The Amazon Firestick is a very popular device for streaming TV shows, and movies, and watching Live TV. Along with the streaming players, there are now a number of actual Smart TVs powered by Fire TV operating system. Typically Apps are available on the Amazon Appstore and there are thousands of choices making it overwhelming to decide which ones are worth downloading.
So if you are new to Amazon Fire TV, here are our top 15 Apps for Fire TV. All apps are free to download, however, some have Ad-sponsored content while others have paid content. Also, note that some apps are not available in some regions because of content geo-restrictions. Most of the Apps are available in the U.S, Canada, and the U.K. In some cases, you might have to download a VPN if you wish to access some of these Apps outside fo the supported regions. Alright, let’s get into it.
Top Paid streaming Apps for Firestick
Amazon Prime Video
Let me start off with Prime Video. This is a paid streaming service from Amazon itself, the manufacturer of the Firesticks. Prime is great if you are already an Amazon Prime member paying $199/year or $12.99/month. But if you want the standalone service, then you will pay $8.99/month. Prime video offers a vast selection of content, including original programming and popular movies and TV shows. You get to watch Prime originals such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Man in the High Castle, The Boys, Jack Ryan, Bosch, Sneaky Pete among others. The service is available on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming media players, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
Netflix
With over 200 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix has a vast library of movies, TV shows, and original programming to choose from. It’s compatible with Amazon Firestick devices and Smart TVs. Netlfix has an extensive collection of Original content such as Stranger Things, Narcos, and The Crown. You also get to watch original films like The Irishman and Roma which have garnered critical acclaim and award nominations. But you also get access to a wide range of original documentaries, stand-up specials, and children’s programming. Netflix is integrated with Amazon Alexa, so you can use voice commands to search for content or navigate the interface. Netflix offers several different subscription tiers starting with $8.99/month for the basic plan, $13.99/month and $17.99/month for the premium plan.
Disney+
With Disney+, you get access to a vast library of movies and TV shows, including classic Disney films, Pixar movies, Star Wars and Marvel franchises, and original programming. Disney is the best streaming service for family-friendly content thanks to popular franchises such as Frozen, Toy Story among others. You also get to enjoy exclusive Originals such as The Mandalorian(3rd season coming March 2023), WandaVision, Loki, The Bad Batch, Soul, Hamilton, High School Musical among others. You can also now stream Wakanda Forever. Disney+ offers a single subscription tier for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with no additional costs or tiers. This price includes access to all of the content on the service, with the ability to stream on up to four devices simultaneously and download content for offline viewing. Recently Disney+ introduced an Ad-supported tier for $6.99/month.
Hulu
Hulu is another big player on Amazon Firesticks. Hulu also offers a variety of original programming, including popular shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, PEN15, and Nine Perfect Strangers. They also have shows from major networks like ABC, NBC, and Fox, as well as exclusive original programming. In terms of pricing, Hulu offers several subscription tiers. The base tier, which includes ads, is $5.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $11.99 per month. There is also a live TV option, which includes access to live television channels for $64.99 per month.
HBO Max
HBO Max is known for high-quality original programming with a major focus on dramas, comedies, and documentaries. With HBO Max, you can watch the complete Game of Thrones series along with the new spin-off House of Dragon, The Sopranos, The Sopranos, and The Undoing among others. The App supports multiple profiles, so each member of the family can have their own personalized experience, FHD, and 4K streaming. HBO Max offers different pricing tiers starting with $9.99/month Ad-Supported subscription tier, $14.99/month for the standard monthly tier and $149.99/year if you’re willing to commit to a full year.
Paramount+
Paramount plus is a premium streaming service that is available on Amazon Firestick devices, providing users with access to a wide range of content from the ViacomCBS family of networks such as MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET and more.The biggest attraction to Paramount+ — at least for me — is Star Trek. If you are a big fan like myself, then you can stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds along with Picard. You also get to watch The Good Flight, Why Women Kill, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Besides on-demand content, you also get Live TV streaming with Paramount+. Paramount plus plans start from $4.99/month for the Ad-supported tier and then $9.99/month for Ad-free plan and $49.99/year and $99.99/year for the Ad-supported and Ad-free plans if you commit to a full year.
Top Paid Sports Streaming Apps for Firestick
ESPN+
ESPN Plus is a great option for sports fans who want to access sports content from the Amazon Firestick. With ESPN+, you get access to live and on-demand sports content, including games, highlights, talk show, and analysis. You can watch personalized content based on your favorite teams and sports. Some of the most popular original programming available on ESPN+ includes 30 for 30, Peyton’s Places, and Peyton’s Places. ESPN+ pricing starts from $6.99/month or $69.99/year. You can also subscribe to bundled packages that combine its streaming service with other ESPN channels and services, such as Hulu and Disney+.
