The way we watch television is changing. TV subscriptions are no longer entirely necessary. There are now many ways to watch TV directly on your mobile devices. This includes a new wave of live TV services. They cost a fraction of what most TV subscriptions cost these days. Those who cut the cable should definitely feel at home here. Here are the best TV apps for Android.
The best TV apps for Android
DirecTV Now
DirecTV Now is one of the TV apps that streams live TV. The lowest tier has 60 live TV channels. The highest level includes over 120 channels. Unfortunately, the app itself still needs a lot of work. The developers are really working on a few bugs. So it's not the first choice we recommend for an all-digital live TV service.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYHBO NOW: Stream TV & Movies
HBO Now is HBO's standalone TV streaming app. It's similar to HBO Go, except you can pay for it separately. This gives you seamless access to HBO's programming. This includes the venerable Game of Thrones, Westworld, comedy specials, documentaries and more. The app itself works quite well. It includes support for Chromecast. The streaming quality is also very good. It's not bad for what it is. However, it is also a bit expensive, considering that it is only one channel. That's okay for TV apps.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYHulu (Live TV)
Hulu is one of the biggest TV apps out there. There's a whole bunch of older shows, older seasons of ongoing shows, movies, and more. In 2017, they also started doing live television. It basically makes Hulu a cross between something like Netflix and something like Sling TV. The basic service costs $7,99 per month (limited ads) or $11,99 per month (no ads). The live TV package will cost you $40 per month and includes 50 channels. You can also buy an add-on for Showtime, HBO and others. It's a great one-stop shop. Prices can pile up quickly, especially if you want extras like HBO.
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Netflix
Everyone knows Netflix. This is the place to go when you just want to turn something on and binge for hours. He does not do live television. However, there is an absolute stock of TV shows. This includes current shows, old shows, and even anime. In many cases, Netflix will have most seasons. It's a great way to catch up on some classics. However, Netflix is taking a long time to get new seasons of the series they are currently airing. Their Netflix Original series such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and all Marvel series are pretty good. It's easily the most popular of all TV apps.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYPlayStation Vue Mobile (Live TV)
PlayStation Vue is Sony's attempt to deliver a live TV service. It comes with four options. The cheapest option costs $24,99 and the most expensive $64,99. The service is actually quite decent. There are many channels including live sports channels, movie channels and popular TV channels. The app isn't on a ton of other platforms. However, it covers PS4, mobile, and it has casting support. The app had an incredibly rocky start. He's starting to recover, though, and it's definitely an improvement from his debut.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYSling TV (Live TV)
Sling TV is probably the best live TV app right now. It is also the most customizable. Two basic plans range from $20 to $25 per month. You can then add multiple packages as needed. They have stuff for comedy, sports, kids, and even HBO. The app is just okay. It has Chromecast support. It also has some bugs that need to be fixed. It's not as stable as something like YouTube TV, but YouTube TV isn't available everywhere yet. It is also available on tons of other devices apart from mobile. This makes it one of the best live TV apps.
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VRV
VRV is probably the best streaming service for indie content, cartoons, and other unusual types of TV. Service is an agglomeration of other services. They include Crunchyroll (anime), HiDive (anime), Rooster Teeth (indie), Geek and Sundry (indie), Nicksplat (old cartoons), Nerdist (indie), Cartoon Hangover and many more. You get them all for one monthly price. With Crunchryroll's Japanese simultaneous animation, it's as close to live TV as it gets for this genre. It is also an exceptional source of old and independent television. We highly recommend it to all anime fans. They lost Funimation, perhaps the largest collection of dubbed anime, but Funimation still has its own streaming service.
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YouTube TV
YouTube TV is going to be big business one day. He only has one package for $35 per month. However, this package comes with more than 40 channels. This includes local sports channels, popular TV channels and more. You can also get Showtime and Fox Sports Soccer as additional add-ons for additional fees. The service also includes unlimited cloud DVR, six subscription accounts, and some additional YouTube features. There are also add-ons for additional channels such as HBO. It grows quickly, but is not without flaws. This one is really good if you need something simple.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYMLB At Bat
Many major sports organizations have their own TV apps. The NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA are among them. There are others too. Experiences vary from app to app. However, they all follow a basic framework. You can stream an unlimited number of out-of-market games (i.e. not games shown on local TV where you live) for one low price each year. They generally do not include playoff games. These are usually subject to nationwide blackouts. Prices are generally manageable. Apps have also slowly improved over the years. Serious sports fans might want to watch it instead of subscribing to a huge subscription full of channels they don't watch elsewhere.
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EPIX NOW
There are many TV stations with individual apps now. ABC, NBC, CW, CBS, Hallmark Channel, EPIX NOW (linked), CNN, FOX Now and many more are some examples. They all work pretty much the same way. You can watch a series of network shows, live stream TV shows and events, and watch the news when available. Usually we recommend general TV apps like Sling TV, Hulu, YouTube TV, etc. However, those who really like a single channel can usually get that channel without everything they need. Prices vary, as do features. They all have free trials, though.
DOWNLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAYIf we missed any of the best TV apps for Android, tell us about it in the comments. You can also click here to check out the best Android apps.
