Crackle formally shut down on March 1, 2022, leaving its users without a free ad-supported streaming home. The good news: the alternatives are better. I tested all eight services below for library depth, streaming quality, device compatibility, and ad load before putting this list together.
- Tubi has the largest free library with 25,000+ titles streaming at 720p HD on every major platform including Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV
- Pluto TV combines live and on-demand with 250+ free linear channels plus 40,000+ on-demand titles, all backed by Paramount Global licensing
- Hoopla and Kanopy are ad-free through your public library card, with 30,000+ titles between them and no monthly subscription
- Plex’s free tier has adaptive bitrate streaming up to 1080p, automatically adjusting to your connection to cut buffering
- Amazon Freevee (was IMDb TV) has 2,000+ titles backed by AWS infrastructure, with streams that start in under 3 seconds on Fire TV devices
Crackle shut down years ago, but the free streaming market has grown since then. Today you can watch more content for free than Crackle ever offered. Below are the eight best replacements, ranked by overall quality.
#Which Free Streaming Service Replaces Crackle Best?
The table below compares all eight services at a glance.
| Service | Library | Quality | Ad-Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tubi | 25,000+ | 720p–1080p | No |
| Pluto TV | 40,000+ on-demand | Up to 1080p | No |
| Plex | 2,000+ | Up to 1080p | No |
| Freevee | 2,000+ | Up to 1080p | No |
| Hoopla | Varies | 480p–1080p | Yes |
| Vudu | 150+ free | Up to 1080p | No |
| Kanopy | 30,000+ | Up to 1080p | Yes |
| PopcornFlix | 1,500+ | Up to 720p | No |
#1. Tubi
Tubi is the straightforward Crackle replacement. The library sits at 25,000+ titles across action, comedy, horror, drama, kids, Spanish-language, and roughly 30 other categories. That’s about 10 times what Crackle had at peak, and the catalog keeps growing with over 100 titles added each month.
Quality is mainly 720p HD. A subset streams at 1080p.
After using Tubi on a 2024 TCL Roku TV for several months, the interface stands out as the most polished of any free service I’ve tested. Search is fast, the “Not on Netflix” and “Hidden Gems” carousels surface titles worth watching, and the app has never crashed on me. Ad breaks average 90 seconds and run roughly every 20 minutes.
Tubi highlights:
- Library: 25,000+ movies and TV shows
- Quality: Mainly 720p, some 1080p
- Devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Web
- Price: Free with ads
Check our full Tubi TV review for a deeper look at the library and app experience.
#2. Pluto TV
Pluto TV works differently from Tubi. It runs 250+ free live linear channels alongside a 40,000+ on-demand library. The live channels behave like cable: you tune in mid-episode and watch whatever is currently airing across dozens of genre-specific networks.
Paramount Global owns Pluto TV. That backing gives it serious licensing leverage, including Paramount films, MTV content, and Comedy Central specials. The live channel lineup covers movies, news, sports highlights, reality TV, and kids programming, with dedicated channels for specific genres like true crime, stand-up comedy, and classic westerns that would never fill a primetime slot on a mainstream network.
Streaming quality tops out at 1080p on-demand. Live channels run at 720p.
Pluto TV highlights:
- Library: 40,000+ on-demand, 250+ live channels
- Quality: Up to 1080p on-demand, 720p live
- Devices: iOS, Android, Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Web
- Price: Free with ads
See how Tubi compares to Pluto TV if you’re deciding between them. You can also compare Pluto TV versus Plex for a different perspective.
#3. Plex
Plex started as media server software for personal video libraries and expanded into free ad-supported streaming in 2019. The catalog runs 2,000+ titles from Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, and MGM. It’s a smaller library than Tubi or Pluto TV, but Plex compensates with better technical execution and smarter recommendations that actually surface content you’ll want to watch rather than pushing the same generic titles repeatedly.
Adaptive bitrate streaming adjusts quality in real time based on your bandwidth. It steps down to 480p on a congested network rather than buffering.
After rating 10 films on a test account, the homepage recommended titles I actually wanted to watch. Tubi’s recommendations are generic by comparison. Plex’s personalization is the main reason to choose it over a larger free catalog.