Philo
Unlike most of the Apps I have already listed, Philo is a live TV streaming service that provides a range of channels and on-demand content. If you are a cord-cutter looking for a Live TV experience, then Philo is what you should get. The service gives access to live TV channels, including popular options like AMC, Comedy Central, and Discovery Channel just to mention a few of the over 80+ channels. Philo provides unlimited DVR storage, allowing you to record and save as much content as you like. Besides Live TV, you also have access to on-demand content — that past and current movies and shows. Philo’s pricing starts with a $25/month basic plan which offers access to 60+ channels. The premium plan, which costs $35 per month, provides access to 80+ channels. Both plans include unlimited DVR storage and the ability to stream on up to three devices simultaneously. Philo also offers a free 7-day trial for new subscribers.
Sling TV
If you don’t opt for Philo, then give Sling TV a try. They are both Live TV Streaming services proving a range of channels and on-demand content. Sling TV is ideal for cord-cutters as it offers access to Live TV channels including ESPN, CNN, AMC just to mention a few of the 50+ channels. With Sling TV, you get to customize your channel lineup from a various packages. The App will personalize your content based on your viewing habits. Sling TV also offers DVR storage so you can always record and watch your shows later. Pricing starts at $35/month for the basic Sling Orange package and it includes 30+ channels including ESPN and Disney Channel. Then you have the Sling Blue package costs $35 per month and provides access to 50+ channels, including NFL Network and FX. But you can also choose to combine both packages for $50 per month, providing access to 50+ channels. Sling TV offers a free 3-day trial for new subscribers.
YouTube TV
Youtube TV is Google playing in Amazon’s territory. If you are a cord-cutter, this is yet another great option for you besides Philo or Sling TV. Not to be confused with Youtube, the free sharing platform, Youtube TV offers Live TV streaming with access to a range of channels and on-demand content. You get live TV channels such as ESPN, ABC, and NBC. Youtube TV offers unlimited cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record and save as much content as you like. You also get personalized recommendations and upto three simultaneous streams, so you can watch on multiple devices at the same time. Youtube TV pricing starts at $64.99 per month. This provides access to over 85 channels, including local broadcast stations, sports networks, and popular cable channels. New subscribers can get a free 14-day trial.
fuboTV
fuboTV is another contender in the Live TV streaming space is fuboTV. It’s a direct competitor to Philo, SlingTV, and Youtube TV. fuboTV offers live TV channels, including popular options like ESPN, NBC, and CBS. Just like its competition, fuboTV also offers Cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record and save your favorite shows and movies. You get up to three simultaneous streams, so you can watch on multiple devices at the same time. fuboTV is particularly great for sports fans as it offers sports-focused live TV streaming service with top leagues and teams. But it isn’t cheap. Pricing starts with the basic fubo standard package which costs $64.99 per month and provides access to 100+ channels, including sports networks, local broadcast stations, and popular cable channels. You can also choose to upgrade to fubo Elite, which costs $79.99 per month and provides access to additional channels and features. You can try out fuboTV with a free 7-day trial for new subscribers.
Top Free Ad-Supported Streaming Apps for Firestick
Freevee
If you can’t pay for Amazon’s Prime video, then consider going for their Ad-supported Free service instead. Freevee(formerly IMDB TV) comes with a large library of movies and TV shows, including popular titles like Mad Men, Schitt’s Creek, and 24. Freeve also offers original programming, including shows like Alex Rider, Leverage Redemption, and Moment of Truth. If you don’t mind occasional Ads, especially from Amazon interrupting your viewing experience, then Freeve is a great streaming service.
Twitch
Still from Amazon, Twitch is a great streaming platform for e-sports or gamers. The streaming service offers Live streaming of video games, music, art, and talk shows. You can join a large and growing active community of streamers and gamers. Twitch also offers original programming, including exclusive streams such as Critical Role, Critical Role, and Twitch Sings among others. Twitch is completely free to use for viewers, however, Twitch offers subscription plans (Subs) which allow a viewer to pay a minimum of $4.99 per month to support their favorite channels. This gives subscribers gives access to exclusive content and perks.
YouTube
The world’s largest video-sharing platform needs no introduction. Youtube is a host to a huge library of user-generated and professional content available for free with Ads. Youtube will personalize your home page based on your viewing habits, enables you to save videos for later viewing, and the ability to create playlists and subscribe to your favorite channels. Youtube has done some Original shows such as Cobra Kai, Wayne, The Slow Mo Guys among others. If you don’t like Ads, you can always upgrade to Youtube Premium which offers Ad-free streaming at $11.99 per month.
