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PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are popular consoles that are widely used by gamers internationally. In order to enhance the gaming experience, Sony developed a range of headphones that are specifically designed to work with these consoles. The PlayStation 4 headphones are known for their high-quality sound, noise-cancellation technology, and comfortable design. They offer a great balance of sound and chat audio, making them perfect for online gaming.

Gaming is a great way to take a break from the grind of daily life and escape to expansive, fantastic worlds, as well as a way to stay in touch with friends from around the globe. If gaming time is the way you and your friends keep in touch, then you’ll probably want to invest in a proper gaming headset with top-notch audio quality. A great headset offers high-caliber sound for an even more immersive gaming experience, and can be crucial when it comes to coordinating a raid, co-adventuring in a fantasy world or deciding which pal among you is more of an im-pal-ster. And no matter your needs or your budget, there’s a perfect headset out there for you.

You don’t have to buy Sony headphones either. Most standard wired headphones with microphones technically work as headsets for the PS4 (you simply plug the headphone into the 3.5mm jack on your controller), but having a dedicated “gaming” headset, like the PS4 compatible headsets below, ensures an optimized sound experience. One of the best PS4 headset features is the noise isolation, which can block out background noise for a more immersive experience, and another great gaming headset feature is a good mic that ensures others can hear you clearly when you’re in the middle of a long gaming session. Seriously, when you’re going head-to-head with another squad, mic quality matters.

Many people with a PlayStation 4 choose to go with a wired headset simply because it can be plugged into the already wireless controller. It’s also worth noting that many, if not most, wired PS4 headphones also work just fine with the PS5, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, Windows PCs, Macs and the Nintendo Switch.

But what if you don’t want your headphones to be tied down by wires? If you want to eliminate the cord that goes from the controller to your headphones, some of the best PS4 headset options let you go completely wireless. Just be aware that these PS4 headsets all include — and require — a low-latency wireless dongle that plugs into the USB port on your PS4 (there should be no audio delay).

Note: Almost no PS4 wireless gaming headsets will also work with the Xbox One. The Switch, meanwhile, requires a USB-C wireless dongle for wireless headset connectivity (though some of the USB dongles do work via the Switch’s dock).

Some midrange and high-end PS4 gaming headset models feature 7.1 virtual surround sound. To be clear, this isn’t real surround sound but it can help with the sound quality to create a richer, more immersive audio experience. It also gives you a better sense of spatial awareness with certain games where that can be an advantage. When looking for the best PS4 headsets, we also took mic quality into consideration if you’re playing online, because that’s especially important if your gaming session requires group coordination. If you can’t be heard, you can’t strategize!

With those basics established, let’s talk about the best PS4 headset. These are the results of our own home-based testing — we thought about everything from noise cancellation to the comfiness of the ear cushions. This list is updated periodically and includes some options suggested in GameSpot’s list of best gaming headsets.

HyperX

HyperX Cloud Alpha

Best wired under $100

After I try a headset, I often hand it over to my 14-year-old son, who plays pretty much exclusively on PS4. I have several gaming headsets lying around and he always returns to the HyperX Cloud Alpha. It’s just very solidly built, has good sound with strong microphone performance and most importantly, it’s comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions.

For about $30 more you can get the HyperX Cloud Alpha S 7.1, which has a nearly identical design but supports virtual surround sound audio — only for PCs, though. This PS4 headset is stereo-only for PS4.

Read our HyperX Cloud Alpha preview.

$98 at Walmart

$100 at Best Buy

$80 at Amazon

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Sennheiser

Sennheiser GSP 370

Best build and battery life wireless headset

Sennheiser’s GSP 370 is not only really well built, but it features excellent sound, comfort, microphone performance (there’s superb noise reduction) and monster battery life — up to 100 hours but expect to get a little less than that. An included USB dongle allows you to connect wirelessly to your PS4 and the microphone can be muted by flipping the boom up. The GSP 370 is also compatible with PCs.

This wireless gaming headset is a relatively low-frills model for its midrange price, with few physical buttons (no chat volume control, no sound mode toggles) except for a power switch and a large volume wheel that operates very smoothly. I found it to be one of the most comfortable headsets and it also works well for listening to music.

