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The Best Apps to Watch TV on your iPhone – June 2017

The Best Apps to Watch TV on your iPhone - June 2017

The way that individuals are consuming media has changed dramatically in the past decade or so. While everyone and their mother used to watch TV on a big screen even only a few years ago, things are changing. Cell phones and other handheld devices are quickly becoming an extremely common way for people to watch TV and movies. No longer is watching TV strictly reserved for the television set in your living room.

Various different companies, services, and apps offer you free or affordable TV solution, right on your iPhone device. Some require a subscription to use, some have a one-time fee when downloading the apps, and others are completely free and won’t cost you a dime. The type of content shown on each of these apps also varies from app to app, so you have a lot of different options.

So how do you know which apps are worth your time and which will just waste it? Well, that is where this handy article comes in. This article will go over some of the best TV apps out there for you to watch TV, movies and more, right on your device. Some of these on the list are completely free, while some might need you to subscribe to a service to enjoy their content. Either way, these are the best apps to watch TV on the iPhone.

 

Winner - Netflix
Winner - Netflix

Compatible With

IOS

When you think about ways to watch TV on a device other than an actual television set, there is a good chance your mind goes to Netflix first. Netflix has been around for 20 years and is currently one of the biggest streaming services and on-demand services on the planet. While it originated as a DVD sales service and DVD by rental business, it soon grew into streaming media and it is this service that transformed them into a massive household name

Netflix has completely changed the way people consume media and has turned the industry on its head. Tons of people are now canceling cable subscriptions and using Netflix as their sole way to consume television and movies. In fact, it is now said that nearly 100 million people from all over the world subscribe to Netflix and the company itself has over 3,500 employees. Safe to say that they are among the most popular ways to watch TV on your iPhone.

So with all of that going for it, and the fact that is likely going to continue to get more and more popular, there is no way we couldn’t name it as the winner in this battle of the apps to watch TV on your iPhone. While many of the other apps on this list are great, few can go toe to toe with Netflix and all they can offer you as a user and subscriber.

So now that you know just how many people use the service and what it is, let’s begin to look at why it has become so popular. The biggest reason is, of course, the type of content included. Whatever you wants and needs are out of a TV series of show, Netflix surely has something for you. Whether you want to watch a new and modern series, or a classical series to get a case of nostalgia, Netflix can help you out. There are a seemingly endless stream of TVs and movies to choose from, and Netflix is constantly adding different titles and updating the app. You can easily browse through different genres, but can also use the search function to look for a specific show or movie. And if that show or film isn’t on Netflix, it will recommend you different titles that are similar to what you were searching for.

You can easily browse through different genres, but can also use the search function to look for a specific show or movie. And if that show or film isn’t on Netflix, it will recommend you different titles that are similar to what you were searching for. They even have a safe watching experience to ensure that families with children feel confident letting their children watch and browse the different titles on Netflix.

Also, the originals that have been created by Netflix are some of the best reasons to subscribe to the service as well. That’s right, in addition to streaming thousands of different titles in different genres, Netflix has even gotten into the content production game. It all started back in 2013 with the creation of House of Cards. This show has gone on to become incredibly popular and won many awards, and Netflix has created hundreds of other shows, movies, and series’ over the last few years.

In addition to the content, however, there are a number of great features on the Netflix app. One of the best and most useful features on Netflix is the app’s ability to recommend you content. That’s right, the more you use Netflix to watch TV and movies, the better the app will be able to get even better at recommending you things that you will like. This is completely customized for each user, so youre experience will differ from any of your friends or family members.

You can also create a few different profiles on a single Netflix account. This means that all different members of your family or friend group can have their own personal Netflix experience and be recommended things based on what they watch on their individual profile.

Another great feature of the app is the fact that you can easily add different shows and movies to a list to make sure you can always find exactly what you are looking for. This feature makes it very easy to keep all the content you want to watch, all in one convenient so you never forget about it. The app also allows for the customization of some settings such as the quality and more.

