Google TV and Android TV run over 8,000 apps from the Play Store, but most aren’t optimized for a TV screen. After testing dozens of apps on a Chromecast with Google TV and an Nvidia Shield TV Pro over the past year, I narrowed it down to 12 that actually work well with a remote.
- Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube cover 90% of what most households watch, from originals to live streams to kid-friendly content
- GeForce NOW streams AAA PC games in up to 4K HDR for $9.99/month, no gaming PC required
- FLauncher removes ads from your home screen and replaces Android TV’s default launcher at zero cost
- Send Files to TV transfers files wirelessly between your phone and TV in seconds over your local Wi-Fi network
- TiviMate handles 10,000+ IPTV services with a cable-style grid guide and DVR recording for a one-time $7.99 purchase
#Choosing the Right Android TV Apps
Not every Android app works well on a TV screen. The best ones support D-pad navigation so you don’t need a mouse, show text large enough to read from 8 feet away, and load quickly on the limited hardware inside most TV boxes.
I tested each app for remote compatibility, load time, and stability over multiple weeks on both the Shield TV Pro and a budget Chromecast with Google TV. Anything that crashed, required a touchscreen, or looked bad on a 55-inch display got cut. Google recommends that Android TV app developers follow their TV design guidelines for 10-foot viewing distances, and you can tell which apps did.
If you want movie-specific picks, check our best movie apps for Android TV guide.
#Top Streaming Apps
Start with these four. They cover new releases, originals, live TV, and free content.
#Netflix
Netflix is preloaded on almost every Android TV device. The TV interface supports profiles, 4K HDR on compatible hardware, and downloads for offline viewing on select plans. Standard costs $15.49/month for Full HD on two screens, while Premium at $22.99/month unlocks 4K and four simultaneous streams.
On my Shield TV Pro, Netflix loads in under 3 seconds and holds a stable 4K stream at 15 Mbps. Cheaper boxes with 2 GB of RAM buffer more during peak hours. According to Netflix’s system requirements, you need at least 5 Mbps for HD and 15 Mbps for 4K.
#Disney+
Disney+ costs $9.99/month with ads or $15.99/month without. IMAX Enhanced Marvel films play in expanded 1.90:1 ratio.
4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos work on compatible hardware. According to Disney+‘s device support page, most Android TV devices running Android 5.0+ are compatible.
#YouTube
YouTube comes preinstalled on every Android TV and Google TV device, so there’s nothing to download. The free version includes ads between videos. YouTube Premium at $13.99/month removes all ads, enables background playback, and unlocks offline downloads. Video quality goes up to 4K HDR at 60fps on supported hardware.
YouTube TV is a separate $72.99/month app with 100+ live channels. For a comparison of live TV services, see our Sling TV vs YouTube TV breakdown.
#Sling TV
Sling TV starts at $40/month for the Orange or Blue package, each with about 30 channels. Combining both costs $55/month. That makes it the most affordable live TV option compared to YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
50 hours of cloud DVR come included. Fast app.
#How Do You Customize Your Android TV Home Screen?
The default launcher is full of sponsored content and app suggestions you didn’t ask for. Two apps fix that.
#FLauncher
FLauncher is a free, open-source launcher that replaces the default home screen. No ads, no sponsored rows, no tracking. Just a clean grid of your installed apps.
It supports custom categories for grouping apps by type. Setup takes about 2 minutes: go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Home App and select FLauncher.
#Button Mapper
Button Mapper lets you reprogram remote buttons. Assign a double-press of the home button to launch Netflix, or a long-press of the volume key to open settings. The pro version at $2.49 adds macros and gesture support.
After using Button Mapper on my Shield TV remote for six months, I can’t go back. The double-press shortcut to YouTube alone saves me from digging through the app drawer dozens of times a week.
#What Are the Best Gaming Apps for Android TV?
Cloud gaming turned Android TV from a casual gaming platform into something that can run AAA titles. Here are the two apps worth installing.
#GeForce NOW
GeForce NOW streams PC games from Nvidia’s cloud servers to your TV. The free tier gives 1-hour sessions with basic graphics. Priority at $9.99/month extends to 6 hours with RTX ray tracing at 1080p. Ultimate at $19.99/month pushes 4K HDR at 120fps.