$170 at Walmart

$100 at Amazon

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JBL

JBL Quantum 800

Best wireless noise canceling

The $200 Quantum 800 isn’t the top-of-the-line gaming headset from JBL, which is a newcomer to the gaming headset market, but has long been in the audio game.That would be the $300 Quantum One, but that’s a wired headset and also overkill for the PS4. The Quantum 800 is wireless and includes a dongle that works with your PS4 and Windows PC. It also features noise canceling and sounds excellent not just for games, but music and movies too. It’s slightly heavy, but is comfortable to wear.

Its microphone performance is middle of the pack and probably not quite as good as it should be at this price. It’s also worth noting that the microphone isn’t detachable (it is on the Quantum One) but does flip up to mute. It’d be nice if it was detachable because its Bluetooth connectivity could be used on the go with your smartphone. Battery life is rated at up to 14 hours with the lights turned off, but expect to get a little less than that if you keep the volume fairly high.

On the PC side, JBL needs to work out some kinks with the software but everything is more straightforward with the PS4. This is the headset to consider if you want a model that’s versatile, has good sound quality and works with multiple devices, including as a PS4 headset.

$200 at Amazon

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SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless

Best high-end wireless

Some say the Arctis Pro Wireless is the headset that provides the best all-around gaming experience for PS4 and PCs. It was designed for those two platforms and features high-end audio, a comfortable fit and loads of features, including a swappable battery. Two batteries are included and each provides enough juice to power the headset for 10 hours, according to SteelCase.

With a wireless transmitter about the size of an Apple TV that connects to your PS4 (or your PC), it’s a little cumbersome to set up and operate (you access the settings on the transmitter). It’s one of the few wireless headphones beyond Sony models, however, that offers virtual surround. It also has Bluetooth wireless connectivity so you can connect it to smartphones.

The Arctis Pro came out in early 2018, so it’s probably due for a refresh, but it remains a top PS4 (and PC) headset if you can afford it. See below for its sibling, the Arctis 1, which you can snag for a fraction of the price.

$274 at Newegg

SteelSeries

SteelSeries Arctis 1

Good value wireless under $100

As we mentioned above, the Arctis Pro Wireless is a monster — but it usually costs more than $400. If you want a much more affordable alternative, check out the Arctis 1, a well-designed (but less swanky) wireless model that sells for about $75. It’s a great value and is compatible (in wireless mode) with PS4 and PC, as well as the Nintendo Switch, thanks to an included USB-C dongle. The Discord-certified microphone is detachable and battery life is rated at up to 20 hours, which is pretty decent.

$73 at Amazon

David Carnoy/CNET

JBL Quantum 100

Solid under-$40 wired option

The Quantum 100 is the entry-level model in JBL’s new line of Quantum gaming headsets, which run from $40 to $300. There’s nothing fancy about this model, but it’s pretty lightweight and comfortable with nicely padded ear cups, plus it has a detachable boom microphone. On the left ear cup there’s a volume control dial along with a microphone mute button. It also works with other game consoles and is pretty decent for music, though it’s a touch bright.

While some of JBL’s higher-end models feature wireless connectivity and even noise canceling, the Quantum 100 is just a basic gaming headphone that will appeal to more casual gamers on a tight budget.

$29 at Walmart

$40 at Amazon

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Josh Miller/CNET

PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset (Update: Currently Unavailable)

Best budget wireless

Sony’s PlayStation Gold Wireless Headset has been around for awhile and was last updated in 2018. It remains arguably the best budget gaming headset for PS4 gamers, particularly those looking for a cord-free PS4 headset model for VR games. You’ll have to use the included USB dongle to connect wirelessly. This wireless headset features 7.1 virtual surround sound for games that support that sound quality feature.

$120 at Walmart

$73 at Amazon

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Amazon will reportedly be allowed to complete its acquisition of 1Life Healthcare, parent of primary care provider One Medical, without opposition from the US Federal Trade Commission.