So while the content and features of this app are likely enough for most people, Netflix has even MORE to offer you. The design of this app is another thing that is sure to impress most people who want to watch some TV on their iPhone. The design is very simplistic while remaining powerful as well. The color scheme used is also a huge win and adds points to the attractiveness of the app. Navigating throughout the app and its various types of content are easy and clear, as it should be. Even if you have never used the app before, it is incredibly straightforward and there is a very low chance you’ll ever be confused with the app or how to move throughout it.

While the app is free to download, you need to be subscribed to Netflix to actually enjoy and view any of the thousands and thousands of pieces of content on the app. There are a few different pricing models for a Netflix account, but they all are quite affordable and hover around $10 a month or so. Considering buying or renting a single DVD or Blu-Ray can often cost that much (or more), there is no reason not to go with a streaming service like Netflix. Also, a cable subscription will often be nearly 10 times as expensive as Netflix, which is why many people are cutting cables and simply going with a streaming service as their primary method of watching TV. They even have a one-month free trial you can take advantage of to make sure Netflix is really what you want.

All in all, this is an app that almost everyone should have on their device or computer. It is jam-packed with both new and old content of all different genres and is constantly being updated with new shows, movies, and documentaries. One top of the amazing content, the design, and features of the Netflix app are also incredible. While the fact that it isn’t free might deter some people, it shouldn’t. To get all of this for around $10 a month is an amazing deal and this app can keep you entertained for hundreds of hours.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 5
  • Rating 35.5K
  • Rating out of 5 3.6
  • Last Updated Date 25 April 2022
  • App Developer Netflix, Inc.
  • Download Size 120.9 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Winner - Netflix

Runner-up - YouTube
Runner-up - YouTube

Compatible With

IOS

Choosing the runner-up was more difficult that choosing the winner as there are a couple different apps that could stake their claim at the spot. But after considering different apps and what they can offer users, we have decided that YouTube is the runner-up in this article.

YouTube is far and away one of the most popular websites on the internet with over a billion hours of content being watched on the app every single day. In case you are unfamiliar with the app/website (which we highly doubt you are), YouTube is a website to watch all different kinds of video content. If you can think about an idea or genre of video, there is a good chance you will be able to find it on YouTube.

However, one type of content that you might know can be found with ease on YouTube is TV shows. But in fact, YouTube is a severely underrated place to check out TV shows. While it may not be super straightforward to find TV shows on here sometimes, they can often be found. That is why this app is included on this list (in case some of you were confused why a video app was included in this article about TV apps).

As many of you know, YouTube lets you search any user or keyword and have millions of video options pop up. You can also search by user if you have a particular content creator you enjoy. But if you are specifically looking for TV shows, one of the best ways is to search the title of the TV show and “full episodes”. These will sometimes be posted and removed quickly, but other times, they will remain up. If you don’t find full episodes of a certain show up at a given time, it can be worthwhile to look a bit later in case they have been made available since your last search.

While the content is almost never-ending and constantly being updated, there is more to love about the YouTube app. It features a number of different and helpful features that make your viewing experience even better. You can easily subscribe to different channels, add videos to a Watch Later page, create playlists, see what’s trending and do so much more. The app will even offer you up some recommendations on some videos that it feels you will enjoy! The app also makes it easy to create and upload your own videos as well, if you want to give it a try.

The design of the app is also something that helped it get this spot in this article. The design is nothing extravagant but does a good job of doing what it needs to do. It clearly states what everything on the screen does, is easy to navigate and doesn’t take away too much from the actual content of the app. Everything is labeled correctly and using the app, even for newcomers, is a breeze. The app is also very social as it allows you to like and dislike videos, comment on videos and also share content if you enjoy it.

