Tubi and Pluto TV are the two biggest free streaming apps in the US. They solve different problems: Tubi gives you a massive on-demand library with 250,000-plus movies and TV episodes, while Pluto TV recreates the cable experience with 350-plus live channels. I’ve used both on my Samsung QN85B and Roku Ultra for over a year, and the right pick depends entirely on how you like to watch.
- Tubi leads on-demand content with 250,000-plus titles from studios like Lionsgate, MGM, and Paramount
- Pluto TV dominates live TV with 350-plus free linear channels covering news, sports, comedy, and entertainment
- Tubi now streams at 1080p on most devices, while Pluto TV also supports 1080p on newer hardware
- Ad loads stay lighter than cable on both platforms, though Pluto TV runs more frequent breaks during live programming
- Neither requires a subscription or credit card and both work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, and mobile devices
#Content Libraries at a Glance
The core difference is straightforward. Tubi is an on-demand library where you browse, pick a title, and press play. Pluto TV is live television where you tune in and watch whatever is airing right now.
Tubi’s library includes over 250,000 movies and TV episodes from major studios. According to Tubi’s own reporting, the platform hit 80 million monthly active users in 2024. Fox Corporation owns Tubi (acquired in 2020 for $440 million), so Fox content shows up frequently.
You’ll find titles from Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, and several independent distributors. The catalog skews toward older theatrical releases and complete TV seasons rather than brand-new premieres.
Pluto TV is owned by Paramount Global and leans heavily into Paramount’s content vault. That means dedicated channels for MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, BET, and Nickelodeon shows. The on-demand section has grown to roughly 20,000 titles, but live channels remain the main draw.
If you want to browse and choose exactly what to watch, Tubi beats Netflix on sheer catalog size for free content. If you miss flipping through channels without thinking, Pluto TV fills that gap.
#Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Here’s how the two platforms stack up on core capabilities:
| Feature | Tubi | Pluto TV |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand titles | 250,000+ | ~20,000 |
| Live channels | 0 | 350+ |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Dolby 5.1 | No | Select titles |
| Offline downloads | No | No |
| User profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Parental controls | Yes | Yes |
| Originals | Yes | Limited |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Tubi confirms that 1080p streaming rolled out across all major device platforms in 2024. Neither offers 4K, HDR, or Dolby Atmos. For premium picture quality, you’ll still need a paid service like Netflix or Disney+.
#Movie Library Comparison
Tubi wins this category by a wide margin with a catalog spanning action, horror, comedy, drama, documentaries, and international cinema that dwarfs anything Pluto TV offers on-demand.
After streaming on Tubi for about 14 months, I’ve noticed the library rotates monthly, with new titles appearing every Tuesday. Studio partnerships with Lionsgate and MGM mean you get films like John Wick, The Terminator, and Legally Blonde alongside deep indie cuts that you won’t find on most other free platforms.
Pluto TV’s on-demand movie section is smaller at roughly 20,000 titles and leans toward B-movies, cult classics, and genre curiosities. Paramount recommends Pluto TV’s themed channels for genre fans, and I found that advice accurate after watching the Pluto TV Horror and Pluto TV Action channels for several weekends. The dedicated James Bond channel runs curated marathons 24/7, surfacing films you’d never search for yourself.
Tubi ranks among the top three free movie apps for Android TV for catalog size.
#TV Show Selection
Tubi carries complete seasons of older network shows and reality TV. You’ll find full runs of Hell’s Kitchen, Forensic Files, Moesha, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Good for background watching.
Pluto TV takes a different approach with dedicated network-branded channels. The MTV channel plays Ridiculousness and Catfish on loop, VH1 runs Love & Hip Hop marathons, and Nickelodeon channels air SpongeBob and iCarly reruns around the clock. Nostalgia fans will prefer Pluto TV here.
Both services lack current-season episodes of popular shows. That’s the trade-off for free.
#Which Platform Wins for Live TV?
Pluto TV wins here decisively with 350-plus live channels. Think of it as free cable without ESPN.
For news, you get CBS News 24/7, Bloomberg TV, Cheddar, and Sky News. Sports coverage includes CBS Sports HQ, NFL Channel (replays and highlights, not live games), and Stadium. Entertainment spans Comedy Central, MTV, and dozens of niche channels like Pluto TV Retro and Pluto TV Romance.
Tubi doesn’t offer live channels at all. It tried a small news channel experiment in 2023 but hasn’t expanded into linear programming. If live TV on a streaming device matters to you, Pluto TV is the only option between these two.
One caveat: Pluto TV doesn’t let you pause, rewind, or record live streams. It’s real-time only. You can search Pluto TV for specific shows in the on-demand section instead.