Antitrust regulators at the agency won’t sue to block the takeover but still plan to probe the $3.49 billionmerger, an FTC spokesman told various media outlets. The acquisition of One Medical, which runs a chain of more than 150 primary care clinics in more than a dozen US cities and offers online and mobile services, will greatly expand the primary care services Amazon is already offering through its Amazon Care brand.

“The FTC’s investigation of Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical continues,” FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said in a statement to the media. “The commission will continue to look at possible harms to competition created by this merger as well as possible harms to consumers that may result from Amazon’s control and use of sensitive consumer health information held by One Medical.”

One Medical offers services to individual subscribers as well as to workers who receive its benefits from employers. It aims to speed up access to care with round-the-clock virtual care for patients and quick appointment booking. Amazon Care, which launched in 2019, currently provides medical care in eight cities, including Seattle and Arlington, Virginia, which are both homes to major Amazon offices. Amazon Care is slated to expand into New York, San Francisco and other major cities.

The FTC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.

Microsoft said it’s expanding the lengths of chats people can have with the test version of its Bing AI, while the company’s also begun testing different “tone” personalities for more precise or more creative responses. The company’s moves follow efforts to restrict access to the technology after media coverage of the artificial intelligence chatting app going off the rails went viral last week.

Bing Chat can now respond to up to six questions or statements in a row per conversation, after which people will need to start a new topic, the company said in a blog post Tuesday. Microsoft had previously imposed a conversation limit of five responses, with a maximum of 50 total interactions per day. Microsoft said it will now allow 60 total interactions per day and plans to increase that total to 100 “soon.”

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Microsoft also said it’s testing options for people to choose the tone of their conversations, whether they prefer Bing to be more precise in its responses, more creative or somewhere between the two.

Ultimately, the tech giant said it hopes to allow longer and more intricate conversations over time but wants to do so “responsibly.”

“The very reason we are testing the new Bing in the open with a limitedset of preview testers is precisely to find these atypical use casesfrom which we can learn and improve the product,” the company said in a statement.

Microsoft’s moves mark the latest twist for its Bing AI chatbot, which made a splash when it was announced earlier this month. The technology combines Microsoft’s less-popular Bing search engine with technology from startup OpenAI, whose ChatGPT responds to prompts for everything from being asked to write a poem to helping write code and even everyday math to figure out how many bags can fit in a car.

Experts believe this new type of technology, called “generative AI,” has the potential to remake the way we interact with technology. Microsoft, for example, demonstrated how its Bing AI could help someone plan a vacation day by day with relative ease.

Last week, though, critics raised concerns that Microsoft’s Bing AI may not be ready for prime time. People with early access began posting bizarre responses the system was giving them, including Bing telling a New York Times columnist to abandon his marriage, and the AI demanding an apology from a Reddit user over whether we’re in 2022 or 2023.

Microsoft said that the “long and intricate” chat sessions that prompted many of the unusual responses were “not something we would typically find with internal testing.” But it hopes that improvements to the program, including its potential new choice of tone for responses, will help give people “more control on the type of chat behavior to best meet” their needs.

More on AI chatbots

• Generative AI Tools: What You Need to Know
• You’ll Be Seeing ChatGPT’s Influence Everywhere This Year
• Why We’re Obsessed With the Mind-Blowing ChatGPT AI Chatbot
• It’s Scary Easy to Use ChatGPT to Write Phishing Emails
• Look What ChatGPT Did to My Online Dating Profile

February is a big month for PlayStation Plus. Leading the pack of new games for the month is Horizon: Forbidden West, one of the best games of 2022, and it’s available on the service starting Tuesday.

Other major games heading to PS Plus this month are Resident Evil 7, horror adventure game The Quarry and Borderlands 3. For those into retro games, PS Plus Premium subscribers (as opposed to Essential and Extra tier subscribers) will get access to two classic PlayStation 1 RPGs: Wild Arms 2 and The Legend of Dragoon.

