Cut the Cord in 2026: The 10 Best Free Live TV Apps for Your Samsung Smart TV
Category: Tech Talk / Home Hacks Read Time: 15 Minutes (Honestly, you'll probably read it faster. It's good stuff.)
Let’s just get this out of the way: The era of the cable box is dead. Seriously, who in 2026 is still paying $150 a month just to have a clunky black device plugged into their TV? Plugging a coaxial cable into the wall feels less like technology and more like a museum exhibit.
Sure, Netflix and Disney+ are fantastic for those planned Friday night movie marathons, but let's be real—they don't scratch that specific itch we all get. I'm talking about the pure, simple joy of watching TV.
You know the feeling: you don't want to spend 45 minutes scrolling through a million thumbnails, paralyzed by choice. You just want to power up your set, see a guide, pick something, and let the content wash over you. We need local news, live sports scores, or (don't judge me) a mindless reality TV marathon playing in the background while we cook dinner.
If you bought a Samsung Smart TV—whether it's one of those beautiful, overpriced 8K Neo QLEDs or a reliable 4K Crystal UHD—you've essentially bought a golden ticket to free television. The Tizen OS app store is absolutely stuffed with legal, high-quality apps that totally replicate that cable experience, minus the soul-crushing monthly bill.
I’ve waded through the garbage, and these are the 10 best apps for real, honest-to-goodness Live TV on Samsung in 2026.
1. Samsung TV Plus
The Native Cable Killer (Seriously, why aren't you using this?)
We have to start with the giant hiding in plain sight. If you own a Samsung TV, you already have this app. In fact, by 2026, calling it an "app" feels almost insulting—it's just part of the operating system's furniture.
The Experience: Samsung designed this thing to launch the second you power on, just like the cable used to. No sign-up, no login, absolutely zero credit card required. It just works.
The Channel Guide: Look at it! It mirrors the aesthetic of a premium satellite menu perfectly. You can scroll through hundreds of channels, set reminders, and see what's on next. My opinion? It's the most polished interface on this entire list.
What You Can Watch: The lineup has matured ridiculously. We're talking major news (CBS, NBC News Now), plus niche 24/7 "binge" channels. You want Top Gear constantly? You got it. Kitchen Nightmares until 3 AM? Done.
Why it wins: It’s wired straight into the "Guide" button on your remote. That’s the path of least resistance to passive viewing, and that’s a beautiful thing.
2. Pluto TV
The Undisputed King of "Zapping"
Do you miss that satisfying feeling of flipping channels until something decent stops you? Pluto TV is your ultimate nostalgia trip. Owned by Paramount, this service remains the gold standard for Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST).
The Interface: It’s sleek, blue, and most importantly, incredibly responsive on Samsung’s Tizen processors. No lag when you pull up the guide, which is a massive win in my book.
The Live Factor: They have some on-demand stuff, sure, but let's be honest, you're here for the grid. It's 100% focused on linear viewing.
What You Can Watch: Because Paramount is funding this, you get surprisingly premium content. Think MTV channels, Nickelodeon classics for the kids, Comedy Central highlights, and dedicated movie channels sorted brilliantly by genre.
Pro Tip: Seriously, hunt down their "Pop-Up" category. They rotate brilliant, highly specific channels seasonally (like a dedicated Bond movie channel).
3. Sling Freestream
The Premium Vibe (Without the Sting)
Everyone knows Sling TV for its paid package, but their "Freestream" tier is the stealthiest powerhouse in free TV right now. And no, you don't even need to talk to a salesperson.
No Barrier to Entry: This is key. Unlike the paid version, you don't need an account. You literally open the app and click "Skip and Watch." That's how it should be.
The Content: This is where Sling truly flexes. They offer over 400 free live channels that feel slightly more "curated" than the competition. There's a heavier focus on high-quality news broadcasts and live reality TV series.
Why download it: Look, the user interface (UI) here is chef's kiss. It’s clean, it's modern, and frankly, it makes your Samsung TV feel like a high-end entertainment hub, which is what you paid for, right?
4. Xumo Play
Your Go-To for Quick News and Viral Chaos
Owned by Comcast, Xumo Play often gets overlooked, but it's an absolute necessity for anyone who wants information now.
The Speed: Xumo is incredibly lightweight. If you have an older Samsung model that occasionally struggles, Xumo loads near-instantly. It’s the fastest app on this list, period.
News Junkie Focus: If you live on news updates, this is your home base. It aggregates live feeds from major players like NBC News, Sky News, Bloomberg, and CBC. Perfect background noise while you’re making your morning coffee.
