When streaming movies and shows, the first app that comes to mind is Netflix. While Netflix has a massive library, its cheaper plan plays ads before and during your shows, which can be quite frustrating. But that’s just how the model works.
Even popular free streaming services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel lean on ads to pay the bills. However, PBS plays by different rules. It’s free, provides access to thousands of shows, includes a live feed of local stations, and never inserts ad breaks in the middle of an episode. This is why this free streaming app can be a good option for anyone fed up with Netflix’s ads.
PBS feels different from other free apps
No mid-episode interruptions
An honest heads-up: PBS isn’t literally ad-free. Notably, its streaming videos get one short pre-roll sponsor spot, but the program itself plays uninterrupted. But that’s about it. You aren’t bombarded with ads every 4–5 minutes in a 20-minute episode. You get to watch the entire episode without any interruptions, no ad popping up right as the detective reveals the killer.
The good thing about PBS’s sponsor messages is that they tell a story instead of pitching a product. So, you are not repeatedly shown smartphone ads or an ad for a burger joint. Honestly, that’s a trade I’ll take any day.
Coming to the content on offer, open the app, and you’ll find more than 4,000 PBS and local shows on demand. That includes Masterpiece, Nova, Nature, PBS NewsHour, Frontline, and Ken Burns documentaries. Of course, it is no direct comparison to what Netflix offers. But if you want something different for the evening, this is it, just without the monthly bill.
Another upside of PBS is that you don’t need an account or a credit card to start watching. Most programs are free to stream for a limited time, while some have no time limit at all. Most shows stream right when they premiere on TV and stay free for at least two weeks for non-members. For kids, PBS has its own separate kids’ programming inside the free PBS KIDS Video app.
Setting up PBS is wonderfully simple
It runs on almost every platform
The PBS app runs on iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV (Tizen), Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Vizio, Google TV, Comcast Xfinity, and LG TV. If you don’t have a supported smart TV, you can use Chromecast and start casting in minutes. You can also watch shows directly on PBS itself.
- Download the PBS app from the App Store or Google Play (or on your smart TV).
- Open it and choose your local station when prompted. On Fire TV, you have the option to change it under My Station.
- On a phone or tablet, you don’t need to activate anything. If you want, you can sign in with Facebook, Google, Apple, or a PBS account.
- On Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, or a Samsung TV, you’d need to activate your device at pbs.org/tv.
- Choose a show, or head to Live TV to see what’s currently streaming on right now.
Streaming rights are messy, not just for PBS, but for every streaming service. A show on a PBS station may not always be available on demand. After a show’s free window closes, it may get moved to PBS Passport, which is an exclusive library for station members. This is the reason why a few episodes might show you a lock icon.
Don’t mistake Passport for a PBS subscription. It’s just a perk you’d get for donating to your local station. For instance, PBS Hawaii asks for at least $5/month, while PBS NC asks for $8/month or $96/year. In return, you get extended access to shows like American Experience, Antiques Roadshow, Independent Lens, and Finding Your Roots. Some stations, like WETA, even let you watch without ads as a Passport perk.
Who’ll love it, who’ll skip it?
If you’re into documentaries, mysteries, period dramas, or news, you’ll feel right at home on PBS. It’s also a great fit if you’re tired of watching a murder mystery get cut off by a soap commercial. And if you’re still weighing whether Netflix’s ad plan is worth it, keep in mind that PBS costs you nothing to try.
But if you want the latest blockbusters, big streaming originals, or a huge number of shows you’ll never run out of, PBS isn’t that. Its strength is depth, quality, and no ads. But for zero dollars and about five minutes of setup, it’s one of the easiest apps you can add to your TV.