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Best Apps For Watching Local Channels

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated September 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good apps for watching local channels. We benchmark 250+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Apps For Watching Local Channels (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1FREECABLE TV: News & TV ShowsFREECABLE TV: News & TV ShowsFree4.7★ (43K)YesNoSep 2026
2LocalPlay TVLocalPlay TVFree—NoNoJul 2026
3Local Now: News, TV & MoviesLocal Now: News, TV & MoviesFree4.3★ (1.3K)YesNoSep 2026
4DIRECTV: TV & Movie StreamingDIRECTV: TV & Movie StreamingFree4.6★ (599K)YesNoSep 2026
5Fubo: Watch Live TV & SportsFubo: Watch Live TV & SportsFree4.5★ (111K)YesNoSep 2026
6Tubi: Movies & Live TVTubi: Movies & Live TVFree4.8★ (1.2M)YesNoSep 2026
7PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TVPlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TVFree4.8★ (1.6M)YesNoSep 2026
8Philo: Shows, Movies & Live TVPhilo: Shows, Movies & Live TVFree4.8★ (69K)YesYesSep 2026

Top Picks for Apps For Watching Local Channels

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows#1

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows by MixerBox Inc.

2000+ TV Channels & Movies App
Editor's Choice
📡 News
4.7😊(43K ratings)
FreeAds
#39in News
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 1
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 2
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 3
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 4
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 5
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 6

Stream over 2000 TV channels, movies, and live news without a subscription. Access a wide variety of programs including sports, TV series, and entertainment content directly on your phone.

What We Love

  • 👍 Enjoyable and entertaining TV shows
  • 🚀 Efficient navigation and content discovery
  • 💡 Wide variety of content genres
  • 🎉 Free TV and movie streaming
  • 📺 Ability to watch live news and local channels

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional playback issues and freezing
  • ⚠️ Intrusive and frequent advertisements
  • 🔍 Limited episode/season availability for some shows
  • 🔊 Audio quality and sync problems
  • 📱 Compatibility issues on older devices
Local Now: News, TV & Movies#3

Local Now: News, TV & Movies by Weather Group, LLC

Stream Weather, Shows & More
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.3😐(1.3K ratings)
FreeAds
#82in News
Local Now: News, TV & Movies screenshot 1
Local Now: News, TV & Movies screenshot 2
Local Now: News, TV & Movies screenshot 3
Local Now: News, TV & Movies screenshot 4
Local Now: News, TV & Movies screenshot 5

Stream local news and weather from over 400 channels, plus thousands of Hollywood movies. Discover a wide variety of content including national news, courtroom dramas, comedy, horror, and travel shows, all available for free.

What We Love

  • 👍 Great free streaming app
  • 🚀 Efficient and fast
  • 📺 Variety of local and national channels
  • 🌐 Comprehensive local news coverage

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔁 Constant channel switching and looping
  • 🔇 Audio issues and lack of sound
  • 🤖 Poor navigation and UI, especially on tablets
  • 📺 Unreliable live stream playback

More Apps For Watching Local Channels apps to explore

FAQ about Apps For Watching Local Channels

What are the best apps for watching local channels for iPhone?
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows tops our apps for watching local channels ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 43K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top apps for watching local channels we rank are free to download, including FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows and LocalPlay TV.
FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 250+ apps for watching local channels on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.