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Watch Movies & TV Online
Free legal streaming incl Amazon, Disney+, Netflix & Now TV
Updated 6 January 2021
Online streaming sites have become a mainstay of modern life, giving access to 1,000s of movies, TV shows and box sets. We take you through the big providers and how to stream as cheaply as you can – ideal as most of us are spending a lot more time at home right now. What's more, many of the big sites, including Amazon Prime Video, offer free trials, so you can enjoy the likes of The Grand Tour and The Man in High Castle for up to 30 days for nowt.
What is online streaming?
Streaming lets you watch films and TV online instantly. You don't download the content, but play it live on your device – such as a smart TV, laptop or iPad – via your internet connection. This gives you immediate access to a huge catalogue of films and TV series. It's not for everyone though, so make sure you'll actually watch the content before signing up – many offer free trials so you can try before you buy.
Quick questions
Basic free movie and TV streaming services
If you're looking for a long-term free option and aren't bothered about the latest releases, then there are some legit free online streaming sites (often screening older movies and shows). You can also watch plenty of free box sets on Channel 4's catch up service All 4, and (if you have a TV licence) BBC iPlayer.
Free box sets with ad breaks
Channel 4's catch-up service has an impressive number of box sets available for free, and you DON'T need a TV licence to watch these online. They range from sitcoms such as Green Wing and The IT Crowd, to popular TV shows such as Derry Girls and Catastrophe.
You'll need to register (for free) to watch the TV shows and you'll watch adverts before and during each one. If you don't want ads, you can pay £3.99/mth for it's All 4+ service which you can cancel anytime.
- What to watch: First Dates, Derry Girls, Peep Show, Father Ted, Green Wing
'Free' movies & box sets without ads
The BBC's ad-free catch-up service includes films and TV shows which have been shown recently on its channels. Recently broadcast shows are only available online for a limited time (usually around 30 days).
The BBC has recently added loads of new content to stream on iPlayer, aimed at helping those stuck indoors. These include classic box sets, such as all 10 series of popular spy drama Spooks, plus Wallander, French & Saunders, Waking the Dead and The Missing.
This is all on top of its existing collection of box sets, including Fleabag, Luther and Sherlock.
It's worth noting you DO need a TV licence to use iPlayer. You'll also need to register (for free).
- What to watch: BBC Three (iPlayer only), Fleabag (series 1-2), Blue Planet II, Sherlock (series 1-4)
Below is a bit more information about each of the services, including what you can watch on each, how much it'll cost you, plus any current deals for signing up.
Top subscription streaming services
The streaming service that's right for you will depend on a number of things, such as how you're planning to watch, whether you want the latest releases or a library of older films, and of course how much you want to pay. Here's a quick comparison table to help you decide:
Top streaming services compared
| Service | Price | Free Trial/intro offer? | What it includes |
| All 4+ | £3.99/mth (no ads) | 14-day free trial to watch without ads | 100s of box sets |
| Amazon Prime Video* | From £5.99/mth | 30-day free trial | Popular films and TV, including Amazon Originals exclusives |
| BBC iPlayer | Free – but you need a TV licence | N/A | TV series and films shown on the BBC, plus some online-only content |
| BritBox | £5.99/mth | Seven-day free trial | Dramas, comedies, films and documentaries from the BBC and ITV |
| Disney+* | £7.99/mth or £79.90/yr | No free trial | More than 1,000 Disney films and TV series |
| ITV Hub+ | £3.99/mth (no ads) | Seven-day free trial | TV series and films shown on ITV, plus preview clips of some popular series |
| Mubi | £9.99/mth or £95.88/yr | Seven-day free trial |
30 hand-picked films a month |
| My5 | Free | N/A | Shows and films from Channel 5, 5 Select, 5 Star, 5 USA and more |
| Netflix | from £5.99/mth | 30-day upgrade to the package above | Thousands of shows & movies, including Netflix Originals |
| NOW Entertainment | £9.99/mth | Seven-day free trial | More than 300 box sets plus channels that aren't on Freeview |
| NOW Sky Cinema | £14.99/mth | Seven-day free trial | More than 1,000 films, with a new one every day |
Thousands of movies & TV series, from £5.99/mth
Netflix first hit the UK in 2012, and it's quickly become the UK's most popular subscription streaming service, allowing you to watch 1,000s of films and TV programmes via the internet, on your TV or another screen. It boasts loads of well-known series, exclusive Netflix Originals such as Stranger Things and The Crown, and a wide range of films including newer releases like The Irishman and Creed II.
We've a host of MoneySaving hacks to cut costs – including how to save up to £42/year and a trick to watch for just £3/month. See our Netflix hacks guide for more.
