Apps for watching live TV on your phone: Pluto TV and Samsung TV Plus
This page brings together two guides published here on Tecnobuz about free live TV apps for Android phones. In each guide you will find out which channels the app displays, how the programming is organized, and what is free in it. Both apps mentioned are distributed by Google Play.
What's in each guide?
PlutoTV
An ad-supported streaming service with live themed channels and an on-demand library of movies and series. The guide describes the channel categories, how the app is organized, and why it doesn't charge a subscription fee.
Samsung TV Plus
Samsung's own free service, offering live channels and on-demand movies for Galaxy phones and tablets. The guide shows what it offers, which devices it works on, and why it requires a Samsung account.
How do live TV apps work?
Variety of channels
Live TV apps organize channels by theme: sports, movies, news, children's programming, documentaries, and others. Channel switching is done within the app itself, similar to traditional TV.
Image quality
Most apps transmit in HD. The resolution displayed in practice varies depending on your connection speed and the channel chosen, and may drop when the internet connection fluctuates.
Free services and paid services
There are free apps that are funded by ads displayed during programming, like the two on this page, and there are services that charge a subscription to unlock the catalog. It's worth checking this before installing.
Use outside the home
The transmission is done via streaming, so the app works anywhere with an internet connection. Outside of Wi-Fi, data usage is deducted from your mobile data plan.
Navigation
Apps usually have a simple and organized interface, with the channels separated by category and a list of what's currently airing on each one.
Compatible devices
Pluto TV runs on mobile phones and tablets. Android and in devices with Android TV. Samsung TV Plus works on mobile phones and tablets. Galaxy and on Samsung Smart TVs.
Extra features
Depending on the application, features such as [list of features would go here] appear. programming guide, favorites list and captions in some of the content.
Updates
The developers periodically release updates to the store, including bug fixes, changes to the channel grid, and interface adjustments.
Common questions
Yes, as long as the app is installed from an official store, such as Google Play. APK files from unknown websites do not pass the store's verification and should be avoided.
In both apps on this page, there is no subscription fee: they are supported by ads displayed during programming. Other services in the same category charge a monthly fee to unlock part of the catalog.
No. The transmission is done via streaming, therefore you need to be connected via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Live video consumes a significant amount of data, and the total depends on the transmission quality and usage time. When possible, using Wi-Fi avoids using up your mobile data plan.
Pluto TV has an Android TV version. Samsung TV Plus comes pre-installed on Samsung Smart TVs.
It depends on your device. Pluto TV combines live channels with an on-demand catalog of movies and series and runs on any Android device; Samsung TV Plus follows the same idea, but only works on Samsung devices. The guides on this page describe the content of each.
