Streaming services
Several streaming giants offer (almost) all the movies and TV you could possibly want, in return for a monthly subscription fee. These apps beam content straight to your phone for as long as you keep paying your subscription. You don’t, however, get to keep digital versions of the videos—stop paying, and you’ll lose access to these video libraries. The key to watching movies and television shows on your smartphone is installing the right apps. You’ve got a wealth of options, so we’re going to highlight the best picks. Grab some popcorn, charge up your battery, and settle in.
Hulu
Often considered to lurk in the shadow of Netflix, Hulu actually offers more TV channels and more up-to-date TV shows than its main rival, making it fantastic for primetime television shows. On the downside, Hulu’s cheapest subscription tier includes ads, and its original programming and movies aren’t up to Netflix’s standard yet. A subscription to Hulu will cost you $7 a month or $13 to go ad-free, and there’s a $70-per-month plan that adds live TV, giving you access to more than 75 channels live as they air. Hulu is available for Android and iOS, starting at $7 a month.
Sling TV
Undoubtedly one of the leading options when it comes to getting live TV on your phone, Sling supports more than 200 live channels and over 85,000 on-demand movies and shows that you can call up from the archives. This is how mobile TV watching really should be in the 21st century. The number of channels you get varies depending on how much you pay each month. The bottom tier starts at $35 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like. Netflix is available for Android and iOS, starting at $10 a month. Sling TV is available for Android and iOS, starting at $35 a month.
Specific channel and carrier apps
It took a little while, but the big networks and carriers eventually woke up to the way we’re all watching TV and movies these days. Some of them offer apps that complement an existing cable subscription, but we picked standalone apps that will work whether or not you’re currently a cable customer. YouTube TV is available for Android and iOS, for $65 a month. Disney+ is available for Android and iOS, starting at $8 a month.
DirecTV Stream
An AT&T initiative aimed at cable cord-cutters, DirecTV goes way beyond smartphones to cover pretty much every device out there. You’ll get a ton of channels and shows (though HBO costs a little extra and CBS is absent), and a mix of live programming and archived material. For now, you don’t get a cloud DVR for recording your favorite shows, but AT&T says it’s on the way. Prices start at $70 a month for the basic package, and as your subscription rate increases, so do the number of channels. DirecTV Stream is available for Android and iOS, starting at $70 a month.
Digital stores and other options
HBO Max is available for Android and iOS, starting at $10 a month. Showtimes Anytime is available for Android and iOS, starting at $11 a month.
Google Play Movies & TV
Google’s digital movie and TV show store is well-stocked. As you’d expect from Google, you can watch your stuff from pretty much any device—a web browser, iPhones, Android devices, smart TVs, and so on. Anything you purchase and watch will stream to your phone, Netflix-style, though you do have the option to cache downloads in advance if you’re going to be without WiFi. You can also watch on other mobile apps, including Google TV, and the YouTube app. The interface of Google Play Movies & TV is simple and streamlined, but have everything you need. Google Play Movies & TV is available for Android and iOS. AppleTV is built into iOS. Plex is available for Android and iOS, starting at $5 a month.
