12 Free Sites To Watch TV Shows Online For 2020 (Legal Streaming)

RakitAplikasi.com/en - With the advent of the internet, having a television or buying a cable package is not necessary to enjoy TV shows. Many websites allow you to watch TV shows online in 2020. However, not all of them are legal. While some sites scam visitors into registering for fees, others try to persuade you to add suspicious extensions to your browser.

This is why I made a list of the best sites to stream TV shows for free and legally. Before moving forward, check the list of other free and legal websites that you can use:

Free TV Shows Sites For 2020

• Crackle
• Tubi
• Yahoo View
• Hotstar
• Popcornflix
• Internet Archive
• Retrovision
• Yidio
• CW TV
• CW Seed
• Pluto TV
• SnagFilms

1. Crackle

Crackle is a video entertainment platform that lets you watch TV shows for free. Sony owns this website so you can trust it regarding quality and reliability. It has a great collection of famous TV shows like Seinfeld, Firefly, The Shield, and even anime shows. The content is well categorized along with a search option to help you explore more.

There is no limit to how many TV videos you can watch and the best part is that Crackle offers free Android and iOS apps to watch TV shows online. You can also stream episodes across multiple devices like Android TV or smart TVs. While the videos are not exactly ad-free but they are 100% legal to watch.

Why use Crackle for TV shows?

• Hosts around 40-50 TV series and more than 150 full-length movies
• Stream videos across multiple devices
• Free mobile apps available

Visit Crackle

2. Tubi

This online TV show streaming site lets you watch episodes without signing up. However, if you choose to do so, Tubi lets you create a watch list of favorites and resume playback across different devices. It has a neat and clean interface with well-outlined categories like TV Dramas, TV Comedies, Reality TV, and Crime TV.

Even though Tubi has a more extensive collection of movies compared to its TV series collection, however, they are worth checking out. The good streaming quality enriches your viewing experience while letting you switch between multiple devices.

Why use Tubi?

• A good collection of free TV shows
• Free Android and iOS apps
• User-friendly interface

Visit Tubi

3. Yahoo View

A couple of years back, Hulu ended its popular free TV streaming plan leaving several viewers disappointed. Thankfully, Yahoo has picked up the role by partnering up with Hulu and launching a new service called Yahoo View which offers almost, if not all of the content that was previously available on Hulu for free.

Yahoo View has a vast range of free TV shows across various genres such as Comedy, Drama, Reality, Documentaries, etc. In the kid’s section, you can find famous cartoons like Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls. For anime lovers, this platform offers several famous series including Naruto (complete series), Fullmetal Alchemist, Ergo Proxy, etc.

The only downside is that the categories do not display all the shows in one place. But you can use this directory to find all the listings on a single page.

Why use Yahoo View?

• For watching both current and classic TV shows
• High-quality videos

Visit Yahoo View

4. Hotstar

Primarily focused on Indian users, Hotstar is known for its Cricket streams and HBO shows that are available at a very affordable price. However, the service also offers free Indian TV channels like Star Plus, Like OK, and Star Bharat, which makes it a great option for the lovers of Hindi TV shows. You get regional language TV channels as well.

Apart from the regular TV channels, this site to watch free TV online also provides content from National Geographic, Channel V, FOXLife, and selected programs show like Malgudi Days, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Hotstar Exclusives, Masterchef, etc. As I told you above, if you wish to stream more content, you can choose the paid plan that costs just Rs. 999/year.

Why use Hotstar?

• Lots of free Hindi TV shows
• Low-cost premium plan

Visit Hotstar

5. Popcornflix

Popcornflix is another free TV streaming site for 2020 that lets you watch free TV shows legally. There are lots of original content hosted on the website across several genres such as action, comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, etc., rounding up to about 100 TV series altogether. And the best part is you can view them across multiple devices.

90’s kids looking for some childhood nostalgia should check out its classic offerings such as The Adventures of Super Mario 3 Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Legend of Zelda, and more. There is also a special “Staff Picks” section which is a collection of highest-rated TV shows and movies – a must-watch for all.

Why use Popcornflix for streaming TV?

• Clean interface and well-categorized sections
• Watch TV shows and movies without signing up
• Free Android and iOS apps available

Visit Popcornflix

6. Retrovision

Retrovision is the best website to watch free classic TV shows. The best part is, it offers a great collection of classic movies too if you are interested. The content hosted on this platform is available under the public domain and therefore, completely legal for downloading and streaming free TV series.

Navigating the website is pretty easy, and you will find all the shows listed on a single page. From Sherlock Holmes to Star Trek, Retrovision has an extensive array of shows straight from the ‘50s and ‘60s. It has an amazing collection of cartoons for kids like Popeye and Superman back from the old days!

Why use Retrovision?

• To stream free classic TV shows online
• Neat interface and properly outlined categories
• No sign-up required and a free Android app available

Visit Retrovision

7. Internet Archive

Many of you would be aware of the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine as a means to access offline web pages and track a website’s history. Surprisingly, it also features a collection of vintage recorded TV shows, government videos, TV documentaries, event footage, etc. While the overall appearance of this free TV site might not impress you, it has all the important filters like year, topics, creator, language, etc.

Why use the Internet Archive?

