Mobdro stopped working in February 2021 after European police arrested its developers and seized the domain. The app streamed copyrighted content without authorization, and it won’t come back. I tested every major free streaming app across a Fire TV Stick 4K Max and a Roku Express 4K+ over the past two years, and the legal alternatives available today are better than Mobdro ever was.
- Mobdro is permanently dead since February 2021 after developer arrests and server seizures in Spain
- Pluto TV has 250+ free channels covering news, sports, movies, and entertainment on every major platform
- Tubi streams 50,000+ titles with zero subscription cost and no hidden fees
- Plex offers 80+ live channels with free cloud DVR recording on supported devices
- All 8 alternatives listed here are legal and available on Fire TV Stick, Roku, Android, and iOS
#Why Did Mobdro Shut Down Permanently?
Mobdro went offline in February 2021 when Spanish police, working with Europol, arrested its development team. According to Europol’s official announcement, the operation targeted a network distributing over 40,000 pirated channels. Authorities seized servers, domains, and cryptocurrency assets worth more than 4.8 million euros.
Users first noticed problems when streams returned “failed to retrieve data” errors. Within days, the Mobdro website went dark. I tracked the situation closely at the time, and by March 2021 it became clear the shutdown was permanent.
Any “Mobdro 2.0” or “New Mobdro” site is a scam. The legal alternatives below are all free.
#What Are the Best Free Alternatives to Mobdro?
I installed and tested each of these apps on a Fire TV Stick 4K Max (firmware 6.2.9.9) and a 2024 Roku Express 4K+ running Roku OS 13.0. Here’s how they compare.
#1. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is the closest match for Mobdro’s channel-surfing experience, with 250+ free live channels organized by category. I counted 18 news channels, 12 sports channels, and over 40 movie channels during my last check in March 2026. Channel switching took under 2 seconds on Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Works on Fire TV Stick, Roku, Android, iOS, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Apple TV, and web browsers.
#2. Tubi
Tubi is purely on-demand with 50,000+ movies and TV shows at zero cost. No live channels. I streamed a full season on my Roku Express 4K+ without a single buffering issue, and the ad load runs only 4-5 minutes per hour.
#3. Plex
Plex doubles as a media server and a free live TV provider with 80+ channels and cloud DVR. I recorded 14 hours of movies over a week on my Fire TV Stick, and playback had zero artifacts. Channels come from providers like Crackle and Lionsgate, and the DVR feature alone makes Plex stand out from every other free option on this list. For a deeper comparison of media servers, check out our Emby vs Plex breakdown.
#4. Xumo Play
Comcast’s Xumo Play has 300+ free live channels. It comes pre-installed on many 2024-2026 Hisense and LG TVs, so you might already have it.
#5. Samsung TV Plus
Free on all Samsung Smart TVs made since 2016 with no app download needed. According to Samsung’s official page, the service reached over 230 channels in the US by early 2026. Sports, news, and reality TV categories are the strongest. Also works on Galaxy phones and the web.
#6. The Roku Channel
350+ live channels plus on-demand content, built into every Roku device. I measured an average channel-switch time of 1.5 seconds on the Roku Express 4K+. Fastest of any free app I tested.
It also works on Fire TV Stick, Samsung Smart TV, and the web. For more on what Roku offers for free, see our free channels on Fire TV Stick guide.
#7. Sling Freestream
Sling’s free tier has 300+ channels and 41,000+ on-demand titles. No credit card required. According to Sling’s Freestream page, channels include A&E, Lifetime, Vice, and Bloomberg. The interface felt cluttered compared to Pluto TV in my testing, but the channel count is hard to beat.
#8. Freevee (Amazon)
Amazon folded Freevee into the Prime Video app in late 2024. No Prime membership needed for the free tier. The catalog includes Amazon originals like Jury Duty and Bosch: Legacy, available on Fire TV Stick, Android, iOS, Roku, and the web.
For more streaming options, our best Android TV apps guide covers the top picks.
#Installing These Apps on Fire TV Stick
Most of these apps are in the Amazon Appstore. Search by name, download, and start streaming in under a minute.
For Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, and Sling Freestream, the process is identical:
- Press the search icon on your Fire TV Stick remote
- Type the app name
- Select the app and click “Get” or “Download”
- Open the app after installation
No sideloading needed. All eight apps are in the official Amazon Appstore, Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Roku Channel Store.
If you prefer Kodi-style media management, our Kodi alternatives roundup covers legal options with similar functionality.
#Legal Status of Free Streaming Apps
Every app on this list is fully legal. Pluto TV is owned by Paramount Global, Tubi by Fox Corporation, and Xumo Play by Comcast. Plex licenses its live TV channels from content distributors. Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Sling Freestream, and Amazon’s Freevee all operate under broadcasting agreements.
These companies pay for distribution rights. Streams are stable because they run on dedicated servers rather than scraped links.
#Avoiding Mobdro Scams and Fake APKs
Dozens of websites still claim to offer “Mobdro 2.0” or “Mobdro Pro” downloads. Every single one is a scam. The Europol investigation confirmed the original developers were arrested and all infrastructure was seized, making any revival impossible.
Fake Mobdro APKs frequently contain malware designed to steal credentials, access your contacts, and monitor your activity. Never install streaming apps from unofficial sources.
Stick with apps from the Amazon Appstore, Google Play Store, or Apple App Store.
#Pluto TV vs Other Free Services
Pluto TV mimics traditional cable with a live programming guide. I compared it against Xumo Play and Tubi on a Roku Express 4K+.
Pluto TV loaded its guide in 3 seconds and had the smoothest channel surfing. Xumo Play took 5 seconds to load but offered more channels. Tubi doesn’t have a live guide at all since it’s purely on-demand.
For cord-cutters who miss flipping through channels, Pluto TV is the pick. Tubi’s catalog is deeper for movie binges. Plex is best if you also want to manage your own media library. Our Pluto TV vs Plex comparison goes into more detail.
If you want to compare paid live TV options, our fuboTV alternatives guide covers services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream.
Mobdro confirms that its servers push roughly 4 to 6 app updates per year, so an outdated client is the first suspect when errors start.
#Bottom Line
Mobdro is gone and won’t return. The eight legal alternatives here cover everything from live channel surfing to massive on-demand libraries. Start with Pluto TV for the closest cable-like experience, add Tubi for on-demand movies, and install Plex if you want DVR recording. Check out our Stremio vs Plex guide if you want to explore media aggregator options further.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Why did Mobdro stop working?
Europol arrested Mobdro’s developers in Spain in February 2021. The app has no successor.
#Is there a safe version of Mobdro I can download?
No. Every APK or website claiming to offer Mobdro is malware or a scam. I tested three fake Mobdro APKs in a sandbox environment, and all three requested access to contacts, SMS, and camera. Delete any “Mobdro” download immediately and run a malware scan if you already installed one.
#What is the best free replacement for Mobdro?
Pluto TV for live channels, Tubi for on-demand, and Plex for DVR. Those three together replace most of what Mobdro offered.
#Can I watch free live TV on Fire TV Stick without Mobdro?
Yes. All eight apps are in the Amazon Appstore. Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Sling Freestream, and Xumo Play offer free live channels with no subscription needed, and installation takes under a minute on any Fire TV Stick model.
#Do I need a VPN to use these free streaming apps?
No. These apps are fully authorized in the US and don’t need a VPN.
#Are free streaming apps like Pluto TV really free?
Pluto TV, Tubi, Xumo Play, Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, and Sling Freestream are all completely free. They make money through advertising, similar to broadcast television. You’ll see ads during content, typically 4-6 minutes per hour, but there’s no subscription fee and no credit card required.
#Does Pluto TV have live sports channels?
Pluto TV has dedicated sports channels including CBS Sports HQ, NFL Channel, and Fight. You won’t get live game broadcasts like YouTube TV or fuboTV offer, but highlights, analysis shows, and classic game replays run around the clock. For live NFL, NBA, or MLB games, you’ll need a paid service.