The 10 Best Samsung Smart TV Apps of 2020

Viewing gems for Samsung smart TV owners

By
Barb Gonzalez
Writer
Barb Gonzalez is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and the Simple Tech Guru, an advocate for simple, understandable technology.
our editorial process
Barb Gonzalez
Updated January 02, 2020

Hundreds of Samsung apps for Samsung Smart TVs are available, but which are the best must-have apps for 2019?

You get the obvious streaming video apps with Netflix, Vudu, Amazon, and Hulu included on Smart TVs, but there a lot of other apps for your TV out there. You might be surprised at what you'll discover among the many apps available. Some apps are quite useful, such as news, weather, education, and other information, and game apps can be fun. 

Here's a list that will help you decide which ones you might want to try out.

01
of 09

TED

TED Logo
TED
What We Like

  • Tons of videos covering a variety of topics.

  • Compatible with many Samsung TVs.

What We Don't Like

  • No mainstream movies or television programs.

  • Occasional video lag.

If you enjoy TED Talks, now you can watch them from the comfort of your couch or favorite chair using the TED app. The app is free. You have access to more than a thousand videos of business leaders, musicians, techies, medical experts, and many more who offer enlightening insights and perspectives on a great range of topics.

02
of 09

Accuweather

AccuWeather Logo

 AccuWeather
What We Like

  • Handy 15-day extended forecasts.

  • Provides an hourly forecast.

  • Lifestyle forecasts are handy for special interests.

What We Don't Like

  • App has had some buggy issues in the past.

  • Has ads.

Two Accuweather apps are in the Samsung App store — one paid, one free. The free Accuweather app might be all you need if you live in one of the larger cities listed in the app. For those who live outside the listed cities, the paid Accuweather app ($2.99) displays forecasts by specific cities and zip codes. It shows 10-day forecasts, satellite views, and hour-by-hour weather maps. The app also provides weather warnings. This is a complete weather app that is easy to navigate and easy to read at a glance.

03
of 09

FandangoNOW

FandangoNOW Logo

 Fandango
What We Like

  • Amusing film categories.

  • Movie ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and Flixter.

  • Large selection of movies for rent or purchase.

  • Create a watchlist to track movies you want to see.

What We Don't Like

  • No free movies.

  • No 4K selections.

FandangoNOW offers more than movie times and reviews. This is a full-on video-streaming service offering access to more than 30,000 movies and TV shows without a subscription.

Fandango purchased the M-Go service and built upon it to create FandangoNOW. If you used M-Go, all of your purchases will be available on FandangoNOW.

Though the app is free, content is available for rent or purchase. Purchases made through the FandangoNOW app will earn you Fandango VIP points that you can use for discounts on future purchases.

04
of 09

PLEX

PLEX Media Player App
What We Like

  • View online web shows and podcasts.

  • Upload your own movies, music, photos, and more.

  • Easy-to-use interface.

What We Don't Like

  • Requires a paid subscription for movies and TV shows.

  • Some videos buffer during play.

PLEX provides a way to organize your content so that it can be easily accessed on your Samsung smart TV. This gives you the ability to play any compatible media content that's stored on your computer on your TV. You just have to make sure that you have the PLEX app installed on your TV, and the PLEX media server software installed on your computer. Once you have the app and media server installed, you're ready to go.

The basic app is free, but you can upgrade to PLEX Premium ($4.99 mo, $39.99 yr, $119.99 lifetime). This lets you watch and record live TV on your computer or in the cloud (antenna and tuner required, as well as the ability to sync your content with compatible mobile devices).

05
of 09

UltraFlix

UltraFlix

UltraFlix via Samsung
What We Like

  • Built-in rating system.

  • Decent selection of free movies to watch.

What We Don't Like

  • Not a huge selection of content.

  • Does not support surround sound.

  • Available only in the US, Canada, and Europe.

If you have a Samsung 4K Ultra HD TV and can stream in 4K, then check out UltraFlix for a host of free and paid 4K content. You can rent many movies for $4.99, usually with a 48-hour viewing window. Content offerings, some in HDR, change periodically. You need only a 4mbps to 5mbps broadband speed.

06
of 09

Vimeo

Vimeo Logo
What We Like

  • Lots of original videos.

  • Has an On Demand feature where you can rent or buy movies.

What We Don't Like

  • Interface is a bit sparse.

  • Doesn't provide much information on the videos.

Everybody watches YouTube, but that isn't the only source of free, original, uploaded video content. Vimeo offers thousands of videos from many sources, including aspiring amateur filmmakers. The best way to get started is by checking out Vimeo's staff picks. Categories include music videos, short documentaries, comedy, and more.

07
of 09

Facebook Watch

Facebook Watch Example
What We Like

  • A wide variety of video content available to watch.

  • Videos are grouped in easy-to-navigate categories.

  • Links to your existing Facebook account.

What We Don't Like

  • Relies mostly on user uploads and outside sources, lackluster Facebook Original content.

  • No premium subscription content option offered. 

  • May only be available for 2015 and newer model Samsung Smart TVs.

If you spend a lot of time on facebook and love watching user-uploaded videos and live news feeds, Facebook Watch may be the app to check out. 

Similar to YouTube and Instagram Video, Facebook Watch allows you to watch user-generated video on your big-screen Samsung TV. The videos are grouped into easy-to-navigate categories which include Live Videos, Videos You've Shared, Videos Shared by Friends, Videos You've Uploaded, Videos from Pages You Follow, Facebook Watch Originals, and more. You can also watch a lot of live news feeds from sources such as the LA Times, Bloomberg and ABC News, as well as live gaming and some live sports.

08
of 09

The Roku Channel

Roku Channel Example – Samsung Smart TV
What We Like

  • 24/7 Live News from ABC and Newsy.

  • Live Sports from Stadium.

  • Lots of Free Movies and TV Shows.

  • New movies and TV shows added weekly.

What We Don't Like

  • Content has Ads.

  • Movies and TV shows are not the most current.

  • No 4K content.

  • May only be available on 2015 and newer Samsung Smart TV models. 

Roku is well-known for its streaming sticks, boxes, and Roku smart TVs, but they also offer their own streaming app that is available for other devices, including select Samsung TVs. The Roku Channel provides a mix of free content accessible through a "Netflix-like" onscreen interface for Samsung TVs that include live news and sports, as well as past hit movies and TV shows. 

09
of 09

HBONow

HBONow Streaming App for Samsung TV
HBO
What We Like

  • No cable or satellite subscription required.

  • Access to all HBO programming and movies.

  • Free trial available to new subscribers. 

What We Don't Like

  • Although cable subscription isn't required, you still have to pay a subscription fee via the app. 


  • Doesn't duplicate HBO's live cable feed. 

  • No content in 4K.

You don't need a cable or satellite subscription to get HBO. With a subscription to HBONow ($14.99/month), you can enjoy all of the popular programs and movies offered by HBO on your Samsung Smart TV via the internet. This means if you haven't seen Game of Thrones or Westworld here is your chance. 

If you are already HBO Cable/Satellite Subscriber, you can watch HBO programming at no extra charge via streaming on your Samsung TV with the separate HBOGo app.