GlobeNow.tvFree live TV apps compared
Six ways to watch live TV free, without a cable subscription. The big ad-supported apps (Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Plex and Xumo Play) are strongest in the United States and on smart TVs; GlobeNow.tv is a browser site for live news channels from 64 countries. None of them needs a paid account.
I'm the developer of GlobeNow.tv, so it is listed first. Facts about the other apps come from their own official pages, checked on the date shown on each comparison page; they are not affiliated with GlobeNow.tv.
Free · No sign-up
At a glance
| App | Where it works | Account |
|---|---|---|
| GlobeNow.tv | Worldwide, in any browser | None |
| Pluto TV | US, Canada, most of Latin America and Europe | Optional |
| Tubi | US, Canada, Mexico, UK, Australia and a few more | Optional |
| The Roku Channel | US, Canada, Mexico and the UK | Not needed for free content |
| Plex | Almost worldwide | Optional |
| Xumo Play | US only (plus some Canadian and UK TV providers) | Not needed |
What each app is good for
1. GlobeNow.tv
647 official YouTube live channels from 64 countries, mostly news, plus webcams and today's news videos on a 3D globe.
Where: Any web browser, worldwide (85% of checked channels play everywhere). Devices: Web browser; add to home screen.
Best for: Live news from many countries, free in the browser2. Pluto TV
250+ channels (official figure); the US line-up is reported at 400+. The line-up differs by country.
Where: United States (excluding territories), Canada, most of Latin America and most of Europe; Australia through 10. Devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung, LG and Vizio TVs, PlayStation, Xbox and the web.
Best for: A cable-style channel guide with themed channels, plus on-demand movies · Full comparison with GlobeNow.tv ›3. Tubi
262 live channels in the US (official list), 107 of them local US news stations. The line-up varies by location.
Where: United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama. Devices: 30+ devices: iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung and LG TVs, PlayStation, Xbox and the web.
Best for: Local US news stations and a big free movie library · Full comparison with GlobeNow.tv ›4. The Roku Channel
500+ free live TV channels in the US (official figure), including 100+ local channels. Canada, the UK and Mexico get smaller line-ups (Roku launched 40+ in the UK in October 2025).
Where: United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Devices: Roku TVs and players, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TVs, iOS and Android, and the web (TheRokuChannel.com).
Best for: The largest free US line-up, especially on a Roku TV · Full comparison with GlobeNow.tv ›5. Plex
600+ free live channels (official figure); Plex's channel directory lists 1,795 across 195 countries. The line-up varies by country.
Where: Almost worldwide — over 80% of channels play everywhere. Not available in Bahrain, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan or the UAE. Devices: Phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks, game consoles and the web.
Best for: Free live channels in the most countries · Full comparison with GlobeNow.tv ›6. Xumo Play
300+ free ad-supported channels (Xumo says 350+ on its product pages), plus about 15,000 on-demand titles.
Where: United States; in Canada only via Rogers and Shaw Ignite TV devices, in the UK only via Sky Glass and Sky Stream. Blocked elsewhere. Devices: Web (play.xumo.com), smart TVs, streaming devices, iOS and Android.
Best for: Free channels on US smart TVs without any sign-up · Full comparison with GlobeNow.tv ›
Questions
What is the best free live TV app?
It depends on where you live and what you watch. In the United States, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV and Tubi have the biggest free line-ups of entertainment and local news. Outside the US, Plex has free channels in the most countries. If you mainly want live news from around the world, GlobeNow.tv plays 647 official YouTube live channels from 64 countries in the browser.
Which free live TV apps work without an account?
All six on this page can be watched without signing up. Pluto TV, Tubi and Plex offer an optional free account for favourites and watchlists; Xumo Play and GlobeNow.tv have no account at all, and The Roku Channel's free content plays without a login.
Which free live TV app works outside the United States?
Plex is the most widely available of the big apps. Pluto TV covers Canada, much of Latin America and much of Europe, and Tubi a handful of countries including the UK and Australia. Xumo Play is blocked outside the US except through some Canadian and UK TV providers. GlobeNow.tv works in any browser, and 85% of its region-checked channels have no country restrictions.
Do these apps have sports or cable channels like CNN or ESPN?
Mostly no. Free ad-supported apps carry their own themed channels, some news networks and on-demand libraries; big cable networks and live sports rights generally need a paid service. GlobeNow.tv only has channels that broadcasters stream for free on YouTube.
Is GlobeNow.tv an app?
GlobeNow.tv runs in the web browser on phones, tablets and computers, and can be added to the home screen like an app. There is no app-store download and no account. I'm its developer, which is why it is listed first.
More on GlobeNow.tv
Channel counts, countries and account rules change often; each comparison page lists its sources and the date they were checked. Names are trademarks of their owners.
About GlobeNow.tv
GlobeNow.tv is a live world video map: news, travel and live TV from around the planet, placed where it happens on a 3D globe — with Polo the polar bear as your guide.
View on the 3D globeFree · No sign-up