You can watch cartoons online for free and legally through PBS KIDS, Tubi, Pluto TV, YouTube Kids, and official YouTube channels. The right choice depends on the viewer’s age, whether you want on-demand episodes or live programming, and which titles are available in your country. Free usually means ads, a rotating catalog, or a more limited selection—not access to every cartoon.
Where to stream cartoons free and legally
| Service | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| PBS KIDS | Educational cartoons for younger children | Free, ad-free viewing through its Video app and website, with full episodes and live TV described by PBS. The lineup is curated and may change. |
| Tubi | On-demand browsing in a children’s category | Free and ad-supported, with a Kids Shows category. Check the local catalog for a particular cartoon. |
| Pluto TV | Browsing children’s cartoons and anime | Its U.S. Kids & Family catalog has cartoon and anime groupings, alongside Pluto TV’s live-channel model. Listings can change and vary by location. |
| YouTube Kids | A child-oriented browsing experience | A separate app with Preschool, Younger, and Older content settings. Google says automated systems and human review help identify appropriate videos, but not every video is manually reviewed. |
| Official YouTube channels | Looking for a particular show from its rights holder | Search for the studio’s or rights holder’s official channel. A cartoon being viewable on YouTube does not, by itself, show that an uploader has permission to distribute it. |
Which service fits your viewer?
For educational shows and younger children: PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS is the clearest fit when you want children’s educational programming rather than a general-purpose cartoon library. PBS describes its Video app as free and ad-free, with full episodes, live television, and downloads; the app page says it includes more than 50 educational PBS KIDS shows and is aimed at toddlers and early grade-school children. Those are descriptions of PBS KIDS’ own service, not a promise that every show is available everywhere. See PBS KIDS’ app page and its viewing guide for access and supported-device details.
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Its focused catalog is a strength for families seeking PBS KIDS programming, but it is not a source for every popular commercial cartoon.
For free, ad-supported on-demand choices: Tubi
Tubi says its service is free and legal, does not require credit-card information, and is funded by advertising around content provided by partners. Its Kids Shows category is a practical place to start looking for children’s animation. Ads are part of the free viewing model, and a category listing does not guarantee that a specific cartoon will remain available.
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For a mix of cartoons, anime, and live channels: Pluto TV
Pluto TV’s U.S. Kids & Family page lists a Kids Cartoon Shows category and a separate Pokémon and Kids Anime grouping. Examples displayed there include Pokémon, Sonic Boom, Inspector Gadget, LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu, Caillou, and Strawberry Shortcake. Treat these as examples from the U.S. catalog, not a guarantee that they are currently available in another region. Search Pluto TV’s local service for the title you want, and check whether it is offered on demand or through a live channel.
For child-focused browsing: YouTube Kids
YouTube Kids is a separate app with a smaller selection than regular YouTube. Google provides Preschool, Younger, and Older content settings, and parents can adjust settings or block videos and channels. Google also notes that not every video is manually reviewed, so the settings are not a substitute for choosing content and supervising children. Read Google’s overview of YouTube Kids and its parental-control guidance.
For a specific cartoon: use the rights holder’s official YouTube channel
Search for the show alongside its studio, broadcaster, or rights holder and confirm that the channel is official. YouTube’s copyright guidance explains that original audiovisual works are generally protected and rights holders control who may distribute them. A user-uploaded episode is not automatically authorized just because it is accessible on the platform.
YouTube also has a separate Free Primetime Movies & Shows program. Google says the ad-supported studio catalog is available in the United States, Australia, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom; its page specifically identifies ad-supported TV shows as available in the United States and Australia. The catalog updates regularly, and the program is not a dedicated cartoon service, so check it for a particular title rather than assuming it will have one.
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How to choose and check availability
- Start with age and viewing context. PBS KIDS is specifically aimed at younger children and educational programming. YouTube Kids offers age-oriented settings, but Google says not every video is manually reviewed.
- Search for the exact show. Tubi and Pluto TV have children’s categories, but their individual titles can rotate or differ by location. Search the service’s current catalog before planning a watch.
- Decide whether ads are acceptable. PBS KIDS describes its Video app as ad-free; Tubi funds its free service through advertising, and YouTube’s Primetime catalog is ad-supported.
- Check the format. PBS KIDS describes both full-episode streaming and live TV. Pluto TV also has live channels as well as catalog browsing; verify how a specific title is offered.
- Confirm local access and device support. Services, apps, and catalogs are not universally available. PBS lists supported devices and platforms in its viewing guide; Pluto’s cited Kids & Family page is specifically for the United States.
- Prefer official sources. Use a service’s own catalog or a verified rights-holder channel. Avoid suspicious redirects and sites offering unauthorized streams; platform availability alone does not establish an uploader’s rights.
Are free cartoon streaming sites safe and legal?
Free access is legitimate when you use the service’s own catalog or an authorized channel. Tubi explicitly describes its service as legal and ad-supported, while PBS KIDS offers its own free Video app and website. For YouTube, distinguish the platform from the uploader: the presence of a cartoon on the site is not proof that the upload is authorized. Avoid sites that rely on unclear reuploads or suspicious redirects.
Why a cartoon may not appear in your search
Availability can depend on your country, the service’s current catalog, and whether the title is offered live or on demand. The official pages cited here provide representative offerings, not a durable international list of every show. Check the service in your region and search for the exact title before counting on it.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
