The main reason to buy an Xbox One is to play games, but if that’s all you use your console for, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Xbox One apps provide access to a ton of video content, including your favorite movies and TV shows, but it doesn’t end there.

Here’s a list of the best Xbox One apps for movies, music, sports, and more. There are standouts in each category and apps that have great built-in controls, without resorting to a virtual mouse.

If you see any apps you want to grab for your Xbox One, click the corresponding link to the Microsoft Store, log in to the same Microsoft account you use for your Xbox, and look for a button that says Get the app or Install/Play.

Best for Watching Blu-ray Movies: Blu-ray Player

Microsoft bet on HD DVD in the high-def disc war and lost, but the Xbox One has a Blu-ray drive built in. The problem is that it doesn’t play Blu-ray movies out of the box. This app fixes that, as it allows you to watch your Blu-ray discs and DVDs without buying and hooking up a separate Blu-ray or DVD player.

  • Excellent 4K support.

  • Free.

  • Unreliable performance.

  • Unintuitive controls.

For anyone wondering why this app is necessary, it’s a money thing. Microsoft pays a royalty to the Blu-ray Disc Association for every Xbox One that uses a Blu-ray player. So, if some people choose not to install the app, Microsoft saves a little money.

Best for Free TV Shows and Films: Tubi TV

If you don’t have a subscription to cable or any streaming services, Tubi TV is the Xbox One app for you. It provides access to a ton of free television shows and movies that you can watch.

  • New and classic movies.

  • “Not on Netflix” section.

  • Free ad-supported TV and movies.

  • Region-restricted content.

  • Ads can’t be disabled.

You don’t need to sign up for an account to watch content. Download the app to your Xbox One, open it, proceed as a guest, and you’re good to go.

The good news is that those services all have Xbox One apps, so make sure to grab them if you’re a subscriber.

Best for Animation Fans: VRV

VRV is a one-stop shop for fans of anime, western animation, gaming, comedy, and other genre video content. It includes shows from Crunchyroll, Funimation, Rooster Teeth, Cartoon Hangover, and more.

  • Reasonable premium plan.

  • Lots of Japanese shows with English subtitles.

  • Free anime and other fun shows.

  • Occasional audio and subtitle syncing issues.

  • Frequent ads.

While there are separate Xbox One apps for services like Crunchyroll and Funimation, VRV makes it easier by providing everything in a single interface.

VRV is also free to use, but you can pay for a subscription if you prefer ad-free content.

Best for User-Generated Content: YouTube

YouTube is the king of user-generated content on the internet, and the official Xbox One app shifts it all from your computer to your television.

  • Sign in with your Google account.

  • Upload gameplay videos straight from your console.

  • Free user-generated videos and music.

  • No resume playback feature.

  • No 4K support.

Unofficial apps also provide access to YouTube content, but there’s no pressing need to download them anymore. The official YouTube app is easy to use and gets the job done.

Best for Original Streaming Content: Netflix

If you have a Netflix subscription, download the Xbox One app. It’s easy to navigate with a controller, and it’s a great way to watch movies, TV shows, and Netflix Originals like Orange Is the New Black and Stranger Things on your television.

  • Original movies and series.

  • No ads.

  • Massive library and great interface.

  • Limited selection of new Hollywood releases.

  • No live TV.

Best for Sports Fans: Live Sports and TV

There are a lot of sports apps on Xbox One, and all require a subscription. If you haven’t cut the cord yet, use your cable provider login information to watch live sports on the Fox Sports Go or ESPN apps.

  • International sports news.

  • Inexpensive premium plan.

  • The only free live sports and news app available on Xbox One.

  • Unreliable live streaming.

  • Limited coverage of American football.

If you don’t have cable, your options are limited. In fact, the Live Sports and TV app is the only game in town. It’s spotty in terms of content and quality, and it’s supported by banner ads unless you pay for a premium version, but it’s the only way to watch free sports on your Xbox One.

Best Media Server: Plex

If you have a ton of digital media on your hard drive or a network-connected drive, Plex should be at the top of your list of Xbox One apps to download.

