Great Apps for Watching TV on Your iPhone

Get your fill of A&E reality shows like Live PD and The First 48 with this app. You'll have access to deleted scenes and exclusive clips along with full episodes. You'll need a cable subscription with a participating provider to view episodes, but you can get some shows without logging in, which is somewhat uncommon. Logging in to your cable company account unlocks extra episodes. 

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download A&E

ABC's app requires that you log in with your cable company account, but you'll find a host of interesting things when you do. There are all the free TV shows, of course, but there's also live streaming TV in many metropolitan areas. Plus, you can watch on the go. You can use the app to share video clips and discuss episodes on Facebook and Twitter while you watch.

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download ABC

Anyone with an Amazon Prime account can use the Prime Video app to stream thousands of free movies and TV shows. The app recommends shows for you and offers original programming such as "The Grand Tour," "The Man in the High Castle," and the kid series "Tumble Leaf." Download movies and TV shows over a Wi-Fi or cellular connection to watch wherever you go.

Free app, but it requires an Amazon Prime account 

Download Amazon Prime Video

Keep up to date with the world of business and high finance using the Bloomberg Business News app. The app does more than provide 24-hour live access to Bloomberg TV and selected clips. You can use it to access stock market info and news on the economy, technology, and politics. It even offers tools for tracking your investments. 

Free

Download Bloomberg: Business News

If you want to keep up with "Real Housewives," "Top Chef," "Million Dollar Listing," or any other Bravo series, the Bravo app is the place to do it. You have to log in to your cable account, but the app offers polls, trivia, photos, chat, and Bravo's watch-along system, SYNC, in addition to the TV programming. 

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download Bravo

If you're hankering for some of the delightful weirdness or high adventure available in the lineup of Cartoon Network shows, you'll love this app. It's chock full of episodes of "Ben 10," "ThunderCats," and much more, but it's not all happy-happy-joy-joy: you must be a cable subscriber to watch full episodes and log in using your cable account. You can only watch shows if your cable company has a deal with Cartoon Network. 

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download Cartoon Network

The CBS app is a bit different from that of the other TV networks. CBS offers free episodes of its shows — but only a few at a time. You might only be able to get the two most recent episodes of "NCIS," although push notifications let you know when a new episode is ready so that you won't miss it. If you subscribe to CBS All Access for a fee, you get access to new episodes on demand the day after they air. You also get live TV from some local stations, complete runs of current series, and over 6,500 episodes from the CBS archive of shows like "Star Trek," and "Big Brother." 

Free app 

Download CBS

The Comedy Central app provides something that not all TV apps do. It allows you to watch episodes of shows live on your iPhone as they air on TV. You must be logged in to your cable account, but then you'll enjoy live streaming shows and access to a huge library of previous comedy programs and standup programming. 

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download Comedy Central

If you are a Cox Communications subscriber, you'll want to download the Cox Contour app to watch live TV and on-demand shows at home or away from home. You can watch any channel you subscribe to using the app. You can also control your DVR. 

Free app, but it requires a Cox subscription

Download Cox Contour

Sony has a huge library of content, and Sony Crackle is the way to access it. Everything offered here was produced by Sony, from TV shows such as "Seinfeld," "Shark Tank," and "Wheel of Fortune" to movies such as "The Amazing Spiderman 2" and "Robocop." You'll find original content, too. Best of all, watching doesn't cost a thing.

Free app

Download Crackle

The Crunchyroll app is heaven for anime fans. Crunchyroll's subscription service delivers more than 25,000 episodes from series such as "Attack on Titan" and "Blue Exorcist." Crunchyroll offers a free, seven-day trial, but after that, you need a subscription. The higher-level, all-access membership removes ads, provides access to new episodes one hour after they air in Japan, delivers content in HD, and lets you watch on PlayStation, Apple TV, Xbox, and other media devices.

Modest fee for the standard subscription, slightly more for an all-access membership

Download Crunchyroll

With the CW app, you get on-demand access to the CW's hit shows such as "Riverdale," "Supergirl," "Legends of Tomorrow," and "Reign." Beyond TV, you'll also be able to stream original web-only series from CW. Best of all, you can watch the shows without a cable subscription.

