Got a new Samsung smart TV? Here are the best apps to download

While many companies have adopted Roku, Fire TV, or Google TV for their native TV interfaces, Samsung is sticking to its guns with Tizen. That means Samsung sets sometimes miss apps you’d find elsewhere, but if you do your homework, you can cover a reasonably full range of content. Here are our picks for the best Samsung smart TV apps to download.

The best Samsung smart TV apps:

Samsung TV Plus

Price: Free

In an era when just about everything comes with a monthly subscription fee, Samsung TV Plus is fresh air. Samsung’s app offers a unique, regionally-based mix of content at no cost. Viewers in the United States are the best off, with over 300 channels and a selection of on-demand content, but there are more than 500 channels worldwide. Your TV may ship with the app pre-installed.

Max

Price: $9.99 per month

You could easily substitute services like Netflix or Hulu here. If you have access, though, Max has one of the strongest lineups in streaming, even with the changes made since it was HBO Max. It has a great movie selection — like the Extended Edition of the Lord of the Rings trilogy — and shows you won’t find elsewhere, such as Last Week Tonight and The Righteous Gemstones.

Note that the entry fee of $9.99 is ad-based and limited to two screens with 1080p resolution, without any download option. You’ll have to pay for the Ad Free or Ultimate Ad Free packages to upgrade those features, and only the Ultimate tier includes 4K and Dolby Atmos.  You may already have Max for free if you’re an HBO channel subscriber or a high-tier AT&T customer.

Plex

Price: Free / Plex Pass for $4.99 per month

Plex is less an app than a way to amass your media fortress. You can stream more than 600 free TV channels, enjoy a selection of complimentary on-demand content, and — here’s the key — access all of your local video files if you install Plex Media Server (also free) on Windows, Mac, Linux, or even network-attached storage (NAS).

It’s often the cheapest way to cut the cord, but you might still consider paying $4.99 monthly for a Plex Pass subscription. That enables features like hardware transcoding, HDR tone mapping, and the option to skip TV intros. The main attraction may be offline media sync with mobile devices — if you’ve ever wanted to load up your tablet with movies and shows from your library, this is the simplest way. You can opt for annual ($39.99) or lifetime ($119.99) Plex Passes to save money.

Spotify

Price: Free / Spotify Premium varies

Though other music services like Pandora and Apple Music have a footprint on Samsung TVs, Spotify is undoubtedly the king. Overall, its TV app functions much like the mobile one, adapted to a TV’s larger size and remote control. If you don’t want to download the app, you can always stream from your phone to your TV with SmartThings.

AccuWeather

Price: Usually free

You can always scan local TV channels for the weather, but something must be said for a dedicated app like AccuWeather. AccuWeather offers free forecasts, radar views, and severe weather alerts, at least if you live in a large city. If you find yourself in a rural area, you may have to pay a fee for full access. You can also save multiple locations and access the app in 12 languages.

Steam Link

Price: Free

Steam is practically the default store for PC gaming, but what if you want to take the action to the big screen? Steam Link allows you to do just that and doesn’t cost a dime. The games aren’t necessarily free, but you probably already have a few favorite titles in your Steam library. You’ll also want a compatible Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam controller and the fastest possible network connection between your TV, router, and computer. Your computer should be connected to your router via Ethernet, for instance.

Vudu

Price: Varies

Movies often take a while to get to your favorite subscription services, if they make it all, so rentals and purchases are occasionally unavoidable. Fandango’s Vudu is one of the best places to hunt for new releases, and it offers some free content to boot through a limited quantity of ad-supported movies and TV shows.

Echelon FitPass

Price:  $11.99 per month plus equipment

Echelon’s FitPass provides access to studio classes and diverse workouts, typically 10 to 45 minutes. While the company is primarily interested in getting you to buy its fitness machines, categories like strength, kickboxing, yoga, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) let you use your equipment or none at all. 

Samsung SmartThings

Price: Free

This one is a must-have and has probably already been downloaded since  SmartThings is Samsung’s smart home platform. The app generally links the company’s products, but you can also connect accessories from companies like Ring, Ecobee, and Arlo. Voice assistant options include Bixby, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. It also works with Matter-ready accessories.

Tubi

Price: Free

Tubi is an entirely free way to access movies and TV shows, though you do have to put up with ads and sort through a sea of mediocre titles to find the gems. Indeed, you’ll sometimes find movies on Tubi that are hard to find elsewhere, such as Dario Argento’s original Suspiria. It’s worth keeping in handy for those obscure movies that make it to your JustWatch list.

TED

Price: Free

The TED app offers curated talks by some of the world’s most intelligent people. It’s an accessible experience; you can dive into playlists to see some of the best TED talks ever. There are currently more than 1,100 videos available.