I have tested these apps and can give you my honest opinion of them. In my tests the ones I rated with five stars are all worth the money, but the ones I rated at one star aren’t worth your time. Also hours of testing is not something I am willing to do for free and all my reviews are legal and fair.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Live Tv On Android
- Pluto TV
Pluto TV provides more than 100 TV channels across several categories. News, sports, movies, viral videos, and cartoons are all well-represented. It even offers some channels dedicated to single shows.
The company itself has been around since 2013. In that time, it’s built up more than 70 content partners, including cable TV staples like CNBC, MSNBC, and Sky News, as well as web-only channels like CNET, The Surf Network, Classic Movies, and IGN. The app does not offer any on-demand content.
In addition to Android TV, the app is also available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and some smart TVs. If you install it on the mobile version of Android, it is Chromecast-compatible.
Download: Pluto TV (Free)
- Bloomberg TV
bloomberg tv
If you’re interested in the world of finance and global markets, you’ll already know about Bloomberg. Along with CNBC and FOX Business News, it’s one of the go-to business-focused channels in the United States and beyond.
However, unlike CNBC and FOX Business, Bloomberg’s output is free to watch through the company’s app. You will have access to the network’s live streams, as well as a wide selection of on-demand shows from the last couple of days.
Download: Bloomberg TV (Free)
- JioTV
jiotv
JioTV is the best live TV app for Android TV in India. It provides access to more than 600 TV channels from India and the wider region, as well as 100 channels in HD.
You also get the ability to pause and play the live TV action and enjoy any shows you missed over the last seven days on the catch-up service.
Download: JioTV (Free)
- NBC
The NBC app offers a mix of live TV and on-demand videos. In order to access the live TV feature, you need to have a TV service provider that includes NBC in your package
NBC’s on-demand content is impressively expansive, making it one of the better Android TV apps around. You can watch the latest episodes of the network’s shows 24 hours after they air on regular TV, but can also view many TV classics such as Miami Vice, Battlestar Galactica, and Knight Rider.
NBC offers support for closed-caption subtitles. As such, it’s one of the best free cable TV apps for Android for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Download: NBC (Free)
- Plex
Plex is a well-known home theater app. It lets you stream content around your home, manage your media libraries, and watch content remotely.
In mid-2017, the developers introduced the live TV feature. This lets you watch local TV channels without cable in your area for free.
If you live in the United States, that means you’ll be able to enjoy all the major US networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and The CW. Plex Live TV also includes a DVR; you can pre-program recordings in advance and all the content you record will be integrated with your existing Plex libraries.
The feature is only available to Plex Pass subscribers and you’ll need to purchase a digital tuner and an antenna. We recommend the Mohu Leaf or the HDHomeRun.
In mid-2020, Plex further expanded the feature. Today, more than 80 live TV channels are available over the web; you won’t need an aerial to tune in. Some of the most noteworthy free channels are the Fubo Sports Network, Yahoo Finance, and Reuters.
Download: Plex (Free)
- TVPlayer
tvplayer
If you live in the UK, you can use TVPlayer to watch 25 British channels for free. The available networks include BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, CBBC, and BBC News. You’ll also get free access to less popular networks like TLC, Discovery, History, and Crime & Investigation.
For £7/month, you can watch premium channels such as Comedy Central, MTV, and HGTV.
People who live outside the UK can use a VPN to access the service. We recommend ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
Download: TVPlayer (Free)
- BBC iPlayer
iplayer
Another perennial favorite of cord-cutters, the BBC iPlayer app provides live access to all of the BBC’s TV channels, as well as a vast catalog of on-demand shows, classic BBC shows, and straight-to-TV movies. Like TVPlayer, you’ll need to use a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer if you live outside the UK.
If you cannot find the content you’re looking for on iPlayer, check out Netflix instead. It carries some of the best BBC documentaries and plenty of other BBC shows for Americans to enjoy.
