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Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service built directly into Samsung smart TVs, Galaxy phones, and select Samsung tablets. You don't need an account. You don't need to download anything. You just turn on your Samsung device and start watching. In 2026, it offers 300+ live channels and a growing on-demand library — completely free. But Samsung TV Plus has one major limitation: it's mostly locked to Samsung's own ecosystem. Here's what you actually get, and whether it beats Pluto TV or Tubi for free streaming.
Samsung TV Plus at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| **Price** | Free (ad-supported) |
| **Live Channels** | 300+ |
| **On-Demand Library** | Growing (mostly catalog content) |
| **Devices** | Samsung Smart TVs, Galaxy phones, Samsung tablets, limited web access |
| **Account Required** | No |
| **Originals** | No |
| **Simultaneous Streams** | Unlimited (device-bound) |
What Samsung TV Plus Actually Offers
Samsung TV Plus is a FAST (free ad-supported TV) service that launched in 2015. It's grown steadily and now competes directly with Pluto TV and Tubi in the free streaming space. The service is split into two sections: live channels and on-demand.
Live channels are the core product. In 2026, Samsung TV Plus carries 300+ channels across news, sports, entertainment, movies, kids, and lifestyle. Standout names include ABC News Live, Bloomberg TV, The Weather Channel, Red Bull TV, and dozens of genre-specific channels from partners like AMC Networks, A+E Networks, and Viacom.
On-demand content is a newer addition that Samsung has been expanding. It leans heavily on catalog movies and older TV series rather than premium or original content — think library titles you'd recognize but wouldn't pay for.
Best Features of Samsung TV Plus
- Zero friction: No login, no credit card, no subscription. Open the app and watch.
- Deep Samsung TV integration: The service is built into Tizen OS, so it loads faster and feels more native than third-party apps.
- 300+ live channels: One of the largest free live channel lineups available, rivaling Pluto TV.
- Strong news coverage: ABC News Live, NBC News NOW, Bloomberg, i24 News, and local affiliate feeds in many markets.
- Galaxy phone app: Samsung TV Plus is available on Galaxy phones, giving you a surprisingly capable free streaming option on mobile.
Biggest Frustrations
- Ecosystem lock-in: Samsung TV Plus is not available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or most non-Samsung smart TVs. If you don't own Samsung hardware, you're largely shut out.
- Smaller on-demand library: Tubi has 50,000+ titles. Samsung TV Plus's on-demand catalog is a fraction of that.
- Channel quality varies: A significant number of channels are filler — curated loops of catalog content rather than genuine programming.
- No sports live rights: Samsung TV Plus has sports-adjacent channels (highlights, classic games), but no live NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL broadcasts.
Channel Lineup Quality and Genre Coverage
Samsung TV Plus divides its channel guide into categories: News, Sports, Entertainment, Movies, TV Shows, Kids, Lifestyle, and Music. The best channels sit in News and Entertainment. The weakest are in Movies — most are obscure catalog loops.
| Category | Standout Channels |
|---|---|
| **News** | ABC News Live, NBC News NOW, Bloomberg, The Weather Channel, i24 News |
| **Sports** | Red Bull TV, Stadium (highlights), Tennis Channel Plus (partial) |
| **Entertainment** | A&E, Crime+Investigation, Vice TV, Oxygen True Crime |
| **Movies** | Action, Horror, and Western genre loops; catalog-heavy |
| **Kids** | Nick Jr. (limited), Kidstream, Kabillion |
| **Lifestyle** | Food Network (VOD clips), HGTV Showcase, Cooking Channel |
The news lineup is genuinely useful for cord-cutters who want a cable-news alternative at no cost. The entertainment and true crime channels hold up well. Sports is the weakest category — if live sports matter, you'll need a paid service or a separate FAST supplement.
Samsung TV Plus vs. Pluto TV vs. Tubi
These three services dominate the free streaming space in 2026. Each has a different strength:
| Feature | Samsung TV Plus | Pluto TV | Tubi |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Price** | Free | Free | Free |
| **Live Channels** | 300+ | 250+ | 0 |
| **On-Demand** | Limited | 10,000+ | 50,000+ |
| **Devices** | Samsung only (primarily) | All major platforms | All major platforms |
| **Account Required** | No | No | Optional |
| **Ad Load** | Medium | High | Medium |
| **Best For** | Samsung TV owners | Live channel variety | On-demand library depth |
Pluto TV beats Samsung TV Plus on platform availability — it runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and every major smart TV OS. Samsung TV Plus wins on channel count and frictionless access (no account at all). Tubi wins decisively on on-demand library depth but has no live channels whatsoever.
If you own a Samsung TV, Samsung TV Plus is a natural first stop for free live TV — it's faster to launch and integrates more cleanly than installing Pluto TV separately. If you don't own Samsung hardware, Pluto TV is the better all-around choice for live channels, and Tubi is the better pick for movies and shows.
Best Devices and Who Can Access Samsung TV Plus
Samsung TV Plus is available on:
- Samsung Smart TVs (2016 and newer running Tizen OS) — best experience, full integration
- Samsung Galaxy smartphones (Android) — strong mobile option, underrated
- Samsung Galaxy tablets — same app as phones
- Web browser (tv.samsungplus.com) — available in the US, limited channel selection vs. the TV app
If you're TV shopping and free live channels are a priority, Samsung TVs offer genuine built-in value through Samsung TV Plus. For cord-cutters already using a Roku or Fire TV stick, Samsung TV Plus isn't a reason to switch — use Pluto TV on your existing setup instead.
Samsung Smart TV
Final Verdict
Samsung TV Plus is an excellent free streaming add-on if you already own Samsung hardware. The zero-friction experience — no account, no download, immediate access — is genuinely better than any competitor. The 300+ channel count is impressive. But the ecosystem lock-in is a real limitation, and the on-demand library trails Tubi by a wide margin.
For Samsung TV owners: use it as your primary free live TV source and supplement with Tubi for on-demand. For everyone else: Pluto TV is a better universal choice for live channels, and Tubi wins for movies and shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samsung TV Plus really free?
Yes. Samsung TV Plus is completely free with no subscription, no credit card, and no account required on Samsung TVs. It's ad-supported, so you'll see commercials — typically 4–6 minutes per hour.
Can I use Samsung TV Plus without a Samsung TV?
Partially. The web app (tv.samsungplus.com) works in any browser but has a smaller channel selection. The Galaxy phone and tablet app requires Samsung Android hardware. Samsung TV Plus is not available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or non-Samsung smart TVs.
How does Samsung TV Plus compare to Pluto TV?
Samsung TV Plus has more live channels (300+ vs. 250+) and requires no account. Pluto TV runs on virtually every streaming device and has a larger on-demand library. If you have a Samsung TV, both are worth using. On other hardware, Pluto TV wins by default.
Does Samsung TV Plus have live sports?
Not in the traditional sense. Samsung TV Plus has sports-adjacent channels — highlights, classic games, niche sports like Red Bull TV — but no live NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL games. For live major league sports, you'll need a paid service like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or ESPN+.
Is Samsung TV Plus better than Tubi?
For live channels: yes, Samsung TV Plus is better — Tubi has no live channels at all. For on-demand movies and TV shows: Tubi wins easily with 50,000+ titles versus Samsung TV Plus's smaller catalog. Use both if you have a Samsung TV.
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