Here are some notable PlayStation Plus inclusions so far:

• Scarlet Nexus
• Tekken 7
• Stray

• Mass Effect Legendary Edition
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

• Deathloop

• Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and FFVII Intergrade

• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
• Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
• Returnal

• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (and now Black Flag and several others)
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• God of War (2018)
• Fallout 76
• Red Dead Redemption 2

There are some notable games on that list, but it also lacks the blockbuster Day 1 vibe of Xbox Game Pass, which has big debuts like Halo Infinite. Extra costs $15 a month, $40 for three months or $100 for a year. (In the UK it’s 11, 32 or 84, respectively, and in Australia it’s AU$19, AU$55 or AU$135.)

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The more expensive Premium tier ($18 or 13.49 a month) also includes download and streaming access to about 500 older games, mostly from pre-PS4 consoles, most of which will run at 60 frames per second. It also includes access to game demos. You can try games like Horizon: Forbidden West, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and Hot Wheels Unleashed. (Note: In Australia the Premium tier is called Deluxe and costs AU$22 a month.)

One of the better aspects of the new PS Plus is there are plenty of cult and indie favorites in the Extra/Premium tier.

Here are some older or lesser-known picks so far:

• Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories
• XCOM 2
• Greedfall
• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker
• Pillars of Eternity
• Tetris Effect
• Outer Wilds

Read more: Best Game Subscription Services

One odd but interesting thing I noticed is there are a lot of Warhammer games included. I know next to nothing about Warhammer lore, but appreciate that it’s so deep and wide-ranging. And I’ve enjoyed games like Inquisitor (like a sci-fi Diablo) and the recent Chaos Gate (like XCOM with space marines). If you’re interested, the PS Plus list includes:

• Chaosbane
• Space Hulk: Deathwing
• Inquisitor
• Necromunda: Underhive Wars
• Space Hulk Tactics

I’ll update this list as more games are added, and as my colleagues remind me of top-tier classics I’ve missed.

Read more: PlayStation Plus vs. PlayStation Now

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Windows 11 was launched in October 2021, and the operating system has been gradually adding even more features aimed at making your computer a little bit better. However, sometimes the optimal settings are hidden behind the defaults. In certain cases, those defaults can even undermine your PC accessories. So the next time you start up for work, or before your next gaming session, go into your settings and consider these changes that include refresh rate and audio settings, as well as updates and privacy settings.

Enable dark mode

The option to change between light mode and dark mode in Windows 11 isn’t in the most obvious place. Instead of being filed under display options, it can be found under Settings > Personalization > Colors. There, you can choose light mode, dark mode, or use different settings for Windows vs. apps. You can also set transparency effects and accent colors in this menu.

Default browser

Not a fan of Microsoft Edge? You can change Windows 11 to use whatever browser you prefer. Go to Settings > Apps and look for the browser you’d like to use. Then just click ‘Set default’ in the top-right corner, and Windows will automatically use that browser when opening links from other apps. You also have the ability to customize by file type if, say, you want PDF files to open in a different browser.

Manage updates settings

Keeping your computer updated is important for security, as Windows updates often include patches to prevent security exploits. Still, unexpected updates can be annoying, especially if your computer forces a restart. To take more control of your Windows 11 updates, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. From this menu, you can set your active hours (so your device won’t restart while you’re doing things) or ask Windows to give you a 15-minute heads-up before automatically restarting to apply updates.

Change startup apps

There’s no annoyance quite like getting a new device but feeling like it’s sluggish as soon as you turn it on. Most of the time, the culprit is too many startup apps. The more apps your device launches on startup, the more resources it drains. To save on resources and make things a bit snappier, go to Settings > Apps > Startup and turn off everything you don’t need immediately after turning on your computer. (I recommend turning off OneDrive, as that consistently slowed down my PC.) You can always open these apps when you’re ready to use them, and if there’s something you typically do first thing after booting up, you can always enable it to save you the step of opening it manually.

Refresh rate

Don’t let your fancy new monitor go to waste because you’re using the wrong refresh rate. Windows 11 defaults to a low refresh rate, likely to save power, but this default means you’re not getting the most value out of your monitor. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and look for your display. There will be a dropdown menu labeled Choose a refresh rate and pick the highest option your monitor can support. You can choose a lower setting if, say, your device can’t quite match your refresh rate while gaming, but if you play any shooters, you’re going to want that refresh rate to be as high as possible.