Niche Channels: Xumo is excellent for "background entertainment." They specialize in viral fail videos (hello, FailArmy) and endless pet compilations. Does it sound silly? Yes. Is it perfect for having guests over? Absolutely.
5. Tubi
More Than Just Bad Movies (It’s Live!)
We all know Tubi for its massive on-demand movie library (often B-list, but sometimes hiding gold!), but listen up: their "Live TV" section has exploded in size and quality.
The Live Expansion: Tubi has quietly integrated robust "Live News" and "Sports" tabs. It's not just static clips; these are continuous, linear feeds.
Sports Focus: Being under the Fox Corporation umbrella means Tubi often pulls in great sports content, including replays, analysis shows, and niche events you won't catch anywhere else.
Regional Content: If you’re lucky enough to live in a larger market, Tubi can even pull in local news feeds, which makes it feel much more personalized than national headlines.
6. Plex
The Geek’s Choice That Went Mainstream
Plex started as a highly technical way to organize your personal hard drive of movies. Now, it’s a full-blown broadcaster—who saw that coming?
Global TV: Plex has some of the most interesting international partnerships. If you're tired of the same US content, you can find channels from Europe, Asia, and Latin America here.
The Interface: Visually, it’s stunning. The guide is packed with metadata—you can see cast info and episode descriptions right in the live menu. It makes the others look a little dated.
Community Feel: They offer great niche channels dedicated to very specific hobbies: gaming (IGN TV), cooking (Tastemade), and the kind of classic cinema only film students love.
7. Haystack News
Your Own Personalized News Anchor (Finally!)
If you want to watch the news, but you don't want to sit through three segments on city council votes you don't care about, Haystack is a game-changer for your Samsung TV.
How it works: This isn't one channel; it's a personalized feed. You select your interests (Tech, Politics, Weather, Local Sports), and the app literally builds a continuous "Live" broadcast custom-tailored just to you.
Sources: It pulls from over 300 trusted news organizations, including ABC, CBS, and Al Jazeera.
Why it’s essential: It completely replaces the anxiety of waiting for the 6:00 PM news. The information you need is delivered right when you open the app. It’s smart TV, actually being smart.
8. NewsON
The True Antenna Replacement (Fixing the biggest complaint)
If you're anything like me, your biggest complaint about "cutting the cord" was losing local channels. NewsON solves this problem so well, it’s almost cheating.
The Mission: NewsON is laser-focused on local TV stations. They partnered with station groups across the US to stream their actual, live news broadcasts.
No Antenna Needed: That's right. You don’t need to deal with a flimsy, ugly antenna. If you want to see your local anchors covering your city's traffic and weekend events, this is the app you must download.
On-Demand News: Missed the morning broadcast? No problem. NewsON lets you instantly replay the most recent newscast.
9. Rakuten TV
The European Giant (It’s not just a dedicated remote button)
If you look at your Samsung remote, you might already have a dedicated button for Rakuten. While they're huge in Europe for movie rentals, their free streaming section is a massive, high-quality surprise.
The "Live" Button: Look for the "Live TV" or "Channels" tab inside the app. Don't worry about the paid section; the free stuff is where the value is.
Curated Quality: Rakuten is seriously picky about their channel partners. You won’t find low-quality streams here. They partner with major publishers (like Vogue or GQ) and broadcasters to create sleek, high-definition lifestyle channels.
Documentaries: They are famous for their excellent sports and travel documentaries which stream continuously on their dedicated linear channels.
10. DistroTV
The Diverse, Underdog Alternative (Time to try something new)
And finally, for those who feel that the main apps are too "mainstream" or US-centric, DistroTV is the diverse, underdog alternative that deserves your attention.
International Content: DistroTV is a godsend for multi-cultural households. They have a massive selection of "Desi" (South Asian) channels, plus content from Africa and Southeast Asia you won't find on Pluto.
Unique Categories: They cater to very specific niche interests: independent film festivals, dedicated channels for MMA fighting, and obscure music scenes.
My Takeaway: It’s a clean interface and, while the streams are sometimes a bit lower quality than Samsung TV Plus, the variety is unbeatable.
A Final, Crucial Note for Samsung Users
You’ve just unlocked over 1,000 channels without spending a penny. But if you want a perfectly smooth viewing experience, your internet needs to be solid. Live TV hates buffering.
Quick Tip to Prevent Stuttering: If you notice the picture quality dropping, do yourself a favor: go into your Samsung TV settings, navigate to General > Network > Network Status, and check that signal strength. If it’s not full bars, use a wired Ethernet cable. It’s a 5-minute fix for that perfectly smooth, lag-free, cable-TV feel we all miss.
Enjoy the free ride!
