How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Pluto TV is the closest free match to the old TVApp experience, with hundreds of live channels in a cable-style guide.
- Tubi and Plex suit viewers who want movies and shows on demand alongside some live channels.
- The Roku Channel and Samsung TV Plus cost nothing and work in a browser, not only on their own hardware.
- Sling TV and Fubo are the paid options for viewers who need ESPN, local channels, and live sports.
- Free legal services rarely carry full live NFL or NBA games, since those rights cost far more than ads can cover.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Pluto TV | Free live channels in a TV guide | Free | Yes |
 Tubi | Free movies and shows on demand | Free | Yes |
 The Roku Channel | Free live TV and Roku Originals | Free | Yes |
 Samsung TV Plus | Free channels on Samsung devices and web | Free | Yes |
 Plex | Free live TV plus personal media | Free | Yes |
 Xumo Play | Free live channels with no sign-up | Free | Yes |
 Sling TV | Cheaper live TV with ESPN | See website | Free trial |
 Fubo | Live sports without cable | See website | Free trial |
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The best TheTVApp alternatives
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Pluto TV is the closest free match to what TVApp offered. It arranges hundreds of live channels in a classic TV guide covering news, movies, classic shows, kids, and sports talk, and it runs on the web, phones, and most streaming devices. No account is needed to start watching, which keeps the experience as low-friction as the old site, minus the legal and safety questions.
The honest limit is sports. Pluto TV carries sports talk and highlight channels, not full live NFL or NBA games, because those rights are expensive and ad-supported services cannot carry them at this price. If your main need is background viewing, news, and movies, Pluto TV covers it for free. If live games are the priority, look at Sling TV or Fubo further down this list, and expect to pay.
What we like- Hundreds of free live channels
- No account needed
- News, movies, classic shows, and sports talk
Watch out for- Homepage fetch was blocked in our check, so details rest on search evidence
- No full live league games
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Tubi is the strongest free option for viewers who watch movies and series rather than live channels. Its homepage shows a deep catalog spanning comedy, action, horror, and family titles, with live news and sports channels alongside the on-demand library. The service is owned by FOX and fully licensed, so the content carries proper rights and the apps appear in official app stores.
Ads pay for the service, so expect breaks during films and episodes. That is the trade for a free library of this size. Tubi works best as a companion to a live channel service: use Pluto TV or the Roku Channel for channel surfing, and Tubi when you want to pick a specific film or series. For a household cutting cable, that pair covers most evenings without a subscription.
What we like- Very large free library of movies and series
- Live news and sports channels
- Owned by FOX
Watch out for- On-demand focus means fewer live channels than Pluto TV
- Ads interrupt viewing
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
The Roku Channel proves you do not need Roku hardware to use it. The web version offers thousands of free TV shows and hit movies, Roku Originals, more than 500 live TV channels, and kids entertainment in one place, with no device purchase required. That makes it an easy first stop for anyone replacing TVApp on a laptop or phone.
The service also sells premium subscriptions inside the free app, so some titles sit behind an extra paywall even though the core service is free. Live sports are limited to highlights and talk rather than full games. For general viewing, though, the breadth of free channels and on-demand titles makes the Roku Channel one of the best no-cost replacements available.
What we like- 500+ live TV channels
- Thousands of free shows and hit movies
- Works on the web without a Roku device
Watch out for- Premium subscriptions are sold inside the free service
- Live sports are limited
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Samsung TV Plus is built into Samsung TVs, monitors, projectors, phones, and tablets, and it also runs in a web browser for everyone else. The homepage groups channels into live national and local news, live sports coverage including MLB, Formula 1, FIFA+, and MotoAmerica, kids programming, music, Korean content, and Spanish-language entertainment. That range gives it a broader international feel than most free services.
The catch is hardware. The service shines on Samsung devices, where it sits a button press away, while web viewers get a solid but less integrated experience. Channel availability also varies by region, so a channel listed on the homepage may not appear in your country. For Samsung owners, it is the most convenient free option of all. For everyone else, it still works as a free backup service.
What we like- Free live news, sports coverage, and entertainment
- Works on TVs, phones, tablets, and web
- Spanish-language channels
Watch out for- Best experience needs a Samsung device
- Channel lineup varies by region
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Plex does two jobs at once. It offers free live TV channels and free movies, with a live guide showing what is on now across channels, and it also organizes your own media collection into a polished library you can stream anywhere. That dual role suits viewers who already keep downloaded films or a home server, since one app covers both the free channels and the personal library.
The free tier mixes free titles with rental and purchase options, so some prominent titles on the homepage cost extra even though the service itself is free. The live guide is functional but less like a cable grid than Pluto TV. Plex is the right pick when you want one app for free streaming and your own media, and you are comfortable telling free titles apart from paid ones.
What we like- Free live channels and movies
- Organizes your own media library
- Works on almost every device
Watch out for- Free tier mixes in rental titles
- Live guide is less cable-like than Pluto TV
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Xumo Play keeps things simple: free live channels covering news, sports highlights, and entertainment, with no sign-up required. That simplicity is its appeal for viewers who want to open a page and watch, without accounts, trials, or setup. The service runs on the web and on streaming devices, and it sits comfortably alongside Pluto TV as a second free guide to flip through.
