In today’s world of numerous streaming services, keeping track of which shows and movies are available on which platform can be a real headache. While premium services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video offer top-notch programming, the cost can be a significant factor, especially with their consistent price hikes. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly alternative, advertising video on demand (AVOD) and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services might be the solution. Pluto TV, one of these AVOD/FAST (we’ll refer to it as free streaming going forward) services, stands out with its zero-cost subscription.
Pluto TV seamlessly blends live TV and on-demand programming. Boasting over 250 live channels and thousands of shows and movies, there’s plenty of content to keep you entertained. It also serves as the content source for Vizio’s WatchFree Plus, a testament to its popularity and quality. Let’s delve deeper into what Pluto TV has to offer.
## What is Pluto TV?
Pluto TV is a live-TV streaming service that resembles Sling TV and competitors like DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV. However, unlike these services that provide streaming access to channels traditionally found on cable TV, Pluto TV offers free content primarily curated from existing online resources. Pluto TV, launched in 2013, has rapidly gained traction. By April 2023, it had amassed over 80 million active users, solidifying its position as one of the largest free TV streaming services in the United States. Although not available globally, it has expanded its reach to Latin America, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Canada.
Pluto TV offers a diverse selection of content, encompassing familiar channels alongside lesser-known ones. Even those already subscribed to live TV streaming services might find Pluto TV valuable due to its organized layout, though personal preferences will play a role in its appeal.
## Pluto TV’s Navigation
Pluto TV boasts a user interface designed to simplify content discovery and playback. The primary navigation theme is linearity. With one or two clicks, users can easily access any of the main live TV categories – sports, movies, news, entertainment, kids, local news, and more. This straightforward approach extends to the On Demand tab, which offers genre-based categories while retaining the traditional TV guide’s essence.
Pluto TV is constantly adding new channels and categories, with a current count of 22 diverse options. These include Classic TV, The Black Collective, History + Science, Kids, and many others. You can now specify your favorite channels, eliminating the need to sift through the extensive channel list of over 1,000. You can also save individual shows, clips, and movies from the over 150,000 hours of unique programming to a watch list. Once you decide what to watch, you can access a preview panel that displays additional information, such as cast lists, directors, and trailers.
## Channel Lineup
While one might expect the content library of a free service to be limited, Pluto TV offers a wealth of entertainment, particularly with over 400 global content partners providing content across over 1,000 channels. The Pluto TV guide organizes channels into groups based on similarities. You’ll find standard categories like news, sports, movies, entertainment, and comedy. While standard TV channels are generally absent, some are represented through their web counterparts, especially news outlets. These include familiar names like Bloomberg, Cheddar, CNBC, MSNBC, CBSN, and many others. As of 2019, CNN joined the lineup, although it doesn’t provide the full, live CNN experience available on cable. Instead, the CNN channel features a curated playlist of short-form digital content from CNN anchors and reporters. Featured clips focus on lifestyle and culture, climate change, the environment, and original CNN investigations and interviews. A similar channel for NBC, called NBC News Now, is also available.
Other additions to Pluto TV include CMT, Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud, and Red Bull TV, along with a handful of new themed channels in Celebrity, Reality, and Lives, perfect for pop culture and reality TV enthusiasts. Sports coverage on Pluto TV is less conventional, lacking the likes of ESPN. Instead, you’ll find options like Fight, World Poker Tour, Impact Wrestling, a dedicated Sports News Network, Glory Kickboxing, and the Big Sky Network. DAZN recently signed a deal to provide an original weekly series for Pluto TV, with potential for future expansion of this partnership. Pluto recently added an official PGA Tour channel with 24/7 coverage of one of golf’s biggest tournaments.
