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Samsung TV Plus is the better choice if you own a compatible Samsung television and want live channels available immediately, without installing anything. Pluto TV is the stronger all-purpose option for households that mix TV brands, watch on phones or computers, or want Paramount-related shows and a broad partner catalog.
Both services are free and ad-supported, and both combine linear channels with on-demand programming. Neither guarantees the same channels in every country, on every device, or at every date, so the practical winner depends on your hardware, location and preferred genres.
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Quick verdict
| Category | Samsung TV Plus | Pluto TV |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Owners of supported Samsung TVs who want instant access | Mixed-device households and viewers who want mobile, web and broad streaming-device access |
| Cost | Free; advertising supports the service | Free; advertising supports the service |
| Live-channel description | Samsung describes hundreds of channels | Pluto TV describes hundreds of channels |
| On-demand description | Thousands of movies and shows, according to Samsung | Thousands of on-demand movies and full seasons, according to Pluto TV |
| Primary access | Samsung Smart TVs released after 2016, Galaxy devices in the United States, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators | Connected TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android mobile, other streaming devices, desktop and web |
| Sign-in | Usually available as part of the Samsung device experience | Optional for basic viewing; signing in enables personalization features |
| Distinctive library angle | Samsung’s mix of news, sports, movies, music, kids and family channels | Paramount-related franchises and programming from more than 400 international media-company partners |
| Geographic reach | Device and market dependent; Galaxy mobile support is United States only | Available across more than 35 markets, with local differences |
Channel counts, titles, device support and advertising loads change. Treat the figures above as platform-published descriptions rather than permanent guarantees.
What Samsung TV Plus offers
Samsung’s Help Center describes TV Plus as 100% free, with live channels and on-demand movies and shows. On supported Samsung televisions, it is integrated into the television experience rather than requiring a separate streaming box. That makes it particularly convenient for someone who already owns a qualifying set.
#1 Best Overall
- HDR: Enjoy great contrast in all your content. High Dynamic Range (HDR) expands the contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of a scene, so you can enjoy a wide spectrum of colors and visual details.
- OBJECT TRACKING SOUND LITE: Feel like you're part of the scene with audio that follows the action on screen. Featuring a virtual top channel, every sound is precisely placed in space, placing you in the heart of the scene.
- SAMSUNG KNOX SECURITY: Your TV experiences are secured. Samsung Knox Security defends against harmful apps and phishing sites while keeping sensitive data, such as PINs and passwords, secure. It also safeguards your IoT devices connected to your TV.
- ONE UI TIZEN: Stream your favorite movies and shows and access your favorite apps and games on an intuitive smart TV platform, powered by Samsung Tizen OS.
- ENDLESS CONTENT: Access 2,700+ free channels including 400+ Samsung TV Plus premium channels with just your WiFiconnection. Enjoy national and local news, sports, movies, kids’ shows and more -live and on demand. With content frequently added, there’s always something new to discover.
Samsung says TV Plus is available on Samsung Smart TVs released after 2016, Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators. Galaxy mobile support is limited to the United States, according to Samsung’s mobile support information. A television’s release year, country and software configuration can affect availability, so check the exact model before assuming the app will appear.
Samsung describes hundreds of live channels spanning news, sports, entertainment and other genres, alongside a large on-demand catalog. Its service pages highlight examples such as ABC, CBS, FOX News, MLB, Formula 1, Hallmark Movies & More and Vevo. Those examples illustrate the type of programming available; they are not a promise that every title or channel is present in every market.
What Pluto TV offers
Pluto TV’s service page advertises 100s of free channels, 1000s of on-demand movies and full seasons of shows. The service is built for a wider range of hardware: its where-to-watch information lists Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android mobile, additional smart-TV and streaming-device platforms, desktop access and a web player.
