Eight FAST Services — Ranked!

10.09.2024 18:00

You can find plenty of paid services in the world of streaming apps. But you can also find some pretty great …

The post Eight FAST Services — Ranked! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

You can find plenty of paid services in the world of streaming apps. But you can also find some pretty great free ones too. We’re here to talk about those FAST services.

Eight FAST services offer all the movies and TV shows you can handle for the cost of watching a few ads during your show. It may seem like an inconvenience for some. But with the rising living costs, most of us are looking for ways to save a few bucks.

Ads may seem the worst to younger generations with short attention spans. But for us viewers with the legendary status of pre-Y2K, we cut our teeth on random commercial breaks during our favorite shows — many that are available on these FAST services.

(CBS/Sonja Flemming)

At least with ads, we know how long we have until the show comes back on. I’ve got more than one scar from a mad rush to do something during a commercial break and running out of time before the show comes back on.

Anyone else? *crickets* Ahem, back to the topic at hand. Check out how we’ve ranked the top eight FAST services and the good, bad, and ugly of each one.

What are FAST Services?

FAST services — free, ad-supported streaming television — let users watch movies or TV shows without a subscription by watching ads during streaming on-demand or live TV.

Even with all the paid programs we use, I’m a frugal freelancer, so I always love free stuff. And that’s what FAST services are all about.

These are our favorite eight FAST services, ranked in order of greatness. While they all do the same thing, they aren’t equal in quality.

1) Pluto

(Courtesy of Pluto TV)

We can sit here forever debating if Pluto is a planet or a moon (it’s a freaking planet) or if he was a dog or a cow (puh-lease, of course, he was a dog).

But Pluto is also our favorite FAST TV service, with plenty to offer for all audiences. We love Pluto TV as our favorite free streaming service for many reasons. Being the child of Paramount is a bonus but not one of the selling points.

You can browse over 250 channels, giving you the nostalgia of cable without the bill or having to sign up for an account. Users can access Viacom channels, including Comedy Central, CNN, Nickelodeon (OMG Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Nerdist, and MTV.

But Pluto also offers channels like Pluto TV Staff Picks, TV Crime Movies, and TV Spotlight. You can also find dedicated channels for popular Paramount shows like CSI or Star Trek. How cool!

(CBS/MONTY BRINTON)

Pluto users also have access to large-city local CBS news stations. It’s almost like you’re watching old-school local TV — complete with commercials! Best of all, Pluto TV is compatible with most smart devices and TVs across iOS, the web, and Android.

VIZIO TV owners who use the WatchFree app already use Pluto TV. But Pluto is great for all-day anime, poker, and curated content from over 75 channels in various niches.

And unlike the house cat, if you leave Pluto behind for a day or two, it still remembers you when you return, allowing you to pick up where you left off. No sign-in needed.

2) Roku Channel

(Courtesy of Roku)

There has been some serious debate on Roku (in my house, anyway), mainly about how to pronounce the name. The six of us are on two different sides.

But regardless of how it’s said, Roku is among everyone’s favorite streaming devices, whether from smart TVs, plug-and-play USB sticks, or other technologies. We have a soundbar and several TVs.

It was several years after purchasing our first Roku before we realized they also have an awesome FAST service. The Roku Channel offers viewers immediate access to over 350 channels without an account, including hundreds of movies and shows.

While most of the content is old, discontinued shows, you can also find original content created by the Roku brand. They have a great selection of sitcoms, sports, reality shows, movies, and classic series.

(Larry Horricks/AMC)

Most of their free stuff comes from channels like Crackle, NBC, The CW, ABC, and The Roku Channel. Original content through Roku includes Mapleworth Murders, Slip, and The Fugitive.

However, you can also find premium content from services like AMC Plus, Showtime, and Paramount Plus. You can usually get the first episode for free, but you will need a subscription for the entire thing, like Interview with a Vampire.

Besides having great content from streaming or watching live, their channel is also organized and user-friendly.

However, there is a downside for some viewers. You can only get the Roku Channel with a compatible Roku device, smart Samsung TV, or Amazon Fire TV. There is also a Roku desktop site and mobile app for non-TV viewing, but you can’t cast from them.

3) Tubi

(Courtesy of Tubi)

My kids actually introduced me to the FAST service Tubi a while ago. I have to say, for a free service, it’s pretty kicking. And judging from their 64 million users monthly, I’m not the only one.

Why wouldn’t it be the second most popular FAST service when you can access 50,000 options — movies and TV series — for free?

Along with one of the largest FREE streaming libraries, you can get the most popular local news stations, like NBC, ABC, and Fox, replacing your need for cable or a TV antenna.

Tubi also has some original shows, though they aren’t full of A-listers and strong storylines. While they’re unlikely to win any awards, they have been a huge hit with audiences. We’re pretty pumped for the Wynonna Earp special coming up, too!

(FX on Hulu/Youtube Screenshot)

Their best originals include the animated The Freak Brothers, The Nevers, and Kitchen Commando, an unscripted Gordon Ramsay production. You can also catch up on series like The Bear, The Boys, or House of the Dragon.

Users can access even more stuff than before as they (and Roku) scored a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. Otherwise, you can search for nearly anything on almost any device.