Pluto TV also features reruns of reality and documentary shows alongside episodes of Thunderbirds, Criminal Minds, and other older TV shows in the Entertainment section. Among these diverse channels, you’ll find Wipeout, a network dedicated to reruns of popular game shows from various countries, and Nosey, which features reruns of The Jerry Springer Show and The Maury Show, among others. Meanwhile, the Curiosity section showcases Science TV, Docu TV, Xive TV, and even a NASA livestream. Pluto TV also has a Sitcoms channel, offering a selection of older comedies like 3rd Rock from the Sun and The Lucy Show, and a Spanish-language channel called Pluto TV Cine. This hyper-focused channel approach is characteristic of Pluto TV, with channels like Anime All Day and Stand Up, dedicated to stand-up comedy. Other unique channels include Slow TV, featuring relaxing imagery, Pluto TV Travel, and Cats 24/7, which is self-explanatory. During notable seasons like Christmas, you’re likely to encounter new temporary channels or a festive explosion of holiday-themed content, providing another reason to check back for new offerings.
Several internet radio stations are also available through Dash Radio, which operates as a standalone service. Modern genres like hip-hop, electronic music, and pop dominate, although stations offering classic rock, soul, and jazz are also available.
## International Expansion
In recent years, Pluto TV has significantly increased its international presence. It is now available in over 30 countries and territories, including the U.S., U.K., Latin America, and Canada, among others. Pluto TV ensures that each new region has the relevant programming to support its expansion. In its first year of operations in the U.K., the service added two British-specific channels to its lineup, including a permanent 24/7 Made in Britain lineup showcasing British films and shows. The other, Brit-pocalypse, is a temporary themed channel highlighting apocalypse and destruction films set in British locations. In the Nordics, they partnered with local broadcaster Nordic Entertainment Group, leading to 70 unique, locally-focused channels in those regions.
## On-Demand Content
Pluto TV’s on-demand catalog offers a vast selection of movies and TV shows, totaling thousands of hours of entertainment. You’ll find classics like I Love Lucy, Matlock, and The Andy Griffith Show, alongside more recent favorites like Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T. for marathon viewing. The available content changes frequently, with the service promising new movies every week. The rotating selection makes predicting availability challenging, and it’s not comparable to services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in terms of content breadth. While Pluto TV might not match Netflix’s vast expanse of cinematographic excellence, it still features enough notable titles to pique your interest, and you might discover hidden gems among the less-known offerings. On-demand content might not be available on all platforms, or at least not all of it might be accessible. In our testing, both shows and movies were available on-demand via most of the platforms tested, including Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Roku, and Playstation 4 and 5.
## Device Compatibility
You likely own at least one streaming device capable of streaming Pluto TV. The service can be streamed through a web browser and offers desktop apps for both Windows and MacOS. However, these desktop apps are only usable in the U.S. Mobile apps are also available for iOS and Android devices, with separate U.S. and international versions offering different channels due to streaming rights restrictions. If you prefer watching on your TV, various devices support Pluto TV apps, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV devices, and the PlayStation 5. Smart TVs from Samsung, Hisense, Roku, and Vizio are also compatible, with the company’s website indicating that more are on the way. However, not all Pluto TV channels are available on all platforms.
## Pluto TV’s Future
Pluto TV celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and its presence in the streaming landscape seems secure. Unlike previous projects aiming to provide shows typically requiring an antenna, Pluto TV doesn’t pose any threats that could upset government agencies or pay TV companies. While free, Pluto TV generates revenue through advertising on every channel. The success of Pluto TV’s advertising model is evident, with advertisers actively investing in the platform. With Paramount’s team significantly amplifying the platform’s marketing efforts, we anticipate even greater interest among advertisers as Paramount leverages Pluto TV to bolster its other properties, such as Paramount+.
The simplest way to decide if Pluto TV is right for you is to download one of the apps on your preferred platform or visit the company’s website. It won’t cost you anything except your time, and you’re likely to find something you enjoy given the wide range of programming. However, don’t expect to find the latest content found on other networks. Our list of the best streaming devices is a valuable starting point if you need a device to stream Pluto TV. If you’re more interested in a traditional TV experience than watching your favorite shows over the internet, check out our comparison of the best live TV services.
