Pluto TV Review 2021: Is it A Legit Way to Get Free Cable?

Pluto TV is an entirely legal way to get free cable. There are plenty of cable alternatives in the space, but few offer free TV without requiring a contract. ViacomCBS owns the service, so they highlight their content on the platform. The streaming service also carries content from channels like Comedy Central and AMC.

We’ve used Pluto TV for several years as it has a lot to offer. If you want to watch TV without paying a cent, our review will help you determine if it’s a good choice for you.

What is Pluto TV?

Pluto TV is a free live TV streaming service that carries over 100 popular channels. Unlike paid services like fuboTV or Sling TV there is no monthly subscription fee and no credit card is required to start service.

The live TV app carries content from the ViacomCBS family of networks. It also has shows from popular networks like NBC and CNN.

Read our guide on ways to watch you local NBC station without cable to learn about other options.

More than 12 million people use the platform, making it the largest free TV streaming service in America. It’s second only to YouTube of the free channels on Roku.

What Can You Stream on Pluto?

Pluto TV is a leader in the free live streaming space. It has over 100 channels of content. These aren’t the user-generated funny cat videos you’ll find on YouTube.

This is legitimate content and most anyone will find something they can enjoy.

Entertainment Networks

There is a wide variety of content available on Pluto, especially for lifestyle and entertainment fans. Here is some of the channels you can find on the service:

• Comedy Central
• Nickelodeon
• Entertainment Tonight
• CMT
• BET
• TV Land
• AMC

One thing to keep in mind is not all channels carry the full channel on Pluto. For example, some of the shows may be several years old. That’s not the case for all the networks.

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, the streaming service added the first five seasons of the show in mid-2020.

Sports Networks

Do you like to watch sports? Pluto TV has some options for you to scratch your itch.

*Related: Love the NFL, but want to ditch cable? Check out our guide on the best options to watch NFL games live without cable.*

Here are some of the sports channels available:

• Fox Sports
• CBS Sports HQ
• NFL Channel (not the NFL Network)
• PGA Tour Rewind
• Stadium

Most of the content is highlights or talk shows. There are some live sporting events, such as Division II football games but it won’t replace ESPN for you.

News Channels

There is a wide variety of news channels available on the streaming platform. Here are some of the news channels you can expect to get on Pluto:

• Bloomberg TV
• CBSN
• CNN
• Cheddar News
• CNet
• NewsMax TV
• Sky News
• Top Stories by Newsy

Like the sports and entertainment channels, most of the news networks aren’t streaming live. Some, like CBSN are the 24-hour news channel.

However, CNN and others are often content that was recorded hours earlier.

*Related: Do you want to cancel cable, but not sure which streaming service to choose? Try our free quiz to see which platform will best fit your needs.*

Think of them as offering snippets of news telecasts that provide a high-level overview of what’s going on in the world.

On-Demand Movies

In addition to live TV channels, Pluto TV also has an impressive on-demand library of popular movies. These aren’t recent blockbusters, but we’ve often found free movies we can’t watch elsewhere.

Current on-demand movies include:

• Four Brothers
• Diary of a Mad Black Woman
• Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
• The Big Short
• Last Holiday
• Dr. No
• The Fighting Temptations

The platform currently has over 130 on-demand movies to watch. It’s likely you’ll find something enjoyable to entertain yourself on a weekend evening.

On-Demand TV Shows

Pluto also has numerous on-demand TV shows you can watch at your leisure. These aren’t current series, but fan favorites of the past.

Current on-demand offerings include:

• Three’s Company
• Walker Texas Ranger
• The Steve Harvey Show
• Duck Dynasty
• The Walking Dead
• American Pickers

There are currently over 160 shows to choose from and watch when you want.

Platform and User Experience

While a bit basic, the platform will remind you a lot of a common cable TV interface. It is a little clunky for new users, but it’s relatively easy to surf and find something to watch.