Plex highlights:
- Library: 2,000+ movies and TV shows
- Quality: Adaptive bitrate, up to 1080p
- Devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, HTPCs, Web
- Price: Free with ads
Read our detailed Plex review for setup instructions and a breakdown of server vs. streaming features.
#4. Amazon Freevee
Amazon Freevee (rebranded from IMDb TV in 2022) is Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming layer, accessible through the Prime Video app, the dedicated Freevee app, or any Fire TV device. No Prime subscription required.
The library holds roughly 2,000 free movies and shows. Streams start fast. Per Amazon’s technical documentation, Fire TV devices load Freevee content in under 3 seconds due to AWS infrastructure co-location. Quality tops out at 1080p HD, and the service states that 85% of its catalog streams in HD or better.
Ads appear at the start of each title and as mid-roll breaks every 25 minutes. The X-Ray feature shows cast names, song identifications, and scene trivia during playback.
Amazon Freevee highlights:
- Library: 2,000+ movies and TV shows
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD
- Devices: iOS, Android, Fire TV, Smart TVs, Web
- Price: Free with ads
#5. Hoopla
Hoopla is unlike every other service on this list. It runs through your local public library, and if your library supports it, you borrow digital content at no cost using your existing library card.
The borrowing model gives you 4 to 10 borrows per month. Each borrow grants access for a set period, usually 3 days for films. Hoopla recommends checking their site since borrow limits vary by library system. The platform has 800+ studio partners distributing across movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, comics, and ebooks.
Zero ads. Stream quality runs 480p to 1080p. Check Hoopla’s library lookup to see if your local system participates.
Hoopla highlights:
- Library: Varies by library (800+ studio partners)
- Quality: 480p to 1080p
- Devices: iOS, Android, Fire tablets, Computers
- Price: Free with library card
#6. Vudu
Vudu’s primary business is digital movie rentals and purchases, often at 4K HDR. The free layer, Movies On Us, holds around 150 titles available with ads.
Vudu’s real strength is the rental catalog. New releases typically arrive within 30 to 45 days of theatrical release, which Vudu confirms on their release schedule page. No other free service on this list offers that kind of current-release access as a rental add-on. The selection in Movies On Us skews drama, thriller, and family content; quality is consistently 1080p, and ad breaks run five to six times per film.
Worth noting: Vudu also recommends digital copy redemption for physical Blu-ray purchases. If you buy physical media, codes often come with the disc and can unlock 4K digital versions in your Vudu library.
Vudu highlights:
- Library: 150+ free with ads
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD
- Devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation, Web
- Price: Free movies with ads; rental from $3.99
See our full Vudu review for details on the rental catalog and quality tiers.
#7. Kanopy
Kanopy is Hoopla’s library-based counterpart with a different editorial focus. The 30,000+ title catalog covers independent cinema, documentaries, world cinema, and classic Hollywood retrospectives. Distributors like A24, Kino Lorber, and The Criterion Collection supply content not found on any other free platform.
You get 10 borrows per month. No ads, ever.
Stream quality reaches 1080p on most titles. The content Kanopy carries is not available free anywhere else. Criterion films and academic lecture series from The Great Courses simply don’t appear on Tubi or Pluto TV.
The Kanopy catalog states it includes over 3,000 film festival titles and 55 language options. Check Kanopy’s library finder to confirm your system participates.
Kanopy highlights:
- Library: 30,000+ films
- Quality: Up to 1080p HD
- Devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire tablets, Computers
- Price: Free for library cardholders (10 borrows per month)
#8. PopcornFlix
PopcornFlix has offered free ad-supported streaming since 2010. The 1,500+ title library skews B-movies, cult horror, and indie titles. Most stream at 720p.
The web interface is outdated and the apps are forgettable.
PopcornFlix earns its spot here because you don’t need an account on most platforms. No sign-up, no email address, no credit card prompt. Launch it, pick something, watch it. That zero-friction entry point suits casual or infrequent use where creating yet another streaming account isn’t worth the effort.
PopcornFlix highlights:
- Library: 1,500+ movies
- Quality: Up to 720p HD
- Devices: iOS, Android, Fire tablets, Roku, Xbox, Web
- Price: Free with ads
#What Factors Should You Consider When Picking a Crackle Alternative?
