Samsung TV Plus and Pluto TV are the two biggest free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services in the US. They take very different approaches to free TV. I’ve used both regularly on a 2023 Samsung QN85B and a Roku Streaming Stick 4K over the past year, and the differences go beyond just channel counts.
- Pluto TV offers 350+ live channels while Samsung TV Plus carries around 190+
- Samsung TV Plus includes local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox affiliates that Pluto TV does not carry
- Pluto TV runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and web browsers — Samsung TV Plus only works on Samsung hardware and the web
- Both services cost $0 with no account required and both run ads during content
- Pluto TV holds a larger on-demand catalog with 50,000+ titles — Samsung TV Plus focuses on live channel flipping instead
#Channel Lineups and On-Demand Libraries
Samsung TV Plus currently carries around 190 live channels in the US, according to Samsung’s own channel directory. The selection leans toward mainstream categories: 24/7 news from CBS News and NBC News NOW, movie channels from Lionsgate and filmrise, and music video stations.
Pluto TV takes the opposite approach with 350+ channels. You get the expected news and movie options, but also niche picks like MTV Cribs, Star Trek, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and dedicated channels for anime, gaming, and nature documentaries. After streaming both services back to back for a week on my Samsung QN85B, Pluto TV’s variety kept me browsing longer while Samsung TV Plus felt more predictable in its curated selection of mainstream content.
On-demand content widens the gap further. Pluto TV carries over 50,000 movies and TV episodes, while Samsung TV Plus has a noticeably smaller VOD section. Check Pluto TV alternatives like Tubi if on-demand matters most.
#What Devices Can You Watch On?
Device compatibility is the single biggest difference between these two services. Samsung TV Plus comes pre-loaded on Samsung Smart TVs from 2016 onward, and it also works on Samsung Galaxy phones, Samsung tablets, and through a web browser at Samsung’s site. That’s the entire list. You can’t install it on a Roku, Fire TV Stick, or Apple TV.
Pluto TV runs on nearly everything: iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox, LG Smart TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, and all major web browsers. I tested Pluto TV on a Fire TV Stick 4K and the experience matched my Samsung QN85B. Channels switched in under 2 seconds and stream quality stayed at 1080p.
Mixed-device households should pick Pluto TV. Samsung TV Plus only makes sense if every screen you own is Samsung.
#Ad Formats and Frequency
Both platforms are free because they run ads. The ad formats and frequency differ noticeably.
Pluto TV uses traditional commercial breaks with 1-2 minute ad blocks every 8-12 minutes during live content, plus pre-roll and mid-roll video spots in the on-demand library. Repetitive ads are a common complaint among regular users, and some report seeing the same spot three or four times in a single hour of viewing.
Samsung TV Plus mixes short video spots with semi-transparent overlay banners that slide across the bottom of the screen. In my experience watching 4 hours on the QN85B, Samsung ran roughly 25% fewer interruptions than Pluto TV. You can’t skip ads on either platform.
No paid ad-free tier exists on either service as of April 2026. If ads bother you, Paramount+ or Disney+ are better fits.
#Which Interface Is Easier to Navigate?
Pluto TV’s interface mimics a cable TV guide with channels in a numbered grid, program titles, air times, and a left panel sorting everything by category. Cable veterans feel at home immediately.
Samsung TV Plus uses a vertical channel strip inside the Samsung Smart TV interface where you scroll through tiles and press right to expand a mini-guide. Genre filtering requires digging into submenus, which slows discovery. On my QN85B running Tizen OS 7.0, the guide loaded fast but finding specific categories took more taps than searching on Pluto TV.
The bigger win for Samsung TV Plus is local channels. Samsung states that its geo-targeting delivers local affiliate feeds from ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox based on your IP address, covering local news, weather, and regional sports that no other free FAST service provides. Pluto TV carries no local station feeds at all.
#Streaming Quality and Resolution
Both services max out at 1080p Full HD. No 4K, no HDR, no Dolby Atmos. Audio caps at stereo 2.0.
Netflix confirms that its premium tier streams 4K Dolby Vision with Atmos. Free FAST services lag far behind in quality.
I noticed Samsung TV Plus delivered more consistent bitrates during peak evening hours on my QN85B, while Pluto TV occasionally dropped to a lower resolution during channel changes on my Roku Stick 4K before stabilizing within seconds. Music channels and movie streams sound decent through a soundbar, but if you have a 5.1 surround setup, you won’t hear anything beyond the front two speakers since both platforms cap at stereo 2.0.
