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I post about deals and sales each week but I also like to inform. I thought this would be a good topic as you may not have an extensive collection like me and are trying to save money and possibly get away from paying for cable. 

When you buy a digital movie or TV show, it is yours to keep and watch when you want. However, you can watch movies and TV shows for free and legally. These may not be the new movie releases or the TV show the night it was aired but they are free and legal. Below are some legal ways to watch movies and TV shows from the comfort of your home for free without cable or Netflix.

The Ohio Digital Library

Do you have a library card in Ohio? The Ohio Digital Library (https://ohdbks.overdrive.com/) may be the best kept secret. Login with your local library card account and you can have access to thousands of digital videos from animation to TV series. Simply login to the site, click on Collections - Videos - Available now. You can also search the library for digital movie and place a hold if the movie you want is checked out. You can borrow the digital movie for 3, 5, or 7 days and not have to worry about a late return fee. 

The Ohio Digital Library also has an extensive audio book collection. Use the Libby app to login from your smart phone or tablet. This is a great way to catch up on your reading while you are driving, walking, or just relaxing at home.

Crackle

If you have a smart TV, Roku, or other streaming device, you may have seen Crackle. This app has a variety of TV and movies that you can stream for free. Like the Ohio Digital Library, the selection is not the latest releases but their are some interesting movies. The catch is that during the movie, Crackle will have commercials. However, the app and streaming the videos is free.

Vudu

I am a little bias about Vudu because it is not OS specific and comes standard on most devices. Vudu does not have any subscription fees and is owned by Walmart. I do not worry about this service closing or being bought out by a rival retailer anytime soon. You can purchase movies and TV series or even just episodes from the site. Vudu is also one of the primary places to redeem digital copies included with disc movies and TV shows.

Vudu also has a Free section right at the top of their page. Like the Ohio Digital Library and Crackle, these are not the latest movie releases or TV episodes. Like Crackle, there will be commercials throughout the videos. I do feel Vudu has a much better free movie and TV selection. The movies and TV series get refreshed every week.

One TV series that has been on their Free with Ads section for a long time is Dresden Files. I love this series and eagerly await it to go on sale but until then, I can enjoy it for free with ads. I recently discovered Vudu has several movies that are only available with ads and cannot be purchased. Angel Eyes and Hart's War are two such movies in my list. 

Major Networks

Ever have your cable provider get in dispute with your favorite network? Did you know that many major networks allow you to watch their TV shows without a cable subscription for free with ads? Here are a list of networks and the catch to watching their TV shows for free without a cable subscription from your computer. All providers limit their episodes to the last four or five.
  • ABC - episode must be over a week old
  • CBS - episode must be over a day old
  • NBC - episode must be over a day old
  • CW - episode must be over a day old
There is also the CW Seed that has several older TV series for free like Alcatraz, Blade The Series, Constantine, Everwood, Forever, Ghost Whisperer, Life Unexpected, Moonlight, Star Trek The Animated Series, Time After Time, and several others. I am bias with CW and CW Seed as they have most of the TV shows I watch.

Amazon Prime

I know Amazon Prime is not free but most people use it for just the free 2 day shipping. For those with Amazon Prime, there are several movies and TV shows that come free with your Prime membership. Current annual price is $119 per year (less than $10 a month) where you get free two day shipping and access to several movies and TV shows that you can stream. On a side note, if you select no rush delivery, you will get a $1 digital reward you can use on that digital movie collection you are working on. I have found that when I select this option, the item still comes within a few days. Just remember these credits expire within a few months so be sure to use them.

Did I Miss Any

Are there any free legal apps or sites you use to watch movies and TV episodes? Post them in the comments section so others can benefit from your knowledge.




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