At last count, there are more than 8,000 apps available on Amazon’s Fire HD line of streaming devices, including thousands that are free to download. The company recently made an effort to highlight free content and apps, but if you’re new to the platform, we’ve collected 10 of the most popular free apps for news, sports, movies, and more.
News
Official Local News Apps: If you’re looking for news on your Fire TV, most of the major national and international outlets are freely available, including CNN, Fox News, CNBC, and more. What you may not know, however, is that many regional and local news outlets also offer official apps on the platform. In the Seattle area, for example, both KING 5 and KIRO 7 have free apps available. If you want a bit of local flair with your news, it might be worth checking to see what’s available in your area.
Sports
YouTube: While you can certainly sign up for official streaming services offered by several professional sports leagues, you can also check out YouTube. The official channels for the NFL, NBA, and others frequently offer highlight packages of recent games for free. It’s a good way to catch up on games you missed. And with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect live sports, many of the official channels have started sharing full broadcasts of classic games and matches.
NBC Sports: While much of the NBC Sports app requires TV provider authentication, you can still access free highlights, news, and other content to stay up-to-date on your favorite teams.
CBS Sports: The CBS Sports app offers access to free, 24-hour sports news coverage in addition to news clips and highlights broken down by sports.
Twitch: If you’re looking for some esports coverage, Twitch is a good place to start. You’ll find streams of popular games, leagues, and more. You can also follow along via live chat so you can talk with your fellow fans during a broadcast.
Movies
Pluto TV: Pluto TV offers hundreds of channels for free, many of which feature a variety of movies. Beyond the 24/7 channels, you also have access to on-demand content, including thousands of movies and TV episodes.
Tubi: Like Pluto TV, Tubi offers free access to a diverse selection of TV shows and movies. You’ll have to sit through some ads at times, but in exchange, you get free access to comedies, dramas, genre classics, and more.
IMDb TV: The free IMDb TV app offers free access to a wide range of TV shows and movies. You can also check out trailers for upcoming movies and leverage IMDb’s wealth of data to search for actors, directors, and more.
Plex: Plex has been building out its selection of free content lately and it currently offers thousands of free movies and TV shows. You’ll have access to films from Crackle, MGM, Lionsgate, and others.
And for the Kids
PBS Kids Video: Last, but certainly not least, the PBS Kids Video app offers free access to full episodes of popular PBS Kids shows, including Curious George, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and of course, Sesame Street.
Again, there are thousands of apps out there for Fire TV users to check out. And if you’re a longtime user and you’ve uncovered some hidden gems, feel free to comment below and share your discoveries with your fellow cord cutters and streamers.
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