Free TV in Canada: The Best Streaming Options After Cable
If you have cancelled cable, or you are thinking about it, one of the first questions is usually:
What am I going to watch?
The answer is: probably more than you think.
There are now several free streaming services available in Canada with movies, television shows, news, documentaries, classic programs, children’s content and live channels.
Some feel a lot like Netflix. Others feel more like traditional television, where you can simply turn it on and see what is playing.
And before you buy anything new, there is one important thing to check.
Your television may already have access to many of them.
If you are still deciding whether cutting cable makes sense, we wrote about that here:
We also took a closer look at Pluto TV here:
First, You May Not Need to Buy Anything
If you own a fairly recent Smart TV, there is a good chance you can already use streaming apps such as YouTube, Tubi, CBC Gem and Pluto TV.
Streaming simply means the program comes to your television through the internet instead of through a traditional cable connection.
If you have ever watched Netflix or YouTube on your television, you have already streamed something.
Before buying a Roku, Fire TV Stick or another device, check what your television can already do.
Sometimes the easiest solution is already sitting in your living room.
Pluto TV: Best for People Who Miss Channel Surfing
Pluto TV is one of the easiest free streaming services to understand because it feels a lot like traditional television.
You turn it on and something is already playing.
There is a channel guide, and you can move up and down through it to see what is on.
You will find movies, older television programs, crime shows, reality television, comedy, news, game shows and other specialty channels.
Pluto TV is free and supported by commercials.
For someone who has recently cancelled cable and misses simply browsing through channels, this is one of the best places to start.
We also wrote a full guide to Pluto TV here:
Tubi: Best for Movies and Television Shows
Tubi works a little more like Netflix.
You browse through movies and television programs, choose something you want to watch and press play.
There is no monthly fee.
Tubi is supported by advertising, so you will see commercials from time to time, but there is a very large amount of content available.
It can be particularly good for older movies, television series, documentaries, crime programs and comedies.
Tubi is owned by Fox Corporation, so it is backed by one of the largest media companies in the world.
CBC Gem: Best for Canadian Programming
CBC Gem is an excellent place to start if you enjoy Canadian television.
It includes CBC programs, documentaries, news, television series and other Canadian content.
For many older adults, it feels familiar because the programming is already well known.
The only real difference is how it reaches your television.
Instead of coming through a cable box, it comes through the internet.
Some CBC Gem content is free, while additional paid options are available for people who want them.
Global TV: Good for Recent Shows and News
Global TV is another useful option, even if you no longer have cable.
The Global TV app itself is free to download.
Global offers a selection of free programming, including recent episodes of some shows, free live Global News streams and additional free content through its Freeplay section.
Some programs still require a television-provider login, so not everything inside the app is free.
But there is enough available that it is worth exploring.
You can also watch online here:
The Roku Channel: Great if You Already Use Roku
Many people know Roku because of the small streaming devices that plug into a television.
What they may not realize is that Roku also has its own free television service.
It is called The Roku Channel.
It offers free movies, television programs, live channels, news, children’s programming and Roku Originals.
One of the nicest features is the live television guide.
If you miss the experience of scrolling through a traditional cable guide, this can feel very familiar.
More information about Roku’s free television options is available here:
Plex: More Free Live Channels
Plex is another service worth trying if you enjoy live television.
It offers free movies, television programs and live streaming channels.
It can be watched on supported Smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, computers and other devices.
Plex also has a traditional-looking guide, which makes it easier for people who prefer browsing channels rather than searching for a specific show.
YouTube: The One People Underestimate
YouTube may be one of the most useful free television services of all.
Many people still think of it as a place for funny videos and short clips.
It has become much more than that.
People now watch church services, exercise classes, cooking programs, documentaries, interviews, travel programs, concerts, music, gardening, woodworking, history and news on YouTube.
If you have a hobby, there is probably an entire YouTube channel devoted to it.
One interesting bit of history is that Google bought YouTube in 2006 for approximately US$1.65 billion.
At the time, that sounded like an enormous amount of money.
Today, YouTube is one of the largest video platforms in the world.
Of course, you do not need to understand anything about Google or internet history to use it.
You just need to find the red YouTube icon on your television.
Do You Need a Roku stick or player?
Maybe.
But before you buy one, check your television first.
If your television is already a Smart TV and it can run the apps you want, you may not need another device.
That said, Roku can still be useful because some Smart TV menus are slow, cluttered or difficult to understand.
A Roku gives you a fairly simple home screen with large app tiles.
For some older adults, that can make television much easier to use.
The real benefit is not necessarily getting more television.
It is making the television you already have less frustrating.
You can see Roku’s Canadian streaming devices here:
One Thing to Remember About Free TV
Most free streaming services have commercials.
That is how they can offer programming without charging a monthly fee.
For many people, that is a reasonable trade.
Traditional television had commercials too.
The difference is that you may no longer be paying a large cable bill to watch them.
It is also worth paying attention to paid subscriptions.
You may see services such as Netflix, Crave, Disney+, BritBox, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ alongside free apps.
There is nothing wrong with paying for a service you enjoy.
Just make sure you know when you are starting a paid subscription.
Where Should You Start?
Do not install everything at once.
Start with a few services that match what you actually like to watch.
If you enjoy Canadian television and news, try CBC Gem and Global TV.
If you miss channel surfing, try Pluto TV.
If you like movies, try Tubi.
If you already have Roku, explore The Roku Channel.
If you want even more live channels, try Plex.
And almost everyone should spend some time exploring YouTube.
The goal is not to replace 200 cable channels with 200 streaming apps.
The goal is to find a handful of things you genuinely enjoy watching.
Where Techie Nesters Comes In
This is exactly the kind of technology problem we enjoy helping people solve.
Not because streaming television is especially difficult.
The problem is that nobody explains it.
Someone buys a new television and suddenly they are expected to understand WiFi, apps, passwords, streaming devices, subscriptions and inputs.
Meanwhile, all they wanted to do was watch the news.
At Techie Nesters, we can help determine what you already have before you buy anything else.
We can connect your television to WiFi, install useful apps, organize the home screen, simplify the remote, set up accounts where needed and show you how everything works.
We can also help you decide whether a Roku would genuinely make things easier or whether your existing Smart TV already does everything you need.
Sometimes the best technology advice is:
Don’t buy anything yet.
Cable Is No Longer the Only Way to Watch Television
Cancelling cable used to feel like giving something up.
Today, it can simply mean watching television differently.
Between Pluto TV, Tubi, CBC Gem, Global TV, The Roku Channel, Plex and YouTube, there is a surprising amount of television available without another monthly subscription.
You may not find every program you had on cable.
But you may also discover that you were paying for an awful lot of television you never watched.
And if all of these apps, buttons and streaming services still feel like another language, that is okay.
Technology is supposed to make life easier.
Sometimes you just need someone patient enough to show you which button to press.
