Best free TV apps to watch live TV without cable

Here’s the short answer: the best free TV apps for most people are Pluto TV for a cable-style channel guide and Tubi for movies and shows on demand. Both are legal, cost $0, and don’t ask for a credit card. The catch? You’ll watch ads, just like on regular TV. Below I break down six free apps, who each one is for, and how to get started in a few minutes.

The best free TV apps at a glance

Every app on this list is free to download and free to watch. None of them is a trial that starts charging you later. Ratings are from the App Store, as of October 2026.

All of these are what the industry calls FAST services: free streaming TV paid for by commercials. You can find more picks like these in our streaming and entertainment guides.

1. Pluto TV: best free live TV app for most people

If you miss flipping through channels, start here. Pluto TV, owned by Paramount, opens straight to a TV guide with hundreds of live channels: news, comedy, crime shows, classic sitcoms, westerns, kids’ shows, and channels that play one series all day long.

• Price: $0, with ads.
• Sign-up: none. Open the app and start watching.
• Also has: an on-demand section with movies and TV episodes.
• App Store rating: 4.8 stars (about 1.6 million ratings, as of October 2026).

The catch? Many “channels” are themed playlists, not the cable networks you know. You won’t find your local ABC or NBC station here.

Get it: Pluto TV on the App Store or Pluto TV on Google Play. Pluto also posts what’s new each month on its official Instagram account.

2. Tubi: best for free movies and full seasons

Tubi, owned by Fox, is the app to open when you want to pick exactly what to watch. Its on-demand library is huge, and it has a live TV section with news, sports, and some local news channels in certain cities. In February 2025, Tubi streamed the Super Bowl for free, which tells you how seriously it takes live events.

• Price: $0, with ads. No credit card.
• Sign-up: optional. A free account lets you pick up where you left off on another device.
• App Store rating: 4.8 stars (about 1.3 million ratings, as of October 2026).

The catch? Brand-new hit movies usually show up on paid services first. Tubi is strongest on older favorites and hidden gems.

Get it: Tubi on the App Store or Tubi on Google Play.

3. The Roku Channel: you don’t need a Roku to use it

A lot of people think The Roku Channel only works on Roku TVs. It doesn’t. You can watch it on your phone too, and it mixes hundreds of free live channels with free movies and shows on demand.

• Price: $0 for the free section, with ads.
• Sign-up: you may be asked to sign in with a free Roku account.
• On iPhone: it lives inside The Roku App (Official). Look for the Live TV section.

The catch? The app also sells paid add-on channels. Anything labeled “free” is free, but read the label before you tap Start free trial on a premium channel.

Get it: The Roku App on the App Store or The Roku Channel on Google Play.

4. Samsung TV Plus: best if you have a Galaxy phone

If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, you may already have this app. Samsung describes TV Plus as its “free, ad-supported streaming service,” with hundreds of live channels plus on-demand shows. According to Samsung’s support page for TV Plus on Galaxy phones, it works on Galaxy devices running Android 8.0 or later, and the mobile app is only available in the U.S.

The catch? It doesn’t work on iPhones or on Android phones from other brands.

Get it: Samsung TV Plus on Google Play (or the Galaxy Store on your phone).

5. Xumo Play: simple and no login

Xumo Play is a solid backup when you want something different from Pluto and Tubi. On its official site, Xumo says it offers 350+ channels and about 15,000 titles on demand, with no subscription or login needed.

The catch? It has far fewer App Store reviews than the big names (4.6 stars from about 4,300 ratings, as of October 2026), so expect a smaller, less polished app.

Get it: Xumo Play on the App Store or Xumo Play on Google Play.

6. PBS: watch your local station live, free

This is the one I recommend most to parents and grandparents. The free PBS app lets you livestream your local PBS station and watch shows like NOVA, Masterpiece, and Antiques Roadshow on demand. It has a 4.9-star rating on the App Store (about 356,000 ratings, as of October 2026).

The catch? Some older episodes are only available with PBS Passport, a perk you get by donating to your local station. You don’t need it to watch the free shows or the livestream.

Get it: PBS on the App Store or PBS on Google Play.

Want to see these apps side by side before you install anything? This review from Cord Cutters News walks through the three biggest ones.

How to watch free TV on your phone, step by step

1. Connect to Wi-Fi. Streaming video uses a lot of data, and watching on your cell plan can eat through a monthly data limit fast.
2. Open the App Store (iPhone) or the Play Store app (Android) and search for the app’s name.
3. Check the developer name under the app (for example, “Pluto, Inc.” or “Tubi, Inc”) before you tap Get or Install. Copycat apps use similar names and icons.
4. Open the app and tap Live or Live TV to see the channel guide.
5. Turn your phone sideways for full-screen video. To watch on your TV, look for the cast icon (a small screen with Wi-Fi waves) if you have a Chromecast or a smart TV that supports it.

How we picked these free TV apps

Here’s what an app had to do to make this list:

• It’s free to watch, not a free trial that turns into a bill.
• It’s legal and licensed. No “free cable” boxes, modified apps, or sites that stream channels without permission.
• It’s in the official App Store or Google Play from the real company behind the service.
• It has strong, recent ratings from a large number of users.
• It’s easy for a first-time smartphone user to figure out.

If a “free TV” app asks for your credit card, your Social Security number, or a download from outside the official stores, skip it. That’s not how any of the apps above work.

Want your local channels too? Add an antenna

Free apps are great, but most of them won’t carry your local ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox station. For that, the cheapest option is still an indoor TV antenna. You buy it once and watch local broadcasts free, with no monthly bill. The FCC has a plain-English guide to antennas and digital TV that explains how to aim one and rescan for channels.

For more ways to cut your monthly bills, see our money-saving app guides.

Frequently asked questions

Are free TV apps really free?

Yes, the ones on this list are. You pay with your time by watching ads, not with money. Some apps also sell optional paid channels, so read the label before you tap anything that says “trial.”

Are free TV apps legal?

Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo Play, and PBS are all licensed services from well-known companies. Apps that promise every cable channel for free, especially ones you download outside the official stores, usually aren’t legal and can carry malware.

Can I watch live sports and local news for free?

Sometimes. These apps carry some live news and sports channels, but big games on major networks usually need an antenna or a paid service. An antenna is the most reliable free way to get local news.

Which free TV app is easiest for seniors?

Pluto TV, because it looks and works like a regular cable guide and needs no sign-up. PBS is a close second. We have more simple picks in our guides for seniors.

Bottom line

• Best for most people: Pluto TV, for channel surfing with no sign-up.
• Best for movies: Tubi.
• Best mix of live and on-demand: The Roku Channel.
• Best for Galaxy owners: Samsung TV Plus.
• Best for your local station and documentaries: PBS.

If you only install one app, make it Pluto TV. Add Tubi for movie night, and you’ve covered most of what cable gave you, for $0. Browse more free apps we recommend when you’re ready for the next one.