100s of Disney films & TV shows – £5.99/mth (or £59.99/yr)
Not just for kids, Disney's new streaming offering Disney+* launched back in March and provides access to more than 500 films and 350 TV series, including Disney classics such as The Lion King, Snow White and Frozen, and every Pixar film, including Toy Story 4 and Finding Nemo. It also has the entire back catalogue of Star Wars and The Simpsons.
From launch, superhero fans will have access to more than 30 Marvel films, including Avengers: Endgame, Oscar-nominated Black Panther, and Guardians of the Galaxy. It also offers more than 50 Marvel series, including Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Marvel's Runaways.
As well as offering access to its classic animated movies, customers can watch brand new Disney originals, including The Mandalorian and The World According to Jeff Goldblum.
Free 30-day trial, then £5.99/mth or £7.99/mth for next-day deliveries
Amazon Prime has thousands of films and TV shows for you to stream instantly to your device, but the selection of films included in the package is only a fraction of what you could get via the now-defunct postal service.
It includes movies such as Green Book and The Imitation Game, plus TV shows such as The Grand Tour, The Walking Dead and The Man in the High Castle.
Sky Sports, Entertainment and Cinema packages
NOW* – WATCH SKY TV WITHOUT HAVING SKY
In 2012, satellite TV giant Sky launched NOW*. In effect, it's five separate services, covering movies, entertainment, sports, kids and reality shows – you don't need a Sky TV subscription to watch any of them. You get a seven-day free trial with the Cinema, Kids, Entertainment and Reality show memberships – you'll then be charged full price unless you cancel.
Brand new original content – seven-day trial then £4.99/mth
Apple's first foray into streaming, Apple TV+ provides original content that is only available through its service.
Given that it's a relatively new service and the content is original, the amount of available content isn't currently substantial and there's no known favourites there. Shows like Little America, Dickinson and The Morning Show have been touted as the favorites and feature stars you may recognise like Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell.
The app also enables you to watch movies and TV programmes offline by downloading them to your device for a limited period of time.
Original BBC & ITV content – seven-day trial then £5.99/mth
The BBC and ITV have combined forces in an attempt to take on big streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Launched in the UK in November 2019, it has over 260 box sets available to watch instantly, including the latest Spitting Image, Gavin & Stacey and Downton Abbey alongside old favourites like Faulty Towers and Only Fools and Horses.
Premier League hacks – where to watch the footie
The Premier League kicked off its 2020/21 season on Saturday 12 September. With matches now being played behind closed doors, games are being shown on TV, so if you don't already have a sports TV package, or are out of contract on one, we've crunched the numbers to show you how to net a MoneySaving deal. We've focused on getting the most games on TV at the lowest cost. (We've assumed you're not prepared to wait weeks for a new Sky/Virgin etc box).
Our analysis is based on the Premier League due to its popularity, but there are also FA Cup and English Football League matches, so we include info on them too.
How can I watch?
If you've never subscribed to Amazon Prime Video before, you'll be able to take advantage of its 30-day free trial. If you time the start of your trial just before the first Premier League games are made available on Prime Video, you'll be able to watch all of the December games broadcast on the platform for free.
Otherwise the basic package, which just includes Prime Video, costs £5.99 a month.
- How do I watch on my TV? You can watch Amazon Prime Video on most devices, including PCs, most smart (internet-connected) TVs, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Kindle Fire tablets, iPad, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and Roku.
Get 146 more Premier League matches from £18/mth with Sky Sports
Sky has the bulk of the paid-for football, and while the full schedule has not been announced, the pick of the games so far includes Manchester City vs Arsenal on Saturday 17 October and Chelsea vs Manchester United on Saturday 24 October.
The cheapest deal depends on your TV package and those rounded up below are all one-month contracts, so you can cancel once the season finishes.
Got Sky? For just football, get Sky's Premier League and Football channels in HD for a promo £18/mth without being tied in, rather than the pricier full sports package (currently £23/mth).
- How do I get it? Sign in to your Sky account to activate the offer. Although Sky says you should be able to watch the football channels instantly, to be safe, don't leave it till just before kick-off.
- How long is the contract? One month.
- What channels do I get? Sky Sports Premier League and Football.
- How do I cancel? Sky requires 31 days' notice to cancel.
Not got Sky? Sky's streaming service Now TV offers a one-month pass for all Sky Sports channels at a promotional £25/mth (£28/mth for full HD).
- How do I get it? Go via this Now TV* link and select the 'Sky Sports Month Pass' (after 12 months, it'll go up to the standard price of £33.99/mth).
- How long is the contract? One month.
- What channels do I get? Sky Sports, Premier League, Football, Main Event as well as Cricket, Golf, Racing, F1, Action, Arena, News and Mix.
