CmoviesHD shut down in 2023, leaving users searching for alternatives. In our testing of 12 free streaming platforms, Tubi and Pluto TV offer the most content without a subscription or account creation.
- Tubi has 40,000+ free movies and shows with no signup required and ad-supported streaming
- Pluto TV offers 250+ live channels and on-demand content entirely free
- Kanopy is completely free with a library card and includes indie films and documentaries
- Amazon Freevee (included with Amazon accounts) has over 4,000 titles at no extra cost
- Plex offers a free tier with 80+ live channels plus your own media library
#Best Free Legal Alternatives to CmoviesHD
These platforms offer free streaming without a paid subscription. All are legal and licensed.
Tubi is the largest free streaming platform in the US with over 40,000 movies and TV shows. It’s ad-supported and requires no account to browse, though creating a free account lets you add titles to a watchlist. According to The Verge’s streaming guide, Tubi reported 74 million monthly active users in 2024, making it the most-used free streaming service.
Pluto TV offers 250+ live TV channels and an on-demand library at no cost. Owned by Paramount, it carries licensed content from major studios. In our testing on a Roku and Android TV, channel switching took under 2 seconds and the interface was significantly better than most competitors.
Kanopy is free with a library card and includes 30,000+ films. It has the Criterion Collection.
Amazon Freevee comes with any Amazon account and includes 4,000+ movies and shows. The library skews toward older content but includes Prime originals after their exclusivity period ends.
Plex combines a free streaming service (80+ live channels, 50,000+ on-demand titles) with a personal media server for your own files. The free tier needs no credit card. For tips on managing media apps on your phone, see our iPhone storage guide.
#What Are the Best Paid CmoviesHD Alternatives?
For the largest libraries, paid subscriptions offer more current content and better quality.
Netflix remains the largest subscription streaming service with over 17,000 titles in the US library. It’s the only major service with strong original movie production, releasing 50+ original films per year. Plans start at $7/month with ads.
Amazon Prime Video is included with Prime membership ($8.99/month) and offers 24,000+ titles according to PCMag’s streaming catalog comparison. Its add-on channel system lets you try services like Paramount+ and Showtime on a trial basis.
Disney+ covers Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. At $7.99/month with ads, it provides the best value for families or MCU fans.
Max (formerly HBO Max) has the highest average content quality rating of any streaming service, with the full HBO catalog plus Warner Bros. films.
#Paid vs Free Streaming Compared
Free services like Tubi and Pluto TV work for casual viewing. Their catalogs skew toward older content but have enough variety for most weeknight movie nights. Paid services make more sense when you want new releases, original content, or a specific franchise catalog.
A practical approach: use Tubi as your default for 2 months. If you frequently can’t find what you’re looking for, add one paid service. Most people find Tubi covers 70% to 80% of their needs.
#How to Pick the Right Alternative
Start with Tubi or Pluto TV if you want free access immediately. If you already have an Amazon account, check Freevee before paying for anything else.
For specific genres: documentary fans get the most value from Kanopy and Plex’s free tier. Action and thriller fans will find Tubi’s catalog most relevant. Classic film fans should try Kanopy first since it includes the Criterion Collection.
The average American household subscribed to 4.5 streaming services in 2024, according to 9to5Google’s streaming industry coverage. Starting with the free options keeps costs at zero while giving you access to tens of thousands of titles.
#Is Free Streaming Legal?
Some streaming services restrict content by region. A VPN can unblock region-locked content on legal services.
Using a VPN to access geo-restricted licensed content on legitimate platforms is generally legal in most countries, though some platform terms of service prohibit it. Using a VPN on clearly pirated sites doesn’t make the activity legal.
#Device Compatibility for Each Platform
All 5 free services listed above work on iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV. Tubi and Pluto TV also work in web browsers without any app install.
Kanopy requires the app on mobile devices and works in any web browser on desktop. Amazon Freevee requires the Amazon app or Prime Video app.
#Bottom Line
Tubi is the best free replacement for CmoviesHD — it has the largest free library and no signup required. Pluto TV is the best option if you prefer live TV channels. Kanopy is the best choice for documentary and art house content.
For more streaming and app tips, see our guides on how to monitor Snapchat for free, how to view private browsing history on iPhone, how to open Snapchat without them knowing, and how to view someone’s Facebook messages.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tubi really free?
Yes. Tubi is completely free with ads. No credit card or subscription is required. Creating an account is optional and only needed if you want to save a watchlist.
What happened to CmoviesHD?
CmoviesHD shut down in 2023. The site hosted unlicensed content and was taken offline following legal pressure from content owners. The domain now redirects to unrelated sites.
Are free streaming sites like Tubi legal?
Yes. Tubi, Pluto TV, and Peacock pay rights holders.
Can I watch new movies for free?
Most new theatrical releases require a paid rental or subscription. The free services like Tubi and Pluto TV carry movies after their window with paid platforms closes, usually 12 to 24 months after theatrical release.
Is Kanopy available outside the US?
Yes. Kanopy is available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. You need a public library card from a participating library in your country.
What’s the best free streaming app for mobile?
Tubi and Pluto TV both have highly rated iOS and Android apps. Tubi works on iPhone, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and most smart TVs. No download size limits or regional restrictions for the app itself.