Google rebranded FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channels as Google TV Freeplay. After a brief appearance, the search giant pulled Freeplay from the Google TV platform due to crashes. Google promises to bring it back, but we don’t have a definite timeline, leaving many cord-cutters searching for alternatives. Still, you have other ways to access free live TV channels on your Google TV. This post explores the best Freeplay replacements, offering options with diverse channel lineups and features to keep you entertained.
Sling Freestream: Stream popular TV shows
Don’t mistake Sling Freestream with the standard Sling TV app. Sling Freestream is a different service for those seeking free live TV and on-demand content, making it a strong contender to fill the void left by Google Freeplay.
It offers 500+ live TV channels in multiple categories, including news and opinion, entertainment, sports, food, home, travel, international, and Latino. You can stream popular titles like USA Today, ABC News, AMC Thrillers, Love Peta, Sports Grid, Boxing TV, Willow Sports, FITE by Thriller, Waypoint, HSN, Fashion TV, BBC Travel, and more.
Plex: Accessible in most countries
Plex is a powerful media server platform to stream your collection of movies, music, and photos. It’s also a fantastic free streaming service with live TV channels and on-demand content. The best part is availability. Unlike Freeplay and its alternatives, Plex is accessible in almost every country. Go to Plex’s official page to download a list of live TV channels available in your region.
The Roku Channel: Free TV plus premium subscriptions
Although Roku is a rival of Google TV in the smart TV space, the company’s streaming service, The Roku Channel, is available on Google’s TV platform. The Roku Channel will get deeper integration on Google TV. You can access Roku’s 500+ FAST channels from the Live TV tab on Google TV.
Tubi TV: Works on all smart TV platforms
Tubi TV is a hidden gem in free streaming and a fantastic alternative to Google Freeplay. It’s free and has a massive library of live TV channels and on-demand content. It’s a cross-platform solution with apps on all smart TV platforms, including Google TV.
Tubi has over 40,000 movies and TV shows, making it one of the largest free streaming libraries. You’ll find everything from Hollywood blockbusters and classic films to popular TV series and kids’ shows. The live TV channels library isn’t as extensive as others, but it has several news and entertainment channels.
Pluto TV: Stream games and anime, too
Pluto TV is a giant in the free streaming world and a top-notch alternative to Google Freeplay. It offers a massive selection of live TV channels and on-demand content without a subscription. You can stream 250+ live TV channels neatly organized into a familiar TV-like grid.
You’ll find channels dedicated to news (CBS News, CNN, Bloomberg), movies (Pluto TV Movies, Classic Movies), entertainment (MTV Pluto TV, Comedy Central Pluto TV), sports (Fox Sports, Stadium), and specialized interests like gaming and anime. It’s free, cross-platform, delivers a user-friendly interface, and remains a valuable addition to any entertainment setup.