The trade is scale. Xumo Play carries fewer channels than Pluto TV, and its homepage shows curated rows rather than a full guide, so judging exact channel depth takes some browsing. Treat it as a free extra rather than your only service. When one free guide lacks a channel you want, the other often has it.
What we like- Free live channels with news, sports highlights, and entertainment
- No sign-up required
- Simple interface
Watch out for- Homepage extract is thin, so channel depth is hard to judge from the site alone
- Smaller catalog than Pluto TV
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Sling TV is the cheapest route to real cable channels. Its Orange package carries ESPN networks on a single stream, while Blue offers up to three streams with a different channel mix, and combining both gives up to four streams. Add-on packs cover extra sports, news, and entertainment, so you pay for the groups you actually watch instead of a fixed bundle.
Two limits deserve attention before subscribing. Local ABC, FOX, and NBC channels are only available in select markets, so check your area first, and some programs face blackouts or programmer restrictions. Stream counts also differ by package, which matters in a household where several people watch at once. Sling TV is the right paid pick when ESPN matters and you want the lowest monthly cost for live channels.
What we like- Flexible Orange and Blue packages
- ESPN without a full cable bill
- Add-on packs for sports and news
Watch out for- Local channels only in select markets
- Stream limits differ by package
- Some programs face blackouts
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Fubo is built for sports fans who cut cable. Its homepage leads with live games and a channel set that includes ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, FOX Sports 1, ESPN2, FOX, Big Ten Network, NHL Network, SEC Network, CBS Sports Network, CBS, NBC, ACC Network, and Telemundo, alongside entertainment channels such as FX and BET. A free trial with no commitment lets you test the lineup during a real game week before paying.
The price sits above Sling TV, which is the cost of that sports depth, and the homepage notes zero channels available in some areas, so availability varies by location. Check the channel list for your ZIP code before subscribing. For a household where live sports drive the decision, Fubo is the most complete cable replacement on this list.
What we like- Strong sports lineup including ESPN, FOX Sports, and NFL Network
- Free trial with no commitment
- Cloud DVR
Watch out for- Higher price than Sling TV
- Channel availability varies by area
How we chose
We limited this list to licensed services with official apps and clear ownership, since the site this article replaces had unclear licensing, copycat domains, and reports of pop-ups and unsafe redirects. Each vendor homepage was opened to confirm the service loads and belongs to that company, except Pluto TV, whose homepage fetch was blocked by policy and is kept on search evidence. Prices come from vendor pages where the homepage stated them, and we wrote See website where the homepage did not state a price. Services that only mirror unlicensed streams were excluded, as were APK downloads from unknown sources, which carry malware risk.
What to check before you pick
Start by naming what you actually watch. If your evenings are movies and series, a free pair such as Tubi plus Pluto TV covers most needs at no cost. If you follow one team, check whether its games air on a channel your chosen service carries in your area, since regional rights and blackouts decide more than any feature list. Free services rarely carry full live league games, so sports fans should budget for Sling TV or Fubo rather than hoping a free guide adds games later.
Next, test on your real devices. A service that works on your TV may behave differently on your phone, and local channel availability varies by market. Use the free trials on Sling TV and Fubo during a week with games you care about, and browse the free services for a few evenings before settling. Avoid mirror sites and APK files that claim to be the old TVApp, since those carry the pop-ups, redirects, and malware risk that made the original site a poor choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is TheTVApp still working?
Multiple status sources report TheTVApp went offline in June 2026, and its old domains now lead to mirror lists rather than a working service. Those mirrors carry unclear licensing and pop-up risk. The licensed services in this article are safer replacements with official apps.
Which free alternative is closest to TheTVApp?
Pluto TV is the closest free match, with hundreds of live channels arranged in a cable-style guide and no account required. The Roku Channel is close behind, with more than 500 live channels plus on-demand movies and shows. Both are free and licensed.
Can I watch live NFL or NBA games for free?
Full live league games are rarely free, because broadcast rights cost far more than advertising can cover. Free services carry sports talk, highlights, and some games, but complete seasons need a paid service such as Sling TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV, or a league pass. Check blackout rules for your area before subscribing.
Do I need a Roku or Samsung device for these services?
No. The Roku Channel and Samsung TV Plus both run in a web browser and on phones, even without their own hardware. Owning the hardware makes them more convenient, but it is not required. Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, and Xumo Play work across devices without any brand hardware.
Are these services safe to install?
Yes, when you use the official apps from the App Store, Google Play, or the vendor website. Avoid APK files and mirror sites that claim to be the old TVApp, since those come from unknown sources and can carry malware or adware. Never enter card details on a site that promises free premium channels.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://pluto.tv
- https://tubitv.com
- https://therokuchannel.roku.com
- https://www.samsungtvplus.com
- https://www.plex.tv
- https://play.xumo.com
- https://www.sling.com
- https://www.fubo.tv
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.