- How do I cancel? As long as you cancel before your payment date, you won't be charged any extra (and you can still watch for the remainder of the month after you've cancelled). Just go to 'My Passes' once signed into your account, and click the 'cancel' button on the pass.
- How do I watch on my TV? You can download the app directly on smart Samsung, LG and Hisense TVs. You can also get it on games consoles, your computer, tablet or smartphone, then connect it to your TV via a cable or 'cast' it wirelessly. If you have Apple TV, EE TV, YouView, Roku or a Now TV box or streaming stick, the app should come installed.
Get another 58 Premier League games for £25/mth on BT Sport
If you still want more, BT is showing 58 games, with Everton vs Liverpool on Saturday 17 October and West Ham vs Manchester City on Saturday 24 October among the highlights of the fixtures confirmed so far. The cheapest way to watch 'em depends on your TV package – we've highlighted the top deals below, which let you cancel once the season finishes.
All BT Sport channels are £25/mth via the BT Sport Monthly Pass on its app or by adding them to a Sky package.
BT Sport Monthly Pass
- How do I get it? Go via this BT Sport link.
- How long is the contract? One month.
- What channels do I get? BT Sport 1 HD, 2 HD, 3 HD, ESPN HD.
- How do I cancel? You need to cancel your subscription the day before it's due to renew at the latest. Simply log in to your 'MyBT' account, find 'BT Sport Monthly Pass' and choose 'Cancel subscription'. When you cancel, you can carry on watching until your 30-day viewing period expires.
- How do I watch it on my TV? You can download the app directly on smart Samsung TVs. You can also get it on games consoles, your computer, tablet or smartphone, then connect it to your TV via a cable or 'cast' it wirelessly. If you have Apple TV, the app should come installed.
BT Sport on Sky TV
- How do I get it? You'll need to log in to your Sky account and add BT Sport. It's £25/mth, but you can then watch it easily via your Sky box. Sky says it can take up to four hours to apply BT Sport to your account, so don't leave it till just before kick-off.
- How long is the contract? One month.
- What channels do I get? BT Sport 1 HD, 2 HD, 3 HD, ESPN HD.
- Is it HD? Yes.
- How do I cancel? Sky requires 31 days' notice to cancel. You can cancel in your online account.
It's even cheaper if you've Plusnet TV. You can get all BT Sport channels for £10/mth (£13/mth in HD).
- How do I get it? Sign in to your Plusnet account to activate the BT Sport app.
- How long is the contract? One month.
- What channels do I get? BT Sport 1, 2, 3, ESPN, Box Nation.
- How do I cancel? Log in to your Plusnet account and follow the instructions. It will be removed on your next billing date.
Top services to buy or rent new releases
There are several sites where you can pay to stream online movies or TV shows legally, some also let you download them to keep and watch again. These include: Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
These sites are much of a muchness pricewise. For example, a big release like 1917 is around £3.50 to rent on both Google Play and YouTube. If you're after a specific flick, quickly check 'em all or use JustWatch, a search engine that helps you find which service provides the movie you want to watch.
Stream films on your iPhone or iPod from 99p
Apple TV (also known as iTunes if you're using a Windows device), offers a range of over 85,000 films and 190,000 TV episodes, but you'll need to set up an account. There's no charge for this. Most big releases like 1917 and Knives Out are priced at £4.99 to rent. Some titles including Oldboy are priced at 99p, but these tend not to be the latest releases.
Films are generally all in HD and no minimum broadband speed is required. If you rent a film, you'll need to watch it within 30 days (once you start playing the video, you'll have access for 48 hours).
If you're not too picky about what you watch, there's a 'film of the week' available to rent for 99p.
How much? 99p-£13.99
How can I watch? Any Apple device via the Apple TV app, Apple TV, PC (via iTunes), smart TV (Samsung, Sony and LG), Roku devices via its app store and Amazon Fire TV devices.
Watch films from Sky Store on pay-per-view
Sky Store is open to movie lovers who don't subscribe to its services. With around 5,000 movies and TV episodes, it's a far smaller choice than Apple TV and Now TV offers, but it does include the latest movies available to Sky subscribers. With rentals, once you press play the movies are available for 48 hours. But if you want to watch more than one specific film a month, especially new releases, a streaming subscription could be more MoneySaving.
Included are recent Hollywood blockbusters such as 1917 (£5.49) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (£5.49).
How much is it? You can rent releases online as they become available on Sky for £5.49, while older movies start at £3.49. HD movies are available for Sky+ HD TV customers with a set-top box and cost £5.49 for the latest flicks.
How can I watch? PC, Mac, Now TV, Sky, Roku, smart TV and Chromecast.
Pay-per-view TV and movies from £1.99
The Google Play Store is a bit of a one-stop shop for TV shows, movies, music, e-books and audiobooks – it also serves as the 'app store' for users of Android devices.
