The Most Important Thing to Have With a Free Streaming Service? A Mute Button
I love free streaming services. While I’ll still pay for the best movies, shows, and sports, I frequently cancel my paid services to rely on free entertainment with Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, and more. But there’s one huge drawback to most free streamers: commercials.
As I’m writing this, I’m watching Pluto TV’s dedicated channel for “The Amazing Race.” It’s nice to be able to kick back and let an entire season unfold in a day. But the commercials on Pluto are mind-numbingly repetitive. Every commercial break, I see the same commercials over and over. Pluto also does this weird thing where they sometimes air 10 minutes of a logo and music while they wait to start the next episode at the top of the hour. The only thing keeping me from going completely insane is a mute button for the ad breaks.
Not all streaming devices have a mute button. Older Apple TVs don’t have it. Not all Roku remotes have volume control. Sure, you could fumble around for your TV remote, but a good streaming remote should handle volume and muting. When you’re blasted with the same ads over and over, a mute button will save your sanity.
Looking for a Streaming Device with a Mute Button?
While most streaming devices have a mute button on the remote, not all do. Here are some we recommend:
Roku Express 4K+
Supercharge your streaming experience with 4K HDR video. The voice remote makes navigation easier than ever. Connect headphones and listen through the mobile app if you want! It’s amazingly fast and fun to use.
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K:
$49.99$38 - Roku Ultra:
$99.99$87.95 - Apple TV 4K: $159
Why Are Commercials So Repetitive on Streaming Services?
There are dozens and dozens of free streaming services, but only so many advertisers. When a TV channel or streaming service can’t sell ad time, they’ll fill the commercial slot with their own ads. So as I’m watching Pluto TV, I’m seeing ads for Pluto TV and Paramount+ (they share a corporate parent).
Free streamers could simply shorten their commercial breaks when they have unsold ad inventory, but that wouldn’t prompt you to pay for an ad-free plan (when available).
Are There Any Free Streaming Services Without Commercials?
Yes! If you don’t want ads, check to see if your local library partners with Kanopy and/or Hoopla. Kanopy has a phenomenal movie library, while Hoopla offers free ad-free access to streamers like Hallmark+, Curioity Stream, Dove Channel, iNDIEFLIX, medici.tv, and RetroCrush.
Just another reason your public library is awesome and deserves your wholehearted support.
