Android TV is an alternative to Apple TV and offers a way to get apps onto any capable TV set. Here are the best Android TV apps you should consider adding.
01
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Stream Your Own Movies and Music: Plex
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What We Like
Attractive interface.
Intuitive controls.
Easy streaming from other personal devices.
What We Don't Like
Some features, like user controls, aren't free.
You need to provide the media.
Plex is one of the most popular media storage and sharing services, and for good reason. The Android TV app is an excellent example of Plex's all-around attractive interface and easy-to-use navigation. You first download Plex on the device you're storing your media — like movies and photos—and Plex handles the rest. You can access it from any other device, including an Android TV.
02
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Best Video Streaming Social Media Platform: YouTube
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What We Like
Easy to navigate.
Account access for all subscriptions.
What We Don't Like
Updates have caused crashing in the past.
Not full featured.
YouTube is the most ubiquitous video platform and should be on every TV. The Android TV app is more limited than the website, but it features bigger buttons that are easy to navigate with a remote from your couch. YouTube should be one of your first downloads on your Android TV device.
03
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Entertain and Educate Your Children: PBS Kids Video
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What We Like
Free shows.
Educational videos.
Live and recorded shows available.
What We Don't Like
Not all episodes are always available.
For those with little kids, the PBS Kids app is easily one of the best available. It features free recorded TV shows and a live stream of current programming. The one downside is not all episodes are always available, but it's hard to complain about free, educational videos that keep kids engaged.
04
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Browse the Web on Your TV: Google Chrome
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What We Like
Best web browser for nearly any device.
Translates websites.
Syncs passwords and history.
What We Don't Like
Tricker to install than other apps.
Google Chrome may seem odd, but having a web browser on your TV can provide access to anything else you’d like to do. Chrome works well on a TV despite being a little slow to control. Go shopping, stream any video service (even those without an official app), and much more.
The trickiest part is installing it, but anyone should be able to do it. Using a computer, go to the Chrome download page, select Install, and then choose your Android TV as the download destination.
05
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Watch People Play Games: Twitch
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What We Like
No sign up required.
Can follow and chat from TV.
Free to watch.
What We Don't Like
Takes longer to navigate than the website.
With the Twitch Android TV app, all those Twitch streams are now available on your TV. Everything from Fortnite to casino slots is available to watch people play.
The nice thing about the Twitch Android TV app is that once you download it, you can start watching immediately without logging in. You'll need to sign up if you want to chat or follow people, but there's a nice code given so you can link the TV app from your phone or computer for easier typing.
06
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Play Videos on an External Device: VLC
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What We Like
Versatile codec support.
Completely free with no ads.
Open source.
What We Don't Like
It is not as attractive as other Android TV apps.
More than anything, VLC player is necessary to cover your video-playing needs. Chances are your Android TV can accept USB drives or storage devices of some sort, but if your TV or Android TV doesn't know how to play the file format of a stored file, you may be out of luck.
VLC player has been a highly regarded app for so many years because of its ability to play nearly any type of file format. It may not be the prettiest Android TV app, but it does the job whenever needed.
07
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Turn Your TV Into a Jukebox: Spotify
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What We Like
Proper music experience straight from Spotify.
Free and premium versions supported.
Can use Phone as remote.
What We Don't Like
Limited features compared to mobile app.
No podcasts.
Having a real Spotify app on your TV through an Android TV app is a simple way to play your music through your expensive home theater speakers. It features large album artwork for a screensaver-like effect. Spotify on your TV is similar to other Spotify apps in that you can sign in and have all your albums and playlists displayed.
08
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Listen to the Radio on Your TV: iHeartRadio
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What We Like
Access to terrestrial radio stations.
Free music streaming.
Podcasts available.
What We Don't Like
Music curation not as good as Spotify.
If you want music on your TV but don't want to use Spotify, there's always iHeartRadio. Even if you like Spotify, you may want this Android TV app to get over-the-air radio stations into your living room.
While the Pandora or Spotify-like streaming curation doesn't produce the same serendipitous feeling, the iHeartRadio app is full-featured and even includes the ability to listen to podcasts.
09
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Never Get Caught in the Rain: AccuWeather
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What We Like
Easy-to-read information.
All weather information available.
Advanced controls for customization.
Light and dark themes.
What We Don't Like
Some occasional sluggishness.
AccuWeather is one of the most used weather condition apps on mobile devices, and it works well on the TV. The app's main screen features a big, easy-to-read temperature reading, hourly forecast, daily forecast, maps, and weather videos. You can dig into the hourly forecast to display all the common weather items like humidity, dew point, wind speed, and UV index. AccuWeather on Android TV covers all the basics and loads relevant information quickly.
10
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Keep Up With the News: Washington Post
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What We Like
Videos of news stories.
Lots of available content.
Professional videos.
What We Don't Like
App is a bit rough around the edges.
While some news apps try to include text stories for news, the Washington Post Android TV app focuses on videos. These are professional videos of relevant news, so you can be sure they will be high quality. That said, while the content is fantastic, the app itself could use a bit of polish to make it as attractive as other apps on the TV.
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