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Skydance describes Pluto TV as operating across connected TV, mobile and web in more than 35 markets. Paramount Press Express says the service works with more than 400 international media-company partners. Pluto TV also carries Paramount-related franchises; examples cited by its corporate descriptions include Survivor, CSI, SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, Yellowstone, Tracker and Ghosts. Licensing windows and local rights determine whether a particular show, channel or season is available where you live.
Device reach and ease of access
Samsung TV Plus on Samsung hardware
TV Plus has the shortest path from switching on a compatible Samsung television to watching live programming. Because the service is integrated, you normally do not need to buy a streaming stick, search an app store or create a separate account. Samsung also supports the service on certain Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators.
This convenience is also the main limitation: Samsung’s published device list centers on Samsung hardware. The available information does not establish TV Plus apps for Amazon Fire TV or Roku. If you use a non-Samsung television or a separate streaming player, do not assume that buying or installing one will provide TV Plus; verify support for your exact model and country first.
Rank #2
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- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- MOTION XCELERATOR: Experience clear picture and smooth motion in games and sports. Enjoy smooth motion and clear visuals with technology that estimates and adjusts frame transitions in real time. Whether gaming or watching sports, enjoy up to 4K 60Hz performance that brings every play, move and scene to life with realistic clarity and motion.
- COLOR BOOSTER: Supercharge your color. From fiery reds to sparkling blues, make every color come to life with intensity. Color Booster transforms your content into a visual masterpiece.
- 4K UPSCALING: Upgrades what you watch to crisp 4K clarity. Upgrade your favorite shows, movies and more. Experience incredible details and clarity in every frame, even from lower-quality sources, with advanced upscaling technology.
Pluto TV across brands
Pluto TV is designed for households that use several device brands. You can move between a compatible smart TV, a streaming device such as Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV, an Android phone and a desktop browser. That breadth also makes Pluto TV the easier service to recommend when family members watch on different screens.
Installation still depends on the operating system, country and device generation. A platform may carry the app while an older model does not, and the channel guide can differ between a television app and the web or mobile experience.
| Use case | Samsung TV Plus | Pluto TV |
|---|---|---|
| You already own a recent Samsung TV | Strong fit because access is built in | Available if your TV supports the app, but requires the separate Pluto TV experience |
| You own a television from another brand | Support is not established by Samsung’s listed device categories | Designed for broad smart-TV and streaming-device coverage |
| You watch mainly on a phone | Galaxy support is listed for the United States | Android mobile support is listed, with regional variation |
| You watch in a browser | Web availability is not listed in the cited Samsung device information | Desktop and web access are listed |
| You want one service on many brands | Hardware-centric | Cross-platform by design |
Channels, on-demand depth and genre strengths
News
Both services carry news-oriented channels, but free streaming news is highly dependent on local rights and channel agreements. Samsung’s examples include ABC, CBS and FOX News. Pluto TV also carries news through its partner network. Check the live guide in your country if a specific broadcaster, local station or news program is essential; a channel listed in one market may be absent in another.
Sports
Samsung highlights sports examples including MLB and Formula 1. Pluto TV also offers sports channels in some markets through its partners. These services should not be treated as substitutes for a paid sports package: rights can be limited to clips, shoulder programming, older events or selected live windows, and the lineup can change without notice. Open the current guide before planning to watch a particular game or race.
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Samsung combines live movie channels with on-demand films and shows. Pluto TV emphasizes thousands of on-demand movies and full seasons, plus a channel grid built around familiar series. Pluto’s Paramount-related examples may appeal if you specifically want franchises such as CSI, Yellowstone or Ghosts, subject to local licensing.
Kids and family viewing
Samsung’s service description includes kids and family programming, and Pluto TV carries kids channels through its partner catalog. Parents should inspect the actual channel list and the available controls on their device rather than relying on a nationwide channel count. A title’s presence, language track and maturity rating can vary by market.
Music and lifestyle
Samsung specifically highlights music programming and names Vevo among its examples. Pluto TV’s partner-based catalog includes lifestyle and other thematic channels. If music channels or a particular lifestyle subject matters, compare the current guide in your region because thematic channels are among the most frequently rotated offerings.
