Even if you hate modern TV and you’re an experienced cord cutter, there will still be times when you want to indulge in mindless channel-surfing. If you have an Android smart TV, it’s entirely possible to enjoy free live TV without having to pay a hefty monthly fee thanks to these apps.
1 Pluto TV
Pluto TV provides more than 250 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, lets you personalize with favorites, and create watch lists.
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. Live TV aside, the app also offers on-demand content.
In addition to Android smart TVs, 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 for Android (Free)
2 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 on live TV through the company’s Android and iOS apps. 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 for Android (Free)
3 NBC
The NBC Android 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 live TV apps for Android for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Download: NBC for Android (Free)
4 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—with or without a NAS.
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 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 600 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 for Android (Free)
5 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.
Many IPTV players are available, but the current market leader is Tivimate. The interface looks exactly like a cable TV interface, you can import an electronic program guide (EPG), set programs to record, and organize your favorite channels into custom lists.
The app itself does not come with any M3U playlists; it is an empty shell. You will need to find the content for yourself.
Download: Tivimate for Android (Free)
6 Xumo Play
If you’re looking to add a free live TV app to your Android smart TV, then Xumo Play is a solid option. It’s home to numerous obscure movies and shows that are on par with Lifetime, including those sappy, holiday flicks.
You’ll also find plenty of well-known movies and classics like Drive and Halloween (1978). You may even come across Xumo originals à la Netflix. It’s all neatly separated into categories and navigating feels very similar to HBO Max.
Of course, Xumo Play features live TV, from news to entertainment channels to sports. It has over 300 channels, with a decent mix of major networks (NFL, Hallmark, PBS), but many are just as obscure as Xumo originals.
There is one stand out channel for you film lovers, and that’s Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which just plays Hitchcock movies all day!
Download: Xumo Play for Android (Free)
7 Tubi
Tubi is more or less a one-size-fits-all kind of Android TV app, offering a surprisingly wide array of content. The live channels are pretty varied, like cooking, comedy, sports, national news, kids and family, and more. Within those categories, you can access channels like ABC, NBC, Revolt Mixtape, Ebony TV, Cinevault, and Filmrise Horror.
On the side of shows and movies, you’ll find a decent selection, though a lot of what you’ll come across are classics and low-budget films. You don’t have to sign up with Tubi, which is a big plus, and the ads aren’t particularly heinous.
Download: Tubi for Android (Free)
At the end of the day, no matter what Android TV app you choose to watch live channels, all the apps are free to use. It’s worth giving each one a shot or maybe all of them at once. There’s no harm in that, so don’t try to limit yourself. Once you’re done trying out live TV apps, you may want to explore the best Android TV apps worth installing.
