Free Live TV Apps: 10 Legal Apps to Watch TV for Free
You do not need a cable bill to watch live TV. A growing group of free apps stream hundreds of live channels, paid for by ads instead of subscriptions. In the industry these are called FAST services, short for free ad-supported streaming television.
Below are the best free live TV apps in 2026, what each one is good at and where it works. If you prefer open playlists over apps, our guide to IPTV channels covers public M3U lists too.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Free, legal live TV apps (FAST services) |
| Level | Beginner |
| Devices Covered | Smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, phones and browsers |
| What You Need | An internet connection and a supported device |
In This Guide
Quick Comparison
| App | Owned by | Best for | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pluto TV | Paramount Skydance | Biggest classic channel guide | Most TVs, sticks, phones, web |
| Tubi | Fox | Movies plus live news and sports channels | Most TVs, sticks, phones, web |
| The Roku Channel | Roku | Big mix of live and on-demand | Roku, web, phones, Fire TV, Google TV |
| Samsung TV Plus | Samsung | Samsung TV and Galaxy owners | Samsung TVs and phones, web |
| Plex | Plex | Live TV plus your own media | Almost every device |
| Xumo Play | Comcast and Charter | Simple guide, no sign-up | TVs, sticks, phones, web |
| Sling Freestream | DISH | Free tier of a paid service | Most devices, web |
| LG Channels | LG | LG smart TV owners | LG TVs |
| Vizio WatchFree+ | Vizio | Vizio TV owners | Vizio TVs, web |
| Prime Video (free with ads) | Amazon | Former Freevee shows and channels | Fire TV and Prime Video apps |
Channel counts change often, so check each app’s guide for the current lineup in your country.
The 10 Best Free Live TV Apps
1. Pluto TV
Pluto TV launched in 2014 and is often called the first dedicated FAST service. Its guide looks like cable: hundreds of themed channels for news, classic series, movies, reality and kids. You can start watching without an account.
2. Tubi
Tubi is best known for its large free movie library, but it also has a live section with news, sports and entertainment channels, including local Fox station streams in some markets. Fox owns Tubi and has used it to stream major live events.
3. The Roku Channel
Despite the name, The Roku Channel also works in a web browser and on phones and other streaming devices. It combines a live TV guide with free on-demand movies and shows, plus free news channels from partners such as NewsON.
4. Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus comes preinstalled on Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy phones and is also available on the web. If you own a Samsung TV, open the app from the home screen and you already have hundreds of channels.
5. Plex
Plex started as a home media server, and still lets you stream your own files, but it also offers free live TV channels and free movies. It runs on almost every device, which makes it a good single app for a household with mixed hardware.
6. Xumo Play
Xumo Play is owned by Comcast and Charter. It has a clean channel guide and does not require an account, which makes it one of the fastest apps to try.
7. Sling Freestream
Sling Freestream is the free tier of Sling TV. It includes live channels and on-demand titles without a paid plan, and you can upgrade later if you want cable networks.
8. LG Channels
LG Channels is built into LG smart TVs. You will usually find it in the channel list next to your antenna channels.
9. Vizio WatchFree+
WatchFree+ comes with Vizio smart TVs and also has a web version. Like LG Channels, it appears as part of the TV’s normal channel guide.
10. Prime Video (free with ads)
Amazon closed its Freevee app in 2025 and moved its free shows, movies and live channels into Prime Video. You can still watch the free, ad-supported section in the Prime Video app.
How to Choose a Free Live TV App
- Start with what your TV already has. Samsung, LG and Vizio TVs include a free channel service. Try it before installing anything.
- Want the most live channels? Install Pluto TV and Tubi. Between them they cover news, sports highlights, movies and classic series.
- Want one app for everything? The Roku Channel and Plex mix live TV with on-demand content.
- Want local news? Combine a free app with a TV antenna. Over-the-air TV is free, and the FCC antenna guide explains how to set one up. For streaming local news, see our guide to free streaming news.
Free Live TV Apps vs Free IPTV Playlists
| Free live TV apps | Public IPTV playlists | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Install and watch | Paste an M3U link into a player |
| TV guide | Built in | Needs a separate EPG file |
| Reliability | Streams are maintained by the app | Some links break or move |
| Channel range | Mostly US and big markets | Thousands of channels worldwide |
| Legal status | Licensed by the app | Depends on each stream |
If you want to try playlists as well, our guides on the iptv-org GitHub project and how to open M3U in VLC show how.
Watch Out for Unofficial “Free TV” Apps
Some apps promise every cable channel, live sports and new movies for free. Those are almost always unlicensed. They can disappear overnight, show unsafe ads or ask for permissions they do not need. Stick to apps from known companies in the official app stores, like the ones in this list.
How to Get More from Free Live TV Apps
Free live TV apps are easy to start with, and a few habits make them even better:
- Pick favorites. Most apps let you favorite channels, so your guide opens on what you actually watch.
- Use the built-in guide. Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and The Roku Channel have a grid guide like cable, which is faster than browsing tiles.
- Combine two or three apps. Each service has different channels. Installing a couple of free live TV apps gives you far more choice than one alone.
- Add an antenna for local channels. Free apps rarely carry every local station, while an antenna picks them up for free.
- Create a free account when it helps. An account can sync favorites across devices and remember where you stopped on-demand titles.
- Expect ads. Free live TV apps pay for channels with commercials, similar to regular TV.
| Your situation | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| You own a Samsung, LG or Vizio TV | The free channel app already on your TV |
| You use a Roku | The Roku Channel, then Pluto TV |
| You use Fire TV or Google TV | Pluto TV and Tubi |
| You want local news | NewsON plus an antenna |
| You want one app for everything | Plex |
With the right mix, free live TV apps can cover news, movies, classic shows and kids channels without a monthly bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free live TV app?
Yes. Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Plex, Xumo Play and Sling Freestream all stream live TV channels for free, supported by ads.
What is the best free live TV app?
Pluto TV has one of the largest live channel guides, Tubi adds a big free movie library, and The Roku Channel mixes both. The best choice depends on your device and what you watch.
Are free live TV apps legal?
The apps in this guide are legal. They license their channels and show ads to pay for them. Be careful with unknown apps that offer paid cable channels for free.
Do I need an account for free live TV apps?
Many, such as Pluto TV and Xumo Play, let you watch without signing up. Some ask for a free account to save favorites or unlock extra features.
Can I watch local channels for free?
Yes. A TV antenna picks up local broadcast channels for free, and apps such as The Roku Channel, NewsON and Haystack News stream local newscasts.
Conclusion
Free live TV apps are the simplest legal way to watch live channels without a subscription. Check what your TV already includes, then add Pluto TV or Tubi for more choice.
For public playlists from around the world, continue with our guide to IPTV channels.