As the name implies, Freevee is a free streaming service. The catch? It’s an entirely ad-supported platform. Although it may seem like the streamer has just entered the fray, it’s actually been around for a few years. Previously, the platform was called IMDbTV. But, despite the name change, the premise remains the same.
Who Owns Freevee?
Amazon owns both Freevee and IMDb — hence the streaming platform’s original name. Accessible through the Amazon Prime Video streaming app, Freevee will be the home of original series. Some of those originals include the spin-off series Bosch: Legacy; Jungle, a series about the interconnected lives of strangers, set against the backdrop of the U.K.’s drill and rap music scene; and High School, a scripted adaptation of indie-pop duo Tegan and Sara’s memoir about their teenage years in the ‘90s.
Here, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about Freevee, Amazon’s rebranded, free-to-stream platform.
Is Freevee Really Free?
Yes, Freevee is 100% free. The entirely ad-supported platform doesn’t offer other subscription tiers.
Is There an Amazon Freevee Subscription?
Unlike Hulu or other big-name streamers, you can’t pay a little more to skip the ads. For shows and movies that aren’t exclusively streaming on Freevee, the only way to get around those disruptive ads is to stream the programing on Amazon Prime Video.
Okay, but can Freevee really offer quality programming — especially quality originals — if it’s free? Fair question. After all, Netflix is charging around $20 per month for one of its more standard subscription levels. The ad revenue is what keeps the lights on at Freevee. (Well, that and the fact that it’s backed by a corporation that made $469.8 billion in revenue in 2021.)
But, even so, the platform isn’t just relying on ad revenue to cover costs. Generally, Freevee offers shows that are cheaper to license. Still, there are still plenty of great offerings on Freevee, some of which are originals that are well worth your time.
How to Watch Freevee
As far as potential downsides go, the service does require you to set up an Amazon account. With a sign-in, you can watch free Freevee content on the Prime Video app.
The good news? You don’t need an Amazon Prime subscription. Plus, having an account means the app will keep track of where you left off and which shows are next in your queue. If you’re already a Prime member, though, there aren’t really any perks when it comes to streaming Freevee. Even with Amazon Prime, you’ll still need to sit through the ads.
Is There a Freevee App?
Yes, there’s a dedicated app. However, you can stream the service’s content through the Prime Video app. Not only does it cut down on the amount of apps on your device, but the Prime Video app is functionally better, too; users have complained about the poor quality of the Freevee app, especially the Android version.
What Is Freevee on Amazon Prime?
If you already stream content on Prime Video, you might not have noticed that Freevee’s library is now available, too. Maybe you’ve come across unexpected ads while watching content on Prime Video and wondered what’s up.
As mentioned before, you can stream all the free-to-watch service has to offer via the Prime Video app. That said, Prime Video content remains ad-free for Amazon Prime members. The thumbnails of Prime Video content will feature the tell-tale white banner with “Prime” scrawled across it to help you distinguish between the content libraries.
So, what is Freevee on Amazon Prime? For the most part, you’ll see a banner on shows’ and movies’ thumbnails that reads “ads” to denote the new platform’s content.
Is Freevee IMDb TV?
Yes, Freevee is the rebranded version of the not-super-well-known IMDb TV. Before that, the original name of the platform was IMDb Freedive. Both of these previous iterations were also owned and operated by Amazon, which bought IMDb back in 1998.
No matter the name, the premise has remained the same; a free, ad-supported platform that offers both TV shows and movies. This final rebrand came about, in part, because Amazon wanted to put a greater emphasis on new and original content.
As an added bonus for Amazon, the new name definitely helps get the “free streaming service” message across much more than IMDb TV or IMDb Freedive did.
Where Can You Download the Freevee App?
The Freevee app is compatible with most tablets, smartphones (both iOS and Android), Smart TVs and other smart devices, like streaming sticks or boxes. Head over to your device’s app store or download area, search for the app, and, if it’s available, download and install it.
The free-to-stream service’s app is already available on the most popular devices, including:
- Amazon Fire (TV, Firestick)
- Android TV
- Apple TV
- Comcast Xfinity X-class and Flex box
- Echo Show
- Fire tablets
- Google TV
- iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)
- LG Smart TVs
- PlayStation 4 and 5
- Roku
- Samsung Smart TV
- Xbox X|S
In the coming months, the Freevee app will be available on even more streaming devices. Until then, you can either use the Prime Video app or stream the browser-based version on your computer or tablet by visiting the platform’s webpage.
What Shows Are on Freevee?
Licensed content on the platform is constantly changing. As is the case with Netflix and other pay-to-stream platforms, there’s no guarantee that a movie or show that’s on there right now will stick around.
As of 2022, Freevee has licensing deals in place with big-name companies like Disney and MGM, ensuring that it provides high-quality, genre-spanning content to viewers. Some popular shows currently streaming on Amazon’s service include Burn Notice, Heroes, Fringe, My Name Is Earl and Dallas.
While rewatching old favorites is fun, the free-to-stream platform’s exclusive content is some of its most notable — namely because it’s not available anywhere else. Series like Hollywood Houselift, Troppo and Bosch: Legacy — a spin-off of Amazon Prime Video’s successful Bosch series — all have new seasons that can only be watched on Freevee.
Other noteworthy exclusives that are currently streaming include Judy Justice, featuring TV’s Judge Judy; Corner Gas, an adult animated comedy; and Play-Doh Squished, a competition show revolving around who can make the best Play-Doh sculptures. Other recent and imminent releases include Sprung, Leverage: Redemption, Pretty Hard Cases, Timewasters, Jungle and High School.
What to Watch on Freevee: Movies in 2022
Amazon’s free platform has options for everyone, no matter their age, interests or viewing habits. From classic movies to action-adventure flicks to crime dramas, there really is an endless array of movies to choose from. Currently, the platform’s extensive catalog features older films like Evan Almighty (2007), The Waterboy (1998), Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) and Shark Tale (2004).
On the movie front, original releases have been a bit slow so far. So far, original movies that are currently streaming include Love Accidentally (2022) and the music documentary films Post Malone: Runaway (2022) and Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary (2021).
