Best Free Cable TV Apps

250+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.5 avg rating

20 free apps

Updated September 2026

FREECABLE TV is the household name in free cable tv, but it's far from the only option. We track 250+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Free Cable TV Apps (September 2026)

#	App	Price	Rating	Ads	In-App Purchases	Updated
1	FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows	Free	4.7★ (43K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
2	Tubi: Movies & Live TV	Free	4.8★ (1.2M)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
3	YouTube TV	Free	3.6★ (60K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
4	PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TV	Free	4.8★ (1.6M)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
5	ALIVFibr TV	Free	2.7★ (3)	No	No	Aug 2026
6	Xfinity Stream	Free	4.6★ (260K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
7	VIZIO \| WatchFree+	Free	4.6★ (66K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026
8	Xumo Play: Stream TV & Movies	Free	4.6★ (4.1K)	Yes	No	Sep 2026

Top Picks for Free Cable TV

#1

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows by MixerBox Inc.

2000+ TV Channels & Movies App

Editor's Choice

4.7😊(43K ratings)

FreeAds

#58in News

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows screenshot 1

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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

#2

Tubi: Movies & Live TV by Tubi, Inc

Watch sports, news, TV & more

Strong Contender

🎬 Entertainment

4.8😊(1.2M ratings)

FreeAds

#19in Entertainment

Tubi: Movies & Live TV screenshot 1

Tubi: Movies & Live TV screenshot 2

Stream a vast library of movies, TV series, and live channels without any subscription fees. Discover new content added weekly, including originals and international entertainment. Enjoy personalized recommendations and a seamless viewing experience across multiple devices.

What We Love

🎥 Great selection of movies and TV shows
👍 Easy to use and navigate
🆓 Completely free to use
🔍 Helpful recommendations and personalization
🕰️ Ability to resume watching where you left off

Room to Improve

🔍 Limited selection of recent/popular titles
📺 Frequent commercial breaks
🐛 Technical issues like freezing, buffering, and syncing problems
🔇 Lack of audio description options for accessibility

#3

YouTube TV by Google

Watch & DVR Live TV

Worth Considering

🎬 Entertainment

3.6😐(60K ratings)

FreeAds

#7in Entertainment

YouTube TV screenshot 1

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Stream live TV from over 100 networks without a cable box. Record your favorite shows with unlimited cloud DVR storage and share accounts with family. Cancel your monthly membership anytime.

What We Love

🚀 Great alternative to cable
👍 Lots of channel options
👍 Sports features like key plays
👍 Ability to record shows
👍 Ability to access on the go
👍 Cheaper than cable

Room to Improve

🔍 Too many ads
🐛 Playback issues like freezing and audio problems
🐛 Difficulty finding and managing recorded shows
🐛 Inconsistent volume levels
🐛 Buggy app behavior on various devices
💰 Expensive for the value provided
🔍 Missing some popular channels

More Free Cable TV apps to explore

PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TV

PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TV

PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TV

Watch films & Live Channels

Stream thousands of free movies and TV shows on demand, plus live channels for news, sports, and entertainment. Enjoy a vast library of content across various genres, all accessible on any device without any cost.

Free live TV streaming channelsThousands of free movies and TV showsLocal and national news updates

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

by Cable Bahamas Ltd

Stream live TV channels and record them to the cloud for later viewing. Enjoy your favorite shows, movies, sports, and news on any device, anywhere. Features include pausing, restarting, time-shifting, and cloud recording.

Watch live TV channelsCloud recording of programsPause live TV

🎬 Entertainment

Live TV, On Demand, & DVR

Stream live TV channels, On Demand content, and DVR recordings from your Xfinity or NOW TV service. Watch thousands of shows and movies, download content for offline viewing, and schedule recordings remotely.

Watch live TV channelsStream On Demand contentSchedule DVR recordings

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

VIZIO | WatchFree+

VIZIO | WatchFree+

VIZIO | WatchFree+

Device Control, Live TV

Stream over 300 free live channels for news, sports, and entertainment on your mobile device. Control VIZIO devices, search across streaming services, and fine-tune audio with preset modes.

