The best free live TV streaming services in the US (2026) are Pluto TV (250+ live channels, no sign-up), Sling Freestream (650+ channels + free DVR), Tubi (50,000+ on-demand titles), Peacock Free, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, and Plex. All are 100% legal, ad-supported, and cost $0/month.
- What Is Free Live TV Streaming (FAST)?
- Quick Comparison Table — All 10 Services
- 1. Pluto TV — Best for Live Channel Surfing
- 2. Tubi — Best On-Demand Library
- 3. Sling Freestream — Most Live Channels + Free DVR
- 4. Peacock Free — Best for NBC Fans
- 5. The Roku Channel — Best for Roku Users
- 6. Samsung TV Plus — Best Built-In Smart TV Option
- 7. Xumo Play — Best for Comcast/Charter Users
- 8. Plex — Best for Tech-Savvy Cord-Cutters
- 9. Amazon Freevee — Best for Amazon Users
- 10. LG Channels — Best Built-In for LG TV Owners
- Which Service Is Best For You?
- FAQ
Paying $80+ a month for live TV is no longer necessary. In 2026, a growing number of completely free, fully legal streaming services offer hundreds of live TV channels — no credit card, no trial, no cancellation headaches.
These are called FAST services (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV). They make money through ads — just like traditional broadcast TV — and in return you get access to live news, sports highlights, entertainment, and movies at zero cost.
This guide covers the 10 best free live TV streaming services available in the United States right now — with honest pros and cons, a full comparison table, and a clear pick for every type of viewer.
What Is Free Live TV Streaming (FAST)?
FAST stands for Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV. These platforms license TV content and broadcast it over the internet, funding operations through ad revenue — the same model as regular network TV.
Unlike paid services like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV (which charge $70–$90/month), FAST services cost nothing. The trade-off is ads, a smaller live channel lineup, and limited or no local broadcast networks.
Quick Comparison Table — All 10 Services
| Service | Live Channels | On-Demand | Sign-Up | Free DVR | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pluto TV | 250+ | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Live channel surfing |
| Tubi | ~30 linear | ✅ 50,000+ | ❌ No | ❌ No | Massive on-demand library |
| Sling Freestream | 650+ | ✅ 80,000+ | ⚡ Optional | ✅ 10 hrs | Most channels + DVR |
| Peacock Free | Limited NBC | ✅ Yes | ✅ Required | ❌ No | NBC shows & news |
| The Roku Channel | 100+ | ✅ Yes | ✅ Free acct | ❌ No | Roku device owners |
| Samsung TV Plus | 200+ | ✅ Some | ❌ No | ❌ No | Samsung TV owners |
| Xumo Play | 100+ | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Comcast/Charter users |
| Plex | 80+ | ✅ 50,000+ | ✅ Free acct | ❌ No | Tech-savvy users |
| Amazon Freevee | Limited | ✅ Yes | ✅ Amazon | ❌ No | Amazon ecosystem users |
| LG Channels | 300+ | ✅ Some | ❌ No | ❌ No | LG Smart TV owners |
1. Pluto TV — Best for Live Channel Surfing
Pluto TV
No Sign-Up Needed
Owned by Paramount
If you miss the experience of flipping through cable channels, Pluto TV is the closest thing to it for free. Owned by Paramount, it offers 250+ live channels organized by category — news, sports, movies, reality TV, comedy, anime, and more — alongside a solid on-demand library.
There’s no account required. Open the website or app and start watching. The interface mimics a traditional TV guide, which makes it immediately familiar for anyone switching from cable.
It carries dedicated channels for CNN Pluto TV, Fox Sports, NBC News, BBC World News, and genre-specific channels like Horror Movies 24/7, Comedy Central, and even a dedicated Anime channel.
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
Apple TV
PS4/PS5
Xbox
Smart TVs
🌐 Website: pluto.tv | Price: Free | Owner: Paramount Global
2. Tubi — Best On-Demand Free Library
Tubi
50,000+ Titles
No Sign-Up Needed
Tubi is the single largest free streaming library in the world. Owned by Fox Corporation, it carries over 50,000 movies and TV episodes across every genre — including a strong anime section with Naruto, One Piece, Death Note, Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, and more.
While Tubi is primarily on-demand, it also offers a selection of live linear channels. It reached 100 million monthly active users in 2025 — the biggest free streaming audience in the US.
No account, no credit card, no trial. Just open it and watch.
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
Apple TV
PS4/PS5
Xbox
Smart TVs
🌐 Website: tubitv.com | Price: Free | Owner: Fox Corporation
3. Sling Freestream — Most Live Channels + Free DVR
Sling Freestream
650+ Channels
Free DVR Included
Sling Freestream is the most channel-dense free live TV service in the US. It delivers 650+ live channels and 80,000+ on-demand titles without any subscription — and it’s the only major free streaming service to include free cloud DVR (10 hours).
You can watch without creating an account (basic mode), but signing up unlocks DVR and personalization. Because it runs on Sling TV’s infrastructure, upgrading to premium paid tiers is a one-click process inside the same app.
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
Samsung Smart TV
LG TV
Xbox
Vizio
🌐 Website: sling.com/freestream | Price: Free | Owner: DISH Network
4. Peacock Free — Best for NBC Content & Live Sports
Peacock Free
NBCUniversal
Account Required
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. The free tier gives you a meaningful slice of NBC content — select next-day NBC episodes, classic NBC series, NBC News NOW (24/7 live news), and rotating movies.
It’s the only free service with partial live sports — including some Premier League matches, NFL playoffs, and Olympics coverage depending on the season. That sets it clearly apart from every other free option.
