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Before paying for anything, it's worth knowing how much live TV you can already get for free. So-called FAST services (free ad-supported streaming TV) now carry hundreds of live channels: news, classic sitcoms, movies, cooking, true crime and some sports. They're legal, they work on almost every device, and you don't need a playlist or player.
Channel lineups differ by country and change often. We describe what each service is known for rather than listing channels that may have moved.
Pluto TV
Owned by Paramount, Pluto TV is the closest thing to flicking through cable. It has a proper channel guide, lots of single-show channels (a channel that only plays one classic series) and a big on-demand library. It's available in the US and many other countries.
Best for: people who miss channel surfing.
Samsung TV Plus
Built into Samsung smart TVs and phones, and also available on the web. Strong on news and entertainment channels, with a clean guide. If you already own a Samsung TV, it's probably one button press away.
Best for: Samsung TV owners who want free live TV with zero setup.
The Roku Channel
Available on Roku devices, the web and several other platforms in supported countries. Combines live channels with a good free movie and series library, and some Roku Originals.
Best for: a mix of live and on-demand in one app.
Tubi
Known mainly for its huge free on-demand movie library, Tubi also carries live news and some live channels in the US. Worth having for movies alone.
Best for: free movies, with live news on the side.
Plex
Plex started as a personal media server and now offers free live TV channels and free on-demand content too. If you also have your own media library, you get everything in one app.
Best for: people who also want to organise their own media.
Others worth checking
- LG Channels on LG smart TVs.
- Xumo Play on many devices in the US.
- Your national broadcaster's app. BBC iPlayer, CBC Gem, ARD, France.tv and similar apps often include live streams of free-to-air channels, usually only within that country.
When free isn't enough
Free services rarely carry premium sports or major cable networks live. For those, a paid live TV service is the legal route. Our IPTV vs cable comparison helps you decide whether that's worth it, and Is IPTV legal? explains why suspiciously cheap "everything" services aren't the shortcut they look like.
If channels stutter on any of these apps, it's usually your connection rather than the service. See our buffering fixes.
Frequently asked questions
- Are these free services really legal?
- Yes. They're licensed and funded by advertising, the same way broadcast TV has always worked.
- Do I need to create an account?
- Most let you watch without an account. Signing up usually just adds favourites, watchlists or syncing across devices.
- Can I load these into TiviMate or another player?
- Generally no. They're designed to be watched in their own apps. For player apps, use legitimate playlists such as your broadband provider's or public free-to-air lists.
- Are they available in my country?
- It varies. Several are widest in the US, with growing lineups in the UK, Canada, parts of Europe and Latin America. Check the app store in your region.
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Sam edits IPTVTips and tests players on Fire TV, Google TV and Apple TV. Replace this bio with your real editor's background.
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