Some of the very early shorts may have fallen into the public domain due to expired copyright renewals (though this is debated). The Internet Archive hosts a few episodes legally. However, "complete collections" there are usually user-uploaded and borderline legal. Stick to the official sources above for safety.
This is the "Golden Age." Episodes like Yankee Doodle Mouse, The Night Before Christmas, and Johann Mouse won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film. These are the episodes people want in their personal archives. Tom And Jerry Classic Collection Free Download
These shorts are often considered the "weird" ones. Produced in Eastern Europe with a much lower budget, they have a surreal, edgy feel. While some fans skip them, completists want them included in any "classic collection." Some of the very early shorts may have
The Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection (Volumes 1-3) is readily available on eBay or thrift stores for $5–$10. This gives you the original 114 shorts physically. You can then rip (convert) these DVDs to MP4 files for your personal hard drive. Note: Ripping your own purchased DVDs for personal use is generally considered Fair Use in the US. Stick to the official sources above for safety
This paper synthesizes historical records, animation scholarship, legal frameworks on copyright, and examples of restoration practice. Sources include animation histories, film archives, legal statutes (copyright law summaries), and reviews of home-video releases.
These platforms frequently put the Tom and Jerry Golden Collection on sale for $19.99 for the entire series. Once purchased, you can download the episodes directly to your device's hard drive via the app (e.g., iTunes downloads). This is a "free download" in the sense that you pay once and keep the files offline forever.