• Completely free and public domain content
• Lots of classic content

Visit Internet Archive

8. Yidio

Yidio is an aggregator of free TV streaming sites that points you towards third-party websites where you can watch a particular show. And there is no point in guessing that many of those hosts charge a fee. However, there is a separate section of free TV shows to stream online.

It features episodes from popular shows like Rick and Morty, Grey’s Anatomy, Two and a Half Men, The Flash, Gotham, etc. However, I have placed Yidio lower in this list because there are a couple of downsides to it: The free listings aren’t always accurate, and some of it might contain only short chips instead of full episodes.

Why use Yidio?

• High-quality videos available
• Hosts several popular sitcoms

Visit Yidio

9. CW TV

CW Network lets you stream some of its content for free on its website. This platform has a good collection of superhero flicks like Arrow and The Flash. Those interested in supernatural drama can check out series like The Originals or Supernatural.

However, the content is limited on this free TV series streaming site, and many of them are removed after some time. But overall the video quality is outstanding, and the streaming is pretty fast compared to other websites.

Why use the CW TV streaming site?

• To watch content from CW TV network
• No subscription required or signing up

Visit CW TV

10. CW Seed

CW TV has a subsite called CW Seed that you should visit. Despite its name, which sounds a little illegal, I can assure you that this website is completely legal and you can stream free TV series hosted on the platform any time you want.

The surprising part is that CW Seed does not have any content from CW on its website. Instead, it is home to many original Web series and DC animated series that are a must-watch.

Why use CW Seed?

• To watch DC’s animated series
• No signup or subscription required

Visit CW Seed

11. Pluto TV

Pluto TV works like a regular television where you can flip through TV channels to find what catches your fancy. This free TV show streaming website has several channels where you can watch daily soaps, sports, news, and more. Use this directory to see all the listings in one place.

There are separate sections for comedy, entertainment, lifestyle, movie, music, and even curiosity which has channels like Science TV and NASA TV. You can choose to watch the content through mobile, PV, or a smart TV but the only downside is that you get to watch stuff that is available at the moment.

Why use Pluto TV?

• Most extensive collection of TV channels covering every topic
• Loads quickly and has a neat interface

Visit Pluto TV

12. Snagfilms

Snagfilms covers a lot of topics such as Drama, Kids, Family, World History, Wildlife, and the Environment. However, if you are looking for a current TV series, you might get a little disappointed. But in case you are interested in watching some rare classic movies and award-winning documentaries on this website, you will love this website.

This free streaming site for 2020 also offers apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Roku, and Smart TV. While watching, you might come across in-video ads but I suppose that’s okay as long as we get some awesome free videos to watch.

Why use Snagfilms for TV shows?

• A curated collection of classics and documentaries
• Offers a great compilation of movies too

Visit Snagfilms

Apart from the 12 websites mentioned above, there are two other platforms where you can watch free TV shows online and are worth mentioning:

• YouTube: We are all familiar with this name, and most of us have switched to YouTube to watch episodes. You can watch full episodes of TV series here, however, all of them may not be legal. This is why I didn't place it on the list above, but you can always see this video streaming site for old and new content.
• Internet Archive: This is one of the websites that find places on almost all of my lists because let's admit, the Internet Archive is amazing, and it offers almost everything you need. There is a good collection of TV shows here, but they may be a little scattered so take advantage of filters to sort content posted here.

Read More:

• 20 Free Movie Download Sites For 2020 (Legal Streaming)
• 10 Best Torrent Sites of 2020

Free TV Website FAQs

What is cord cutting?

Cord-cutting is the act of canceling your monthly cable subscription and opting to consume content via internet-based TV providers and paid streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.

How do you know which TV series sites are 100% legal?

Legal TV websites like Vudu, Popcornflix, Crackle, etc., deliver free content and balance the cost by showing you ads. There isn’t a single test for legality, however, if the site is showing tons of popup ads and VPN recommendations to hide your IP, chances are that you’re watching content on an illegal website.

What is the best alternative to cable TV?

There are two kinds of alternatives to regular cable: free and paid. While paid services like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, etc., offer fresh content, websites like Vudu, Crunchyroll, Pluto TV, etc., showcase comparatively older content for free.

What can I watch for free on Netflix?

Netflix offers some episodes of its most popular shows for free at Netflix.com/free. The website doesn’t require you to sign up to check out shows like Stranger Things, Our Planet, Lost In Space, etc. This catalog keeps getting updated from time-to-time.

Can I watch free TV on Roku?

Roku users can visit The Roku Channel and enjoy all free content on Roku in one place. This ad-supported channel hosts content from Roku partners and Roku channels like Sony, WB, MGM, YuYu, FilmRise, Popcornflix, etc. You can access it here: therokuchannel.roku.com

Do I need to use a VPN to stream free TV online?

You can use a VPN to stream free content that’s not available in your region; services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost let you bypass these restrictions and enjoy more content.

Grab some popcorns!

This free TV series streaming website for 2020 has not been ranked in any particular order because they all have different content to offer. This is why I have tried to elaborate on their USP which will help you in making choices according to your preferences. Go to all of these legal websites to watch free online TV shows and tell us which one you like the most. So what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorn and start watching now!

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