Streaming services were a nice idea while they lasted, but ditching the cord and going for multiple different platforms instead isn’t guaranteed to be a better deal than having cable anymore. There are still some ways to save cash and keep up with a wide range of TV and movies, and it’s done by checking out thefree streaming services.
Popular options includeTubiand Freevee, although the latter optionis sunsettingandrolling into Amazon Prime Video. The draw of these services includes no subscription cost, so you can hop in and watch what you want without a month or year-long commitment. The downside of this is ads interrupt your experience, and although you aren’t charged for a dollar amount, you still have to pay a price: your data. Whether that matters or not varies from person to person, but it’s the hidden cost of going for a streaming service that has no monthly fee.
Tubi is a free streaming platform that offers a vast collection of TV shows, movies, and even access to live TV channels. Tubi is available across all major platforms via a dedicated application or via the web.
What I didn’t expect when I compared Tubi against Pluto TV
I tested both Pluto TV and Tubi to find the better free streaming service, and what I found might make you rethink choosing just one.
Free isn’t free
There’s always a price to pay
A lot of people gravitate to services like Tubi to dump the subscription costs, and that’s a totally understandable thing to do. While ads popping up during a movie aren’t ideal, it beats paying $20 a month for the most expensive tier of Max for a lot of people. Tubi doesn’t come with the bells and whistles Max does like 4K or Dolby Atmos support, but that’s not what you’d expect from a service like this. Instead, you get a wide range of movies to choose from that cost nothing to start watching.
I’m obsessed with the newest Pluto TV channel
Pluto 007 is back, and you can watch James Bond films all day long for free.
Although not every service gets hit with a lawsuit such as this, it’s foolish to think your data isn’t being taken for similar reasons, no matter what you’re signing up for. For streaming services, it can come in the form of targeted ads that a free service runs to keep itself free. This same thing applies to ad-supported tiers with other services, so you’re victim to the same circumstances even if the streamer costs money. Netflix raised its prices in 2024 to make its ad tier more appetizing, and at $6.99, it has a place. If you want the highest quality on Netflix, it’sout of the question, but there are a lot of people out there who don’t particularly care how their show looks or sounds.
I’m a big fan of Tubi as it often has obscure films I can’t find anywhere else.
In the case of Netflix, you’re getting a limited experience by paying less, but for Tubi, you’re getting the full-fat version as it’s all that’s offered. The only payment comes in the form of your data, and if that’s a price you’re willing to pay, there’s a lot of mileage you can get out of the service. For what it’s worth, I’m a big fan of Tubi as it often has obscure films I can’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t have the same streaming quality as some of the bigger services, but with no monetary charge, I can’t find much to complain about. For the record, I did submit my claim form for the Tubi class action lawsuit as well.
I made Pluto TV feel like a premium streamer with these 5 tricks
The free streamer is easy to use, but these tricks make you feel like you’re getting away with something.
There’s not a clear alternative
The new future
If you want to keep on watching the free streaming services, there doesn’t appear to be much you may do to prevent them from harvesting your data. The only real solace you can take is that any service you log into, whether it’s Google Chrome or a mobile game, takes your data. If that’s okay with you, then you can keep on keeping on. As it stands, it is difficult to imagine the genie being put back in the bottle, so this is indeed the new future.
As we move more toward a digital world, it’s tough to envision things getting better when it comes to data collection. You can take preventive measures yourself by decreasing your digital footprint. You can cut back on using streaming services by building a physical media library. Although Best Buy pulled out of the physical space for movies and TV shows, there are still plenty of boutique stores like Shout! Factory and the Criterion Collection that preserves your favorite films.
Yes, Tubi is free, but there is a different kind of cost to using this service
The free, ad-supported streaming service is a treasure trove of movies and TV, but I still avoid it like the plague.
A similar trend can be seen outside of movies and TV shows. Vinyl records are increasing in popularity, and there are entire sections dedicated to them in Walmart and Target. While streaming services are more popular than ever, there does seem to be a growing population of people who are looking to build up their physical libraries. Physical media not only prevents companies from getting your monthly subscription cost and data, but it ensures nothing will ever be taken from you. Movies on Netflix are susceptible to leaving the service at the end of the month, and some streamers have deleted entire shows and movies that can’t be seen in any other way. That won’t happen to anything you actually own outside a disc being damaged, so there’s some value there.
On the other hand, going physical has a high upfront cost, and it’s not uncommon to spend $30 on a movie. It all comes down to your viewing habits and what you’re okay with.
If you want to ditch the streaming services and protect your data, it’s a price that has to be paid.
Free streaming service Tubi surpassed Disney+, Peacock, and Paramount+ in May
Tubi, the free-with-ads streaming service, has beat titans such as Disney+ and Max for average viewership in May. And it may just be the beginning.
