If you’ve recently gotten your hands on an Amazon Firestick or you’re looking to maximize its use, you’re in luck. The Firestick isn’t just for streaming your favorite shows—it can transform your TV into a hub for entertainment, information, and even education. The best part? You can significantly expand its capabilities without spending a dime. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the top free apps for the Amazon Firestick, offering you a wide range of services from streaming video to improving device functionality. Explore each, complete with what they offer, pros, cons, and direct links to make your Firestick experience richer and more varied.
1. Kodi
- What it offers: A powerful media center app that allows you to stream videos, music, and photos from the internet or a local storage.
- Pros: Highly customizable, vast array of add-ons, supports a wide range of media formats.
- Cons: Can be complex to set up for beginners; legal issues if used to stream pirated content.
- Free Trial: Completely free.
- Link: Kodi
2. Plex
- What it offers: Organizes video, music, and photos from personal media libraries and streams them to devices.
- Pros: Elegant interface, excellent organizational tools, remote access to your media files.
- Cons: Some features require a Plex Pass subscription.
- Free Trial: Basic version free, premium features available.
- Link: Plex
3. Crackle
- What it offers: Free TV and movie streaming from Sony Pictures.
- Pros: Completely free, no subscription required, decent selection of movies and shows.
- Cons: Contains ads, limited new releases.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, fully free.
- Link: Crackle
4. Tubi TV
- What it offers: Free streaming for thousands of movies and TV shows.
- Pros: Free content updated regularly, includes mainstream and independent movies.
- Cons: Ad-supported, variable video quality.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, completely free.
- Link: Tubi TV
Free Apps for Firestick
5. Downloader
- What it offers: Enables direct downloads of files from the internet onto the Firestick.
- Pros: Essential for installing third-party apps not available on Amazon Appstore.
- Cons: User must ensure downloaded content is legally permissible.
- Free Trial: Completely free.
- Link: Downloader
6. Netflix
- What it offers: Streaming of a vast library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries.
- Pros: Extensive content library, high-quality original programming.
- Cons: Requires a subscription after the free trial.
- Free Trial: 30-day free trial available.
- Link: Netflix
Free Apps for Firestick
7. Pluto TV
- What it offers: Free live TV and on-demand content.
- Pros: No sign-up required, over 250 channels and thousands of movies.
- Cons: Shows frequent commercials, mix of older and newer content.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, completely free.
- Link: Pluto TV
8. YouTube
- What it offers: Access to millions of videos covering virtually every topic imaginable.
- Pros: Unlimited free content, high user engagement.
- Cons: Advertisements unless you have YouTube Premium.
- Free Trial: No, but YouTube Premium has a free trial.
- Link: YouTube
9. Spotify
- What it offers: Streaming of music, podcasts, and live recordings.
- Pros: Extensive library, personalized playlists, integrates well with Firestick.
- Cons: Ad-supported in the free version, limited skips and lower audio quality.
- Free Trial: Premium version offers a free trial.
- Link: Spotify
10. Vimeo
- What it offers: Streaming of high-quality videos uploaded by users.
- Pros: Ad-free viewing, access to creative and independently made films.
- Cons: Smaller selection compared to YouTube.
- Free Trial: Basic free version available; more features with subscription.
- Link: Vimeo
11. ExpressVPN
- What it offers: A VPN service to secure your internet connection and access region-locked content.
- Pros: Enhances privacy, bypasses geographical restrictions on content.
- Cons: Free trial available, but a paid subscription is required for long-term use.
- Free Trial: 7-day free trial available on Android.
- Link: ExpressVPN
12. BBC iPlayer
- What it offers: Streaming of BBC television shows, films, and documentaries.
- Pros: High-quality content, live TV option.
- Cons: Only available in the UK without a VPN.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, completely free in the UK.
- Link: BBC iPlayer
13. Mouse Toggle
- What it offers: Adds a mouse mode to the Firestick remote for easier navigation.
- Pros: Useful for apps not designed for TV.
- Cons: Can be tricky to set up and might not work with all apps.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, one-time payment.
- Link: Mouse Toggle
14. Haystack News
- What it offers: Curated news from various sources based on your preference.
- Pros: Personalized news experience, wide range of topics.
- Cons: Ad-supported service.
- Free Trial: Not applicable, completely free.
- Link: Haystack News
15. IPVanish VPN
- What it offers: A VPN service that provides an anonymous connection and unlocks geo-restricted services.
- Pros: Zero traffic logs, provides fast connection speeds.
- Cons: Free trial available, but primarily a paid service.
- Free Trial: Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Link: IPVanish VPN
16. XUMO
- Key Features: Live and on-demand streaming service with a focus on news and entertainment.
- Why Use It? Offers over 160 channels for free.
- Link: XUMO
17. Popcornflix
- Key Features: Free ad-supported streaming of movies and TV shows across genres.
- Why Use It? A diverse library that includes unique web series and film school originals.
- Link: Popcornflix
18. FilmRise
- Key Features: Uncut and legal TV shows and movies to stream without a subscription.
- Why Use It? Offers an eclectic mix of content, from indie hits to classic TV series.
- Link: FilmRise
19. NewsON
- Key Features: Live local news from over 275+ trusted, local news stations across the U.S.
- Why Use It? Stay informed with local news, weather, and sports.
- Link: NewsON
19. Red Bull TV
- Key Features: Offers live sports, music, and entertainment content.
- Why Use It? Extensive coverage of adventure sports, esports, and music festivals.
- Link: Red Bull TV
20. Kanopy
- Key Features: Stream critically-acclaimed movies, documentaries, and kids’ content.
- Why Use It? Accessible for free for library card holders from participating libraries.
- Link: Kanopy
21. the CW
- Key Features: Watch full episodes of CW shows for free.
- Why Use It? Current seasons of CW shows are available without a login or subscription.
- Link: The CW
With these free and diverse apps, your Firestick can offer much more than just standard streaming—it becomes a gateway to a world of varied content and tools. Whether you’re into movies, music, privacy, or even international content, there’s something here for everyone. Dive in and transform your TV viewing experience without spending extra!