Perhaps best of all, YouTube is completely and 100% free to use. While there is the option for purchasing some content on YouTube, a wide majority of users use it without paying a dime. You get access to an endless stream of content on YouTube and the fact you don’t have to pay for it is pretty great. There are ads that exist, but they are often fairly short and unintrusive.

All things considered, YouTube is a fantastic app for consuming content and severely underrated when it comes to watching clips or TV shows and even full episodes sometimes. There is a good chance you already have it on your device, so give it a try the next time you want to watch some episodes of your favorite TV shows.

App Details iOS

  • Category Photo & Video
  • Category Ranking 3
  • Rating 25.5M
  • Rating out of 5 4.7
  • Last Updated Date 24 April 2022
  • App Developer Google LLC
  • Download Size 275.8 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 12.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Runner-up - YouTube

Crackle
Crackle

Compatible With

IOS

If you’re looking for an app that is specifically created to watch TV and movies on the iPhone for free, this is likely the app for you. Wherever you are, and whatever device you are on, rest assured that you will be able to use Crackle. This app provides free TV shows in a number of different genres including drama, comedy, action and more. There are even a few originals offered with Crackle, which is quite impressive out of a free app.

You can create and account for free, which lets you keep track of what you watch and the app makes sure to always know exactly where you left off on your shows and series’. You can also make a list of the shows and movies that you want to watch too. While the list of content and features might not be as impressive and large as something like Netflix, that is to be expected from a free app.

As mentioned earlier, this app is available for free without the need to spend a dime. While the content isn’t quite as robust as other apps, it is still full of a number of different films and TV shows that will keep you entertained for hours. If you don’t want to pay at all for a wide range of TV and film content, this app is likely your best bet. It is also quite popular and has a ton of users, which should instill some confidence that it is a great app.

Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll

Compatible With

IOS

If anime is your thing, you will adore this app. Crunchyroll features more than 25,000 episodes of your favorite anime shows, both current and classic. You can start watching them immediately and there is no membership required at all!

The app doesn;t only feature obscure shows either, it features some of the best and most popular anime shows out there like Naruto, One Piece, Sword Art Online and many more. With so much content available in this app, you are never going to run out of great anime to watch. Also, if you are just beginning to get interested in anime, this app will be amazing for you as well. You will be able to start back at the beginning of many of these shows, and then will be able to watch all the way up to the current episodes.

The app is available for free, and comes with quite a bit of content. However, there is also a premium membership you can get if you want. This premium account will cost you $6.99 a month, but gets you a number of great extra features. These include an ad-free experience, new episodes only an hour after they air on TV, access to better quality of video and much more.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 19
  • Rating 31.9K
  • Rating out of 5 4.4
  • Last Updated Date 14 April 2022
  • App Developer Ellation, Inc.
  • Download Size 100.1 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Crunchyroll

The CW
The CW

Compatible With

IOS

While many cable TV channels have apps in which you can watch their content, most of the time, you need to be subscribed to the channel or have a password. However, the CW app bucks that trend as they allow anyone to watch content on their app for free, without the need to sign up or enter a password or anything!

Anytime you want to watch some content, all you have to do is download the app, launch it, and you will be well on your way to watching your favorite shows like Riverdale,  Arrow, The 100 and more. These shows are available on the app only a day after broadcast, which is pretty incredible.

You can easily get notified when new shows go up, and navigating throughout the app is very easy too. In addition to watching full episodes of your favorite shows, you can also see a number of photos and extras for each show, which gives you a nice behind the scenes look.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 23
  • Rating 19.2K
  • Rating out of 5 3.4
  • Last Updated Date 21 September 2021
  • App Developer The CW Network, LLC
  • Download Size 38.5 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 12.1 or later.
  • Price Free
Let us Know

Don’t see an App that should be here ?

Hulu
Hulu

Compatible With

IOS

Similar to Netflix, Hulu is a streaming service that brings you access to your favorite TV shows and movies in an instant. This app is full of a wide range of different shows from different eras and different genres. Whatever your interests are, this app will be full of television content for you. Whether you are an individual or a family, Hulu is a great way to consume media in HD.

