Free Streaming News: Where to Watch Live News Online for Free
You can watch live news all day without paying for cable. The major US networks run free 24/7 streaming news channels, public broadcasters stream their newscasts, and free apps carry local news from hundreds of cities.
This guide lists the best free streaming news options, where to watch each one, and what is not free. For news channels from other countries, our guide to IPTV channels includes a news-only public playlist.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Free live news streams |
| Level | Beginner |
| Devices Covered | Browsers, phones, smart TVs and streaming sticks |
| What You Need | An internet connection (no cable login) |
In This Guide
Free 24/7 Network News Streams
| Channel | Where to watch free | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| ABC News Live | ABC News website and app, Pluto TV, Tubi, Sling Freestream | 24/7 national and world news |
| NBC News NOW | NBC News website and app, Tubi | Live coverage and daily shows |
| CBS News 24/7 | CBS News website and app, Pluto TV, Sling Freestream | Breaking news and anchored programs |
| LiveNOW from FOX | LiveNOW website, Tubi | Raw live events and press conferences |
| FOX Weather | FOX Weather app and website | Weather coverage around the clock |
| Bloomberg | Bloomberg website, Pluto TV, Tubi | Markets and business news |
| PBS NewsHour | PBS website and app | Evening newscast, live and on demand |
ABC streams its free channel at abcnews.go.com/live, and PBS streams its evening program at PBS NewsHour Live. Both work in any browser.
Free International News
- Al Jazeera English streams live for free on its website and on several free TV apps.
- France 24, DW and Euronews run free English-language live streams on their websites and YouTube channels.
- Public playlists. The iptv-org news playlist (https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/categories/news.m3u) collects public news streams from many countries. Open it in a player like VLC; our guide on how to open M3U in VLC shows how.
How to Stream Local News for Free
Local news is one of the easiest kinds of free streaming news to find:
- NewsON streams live and recent newscasts from local stations across the US, and is also available inside The Roku Channel.
- Haystack News builds a personal news feed from local and national sources.
- Station apps. Most local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations have free apps and websites with live newscasts. FOX stations also stream local news through the free FOX Local app.
- A TV antenna picks up your local stations over the air at no monthly cost.
Can You Stream Fox News for Free?
This is one of the most searched questions, so here is the short answer: the main Fox News Channel is not free. Like CNN, MSNBC and CNBC, it needs a TV provider login or a paid live TV service such as YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo.
What you can watch free from Fox:
- LiveNOW from FOX for live events, briefings and breaking news, on its website and on Tubi.
- FOX Weather for weather coverage, on its free app and website.
- Local FOX station news through the FOX Local app or station websites.
Be careful with sites that claim to stream Fox News or CNN “free 24/7”. Those streams are usually unlicensed and can be unsafe.
Free Streaming News Apps by Device
| Device | Easiest free options |
|---|---|
| Smart TV | Built-in free channel app (Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Vizio WatchFree+), Pluto TV, Tubi |
| Roku | The Roku Channel, NewsON, network news apps |
| Fire TV or Google TV | Pluto TV, Tubi, network news apps |
| Phone or tablet | ABC News, NBC News, CBS News and PBS apps |
| Computer | Network websites in any browser |
More free channel apps are covered in our guide to free live TV apps.
How to Build a Free Streaming News Lineup
You can put together a full news lineup on your TV in about ten minutes, with no subscription:
- Start with one free app that carries several news channels. Pluto TV or Tubi gives you national news, business news and live events in one guide.
- Add the networks’ own apps. The ABC News, NBC News and CBS News apps stream their free 24/7 channels and recent reports.
- Add local news. Install NewsON or your local station’s app for city and weather coverage.
- Add public and world news. The PBS app covers the evening newscast, and international channels like Al Jazeera English and DW stream free online.
- Favorite the channels. Mark them as favorites so your free streaming news lineup opens first.
| Time of day | Free streaming news to watch |
|---|---|
| Morning | Network 24/7 channels for headlines |
| Daytime | LiveNOW from FOX for live events and briefings |
| Evening | PBS NewsHour and local newscasts |
| Breaking news | Any 24/7 network channel in a free app |
This mix covers national, local and world news, and it costs nothing beyond your internet connection.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch live news for free?
ABC News Live, NBC News NOW and CBS News 24/7 stream free on their websites and apps and on free services like Pluto TV and Tubi. PBS NewsHour also streams free on the PBS website.
How can I stream Fox News for free?
The main Fox News Channel requires a TV provider or paid live TV service. For free Fox news coverage, use LiveNOW from FOX, FOX Weather or your local FOX station’s news.
How do I stream local news for free?
Use NewsON, Haystack News or your local station’s app or website. A TV antenna also gives you local news for free.
Is there a free 24/7 news channel?
Yes. ABC News Live, NBC News NOW and CBS News 24/7 are free around-the-clock streaming news channels.
Do I need a cable login for free streaming news?
No. The free streams in this guide work without a cable login. Cable news networks such as CNN, Fox News and MSNBC are the exception.
Conclusion
Free streaming news is easy to find: the networks’ own 24/7 channels cover national news, NewsON and station apps cover local news, and public broadcasters fill the rest. Only the cable news networks still require a paid login. Check this list of free streaming news sources from time to time, because new free channels launch often.
For news from more countries, try the public news playlist in our guide to IPTV channels.