Ever sat down on the couch, picked up your phone and wondered where you can watch a movie without paying for another subscription? Two free apps keep coming up: Tubi and Pluto TV. Both put movies and live TV on your phone at no charge.
The catch is the ads. Both are supported by advertising, and the movie selection changes from country to country and from month to month.
Here is what each app offers, what is really free, where the ads show up and how to find a film to watch tonight.
Start with Tubi 👇
5 min read
📋 What you’ll find here
- Are free movie apps really free?
- How the two apps are organized
- Tubi: movies, series and live TV
- Pluto TV: live channels and on-demand titles
- What is free and where the ads show up
- How to find a movie in the catalog
Key Takeaways
- Tubi and Pluto TV are free to download and to watch on Android and iPhone, with ads
- Neither lists in-app purchases on Google Play
- Tubi leans on movies and series, with live TV on the side, while Pluto TV leans on live channels and on-demand titles from partner networks
- The catalog changes by country and by month, so search for the title before you plan your evening
- Ratings differ by store: on Google Play, Tubi is at 3.6 and Pluto TV at 4.0
Are free movie apps really free?
Yes, in the sense that you do not pay to watch. Tubi and Pluto TV are supported by advertising, so you see ads before and during the movie, the way you do on broadcast TV. The price is your time, not your wallet.
That also means the experience is not the same as a paid service: the catalog is limited to what the app has licensed, and it can change without notice.
How the two apps are organized
Both apps give you two ways to watch. One is on demand: you pick a movie or a series and press play. The other is live TV: channels that run on a schedule, like cable, which you can open at any time.
On-demand is the better choice when you know what you want. Live channels work when you just want something on in the background.
Tubi: movies, series and live TV
The listing describes Tubi, from Tubi TV, as a totally free streamer. It offers movies from big names to indie favorites, with top titles added every month, plus series, Tubi Originals and live TV with news, weather and sports.
The listing also mentions an international section with anime, Korean and Bollywood titles. On Google Play, the app lists ads and no in-app purchases. Its Google Play rating is 3.6, lower than Pluto TV’s.
- Movies from big names to indie favorites
- Series and Tubi Originals
- Live TV with news, weather and sports
Pluto TV: live channels and on-demand titles
The listing describes Pluto TV, from Pluto, Inc., as free movies and series on demand plus live TV with hundreds of channels. It says the content comes from networks and providers such as Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM.
You can save channels and titles in a favorites list. On Google Play, the app lists ads and no in-app purchases, and the listing says there is no subscription.
- Free movies and series on demand
- Live TV with hundreds of channels
- Favorites list for channels and titles
What is free and where the ads show up
Everything in both apps is free to watch, with ads. Neither lists in-app purchases on Google Play, so you are not asked to pay to unlock the main catalog.
Check your own store, because the iPhone listing can show different details than the Android one. If an app asks for a payment, stop and read what it is for before you accept.
How to find a movie in the catalog
Open the app, tap search and type the name of the film. If it shows up, you can press play. If it does not, it is not in your country’s catalog right now, and it may come back later.
If you do not know what to watch yet, browse by genre and keep opening the titles that look interesting.
- Search for the name of the film
- Browse by genre when you are unsure
- Save titles to your favorites list
How the ratings compare
On Google Play, Tubi has a 3.6 rating from 2.62M reviews and Pluto TV has a 4.0 from 811K, and both list more than 100 million downloads. On the US App Store, both score 4.78, with about 1.28 million ratings for Tubi and 1.63 million for Pluto TV.
The gap between the two stores shows that ratings are not the whole story. Try the app and see whether the catalog and the ads suit you.
Which one to pick
If you mostly want movies and series to pick from, start with Tubi. If you like having live channels running and a big menu of on-demand titles from partner networks, Pluto TV fits.
Both are free, so you can install both and see which one has the film you are looking for.
How to download them and get started
Use the buttons in this article, which lead to the official page on Google Play or the App Store. After installing, open the app and search for a film before you browse.
If the title is there, press play. If not, try the other app.
Is it worth it?
It is worth having one of them on your phone for the nights you have nothing to watch. Both are free, and the price is the ads. For specific films, the catalog is what matters: check the title before you count on it.
This article is informative and independent. The ratings, review counts and downloads were checked on the stores on October 24, 2026. We have no connection with the developers mentioned, and we are not responsible for how the apps work, for the catalog available or for changes in price. The store listing is always the final source.
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FAQ
Are Tubi and Pluto TV really free?
Yes, to watch. Both are supported by ads. Neither lists in-app purchases on Google Play.
Why are there ads?
Ads pay for the content, which is why you do not pay to watch. They show up before and during the movie, much like broadcast TV.
Are the movies always available?
No. The catalog changes from country to country and from month to month. Search for the title in the app before you plan your evening.
What is the difference between on demand and live TV?
On demand lets you pick a title and press play. Live TV runs channels on a schedule, like cable, which you can open at any time.
Do the apps have an iPhone version?
Yes, both have Android and iPhone versions. The buttons in the article lead to the official page in each store.
Do I need an account?
Check the app after you install it. The store listings do not tell you whether an account is required, and that can change over time.