Free app, no cable subscription necessary

Download The CW

NFL fans know about DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket offering that allows them to watch every football game played every week. A much smaller number of gridiron junkies know that Sunday Ticket is available for iPhone without a full DirecTV subscription. This means you can get all the football you want without installing a satellite dish at your home. Warning: This isn't one of the cheaper subscriptions. 

Free app with subscription

Read our review of DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket

Download DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket

Keep up with "Deadliest Catch," "Naked and Afraid," "MythBusters," and other Discovery Channel programming with the Discovery GO app. You get full episodes, live TV, short video clips, and a schedule of what's being broadcast on Discovery.

Free app

Download Discovery GO

DISH isn't a network like NBC or ESPN. It's the equivalent of a cable company. Its app gives you access to virtually anything available from DISH on your iPhone, including live TV, sports, news, and shows on the major networks. Use the app to schedule your DVR up to seven days in advance and to transfer recordings from your DVR to your iPhone for viewing. There are a lot of requirements, though. You'll need Hopper with Sling, a Slingloaded DVR, or another DVR with Slingbox features a DISH network subscription, and one of the following receivers: 512, 522, 612, 622, 625, 722, 722k, 922, Hopper, or Hopper with Sling.

Free app

Download DISH Anywhere

The Disney Channel app offers live TV and on-demand streaming of TV episodes, as you'd expect. Where the app becomes cool is with the extra features it adds. The app offers built-in games that feature Disney Channel stars and gives users access to stream Disney Radio. If your kids are young, you'll appreciate the ability to set the app to Disney Junior Mode, which limits the app to only Disney Junior shows.

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download DisneyNOW

This app allows you to stream live TV, view on-demand video and download shows to take with you wherever you are if you subscribe to Verizon My FiOS and internet service. The app can also be used as a remote control for your TV. It can manage your DVR, and you can watch local TV channels in several metropolitan cities. You need a FiOS Wi-Fi router to stream TV to your phone in your home. 

Free app, but it requires a Verizon FiOS subscription

Download FiOS TV

Series like "Chopped," "Barefoot Contessa," and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" are available through the Food Network app. Logging in unlocks the full library of episodes. The app can also sync your progress in each episode to other devices via iCloud so you can pick up where you left off even if you're no longer watching on your iPhone. AirPlay support video streaming to an Apple TV.

Free app, but it requires a participating cable company

Download Food Network

A lot of people subscribe to HBO for its original shows like "Game of Thrones," "Vinyl," and "Ballers." Thanks to this app, you don't have to be near your home cable box to watch them on your iPhone. As long as you're an HBO subscriber, you have this app, and your cable company has a deal with HBO to allow it, you can watch full episodes on your phone. 

Free app, but requires HBO and cable subscriptions and a participating cable company

Download HBO GO

If you're a subscriber to one of eight major cable companies, the HGTV app delivers the latest episodes of major home-related series such as Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop, and Property Brothers. You can subscribe to shows, destinations, hosts, and interests to ensure that you are notified about episodes that interest you. The app also supports AirPlay so that you can stream episodes from your iPhone to your Apple TV.  

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download HGTV

The History app offers a limited number of free episodes along with deleted scenes and exclusive clips, even if you don't have a cable subscription. More episodes are unlocked if you have a subscription, however. Use this app to enjoy shows such as "Forged in Fire," "American Pickers," and "Ancient Aliens." 

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company for the most episodes 

Download History Channel

Hulu has been offering tons of great free TV shows since 2007. Unfortunately, the "free" part doesn't apply to iPhone, iPad, and iPod users. You're limited to paid Hulu services on iOS. You can select a plan that includes Hulu's entire streaming library or opt for live and on-demand options.

