Pluto TV vs. Tubi: Which Streaming Service is Better?

In the ever-growing world of free, ad-supported streaming services, Tubi and Pluto TV stand out as two of the most popular options, and for good reason. These two streaming services each offer a treasure trove of movies, TV shows, and live channels, completely free. 

Whether you’ve cut the cord and are looking for an alternative to live TV or want to add one of these services to your rotation of streaming platforms, you’ve come to the right place. So, which platform deserves a spot in your streaming lineup? We’ve broken down the functions, content, and availability to help you figure out which is better – Tubi or Pluto TV. We’ll also tell you how you can use PIA VPN to fix common streaming problems.

Pluto TV vs. Tubi: Overview

Pluto TV and Tubi both offer thousands of hours of content at no cost, making them great alternatives to paid services like Netflix or Hulu. Here’s a summary of what you can expect from both services. 

	Pluto TV	Tubi
Availability	30+ countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and most of Latin America.	The US, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.
Live TV	Yes (channels vary by country)	In the US only
On-demand content	Yes	Yes
Original content	No	Yes
Registration required	No	No
Downloadable content	No	No
Anime	Yes	Yes
Ads	Yes	Yes
Supported devices	Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick Samsung, Sony, and LG smart TVs iOS and Android devices Apple TV Roku  Chromecast TiVo Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X PlayStation 4 and 5 Web browsers including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox	Amazon Fire TV and TV Stick Samsung, LG, and Sony smart TVs iOS and Android devices Apple TV Roku Chromecast TiVo PS4 and PS5 Xbox One, Series S, Series X Web browsers (Supported devices outside the US may be different.)

Pluto TV vs. Tubi: Feature Comparison

At first glance, Pluto TV and Tubi look pretty similar. They both provide free TV shows and movies, after all, but there are distinct differences that set them apart. In this section, we’ll compare the key features of each platform and figure out which one comes out on top. 

Types of Content

Pluto TV and Tubi both offer live TV streaming (depending on the region) and on-demand content, but the focus of each platform is different. 

Tubi has a vast on-demand library of more than 40,000 shows and films, including Tubi originals. These can be streamed anytime, anyplace, giving you the feel of a classic streaming site like Netflix or Hulu. There’s loads of content to choose from in a wide range of genres, including recent releases, award-winning films, and fan favorites. 

On top of the on-demand content, Tubi also offers more than 200 live TV channels in the US. You can stream sports, news, lifestyle programs, documentaries, game shows, and other content 24/7. With programs available in English and Spanish, Tubi caters to a wide audience. Viewers in Canada can watch a more limited selection of around 40 live TV channels. Live TV channels aren’t available in countries outside of North America.

Pluto TV feels more like a traditional television experience, which you may prefer if you like to channel surf or just have something on in the background. It offers approximately 425 channels dedicated to news, sports, reality TV, classic shows, and even niche interests like true crime, gaming, and anime. There are channels dedicated to showing re-runs of shows like Star Trek, CSI, and Top Gear, and specialty channels like Crunchyroll.

Pluto’s TV channels are available outside the US but the number and variety of channels is much more limited in other countries. 

You can also choose from a range of on-demand movies and TV shows, though the selection isn’t as vast as Tubi’s huge library. You do get access to the latest episodes of hit CBS shows like NCIS, 60 Minutes, and Tracker after they air on TV – perfect if you missed it live. While the movie selection isn’t as up-to-date as Tubi, there’s a good collection of cult classics and older films in various genres from comedies and westerns to action and horror. 

Winner: Tie

Supported Devices 

Both services are widely available on major platforms. The table below covers supported devices in the US. The range of devices supported by Tubi and Pluto TV in other countries is more limited.

