Samsung TVs are well known for delivering a high-quality picture and innovative designs. But often its utility as a streaming video player gets overlooked with all the discussion of 4K, 8K, QLED, and such. Samsung has a large selection of apps that can help customers explore TV provided via the Internet in addition to their cable or even instead of it. In this article we will be listing the best apps you can add to your Samsung TV once you have it set up.
Keep in mind you will have to set up a Samsung Account in order to use the app store.
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TV Plus
TV Plus is an integrated group of free Internet-based channels. There are over 150 channels delivering news, movies, TV shows, Stand up comedy, and everything in between. TV Plus has a scannable guide where users can see each channel listed and browse for what they want as well as providing a traditional channel surfing experience. You sort of forget you are watching it via the Internet after a while.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV service brought to you from ViacomCBS and features over 200 free live streaming channels built into a traditional cable on-screen TV grid. The app is conveniently broken up into different categories so that all of the selections of similar types will be in the same place. Pluto TV also has a huge library of on-demand movies and TV series. The app is highlighted with channels based on major properties from the ViacomCBS library like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, Star Trek and even features programming from Paramount+ channel to give people an idea of what they can get for subscribing to the new service. Overall it’s a can’t miss.
Netflix
We probably don’t have to spend a lot of time explaining what Netflix is considering its place in streaming and pop-culture other than to say it’s the home of thousands of TV shows and movies including an ever exploding library of original movies, TV shows, comedy specials, and documentaries. Its 21 Oscar nominations should give you a feel for the scope of its programming. Hit shows include Stranger Things, The Witcher, its collection of Marvel originals, The Ranch, The Umbrella Academy and more. The new face of standup comedy houses a selection of A-List legends and up-and-comers.
Disney+
Disney+ is the home of Disney’s film collection, The Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Star Wars Movie Franchise, The Pixar Library, and National Geographic. It’s slowly growing lineup of original programming like The Mandalorian and Wandavision continues to be must-see TV for millions of fans and plans to develop more of its intellectual property should ensure that if your kids like it, they will never run out of things to watch. As the home to all things Disney, the entire family should find things to enjoy.
Prime Video
Amazon’s Prime Video app is a free service available to anybody who has Amazon’s Prime shipping service. The app features a huge selection of movies and TV shows including highly regarded original programming like The Man In The High Castle, The Boys, The Expanse, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The app is also a portal to live sports events and was recently named as the exclusive home of Thursday Night Football starting in 2023.
Hulu
Hulu brings two services into play on your Samsung TV. The app is a portal for both the Hulu with Live TV service, which is a cable TV replacement featuring most of cable’s most popular entertainment, news and sports channel for (at the time of this article) 65.00 per month, as well as a long-running TV on-demand service featuring libraries from NBC, ABC, Fox CBS and numerous production companies. Hulu also produces original TV shows and movies highlighted by The Handmaids Tale and The United States Vs Billie Holiday. It is one of the best services out there for people who want to keep up with the most popular shows on TV without depending on an antenna or cable.
YouTube
YouTube is the only app more synonymous the streaming than Netflix. The free service is home to millions of videos ranging from the quirky ramblings of who knows who or what to slickly produced videos from professional entertainers. Its use as a DIY tool and music player as well as its ability to suggest videos based on your channel subscriptions make YouTube a rabbit hole you might not crawl out of. The service also provides free movies with commercial support.
Tubi
Tub, which is owned by FOX is a free ad-supported service with a gigantic selection of movies and TV shows from across the TV spectrum. And it is becoming a digital home for Fox programming like The Masked Singer and other hit shows. The service allows users to search via the many channel hubs, search by type of programming and more. Tubi is also the go-to place for fun 1980s TV and cartoons for those who want to relive their childhood.
Crackle
Crackle is a free ad-supported app that is home to many Sony-produced TV shows and movies as well as a bevy of selections from cult classics, documentaries, horror movies, and more. The content on Crackle is all over the place in a fun way. While not everything listed was a blockbuster movie the selections are entertaining and get the job done. They give you something new to watch. Viewers will uncover some of their favorites in this app.
XUMO
Xumo is another great example of an app built to deliver live Internet-based TV as well as offer a large selection of on-demand movies. The service offers all channels and selections for free with ads and is organized by genre with numerous brands highlighted to deliver news, comedy, Thrillers, and more. XUMO is a definite for anyone looking to replace the traditional pay-TV experience and still enjoy TV when it’s time to relax.
HBO Max
HBO Max is the new streaming home of HBO content, but it’s a lot more than that. Besides one of the largest collections of original tv content on any service from years of HBO productions, HBO Max is also the home of DC Comics-based content including a large rotating selection of big-screen hero films and animated featured. HBO Max also shares Turner’s classic movie archive which includes everything from The Wizard of Oz to Die Hard.
VUDU
VUDU is an on-demand movie and TV service with a hybrid model. On one hand, users can rent or buy TV shows and movies to view through the app and build a library of digital content. But it also features a large selection of free ad-supported content with dozens of categories. The service has been around long enough to know what it is doing and has a pretty and easy-to-search interface.
