Cartoons offer great entertainment across all ages. Earlier, cartoon content was aired at specific times and networks during the reign of cable television. Yet, these days, online streaming sites have made it easy to stream and enjoy your favorite cartoons, both new releases and old classics, at any time. These websites also allow you to skip, pause, forward and rewind the content you are watching according to your convenience.
But sadly, it is a painstaking task to get a decent and reliable free streaming site to watch your favorite cartoons. That is why we have compiled these online resources that offer high-quality cartoon content.
Best sites to watch cartoons online free – Quick list
Below is a summary of the top sites for streaming cartoons online.
- YouTube – A wide range of cartoon movies and shows from all major networks and regions.
- Cartoons On – Plain and clean user interface with action, fantasy, mature, comedy, and family-friendly cartoon genres.
- Wcostream – Best for varying genres of anime content. Moreover, it has action, family-friendly, and fantasy shows.
- ToonJet – Takes you back in time with old classic cartoons such as Popeye the Sailor, Mickey Mouse, etc. It also has a community forum so you can interact with other viewers.
- Super Cartoons – Provides a massive gallery of old classic cartoons, with the home page currently scattered with Scooby-Doo episodes.
- Cartoon Network – A massive catalog of old and new cartoon films and shows. It has a unique feature that filters out the content by character.
- Cartoonito – All-in-one entertainment platform for kids. It even has a Cartoonito club where real children give tales for educational or fun purposes.
- Disney Junior – Offer several amazing treats to quench cartoon cravings for both kids and adults. Most of the shows are in high-definition to give you a captivating streaming experience.
- Boomerang – Hosts fan favorites such as Johnny Quest, Tom and Jerry, Bunnicula, Mr. Bean, Taffy, and much more.
- Nickelodeon – Has an aesthetically pleasing user interface and a vast collection of cartoon content. The sites also offer radio and numerous online games.
Best cartoon streaming portals – The detailed list
1. YouTube
- What we liked most: Boasts diverse range of cartoon videos from all regions and studios.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/
YouTube is a huge platform with a diverse range of content, including cartoons and animations. With a collection of over 5 billion videos, you can get any cartoon type by searching through its search bar. It hosts channels of popular networks such as Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Also, YouTube now has a kid’s app with dedicated content for children.
The platform also allows independent artists to showcase their animated content. In addition, it offers a top-notch streaming experience as you can activate the subtitles, adjust video quality, and download videos to view offline.
2. Cartoons On
- What we liked most: Clean and user-friendly UI.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.cartoonson.net/
Cartoon On is a free cartoon TV to stream your favorite content in high-definition quality. It has an extensive content catalog, and you will likely get an exciting show to watch. Thankfully, the website’s interface is user-friendly, and you can access it with any device, including your smartphone. In addition, you can filter out content by character, studio, show name, etc. This categorization makes it easy to find whatever you want.
3. Wcostream
- What we liked most: Lets users watch latest cartoons without delay for free.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.wcostream.com/
Wcostream offers classic cartoons movies and subbed and dubbed Japanese anime in HD and SD quality. The site has a massive gallery of content well-balanced between mature and family shows. There are also newly released episodes with subtitles.
The interface is sleek and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and explore cartoon series and movies. Fortunately, the loading speed is fast, which gives you a smooth streaming experience. However, deactivating the adblocker will fix the issue if a video stops playing.
4. ToonJet
- What we liked most: Excellent collection of classic cartoons.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.toonjet.com/
The ’50s and ’60s were the golden age of cartoons with great shows like Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Looney Tunes, and Popeye the Sailor Man. ToonJet takes you back in time by offering these and other old classics.
Although the user interface is jarring, you can get whatever you want. Also, it has a community forum; but you have to sign up and create an account to participate.
5. Super Cartoons
- What we liked most: Has a clossal old cartoons gallery.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.supercartoons.net/
It is another excellent alternative to watch classic cartoon movies and series. Although there are new cartoon releases every so often, the old content brings nostalgia. The site hosts more than 1000 classic cartoons for your bemusement. You can find the cartoon you want by either the character’s name (Mickey Mouse, Tom, and Jerry, Daffy Duck) or studio (Disney, Universal Studios, Warner Bros, etc.)
6. Cartoon Network
- What we liked most: Boasts widely-loved animated television series.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.cartoonnetworkhq.com/
Cartoon Network is a great place to watch exclusive programs such as Teen Titans Go and Ben 10. The sites have a massive library, with more content uploaded every day. Unfortunately, it only shows short clips, so you’ll be disappointed if you want to watch full episodes. Fortunately, you can also play online games on the site.
7. Cartoonito
- What we liked most: Excellent collection of pre-kindergarten children cartoons.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.cartoonito.co.uk/
Cartoonito offers all-around entertainment for kids. Most of the content involves learning material and even songs. Apart from extensive animated cartoon content, the site also has club tales where real children perform. You can open it for your children and let them explore their interests independently.
