How Does Pluto TV Work

Pluto TV is Viacom’s free content streaming service. US residents can watch it for free without any subscription. Even if the content can’t compare with paid streaming services such as Netflix, it is one of the best free streaming services around.

This raises the question, how is it possible for a streaming service to stream content 24 hours legally and without any subscription fees? How good is that content?

This article will explain the way Pluto TV makes money, and what kind of features and content you can expect.

How Does Pluto TV Earn Money

Pluto TV makes money the same way as traditional TV channels – by way of ads. There are no subscriptions or fees that you have to pay. Instead, you pay by watching advertisements that pop up now and then.

These ads can sometimes be frustrating, especially when you watch a TV show or movie. But this is the price you pay in lieu of a monthly subscription.

The advertisements run about 30 seconds each. They often come up in between changing channels. If you stay on one channel for too long or watch a movie or TV show straight through, up to 4 commercials may play one after another.

What Devices Are Compatible with Pluto TV

Pluto TV is compatible with a host of devices and platforms. If a tool can stream content, it can probably play Pluto TV.

You can stream Pluto TV with most media players and set-top boxes. If you have an Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or Android TV, you can get a Pluto TV app. There’s also an app for iOS and Android smartphones and Sony PlayStation 4.

If you own a smart TV like Samsung or Sony, you can stream Pluto TV too. VIZIO has a WatchFree feature which is actually a Pluto TV add-on.

You can watch Pluto TV on your computer with a desktop app (available for both Windows and Mac). Ultimately, you can just play the service in your web browser, and it should work smoothly.

Features of Pluto TV

Pluto is different from most free and premium streaming services. Instead of being a fully on-demand service, it resembles your traditional cable or satellite package. On the left side of the screen, there’s a list of available channels that you can flip between.

Most of these channels are not live, except if there is an icon indicating so. Usually, news and sports channels are on 24/7, but the other channels might play niche content over and over. But it also has a nice on-demand content library.

One thing missing from Pluto TV is a cloud-based DVR service where you can record a program and watch it later.

Pluto TV Content

Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are paid streaming services, so you shouldn’t expect the same type of content from Pluto TV. Considering that it is a free streaming service, it offers a lot of quality content.

There are some familiar channels that you can watch, especially if you’re into cable news.  For example, you can tune in to Bloomberg, CBS News, NBC News, etc.

The best part is the niche channels that you can come across. Most of them are Pluto TV-only channels that gather content from other sources and pack everything into a specific theme. There are documentary channels like NASA TV, Docu TV, and Science TV. Since recently, you can watch Discovery Channel too.

If you want to watch movies, there are genre-specific Horror 24/7, Gravitas Movies, Action Movies. On Pluto TV Movies 1 and 2, you can watch some of the recent hit movies like Shutter Island, True Grit, and There Will Be Blood.

There are also channels dedicated to wrestling, poker, gaming, and so on – there’s something for everyone.  Other than that, there are more specific channels, including one that plays Anime 24/7 and another that plays everything cat related.

Should I Pick Pluto TV Over Netflix

If you want a free multi-platform streaming service that can surprise you with its content on a daily basis, Pluto TV is a great option. You can watch it from anywhere without committing to a subscription plan.

On the other hand, if you have to watch all the top movies and TV shows, especially the recent ones, you won’t find it on Pluto TV. In that case, you’ll have to fork over for a premium service.

In the end, when push comes to shove, it’s safe to say that Pluto TV does a brilliant job for a legal free service.