#Exclusive Features and Content Partnerships
Samsung TV Plus benefits from tight ecosystem integration. Cast content from a Galaxy phone directly to a Samsung TV, use the SmartThings app as a remote control, and set up routines that auto-launch specific channels on a schedule. Samsung also partnered with Paramount Global to offer exclusive branded channels and movie marathons you won’t find on other FAST platforms.
Local channel access is Samsung TV Plus’s biggest exclusive advantage over every competitor, not just Pluto TV.
Pluto TV counters with a broader content partnership network. Branded channels from Star Trek, MTV, Nickelodeon, WWE, and Paramount Pictures create themed viewing blocks that Samsung TV Plus doesn’t carry. Voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant let you switch channels hands-free on Fire TV and Echo devices.
If Pluto TV keeps freezing during sessions, reinstalling the app fixes it. For watching live TV on a Fire TV Stick, Pluto TV is one of the strongest free options since Samsung TV Plus doesn’t run on that hardware.
- Local ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox affiliate feeds
- Fewer ad interruptions per hour on average
- SmartThings and Galaxy phone integration
- Pre-loaded on Samsung TVs, zero setup required
- Only 190+ channels vs Pluto TV's 350+
- Limited to Samsung devices and web browser
- Smaller on-demand catalog for binge-watching
- No Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV support
- 350+ channels covering mainstream and niche interests
- Available on virtually every streaming device
- 50,000+ on-demand titles for binge-watching
- Branded channels from Star Trek, MTV, Nickelodeon
- No local affiliate channel feeds
- More frequent and repetitive ad breaks
- Interface lacks deep customization options
- Max 1080p with stereo 2.0 audio only
#Bottom Line
Pluto TV is the better choice for most people. More devices, more channels, deeper on-demand library. Pick it if you watch on anything other than Samsung hardware.
Samsung TV Plus earns its spot if you already own a Samsung Smart TV and want local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox feeds built into the channel guide without installing a separate app. The SmartThings integration, lower ad frequency, and zero-setup experience are genuine advantages for Samsung-only households. If your Samsung TV Plus isn’t working properly, a cold reboot by unplugging the TV for 60 seconds fixes most playback issues.
For a broader comparison of free streaming services, check how Tubi stacks up against Pluto TV or how Pluto TV compares to Freevee.
#FAQ
#Does Samsung TV Plus work on Roku or Fire TV?
No. Samsung TV Plus is exclusive to Samsung Smart TVs (2016 and newer), Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, and web browsers at samsungtvplus.com. Samsung has not announced plans to bring the app to Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV. If you need a free streaming service on those devices, Pluto TV, Tubi, and Freevee are the closest alternatives.
#How many channels does Pluto TV have compared to Samsung TV Plus?
Pluto TV carries 350+ live channels in the US as of 2026, nearly double Samsung TV Plus’s 190+. The gap widens in niche categories like anime, gaming, true crime, and classic TV where Samsung TV Plus has no equivalent channels.
#Can you get local news on Pluto TV?
No. Pluto TV carries national news channels like CBS News 24/7 and NBC News NOW, but has no local affiliate feeds from ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox. Samsung TV Plus is one of the few free FAST services with geo-targeted local station access. If local news, weather, and regional sports coverage matter to your household, Samsung TV Plus is the only free option that delivers them without an antenna or paid subscription.
#Do you need an account to use Samsung TV Plus or Pluto TV?
Neither service requires an account. Samsung TV Plus launches from the channel guide on any Samsung Smart TV with no login needed, and Pluto TV streams immediately on any supported device.
#Is the video quality the same on both services?
Both top out at 1080p Full HD with stereo 2.0 audio. Neither supports 4K, HDR, or Dolby Atmos. A stable 10 Mbps connection handles either service without buffering. During my testing on the Samsung QN85B, Samsung TV Plus maintained slightly more consistent bitrates during prime-time evening hours compared to Pluto TV on the Roku Stick 4K, though the difference was only noticeable during fast action scenes.
#Which free streaming service has more on-demand content?
Pluto TV, by a wide margin. Its library includes 50,000+ on-demand movies and TV episodes spanning action, comedy, drama, horror, and documentaries. Samsung TV Plus has a smaller VOD section focused mainly on movies.
#Are there any channels exclusive to Samsung TV Plus?
Samsung TV Plus carries exclusive branded channels produced with Paramount Global, including curated movie marathon channels and specialty content not on Pluto TV. Its biggest exclusive is local affiliate feeds from ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox, which no other free FAST service currently offers.