Streaming Christmas Movies

More people than ever are saying goodbye to cable, but if you love holiday movies, you might worry about missing out. The good news is: you don’t need cable to keep up with Christmas classics, Hallmark premieres, or family-friendly holiday specials.

There are plenty of easy (and often cheaper) ways to keep your holiday movie traditions alive. Here’s how to cut the cord and still enjoy all the holiday cheer.

Live TV Streaming Services
Live TV streamers like Frndly TV, Philo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, and YouTube TV carry the same channels you would find on cable. And often at a lower price. These are great for watching Hallmark, Great American Family, Lifetime, UP TV, and other channels that show Christmas movies.

This is the best choice if you want to watch new movies as they premiere, or if you just love that feeling of flipping through live channels. These services are a lot like cable, but they’re way more flexible. You can cancel or pause them at any time, and they don’t have any long contracts.

For the serious Hallmark fan, if your top priority is watching every new Hallmark Christmas movie as it premieres, you can’t go wrong with Frndly TV or Philo. They are two of the most affordable options out there, and they both include all three Hallmark channels: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mysteries, and Hallmark Family. They also have an unlimited DVR, so you can record every single movie that looks good and watch it later.

For the "everything" viewer, if your family also wants to watch sports, news, and other major networks, you can go for a more full-featured service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV. They are more expensive than Philo or Frndly TV, but they offer a huge variety of channels, including many of the main ones you'd find on cable. Just double check their channel lineups before signing up to make sure they include your must-haves.

On-Demand Streaming
Maybe you don't care about watching a movie right when it airs. If you prefer to watch shows and movies whenever you want, a traditional on-demand streaming service is the way to go. You can watch what you want, when you want, with huge libraries of Christmas favorites ready to go.
Hallmark+: This is Hallmark's own streaming service, and it's a goldmine. While it doesn't show the live channel, it has a massive library of older and new Hallmark movies that you can watch whenever you want, all without commercials. If you're okay with waiting a little bit for the newest movies to show up, this is a great choice.
Netflix: Netflix adds plenty of Christmas content every year, from family favorites to new romantic comedies and original holiday series. Think The Christmas Chronicles, Klaus, or A Castle for Christmas.
Disney+: Great for families and anyone who loves the classics. You’ll find Home Alone, The Santa Clause trilogy, Noelle, and tons of animated favorites.
HBO Max: A mix of nostalgic hits and big-name holiday movies like A Christmas Story and Elf.
Peacock: Rotates seasonal favorites and holiday specials throughout December, often including Hallmark or NBC holiday programming.

Free Streaming Options
You don’t have to spend a dime to enjoy a good Christmas movie marathon. Several free streaming platforms go all-out for the holidays, adding seasonal channels and movie collections every December.
Tubi - A fantastic free option with tons of ad-supported Christmas movies, from Hallmark-style romances to old classics.
Pluto TV - Offers 24/7 holiday movie channels that play festive films all day long.
The Roku Channel - Has its own free lineup of Christmas movies, often organized into categories like “Feel-Good Favorites” or “Classic Christmas”.

The trade-off is that these free platforms include ads, but if you don’t mind a few commercial breaks, it’s hard to beat free.

Antennas for Over-the-Air TV
If you still want to watch things like local parades or network Christmas specials, an over-the-air antenna is a one-time purchase that gives you free access to local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.

Many modern antennas are small, inexpensive, and easy to set up. It’s a great way to catch live holiday programming without paying for cable or a streaming plan.

Mix and Match: The Smart Holiday Strategy
The beauty of streaming is flexibility. You don’t have to choose just one option. Instead of paying for a big cable package year-round, you can mix and match services just for the holiday season.

If you love the cozy romances, Hallmark+ and Frndly TV are must-haves. They’re affordable and packed with holiday cheer.

Keep a couple of the big players like Netflix and Disney+ for your favorite on-demand classics. And they both roll out festive lineups every December.

The trick is to mix and match. Instead of one expensive cable package, you can subscribe to two or three affordable streaming services for the season. Many services even let you cancel after the holidays, so you’re not locked in, and you’re only paying for what you’ll actually use.


Cutting the cord doesn’t mean cutting out that Christmas magic. With today’s streaming choices, it’s easier than ever to save money and still watch every holiday favorite, from Hallmark premieres to old black-and-white classics.

With a little planning, you can build your own perfect mix of services, skip the high cable bills, and still watch all your holiday favorites whenever and wherever you want. So grab a blanket, pour some hot chocolate, and get ready to stream your way through the most wonderful time of the year.