Spotify Music
Spotify Music is one of the premier Music Services in streaming. The service has free and paid versions. Even for free the service provides an endless selection of music from classical music to classic Rock. The service also features podcasts to kick back and listen to or entertain/educate you during a walk.
ESPN
The ESPN app is a portal to all of ESPN’s TV networks with live streaming of each of the company’s channels 24-7. ESPN also offers users a login to ESPN+ the streaming service that is home to ESPN’s 30 for 30 library, live streaming of Soccer, baseball, Hockey, and more. Whether used as a companion app for pay-TV service or as a standalone service for ESPN+ the ESPN app is a must for sports fans. It can be very helpful as a way to stream events while others are watching events on the network depending on how your TV service is set up.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a cable replacement service that offers users the ability to have as much or as little as they please. The first skinny bundle in the industry has two small intro packages with the ability to add multiple genre-based ad-on packages as they please. The service features a large searchable on-demand library and two ways to search its interface to allow multiple content discovery options. We have always considered Sling TV the most flexible live streaming service in the industry. More info here.
Discovery+
Discovery+ is a service that delivers programming from Discovery networks, which own multiple lifestyle channels such as Discovery, Discovery Health, HGTV, The Food Network, The Travel Channel, and more. The app is an exhaustive library of all things reality TV from DIY shows, to docuseries and true crime. Users will find entire runs of favorite shows going back over 20 years. The service also features content from A&E-owned properties like The History Channel, A&E, and others. Discovery+ serves as both a library of content and a place to see the latest content from its network the day after it airs as well as a growing selection of original content featuring its top personalities.
Plex
Plex is a multifaceted service that offers free movies and TV shows, a live TV experience, a DVR, The ability to watch live over the air TV, and organize and share digital media like movies, TV shows, and music with family and friends (though that requires more than just the app). The service also has a great podcast player, a customizable news feed, and a music service. Watch or listen anytime, anywhere. Get Plex
STARZ
The STARZ app serves as a portal for STARZ subscribers via cable and for those who subscribe directly to the service. It is a premium movie and TV show service that features edgy content aimed at adults. It is the home of American Gods and other imaginative shows. It is usually priced at a pretty affordable rate compared to others and provides tons of things to see.
The Roku Channel
You are not misreading this. There is a Roku channel app on Samsung TV’s. The Roku channel is based on Roku’s free ad-supported service that recently secured the rights to show Quibi content later this year. The channel is set up with live TV options from Internet-based channels as well as a large rotating selection of on-demand movies and TV shows. It is the home to the 1960s Batman TV show and lots of other camp classics as well. The Roku Channel on Samsung is broken down into easy to search categories and rows for easy navigation.
Spectrum TV
SPectrum TV is the official app of Charter Spectrum cable. It serves as a full interface to Spectrums channels and services including Spectrum TV Choice and Spectrum TV Stream. The app can do everything that the Spectrum set-top box can do aside from act as a DVR. The app is a great way for users to save the box rental fees for extra TV’s which can add up fast if you have a number of them.
Showtime
The Showtime app is a way to get Showtime on TV without having cable. The app allows for both on-demand programming and live viewing from an east and west coast feed. Users will find the full Showtime TV Show and Movie archive as well as monthly hit movies rotating throughout the year.
fubo TV
fubo TV is a cable replacement service that emphasizes sports and content discovery. The service goes as far as to let users search for live sports by specific league. It is not simply a sports service though. fubo TV has a large selection of popular cable channels including ESPN as well as access to local TV affiliates. The one area it is currently lacking is it is missing Turner network programming like CNN, TBS and TNT.
Pure Flix
Pure Flix is considered the closest thing to Netflix for Christian movies. The service has one of the largest libraries of on-demand titles in Christian media making it a go-to app for fans of the content.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a separate app from the better-known YouTube short form-based app. YouTube TV is an actual cable replacement service with an unlimited cloud DVR service that has proven very popular with cord-cutters. The app supports local Network affiliates in most markets and boasts a wide selection of the most popular cable channels for $65.00 per month.
Ted
Ted is the home of Ted Talks, the conventions where experts come together to explain their latest groundbreaking work. The videos can be educational, emotional, and thought-provoking depending on what subject you jump into. It is a great educational tool with topics to fill your mind
MLB
MLB is your portal to MLB TV, the pay service from Major League Baseball that lets fans watch games from outside their market. That is an important note. If you want to watch a team from your general area it will not be available. For example, if you live in NY you will not be able to stream the Yankees. But if you live in North Carolina you can see all of the Yankees games. This is the best tool for fans on the move you can find and it features lots of cool packages.
DAZN
DAZN is a sports app focussed (in the US) on combat sports like UFC/MMA, boxing, and related contests. The service is wonderful for people who would rather have a monthly service than pay big bucks for fights as they go. In other markets, it is a more well-rounded service but it all depends on where you live. In the US it is the best service for seeing people battle it out in cages and boxing rings.
