Best Smart TV Apps 2025: Free & Paid

Smart TVs and streaming services have become the norm, with providers like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Max dominating the market. So, how can you make the most of your smart TV with the right apps and bundles?

Most platforms host a healthy ecosystem of apps that range from simple add-ons to entirely new streaming services. Read our guide below to discover the best free and paid smart TV and streaming apps.

Key Takeaways: Best Smart TV Apps in 2025 (Free & Paid)

Looking for the best streaming apps for your smart TV in 2025? Here’s a quick breakdown:

Best Free Streaming Apps

• Freevee – Amazon-backed with originals and live channels
• Pluto TV – 250+ live channels and on-demand content
• Tubi – 300K+ titles, ad-supported by FOX
• Hoopla – Free movies, TV, and more, with a library card

Best Paid Streaming Apps

• Netflix – Massive library with exclusive originals
• HBO Max – HBO hits plus Warner Bros. blockbusters
• Hulu – Diverse library with Live TV add-on
• Paramount+ – CBS, sports, and originals
• Apple TV+ – Premium ad-free originals

Value-added App Bundles

• Disney+, Hulu & ESPN+ – $16.99/mo (ad-supported)
• Paramount+ & Showtime – ~$12.99/mo
• Apple TV+, Netflix & Peacock – $15/mo via Xfinity

Best Live Sports Streaming

• YouTube TV – All major leagues
• ESPN+ – UFC, soccer, college sports
• FuboTV – Heavy sports focus
• DAZN – Combat sports leader
• Peacock Premium – Olympics, NFL, Premier League

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Best Free Streaming Apps

Freevee

Price: Free (ad-supported)
Best For: Amazon Originals, live channels, and classic shows
Highlights: Owned by Amazon; separate from Prime Video; wide device support

Compatible Devices: Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google TV, LG, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox, Xfinity, Android and iOS devices (iPhones & iPads).

Freevee is a free streaming platform from Amazon (not to be confused with Amazon Prime Video) with a diverse collection of content, live streaming channels, and original movies and shows. The intuitive design, personalized recommendations, and accessibility across multiple devices make it a must-have for anyone looking for free, quality content on demand.

Pluto TV 

Price: Free (ad-supported)
Best For: 24/7 live TV channels and on-demand content
Highlights: 250+ channels; movies, TV, sports, news, and more

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xfinity, most Smart TVs, and more.

Pluto TV is a free streaming service for smart TVs, streaming devices, and web browsers that allows you to drop in and watch live TV and on-demand content anytime. Pluto TV has over 100,000 hours of content, hundreds of channels of hit movies, binge-worthy TV shows, breaking news, live sports, and more.

Tubi TV

Price: Free (ad-supported)
Best For: Massive content library across all genres
Highlights: 300K+ titles; 200+ live/local news channels; owned by FOX

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, and more.

Tubi is an ad-supported video-on-demand service from FOX Entertainment. Tubi has more than 300,000 movies and TV episodes, 200+ local and live news channels, and 450+ entertainment partners. Tubi gives streamers an easy way to discover new content, 100% free.

Hoopla

Price: Free with library card
Best For: Movies, TV, music, eBooks, and comics from local libraries
Highlights: Library-powered; supports Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast

Compatible Devices: Android and iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Kindle Fires. For smart TVs, Hoopla supports Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and more.

Hoopla partners with libraries across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and provides access to eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV. With hoopla and a valid library card, you can instantly stream fan-favorite movies, modern indies, films based on books, and shows from MTV, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, and more. Availability depends on your local library, so be sure to check their website or app.

Best Paid Streaming Apps

Netflix

Price: From $7.99/mo (ad-supported)
Best For: Popular originals and massive library
Notable Titles: Stranger Things, Ozark, Bridgerton

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Chromecast, AppleTV, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, PCs and laptops, Xfinity streaming devices, and more.

Arguably the original streaming service to hit the market, Netflix offers a robust experience with a wide variety of content and genres. Known for popular originals, like Ozark, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton, the streamer brings the best in all-around entertainment. If you don’t mind ads, Netflix’s recent ad-supported package is an affordable entry point to all it has to offer. With so much content, finding what to watch can be overwhelming—use profiles or curated lists to help narrow your options.

HBO Max (formerly Max)

Price: From $9.99/mo (ad-supported)
Best For: Prestige dramas and Warner Bros. blockbusters
Notable Titles: Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, PCs and laptops, Xfinity streaming devices, and more.