Sound quality

As with refresh rate, your default sound settings could be holding back your accessories. To check, go to System > Sound > Properties and choose the sound device you’re using. Then under Output settings, make sure the Format option dropdown uses the highest available setting. This will ensure you’re getting the maximum audio quality. If you’re using a headset for three-dimensional audio, make sure the spatial sound setting is turned on (Windows Sonic for Headphones).

Privacy settings

Some of the default privacy settings in Windows 11 give Microsoft ways to sneak advertisements into your experience. Fortunately, you can disable those avenues in settings. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > General and toggle off any of the options you don’t like. (I particularly recommend turning off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID and Show me suggested content in the settings app.) The privacy & security menu also lets you change other options, like turning location services off or choosing which apps can access your camera.

For more on Windows 11, check out how to take screenshots and our favorite keyboard shortcuts.

Hoping to get your hands on a sleek and powerful Apple Watch Ultra? We’ve scoured the web for the best offers and discounts out there so you can snag Apple’s latest and greatest smartwatch for less.

Revealed alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, the new Ultra offers a more utilitarian Apple Watch experience with several features aimed at elite athletes, hikers and scuba divers. It offers the biggest and brightest Apple Watch display yet with a 49mm titanium case and a flat sapphire front crystal. The device is more durable than ever with MIL-STD-810H-grade certification for altitude, temperature and dust, as well as a higher water-resistance rating, up to EN13319, for diving. There’s also a new customizable Action button that offers instant access to a range of features to suit your needs.

A headline feature of the Apple Watch Ultra for outdoor types is the increased battery life, now up to 36 hours per charge — double that of the regular Apple Watch models — and that can be extended to up to 60 hours with a new low-power setting.

The Apple Watch Ultra retails at $799 ( 849, AU$1,299). We’ll be sure to update the below list with any Apple Watch Ultra deals that crop up.

Best Apple Watch Ultra deals

Apple

Amazon

Save $19

While Apple Watch Ultra deals are few and far between right now, Amazon does have select configurations available for $780, which is $19 less than the Apple price. Be sure to click through all the various band options to see if the style and size you need is discounted.

$780 at Amazon

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Apple

Best Buy

Up to $150 off with trade-in + free Apple services

Best Buy doesn’t have a direct Apple Watch Ultra discount at the moment, though we have seen as much as $50 off there in the past. You will, however, score four free months of Apple Fitness Plus from Best Buy, which is a month more than Apple gives new users. Best Buy also has its own trade-in program, and is offering up to $150 off the Apple Watch Ultra for qualifying devices.

$799 at Best Buy

Apple/Dawnthea Price Lisco/CNET

Apple

Up to $160 off with trade-in

Apple Watch Ultra is now readily available at Apple, both online and in stores. All configurations cost $799, but you can get as much as $160 off by handing over your old Apple Watch for trade-in. If you are an Apple Card holder, you’ll also be able to get 3% cash-back if you buy that way.

$799 at Apple

Apple

Target

5% off with RedCard

Target has the Apple Watch Ultra listed at full price, though Target RedCard holders can save 5% on the purchase which is good for $40 off. You’ll nab four free months of Apple Fitness Plus via Target, too.

$800 at Target

Apple

Adorama

Rewards program

Apple Watch Ultra isn’t discounted at Adorama right now, and several models are out of stock there. Its Adorama Rewards program is free to sign up for, though, which allows you to earn points to redeem as credit against future purchases which is good for regular shoppers.

$799 at Adorama

Apple

Verizon

$180 off with trade-in

Verizon is offering as much as $180 off the Apple Watch Ultra on any plan when you trade in your old smartwatch. Alternatively, get $120 off when you buy an Apple Watch Ultra with a new iPhone.

$799 at Verizon

Apple

AT&T

Buy one, get $330 off another

AT&T is running a promotion on the Apple Watch Ultra that offers $330 off when you buy two. If you and someone else in the family are in the market for an upgrade, it’s a nice chunk of money off.