  • Share media across devices over a network.

  • DVR support.

  • Occasional buffering and crashes.

  • No auto-play feature.

You sign up for an account, download the Plex server program on your computer, and it streams all the movies, TV shows, and music you have on your computer or a networked hard drive. It’s the best way to stream media from your PC to your Xbox One.

Best Music Streaming App: Spotify

The official Spotify app gives you access to a ton of music, and it’s easy to navigate and use with a controller. It’s also free to use, although it offers a monthly subscription option.

  • Listen to albums before they’re officially released.

  • Social media integration.

  • Music that continues to play when you leave the app.

  • No option to download songs via Xbox One.

  • No live radio streaming.

If you loved Groove Music Pass on your Xbox One in the past, you should love Spotify just as much. You can even move your playlists and collections straight from Groove to Spotify.

Best for Watching Streaming Gaming Content: Twitch

Xbox One has built-in live streaming, but Twitch is the biggest game in town. If you want to watch your favorite streamers or discover new ones without leaving your couch, you need this app.

  • Preview games before you purchase them.

  • Stream your own “let’s play” videos.

  • Hard to avoid adult content.

  • The aspect ratio shifts slightly while broadcasting.

TMX - Theme My Xbox

If you want to make your mark on your Xbox One, you need this app. The built-in customization options are limited, but Theme My Xbox pulls together a ton of user-created themes you can download, customize, and use on your console.

  • Personalize your Xbox One interface.

  • Add your own themes for others to download.

  • No animated themes.

  • Content is rotated, so some themes aren’t available for long.

Best All-in-One Remote App: Home Remote

The Home Remote app is a universal windows platform (UWP) app that runs on your phone, tablet, PC, and Xbox One. It allows you to interface with all your cool home automation gadgets from these devices.

  • Control your smart devices from your Xbox One.

  • Simple interface.

  • No support for devices with two-factor authentication enabled.

  • No compatibility with virtual assistants.

Best Xbox Community App: Community Calendar

If you want to turn your time with the Xbox One into a social experience, you need this app. It provides information about upcoming community events, special in-game events, and more.

  • Keep up with new DLC releases.

  • Preview trending live streams.

  • Limited functionality.

  • No information about beta releases.

For People Who Like to Test New Software: Xbox Insider Hub

The Xbox Insider app is the only way to get access to hot new features, such as game gifting, before the general public. When you join, you get early access to new Xbox One firmware updates.

  • Test new software from Microsoft.

  • Rewards frequent use.

  • Requires a lot of setup.

  • Age-restricted content.

You can also participate in questionnaires and perform other tasks to level up. The higher your level, the earlier you can get your hands on new features.

Best Weather App: MSN Weather

If you want to check the weather without getting off the couch, Microsoft’s official MSN Weather app does a surprisingly good job. It works great with your controller, so you don’t waste time getting the information you need.

  • Easy-to-read interface.

  • View forecasts for the entire globe.

  • Works great with a controller.

  • Aesthetically boring radar map.

  • Only as reliable as MSN’s meteorologists.

AccuWeather also has an Xbox One app that provides great hour-by-hour forecast information, but it loses points because it uses a virtual mouse controlled by an analog stick instead of built-in Xbox One controls.

Best for Exercise Enthusiasts: My Fitness

Xbox Fitness is gone, and there’s no replacement for it. My Fitness is an app that allows you to set up and track your fitness goals and workouts, which is a step in the right direction.

  • Suggests workouts for achieving your fitness goals.

  • Impressive technical support.

  • Only tracks one person’s information at a time.

  • Steep learning curve.

If You Own A Fitbit: Fitbit

If you have a Fitbit, this app is a great way to keep track of your progress. It’s the same one you get on your phone or PC, but why get up off the couch to check on your sleep habits or how many calories you failed to burn during that last marathon gaming session?

  • Personalized exercise routines.

  • See your heart rate in real time on your TV.

  • Interfaces with best-in-class activity trackers.

  • Requires extra hardware.

  • Fitbit Coach premium account required to access all content.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day