You don't need a Netflix subscription, a Disney+ login, or an Amazon Prime membership to watch great films and TV in the UK. Between the public-service broadcasters and a handful of ad-supported international services, there are now thousands of hours of high-quality programming available completely free.
Here's our ranked guide to the best free streaming services in the UK in 2026, what each one is good for, and what you'll need to start watching.
1. BBC iPlayer — the free streaming gold standard
Cost: Free with a UK TV licence (£169.50/year). Adverts: None.
BBC iPlayer is the deepest, most curated free service in the UK and arguably the best value-for-money streaming product in the country. It is the home of every BBC drama (Line of Duty, Sherlock, Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders), every BBC comedy from Fawlty Towers to Ghosts, the entire Doctor Who back catalogue, and a vast natural-history library including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Frozen Planet.
iPlayer also licences a rotating selection of films and HBO co-productions — recent additions have included His Dark Materials, Industry, and the Wallace and Gromit specials.
See what's popular on BBC iPlayer right now.
2. ITVX — British drama, free with adverts
Cost: Free with adverts (paid ITVX Premium tier removes ads). Best for: British crime drama, soaps, reality TV.
ITVX (formerly ITV Hub) is the home of British crime drama. Broadchurch, Vera, Endeavour, DCI Banks, Unforgotten and Marcella all live here, alongside Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Love Island. ITVX also has a deep film library including classic Hollywood and a small selection of award-winners.
The free tier is ad-supported. ITVX Premium (£5.99/month) removes ads and unlocks the full premium catalogue.
3. Channel 4 — comedy, drama, documentary
Cost: Free with adverts. Best for: Comedy, current-affairs documentary, international film.
Channel 4 is the third public-service broadcaster in the UK and the natural home for British comedy (Friday Night Dinner, Derry Girls, Peep Show), critical drama (It's a Sin, Adolescence) and serious documentary (Dispatches). Its film catalogue rotates and includes a strong mix of independent and world cinema.
4. My5 — Channel 5's free service
Cost: Free with adverts. Best for: Reality, daytime, archive ITV-style drama.
My5 is smaller than the others but a reliable free home for All Creatures Great and Small, Neighbours, MasterChef Australia and a strong stable of true-crime documentaries. The film selection is small but there's usually a watchable mid-budget thriller or comedy on there.
5. UKTV Play — Dave, Gold, Drama, W
Cost: Free with adverts. Best for: Comedy panel shows, classic British sitcoms, archive drama.
UKTV Play hosts the catch-up content for Dave, Gold, Drama, W and Yesterday. It's the easiest free way to watch QI, Taskmaster (selected series), Dave's panel-show output, and a deep selection of classic British sitcoms.
6. Tubi — international free films and series
Cost: Free with adverts. Best for: Cult films, B-movies, international cinema.
Tubi launched in the UK in 2024 and brings a deep international free catalogue: cult horror, anime, classic Hollywood, Bollywood, K-drama and a rotating selection of new film additions every month. The interface is utilitarian but the breadth is unmatched among free services.
7. Pluto TV — free linear-style channels
Cost: Free with adverts. Best for: Background watching, themed channels, retro TV.
Pluto TV runs a hundred-plus free linear channels alongside an on-demand library. It's the easiest service to put on as background TV — there are dedicated channels for Star Trek, MasterChef, Mr Bean, classic Westerns and dozens more.
How to find what to watch
Free services don't always come up in search results when you Google "where to watch X UK" — they're often outranked by paid services with bigger marketing budgets. Use ScreenSearch to type any film or TV show and instantly see whether it's available on a free UK service before you reach for your wallet.