Check out Tubi’s website for a full list of compatible devices. A short list includes all smart TVs, iOS, Android, and video game consoles.

4) Freevee

(Courtesy of Freevee)

Freevee is fourth on our list of the best FAST services, but it’s been a tight race. This FAST service has gone through several names, first known as IMDb Freedive and then IMDb TV.

It’s an Amazon service, so you’ll have to sign in (or up) for an account to access the impressive library of TV series and movies on-demand using a user interface (UI) similar to the Prime Video app.

Like other FAST services, there are Freevee original works, like a reboot of Judge Judy, celebrity documentaries on singers like country stars Luke Bryan and Post Malone (yeah, it threw me for a loop when he went country, too), and other series.

You can also view live channels of reality shows, news, classics, and niches. But you don’t get the full lineup of shows from popular networks. They really shine with on-demand over live viewing.

The biggest advantage of Freevee is you can download the app from nearly anywhere. Check it out on your Apple TV, Android, iOS, Roku devices, LG, Samsung, and Amazon TVs, and streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick. Or check it out online.

5) Plex

(Courtesy of Plex)

Plex has a lesser-known reputation, which isn’t fair considering how awesome it is as a FAST service because Plex isn’t just for streaming.

It started as a media server, giving you a place to watch your own stuff. Then, thanks to ads, it upgraded its features with free movies and TVs.

Along with access to Plex’s giant library of 50,000 on-demand streaming movies and shows and personally provided content, Plex also has an impressive UI and over 200 channels in its channel guide.

It has a massive offering of some of our favorite movies and shows, including Sister, Falcon Crest, Heartland, Lonesome Dove (OMG), Weeds, Baywatch, and Knots Landing.

(Baywatch Official Youtube Page Screenshot)

But that’s not all! You can also connect your Plex account to other streaming services to expand your library of offerings.

The best thing about Plex is that it can be used on most devices, from smart TVs to gaming consoles, phones, VRs, and streaming devices.

They even have a cool IMBd-inspired library of relevant information about what you’re watching, from cast bios to socials to filmographies.

6) Xumo Play

(NBC/Shout Factory (Youtube Screenshot))

Comcast owns Xumo Play, a FAST service featuring several local and national news channels and a large selection of 24/7 movies and shows across various networks.

It’s easy to view all the available content neatly organized in the TV guide or browse the networks or categories. You can also search for your shows or movies by title.

They have some great classic shows like Alf. Some newer movies and shows are available exclusively on Xumo, which syncs with the built-in app channels on LG and Google TVs. So, you may see the same content in all three apps.

It is great that you can get channels like Great American Adventures, Hallmark, and Motortrend (a person fav). And their timed slots for their Xfinity What to Watch channel makes it even cooler.

From 7 am to noon, you can watch family-friendly movies and shows, Xfinity Hangouts and What to Watch Live from noon to 6 pm, and adult shows and movies from 6 pm to midnight. From midnight to 7 am, you can watch thrillers and horror movies.

The downside of Xumo is that it doesn’t offer any unique features compared to the other FAST services we’ve listed. While they provide original works, expect cheesy, low-budget pieces. But you can find indie films from Magnolia Pictures.

The Xumo app comes installed on Xumo Stream boxes, and Comcast rebranded Xumo TVs. It can also be downloaded on Roku, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and the internet.

7) Sling Freestream

(Courtesy of Sling)

Everyone’s heard of Sling, the paid subscription service. However, many people are unaware they launched a free FAST service in 2023.

Sling Freestream features over 40,000 on-demand movies and series and nearly 300 live channels, including Kevin Hart’s LOL! Network, Wired, and the Walking Dead Universe.

You can access the services without signing up for an account. But having an account gives you access to cool additional features. You can create individual profiles and save lists of your favorite movies, series, and channels.

They also allow you to access new content for a rental fee. It’s convenient if you don’t have subscriptions to access the films from anywhere else.

Sling Freestream is compatible with Android, iOS, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and other devices that can download the Sling TV app.

8) Samsung TV Plus

(Courtesy of Samsung)

The Samsung brand is diverse and well-known as a tech guru, producing some of the greatest tech, from phones to home appliances to TVs.

They also offer a free FAST service for Samsung users, the Android app, and the web. Over time, they expect to expand to other devices.

US users can currently access 400 plus channels, including some original Samsung channels partnered with popular networks, including Conan O’Brien, Barbie, and Mattel. Over 1,600 channels are available in 24 countries.

They have moderate content, although less than the other FAST services we’ve listed. However, they are constantly growing their inventory as they continue to develop partnerships, including through Vice Media and Lionsgate, among others.

Try These Eight FAST Services

While there are plenty of streaming apps to give us unlimited content for movies and TV shows, it can get exhausting trying to keep up with the various costs.

Streaming services that let you watch content for free in exchange for displaying a few ads is a reasonable cost.

We’ve given you our top eight choices for FAST services. Now we want to hear from you. Which FAST service have you tried, and what are your thoughts?

Do you think a few ads are worth the price of watching a movie or TV show without paying for a subscription? Or do you prefer to pay for a subscription to avoid ads? Leave your opinion in the comments.