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Tubi TV Review: Free Streaming That Actually Feels Worth It

Table of Contents

Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service (FAST) owned by Fox Corporation. Unlike Netflix or Hulu, there’s no subscription fee, just commercials sprinkled into movies and shows. Its audience is budget-conscious cord-cutters, casual viewers who don’t want to juggle multiple paid subscriptions, and people who love niche content that’s harder to find on bigger platforms. Tubi’s big differentiator is that it’s completely free, with one of the largest on-demand libraries in the FAST category. It’s available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and a few international markets, with global expansion ongoing.

Pros & Cons 

Pros

  • Completely free to use
  • Massive on-demand library, especially for older shows/movies
  • Wide device compatibility
  • Live news streams included

Cons

  • No ad-free option
  • Limited original content compared to Netflix or Hulu
  • No downloads or offline viewing
  • Catalog leans heavily on older/lesser-known titles.

StageSeat's Top 8 Streaming Services of 2025

ServiceBest ForStarting PriceShop
NetflixBinge-watchers, pop culture fans$7.99 (with ads)Get Netflix
Prime VideoValue seekers, Amazon shoppers$8.99 standalone (or free w/ Prime)Get Amazon Prime Video
Disney+Families, franchise fans$9.99 (with ads)
Get Disney+
HuluNetwork TV lovers, cord-cutters$9.99 (with ads)Get Hulu
HBO MaxPrestige TV & film fans$9.99 (with ads)Get HBO Max
Apple TV+Quality-focused viewers, Apple users$9.99Apple TV+
PeacockSitcom fans, soccer/football lovers$10.99 (with ads and Peacock original content)Get Peacock
Paramount+Families, sports fans, CBS loyalists$7.99 (with ads)Get Paramount+
Learn more about our picks for the best streaming services of 2025

Channel Lineup & Content

Tubi doesn’t have live TV “channels” in the traditional sense. Still, it offers over 50,000 titles across categories, movies, TV shows, reality, anime, kids’ programming, and even live news feeds from outlets like Fox, NBC, and Bloomberg. The library leans heavily on older movies and TV, cult classics, and mid-tier studio content. You’ll find everything from The Mask to Hell’s Kitchen to obscure B-movies. Tubi has also started producing Tubi Originals, which are mostly smaller-budget films and documentaries. Sports content is limited, though live local news streams are available in many markets.

Package Tiers & Pricing

Here’s the big win: Tubi is 100% free. There’s no premium tier, no hidden paywalls, and no subscription costs. Revenue comes entirely from ads, so expect commercial breaks every 15–20 minutes, similar to traditional TV. Unlike Peacock or Hulu, there’s no option to pay for an ad-free experience.

Bundling Opportunities

Since Tubi is free, bundling isn’t its thing. You can access it as a built-in app on smart TVs, streaming sticks, and game consoles, so in a sense, it’s “bundled” with your device. Some cable and internet providers highlight Tubi as part of their cord-cutting packages, but there aren’t formal streaming bundles.

Historical Pricing & Deal Analysis

No pricing changes here, Tubi has always been free, and that’s its selling point. The only shift over time has been library growth and increased ad load (more ads than in its early days, but still lighter than cable).

Device Compatibility & Features

Tubi works on nearly everything: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, smart TVs, web browsers, iOS, Android, PlayStation, and Xbox. You can stream on multiple devices at once with no account limits. However, Tubi doesn’t support downloads for offline viewing (since it’s ad-supported). Video quality tops out at 720p or 1080p for most content; there’s no 4K option. User profiles are available if you register (registration is optional).

User Experience

The interface is simple, with browsing categories like “Action,” “Comedy,” “Reality TV,” and “Not on Netflix.” Ads are the main drawback; they can pop up multiple times in a single movie, though they’re shorter than traditional cable commercials. The recommendation engine is okay, but not as polished as Netflix’s. Since the library is vast and often random, discovery can feel hit-or-miss. Streaming reliability is solid, with few buffering issues. Customer support is minimal (mostly FAQs and email).

Additional Costs & Fees

There are no fees, period. No subscription cost, no equipment charges, no upsells, just the time you spend watching ads.

Current Promotions

Because Tubi is free, there aren’t traditional promotions. Occasionally, Fox promotes Tubi Originals or highlights seasonal collections (like horror in October), but there’s no subscription discounting since there’s nothing to pay for.