Tubi is like a non-stop meme machine in certain corners of the internet. Admittedly, some of the content can be cringe-worthy but it's a free streaming service with a massive library of 50,000 movies and TV shows. Don't let the occasional duds stop you from checking out the actual hits available. In a world of skyrocketing streaming prices and account-sharing woes, Tubi offers a refreshing solution—zero cost, just a few minutes of ad-viewing. And yeah, the ads can be annoying, but did I mention they've got 50,000 films and series for free? So it’s definitely worth the annoyance.
What is Tubi TV?
Tubi, a part of FOX Entertainment (bought for a cool $440 million in 2020), is an advertising-based video-on-demand service (AVOD) that delivers an incredible collection of films and series completely free of charge. On top of their growing library of Tubi Originals, you also get access to 200 local and live news channels, along with sports channels. With over 400 entertainment partners, Tubi has content from big players in Hollywood such as Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate.
Where is Tubi?
The Tubi app is currently available only in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, and can be accessed for free on Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xfinity X1, Xbox, Samsung Smart TVs, Sony Smart TVs, PlayStation, and the internet.
What’s on Tubi?
Great question! I've gone ahead and created some custom categories to give you a sneak peek of what's available for your ultimate viewing pleasure.
- Mainstream Anime: Naruto, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu Yu Hakusho, Death Note, and Vampire Knight
- Movies You Didn’t Pay To See (But Wanted To See): Zola, Ready Player One, The Green Knight, and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
- Semi-Scary Stuff: Chucky, The Shining, Anabelle: Creation, Mama, The Babadook, Candyman (OG), and Don’t Breathe
- Sequels: Honey 4, Legally Blonde 2, The Karate Kid II, The Human Centipede 2, and Bring It On: Again
- Watchlist Worthy: John Wick 1-3, Merlin, Judas and the Black Messiah, Hannibal, A Star is Born, Minari, if Beale Street Could Talk, Hulk (2003), The Fall, and Luther
- Something For Everyone: K Dramas, Tubi en Espanol, Italian Horror, Bollywood Films
- The Meme-Inspo: Without naming specific titles, this category includes unintentional parodies, deliberate parodies, unauthorized biopics, and Hallmark-inspired movies. And some films that failed so miserably that they had to be banished.
Tubi vs Other AVODs
Tubi isn't the only player in Tinseltown; Pluto TV and The Roku Channel are also very much in the AVOD game.
Pluto is a free streaming service that offers a wide range of live channels and on-demand titles. They have dedicated channels for popular series like Star Trek, Baywatch, and 90210, along with content from AMC, Showtime, Comedy Central, Paramount, and Lifetime. While their library might not be as large as other streamers, Pluto TV gives you that old-school channel-surfing vibe that Tubi just can't match.
The content strategy of The Roku Channel can be a bit confusing, but they did manage to acquire content from the failed Qubi experiment, which is something. On top of that, they've got dedicated channels for Lifetime, Ion, and Hallmark content. You'll even find shows like Family Feud, Dateline, and Divorce Court airing non-stop. When it comes down to it, Roku can be seen as the younger sibling of Tubi and Pluto. It may not be as cool as its older siblings just yet, but it'll get there.
While there is some content overlap between the services, Tubi stands out by offering the largest selection of films and shows. However, it's worth noting that Tubi has the lowest resolution compared to the other platforms where life is being experienced in glorious 4K.
Final Thoughts: The Quirky Side of Streaming
Let's set the record straight: Tubi isn't exactly in the same league as Netflix, despite some people labeling it as an alternative or competitor to the streamer. But that doesn’t mean Tubi isn’t on the come-up. In 2022 alone, viewers racked up over 5 billion streaming hours while 64 million became monthly active users. Tubi truly is a one-of-a-kind special place where you can stumble upon Oscar-winning films right alongside offbeat and unexpected titles like Cocaine Shark or Amityville in Space. That kind of mix is what sets Tubi apart, along with the fact that it's completely free.
