Free! watch order
Haruka Nanase only cares about swimming freestyle until his old relay teammate Rin comes back to challenge him, and his friends restart Iwatobi High's swim club. Kyoto Animation's series runs from high school to the international stage across three TV seasons and a long line of films, several of them recaps.
First time? Watch Iwatobi Swim Club and Eternal Summer, then Starting Days, Take Your Marks, Dive to the Future (with its episode 0) and both parts of The Final Stroke. Skip the Timeless Medley recap films.
Story order
Starting Days moves to the front because it's set in middle school. It works, but it's a slower start; most watch-order guides recommend it after Season 2, where it came out.
- High Speed! Free! Starting Days
A prequel set in Haru and Makoto's first year of middle school, when they swim a relay with Asahi and Ikuya under captain Natsuya. Not required for Seasons 1–2, but those characters are central to Dive to the Future.
- Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Haru, Makoto, Nagisa and newcomer Rei form a swim club at Iwatobi High, while Rin, now at rival Samezuka Academy, wants a rematch.
- FrFr! Free! Short Movie (optional)
Optional. Chibi comedy shorts from the Japanese Blu-ray volumes of Season 1.
- Free! Eternal Summer
Haru and Makoto's last year of high school: Rin's childhood friend Sosuke joins Samezuka, and everyone has to decide what comes after graduation.
- Free! Eternal Summer: Forbidden All-Hard! (optional)
Optional. A bonus episode 14 from the last Japanese Blu-ray volume, set after Season 2.
- Free! Timeless Medley: The Bond (optional)
Optional recap film. Retells the TV series from the Iwatobi club's side with some new footage.
- Free! Timeless Medley: The Promise (optional)
Optional recap film, the companion to The Bond, centred on Rin and Sosuke.
- Free! Take Your Marks
Four new short stories set in March after Season 2, as the third-years graduate: Haru and Makoto hunt for apartments in Tokyo and Rin says goodbye before leaving for Australia. Ends by setting up Season 3.
- Free! Dive to the Future Episode 0: Build-Up of Early Spring!
A prologue episode, first screened at an event shortly before Season 3 aired and later put on its first Blu-ray. Watch it right before Season 3.
- Free! Dive to the Future
Haru and Makoto start university in Tokyo and run into the Starting Days cast again (Ikuya, Asahi, Natsuya and Nao), as the series moves toward competitive swimming at the world level.
- Free! Road to the World: The Dream (optional)
Optional. A compilation of Dive to the Future with some new scenes added. Useful as a refresher before The Final Stroke, but not required.
- Free! The Final Stroke: The First Volume
The first half of the finale. Haru heads to Australia to compete against the world's best, including champion Albert Volandel.
- Free! The Final Stroke: The Second Volume
The second half of the finale, and the end of the series.
Release order
The recommended order. Starting Days lands between Season 2 and Season 3, right where its characters are needed. Episode 0 is placed before Season 3, when it was first screened; its Blu-ray release came after.
- Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Haru, Makoto, Nagisa and newcomer Rei form a swim club at Iwatobi High, while Rin, now at rival Samezuka Academy, wants a rematch.
- FrFr! Free! Short Movie (optional)
Optional. Chibi comedy shorts from the Japanese Blu-ray volumes of Season 1.
- Free! Eternal Summer
Haru and Makoto's last year of high school: Rin's childhood friend Sosuke joins Samezuka, and everyone has to decide what comes after graduation.
- Free! Eternal Summer: Forbidden All-Hard! (optional)
Optional. A bonus episode 14 from the last Japanese Blu-ray volume, set after Season 2.
- High Speed! Free! Starting Days
A prequel set in Haru and Makoto's first year of middle school, when they swim a relay with Asahi and Ikuya under captain Natsuya. Not required for Seasons 1–2, but those characters are central to Dive to the Future.
- Free! Timeless Medley: The Bond (optional)
Optional recap film. Retells the TV series from the Iwatobi club's side with some new footage.
- Free! Timeless Medley: The Promise (optional)
Optional recap film, the companion to The Bond, centred on Rin and Sosuke.
- Free! Take Your Marks
Four new short stories set in March after Season 2, as the third-years graduate: Haru and Makoto hunt for apartments in Tokyo and Rin says goodbye before leaving for Australia. Ends by setting up Season 3.
- Free! Dive to the Future Episode 0: Build-Up of Early Spring!
A prologue episode, first screened at an event shortly before Season 3 aired and later put on its first Blu-ray. Watch it right before Season 3.
- Free! Dive to the Future
Haru and Makoto start university in Tokyo and run into the Starting Days cast again (Ikuya, Asahi, Natsuya and Nao), as the series moves toward competitive swimming at the world level.
- Free! Road to the World: The Dream (optional)
Optional. A compilation of Dive to the Future with some new scenes added. Useful as a refresher before The Final Stroke, but not required.
- Free! The Final Stroke: The First Volume
The first half of the finale. Haru heads to Australia to compete against the world's best, including champion Albert Volandel.
- Free! The Final Stroke: The Second Volume
The second half of the finale, and the end of the series.
Explained
Which films can I skip?
The two Timeless Medley films (The Bond and The Promise) are recaps of the TV series with a little new footage, and Road to the World is a compilation of Dive to the Future with some added scenes. All three are optional. Starting Days, Take Your Marks and both Final Stroke films are new stories and part of the main path.
Do I need Starting Days?
Before Season 3, yes. It introduces Ikuya, Asahi, Natsuya and Nao, who are major characters in Dive to the Future. It's best watched after Season 2.
Where does the story end?
The Final Stroke, released as two films in 2021 and 2022, is the finale. Watch the First Volume and then the Second Volume; they're one story split in two.
Is it dubbed?
Seasons 1–3, Starting Days, the Timeless Medley films, Take Your Marks and Road to the World all have English dubs, first released by Funimation. The whole franchise is now with Crunchyroll, which has streamed The Final Stroke films since 2023.