This app has content from a number of popular channels such as ABC, FOX, HBO and CBS. That means you will be able to see new and old episodes of some of the most popular shows on TV, as well as a number of different shows directed towards children. In addition to TV shows, you can also watch a wide variety of trailers and movies on Hulu too.

While the app can be downloaded from the App Store for free, it won’t work unless you are a Hulu subscriber. The base fee for a subscription is $7.99 a month, but that comes with limited commercials. If you want a true commercial-free experience, you will have to opt for the subscription that costs $13.99 a month. Either option is a good deal for the sheer amount of TV and film content that you get.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 6
  • Rating 1.4M
  • Rating out of 5 4.6
  • Last Updated Date 12 April 2022
  • App Developer Hulu, LLC
  • Download Size 67.1 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Viki
Viki

Compatible With

IOS

If you are interested in watching TV shows and movies from various different Asian countries and cultures, Viki is the app for you. Viki gives you access to tons of different content from countries like Korea, Thailand, China, Japan, and others. These shows are translated into over 150 different languages so people from all over the world can enjoy these TV shows and movies.

The content on this app comes in various different kinds of niches and no matter what you are into, Viki will have something for you. You can easily rate and review various shows and programs on the app and browse through the content to find shows that have been highly rated by other users. If you find some stuff you love on the app, you can also

The app is available for free and the shows and movies can be enjoyed without the need to pay anything at all. However, there is a premium membership you can buy that will cost you $4.99 a month and it gets you an ad-free experience, access to more exclusive content and enables you to watch everything in HD, no matter what device you are watching your TV shows on.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 85
  • Rating 19.6K
  • Rating out of 5 4.6
  • Last Updated Date 1 November 2021
  • App Developer viikii pte ltd
  • Download Size 70.6 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Viewster
Viewster

Compatible With

IOS

If you are into gaming or anime, you may want to consider downloading Viewster. This is perfect for newcomers to the genres, while also having enough content to satisfy those who have been into anime and gaming for years. They have officially licensed content that is available for free, you don’t even need to sign-up for an account or anything.

With such a wide range of content included in this app, there is a good chance there will be some anime titles you have never seen before. And with the fact that it is free, there is almost no reason for you not to have it downloaded. Everything is full-length and new shows and movies are frequently added to the app. However, don’t expect to see hit shows and holiday blockbusters on this app, as it focuses more on hidden gems and things you may not have seen before.

You can create watchlists to make sure you never forget the things that you want to check out and can add to it at any time. The app is completely free, but will play ads. However, the ads aren’t too bad and that is a small price to pay for this high-quality app.

Viewster

Pluto TV
Pluto TV

Compatible With

IOS

All it takes is downloading this app and you are able to watch TV for free on your iPhone or iPad, simple as that. This app contains a variety of different channels you can watch such as news, sports, TV shows, cartoons and more. These channels have great shows from trusted networks.

The interface of this app is great and reminds users of a TV guide on a regular television as it features a list of channels you can watch. One negative about the way this app is presented and designed is that you can only watch channels, and not search directly for certain shows or movies. However, the content on the app is still great and you are bound to find something that you enjoy watching.

As mentioned earlier, the app is completely free to use. When you consider that fact, along with the fact that the content is good and the design/interface is top notch, you have a truly great app. There is new and unique content on the app all the time and you will never get bored while using this app with so many options and channels at your disposal.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 23
  • Rating 662K
  • Rating out of 5 4.8
  • Last Updated Date 4 April 2022
  • App Developer Pluto, Inc.
  • Download Size 126.5 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Pluto TV

Tubi TV
Tubi TV

Compatible With

IOS

Tubi TV has one of the largest and most expansive libraries of any app on this list. The app features thousands and thousands of hours of great TV shows, videos and movies. The app has many different genres included (over 40) and they range from ones that most people like, but there are also unique genres like Korean dramas and anime. But with so much content, you might think it would be easy to get lost or confused, but the interface and design of the app is pretty solid as well.