Pluto TV
This is my personal favorite Free streaming App on Firestick. Pluto TV offers an Ad-supported free streaming service with a mix of both live TV channels and on-demand content. With Pluto TV, you get over 250 live TV channels that cover a wide range of genres, including news, sports, entertainment, and more. But it also has a wide library of on-demand content that includes movies, TV shows, and web series. Pluto TV is completely free to use, with no subscription fees or hidden costs.
Tubi
Closely rivaling Pluto TV is Tubi. It’s an equally great Free Ad-supported streaming service with a mix of movies and TV shows. Tubi offers Tubi Sports, a channel dedicated to sports-related content. In 2022, they were able to replay World Cup matches. Then you get Tubi Horror, a channel that features a range of horror movies and TV shows, and Tubi Kids with features kid-friendly content. Tubi has No subscription fees or hidden costs.
The Roku Channel
It might seem odd at first for a competitor to have its own platform in a rival platform. But this is the case with the Roku Channel. Roku is obviously already big as a streaming platform. The company provides access to free ad-sponsored content through The Roku channel streaming service available on Roku streaming players and Smart TV as well the Amazon Firestick. The Roku Channel provides Live TV streaming as well as on-demand TV shows and movies.
BBC iPlayer
If you live in the UK, then you can enjoy free premium content from BBC iPlayer. The UK-based streaming service provides live and on-demand access to BBC television and radio programming. For example, some football matches of the 2022 World Cup were streamed on iPlayer. BBC iPlayer has been a popular choice in the UK. You have access to live streaming of all BBC channels, including BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, and CBeebies. You also get access to original programming such as Top Gear, Doctor Who, Eastenders, The Great British Bake Off, and Killing Eve among others. There are no premium or paid versions of BBC iPlayer available, and all content is available to all users in the UK.
iTVX
Just like BBC iPlayer, ITVX(formerly ITV Hub) is a free UK-based streaming service that offers live and on-demand content, including TV shows, movies, and sports. ITVX offers live streaming of all ITV channels, including ITV, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV, and ITVBe. The service has a range of original programming such as Love Island, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, The Chase among others. ITVX is completely free to use for all users in the UK, though you will need to create an account to access the content. Following the launch of ITVX, ITV Hub+ was combined with BritBox to form ITVX Premium. Plans start from £5.99/month or £59.99/year, but you can try it out with a 7-day free trial.
Plex
Plex started as a media server for storing, organizing, and streaming your personal media files from a server such as your laptop to a number of devices like your TV. The company has since morphed into a Free Ad-supported streaming service although it has kept its roots to a certain degree. Plex now offers access to a range of third-party channels, including news, sports, and international programming. It also has original programming such as The Birch, The Claudia Kishi Club, and The Screening Room among others. If you still wish to use Plex to stream your own Movies, videos, and music, then you want to down the Plex Media Server. Otherwise, Plex has a wide range of pricing tiers starting with the free plan that offers basic features. If you want more, then consider subscribing to “Plex Pass“. It offers more advanced features and a “Plex Pass Lifetime” subscription with lifetime access to all features. Prices start from $4.99/month or $39.99/year or $119.99 one-time fee.
Peacock
Peacock is a streaming service that offers a mix of original programming, live sports, and a wide range of popular TV shows and movies. With Peacock, you get access to popular TV shows and movies from NBC, Universal Pictures, and other networks. Peacock also offers some Live sports coverage including the English Premier League soccer, Olympic events, and other major sporting events. In 2022, Peacock streamed the Worldcup but only in Spanish. Peacock offers a combination of free Ad-sponsored content as well as premium content at a fee. They do have original programming including scripted series, documentaries, and reality shows. Some of the most popular Peacock original shows include Brave New World, Saved by the Bell, The Amber Ruffin Show. You can get started watching Peacock for free with limited ad-supported content. Otherwise, Ad-free plans start from $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year with the premium plan and $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year with the Premium plus plan.
Crackle
This is yet another free-to-use Ad-supported streaming service available on Firestick. Crackle offers a wide range of popular TV shows and movies from different genres, including action, comedy, drama, and horror. It has a limited library of original programming with some of its most popular shows being StartUP and The Oath. Crackle is completely free to use, with no subscription fees or hidden costs. The service is ad-supported, with occasional ads interrupting the viewing experience.
Honorable mentions:
- Amazon Music
- Spotify
- TED
- The CW
- PBS
- The Roku Channel
- Kodi
Alright, that’s it. I hope our list of the top 20 must-have apps for Amazon Firestick in 2023 has been helpful in guiding you toward choosing the best streaming apps to download for your needs.
