You’ve been there. You finish a long day, you want to see Amy Fleming work her magic with a troubled horse, but you realize your favorite streaming service only goes up to Season 16. Or maybe you're just starting and don't want to add yet another $15 monthly charge to your bank statement. Honestly, finding out where to watch Heartland for free shouldn't feel like trying to break a wild mustang, but with licensing deals changing every five minutes, it kinda does.
It’s 2026. The show is hitting massive milestones—Season 19 is wrapping up its U.S. run on UP Faith & Family, and Season 20 is already on the horizon. If you're trying to catch up without spending a dime, you have to be a bit strategic.
The good news? You can absolutely watch this show for free. The "bad" news is that you might have to dodge a few ads or use a couple of different apps to get the full story from the very beginning to the latest episodes.
The Best Free Platforms Right Now
If you are in the United States, your best friends are FAST services. That stands for Free Ad-supported Streaming TV. Basically, it’s like old-school cable but on your smart TV or phone.
Pluto TV is the heavyweight champion here. As of early 2026, they have a dedicated Heartland channel. You can literally just leave it on all day. Most people don't realize that Pluto’s "On Demand" section usually carries a huge chunk of the series, often up to Season 15 or 16. It’s free. No credit card. Just ads.
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Tubi is another solid bet. They’ve historically carried the earlier seasons. If you're looking for the nostalgia of the Ty and Amy early years, Tubi usually has you covered through at least Season 6, and often much further depending on current licensing.
The Roku Channel and Freevee (Amazon’s free service) also rotate the show in and out. If you have a Roku device or even just the app, check there first. They often have "Live" channels that play Heartland episodes in a loop.
Where to Watch Heartland for Free if You’re in Canada
Look, if you live in Canada, you have it the easiest. CBC Gem is the gold standard. Since Heartland is a CBC original, they keep the episodes there.
You can watch the most recent episodes of Season 19 for free with ads on the Gem app. They usually drop shortly after they air on the main CBC network. If you’re a Canadian resident, you basically have a front-row seat to the entire 19-season saga without paying a cent.
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For those outside Canada, you’ve probably heard people talk about using a VPN to access CBC Gem. While that’s a common "hack," it’s technically a grey area. If you go that route, you’d connect to a Canadian server, head to the CBC Gem website, and create a free account. It works, but it can be a bit glitchy if the site detects the VPN.
The Season 18 and 19 "Free" Catch
Here is what most people get wrong about the newer seasons.
In the U.S., UP Faith & Family usually has the "first-run" rights. This means they get the episodes first, and they are a paid subscription service. However, they almost always offer a 7-day free trial.
If you are a binge-watcher, you can wait until a full season (like Season 18 or 19) has finished airing, sign up for the trial, and watch the whole 10-episode arc in a weekend. Just remember to cancel before the seven days are up.
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- Season 18: This officially hit Netflix US on February 1, 2026. If you already pay for Netflix, it’s "free" in the sense that you aren't paying extra.
- Season 19: Expect this to follow a similar path. It likely won't hit Netflix until late 2026 or early 2027. If you want it free now, you’re looking at that UP Faith & Family trial or the CBC Gem (if you're in Canada) route.
What About Season 20?
It's actually happening. Production for Season 20 is slated to start in May 2026 in Calgary. This is huge. Heartland is officially the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in Canadian history, and it doesn't look like it's slowing down.
When Season 20 premieres (likely in late 2026 on CBC), the "free" cycle starts all over again. Canada gets it first on Gem; the U.S. gets it on UP, then eventually it trickles down to the free ad-supported apps like Pluto and Tubi about 18 to 24 months later.
Why Some Seasons "Disappear"
Ever notice how Season 14 is there one day and gone the next?
Licensing is a mess.
Netflix might have the rights to Seasons 1-17, but then their deal for the early seasons expires, and those move exclusively to a place like Peacock or Hulu for a while. If you can't find a specific season on your usual "free" app, try searching on JustWatch or Reelgood. These sites track where every single season is currently streaming in real-time. It saves a lot of aimless scrolling.
Summary of Your Best Free Options
- Pluto TV: Best for "set it and forget it" viewing and a large on-demand library of middle seasons.
- CBC Gem: The absolute best if you are in Canada (or know your way around a VPN). It has everything.
- Tubi / Freevee: Great for catching the early seasons if you're just starting your journey.
- UP Faith & Family Trial: The "sneaky" way to watch the absolute newest episodes (Seasons 18 and 19) for free before they hit other platforms.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're ready to jump back into the world of Hudson, start by downloading the Pluto TV app. It's the most reliable way to find a consistent stream of Heartland episodes without a subscription. If you’re specifically hunting for the newest episodes from Season 19, wait until mid-February 2026 when the U.S. broadcast run is complete, then utilize the 7-day free trial on UP Faith & Family to binge the newest storylines including Amy’s work with Nathan’s horses and the drama surrounding the rustlers. Always check JustWatch first to see if a specific season has moved to a new free provider this month.