In addition to the great content, Tubi TV features a number of cool and unique features included in the app. One is called “Not on Netflix” and it will include some rare finds that you won’t find on Netflix or almost anywhere else. Another is called “Highly Rated on Rotten Tomatoes” which will show you things that have been rated highly on Rotten Tomatoes.

Not only is this app simple to navigate and full of great content/features (as I mentioned earlier), but it also completely free to use. You don’t even need to sign-in in or provide a credit card or anything. Once you download the app, you are free to fire it up and start watching TV or movies.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 17
  • Rating 12.1K
  • Rating out of 5 4.3
  • Last Updated Date 25 April 2022
  • App Developer Tubi, Inc
  • Download Size 188 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Sling TV
Sling TV

Compatible With

IOS

If you want to be able to pick and choose the content you want to be included in a TV app, this is the one for you. Sling TV is a live service that lets you select the personalized channel lineup you want. There is over 100 different channels to choose from. So whether you want to watch classic shows, live sports or brand new shows, Sling TV will work for you. It even comes with a large number of international channels and shows too.

This truly is TV on your terms as you only pay for the TV shows you actually want or use. However, there are also a few options that allow you to pay a monthly subscription for a large number of channels, sort of like a cable subscription package. This app also lets you stream on a wide variety of devices such as TVs, game consoles, computers and of course, your iPhone.

While it is not free to use like some of the apps on this list, we feel that the “a la carte” style of this app is a great one and it puts all the power and customization options in the hands of the user. This app gets rid of the problem of paying for channels you don’t want, which has been one of the biggest problems in the TV and cable industry for a while.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 47
  • Rating 221.7K
  • Rating out of 5 4.6
  • Last Updated Date 20 April 2022
  • App Developer Sling TV LLC
  • Download Size 75.8 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Sling TV

CBS
CBS

Compatible With

IOS

CBS is home to some of the most popular TV shows out there, which is why it is fairly surprising that they offer this app for free. That’s right, you can watch many of your favorite CBS shows for free right in the app. You even get access to this content, they day after it airs. You can also create an account to personalize the list of shows you want to watch.

While the free version of this app is solid, the true power of this CBS app is unlocked when you subscribe to CBS All Access. This will only cost you $6.99 a month (or $11.99 if you want it commercial free) and comes with some great perks. You get exclusive access to originals and also to more than 8,000 episodes from various different shows, both classic and modern. You can even watch new shows live with this feature.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 13
  • Rating 306.8K
  • Rating out of 5 4.5
  • Last Updated Date 26 April 2022
  • App Developer CBS Mobile
  • Download Size 284.1 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network

Compatible With

IOS

Whether you watch them or not, there is no denying that cartoons are some of the most popular types of TV shows to watch out there. As a result, it makes sense to have the Cartoon Network app on this list. Whether you just want to watch a few short clips, some videos or even full-length episodes, this app has it all!

While some episodes will require you to have a cable subscription to the Cartoon Network, there is a ton of content available for free without the need to sign up at all. The app is also quite good at getting to know the type of content you like and don’t like, based on the ratings you can provide on each video you watch.

All in all, this app is great for all of you cartoon lovers out there. While it might not have as much content included for free compared to other apps, it is better than nothing. The app also updates fairly frequently and is always adding new things you are able to watch for free.

App Details iOS

  • Category Entertainment
  • Category Ranking 170
  • Rating 19.6K
  • Rating out of 5 3.9
  • Last Updated Date 8 February 2022
  • App Developer Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
  • Download Size 102.3 MB
  • Compatibility Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
  • Price Free
Cartoon Network

Kale Havervold

Jun 19, 2017

I have been a writer for a few years now and look to inform, educate and entertain with my writing.

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