers access to full episodes, interviews, and clips but it doesn’t offer this access to ALL its episodes, interviews, and clips, so you will have to consider getting a subscription for that.

8. Kanopy

Photo Kent District Library

Kanopy doesn’t have TV shows, let us inform you right off the bat. It also has mostly movies and documentaries. It is somewhat of an educational platform, as it is supported by local libraries and colleges.

So, as long as you have a library card or a university login, you can access Kanopy. The plus side is that Kanopy being supported by local libraries and colleges means that it is ad-free and easy to navigate.

9. Crunchyroll

Of course, we couldn’t let the anime lovers feel left out. Crunchyroll has a huge library of anime TV shows and movies that you can peruse. They even have mangas and graphic novels available for access.

Of course, while most of their content is free, it is interrupted by rather intrusive ads. So, if you want to get rid of the ads, there is a paid tier you can upgrade to.

10. CBC Gem

CBC is one of Canada’s oldest broadcasting companies. Their cable TV channel is free to most cable subscribers. For those who’ve chosen to disconnect from cable, though, CBC’s online Gem platform is a great alternative.

You can stream all of your CBC favourites on CBC Gem, including CBC originals, documentaries, and kids TV shows. Like cable television, CBC Gem is an ad-supported streaming service. You can eliminate the ads by upgrading to their paid tier, though.

How To Tell If A Free Streaming Platform Is Legit? A legitimate, free TV streaming service will only show copyright-free content. Avoid these red flags: Legal streaming platforms will always publish their physical addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Not doing so is a red flag. Another red flag is when the platform strongly recommends proxies or VPNs for viewing content. A legitimate free TV streaming service won't hide its tracks. A free TV streaming platform with the latest movies, including those released in theaters or on Blu-Ray and DVD. Most Canadian TV streaming services rely on ads to stay free. If the platform is free and ad-free, consider other options.

11. Slice

If you’re looking for makeup tutorials, travel hacks, skincare routines, and fashion ideas, then Slice is a great place to go for inspiration. You won’t find major TV shows or movies here, but the content they offer is all very well done.

Slice’s goal is to, “Amplify emerging Canadian voices.” More than anything it’s an influencer platform that features videos and short films made by up-and-coming Canadian influencers.

12. HGTV

If you’re into real estate, house shopping, home improvement, or gardening, then HGTV’s free streaming service is a great option. Whenever I’m looking to get inspired and change some things up around my house, I can always count on HGTV to give me a creative spark.

You’ll be able to watch the same HGTV shows that you can find on cable. Most episodes will be posted online within 24 hours of the original cable TV air date.

13. CTV

CTV is one of Canada’s oldest and largest television networks and has been around since 1961. It’s one of CBC’s main competitors, and offers a wide range of Canadian and American TV shows, as well as a decent selection of movies.

CTV is a great way to catch up on your favourite shows (posted after the air-date) and also allows you to watch live TV, so you can watch with your friends and family.

There are ads, but the website itself is very quick and doesn’t lag, which we really appreciate.

14. Toronto City News

Photo city news

Toronto City News has a free 24/7 live stream available to watch for free on their website. You can also watch clips of news that was streamed throughout the past few days.

Pros: • No subscription needed • Free 24/7 live stream

15. Omni TV

Owned by Rogers, Omni TV is a multilingual and multicultural TV broadcaster in Canada. They have content in Arabic, Cantonese, Filipino, Italian, and more.

You can view live streams for free on Omni’s website by signing into your account with your TV service provider, as well as view the upcoming TV schedule online.

Pros: • The most multilingual and multicultural TV channel in Canada • Watch live streams for free

16. BNN Bloomberg

BNN Bloomberg is Canada’s financial and business news network.

You can watch BNN Bloomberg Live by signing into your account with your TV provider. You can also watch 5 to 10 minute clips of BNN’s shows for free without logging on.

BNN Bloomberg is available online or as a mobile app for iOS and Android.

Pros: • Watch important clips for free without logging on • Available for free with your TV provider

17. Amazon Prime Video

You can watch hit TV shows like Mr. Robot and The Godfather on Amazon Prime Video, which is one of the best streaming TV services in Canada.

Amazon Prime Video isn't completely free, but you can try it for free for 30 days. After that, you'll have to pay $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

You don't need a cable to use the service; you can use your computer, phone, or tablet. You can watch popular movies, TV shows, sports, and Amazon Originals.

18. Yahoo View

If you love Hulu’s services, you’ll definitely love Yahoo View.

Unfortunately, Yahoo View is no longer available, nothing to worry, they are coming up with something new. I’ll keep this article updated once that happens.

Of course, they’re more or less a brainchild of the free tv streaming service; but no one will raise an eye concerning that when you receive enough free content to not be bothered.

Yahoo View is a collaboration between Yahoo and Hulu to be able to compete within the free tv niche.

The involvement of Hulu makes it unsurprising then that this platform is focused heavily on television programming in lieu of movies.

19. TSC

TSC is Canada’s well-known shopping channel with various products that you can buy online or over the phone.

They have a free live stream you can watch on their website without signing up or paying for a subscription.

You can view on-air items and the program guide on their website with just one click.

Pros: • Completely free live stream, no subscription needed • Buy products advertised on their website • Cons • As with any shopping channels, you may be convinced to buy things you don’t need

20. Crave TV

Many people call Crave (formerly Crave TV) the Canadian equivalent of Netflix – and with good reason too.