Rank #3
- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR: Powerful processor enhances colors and sharpens details for a vibrant 4K viewing experience. Experience every shade of color as it was meant to be seen in dazzling 4K. Plus, make your movies, TV shows, games and sports look even better with powerful 4K upscaling.
- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- MOTION XCELERATOR: Experience clear picture and smooth motion in games and sports. Enjoy smooth motion and clear visuals with technology that estimates and adjusts frame transitions in real time. Whether gaming or watching sports, enjoy up to 4K 60Hz performance that brings every play, move and scene to life with realistic clarity and motion.
- COLOR BOOSTER: Supercharge your color. From fiery reds to sparkling blues, make every color come to life with intensity. Color Booster transforms your content into a visual masterpiece.
- 4K UPSCALING: Upgrades what you watch to crisp 4K clarity. Upgrade your favorite shows, movies and more. Experience incredible details and clarity in every frame, even from lower-quality sources, with advanced upscaling technology.
Advertising and viewing experience
Both services are free because advertising supports them. Expect commercial breaks on live channels and ad-supported playback for at least some on-demand titles. Neither service should be presented as an ad-free alternative to a subscription streamer or as a cable replacement with guaranteed premium live sports.
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Availability outside the United States
Neither service has one universal catalog. Samsung’s device support and channel rights vary by country, and Samsung explicitly limits Galaxy mobile support to the United States in the cited mobile information. A compatible Samsung television in one country may expose a different guide, or no TV Plus service, in another.
Pluto TV has a broader stated international footprint: Skydance describes availability in more than 35 markets, while Paramount describes a network of more than 400 international media-company partners. Those figures describe the service’s reach, not a promise that every market has the same channels or shows. Local licensing, language rights and platform agreements determine the actual lineup.
If you are traveling or relocating, open the service on the device and network you will use, then confirm the live guide and on-demand search results. A virtual private network or changing an account region can conflict with platform terms and may not reproduce the catalog from another country.
How to start watching
Samsung TV Plus on a compatible Samsung television
- Confirm that your Samsung Smart TV is a supported model released after 2016 and that your country is covered.
- Connect the television to the internet and install any pending television software update.
- Press the television’s Home button and look for Samsung TV Plus or its live-TV guide. Menu names vary by model and software version.
- Open the guide, choose a channel and use the on-demand area to browse movies and shows.
- If TV Plus is missing, verify the model number, country setting and internet connection before concluding that the service is unavailable.
Samsung TV Plus on a Galaxy device
- Use a Galaxy device in the United States, where Samsung lists mobile support.
- Update the device software and locate the TV Plus app or service entry supplied for your model.
- Open the service over Wi-Fi or mobile data, then browse live channels and on-demand titles.
- If the service does not appear, check regional eligibility and model support; availability is not stated for every Galaxy device or country.
Pluto TV on a television, streaming device or phone
- Check that your smart TV, streaming player or mobile device is supported in your country.
- Install Pluto TV from the device’s official app store, or open the service’s web player on a desktop browser.
- Launch the app and browse the live channel grid or on-demand library. Basic viewing does not require an account.
- Create or use an account only if you want the available personalization features.
- If a channel or show is missing, search again from the same device and region; licensing differences can make the result different from another screen or country.
Which service fits common households?
Choose Samsung TV Plus when immediate Samsung integration matters
- You already own a supported Samsung Smart TV and want to start watching without adding hardware.
- You prefer a traditional channel guide alongside on-demand movies and shows.
- Your interests include the news, sports, music, kids and family categories Samsung highlights.
- You mainly watch on Samsung hardware and do not need a browser or mixed-brand setup.
Choose Pluto TV when device flexibility matters
- Your household uses several television brands, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android phones or computers.
- You want to watch without signing in, while retaining the option to create an account for personalization.
- You are interested in Paramount-related franchises or a catalog assembled from many international partners.
