Compared to the past, where in order to enjoy a good movie we had to go to the cinema or to a video library, today there are several online services available that provide extensive catalogs of video content, even in first view or exclusive of the platform. Instead of accessing the website of the streaming service chosen in a Web browser, we can take advantage of the dedicated apps to access the contents, so as to obtain the highest quality and best video performance.
While in another article we have seen which are the best sites to watch streaming movies, here we will see together the best apps to watch streaming movies from Android devices and from Apple devices (iPhone and iPad).
In the guide we will show you both free apps and subscription apps, so we can choose better according to our needs.
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App to watch movies for free
In this part of the guide we will show you all the apps that allow you to enjoy free video content, with and without registration.1) RaiPlay
The first app we recommend trying is RaiPlay, free, available for download for Android and iOS from here -> RaiPlay (Android) and RaiPlay (iOS).
Once the app is downloaded, simply open the side menu and click on the Movies section, where we will find a large collection of films (divided into categories and genres) broadcast over the years on Rai networks and visible without any time limit. Once you have chosen the film to be displayed, just click on the Play symbol to start playback.
2) Mediaset Play
If the film we saw was previously broadcast on Mediaset networks, we can also find it on the official Mediaset Play app, downloadable from here -> Mediaset Play (Android) and Mediaset Play (iOS).
By downloading the app on the device we will have access to all the free movies in the catalog, just click on the bottom right button on the Explore button, then click on Movies .
In order to view the films correctly, however, a free registration for a Mediaset account is required; we can quickly create it from within the app (by clicking on the Login button) or from a PC using the link present here -> Register Mediaset account .
3) VVVVID
Another free app to watch streaming movies, TV series and especially Japanese cartoons and anime is VVVVID, available for download from here -> VVVVID (Android) and VVVVID (iOS).
To access the app we need a free account, which can be registered directly from the app or from the website reachable here -> VVVVID registration .
Once the account is registered, we insert the credentials into the app and go to the Movies section, so that we can view the list of available movies (most of Japanese origin). To search for new films we can take advantage of the categories in the lower part of the app, choosing by genres, by letter of the alphabet or choosing the most popular.
4) Popcorn TV (no longer)
Among the free apps to watch some streaming movies we also recommend Popcorn TV, available only for Android from here -> Popcorn TV .
The films are accessible without registration, just go to the Film or Movie section, choose the films to be played and click on Play to start it. The collection is not very large and there are many old films, but if we appreciate films made in the past it could be a good alternative to renamed services.
5) Youtube (Android) (iOS)
Obviously also Youtube collects several titles of films for free, also of quality, with dedicated Italian channels such as that of Film & Clips and MovieOn and KissTube.
From this list we must obviously exclude all the sites that upload films in clandestine ways on platforms like Openload or Streamango, which are always illegal.
READ ALSO: How to watch movies in English for free
Paid app (subscription)
In this section of the guide we will instead show you the apps that require a payment of a subscription or that allow you to rent or buy the films, so that you can watch them without limits (in the case of subscriptions the films will be viewable until the subscription is paid). These are the best apps, where we can also find famous films or films that have had great success in the cinema, but as mentioned we will have to take into account the costs for the subscription, for the payment of the rental or purchase.1) Netflix
Netflix is now the most used app for movies and TV shows.
This app requires the payment of a variable monthly subscription and the specific app can be downloaded from here -> Netflix (Android) and Netflix (iOS).
We can choose between three types of subscription starting from € 7.99 (the quality and number of devices that can access at the same time change) and have immediate access to all the films in the catalog, which is constantly updated. If we want to try the service before subscribing to a subscription, Netflix offers a 30-day free trial, just enter a valid payment method immediately (the renewal will be automatic, it's up to us to choose whether to block it or continue).
With the app we can see Neflix on TV, even if we don't have smart TVs, using dedicated devices to be connected via HDMI.
Furthermore, unlike other apps, Netflix allows you to download movies to watch them offline, so that you can view them on your smartphone or tablet even when we don't have Internet coverage.
2) Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is a relatively new service in Italy but which boasts a good collection of films that we can view on Android and iPhone; the Amazon Prime Video app can be downloaded from here -> Amazon Prime Video (Android) and Amazon Prime Video (iOS).
The beauty of this service is that (for now) the subscription to Amazon Prime Video is included within Amazon Prime, that is, the subscription to the Amazon fast shipping service: by paying only 36 per year we will have access to numerous services including the video platform. As mentioned, the films present are not very recent, but Amazon is constantly updating the catalog to make it attractive to all fans.
3) NOW TV
NOW TV is another great service for watching movies streamed from mobile or tablet, as it relies on Sky's platform (but without a parabola) for content distribution.
We can download the NOW TV app from here -> NOW TV (Android) and NOW TV (iOS).
Currently the catalog of films is very rich (perhaps the best among all the tested apps), in fact we can find films released recently in the cinema and great international hits, visible without any problem or without any limit. In addition to on-demand content, we can also access the selected Sky Cinema channels, which can be viewed in streaming without the aid of the parabola. In order to access the services of the platform, we will have to pay a monthly subscription, distributed via ticket: the single Ticket Cinema (valid for viewing on-demand films and Sky Cinema channels) costs € 9.99 per month, to which we can add the 'Option + for € 2.99 per month to access high definition and simultaneous viewing on two different devices.
In any case, we can cancel at any time without penalty and, for skeptics, 14 days of free trial of the service are offered, so as to evaluate well whether or not to subscribe the subscription.
4) Infinity
Infinity is, instead, Mediaset's on-demand streaming movie service, available for download from here -> Infinity (Android) and Infinity (iOS).
Once installed we will have access to over 6000 films, many of which exclusively, in particular those released by Universal Studios and the Medusa films (by Mediaset itself).
The app also allows you to save movies offline to watch them offline and to project content to a Chromecast, so that you can view them on a TV.
The Infinity subscription costs € 7.99 per month and allows you to take advantage of a free 30-day trial, without restrictions or penalties.
5) Movie rental or purchase services
With the apps seen so far we will have access to the entire catalog of films simply by paying a monthly subscription; but if we wanted to rent a movie online for a short period of time or better yet buy it, we can use one of the following apps.
- Google Play Film (Android) (iOS): available for purchase and rental of films with prices starting from € 2.99.
- CHILI (Android) (iOS): another app where you can rent movies, many of which have been released in the cinema for a few months.
- YouTube : the YouTube app also allows you to rent and buy legal films, just reach the right channel and use the payment methods provided by Google Pay.
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