Finally just got an Android set-top box or a new Android TV? Wondering what the absolute best apps are that you should download right now? Look no further. Below we have a list of the 10 most essential apps that all Android TV owners should install.
Best Android TV Apps
Each of these applications contains either an amazing library of content or so many digital conveniences that they simply can’t be ignored. These apps are easily the best way to enhance your Android TV experience so let’s get down to it.
This one is pretty much a no-brainer but it’s such a fantastic app that it should be our very first mention. Netflix is considered the king of all digital streaming, and for good reason.
Not only does it come at an affordable price but the Netflix catalog is undeniably gargantuan. The amount of older TV shows and films on here is staggering. Plus Netflix is constantly updating their library with many newer films and their own original productions.
Netflix has become so successful that many people are using it as a replacement or an enhancement to their older cable and satellite subscriptions. If you want your Android TV programming to reach the next level then you will have to do so by getting Netflix.
If there is anyone who has the potential to give Netflix a run for their money, literally and figuratively, then it has got to be Amazon Prime Video.
They are without a doubt one of the biggest digital streaming platforms in the world and also have a great and robust catalog of movies and shows that can keep you entertained endlessly. If Netflix didn’t have the specific shows or movies that you were looking for then Amazon Prime Video definitely has to be your next stop.
Still using the internet without a virtual private network? You should change that. A VPN is an amazing tool that gives you security and anonymity while browsing the web and PureVPN is arguably the best one available today.
With PureVPN you’ll be able to download data at your normal speeds. PureVPN is extremely fast and won’t put a dent in your upload or download speeds.
Recommended Streaming Services
- Stream thousands of live TV channels and video-on-demand on your Android Box with these IPTV providers. We recommend Iron IPTV as the first provider.
- Amazon Prime members enjoy exclusive access to movies and TV shows, ad-free music, Kindle books, original audio series and unlimited photo storage.
- FuboTV: Stream and record live sports and TV from FOX, NBC, beIN SPORTS, Univision, NBA TV, A&E & more. Watch live on any device: Desktop, iOS, Android, Roku
There are over 2000 servers to choose from so that you will have all the locations you need to browse sites from all over the world.
IPTV stands for “Internet Protocol Television” and is a fantastic way to get access to digitally streamed television programs. You will need a media player that is capable of such access and TiviMate is our suggestion.
TiviMate features a clean and intuitive interface, and one of the easiest to use EPGs of all IPTV apps out there. Best of all, the performance is second to none, allowing for snappy channel changes and stable streams.
TiviMate will give you access to thousands of internet TV channels that you’ll be able to integrate into your Android TV set-up. This makes it easily one of the best Android TV apps out there.
Kodi has earned an incredible name for itself over the years. There are probably millions of people worldwide who swear by it all while calling it the best multimedia player ever made.
Kodi is essentially a media player that allows for incredible customization and organization. Load up your favorite DVDs, Blu-Rays, and other third party content and have all of your favorite audio-visual content neatly placed in one location.
Plex is a multimedia platform that is capable of bringing together all of your favorite web shows, music, podcasts, and other streaming content all into one location. It has a great user interface and has only become more popular ever since it received Android TV support a few years ago.
If you sign up for the Plex Premium Pass subscription you’ll get access to a ton of great features such as DVR, mobile sync, parental controls, and more.
Plex can not only be loaded with tens of millions of your songs, TV shows and movies to stream to virtually any device. It also has an integrated news channel that is partnered with many top organizations. These unique features make it a fantastic app for Android TV users.
If you are one of the many millions of people who have an account with Steam then you will have to try out Steam Link with your Android TV setup.
Steam Link, as the name implies, allows you to link your gaming account from Steam with Android TV. Then you can stream your own games from your computer to whatever large screen television set you have available. You’ll get the best of both worlds: the technicality of PC gaming and the theatrical awe of classic living room TV setups.
Slow Streams or Buffering?
Are your streams loading too slow? Getting constant buffering? Not able to stream at full resolution? Check out these tips to improve your streaming experience:
- Use a modern Router that has advanced features like QoS to prioritize video content. Check out our recommended Routers for Streaming.
- If you are using a Wifi connection, be sure to check out our 9 easy steps to improve your Wifi for Streaming.
- Some Internet Service Providers throttle video streaming traffic without telling their customers. A VPN encrypts all your traffic and circumvents throttling, blocking and geographical restrictions.
Steam Link is completely free and supports a wide array of controllers. If you are a gamer who has Android TV then this is the perfect way to integrate your love for television and your love of video games.
One of the worst things about smartphones is that navigating through all of your files is simply not as convenient as doing so on a computer. Unfortunately, the same is true for Android TV. However, there is a quick solution to this inconvenience: Solid Explorer.
This app works wonders on Android smartphones and will work perfectly on Android TV as well. With this app, you’ll be able to organize and navigate through all of your files with the greatest of ease.
Don’t bother wasting time trying to upload photos the old fashioned way. Save yourself a headache and download Solid Explorer today for free.
This app for Android TV is another no-brainer. Google Chrome is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, internet browsers out there. With faster load times and an overall more efficient browsing experience, this should be one of the very first things you download for your Android TV.
If you already have Google Chrome on another device then you’ll easily be able to do a cross-device sync-up. All of your browsing experience can easily be carried over onto Android TV as if nothing at all has changed.
You may not have heard of MX Player before but it has really begun picking up steam lately thanks to its incredible features. This is a media player that works extremely well on multi-core processors. It allows for a huge boost in performance that is truly impressive.
MX Player also has some of the best subtitle support we’ve ever seen for a media player. Combine that with the fact that MX Player is completely free of charge and you undoubtedly have yourself one of the best apps for Android TV.
