In a scenario dominated by giants like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, many consumers are looking for more affordable alternatives to enjoy movies and series without compromising their monthly budget.

Fortunately, there is a growing universe of free or partially free streaming platforms that offer quality content without requiring expensive subscriptions.

In this article, we explore four of these platforms that are gaining worldwide popularity: Tubi, Rakuten TV, Xumo and Plex.

Each of them presents unique characteristics and diverse catalogs that can perfectly complement your paid services or even replace them, depending on your entertainment needs.

Tubi: The Free Library That Surprises with Variety

Tubi stands out as one of the largest free streaming platforms in the world, presenting an impressive catalog with more than 40,000 titles.

Founded in 2014 and later acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020, the platform operates with an advertising-funded model, offering users free access to a vast collection of content without the need for a credit card or subscription.

Content and Catalog

The great differential of Tubi is the size and diversity of its collection. Among the available options, users find:

• Films from major studios like Paramount, MGM, Lionsgate and Warner Bros

• Classic and modern TV series

• Children’s content in a dedicated section called “Tubi Kids”

• Award-winning documentaries

• Independent films and international productions

• Anime and niche content

Although Tubi doesn’t offer original productions like the major paid platforms, its library surprises with titles ranging from big box office hits to rare gems of independent cinema and timeless classics.

The catalog is updated monthly, with new additions and some removals according to licensing agreements.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

User Experience

Tubi’s interface is intuitive and organized into categories that facilitate content discovery, such as “Recently Added”, “Trending”, “Action”, “Comedy”, “Drama”, “Horror” and many others. The platform also offers:

• Creation of personalized lists to watch later

• Recommendations based on previous views

• Advanced search by title, genre, actor or director

• Support for multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, video game consoles and browsers

• Streaming quality of up to 1080p (Full HD), depending on the connection

As expected from a free service, Tubi displays ads during content playback, but many users report that the frequency of commercials is less than on traditional TV, making the experience less intrusive than one might expect.

Rakuten TV: The European Hybrid Model

Originating from Spain (initially known as Wuaki.TV) and now part of the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, Rakuten TV represents an interesting streaming model with a hybrid approach: it combines ad-supported free content with rental and purchase options for the latest releases.

Content and Catalog

Rakuten TV divides its content into three main categories:

Free Section:

• Older but high-quality movies

• Complete TV series

• Documentaries

• Children’s content

• Thematic channels with linear programming

Rental and Purchase:

• Recent cinema releases

• Premium series

• Ultra HD 4K and HDR titles

• Exclusive content in some markets

Rakuten Stories:

• Original productions, mainly documentaries focused on sports, culture and inspiring stories

The platform has a strong presence in Europe, with catalogs that vary by region, but has been expanding its global availability in recent years.

Download the app by clicking the button below for your app store.

User Experience

The design of Rakuten TV is clean and elegant, with an emphasis on large images and simplified navigation. Some highlights of the experience include:

• Clear categorization between free and premium content

• High technical quality, with many titles available in 4K HDR

• Compatibility with almost all smart devices, including TVs with dedicated buttons on the remote controls of various European brands

• Personalized recommendation system

• Download options on mobile devices for some titles

For free content, the platform inserts ads, but maintains a relatively fluid experience compared to other AVOD (Advertising-based Video on Demand) services.

The rental and purchase options offer viewing without commercial interruptions.

Xumo: The Reinvented Linear Experience

Xumo represents a different approach to free streaming, focusing primarily on the linear TV experience with live thematic channels, complemented by an on-demand section. Owned by Comcast since 2020, Xumo was designed to fill the gap between traditional TV and modern streaming services.

Content and Catalog

The strength of Xumo lies in its more than 190 linear channels organized by category, offering an experience similar to cable TV, but completely free.

The content includes:

• News channels (NBC News, CBS News, Bloomberg, etc.)

