How to Legally Download Movies to Watch Offline for Free (2024)

Almost all of us now use streaming services to catch the hottest new movies and TV shows. However, streaming still has one major flaw: you need an internet connection. Which means they aren't all that convenient when you're traveling.

Fortunately, many of the best streaming services now allow you to download movies to watch offline, all for free, as part of your normal account. So, in this article, we'll show you how to download movies to watch offline, free and legally.

Netflix

You can watch movies offline on Netflix depending on your subscription, and downloading content doesn't count towards the number of screens you're allowed to view on (you can download to the same number of devices as your plan allows for streaming).

However, you cannot download movies to watch offline on the ad-supported plan.

In addition, not all content is available to download. To see if something is, just look for the Download button on the movie's description page within the iOS or Android app.

If you want to know how to download movies on a laptop with Netflix, it's simple: you need to use the desktop app instead of the browser. There's a Netflix app for Windows 10 and 11 in the Microsoft Store, and you can use the Android app on most Chromebooks. Sadly, there's no Netflix app for Mac or Linux, so you can't watch Netflix offline on those platforms.

Netflix makes it easy to search for stuff to watch by genre or keywords. One of the best things about using Netflix to watch content offline is the quick transfer speeds. Your experience may vary based on connection details, but most people will be able to download a movie in minutes.

Download: Netflix for Android | iOS (from $15.49/month for plans that support offline viewing)

Amazon Prime Video

It's easy to download movies on Amazon Prime to watch offline. Just long-press on an episode you want to grab and select Download from the pop-up menu. You can also tap the Download button below the description for your chosen film, then tap Downloads to access your offline movies.

One of Amazon Prime's strongest advantages is how it offers a wide assortment of new releases and classics, plus plenty of kid-friendly choices.

Keep in mind that Amazon Prime offers streamed and downloadable content along with numerous other membership perks. These include access to Audible audio series, Kindle eBooks, and music tracks, plus free, fast shipping for Prime-eligible Amazon products.

Download: Amazon Prime Video for Android | iOS ($14.99/month or $139/year)

Disney+

You can download Disney+ movies to watch offline for free as part of your regular subscription. You can download on up to 10 devices and just need to log in at least once every 30 days on each device.

There are two main restrictions. First, as with Netflix, you can't download movies and shows on the ad-supported plan. Second, watching offline is only supported in the Android and iOS apps. You can't legally download Disney+ content on a desktop.

To do it, just navigate to your film of choice and tap the Download icon above the description. Tap the Downloads button in the navigation bar to find your offline content.

Download: Disney+ for Android | iOS (from $10.99/month for offline viewing)

Google TV

You can download movies and TV shows from Google Play to watch offline. Google TV—formerly known as Google Play Movies & TV—is one of the best places to rent new movies, and you can download things you've bought on up to five devices.

If you're on an iPhone, you can't make purchases inside the app, so load up on what you need before you leave home. You don't have the same problem on Android. Finding content on Google TV is easy thanks to the user-friendly layout. It's similar to Amazon Prime, with snapshots of user ratings, so you can quickly find the must-see films.

Just open a movie or series page and tap Download to save it. Then, on the Your stuff > Movies screen, use the Downloaded filter to see your offline content.

Download: Google TV for Android | iOS (Free, prices vary for downloadable content)

YouTube Premium

You can download free movies to watch offline on YouTube, if you can find them. There are a lot of free-to-watch movies on YouTube. There's a Download button on each video's page, but you need to upgrade to the YouTube Premium service to make it work. Even then, not everything is available offline.

YouTube Premium is a subscription-based service available in certain countries, including the United States. YouTube Premium gives you access to millions of ad-free videos, allows for background streaming, and includes access to the YouTube Music streaming service. It permits legal offline viewing, too, and there's a special section for kids.

You can sign up for the service on Android by going to your account within the YouTube app. For iOS devices, you can pay for YouTube Premium through iTunes. Also, be sure to take advantage of the 30-day free trial when you first sign up.

Download: YouTube Premium for Android | iOS ($13.99/month)

Vimeo

Another good place for free offline movies is Vimeo. It has a Watch Later feature that allows you to bookmark videos for a more convenient time—such as when traveling. Load up your video then tap the three-dots menu button alongside the title and select Add to offline playlist. To find your offline content, open your profile in the top right and select Offline.

Vimeo was the first video streaming site to enable high-definition streaming, and not surprisingly, you can still watch a large chunk of the site's content in high definition, including content from independent filmmakers and music videos from rising stars.

People also love using Vimeo because it's ad-free and doesn't need a subscription (although it isn't one of the streaming services you can watch without signing up).

One of the app's highlights is that you can upload content directly through it instead of needing to use a computer. This requires an internet connection, but it's still a convenient feature if you're on the go and want to share some of your travel experiences with friends.

Download: Vimeo for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

TED

Are you looking for a little insight and inspiration during your travel time? Depend on the TED app to fill the void. You can download content for later viewing if you're on a laptop and plan to take it on your trip. Otherwise, make sure you have the TED app installed on your device before departure.

TED offers over 2,000 pieces of content to download and includes subtitles for other languages. After finding a TED talk that seems worthwhile, just click on the Download button to start transferring the file to your device. You can then find it in My Library.

Unlike the other apps featured so far, this one is free, making it a good choice for cost-conscious media content consumption.

Download: TED for Android | iOS (Free)

How to Watch Free Movies Offline

Ready to hit the road? Then travel-related boredom could be a thing of the past. Whether you subscribe to a service or are happy with one-off downloads and free content, it's easy to get your film fix while traveling thanks to these excellent free movie download sites. And if you're a fan of Paramount, you can download movies from there too.