YouTube is one option which springs to mind, but most people think the only alternative is to illegally stream TV shows and films from the many pirate and torrent sites on the web. The content may not be as up to date or wide-ranging as the shows and movies on the paid-for streaming services, but there’s still plenty to like – even if you do have to put up with watching a few adverts.
How do I get Tubi TV?
(We’re concerned only with Android-based devices here, but it’s worth noting you can also install Tubi TV on your iPhone / iPad, Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox One and Samsung and Sony TVs.) Tubi is based in the US – in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the recent introduction of GDPR has put paid to the service in Europe. Previously, it offered a cut-down selection of what was available to US residents. However, as with any geo-blocked content, you need only a VPN service with a US server to bypass the block. These include: NordVPN, ExpressVPN and IPVanish.
How to get the Tubi TV app outside the US
And if you are outside the US, you’ll probably find that you can’t see (or install) the Tubi TV app on your phone because the Google Play store will either hide it or give you a message saying it isn’t compatible with your device.
Again, you can get around this by downloading the app manually. To do that, search for the apk file (the Android version of the app) or use this link to get the latest update. You can download this directly to your phone by tapping on the link in Chrome or another web browser. Because Android phones differ, you will have to search in the Settings app on your device to find the option to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources.
Then, go to your Downloads app (or use a file manager such as ES File Explorer) to locate the downloaded file so you can tap on it to install it. If that sounds like too much hassle, you can pop your email address into Tubi’s website to get notified when the service is available in your country.
How do I watch shows on Tubi TV?
You need to create an account, but it’s completely free. Doing so has several benefits including the ability to resume where you left off, as well as syncing your shows across multiple devices.
What’s on Tubi TV?
That’s a fair question. It’s a lot of effort to go to if you’re not in the US, after all. Content comes from 200 partners including Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount and others. And if you’re into more than just mainstream stuff, there’s anime, reality shows and world drama too. Want to search? The JustWatch website claims to have a full list of what’s on Tubi TV and can be searched and filtered for age ratings too. Here are a few great (UK) TV shows we’d watch on Tubi TV:
The IT CrowdSpacedLine of DutyThe Wrong Mans
And our pick of the movies:
The PianistShaolin SoccerMudThe Inbetweeners Movie‘71
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
