Some of these apps require a subscription to use or to unlock all content and features. Many offer a free download or trial period.

Best for Party Games: The Jackbox Party Pack 8

The Jackbox Party Pack 8 app for Fire TV is great for hosting game night, whether your fellow gamers are playing locally or streaming remotely. The question-and-answer game Fibbage is a favorite, letting you guess weird facts about your friends.

  • Features five games.

  • Play with others in the room with you or remotely.

  • Control games from a phone or tablet.

  • Some of the games aren’t as fun as others.

  • Costs $29.99.

The game pack is $29.99 to download and use.

Download For:

Best for Premium Movies and TV: Netflix

  • Massive library of TV shows, movies, and documentaries.

  • Exclusive Netflix Originals.

  • Includes 4K content.

  • Need a Netflix subscription to use this app.

Watch blockbuster movies and favorite TV shows. You’ll also discover Netflix Originals, including Stranger Things and Orange Is the New Black, that you can’t watch anywhere else.

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, this is the first app you should download for your Fire TV Stick or other Fire TV device. If you’re not a Netflix subscriber, Netflix offers a 30-day free trial, so check it out and see if you’d like to join the fun.

Best Free Video Game Live Streams: Twitch

The Twitch app is the best way to watch game streams on your Fire Stick or other Fire TV device. The app doesn’t have all the features found on the Twitch website, but it does have an easy-to-navigate interface that makes finding what you’re looking for simple and intuitive.

  • Watch your favorite games and Twitch streamers for free on your TV.

  • Also has way more than gaming: cooking, crafting, chatting.

  • Can’t see chat without signing in.

In addition to game streams, watch interactive live shows presented by Xbox, Blizzard, and more, as well as special events.

Best for Recipes and Meal Prep: Food Network Kitchen

  • Stream live and on-demand cooking classes from cooking stars.

  • Watch Food Network cooking shows.

  • Create a personal recipe library.

  • Must pay for the app after a free 30-day trial.

The app is free to download and use, but premium features require a subscription. There’s a free 30-day trial, so check it out and see if it’s worth $6.99 per month.

Best Free Sports Live Streams: Stadium

Stadium is the best free sports streaming app on Fire TV devices. It’s worth downloading if you’re looking for more live sports options, especially college sports.

  • Access to live streaming sports for free.

  • Extensive college sports streaming available.

  • No cable subscription required.

  • Some games are available only for premium users.

Stadium has original, live programming in addition to streaming games, classic game replays, highlights, and more. Like the rest of the sports apps, a premium upgrade is required for some games and content.

Best Free Live Television: Pluto TV

Pluto TV is a completely free live television streaming app. Use it without signing up for an account. Or, create a free account to unlock more channels and customize your viewing experience.

  • Access live TV without a subscription.

  • TV shows and movies in a variety of genres.

  • The interface makes browsing easy.

  • Must sign up for a free account to customize your experience.

  • Need to watch ads.

While Pluto TV may not have some of your favorite channels, it does host a variety of free live and on-demand shows and other content, including family-friendly entertainment.

Best for Free Movie and Television Streaming: Tubi

Tubi is like Netflix, but you don’t need a subscription. Start watching as soon as you download the app without making an account. Like Netflix, you’ll find a library of on-demand movies and television shows that you can watch when you want.

  • Free movies and television with no subscription required.

  • Start watching without signing up for an account.

  • Includes movies that aren’t available on streaming services like Netflix.

  • The app prompts you to create an account without making it clear that you can watch without an account.

  • Must sit through a lot of ads.

Best for Free Anime, Science, and Tech Shows: VRV

VRV is a streaming service that features content from other platforms that you may be familiar with. VRV’s biggest draw is anime from Crunchyroll and Funimation. You’ll also find content from Cartoon Hangover, Seeso, Rooster Teeth, and others.

  • Free access to cartoons, anime, science fiction, horror, and other genres.

  • Create a personal watchlist.

  • Requires a premium subscription to access some content.

Watch free animation, anime, gaming, and other content in HD with ads, or upgrade to a premium subscription to access exclusive content.

Best for Free Cartoons: Cartoon Network

If you’re looking to get your cartoon fix on your Fire TV device, the Cartoon Network app is a great option. Watch many Cartoon Network favorites, including Teen Titans Go!, Steven Universe, Infinity Train, and more.

  • Free access to many of Cartoon Network’s popular shows.

  • Build a personalized watch list.

  • App exclusives let you see premiere episodes.

  • Doesn’t have full seasons.

  • Requires a cable login to access all content.

The Cartoon Network Fire TV app is free to download and use. However, you’ll gain access to more episodes if you have a valid TV provider subscription from sources like AT&T, Charter Spectrum, or Xfinity.

Best for Free World News: Euronews

Euronews provides daily breaking news with a European perspective, utilizing more than 400 reporters and correspondents with varied cultural backgrounds.

  • Latest world news from multiple networks.

  • Available in several languages.

