Amazon to Shut Down Freevee App by August 2025

Amazon has formally announced the closure of its standalone Freevee app, going dark by August 2025. This is as part of the bigger plan to merge its streaming services, and users already began receiving in-app alerts assuring the shift. Though the Freevee brand itself will be phased out, customers of its free programming need not fret Amazon is rolling out all Freevee TV series, films, and live TV programming under a new "Watch for Free" tab on Prime Video, sans subscription.

Amazon Freevee App Winding Down

Amazon's Freevee, or IMDb TV as it was previously known, has been a home for free, ad-supported content for many years, with a combination of original series and licensed programming. The streaming service, available in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Austria, became popular over shows such as Jury Duty, Bosch: Legacy, and the iconic Australian soap Neighbours. Yet now, Amazon has officially revealed plans to phase out the Freevee app in August 2025, as confirmed through recent in-app notices to subscribers.

Why Amazon Is Shutting Down Freevee

Amazon's move to shut down Freevee isn’t entirely unexpected. Back in November 2024, the company had already signaled its intent to sunset the brand and merge its content into the Prime Video ecosystem. The official statement at the time highlighted Amazon’s focus on streamlining its offerings:

“We’ve decided to phase out Freevee branding... A vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members.”

The key motivation behind this transition appears to be simplification. Rather than maintaining two parallel platforms Freevee for free content and Prime Video for both paid and free content Amazon is now consolidating everything into one cohesive experience. This centralization not only reduces brand confusion but also enhances content discoverability for users.

What Becomes of Freevee Originals and FAST Channels?

The Freevee shutdown does not signal the end to its original programming or hit shows. Actually, Emmy-nominated titles like Jury Duty, Bosch: Legacy, and Neighbours will continue to be available to watch on Prime Video. These and Freevee's large library of licensed series and movies will now reside under the "Watch for Free" menu option on the Prime Video app.

In addition, Amazon has announced that the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) Channels a category that is expanding within the world of streaming will continue to be accessible to both Prime members and non-members. These channels feature curated live streams replicating the feel of traditional cable, enabling audiences to have a more "lean-back" watch experience.

The Rise of Free Streaming and Its Market Impact

Amazon's change also demonstrates the larger industry movement towards free, ad-supported streaming models. A recent Nielsen report showed that May 2025 was a historic milestone in U.S. media: streaming services finally passed both cable and network TV in total viewership for the first time.

The report credits much of this achievement to free streaming services like Pluto TV, Roku Channel, and Tubi, which collectively represented 5.7% of total TV viewing in May. The services provide a strong alternative to subscription fees, particularly as viewers look to reduce their expenses in the face of across-the-board price hikes in the streaming market.

By incorporating Freevee into Prime Video while ensuring continued free accessibility, Amazon is remaining competitive within the FAST space, seeking to attract price-sensitive audiences without compromising on quality and convenience.

Timeline and How to Transition

The Freevee app will continue to operate through August 2025, after which users will have to depend solely on the Prime Video platform. Users who have not downloaded the Prime Video app yet are requested to download it and sign in through their Amazon account credentials. All Freevee content will be automatically available there in the newly named "Watch for Free" section.

There’s no additional fee or Prime membership required to access this content—Amazon has made it clear that viewers can continue enjoying Free Originals, movies, shows, and live TV completely free with ads.

A Unified Future for Amazon’s Streaming Vision

This move is more than a name shift or platform switch. It represents Amazon's shifting streaming strategy in an increasingly competitive, fragmented media environment. By bringing Freevee content under the Prime Video umbrella, Amazon is providing users with a streamlined experience with better navigation and increased content discovery while solidifying its role in the exploding ad-supported video market.

For creators and advertisers, this might also translate to increased reach and coverage since Amazon's Prime Video environment has a much broader user base than Freevee on its own.

Amazon's plan to sunset the Freevee app and stream its content into Prime Video is a turning point for the streaming business. Though it means the end of an independent offering, it creates the opportunity for a more streamlined, user-friendly model for free streaming. Without subscription fees required, and all that content easily accessible just a tap away in the Prime Video app, customers can anticipate continued access to their favorite programming without a break.

While Amazon doubles down on the simplification of its services and the ability to access them, the future of free streaming appears more consolidated—and competitive—than ever.