$799 at AT&T

Apple

T-Mobile

Buy one, get $200 off another

Similarly, T-Mobile will give you $200 back in credit when you buy two Apple Watch models. You’ll need at least one new line and wireless service for each device.

$799 at T-Mobile

The Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro already have hand tracking that works across many apps, and in the headset’s OS without using a controller, but it’s not necessarily good enough yet to replace your controllers. Meta’s latest Quest OS update looks like it’s trying to change that, and maybe make work interactions in VR feel a little less awkward.

Quest’s v50 update, announced Tuesday and rolling out now, adds an experimental mode called “Direct Touch” that changes the metaphor a bit for hand interactions. Previously, you’d point at objects and pinch your fingers to select where you’re pointing at. Direct Touch allows for reaching out and just tapping a button with your virtual finger instead.

Direct Touch also works on virtual keyboards, which means that typing on the pop-up Quest keyboard whenever it appears hovering in the air could feel less awkward, too.

Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, believes future Quest headsets could potentially ship without controllers, but at the moment hand tracking hasn’t been good enough yet to make that happen: “I think it’s pretty possible that someday we could ship a headset that didn’t have controllers with them, for audiences for whom their use cases didn’t need the extra weight expense. But we’re not there yet,” Bosworth told CNET last December.

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Meta’s expected Quest 3 headset is expected later this year, and Apple’s own VR/AR entry is expected to be announced soon, too. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, looks like it’s continuing to evolve the interaction language on the Quest as it starts to bridge into mixed reality.

The v50 update also adds 2D app multitasking within other games and apps on the Quest 2, a feature that was already available on the Quest Pro.

The Pokemon Company teased upcoming announcements Tuesday, with a video presentation scheduled for Monday Feb. 27. It promised “about 20 minutes” of news about the monster collecting megafranchise, which will likely include additional content for Nintendo Switch games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

“Tune in to our official YouTube channel at 6:00 a.m. PST on February 27 for about 20 minutes of exciting Pokémon news in celebration of #PokemonDay 2023,” it wrote.

The presentation is coming on the 27th anniversary of Pokemon Red and Green‘s original release in Japan.

When will the Pokemon Presents start?

The Pokemon Presents video will be available 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET next Monday, which converts to 2 p.m. GMT or 1 a.m. Tuesday AEST.

How to watch the Pokemon Presents

The event will be streaming from The Pokemon Company’s YouTube channel. We’ll embed the YouTube link above, so you can watch right here.

Paid streaming subscriptions are bumping up their rates while offering a handful of cheaper tiers. Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and Hulu offer great movies and shows, but you don’t have to stay locked in to meet your entertainment needs. There are a bunch of free alternatives to the big streamers, and we’ve gone through the testing and research to find the best ones for you.

Many of these services are ad-supported, so you won’t be able to skip commercials on these platforms. Most have older shows and movies, sort of like basic cable reruns. Some network sites (including ABC) won’t let you stream every show unless you’re a paid cable or satellite subscriber, but there are services like Sling Free, which offers a free tier in addition to paid plans.

Here’s a look at some of the best free streaming sites, which are all legal ways to indulge your inner couch potato. Prefer movies? Check out these 10 free Netflix alternatives.

Read more: Free Live TV News to Stream Right Now

James Martin/CNET

Peacock

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s subscription service, which comes loaded with plenty of NBC content as well as movies and original programming. Unlike Netflix, Hulu and competitor Paramount Plus, however, Peacock has a free tier. There are also $5 Premium and $10 Premium Plus ad-free tiers, and certain cable customers can receive Premium for free. There’s a catch, however. As of January 2023, you must already be a Peacock Premium subscriber to use the free tier. Premium subscribers have the option to downgrade their accounts.

The free streaming version has thousands of hours of television shows, films, news, skit-style clips and exclusive big-budget original programming. Peacock’s slate of originals includes Poker Face, Bel-Air, Girls5Eva and a Psych movie sequel. With the free version you won’t get access to every episode of the original series, and you’ll also miss out on a lot of the other content Premium subscribers get. In addition to NBC programming, Peacock has content from NBC-owned networks such as Bravo, E, Syfy and USA along with daytime soap operas, talk shows and sports. Paying for Peacock unlocks the full 80,000-hour library; with the free version you get about half of that.

