TV fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to streaming services, but keeping up with the latest releases comes at a cost.
With the likes of Netflix, Apple TV Plus and Amazon Prime Video adding new shows all the time, many of us spend upwards of £30 each month to satiate our binge-watching desires.
But savvy viewers know that there are a few free streaming services out there with huge catalogues of film and TV shows at no cost — and Rakuten TV is one of them.
Rakuten is what’s known as a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform, meaning users can watch TV channels and shows for free with adverts.
Where it differs from the likes of Tubi and Pluto TV is that users can buy or rent the latest film and TV releases on the platform too.
Simply pay to watch whatever takes your fancy, without paying an additional subscription fee on top.
There are plenty of hugely popular titles ready to stream, with shows including House of the Dragon and The Last of Us available from £14.99 for one season.
However, fear not, as users who want to keep costs low can use Rakuten at zero cost.
The service has a huge catalogue of TV shows and movies available to watch with adverts for free. In fact, it boasts more than 10,000 titles in total.
Though, as you might expect, these options are less popular and well-known compared to the paid-for titles.
Metro’s review of Rakuten TV
Metro‘s Caroline Westbrook has used Rakuten before, and shared her verdict on the free streamer:
‘If nostalgia is your thing, then you can’t go far wrong here. Want to dive into some Baywatch? Vintage episodes of 21 Jump Street? You’ve come to the right place. And there’s no shortage of British TV favourites either, with the likes of Hell’s Kitchen, Pointless and even classic episodes of The Graham Norton Show.
‘But if it’s the latest blockbusters you’re after, it’ll cost you. Yes, you can watch Final Destination: Bloodlines, the Minecraft movie and other recent hits, but you’ll pay for the privilege. The free movies are a bit limited and obscure by comparison, but there are some familiar titles thrown in among the lesser-known offerings (and even a few box office gems).
‘And Rakuten adds new free-to-watch content all the time, so it’s worth keeping an eye on, as you never know what might show up.’
What to watch on Rakuten TV
Rakuten has a huge number of live TV channels organised by genre, including sport, lifestyle, cooking, crime and mystery, reality, news and more.
TV shows that have their own linear channels (meaning the episodes run back-to-back at all hours of the day) include Kim’s Convenience, Mr Bean, Ninja Warrior, Great British Menu, Andromeda and The Graham Norton Show.
Other TV series that are available for free on-demand include apocalyptic horror series Z Nation and Clink, a Channel 5 drama set in a women’s prison.
There’s also sci-fi series Sanctuary and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen.
Meanwhile, free on-demand films include 2018 romcom I Feel Pretty, starring Amy Schumer, hit mystery thriller Gone Girl, the critically acclaimed Tangerine and 00s classics like Just My Luck and Bring It On.
On the Rakuten TV store, users can rent or buy early home releases of films like Final Destination: Bloodlines, The Amateur, which stars Rami Malek, and The Penguin Lessons with Steve Coogan.
These popular titles generally cost £15.99 to rent or £19.99 to buy, while older titles are available for less.
How to watch Rakuten TV
Rakuten is compatible with a wide number of smart TVs, including models from Samsung, LG, Philips, Hisense, Panasonic and Sony. The app is also compatible with Chromecast, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV andTiVo.
Plus, there’s a mobile app, and users can also watch on a browser by visiting rakuten.tv.
To rent or buy titles, users have to register for a free account, but this isn’t necessary to watch the free on-demand content or live TV.
However, registered users have other benefits, including access to a wishlist function and a library storing bought or rented content. And registered users can watch on up to three devices at the same time.
Reviews of Rakuten TV are generally positive. On the Amazon App Store, one user wrote: ‘At a time when you have to create an account for almost every app you want to use, the absence of this requirement by Rakuten to enjoy free streaming should be noted and encouraged.’
They added: ‘You shouldn’t expect to be able to see the latest trendy movies or series, but the offer of a “free” TV like on TNT is appreciable.’
One reviewer praised it as ‘easy to use’, while another echoed that it’s ‘simple and very convenient’.
And one called it an ‘impeccable fast service’.
Not everyone is happy, however, with some put off by the adverts. One user, who gave the app three stars, wrote: ‘It has many free channels but with a lot of advertising, much more than Pluto TV’.
Another, who left a more scathing one-star review, said: ‘Too much advertising, more than commercial TV’.
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