Download: BBC iPlayer (Free)
- Tivimate
tivimate
Instead of using proprietary services to get live TV for free, you could use an M3U playlist. The playlists are comprised of links to free-to-air channels from around the world, and you can watch them all in a single app.
Best live tv streaming apps
Hulu + Live TV
Photo: Hulu
Hulu + Live TV is Hulu’s live streaming option. Featuring an assortment of live sports, news, and events, the service offers over 75 channels and the ability to watch TV live and on demand. Hulu’s live TV experience allows you to watch two screens at the same time and also includes the ability to record live TV (with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage). It includes ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN 2, The CW, A&E, FX, Pop TV, TBS, TNT, USA, CNN, Disney Channel, E!, FS1, CNBC, and many more. The cost is $69.99 per month (which includes a subscription to an ad-supported version of Hulu) or $75.99/month (which includes a subscription to an ad-free version of Hulu) and you can cancel anytime. In addition, you can add things like HBO, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX, Enhanced Cloud DVR, Unlimited Screens and STARZ for an extra monthly cost.
SUBSCRIBE TO HULU PLUS LIVE TV
Sling TV
One of the first live streaming options, Sling TV is also one of the cheapest. Like cable, it gives you a few different packages to choose from. Besides its three plans, Sling Orange, Sling Blue (both $35 a month), and Sling Orange + Blue ($50 a month), Sling TV also offers a good selection of add-on channel packages. Highlights of each plan include ESPN, Disney, BBC America and Comedy Central in Sling Orange and Discovery, FOX News, MSNBC, NBC Sports and SYFY in Sling Blue. If you want it all, the Sling Orange & Blue plan comes equipped with 50 channels. The one thing to note is that you will not get the local ABC channels with any package though if you pay two months of service in advance, Sling TV will send you a free HD antenna. Local CBS channels are are also a no go, though you can add Paramount+ (see below) if that’s important to you.
SUBSCRIBE TO SLING TV
Paramount+
This updated streaming service officially took over for CBS All Access earlier this year and in addition to a huge library of TV episodes, films and original content from CBS All Access, CBS, Showtime, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Pluto TV, and more, it offers a wide array of live TV options. Sports fans will be delighted with CBS Sports HQ, which offers live events like the NFL on CBS, the PGA Tour and The Masters, NCAA Division 1 Men’s basketball, and lots of soccer action including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League with exclusive English-language coverage. For news junkies, Paramount+ is a treasure trove of information. Not only will you get live streams of over 200 local CBS affiliates across the country, you’ll also be able to tune into CBSN, a 24-hour streaming news service. You can get a week free trial right now, after that pricing is in two different tiers: a premium plan priced at $9.99/month or $99.99/year, and an ad-supported plan, now for just for $4.99/month or $49.99/year, and you can try it for free with a one-week trial.
SUBSCRIBE TO PARAMOUNT+
YouTube TV
With more top channels and PBS, YouTube TV offers a simple user interface and a comprehensive service that will almost fully replace your cable TV with this special offer of $54.99 for the first three months, after which it will revert to $64.99/month. With over 85 channels of sports, news and entertainment and cloud DVR with unlimited storage. Here you’ll get all the major networks, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. If you want the best service available and don’t mind paying for it then YouTube TV is an excellent live streaming service to consider. One thing to consider: As of now, you can’t get the YouTube TV app on any Roku device, though that could change if Roku and Google come to terms.
SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBE TV
Philo
Philo
Photo:Philo
For $25 per month, Philo offers more than 60 basic-type lifestyle and entertainment channels, like HGTV, History, Discovery, AMC and Nickelodeon. It also comes with a large library of on-demand titles, unlimited DVR and multi-streaming features. If you’re a sports fan, Philo is not for you. But news junkies can enjoy channels like BBC America, World News and Newsy, and romance lovers can tune into favorites like the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime Movie Channel. Add-ons are also available, like the Epix package for $6/month and the Starz bundle for $9/month. Right now, you can also enjoy one week free when you sign up.
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