Tubi TV has become one of the most popular free streaming services, offering thousands of movies and shows available on demand. But how does it compare to Netflix, Hulu and others? This in-depth guide covers everything you need to know.
What is Tubi TV?
Tubi TV is an ad-supported streaming service owned by FOX that offers over 40,000 movies and TV series to watch for free. See how it compares to YouTube TV.
How it works: Tubi makes money by showing a few short ads before and periodically during the content. The service is available in the US, Canada and Australia on most devices without needing an account.
Library: Tubi has movies and shows from major studios like MGM, Paramount and Warner Brothers. The selection rotates regularly.
Price: Completely free! There are no subscriptions or fees. Just create an account or start watching.
Key Features of Tubi TV
- Massive library – Over 40,000 movies & shows
- Ad-supported – Around 2 minutes of commercials per 30 minutes
- Always free – $0 subscriptions or rental fees
- No account required – Just start watching right away
- Rotating selection – New titles added and removed monthly
- Works on all devices – Apps for iOS, Android, Fire TV, Roku and more
- Parental controls – Separate kid-friendly “Tubi Kids” section
Content on Tubi TV (Movies, TV, Original)
The selection on Tubi TV covers a wide range of movies, from major studio films to B-movies and indie flicks:
Popular movies: The Departed, Kill Bill, Rush Hour, The Notebook
Classic movies: Psycho, Charade, Dial M for Murder
B-Movies: Sharknado, Titanic 2, Avengers Grimm, Triassic World
For TV, Tubi features older classic series, reality shows and some anime:
Classic TV: The Nanny, Degrassi, Firefly
Reality TV: MasterChef, Kitchen Nightmares, Duck Dynasty
Anime & International: Naruto, K-dramas, British series
Tubi also invests in some original content like true crime docuseries and action thrillers starring Bruce Willis. But most of the originals are very low budget.
There are a few live news and sports channels with niche programming, but no coverage of major events or games.
What’s Missing from Tubi TV?
Don’t expect to find much premium original programming or recent blockbuster movies on Tubi. The service’s library tends to lack new releases and current TV series compared to platforms like Netflix or Hulu. But it rotates content frequently, so there’s always something new to discover if you check back.
Tubi TV User Experience Review
Most people are hesitant to try a free streaming service over worries about poor video quality and constant ads. But how disruptive is the Tubi experience compared to paid services?
Signing Up
You can instantly start watching Tubi TV for free without even needing an account. But creating one unlocks handy features:
- Resume watching where you left off
- Build a queue for shows to watch later
- Get personalized recommendations
Registration just requires an email. No credit card needed!
Navigating Tubi TV
I tested Tubi’s interface across phone, tablet and smart TV apps and found them equally easy to use.
Finding Content: Easy to browse movies/shows. Search works well. Lists for new arrivals and leaving soon titles.
Profiles: Separate sections for kids content filtered by age rating.
Controls: Typical playback functions. 30-second rewind button to replay ads is handy.
Account Features: Sync watch history, create multiple profiles, parental controls.
The service is very intuitive to navigate. My only complaint is there’s no preview thumbnail when hovering over a title.
Watching Content on Tubi TV
Tubi TV reliance on advertisements concerned me most. But overall I found the amount of commercials fairly reasonable for a free service. Here’s what to expect:
- Ad Frequency: Around 2 minutes of ads per 30 minutes of content
- Ad Length: Individual commercial breaks last 1-2 minutes
- Ad Placement: Occur both before and during content. Hard to predict when they start.
- Skipping Ads: Not possible to skip forward on any ads
The ads feel more disruptive because you don’t know exactly when they are about to appear. But the frequency is less than regular TV. Just have patience!
Video and Audio Quality
As a free platform, Tubi TV video quality is not as high resolution as paid competitors:
📺 Maximum Video Resolution: 720p HD
🔈 Audio Quality: Stereo sound
I could notice blurriness on a big screen TV, but quality was fine for smaller tablets and phones. Audio quality is perfectly clear.
Just set expectations accordingly and don’t expect the 4K experience of other streaming platforms.
Supported Devices for Tubi TV
Tubi offers apps across a wide variety of popular platforms:
- Smart TVs: Samsung, VIZIO, Sony Smart TVs (using Chromecast), LG TV
- Media Players: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast
- Gaming Consoles: PlayStation, Xbox One
- Mobile: Android, iOS apps for phones and tablets
- Web Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc.
Pros and Cons of Tubi TV
TLDR: Tubi TV trades off lower video quality and ads to offer an enormous on-demand library completely free. Worth trying as a free addition to paid services like Netflix or Pluto TV!
Tubi TV Pros 👍
- Truly free, no strings attached
- Huge catalog of movies and shows
- Apps for all major platforms
- Light ad load for a free service
- Easy to use interface
Tubi Cons 👎
- Video quality limited to 720p
- Content selection can be dated
- Original programming is subpar
- Ads interrupt randomly mid-stream
Is a Free Streaming Service Worth It?
Tubi TV is a fantastic supplementary option for people looking to expand their entertainment library for zero additional cost. Consider combining it with 1 or 2 paid streaming services:
- Use Tubi TV to watch older licensed movies for free
- Keep Netflix/Hulu to watch newer original content
But for most viewers, Tubi likely cannot fully replace paid platforms due to its limitations around ads, video resolution and newer releases. Think of it more like TV than a premium streaming replacement.
The free price makes Tubi TV easy to recommend to everyone as an addition to other services! Just set your expectations accordingly in terms of ads and video quality.
FAQs About Tubi TV
Is Tubi 100% free?
Yes! Tubi offers thousands of movies and shows completely free in exchange for watching a few quick ads. No hidden fees.
Can I skip the ads on Tubi?
No, there is no way to skip or avoid the short video ads on Tubi TV. Just grin and bear them since the service is free!
Does Tubi have live TV?
Tubi offers some live streaming channels focused on news, sports highlights and entertainment clips. But there is no full cable replacement with live sporting events, networks or news coverage.
What devices support Tubi TV?
Tubi has apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, smart TVs from major brands like Samsung, gaming consoles and web browsers like Chrome and Safari.
Is the Tubi TV app free?
Yes, downloading the Tubi app is completely free on platforms like iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Simply create an account to start watching movies and TV shows on demand.
Key Takeaways: Who is Tubi TV Best For?
- Great free addition to paid platforms
- Movie lovers will enjoy the huge backcatalog
- Anime and British TV fans get niche content
- Families benefit from kids collection
- Ad tolerance required for free viewing
- Casual viewers who don’t demand the latest releases
In Summary
I hope this detailed guide covered everything you wanted to know about the Tubi TV service! Tubi isn’t perfect, but offers an unbeatable free option to access a vast on-demand catalog spanning movies, classic TV, cult favorites and originals.
Try out Tubi TV’s apps on your devices to start streaming free entertainment now. Just have reasonable expectations around ads and video resolution compared to paid services, and you’ll find it a great complementary addition to platforms like Netflix or Hulu.
What streaming services do you use? Let me know your experience with free options like Tubi TV!