Read our Peacock review.

See at Peacock

Sarah Tew/CNET

Roku Channel

Roku Channel is a free TV streaming service designed for people who own the company’s streaming devices and TVs, but it’s also available via Roku’s apps for phones and tablets as well as online.

The Roku Channel offers 300 live channels including a channel guide, with its existing selection of on-demand content. While the linear TV includes live news and lifestyle channels, the on-demand content ranges from Roku Originals (like the Weird Al Yankovic biopic), to reality TV (Hoarders, Kitchen Nightmares) to popular series like House, 2 Broke Girls and Downton Abbey. You’ll also find anime (live and on-demand) and crime shows.

Unfortunately, not every TV series is complete (Bewitched, for example), and the service only offers a single episode in some cases. There’s plenty of stuff to watch, however, including a dedicated kids section. There’s also a solid array of classic movies including Robocop, Dawn of the Dead and The Cable Guy. In addition, you can subscribe to premium services including HBO, much like you can via Prime Video channels or the Apple TV app.

See at Roku

James Martin/CNET

Pluto TV

Pluto TV is noteworthy for offering not only on-demand, free movie streaming, but also more than 250 live and linear channels on the platform, including BBC Food, Minecraft TV, Star Trek and CBS News. Because it’s a Paramount-owned brand, Pluto also has episodes of South Park and Survivor.

Pluto offers an impressive selection of live channels sorted into categories like news, reality, sports, comedy and movies in a grid format. On-demand TV content is organized into TV drama shows, sitcoms, crime, action series, sci-fi and more. The layout is not nearly as slick as the live channels, but there’s a variety of genres. One oddity: If you’re watching a livestream, there’s no way to pause. You can only mute it.

See at Pluto TV

James Martin/CNET

Tubi TV

Tubi TV generated huge buzz from its 2023 Super Bowl ad, and now the service may demand your attention. It offers considerably more free movie streaming than TV shows, but it continues to grow its extensive library and its live channel lineup. This ad-supported network doesn’t require an account, though signing up for one enables you to save favorites and resume playback if you switch between devices.

Tubi offers nationwide and local news livestreams in addition to live sports, weather and entertainment channels.The streaming site’s TV selection offers some of the reality shows we’ve come to expect, such as Hell’s Kitchen and Dance Moms, plus oddball inclusions such as the Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters. In 2023, the platform is adding content from HBO and Warner Bros., with titles including Westworld, The Nevers, Raised by Wolves and The Time Traveler’s Wife.

To watch TV series on demand, you can browse by title, network or genre, including a Tubi Kids category. Not every show has full seasons available, but you’ll find Quantico, Columbo and 14 seasons of Degrassi: The Next Generation among the choices. There are also a handful of Tubi Originals and feature films such as Doctor Sleep and Rambo: Last Blood.

See at Tubi TV

James Martin/CNET

Freevee

Formerly known as IMDb TV, Freevee is Amazon’s ad-supported streaming service that features a motherlode of TV and movie lore. In addition to TV series and movies, you can stream Freevee Originals and a string of 24/7 live channels.

Though the service’s initial focus was primarily on movie streaming, it’s now filled with TV shows too. Popular movies like Red Sparrow and The Purge are available, as well as all seven seasons of the AMC classic Mad Men and all eleven seasons of The X-Files. Other titles include MacGyver (the reboot), Desperate Housewives, Good Times, Freevee Original Judy Justice and nine seasons of the Gen X classic Little House on the Prairie, starring Michael Landon.

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Sling Freestream

Though Sling’s live TV packages start at $40, Sling Freestream offers more than 40,000 titles of free on-demand TV, and movies and over 210 live TV channels.

Sling TV’s free streaming service includes livestreams for news, entertainment, sports, kids and more. You’ll find channels for ABC News Live, The Walking Dead Universe, Bon Appetit, Barstool Sports and on-demand selections including Ryan’s World, Brother vs. Brother and Chopped Junior.