Free app, but it requires a monthly subscription

Download Hulu

The Lifetime app offers the same type of deal as A&E and the History app. You get a few free episodes, deleted scenes and some clips without logging in to your cable account, and you get a lot more episodes when you do log in. You'll find all the popular Lifetime shows like "Dance Moms" and "Married at First Sight."

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download Lifetime

Cinemax subscribers may want to check out this companion app. It streams original programming from Cinemax, Hollywood movies, and behind-the-scenes content. There isn't a Cinemax app for the Apple TV, but Max Go supports AirPlay so you can stream its content to your Apple TV.

Free, but requires Cinemax and cable subscriptions and a participating cable company

Download Max Go

Major League Baseball has long been a leader in offering its game digitally. Its MLB.TV service was the first live-game streaming offered by a major pro sports league in the U.S. With the MLB at Bat app, you can watch live games, classic matchups, and highlights with a subscription. Subscribe month-to-month or for the entire season to save some money. You sign up via in-app purchase.

Free app, but it requires a subscription 

Download MLB at Bat

MTV's app delivers all the content you'd expect and then some. If you have a cable subscription, you can get original MTV series like "Teen Wolf," "Teen Mom," and "Scream." You'll also get original web series, online exclusives, live coverage of music festivals, and events like Comic-Con, and more.

Free app, but it requires a cable subscription with a participating company

Download MTV

The NBA app lets you follow the excitement and drama of the NBA regular season game by game on your iPhone. You can choose to watch every game or follow five teams you select. Pricing for these options differs, of course. You subscribe from the app using in-app purchases. A subscription also gives you the opportunity to watch classic games and condensed versions of the current season's contests.

Free app, but it requires a subscription

Download NBA

Keep up to date with your favorite NBC shows like "The Voice," "Blindspot," and "Saturday Night Live" with the NBC app. It offers video clips, photo galleries, trivia, and more, in addition to episodes. Catch up with entire seasons and check out classic shows.

Free

Download NBC

Netflix is the biggest name in streaming video, and its app offers a robust library of TV shows and movies available over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi. Although the library of shows available for streaming is a fraction of what's available on DVD/Blu-ray, there's always something on. This makes Netflix an excellent way to watch TV on your iPhone. If you've heard about "Stranger Things," "Bright" and "Glow," check them out here.

Free app, but it requires a Netflix subscription

Download Netflix

NetTV Plus is a less well-known option, but if you want to keep up with live TV, especially international TV, it's a great choice. Instead of striking streaming deals with TV networks and production companies, NetTV scours the web for free and live video feeds from TV channels. Then it aggregates them in its app. The number of channels available fluctuates as networks end or move their web streams. Viewing time may be limited. 

Free 

Download NetTV

If your idea of watching TV on an iPhone involves slightly more refined topics and series, you'll rejoice at the appearance of the PBS Video app. It offers full-length episodes of shows such as "Poldark," "Wolf Hall," "Downton Abbey," "Nova," and other series created by PBS. No login to your local cable company is required, which is a bonus.

Free

Download PBS Video

With the Pluto TV app, you get access to more than 100 live channels and thousands of movies from NBC, CBS, Bloomberg, Paramount, and Warner Brothers. Exclusive channels include the Pro ​Wrestling Channel and Anime All Day. It's all free. This app even has a "Not on Netflix or Hulu" category that comes in handy when you are looking for something new.

Free

Download Pluto TV

Just like with HBO GO, you can catch up on your favorite original Showtime series via your iPhone if you subscribe to the premium pay-TV channel. The app requires that you're a Showtime subscriber with a participating cable company. You'll get access to Showtime series like "Homeland," "Shameless," and "Ray Donovan."

Free app, but it requires Showtime, a cable subscription, and a participating cable company

Download Showtime Anytime

IPhone users with Sprint get access to Sprint TV for a small fee as part of their monthly service plan. The SprintTV app offers channels of live news and sports, and on-demand access to popular shows from CBS, NBC, USA, MTV, and more. Upgrade packages are available at modest cost that adds more channels. Shows are available over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi.