In order to use the store you'll need to create a Google account, which is free to do.
The site offers a range of tens of thousands of films and TV episodes. Titles can be bought or rented.
Most big releases like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Downton Abbey are priced at £3.49 to rent. Some titles are priced at 99p, but these tend not to be the latest releases.
If you rent a film you'll need to watch it within 30 days (once you start playing the video, you'll have access for 48 hours). Meanwhile, any titles that you've bought outright can be downloaded on to up to five devices to watch offline and be kept forever.
How much? £1.99-£13.99
How can I watch? Mac, PC, Chromecast, Chromebook, smart TV (Samsung and LG), Android-enabled TV (Sony), Roku, Apple devices via the Google Play Movies & TV app, or on your HD TV using Apple TV.
Pay-per-view TV and movies from 99p
Previously known as Wuaki.tv, Rakuten TV is not as big of a player as iTunes or Sky in the online streaming world, but it has over 400,000 users in the UK.
It's got all the major releases past and present you'd expect to see, including 1917 (£4.49 to rent), Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (£13.99 to buy) and Onward (£13.99 to buy). Rental films are available in your library for 48 hours, and during this time you can watch them as many times as you want.
Rakuten TV now also includes some of the most popular TV to buy, including shows from HBO and the BBC. Among the titles are Game of Thrones (from £13.99) and True Detective (from £13.99).
How can I watch? PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, smart TV, iPhone, iPad, Chromecast and Android phones and tablets.
Already paying for a TV package? See if you can get box sets on demand
If you already pay for a TV package, then rather than signing up for online streaming, you may be able to watch box sets on demand through your set-top box. Here's a summary of what each of the top providers offer:
Sky can now bundle Netflix (Basic package) as part of its Sky Ultimate TV package, costing £25/mth for a minimum of 18 months. It's only in standard definition, but if you want HD it's an extra £4/mth and includes both Netflix (Standard package) and a range of its own HD channels such as Sky One HD and Sky Atlantic HD among others.
Sky's basic package now also includes access to its 500 box sets, including shows such as Chernobyl, Modern Family, Twin Peaks and all of Game of Thrones. If you're happy with just its box sets, you can ask Sky to remove Netflix from your package.
If you're a Sky Cinema subscriber, you'll also have access to Sky Cinema On Demand, with more than 1,000 titles available to watch when you want.
What's more, you're not restricted to accessing the on-demand services through your TV. Sky Go allows you to watch them via a free app on a smartphone, tablet or laptop anywhere in the UK or Republic of Ireland, providing you've a working internet connection. Just download the app and log in using your Sky account details.
If you want an even wider choice, the Sky Store has more than 3,000 movies to rent, though this content isn't included – prices range from 99p, or buy and keep from £7.99.
BT TV at its basic level is essentially a Now TV 'Entertainment Pass' with a box that can pause and record live TV. As it's essentially Now TV, you also get access to over 300 box sets which includes all of Game of Thrones.
Unlike Now TV, if you choose its basic Entertainment package it's £10/mth, but you're locked into a 24mth contract. Once you're on any of its 24mth packages, you're then able to add and remove package bolt-ons each month should you wish.
These one-month rolling bolt-ons include BT Sport (additional £15/mth), BT Kids (£5/mth), Now TV Sky Sports Pass (£33.99/mth) and Now TV Sky Cinema Pass (£11.99/mth).
Existing TalkTalk TV customers can upgrade their package with a TalkTalk TV Boost pack*.
It costs £4/mth plus £25 upfront, and for that you get a box that allows you to pause and rewind live TV. If you also want the ability to record, it's £50 upfront. The £4/mth only provides Freeview channels and turns your TV into a smart TV (if it's not one already) meaning you can access other subscription services like Netflix.
If you want more channels, it's Entertainment boost costs £8/mth over a 12/mth contact and includes 30 channels such as Sky One, Sky Arts, Fox, Gold, National Geographic, History+ and others. You can also choose to add its Sky Cinema Boost (£18/mth) or Sky Sports Boost (£36/mth).
Existing Virgin Media TV subscribers have access to around 4,000 hours of content on demand through their TV box.
If you have a Virgin TV package which includes Sky channels, you'll also get access to Sky's on-demand content. However, you may only get access to a portion of Sky On Demand – it depends which Sky channels you have access to. If you have Sky Movies, you'll also get Sky Movies On Demand.
Virgin Movies also offers a pay-per-view service, with more than 500 titles available from £3.99. There's also Virgin TV Anywhere, which works like Sky Go and lets you watch TV on other devices.
If you take out one of Virgin's Bundles* subscription packages, you'll also get one of its V6 boxes through which you can access Netflix for the usual price – £5.99/mth for access on one device, £7.49/mth for access on two or £8.99/mth for access on four devices.
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