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
Apple TV
Smart TVs
Xbox / PS
🌐 Website: peacocktv.com | Price: Free (Premium: $8.99/mo) | Owner: NBCUniversal
5. The Roku Channel — Best for Roku Device Owners
The Roku Channel
100+ Live Channels
Roku Originals
The Roku Channel is Roku’s free streaming hub with 100+ live TV channels and a solid on-demand library. While best on Roku hardware, it also works on Samsung TVs, Amazon Fire TV, and via web browser — so non-Roku users aren’t locked out.
It includes exclusive Roku Originals you won’t find anywhere else, an anime section with Hunter x Hunter and Yu-Gi-Oh!, and the ability to add premium channels as paid add-ons inside the same app.
Samsung TV
Amazon Fire TV
Web Browser
iOS
Android
🌐 Website: therokuchannel.roku.com | Price: Free | Owner: Roku Inc.
6. Samsung TV Plus — Best Built-In for Samsung TV Owners
Samsung TV Plus
200+ Channels
No Sign-Up Needed
Samsung TV Plus comes pre-installed on every Samsung Smart TV from 2016 onwards. With 200+ live channels and zero account requirement, it’s the most frictionless free TV experience available — just power on your Samsung TV and start watching.
The lineup covers news (ABC News Live, Fox News, NBC News), entertainment, sports highlights, and lifestyle. It’s also available on iOS, Android, and the web for non-TV use.
iOS
Android
Web Browser
🌐 Website: samsung.com/tvplus | Price: Free | Owner: Samsung Electronics
7. Xumo Play — Best for Comcast & Charter Users
Xumo Play
100+ Channels
Backed by Comcast
Xumo Play is backed by Comcast and Charter — two of the largest cable operators in the US. This gives it a polished, well-funded experience that’s noticeably cleaner than most free services. It offers 100+ live TV channels and on-demand content with no account needed.
It comes pre-installed on Xumo-brand smart TVs sold at major US retailers, and is also available as a downloadable app on most devices.
Web Browser
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
🌐 Website: xumo.com | Price: Free | Owner: Comcast / Charter
8. Plex — Best for Tech-Savvy Cord-Cutters
Plex
Media Server + Free TV
Account Required
Plex is unique: it’s both a personal media server (organize your own movie/TV collection) and a free streaming service with 80+ live TV channels and 50,000+ on-demand titles. This dual role makes it the most versatile free platform available.
It has the widest device compatibility of any free service — available on every major platform. Ideal for users who want free TV bundled with their personal media management in a single app.
iOS
Android
Roku
Fire TV
Apple TV
Android TV
Smart TVs
Xbox / PS
🌐 Website: plex.tv | Price: Free (Plex Pass optional) | Owner: Plex Inc.
9. Amazon Freevee — Best for Amazon Ecosystem Users
Amazon Freevee
Inside Prime Video App
Amazon Account Needed
Amazon Freevee is Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming tier — accessible directly inside the Prime Video app. No Prime subscription is required. It offers a rotating library of movies, TV shows, and some Freevee Original shows you won’t find elsewhere.
If you already have an Amazon account, Freevee is a zero-effort addition. The app is polished and Fire TV integration is seamless.
iOS
Android
Web Browser
Roku
Smart TVs
🌐 Website: amazon.com/freevee | Price: Free | Owner: Amazon
10. LG Channels — Best Built-In for LG TV Owners
LG Channels
300+ Channels
No Sign-Up Needed
LG Channels is the Samsung TV Plus equivalent for LG Smart TV owners. With 300+ free live channels pre-installed on LG TVs from 2016 onwards, it delivers one of the highest channel counts among built-in smart TV services — with zero account setup required.
The lineup includes news, entertainment, sports highlights, and lifestyle content. LG’s webOS interface makes switching between LG Channels and other streaming apps fast and intuitive.
Web Browser (limited)
🌐 Website: Pre-installed on LG Smart TVs (2016+) | Price: Free | Owner: LG Electronics
Which Service Is Best For You?
| If You Want… | Best Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most live channels free | Sling Freestream | 650+ channels + free DVR — nothing beats it |
| Cable-style channel surfing | Pluto TV | 250+ channels, TV guide layout, no signup needed |
| Biggest on-demand library | Tubi | 50,000+ titles, anime included, no account |
| Free anime streaming | Tubi + Pluto TV | Tubi for library, Pluto for live anime channel |
| NBC shows & live news | Peacock Free | Only free service with NBC content + some live sports |
| Samsung TV owner | Samsung TV Plus | 200+ channels pre-installed, zero friction |
| LG TV owner | LG Channels | 300+ channels built into webOS, no setup |
| Roku device owner | The Roku Channel | Built-in, Roku Originals, no extra app needed |
| Media server + free TV | Plex | Organize your own files + stream free TV together |
| Amazon ecosystem user | Amazon Freevee | Inside Prime Video app, no separate download |
Start with Pluto TV for live channel surfing and Tubi for on-demand. Together they cover more free content than most basic cable packages. Add Sling Freestream if you want the maximum live channel count and the bonus of free cloud DVR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Free live TV streaming in the US has never been better. Stack Pluto TV + Tubi + Sling Freestream and you have hundreds of live channels, 100,000+ on-demand titles, news, entertainment, and some sports — for $0/month.
Samsung TV owners can start with Samsung TV Plus. LG TV owners have LG Channels. Roku users get The Roku Channel baked in. And if you want the widest channel selection anywhere, Sling Freestream is unbeatable at zero cost.
The only consistent gaps are local broadcast affiliates and full live sports — a $30 digital antenna solves the first problem for life, and Peacock Premium or YouTube TV covers sports if you need it.
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