- You live in a market where Pluto TV is officially available and its current guide matches your needs.
When neither is a guaranteed winner
- You need a specific local news station, sports league or live event.
- You require an ad-free experience.
- You are outside the United States and need a title or channel whose rights vary by country.
- Your television or streaming player is old enough that app support may have ended.
Hardware-buying guidance
If you are buying a television primarily to use Samsung TV Plus, a compatible Samsung Smart TV is the most direct hardware choice because the service is integrated into supported models. Confirm the model year and regional support before purchase.
If your priority is Pluto TV, an Amazon Fire TV device is one practical access route because Pluto lists Fire TV support. That device does not establish Samsung TV Plus support, so it should not be selected as a way to obtain TV Plus on a non-Samsung television. A smart TV with native Pluto TV support can provide the same basic access without an additional player.
Rank #4
- CRYSTAL PROCESSOR: Powerful processor enhances colors and sharpens details for a vibrant 4K viewing experience. Experience every shade of color as it was meant to be seen in dazzling 4K. Plus, make your movies, TV shows, games and sports look even better with powerful 4K upscaling.
- ENDLESS FREE CONTENT: Watch 2,700+ free streaming options, including 750+ subscription-free channels on Samsung TV Plus. Enjoy news, sports, movies, kids' shows and reality TV — all without a subscription. Discover endless entertainment with new content added regularly, tailored to your mood and interests.*
- MOTION XCELERATOR: Experience clear picture and smooth motion in games and sports. Enjoy smooth motion and clear visuals with technology that estimates and adjusts frame transitions in real time. Whether gaming or watching sports, enjoy up to 4K 60Hz performance that brings every play, move and scene to life with realistic clarity and motion.
- COLOR BOOSTER: Supercharge your color. From fiery reds to sparkling blues, make every color come to life with intensity. Color Booster transforms your content into a visual masterpiece.
- 4K UPSCALING: Upgrades what you watch to crisp 4K clarity. Upgrade your favorite shows, movies and more. Experience incredible details and clarity in every frame, even from lower-quality sources, with advanced upscaling technology.
For either service, buy hardware for the broader set of apps and inputs you need rather than for a single free channel lineup. Services can change partners, retire channels or alter regional rights after the purchase.
Common problems and fixes
Samsung TV Plus does not appear
Check the television model, release year, country setting, internet connection and software version. Samsung lists support for Smart TVs released after 2016, but that does not mean every regional variant is eligible. If the service is unavailable in your market, changing menus or reinstalling an app will not create local rights.
You expected TV Plus on Fire TV or Roku
Samsung’s cited device information lists Samsung televisions, Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors and Family Hub refrigerators. It does not establish TV Plus support on Fire TV or Roku. Use a supported Samsung device for TV Plus, or use Pluto TV if you need a service designed for those broader platforms.
A Pluto TV title or channel is missing
Confirm the country and device, then search the live guide and on-demand area separately. Pluto’s more-than-35-market footprint and partner catalog do not imply identical programming everywhere. Rights can also expire or move between live and on-demand sections.
Playback is interrupted by commercials
Commercial breaks are part of the free, ad-supported model. Test another channel or title if the interruption appears unusually frequent, and check your connection if playback pauses between breaks. Neither service promises a paid-style, ad-free tier in the information cited here.
You want a particular sports event
Look up the event in the current guide immediately before viewing. Samsung and Pluto both carry sports-related channels, but free rights are selective and change over time. A genre label such as sports does not guarantee live coverage of a specific league or event.
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For a compatible Samsung television, Samsung TV Plus wins on convenience: it is free, integrated and broad enough to cover live news, sports, entertainment, music and family viewing. Pluto TV wins on reach: it works across more device types, supports browser and mobile viewing, and offers a large partner-driven library with Paramount-related franchises. Pick the service that matches your hardware and country first, then use the current guide—not a headline channel count—to verify the programs you actually want.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