Crave isn’t a free service but speaking relatively, it might as well be.

In order to access Crave TV’s platform’s services, you will need to part with at least $9.99 up to $19.98 per month which is cheaper than most streaming platforms.

On the surface, it feels costlier than Netflix – Netflix’s subscription options max out at $11.99 – so why do we term it cheaper?

While Netflix offers a lot of content, probably the most robust streaming library on the planet.

21. Vice TV

On vicetv.com, you can watch a few free episodes of VICE’s most popular shows. As of this writing, they only have 2 full shows on their website.

VICE is streaming on MTV, MTV2, and Gusto during certain times and days of the week, which is listed on their website. There is no option to pay for a subscription.

22. TVO Kids

Traditional streaming apps can be a bit risky, as far as kids are concerned. One second they’re watching cartoons and the next second they’ve somehow managed to start playing an R-rated movie.

TVO Kids is a 100% kid-friendly, safe streaming site for children’s shows and educational content. The site is easy-to-navigate, lets kids watch live TV, and even offers some educational games as well.

23. Vision TV

Vision TV is a channel offered by most Canadian cable and satellite TV providers. If you’re already subscribed to Vision TV, then you can stream all past episodes, series, and movies on their website.

If you’re not a Vision TV subscriber, then you’ll still be able to enjoy a fair amount of free content as well. They offer individual episodes of some of their most popular reality TV series, dramas, and documentaries.

Most of their free content is a bit outdated, but it’s still good entertainment and can be watched without signing up for a membership.

24. CPAC

CPAC is your one-stop shop for keeping up with domestic politics. You’ll be able to watch keynote speeches, live coverage of senate and house meetings, and stay up to date with legislative news.

The nice thing about CPAC is that it’s all unbiased political news. You’ll be able to stream live speeches and hear first-hand political updates without the personal commentary you’ll get from mainstream news.

The only downside is that it’s all just news. CPAC doesn’t offer any entertainment-related content. It’s great for keeping up with what’s going on in our country, though!

25. TSC

The Shopping Channel is great for people who love to shop. You can almost feel like you're in a real mall. TSC streams live content 24 hours a day, seven days a week, showing off the newest products in stores.

They show off jewelry, shoes, clothes, jewelry, home goods, electronics, and beauty products. You can watch the hosts show you how to use the products live, which you can't do when you shop on Amazon.com.

Plus, TSC has a lot of deals and price cuts that happen right then and there, so you can save some money on products that are being shown.

The problem with TSC is that all of its content is about shopping. It is a good place to check though if you want to treat yourself or need to buy thoughtful gifts.

26. Crunchyroll

If you love anime and manga, then Crunchyroll will be right up your alley. The platform currently offers one of the largest selection of anime series in the world, along with award-winning films.

As a Crunchyroll member, you’ll also be able to access their vast library of manga graphic novels. This is a neat option for those who like to read the manga behind their favorite anime series.

Most of their content can be viewed with a free membership. You’ll just have to put up with ads and commercials. They also offer three different membership tiers, for those who want ad-free content. As a paid member, you’ll also get access to special deals and exclusive content.

27. Streema

Streema has links to live streams from CTV, CBC, CHCH, CP24, CPAC, and other major Canadian news networks. It's nice that they have news in both French and English.

Streema is only for streaming live local news; it doesn't have any TV shows or movies. You can also stream local radio stations if you want to listen to radio shows or find music.

One cool thing about Streema is that it lets you watch news networks from around the world. In every big city in the world, you can listen to the news on the radio, stream French news, or watch daily news shows.

28. Freevee

Freevee (formerly IMDb TV) is an ad-supported streaming hub integrated into Amazon Prime Video. Its content is nowhere near paid Prime Video quality, but there are lots of movie gems available.

29. Crackle

Crackle was founded in 2004 as Grouper, but rebranded as Crackle in 2007. It is owned by Chicken Soup for Soul Entertainment. The company is headquartered in New York City.

Crackle is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers movies, TV shows, and original programming. The service is available in 21 countries.

Crackle was one of the first streaming services to offer free movies and TV shows. The service has a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and original programming.

What We Like: A lot of British shows that you won’t find on US TV Classic TV series. What We Don’t Like: You may not be familiar with a lot of the content.

30. MUCH

MUCH Music is a channel that many kids in North America grew up with. They played all the latest music videos from popular artists at the time. Now, they’ve taken their channel online where you can watch free videos from popular shows like Wild ‘n Out, The Simpsons, Drunk History, and more! So, be sure to check it out the next time you’re bored!

What We Like: The variety of videos that are offered The fact that it’s free How easy it is to access the videos What We Don’t Like: The quality of some of the videos Some of the videos are only available in certain countries

Free Streaming TV Summary Best for watching non-fiction and reality shows: Slice, HGTV, VICE Best for watching popular and quality shows: Roku, Pluto TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV+, DisneyPlus Best for watching sports: Sportsnet Now, DAZN, FuboTV Best for watching news: Toronto City News, BNN Bloomberg, CTV

Betst Paid Streaming Services In Canada

Photo NBC

Netflix

Disney Plus

CBS All Access

Sundance Now

Shudder

AppleTV+

AMC+

Gaia Conscious TV

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