Free and Cheap Ways to Watch Movies at Home

Video rental stores are mostly gone, but there are still plenty of ways to watch movies at home for free or close to it.

Start With Your Library Card

Many libraries offer free movie streaming through apps like Kanopy and Hoopla. You sign in with your library card. The library apps are also a good place to look for documentaries and educational videos.

Don’t forget the shelves at your local library, too. Many still have DVDs you can take out for free. How long you may borrow them varies, so be sure to ask at the information desk.

Free Streaming With Ads

Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel are free to watch. You’ll sit through some commercials, but there’s no monthly bill.

Rotate Your Paid Subscriptions

You don’t need every paid service at once. Keep one, watch what you wanted, then cancel and switch to another.

Educational Picks on Paid Streaming

Paid services have educational shows too. Disney+ has National Geographic and the Disneynature films.

Check Your Streaming Renewals Before Black Friday

Black Friday streaming deals will be coming around again soon! If you signed up for deals to use during 2026 like I did, check when those promotional prices expire.

My list includes Disney+/Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Plus, HBO Max, Prime Video (technically wasn’t a Black Friday deal, it was a 3 month deal for Amazon Prime, and Prime Video is just a portion of what is included in their membership), and BritBox.

Here’s what I’m paying with my deals:

• HBO Max: $2.99/month
• Disney+/Hulu: $4.99/month
• Paramount+ Premium: $57.96 for the first year (a QR code special, not Black Friday), then $139.99 a year. It auto-renews unless you cancel.
• BritBox: $49 for the first year (a welcome back promo), then $109.99 a year. It auto-renews unless you cancel.

Pay special attention to yearly deals you paid for all at once. Check the renewal date and regular price now so another full year doesn’t hit your account unexpectedly.

If you plan to cancel, do it before the renewal charge. Also check where you subscribed. You may need to cancel through Amazon, Apple, Roku, or your phone provider.

Renewal Checklist

• Check when your deal expires
• Check the renewal date and full price
• Check where you signed up: Amazon, Apple, Roku, or phone provider
• Cancel before the renewal charge
• Check new deal terms. You may need a different email. If you do not have a second email to use, you may need to create one.

For the next round of deals, you may need a different email, but check each offer’s terms. A different email alone doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify.

A little checking now can help keep a good deal from becoming an expensive surprise.

💵 More Money Tips

Looking for more ways to stretch your budget? Here are more money ideas from Homeschooling on a Shoestring.

 

Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Jodi