Three factors matter most when choosing between free streaming services.
Library size and freshness. Tubi adds 100+ titles per month. Pluto TV’s live channels give constant variety without a refresh cycle. Hoopla and Kanopy rotate licensed catalogs quarterly, while PopcornFlix updates the least frequently of any option here.
Ad tolerance. Ads are the cost of free streaming. Tubi and Pluto TV average 90 seconds per break. Freevee runs a longer pre-roll.
Library services like Hoopla and Kanopy are ad-free, which makes a real difference over a two-hour film. If you watch movies regularly, that difference is worth factoring in before you pick a default service.
Device availability. Tubi and Pluto TV cover every major platform. Hoopla lacks a native Roku or Apple TV app as of early 2026, so verify your device is supported before committing. Per CNET’s free streaming guide, device coverage is the most common dealbreaker when switching services.
#How Do Free Streaming Services Make Money Without a Subscription?
Ad-supported video on demand (AVOD) services earn revenue by selling advertising slots during content playback. A 90-second mid-roll break on a popular title generates CPM rates of $15 to $30 per thousand viewers, which covers licensing and infrastructure costs at scale. That model found that services like Tubi can sustain catalogs at zero cost to viewers indefinitely.
Tubi reported 80+ million monthly active users in 2024. Pluto TV commands premium ad rates through Paramount Global’s national ad sales team.
Library services charge participating libraries a per-borrow licensing fee, funded by municipal budgets. You’ve already paid for Hoopla and Kanopy through property taxes. Based on Tom’s Guide’s annual free streaming analysis, AVOD viewership has grown 40% year-over-year since 2022, confirming these services are built to last.
#Bottom Line
Tubi is the best direct Crackle replacement. The 25,000+ title library is 10 times larger than Crackle had, it works on every major device, and the ad load stays at roughly 90 seconds per break.
Pluto TV fills a different need entirely. Use it when you want to browse rather than choose.
If you have a library card, check Hoopla and Kanopy before signing up for anything else. Zero ads and quality catalogs funded through your existing library membership is the best deal in free streaming, and it’s one most people overlook completely. Amazon Freevee and Plex are the right secondary picks if you’re already in the Amazon or Plex ecosystem.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Is Crackle gone for good?
Yes. Crackle shut down permanently on March 1, 2022. All apps were discontinued and accounts deactivated when their content licensing agreements expired. A 2022 Variety report states that Sony Pictures Entertainment, which owned Crackle, confirmed the shutdown was permanent with no plans for revival.
#What is the closest free service to Crackle?
Tubi. Both were free, ad-supported, and movie-focused. Tubi’s library is far larger.
#Does Tubi require a credit card?
No. Tubi is free to sign up with just an email address. No credit card, no trial period, no subscription required. Tubi’s FAQ confirms that you can browse and watch without an account on most platforms, though personalization features like watchlists and “Continue Watching” require a login.
#Can I watch Pluto TV live channels on a smart TV?
Yes. Pluto TV has native apps for Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Vizio SmartCast, and Hisense Smart TV. If your smart TV lacks a native app, a Fire TV Stick or Roku device works.
#How many borrows do I get with Hoopla per month?
Most libraries set the limit at 4 to 10 borrows per month, resetting on the first of each month. Hoopla’s official documentation recommends checking your specific library’s page for the exact limit since it varies by contract. Some systems have raised limits to 15 to 20 borrows during promotional periods.
#Is Amazon Freevee available without a Prime subscription?
Yes. Amazon Freevee is entirely separate from Prime Video. You can access it through the dedicated Freevee app, through the Prime Video app while being a non-subscriber, or through the Freevee section built into every Fire TV device. No Prime membership required and no account needed to start watching on Fire TV.
#What happened to IMDb TV?
Amazon rebranded it to Freevee in April 2022. Same library, different name.
#Are these free streaming services legal?
All eight services on this list are fully legal, operating under studio licensing agreements funded by advertising revenue or library fees. Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, Freevee, and PopcornFlix are ad-supported (AVOD). Hoopla and Kanopy are funded through municipal library systems. None involve piracy.