Amazon’s Fire TV lineup includes smart TVs powered by Fire OS, along with portable Fire TV sticks that connect to your television via the HDMI port. Unlike traditional Android smart TVs, Fire OS operates its own App Store and ecosystem, designed for seamless integration with Amazon services. In this article, we explore essential Fire TV apps beyond the usual popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
Most of the apps featured here are free and enhance your Fire TV’s functionality. They offer access to a diverse range of movies, shows, live content, and even tools to organize your personal media. Our selections highlight highly rated apps from Amazon’s Appstore that deliver outstanding features. Dive in to discover apps that can transform your Fire TV experience.
Tubi
Subscription fees for streaming services can quickly add up, but Tubi offers a compelling alternative. As the largest free movie and TV streaming service in the U.S., Tubi provides an extensive ad-supported library at no cost. New content is added weekly, including popular mainstream films, indie titles, and a broad array of international shows such as anime, K-dramas, and Bollywood hits. The platform also features original series like “Boarders” and “Big Mood,” which is impressive for a free service. Additionally, you can watch live TV, news, weather, and sports. Tubi is rated 4.3 stars by over 26,000 users and supports English, Spanish, and French languages.
Plex
Plex is a versatile app that organizes your personal media library in addition to offering streaming content. By setting up a free Plex Media Server, you can access your photos, music, movies, shows, and DVR-ed TV across devices with ease. Plex enhances your media with rich descriptions and artwork, making navigation straightforward. The basic service is free, but for $6.99/month, the Plex Pass unlocks features like remote streaming, downloads, and more. Without upgrading, you can still maintain a unified watchlist that aggregates content from multiple services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, eliminating the need to switch between platforms. Plex also offers access to over 600 free live channels, including news, international content, family programming, and award-winning movies. Praised by The New York Times as “the center of your streaming universe,” it holds a 4.1-star rating with over 14,000 user reviews.
Spotify
Fire TV isn’t just for video—Spotify brings music and podcasts right to your big screen. With Spotify, browsing artist pages, albums, playlists, and podcasts feels immersive thanks to cover art displayed on your TV. Playback can be controlled via your TV remote or through Spotify Connect on your phone or tablet, allowing seamless switching between devices. Spotify’s extensive podcast library offers great background entertainment for any moment. If paired with a surround sound system or soundbar, the listening experience becomes truly immersive. Spotify also curates playlists based on your mood and listening habits. While some features require a Premium subscription, the free version is regularly updated and offers a rich experience. Spotify has a 4.4-star rating from over 16,000 Amazon Appstore users.
VLC for Fire
VLC is a renowned open-source media player supporting an extensive range of audio and video file formats. It handles both mainstream formats like MP3, MP4, and AVI, as well as less common ones like ATSC MPEG2. VLC is free, ad-free, and easy to use. It allows streaming from local networks, external drives, and cloud storage if configured. With an intuitive interface, users can create playlists, control playback speed, and navigate media effortlessly with a remote. Additional features include multiple subtitle support, hardware acceleration, and customizable audio settings. VLC boasts a 4.2-star rating from over 13,000 users on the Amazon Appstore.
NordVPN
Safeguarding your data on internet-connected devices is vital, making NordVPN a must-have for Fire TV users. NordVPN encrypts your traffic, protecting your data from hackers, malware, and tracking by third parties such as your Internet Service Provider. Its subscription covers up to 10 devices, letting you secure your entire household’s devices. NordVPN also unlocks geo-restricted content, allowing you to access streaming libraries from different countries—ideal for travelers who want to enjoy their home content abroad. It operates more than 7,000 servers in over 100 countries with robust speeds. On the Amazon Appstore, NordVPN holds a 4-star rating based on over 3,000 reviews.
