Which free option suits you
| Option | What you get | Aerial needed? | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcaster apps (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5, U) | Each broadcaster’s programmes on demand; BBC iPlayer and ITVX also stream their channels live | No | Smart TVs, streaming sticks, games consoles, phones and browsers, in the UK |
| Freely | Live channels and on-demand in one TV guide, over broadband | No | Selected TVs from 2024 onwards, and plug-in Freely devices |
| Freeview Play | Aerial channels plus the broadcasters’ on-demand players | Yes, for live TV | Freeview Play TVs and recorders |
| Free ad-supported channels (Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus) | Scheduled themed channels and films, with adverts | No | The service’s apps; Samsung TV Plus is on Samsung TVs and Galaxy devices |
The broadcasters’ own apps
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5 and UKTV each run a free streaming service. They are the most complete legal source of UK programmes online and run on most devices sold in the UK.
- BBC iPlayer: BBC channels live and on demand. It always needs a TV Licence and a BBC account.
- ITVX: ITV1, ITV2, ITVBe, ITV3 and ITV4 live, plus on-demand programmes; ITVX Premium is an optional paid tier.
- Channel 4, 5 and U: each broadcaster’s programmes on demand, in their own apps.
Have a Firestick? See Freeview channels on a Firestick, which covers installing each app.
Freely and Freeview Play
Both are free platforms from Everyone TV, the company owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5. The difference is how live channels arrive:
- Freeview Play takes live channels from your aerial and adds the on-demand players over broadband. Channel 100 opens them on a Freeview Play TV.
- Freely streams the live channels over broadband too, so a TV with Freely built in needs only Wi-Fi or a network cable. Everyone TV recommends at least 10 Mbps.
Freely is IPTV in the technical sense: television delivered over an internet connection. See what is IPTV and IPTV vs Freeview.
Free ad-supported channels
FAST services (free ad-supported streaming TV) run scheduled channels, often built around one show, genre or decade, paid for by adverts instead of a subscription. They’re official services distributed through the normal app stores:
- Pluto TV, from Paramount, with apps for Fire TV, Android TV and Google TV, Apple devices, Roku, LG and Samsung TVs, Xbox and web browsers.
- Samsung TV Plus, built into Samsung smart TVs from 2016 and available on Galaxy phones and tablets.
Two rules for every free service
- The TV Licence. GOV.UK says you need a licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or service, and to use BBC iPlayer. On-demand programmes on other services don’t need one. See do you need a TV Licence for IPTV.
- UK only. The UK broadcasters’ apps check where your connection is. The BBC, for example, blocks streaming outside the UK and won’t play programmes when it detects a VPN or proxy.
Free isn’t the same as a free playlist
Lists of “free IPTV” channels shared online often include channels you would normally pay for. A free list of paid channels is very unlikely to have the rights to them, and some come with malware or scams attached. See free IPTV playlists: what’s legal and what’s risky, and is IPTV free? for what IPTV costs. See is IPTV legal in the UK and how to spot IPTV scams.