	Pluto TV	Tubi
Amazon Fire Stick	Yes	Yes
Android mobile devices	Yes	Yes
Apple TV	Yes	Yes (4th generation and newer)
Chromecast	Yes	Yes
iOS devices	Yes	Yes
PlayStation	Yes	Yes (PS4 and 5)
Roku	Yes	Yes
Smart TVs	Android TV Fire TV Comcast Xfinity X1 Hisense (VIDAA, Smart TV 2018 (9602 chipset) and 2020-present Pluto TV app) LG smart TVs Google TV Rogers (Xi6, XiOne, XG1v3, XG1v4, and XiD models) Samsung smart TVs (Tizen Smart TV 2017 or newer) Sony TV Vizio TVs	Android TV Fire TV Comcast Xfinity X1 Hisense smart TVs LG smart TVs Samsung smart TVs Sony smart TVs & Blu-ray disc devices Vizio smart TVs
TiVo	Yes	Yes
Web browsers	Yes	Yes
Windows	Yes	No
XBox	Yes (Xbox One, Series S/X, MSN (Embed))	Yes (Xbox One, Series S/X)

Both services have nearly identical compatibility in the US and offer a wide range of options for viewers in other countries.

Winner: Tie

Global Availability

Tubi is currently available in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama. It only offers live TV channels in the US and Canada, though. Pluto TV has a wider global reach, with availability in 30+ countries including the US, Canada, Australia (through 10 Play), the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and most of Latin America.

With both platforms, the content available varies by region. This is partly due to licensing restrictions and partly to tailor content to viewers in specific countries. For example, Pluto TV offers a lot of German-language content in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, French content in France, etc. Both Tubi and Pluto TV offer a wider range of on-demand content and live TV channels to viewers in the US.  

Winner: Pluto TV

User Interface 

Tubi has a sleek, easy-to-navigate interface with well-organized categories, making it simple to find exactly what you want to watch. You can browse by genre or view recommended and trending titles. 

If you want to watch live TV, you can easily scroll through the guide to see what’s on. When watching Tubi live, if you select a channel, you can continue to browse other options while watching the program you selected in a small, unobtrusive window in the corner of the screen. It’s quick and responsive and feels as well developed as many popular paid streaming platforms. 

Pluto TV, on the other hand, feels clunky and old school. While still functional, the interface is not nearly as smooth or as responsive as Tubi’s. When switching between channels or between categories while browsing, it can often take a moment or two for the screen to load. It’s hard to exit a channel once you’re in it and the buttons aren’t super intuitive. 

Winner: Tubi

Streaming Quality

Both services have similar levels of video quality, with most videos available in 720p resolution. Tubi doesn’t support anything higher, and while Pluto TV does have some channels that offer 1080p or even 4K resolution, they’re not typical.

Your streaming quality also depends on your internet speed – if you’re struggling to stream smoothly in HD or UHD, your ISP may be deliberately slowing your streaming speeds. You can use a VPN to bypass selective throttling and get the internet speeds you pay for.

Winner: Pluto TV

Functionality

Tubi allows users to create watchlists and resume playback across devices. It also offers personalized recommendations based on your viewing history. It’s generally a more user-friendly experience compared to Pluto TV. 

Pluto TV lacks a proper watchlist feature, but it does allow you to select your favorite channels, making it easier to find your preferred content. When you’re watching through a browser, you can use the picture-in-picture mode to keep your show playing in the corner of your screen while you work, study, or browse the internet. 

Both services offer closed captioning and subtitles, but this feature seems more widely available on Tubi channels, whereas it often shows as unavailable on Pluto TV channels. 

Winner: Tubi

Pluto TV vs. Tubi: The Verdict

After comparing both services side-by-side, it’s clear they each have something to offer. But which is better – Pluto TV or Tubi?

Technically, Tubi has slightly more to offer with advanced features and a better user interface. However, the right platform for you will depend on your viewing preferences. If you want a live TV experience with a traditional channel guide, Pluto TV is the way to go. If you prefer to choose content to watch on demand, then Tubi’s huge library will be the better choice. Either way, both platforms provide excellent entertainment – without the price tag.

Best for live TV and a cable-like experience: Pluto TV
Best for on-demand streaming and ease of use: Tubi

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