Stream 300+ free live channelsControl VIZIO devicesUniversal search across streaming services

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Xumo Play: Stream TV & Movies

Xumo Play: Stream TV & Movies

Xumo Play: Stream TV & Movies

TV & Movies (on the house)

Access a vast library of live TV channels, movies, and TV shows for free. Enjoy personalized recommendations and discover new content across various genres without needing a subscription or login. Stream anytime, anywhere, on any device.

350+ live channels15,000+ on-demand titlesPersonalized recommendations

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Fubo: Watch Live TV & Sports

Fubo: Watch Live TV & Sports

Fubo: Watch Live TV & Sports

Stream NFL, Live TV & News!

Stream live sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and soccer leagues, alongside popular TV shows, news, and movies. Enjoy over 350 channels and unlimited cloud DVR.

Stream live sports leaguesOver 350 live TV channelsUnlimited Cloud DVR

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

by Verizon Services Corporation

Stream live TV channels and thousands of On Demand movies and shows from virtually anywhere with a Fios TV subscription. Manage your DVR, download content for offline viewing, and even control your TV remotely.

Live TV streamingOn Demand libraryDVR management

🎬 Entertainment

Originals, Sports & More

This app is a central hub for exclusive original series, movies, and live sports like Formula 1 and MLB. It also aggregates content from your favorite streaming services, allowing you to buy or rent titles and discover new shows.

Exclusive Apple OriginalsLive Formula 1 & MLBBuy or rent movies

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Philo: Shows, Movies & Live TV

Philo: Shows, Movies & Live TV

Philo: Shows, Movies & Live TV

70+ Channels. Unlimited DVR.

Stream live TV channels, on-demand movies, and popular shows without contracts. Offers multiple plans with extensive channel lineups, unlimited DVR, and personalized profiles. Access free content or premium bundles for a comprehensive entertainment experience.

70+ Live TV Channels75,000+ On-Demand Movies & ShowsUnlimited DVR Storage

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Channels: Whole Home DVR

Channels: Whole Home DVR

Channels: Whole Home DVR

Live TV & DVR on your devices

This app allows you to watch live TV and recorded shows on any device, even when you're away from home. It offers a unified viewing experience across all your platforms, with features like commercial skipping and the ability to record new episodes of favorite shows.

Record and watch on any devicePause and resume viewing across devicesSchedule recordings remotely

🎬 Entertainment

by Charter Communications

Stream live and On Demand TV content on various devices. Control your DVR, set parental controls, and personalize your viewing experience. Access thousands of shows and movies anywhere with a connection.

Stream live TV anywhereThousands of On Demand shows and moviesCast to compatible TVs

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Citizens Fiber TV

Citizens Fiber TV

Citizens Fiber TV

Stream your TV Channels

Stream your subscribed TV channels without a cable box. Enjoy live TV, Video on Demand, and recordings with network DVR. Create profiles for family members with custom preferences and restrictions.

Stream subscribed channels without a cable boxLive local and national channelsVideo on Demand

🎬 Entertainment

by DISH Network LLC

Stream live and recorded TV channels from your home receiver to your iPhone or iPad. Manage your DVR, access thousands of On Demand titles, and follow your favorite sports teams with live scores. Download content for offline viewing.

Stream live TV channelsWatch recorded DVR showsManage DVR recordings

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Shows, movies and more

Stream live TV channels, movies, and shows on your mobile device or TV without a set-top box. Enjoy high-definition broadcasts and cloud DVR capabilities. Additional storage and devices can be purchased.

Cloud DVRHigh Definition channels200+ channels

🎬 Entertainment

by Tangerine Global

🎬 Entertainment

DIRECTV: TV & Movie Streaming

DIRECTV: TV & Movie Streaming

DIRECTV: TV & Movie Streaming

Live Sports, Shows & Channels

Stream live TV, sports, movies, and thousands of on-demand titles on your mobile devices. Customize your lineup with genre packs or enjoy free streaming options. Watch local channels, news, and popular shows anytime, anywhere in the US.

Live TV streamingOn Demand movies and showsLive sports streaming (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, etc.)

🎬 Entertainment

free with in-app purchases

Access Local Broadcast TV

FAQ about Free Cable TV

What are the best free cable tv apps for iPhone?

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows tops our free cable tv apps ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 43K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.

Does FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows have ads or in-app purchases?

FREECABLE TV: News & TV Shows shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.

How many free cable tv apps are on the App Store?

We track 250+ free cable tv apps on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.