You do not need to create an account when watching Sling Freestream, but if you do, it makes it easier to personalize what you watch. The service is available to watch on a web browser and via the Sling app. No payment information is required for viewing.

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Crackle

Crackle

Crackle is an ad-supported streaming service that offers mostly movies, but also some TV shows — including original content. It doesn’t require you to set up an account, though doing so enables you to save favorites, get recommendations and resume playback if you switch between devices.

Crackle’s commercial-supported selection has expanded with over 300 different shows, and mainly consists of older releases such as Sherlock (with Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch), Alf and The Partridge Family. As with other free services, however, not every TV series is complete — you might get only one or two seasons, or even just a partial season. There are movie selections from the 1940s to the present, including The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series and Sophie’s Choice.

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Plex

Plex

Starting as a way for users to stream content stored on users’ computers, Plex has evolved to incorporate other sources such as OTA broadcasts, Tidal, and free streaming TV. You don’t need to install the Plex server, you just stream it with the basic Plex app, or if you want, sign up for an account.

Plex’s free streaming service operates similarly to Pluto. The offering started with a modest slate of ad-supported content, mostly movies, but Plex has since entered a partnership with Crackle, offering thousands more TV shows and movies from that service. In addition to on-demand content like Hannibal and Kitchen Nightmares, Plex also offers live TV channels like Stories by AMC, Hallmark and niche 24/7 streams for certain series, including The Walking Dead.

Movie fans can search by title and genre. Or you can check out themed collections such as Cheap Thrills or The Dojo.

See at Plex

Screenshot by Rick Broida/CNET

Hoopla Digital

Got a library card? Check to see if your library has partnered with Hoopla. This digital-media service allows you to check out all kinds of stuff — from ebooks to movies to TV shows. When you “borrow” one, you have 72 hours in which to watch it. Your library determines the total number of titles you can borrow each month. An added bonus for this service is there are no commercials interrupting your viewing experience.

Hoopla’s TV selection is something of a hodgepodge, with a smattering of well-known shows mixed in with a lot of self-help, documentary and family fare. For example, you’ll find three seasons of the SyFy original Humans, both seasons of The Jim Gaffigan Show and lots of Ken Burns documentaries. Hoopla also has instructional videos from The Great Courses series, various PBS Kids shows and plenty of Acorn TV content that would otherwise require a subscription. Film selections rotate on and off the platform, so be sure to check the rotation on a regular basis.

See at Hoopla Digital

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How we test streaming services

With more than 150 streaming services in existence — globally — it can be hard sifting through each brand and its offerings. We narrowed this list down based on several factors, including accessibility, popularity, on-demand content, live channels and reliability. We watched each service on a TV and mobile device to evaluate its user interface and channel roster.

These apps can be easily accessed on virtually any media player, smart TV, web browser or mobile device, and they offer a variety of content to suit genre preferences or age ranges. Because they’re free services, there’s added value for those that offer originals and live channels. When doing test runs of these services, we didn’t encounter problems with crashing, lag time or choppy live broadcasts, but your mileage may vary.

Free streaming services FAQs

I firmly believe that music is a gift to the world, and it’s one I enjoy every single day. If you love music, too, and you want an actual gift (card, that is), check out this deal on the Beats Fit Pro that we found on Amazon. The headphones themselves aren’t discounted from their usual price tag of $200, but you get a $25 Amazon gift card that you can put toward a future purchase.

You can choose from black, white, sage gray and lavender options here. For Prime members in most areas, you can also get same-day delivery. It might be a sudden boot to your old headphones, but you’ll be thankful you did it.

Beat Fit Pro

$200 at Amazon

We consider the Beats Fit Pro the sportier AirPod that we’ve always wanted. Released just days after the debut of the third-gen AirPods, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple’s H1 chip and have most of the AirPods Pro’s features including active canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ.

In fact, these headphones won our Editor’s Choice Award in 2021 and for good reason. With a lightweight design and integrated wingtips, they are made to fit securely and comfortably in your ear. The Beats Fit Pro produce great sound and have a better battery life than the AirPods Pro (six hours with noise-cancelling and seven hours off of it at moderate volume levels).