HBO Max offers thousands of movies and TV episodes, including iconic HBO originals like Game of Thrones, Succession, and The Last of Us, plus blockbuster films from Warner Bros., DC, and more. Subscribers get access to over 35,000 hours of content, including Max Originals, hit series, documentaries, kids’ programming, and curated collections from brands like HGTV, Discovery, and Cartoon Network—all in one app. Given the range and quality of content, the $9.99/month plan offers excellent value.

Paramount +

Price: From $7.99/mo (ad-supported)
Best For: CBS shows, sports, and original content
Notable Titles: Yellowstone, Star Trek: Discovery, The Good Fight

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, PCs and laptops, Xfinity streaming devices, and more.

Paramount+ offers a wide variety of content, including original series, movies, sports, news, and children’s programming. The service is a combination of content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, and BET. Featuring popular shows and movies, like Yellowstone, The Good Fight, Star Trek: Discovery and more, it also offers live streaming of CBS, CBS Sports Network, and local CBS stations in select markets.

Apple TV+

Price: $9.99/mo
Best For: Ad-free premium Apple Originals
Notable Titles: Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Severance

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, PCs and laptops, Xfinity streaming devices, and more.

Apple TV+ offers exclusive Apple Originals shows, movies, and documentaries. One of the few services offering a low-cost, ad-free subscription, though trailers for other Apple TV+ content may still appear. Some of the most popular Apple TV+ shows include Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Mythic Quest, along with a wide variety of other shows and movies. Get Apple TV+ as part of a family subscription and share it with up to 6 family members.

Hulu

Price: From $9.99/mo (ad-supported)
Best For: Next-day TV, anime, and Hulu Originals
Notable Titles: The Handmaid’s Tale, The Great, Grey’s Anatomy

Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, PCs and laptops, Xfinity streaming devices, and more.

Hulu features a library of television series, movies, anime, documentaries, and more, and offers one of the more diverse libraries of the services listed here. Enjoy originals, such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Great; movies like Encanto and Dune; and TV series from other networks, such as The Good Doctor and Grey’s Anatomy. Hulu also offers a Live TV plan that includes live, local channels and national networks.

Best App to Stream Your Local & Cloud Content

Plex

Price: Free
Compatible Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Chromecast, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, most Smart TVs, and more.

Want to stream your personal media collection or local recordings? Plex takes all of the shows and movies you already own—whether stored on your computer or in the cloud—and organizes them on your personal server in one app. It also offers free on-demand movies and shows, live TV, podcasts, and web shows. You can opt for the premium version for $5 a month to watch and record over-the-air broadcasts available at your location.

Best App Bundles for Paid Streaming Services  

Looking to save money by combining streaming platforms? Here are the top bundle deals of 2025.

Streaming Bundles Comparison Table (current_year)

Best Live Sports Streaming Apps 

Looking for the best way to stream live sports? Sports fans have numerous excellent options for live sports streaming in 2025. While some apps are exclusively for sports, several often include other entertainment or the possibility to bundle with major streaming apps so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.  

• ESPN+ – Ideal for niche sports coverage like UFC, tennis, college sports, PGA golf, and soccer leagues such as La Liga and Bundesliga, as well as original sports documentaries and series. 
• YouTube TV – Known for comprehensive coverage, YouTube TV offers national and regional sports networks, including ESPN, NBC Sports Network, FS1, MLB Network, NFL Network, and NBA TV, making it perfect for fans of multiple sports leagues. 
• FuboTV – Popular among sports enthusiasts for its extensive sports package. It covers international soccer, NFL RedZone, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and college sports, including specialized sports channels and add-ons. 
• DAZN – A must-have for combat sports fans, DAZN provides premium access to boxing, MMA events, women’s sports leagues, soccer matches, basketball, and sports documentaries and exclusive original content. 
• NFL Sunday Ticket (via YouTube TV) – Offers football fans the ability to watch every out-of-market NFL game live every Sunday during the regular season, ensuring you won’t miss a single play.
• Peacock Premium – NBC’s streaming service offers extensive sports coverage, including the Olympics, Premier League soccer, NFL Sunday Night Football, WWE, motorsports, and more, making it a versatile choice for diverse sports interests.

Is Your Internet Ready for Streaming?

When searching for internet providers, look for an internet connection optimized for streaming. Your download speed should be at least 100 Mbps to maintain a reliable HD stream. This allows ample speed and accounts for peak usage slowdowns or possible ISP throttling. If you’re unsure if your current plan is fast enough, run an internet speed test to check your current internet performance. 

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