#Ad Experience and Commercial Breaks
Both apps are ad-supported, so commercials are unavoidable. The question is how intrusive they feel.
Tubi runs about 4-6 minutes of ads per hour of content, roughly half the ad load of traditional cable TV. Breaks typically run 30-60 seconds each and appear every 12-15 minutes. On my Roku Ultra, I counted three breaks during a 90-minute movie.
The ads repeat frequently, which gets annoying during binge sessions. Still, the total time lost stays reasonable compared to cable. For more detail, I covered Tubi’s ad model in a separate breakdown.
Pluto TV’s ad experience varies by content type. On-demand shows get a similar ad load to Tubi, but live channels run heavier breaks because ads fill the commercial slots built into the original broadcast schedule. During live movie channels, expect interruptions every 8-10 minutes with no skip option.
Neither platform offers an ad-free tier. That’s unlikely to change since ads are their entire revenue model.
#Which Devices Support Tubi and Pluto TV?
Both apps run on virtually every streaming platform available:
- Roku (all models)
- Amazon Fire TV (Stick, Cube, smart TVs)
- Apple TV (4K and HD)
- Google TV / Android TV
- Samsung Smart TV (2015 and newer)
- LG Smart TV (webOS 3.0 and newer)
- Vizio SmartCast TVs
- iOS and Android phones and tablets
- Web browsers (tubi.tv and pluto.tv)
- Xbox (One, Series X/S)
- PlayStation (4 and 5)
If you run into issues, troubleshooting guides exist for Tubi not working on smart TVs and Tubi problems on Roku. You can also install Tubi on LG TVs directly from the LG Content Store.
Tubi
Best for On-Demand
Choose this if you want to pick exactly what to watch from a massive free library.
- 250,000+ movies and TV episodes
- Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, and Paramount titles
- 1080p streaming with multiple user profiles
Pluto TV
Best for Live TV
Choose this if you miss channel surfing and want free live television.
- 350+ live channels including MTV, Comedy Central, and CBS News
- Dedicated movie marathon channels
- Paramount-owned content vault
#Bottom Line
Pick Tubi if you like choosing your own content. Its library of 250,000-plus titles dwarfs every other free streaming platform.
Pluto TV is the better app if you prefer passive viewing. The 350-plus live channels recreate cable TV habits without the $100-plus monthly bill, and the channel surfing experience on my Samsung QN85B felt remarkably close to the cable box I canceled years ago. Pick Pluto TV when you want to lean back and let programming come to you.
Install both since they’re free, run on the same devices, and serve completely different viewing modes. Use Tubi for movie night and Pluto TV for background entertainment. Explore other free options like Pluto TV alternatives or compare Tubi vs YouTube TV if you want live sports added to the mix.
#FAQ
#Does Tubi cost anything to use?
No. Tubi is completely free with no subscription, no credit card, and no hidden fees. You don’t even need an account to start watching, though creating one lets you sync watchlists and get personalized recommendations across devices.
#Can you watch Pluto TV without an internet connection?
You can’t. Both apps require an active internet connection, and neither supports offline downloads.
#Which app has fewer commercials?
Tubi runs roughly 4-6 minutes of ads per hour, which is less than half of what cable TV delivers. Pluto TV’s on-demand content has a similar ad load, but live channels run heavier commercial breaks because they follow traditional broadcast ad schedules. Tubi feels less interrupted overall.
#Does Pluto TV carry any live sports?
Pluto TV has CBS Sports HQ, an NFL Channel with game replays, and Stadium for college highlights. No live NFL, NBA, or MLB games though.
#Can you create separate profiles on Tubi and Pluto TV?
Yes, both apps support multiple user profiles. Tubi lets each profile maintain separate watchlists and recommendation feeds, and I keep three profiles on my account for different family members. Pluto TV added a similar profile feature along with a Kids Mode that restricts content to age-appropriate channels and filters out mature-rated live programming automatically.
#Are Tubi and Pluto TV available outside the United States?
Tubi is available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. Pluto TV operates in over 30 countries including the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, and several Latin American markets. Content libraries vary by region since licensing deals differ between countries.
#How do Tubi and Pluto TV compare to Samsung TV Plus?
Samsung TV Plus is a free live channel service built into Samsung Smart TVs with around 250 channels and no on-demand library. It’s closest to Pluto TV but only works on Samsung devices. See the full Samsung TV Plus vs Pluto TV comparison for details.
#Do either app support 4K or HDR streaming?
No. Both max out at 1080p with stereo audio. Older hardware may still default to 720p, but 1080p looks fine for casual viewing on screens under 65 inches.