How to Get Cable on a Smart TV for Free (2026 Guide)
Your smart TV likely already has free cable-like channels built in — and you may not even know about them. From Samsung TV Plus and LG Channels to free streaming apps and OTA antennas, there are multiple ways to watch cable-style TV on your smart TV without paying a monthly bill. This guide covers every method by TV brand with step-by-step instructions.
Most smart TVs come with free channels built in — Samsung TVs have Samsung TV Plus (200+ free channels), LG TVs have LG Channels, Vizio TVs have WatchFree+, and Roku TVs have The Roku Channel. You can also install free streaming apps like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Peacock Free. For local broadcast channels, connect an OTA antenna to your smart TV's coaxial input or a USB tuner.
Free Channels Already on Your Smart TV
Smart TV manufacturers have built free, ad-supported streaming services directly into their platforms. These services are free to access with no login, no credit card, and no subscription — they come pre-installed on your TV and are available from the home screen. Here is what each major brand offers:
| TV Brand | Free Service | Free Channels | Account Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| SamsungLargest Selection | Samsung TV Plus | 200+ | ✓ No account needed |
| LG | LG Channels | 300+ | ✓ No account needed |
| Vizio | WatchFree+ | 250+ | ✓ No account needed |
| Roku TVs | The Roku Channel | 350+ | ~ Optional free account |
| Amazon Fire TV | Freevee / IMDb TV | 150+ | ~ Amazon account (free) |
| Android TV / Google TV | Google TV Free tab | Varies | ~ Google account (free) |
All of these built-in services are supported by advertising — you will see ads during programming, similar to traditional broadcast TV. The content is curated and legal, with channels covering news, movies, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, and more.
Install Free Streaming Apps on Your Smart TV
In addition to built-in services, you can install free streaming apps from your TV's app store to add even more free channels and on-demand content. The following apps are available on all major smart TV platforms and are completely free:
Pluto TV
250+ live channels with a traditional cable-style channel guide — news, movies, reality TV, comedy, true crime, sports highlights, and more. Available on Samsung, LG, Vizio, Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV. No account required.
Tubi
50,000+ movies and TV episodes on-demand, completely free with ads. Covers Hollywood films, classic TV series, and original content. Available on all major smart TV platforms. No subscription, no credit card.
Peacock Free
NBC shows, select Universal films, some live sports, and Peacock original series — all free with ads. Requires a free account. Available on Samsung, LG, Vizio, Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV.
Plex
80+ free live channels plus thousands of on-demand movies and shows. Also serves as a media server for your personal content library. Available on all major smart TV platforms. Free account required.
Combine built-in channels + free apps for a full cable replacement
Samsung TV Plus or LG Channels gives you live news and entertainment channels. Pluto TV adds 250 more live channels. Tubi covers on-demand movies and TV. Peacock Free handles NBC content. Together, these four free services give you hundreds of live channels and tens of thousands of on-demand titles — for $0 per month.
Get Local Channels on Your Smart TV for Free
Free streaming services do not include live local broadcast channels (your local ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox affiliates with live news and sports). For those, you have two options:
Option 1: OTA antenna via coaxial input
Most smart TVs have a coaxial RF input on the back panel. Connecting an OTA antenna ($20–$50) to this input and running a channel scan gives you all free local broadcast channels in your area — live, in full HD, with no monthly cost. This is the best method for households that want live local news and network TV sports on their smart TV.
Option 2: USB tuner for TVs without coaxial input
Some newer smart TVs, particularly thin-bezel models, omit the coaxial RF input to save space. For these TVs, an HDMI-connected USB tuner (such as the HDHomeRun Flex or a portable ATSC tuner stick) can receive OTA signals and feed them to your TV through an HDMI port. USB tuners cost $50–$130 but enable OTA reception on any TV with an HDMI input.
Option 3: Built-in tuner on select models
Some smart TV models advertise a "built-in tuner" that can receive OTA signals through a connected antenna. This is different from the RF coaxial input — these TVs have antenna input built into the TV chassis. Check your TV's manual or specifications page to determine whether your model includes this feature.
How to Set Up Free TV on a Samsung / LG / Vizio / Roku TV
Setup steps vary slightly by brand. Here are brief instructions for the four most common smart TV platforms:
Samsung TV — Enable Samsung TV Plus
- Press the Home button on your Samsung remote to open the Home screen menu.
- Scroll left along the bottom row of apps until you find the Samsung TV Plus tile (it may already be pinned).
- Select Samsung TV Plus and it opens immediately — no account or login required. Browse 200+ free live channels from the channel guide.
- Install Pluto TV by going to Apps → Search → Pluto TV → Install for even more free channels alongside Samsung TV Plus.
LG TV — Access LG Channels
- Press the Home button on your LG Magic Remote to open the Home screen.
- Select LG Content Store or navigate to the Live TV tile on the Home screen — LG Channels is accessible directly from the Live TV section.
- Browse LG Channels — 300+ free live channels available with no login required.
- Add Pluto TV and Tubi from the LG Content Store for additional free channels and on-demand content.
Vizio TV — Access WatchFree+
- Press the V or Home button on your Vizio remote to open SmartCast Home.
- Select WatchFree+ from the app row — it is typically pre-loaded and requires no login.
- Browse 250+ free live channels covering news, movies, sports, and entertainment.
- Install Pluto TV and Peacock from the SmartCast app store for expanded free content.
Roku TV — Access The Roku Channel
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote to open the Roku Home screen.
- Select The Roku Channel from your channel list — it comes pre-installed on all Roku TVs and Roku devices.
- Browse 350+ free live channels plus an extensive on-demand library. Creating a free Roku account unlocks personalization features but is not required to watch.
- Add Pluto TV, Tubi, and Peacock from the Roku Channel Store — search by name and add them to your Roku home screen for free.
What You Can't Get Free on a Smart TV
Despite the many free options available, several categories of premium content require paid subscriptions regardless of which smart TV you own:
- ESPN — Not available through any free smart TV app or built-in service. Requires ESPN+ ($11/month), a live TV streaming subscription, or a cable TV subscription.
- HBO and Max — Max is a paid subscription ($16–$20/month). No free tier exists. HBO content is not available through free smart TV services.
- CNN Live — CNN's live feed requires a cable or live TV streaming subscription. CNN offers free clips at CNN.com but not a full free live channel.
- NFL Sunday Ticket — Available through YouTube TV Primetime Channels as an add-on. Not available free on any smart TV platform.
- Premium movie channels (Starz, Showtime, Paramount+) — All require paid subscriptions. Some offer free trials (typically 7 days) which can be activated through your smart TV's app store.
If access to these premium channels is important to you, consider a licensed IPTV service as a more affordable alternative to cable. See our IPTV services guide for the most cost-effective options.