8. Disney Junior
- What we liked most: Has a simple and sweet interface.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://disneynow.com/
The Disney Network is one of the biggest cartoon channels today. Its Disney Junior website offers a fantastic catalog that will quench your cartoon thirst. Some of the popular content you will get for free on the site include Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, etc. However, the website is blocked in certain countries, so you need a trustworthy VPN like NordVPN to watch it.
9. Boomerang
- What we liked most: Offers old classics in HD quality.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.boomerang.com/
Boomerang is one of the biggest channels for children’s content. Its online site has titles such as Courage the Cowardly, Tom and Jerry, Johnny Quest, and many more. What’s more, it has refined some old gems by improving the quality. So, for example, a program like Looney Tunes looks new again.
Unfortunately, it is available to the USA audience only. However, a quality US VPN is all you would need to access Boomerang outside the US.
10. Nickelodeon
- What we liked most: Also offers additional services like games and radio on top of cartoons.
- Price: Free
- Website: http://www.nick.com.au/
Nickelodeon is a fantastic website for children to stream free cartoons online in high definition. The user interface has conspicuous colors that make it look attractive. Unfortunately, the site is limited to Nickelodeon content. But it also allows you to play games and listen to the radio. In addition, you don’t need to sign up to start streaming content.
11. WCO
- What we liked most: Releases latest cartoons fast.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.wco.tv/
WCO UI looks a bit outdated, but it is an excellent place to catch up with the latest releases of cartoon content for free. It has titles from popular channels such as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more. Also, the site hosts subbed and dubbed anime. There is a search bar to find the content you want and a list of some trending titles on the sideline of the site.
12. Voot Kids
- What we liked most: Offers ad-free safe experience.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.vootkids.com/
Voot Kids contain a massive collection of Indian classics. Besides the website, there is also a mobile-friendly app designed for children. It has popular cartoon titles like Chota Bheem, Motu Patlu, and international classics such as animated Mr. Bean, Pokemon, etc. There also is a library of text and audiobooks for children. Finally, the site takes good care of kids’ online safety.
13. Crunchyroll
- What we liked most: One of the oldest source for anime and drama.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.crunchyroll.com/
Crunchyroll is one of the most popular channels for anime shows. Its website’s catalog has both the latest and old anime content. In fact, you can watch a new show immediately after its release in Japan. The site also has subbed and dubbed anime versions and new anime-based blogs.
14. WB Kids Go
- What we liked most: Has a mobile app, too.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://www.wbkidsgo.com/
WB Kids Go is the best site to watch Warner Bros proprietary titles like the Looney Tunes Show, Bugs Bunny, etc. Besides hosting the latest and old cartoon shows, the site also has comic books, online games, and other kid-friendly content.
15. KissCartoon
- What we liked most: Allows registered users to bookmark the cartoons they like so that they get notified about new episodes automatically.
- Price: Free
- Website: https://kisscartoon.nz/
KissCartoon, also known as Kiss Anime, has an aesthetically pleasing user interface and hosts a wide range of cartoon archives. Searching for the content you want is easy as you can filter the options with series, genres, movies, or ongoing. In addition, you can sign up to get more filtering options. The site also has high-speed playback. Besides, while it shows ads, you can use an ad blocker to stop them.
Watch Cartoons on Firestick/Fire TV and other streaming devices
The above streaming sites offer a convenient way to stream cartoons online for free. However, they have limited content and are filled with ads, which can be annoying. Fortunately, you can access your favorite titles with streaming apps on various devices like a Firestick. So, even if you are using a non-smart TV, you can stream cartoon movies and TV shows on the internet.
Conclusion
Online streaming platforms have revolutionized many things, including entertainment consumption. For example, you don’t need to wait for specific times to catch up with your favorite cartoon show on cable TV. Nowadays, you can stream whatever you want at any time as long as you have superfast internet speeds. However, it is good to use a trustworthy VPN like NordVPN to protect your data and anonymity.
FAQs
The answer to this question mainly depends on where you are streaming the content. That is because some countries have strict laws on copyrighted material, and you can get into trouble if caught streaming unlicensed content.
There is a common misconception that cartoons are meant for children, which is not entirely true. While some shows are designed for children, many others can be watched by adults. For example, titles like Samurai Jack and Dexter have mature adult themes. Besides, some cartoon content specifically aims at adults like Family Guy, and Rick and Morty.
It depends on the site you use. Although some websites are safe to watch cartoons, others are filled with malware and viruses. So, if you use the wrong website, hackers can steal your data or infiltrate your device. Thankfully, the sites above are safe and trustworthy.
Another misleading conception is that cartoons influence children’s behavior negatively, which is obviously false. On the contrary, cartoons are a form of entertainment and can serve as educational material for children.
Yes, and No, depending on the show. For example, some cartoons, such as Tom and Jerry, show some levels of violence, which kids can imitate. Therefore, you should offer your children parental advice when watching some shows. However, other titles are utterly safe for children.
Yes, a reliable VPN like NordVPN is necessary when accessing anything on the internet, especially free streaming sites. It will encrypt your traffic and mask IP addresses to protect you from hackers, ISP, government agencies, and other third parties. Also, the VPN will enable you to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from anywhere.