  • Correspondents offer varied perspectives.

  • No live news, so you’re limited to clips of popular and breaking stories.

If you’re looking for world news from sources with differing worldviews, this free app is a great way to keep up to date. It’s available in multiple languages.

Best for Free Local and World News: Haystack

Haystack aggregates news from sources all over the world and provides you with an easy way to find content from the local, national, and international sources that interest you. Find news on politics, business, entertainment, finance, technology, current events, and more, and follow your favorite sources or news topics.

  • Access local news for any location by changing your home region.

  • Includes news from trusted local, national, and international sources.

  • Includes new and breaking news, but no live news.

The free Haystack Fire TV app lets you customize your newscast by designating topics, sources, and categories to follow. It’s a great way to watch curated news on your Fire TV Stick or other Fire TV device.

Best Sports for Cable Subscribers: ESPN

There are a lot of Fire TV apps that let you watch live and prerecorded sports, but the amount of free accessible content is limited. The ESPN app offers live streaming access to top sporting events as well as shows, films, highlights, and other content.

  • Access to live games for free.

  • Some games have multiple streaming options for different perspectives or commentaries.

  • Limited free content.

  • Some games require a cable login.

ESPN for Fire TV is free to download and use. If you subscribe to ESPN+, you’ll access more live events and content without needing a cable login.

Best Free and Premium Music Streaming: Spotify

  • Stream music for free.

  • Integration with the mobile app allows you to seamlessly switch between phone and TV streaming.

  • Enjoy artist pages and song lists on your TV.

  • Free accounts have limited functionality.

Best for Social Networking: Facebook

  • Watch friends’ videos on TV.

  • Access and watch popular Facebook Live videos.

  • Play games with friends.

  • Users report slow loading times.

Best for Kid-Friendly Cartoons: Boomerang

Cartoon fans of all ages will love the Boomerang app for Fire TV, featuring shows with Scooby, Bugs Bunny, Tom and Jerry, the Smurfs, the Flinstones, and many more. There’s also a slew of new, original cartoons. Enjoy your cartoons ad-free, and download cartoons to watch on-the-go.

  • Animated favorites from yesterday and today.

  • New episodes of Scooby-Doo Guess Who?

  • All content is family-friendly.

  • Need a paid membership for most content.

  • Even with a paid membership, some series require an additional fee.

Download and use the app for free during its seven-day trial. After that, you’re charged $5.99 per month.

Best for Family Classics: Disney+

Disney+ arrived amid much fanfare and publicity for exclusive shows like The Mandalorian and special events like Hamilton. If you’re a fan of classic Disney shows and movies, or if you love the Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars franchises, this app is a must-have for your Fire TV.

  • Watch exclusive Disney content, such as Star Wars movies.

  • Original content from big-time creators.

  • Watch on four screens at once.

  • Requires a paid subscription.

While the app is free to download, you’ll need to sign up for a Disney+ subscription for $7.99 - $10.99 per month.

Best for Streaming Web Videos: Video & TV Cast

The Video & TV Cast app for Fire TV lets you browse the web and stream any video, movie, or live stream using your iOS or Android device. Stream videos from your camera roll, as well. There’s no limit to how many videos you can watch and how long the videos are. This free app is a great addition to your Fire TV app collection.

  • Stream web video on HDTV displays.

  • Use an iOS or Android device to stream.

  • Comes with an integrated browser for searching.

  • Must download a corresponding iOS or Android app for it to work.

Best Workout App: Beachbody on Demand

  • Streams hundreds of workouts for all fitness levels.

  • Closed captioning and multiple languages supported.

  • Most workouts don’t require equipment.

  • Need a current Beachbody subscription to access the app.

Best User-Generated Video Content: YouTube

  • Best way to watch YouTube content on a Fire device.

  • Play YouTube videos from a phone and send videos to a TV.

  • Works with voice commands.

  • Navigating with the Fire TV Stick remote can be difficult.

Best for Streaming Your Media: Plex

The Plex app lets you stream movies, TV shows, and music from your computer to your Fire TV device, as well as watch more than 80 channels of free live programming. The great thing about Plex is the ability to stream your personal media content, including photos, movies, and shows. Plex also lets you add descriptions and artwork. To stream personal media, you’ll need to set up a free Plex Media Server.

  • Organize and stream your personal media to a TV.

  • Thousands of free movies and TV shows available without a subscription.

  • Personalized news streams available.

  • Requires a Plex Media Server to stream personal media.

The free app has phenomenal features, or upgrade to a Plex Pass to unlock more functionality.

Best for History Buffs: HISTORY

  • Watch your favorite HISTORY shows.

  • Access never-before-seen clips.

  • Content is available to stream only in the U.S.

  • You’ll need to sign in with your TV provider credentials.

Best Fire TV Weather App: Weather

  • Free to download and use.

  • Accesses your GPS to relay accurate weather conditions.

  • Weather condition animations are fun.

  • The app has ads.

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