You need a Bluetooth controller and at least 25 Mbps. On my Shield TV Pro with wired Ethernet, input lag was barely noticeable in Fortnite and Cyberpunk 2077 after streaming for over 200 hours across both titles.
#RetroArch
RetroArch is a free emulator frontend for 50+ classic systems including NES, SNES, Genesis, and PlayStation. You supply your own ROMs via USB or network transfer.
Each system needs its own “core” downloaded within the app. An 8BitDo Pro 2 or Xbox Wireless Controller makes retro gaming far more comfortable than a TV remote. For more channels and content options, browse our best TV channels guide.
#Productivity and Utility Apps
These three handle file transfers, IPTV, and personal media libraries.
#Send Files to TV
Send Files to TV moves files between your phone and Android TV over local Wi-Fi. Select files, pick your TV, and the transfer starts. No cables, no cloud uploads. The pro version at $4.49 removes ads and adds batch transfers.
#TiviMate
TiviMate is an IPTV player that works with any M3U playlist. It shows channels in a cable-style grid guide with EPG data, records live programming, and handles multiple playlists for $7.99 one-time.
TiviMate doesn’t include channels. You bring your own IPTV subscription. For hardware options, check our best IPTV boxes guide.
#Plex
Plex turns your Android TV into a client for your personal media library hosted on a NAS, PC, or another Shield TV. It organizes movies, shows, and music with automatic metadata, subtitles, and artwork. Free for local playback, or $4.99/month for Plex Pass with hardware transcoding and mobile sync.
For more media center options, see our Kodi alternatives roundup.
#Tips for Managing App Storage
Most Android TV devices ship with 8-16 GB of internal storage. That fills up fast once you install a dozen apps. Go to Settings > Apps to see which apps consume the most space, then clear cache on streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ that store temporary video data.
USB drives and microSD cards expand storage on devices that support them, including the Shield TV Pro and most generic Android TV boxes. Google states that apps installed on external storage may run slower, so keep your most-used apps on internal storage and offload games or media tools to the USB drive.
#Bottom Line
Install your streaming apps first, then add FLauncher. Try GeForce NOW’s free tier before paying.
These 12 apps cover what most people actually use their Android TV for. For an expanded list across more categories, see our complete best apps for Android TV roundup.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#How do I install apps on Android TV?
Open the Google Play Store from your home screen, search for the app, and tap Install. You can also push installs remotely from the Play Store website on your phone or computer.
#Can you sideload apps that aren’t in the Play Store?
Yes. Go to Settings > Security & Restrictions and enable “Unknown Sources” for your file manager. Transfer the APK via USB drive or Send Files to TV, then open it with X-plore File Manager to install. Sideloaded apps designed for phones often don’t work well with a remote since they expect touchscreen input.
#Do Android TV apps work on Google TV?
Yes. Google TV runs on top of Android TV, so every Android TV app works on Google TV devices. The Chromecast with Google TV, plus select Sony, TCL, and Hisense TVs, all use Google TV.
#Is GeForce NOW worth the monthly fee?
The free tier works for a quick test, but 1-hour session limits and queue wait times make regular gaming frustrating. Priority at $9.99/month removes queues, extends sessions to 6 hours, and enables RTX graphics. Nvidia found that GeForce NOW subscribers on paid tiers average 15+ hours per month, which suggests most find the value worth it compared to buying a gaming PC.
#What IPTV player works best on Android TV?
TiviMate is the clear winner. It handles multiple M3U playlists, EPG grid guides, catch-up TV, and DVR recording. The $7.99 one-time premium unlock is the only cost. IPTV Smarters Pro and OTT Navigator exist as alternatives, but TiviMate loads faster, crashes less, and has a cleaner channel-switching interface that resembles a traditional cable box grid.
#How do you free up storage on Android TV?
Go to Settings > Apps and tap Clear Cache on any app to remove temporary files. Uninstall unused apps for bigger gains.
#Does Android TV support Bluetooth controllers?
Yes. Pair gamepads through Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Add Accessory. The Xbox Wireless Controller, PlayStation DualSense, and 8BitDo Pro 2 all work out of the box. Older controllers may need a USB Bluetooth adapter if your device runs an outdated Bluetooth version.
#Can you use a VPN on Android TV?
Yes. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark all publish dedicated Android TV apps. Install, sign in, and connect.