Free TV Subscriptions Available in the UK

Let’s be honest: with streaming subscription prices creeping ever higher, it’s lovely to know you can watch tons of TV shows, films and box sets in the UK for free, and totally legally!

Whether you’ve already paid for broadband, are struggling with the cost of living, or just fancy cutting back on subscriptions, there are lots of ways to keep yourself entertained without spending a penny.

Here’s Magic Freebies’ friendly, easy-to-use guide to all the legit free TV, movie and subscription options available in the UK right now.

ITVX - Classic British TV (With Ads)

ITVX is ITV’s free streaming hub, and it’s one of the most content-rich platforms without a paywall.

Live TV & catch-up: Everything from Coronation Street to reality, drama and documentaries.
Box sets: Includes classics and current favourites.
Extras: If you do want more, premium add-ons are available… but you don’t need them to enjoy most shows.

It’s free with ads so you’ll see short ad breaks, but that’s how it stays free.

Our top tip: ITV sometimes brings big shows and festive specials to its free tier. Recently lots of Disney+ titles also appeared on ITVX for UK viewers, including She-Hulk and The Bear.

Channel 4 / All 4 - Box Sets & Classics

Channel 4’s streaming service (formerly All 4) gives free access to loads of box sets and programmes, including comedy, reality and drama.

What’s included: Derry Girls, The IT Crowd, First Dates and more.
How it works: You do need to register a free account, but you don’t need a TV licence for on-demand videos.
Ads: Yes, but they’re the trade-off for free content.

Channel 4 also offers optional paid upgrades, but for most people the free tier is just fine.

BBC iPlayer - The Best All-Round Free Streaming

If you’re UK-based with a valid TV licence, BBC iPlayer is probably the most reliable and rich free service out there. You don’t pay extra for it, just sign in with a free account and start watching.

What you get: Live channels, catch-up TV, box sets, documentaries, kids shows and films.
Why it’s great: No ads, high quality, and a massive catalogue of British favourites.
Best for: BBC drama and comedy fans (think Doctor Who, Fleabag, Line of Duty).

Just go to BBC iPlayer online or download the app. It works on phones, smart TVs and streaming sticks (like your Fire Stick).

U - Free TV from UKTV

U is the free catch-up arm of UKTV (which includes channels like Dave, Drama and Yesterday).

Features: Catch-up, classic series, documentaries and light entertainment.
Ads: Yes, but no subscription fees.
What to watch: Gavin & Stacey, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Meet the Richardsons and more.

It’s a fab way to enjoy familiar UK shows without paying for UKTV subscriptions.

Pluto TV - Free Live & On-Demand

Pluto TV is a completely free streaming platform, no sign-up required.

What you get: A mix of live channels and on-demand films and series.
Vibe: Lots of genre channels and random picks, from sci-fi to comedy.
Where it works: Phones, smart TVs, streaming players.

Being free and global, it’s a nice complement to UK-specific services.

Tubi - Huge Free Movie Library

Tubi has rapidly grown in the UK.

Movies & shows: Over 20,000 titles with ads (classic films, horror, action, family).
No sign-up needed (though you can create an account).
Great for: Film lovers who don’t want to pay.

You will see ads, but for a massive movie catalog that’s a small trade-off.

Freely - All Your Free TV in One Place

Launched in 2024, Freely brings together free TV from BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and UKTV.

Live + on-demand all in one guide.
Works over broadband, no aerial needed.

Think of it as a central hub for free UK TV - perfect if you don’t want to open five separate apps.

Freeview & Freeview Play

If you’ve got a TV with an aerial or Freeview Play-compatible device, you can access all the major UK broadcast channels without ongoing costs.

Includes: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and hundreds of digital channels.
Bonus: On-demand catch-up built in on many smart TVs.

This is technically not internet streaming, but it’s still FREE TV (and the content often lines up with iPlayer, ITVX and All 4).

Our Final Tips:

TV licence rules: You do need a valid TV licence to watch live TV on services like iPlayer and ITVX.
Ads = free: Most of these are ad-supported: that’s the cost of free content.
Update your apps: New shows are added all the time, and almost all services refresh their libraries weekly.