The 4 Best Android TV Apps in 2026
A TV running Android TV or Google TV is far more than Netflix: it can be your personal media centre, a free channel line-up with hundreds of options and the player for your whole collection. In this guide we compare the 4 best Android TV apps in 2026, the ones that turn any set into an entertainment machine.
Essential Apps to Get the Most Out of Android TV
Apps that make the most of an Android TV or Google TV set: media centres for your own collection, free live channels and free-to-air TV over the internet.
Top pick
Kodi
XBMC Foundation · Free · 50M+
The media centre
3.5
341K reviews
TopApps analysis
Kodi organises your film and TV collection with automatic artwork and metadata: an open-source personal cinema, free and endlessly customisable.
Kodi is the open-source media centre par excellence: it organises and plays your collection of films, series, music and photos with automatic cover art and metadata, turning any Android TV into a personal cinema. Its official add-ons bring in legal services; free, ad-free and endlessly customisable.
Pros
- Complete media centre, and free
- Organises your collection with cover art
- Open source, no ads
Cons
- Initial setup takes patience
- Third-party add-ons can be illegal: steer clear
- Android/Android TV only (no iPhone)
Last updated: 2026-06-14
Plex: TV en vivo, pelis y más
Plex Inc. · Free (with purchases) · 100M+
The easiest
3.3
480K reviews
TopApps analysis
Plex does what Kodi does without the hassle: server on the PC, app on the TV and your collection ready, plus free channels and its own streaming.
Plex combines a media centre with free streaming: hundreds of live TV channels plus thousands of on-demand films and series without a subscription. It also lets you organise and play your own media library from your phone. A very complete app for keeping all your entertainment in one place.
Pros
- Free live TV channels and on-demand catalogue
- Organises and plays your own media library
- Cross-platform (phone, TV, web, console)
Cons
- Advanced features require Plex Pass
- Can feel complicated at first
- The free content carries ads
Pluto TV - Películas y Series
Pluto Inc. · Free · 100M+
Best free TV
3.9
799K reviews
TopApps analysis
Pluto TV fills the screen with free themed channels that behave like old-school television: switch on and something is playing, no payment or sign-up.
Pluto TV is the most popular free television app. With no sign-up and no subscription, it offers dozens of themed live channels (film, series, sport, news, music and kids) plus an on-demand catalogue, all funded by advertising. It is 100% legal and behaves like an online TV set, ready to watch the moment you open it.
Pros
- Completely free and no sign-up needed
- Dozens of live channels by theme
- On-demand catalogue of films and series
Cons
- Includes ad breaks
- You cannot choose what the live channels air
- The catalogue changes and rotates over time
Tivify - TV en directo gratis
Free (with purchases) · 1M+
Best for free-to-air TV
3.9
82K reviews
TopApps analysis
Tivify brings Spain's full free-to-air line-up to Android TV without an aerial, with a programme guide and extra free channels.
Tivify is the Spanish DTT online app that lets you watch all free-to-air TV channels from mobile: La 1, La 2, Teledeporte, Antena 3, Telecinco and more. The free plan has ads; Premium (€4.99/month) removes them.
Pros
- All Spanish DTT channels on mobile, free
- Teledeporte included for national team and minor sports
- La 1, Antena 3 and Telecinco for free football
Cons
- Free plan has ads interrupting broadcasts
- Video quality depends on internet connection
- Only available in Spain
Frequently asked questions
Kodi or Plex for watching my film collection?
Plex for most people: you install the server on the PC where the files live, the TV app finds it and within minutes everything is there with cover art, no configuration needed. Kodi gives you more control (skins, add-ons, direct playback from drives plugged into the TV) in exchange for setting it up yourself. Rule of thumb: if you like tinkering, Kodi; if you want it working now, Plex.
Is Kodi legal? I've heard all sorts
Kodi itself is entirely legal: it is an open-source media player, available on Google Play, for playing YOUR content and legal official add-ons. Its bad reputation comes from third-party add-ons that give access to pirated content: that part is illegal, and those add-ons also tend to be unstable and potentially unsafe. Our advice is clear: Kodi yes, pirate add-ons no. Between the free legal apps on this site there is plenty to watch.
What other Android TV apps are worth installing?
Beyond the four in this guide and the obvious paid platforms (Netflix, Prime Video and so on), these are worth it: free ad-supported services such as Tubi, your public broadcaster's catch-up app, a solid local player like VLC for USB drives, and the YouTube app for everyday viewing. Combine Pluto TV with a free-to-air app and a catch-up service and you have a full TV line-up without paying a euro a month.
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