• Sports (FOX Sports, beIN SPORTS XTRA, Stadium)

• General entertainment (TMZ, People TV)

• Movies organized by genre in thematic channels

• Children’s programming

• Lifestyle and cooking content

• Comedy and humor channels

In addition to linear programming, Xumo offers a more limited on-demand library than Tubi, but still with thousands of movies and series episodes available to watch at any time.

User Experience

Xumo’s interface is designed to mimic the traditional TV experience, but with digital advantages:

• Programming guide similar to cable TV

• Channel zapping with fluid experience

• Pause and live return features

• Quick switching between linear and on-demand viewing

• Availability on smart TVs, streaming devices, smartphones and tablets

A peculiar feature of Xumo is its strong integration with TV manufacturers such as Hisense, Magnavox, Panasonic, Philips, and Sharp, where the service comes pre-installed and often accessible directly from the remote control, without the need for additional download.

Plex: From Personal Server to Complete Streaming Platform

Plex occupies a unique place in this list, as it started as software to organize and transmit personal media collections (such as locally stored movie and series libraries), but evolved into a complete streaming platform that combines personal content, ad-supported free content, and integrated premium services.

Content and Catalog

Plex’s content offering is multifaceted:

Plex Free Movies & TV:

• Thousands of free movies and TV shows

• Content from studios like Warner Bros., MGM, Lionsgate and Legendary

• Documentaries and educational programming

• Cult and independent films

Plex Live TV:

• More than 200 free live channels organized by category

• News, sports, entertainment and lifestyle programming

• Niche and thematic channels

Personal Server Features (Plex Media Server):

• Organization and streaming of your own media collection

• Synchronization between devices

• Download features for offline viewing

User Experience

Plex stands out for the versatility and personalization of its interface:

• Adaptive design that adjusts according to usage

• Advanced playback and quality controls

• Profile creation for different family members

• Detailed viewing statistics

• Active community with plugins and extensions

• Compatibility with virtually any connected device

Plex offers a premium plan called Plex Pass (approximately $5/month or $120 lifetime) that unlocks advanced features such as mobile synchronization, enhanced parental monitoring, integration with music services, and DVR for live TV with an antenna.

However, all free streaming content is available even without Plex Pass.

Comparison: Finding the Best Option for Your Needs

To help identify which of these platforms best meets your needs, here is a direct comparison:

Platform	Main Strengths	Best For
Tubi	Largest free library; Content diversity	Cinephiles who value variety; Independent film fans
Rakuten TV	Superior technical quality; Option to rent new releases	Users who occasionally want to access releases without monthly commitment
Xumo	Experience similar to traditional TV; Excellent live news offering	Those who miss the linear cable TV experience; News consumers
Plex	Unique versatility; Combines personal and streaming content	Technology enthusiasts; People with their own digital collections

Tips to Optimize Your Experience

To make the most of these free platforms, consider the following tips:

Create accounts on all of them:

Since they’re free, there’s no cost to accessing multiple platforms, significantly increasing your available catalog.

Use universal search apps:

Tools like JustWatch or Plex itself can help find where a specific title is available among different services.

Familiarize yourself with parental controls:

Especially important for Tubi and Xumo, which may display more adult content on certain channels or categories.

Explore beyond recommendations:

The curation of these platforms often reveals hidden gems that would never appear in the algorithms of major services.

Consider a VPN:

Some of these platforms offer different catalogs depending on the region, and a VPN can allow access to broader international libraries (check the terms of service first).

Conclusion

Tubi, Rakuten TV, Xumo and Plex represent excellent alternatives to the ecosystem dominated by paid streaming services. With advertising-supported or hybrid models, these platforms democratize access to quality digital entertainment.

Although they don’t always offer the latest releases or exclusive original productions, the value they deliver is undeniable: free access to thousands of hours of entertainment on well-developed interfaces compatible with most modern devices.

As the costs of multiple subscriptions continue to rise, these alternative platforms gain increasing relevance, offering an escape valve for “subscription fatigue” and a way to diversify media consumption without impacting the family budget.

If you haven’t tried these options yet, it’s worth dedicating a few hours to explore their catalogs – you might be surprised by the quality and variety of content available completely free.