When you launch the site, it takes you to a grid-like menu you may be familiar with from cable. On the left side of the screen it has the genre listed.

You can click on one you want to find networks for the given niche.

When you click on a show to watch it brings it to the top of the screen, and it minimizes the guide.

There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles, but the user interface is simple to navigate and find something yo watch.

All you need to watch is a smart TV, smartphone, computer or tablet, and an internet connection to stream for free.

The streaming quality is excellent. When we’ve tested Pluto TV, we experienced no interruptions, pixilation, or outages. You just download the free app, install it, and start watching.

Plans and Pricing

Pluto TV has a lot of on-demand content, as well as live TV. Here is what you receive with the service.

You won’t catch the latest show on the service, but it does provide hours of quality content.

Does Pluto Offer Live TV?

Yes, there is live TV with the free streaming service. The live content varies from channel to channel, so not all channels are live.  Pluto TV also doesn’t offer local channels so you will need an antenna to get your local networks.

There are many antennas you can purchase to watch local TV. We bought a Mohu Leaf on Amazon and love it.

It’s a great way to get our nightly newscast and favorite shows from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and PBS for free.

*Related: Read our guide on the best services to watch ABC live without a contract to get your favorite network shows.

Pair that with the service and you’ll always have something to watch without having to pay a dime for it.

Compatible Devices

There’s a good chance you already own something on which you can watch Pluto TV. Ways to stream include the following:

• Internet browser like Safari, Firefox, or Chrome on your computer
• Smartphone (both iPhone and Android have free Pluto TV apps)
• Roku
• Apple TV
• Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
• Chromecast
• PlayStation 4
• Smart TV (Samsung, Sony, Vizio, and more are supported)

We’ve watched on our smartphones, TVs, and laptops and had an excellent experience on all. The menu and guide are the same and the viewing experience is crystal clear.

How bad are the ads?

Watching live channels on Pluto TV is similar to watching live TV on a streaming service or cable provider. The amount of commercial breaks and time of the ads will be the same.

On an hour long episode you can expect to get 45 minutes of content, with approximately 15 minutes of commercials. That is fairly standard for live TV programming.

It’s the on-demand and non-live channels that can get more heavy handed on commercials. It’s fair to expect several more minutes of commercial time when watching an on-demand TV show or movie.

Is Pluto TV better than cable?

While it’s a terrific free service, Pluto TV is not a full cable replacement. It’s a fantastic supplement to a streaming service to watch on-demand movies and TV shows that you may not find with other services.

How does Pluto TV make money?

Pluto makes money by showing commercials when viewers watch video content. The service is owned by ViacomCBS, who offers it for free.

You can expect to see some additional commercials than you might find on other services, but it’s a free over-the-top streaming platform so it’s hard to complain.

Pluto vs. the Competition

There are many free TV streaming companies. Each has unique offerings, but it’s important to know how they differ. Here’s how the free ViacomCBS platform compares against the competition.

Many cord-cutters prefer to use multiple platforms to get free content. Since they’re free you can try them and find the best one for your interests.

Pros and Cons

Pluto sounds like an excellent service, but it is easy to think it’s too good to be true. Here are some things to remember when considering the service.

Pros

• The service is free to use
• No registration is required
• Offers some free live TV shows and movies
• Great selection of on-demand content
• Cable-like experience

Cons

• Limited number of new episodes
• No DVR on live TV streams
• Some of the news content may not be current

No service is perfect, but there is a lot to like about the free streaming platform.

Bottom Line

Legal, free cable remains impossible. But, free streaming services like this one are making it harder for cable companies to make money. That’s because it offers many great TV shows and movies, absolutely free.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Pluto TV, give it, or one of the cable alternatives mentioned here, a shot. With no cost and no information to turn over besides your email address, you have nothing to lose.

 

How much do you pay for cable each month? What are some other free cable alternatives you’ve tried? What’s one thing that keeps you from cutting the cord?