Free app, but it requires a Sprint monthly phone plan

Download SprintTV

The Spectrum TV (formerly Charter TV) app is offered by cable provider Spectrum. It is not a network, so it features live TV from more than 80 channels on your iPhone instead of just one network's available shows. You get over 250 channels when you're home and access to thousands of titles anywhere you have an internet connection. You can even download movies and TV shows to watch offline.

Free app, but it requires a Spectrum subscription

Download Spectrum TV

Gain access to Starz programming on your iPhone with the Starz app, including original series like "Power," "Vida," and "Outlander," along with hit Hollywood movies. Subscribers can watch on up to four devices at once, and the app now supports Google's Chromecast. Nonsubscribers may want to check out the app, too, because some original programming is available for free. 

Free app, but it requires Starz and cable subscriptions and a participating cable company

Download Starz

If you like to laugh, you may be a fan of TBS original shows like "Conan" and "Ground Floor." You can watch them and more on your iPhone while you're out and about. As with many other TV network apps, this one requires that you sign in with your cable account username and password. It checks to see if your cable company has a deal with TBS. If it doesn't, you're left with the clips, photos, and social features.

Free app, but it requires a subscription to a participating cable company

Download TBS

With the TLC GO app, you can watch selected full episodes and video clips of TLC shows like "Say Yes to the Dress," "Cake Boss," and "Long Island Medium." Social sharing features allow you to enjoy the shows with friends. 

Free, but requires a TV subscription.

Download TLC GO

The TruTV app offers all the shows you'd expect from the network — "Impractical Jokers," "Hardcore Pawn" and "Hack My Life" — and it adds a live stream of the network's show premieres and sports feeds. Some content requires a subscription.

Free app, but some content requires a subscription with a participating TV provider.

Download TruTV

You can enjoy USA Network original shows like "Suits," "Mr. Robot," and "Queen of the South" when you have the USA Network app. All users can watch some episodes and clips even without signing in to an account, but you unlock a larger library of full episodes when you sign in. 

Free app, but it requires a subscription to a participating cable company

Download USA Network

Get the leading Spanish-language TV network in the U.S. on your iPhone with the Univision app. Not only can you watch clips of Univision's news, sports, and entertainment programming, but you'll also have access to print articles, sports scores, horoscopes, and weather forecasts.

Free

Download Univision

AT&T's U-Verse app is a TV and internet access offering that's open to anyone in certain regions, not just U-verse customers. This app lets you watch live TV as well as shows on demand. Channel offerings include ESPN, Fox Sports, MTV, Disney Channel, Comedy Central, and more. Users can watch shows over 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi.

Free app, but a monthly subscription is required

Download U-Verse

With the Viewster app, you can stream full-length anime, TV shows, and movies from its huge library of content. The app contains extras such as news, snippets, movie trainers, and actor biographies. New shows are uploaded weekly. This app supports several languages and is the leading free online video service in Europe. 

Free 

Download Viewster

Stay in the game whenever and wherever you are with the WatchESPN app. It offers live video from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU, among others, for viewers who subscribe to those channels as part of a cable package. As you may have guessed, this is another app that requires that you log in with your cable company information to get access to the videos. You'll find a ton of original ESPN shows and games when you do. 

Free app, but it requires a subscription with a participating cable company

Download WatchESPN

If you're a fan of the drama of TNT's original programming —shows like "Claws," "Animal Kingdom," and "Major Crimes" — the Watch TNT app lets you enjoy them on the go on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It's subject to the same restrictions as its sister app from TBS, however. You must have a cable subscription, and you won't get full episodes if your cable company doesn't have a deal with TNT. 

Free app, but it requires a subscription to a participating cable company

Download TNT

Xfinity Stream is the iPhone app from cable giant Comcast. Log in to the app if you're a Comcast customer, and you can watch TV and movies from channels like TNT, TBS, HBO, Showtime, and more. You must have those stations in your cable package, of course. As with other cable company apps, you can also control your home DVR and on-demand options from your phone. Xfinity TV requires Wi-Fi. 

Free app with a Comcast subscription

Download Xfinity Stream