You can watch TV on your phone for free and without installing pirate apps. The free-to-air broadcasters themselves have official apps with live programming, and services such as Pluto TV have set up free channels that work like real TV, funded by ads. We gathered seven legitimate apps worth installing, with what each one offers for free and where the catch is.
Prices and availability checked on Google Play and the App Store in Brazil in November 2026.
In a few words
- Pluto TV: live channels of various genres, free, with ads.
- Globoplay: the free version includes TV Globo and the ge tv live.
- +SBT: the SBT in real time and other channels, without paying.
- RecordPlus: the free plan includes Record live, with regional signals.
- Bandplay: the Band live and programs to watch later, with sign-up.
- Cultura Play: the TV Cultura no monthly fee and no sign-up.
- YouTube: live broadcasts on the official channels of the broadcasters.
How free and legal TV on the phone works
There are two types of official service. The first are the channels called FAST, an acronym for Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV: each channel has continuous programming, on a set schedule, just like free-to-air TV. You tune in and watch whatever is on, and in exchange you see the commercial breaks. The second are the broadcasters' own apps, which retransmit the signal live and keep shows to watch later. Part of the content is free, and part is behind paid plans.
What is left out of this list: IPTV lists, apps that promise "all premium channels for free" and files downloaded from websites. Besides being illegal, they are a common gateway for viruses and card scams. The rule is simple: if the app is not from the broadcaster or from a well-known company and offers paid channels without charging, it is piracy.
The 7 official apps to watch free TV on the phone
1. Pluto TV: the free TV with a channel guide
The Pluto TV is a FAST channel service available in Brazil. When you open the app, you find a programming guide similar to that of pay TV, separated by genre: movies, series, kids, sports, soap operas and news. In the guide we checked in November 2026 there were news channels in Portuguese, such as Pluto TV Record News, Jovem Pan NEWS and Euronews Português, plus a channel from the TV Cultura. According to the app's page, there is also live sports, including UFC and Libertadores, and a library of movies and series to watch whenever you want.
There is no subscription. The free account lets you pick up where you left off on another device. Point of attention: the programming has commercial breaks, and the channel list changes over time, so the channel you watched today may not be there next month.
2. Globoplay: the free part has the TV Globo live
The Globoplay is promoted through the paid plans, but the app's page describes a free version with three items: TV Globo and ge tv live, children's content and a sample of episodes. For those who want to follow the news program or the soap opera at the time it airs away from the television, this already solves it.
Point of attention: the app constantly highlights the paid plans, which unlock the full catalog and premium channels. The store itself warns that programs and live channels may show ads on any plan. If an offer appears on screen, read it carefully before tapping subscribe.
3. +SBT: the SBT in real time
The +SBT is the official streaming service of SBT. According to the store description, it is free and brings together the broadcaster's signal in real time, other live channels and on-demand content, such as soap operas, cartoons and original productions. It is the natural choice for those who want to follow the channel's schedule on the bus or in the bank queue. Point of attention: Google Play reports that the app contains ads.
4. RecordPlus: the signal of your region
The RecordPlus, formerly called PlayPlus, has paid plans and a free one, Plano Play. According to the Google Play description, the free plan includes the live programming of the Record , across more than 20 signals nationwide, with broadcasters and affiliates from several regions, plus journalism, podcasts and radio stations. In practice, you can follow the local news from various parts of Brazil.
Point of attention: soap operas, reality shows and full-length programs are in the paid plans, which are monthly, semi-annual or annual. The app itself recommends using Wi-Fi to save the 4G or 5G data plan.
5. Bandplay: the Band live and to watch later
The Bandplay brings together the programming of the Band, the news programs and the group's radio stations, plus movies, series, anime, cartoons and podcasts. The app's page says everything is free and invites you to sign up. According to the broadcaster's portal, the live programming is available in the app, and shows that have already aired are saved to watch again. The store description also mentions the option to mirror the screen to the TV via Chromecast.
.Point of attention: you need to create an account to use it, and the app shows ads.
6. Cultura Play: the simplest to use
The Cultura Play is the app of the TV Cultura, run by the Fundação Padre Anchieta. It has the fewest obstacles: the official description says there is no monthly fee and no sign-up of any kind. It has live programming, programs to watch whenever you like, such as the interviews from the Roda Viva , and children's shows Cocoricó and Quintal da Cultura, and the radio stations Cultura Brasil and Cultura FM, which play in the background while you use other apps.
Point of attention: Google Play warns that the app contains ads, and the variety is that of a single broadcaster.
7. YouTube: the official live channel
Many broadcasters and news channels live-stream through their own channel on YouTube, and the app usually comes preinstalled on Android phones. Inside the channel, look for the live videos tab. The app description mentions live broadcasts of the channels you follow, and it is worth turning on the notification bell to be alerted when the broadcast starts.
Point of attention: check that the channel is really the official one: name identical to the broadcaster's, verification badge next to the name and a long history of videos. Channels that retransmit another broadcaster's signal without authorization tend to go offline without notice. Ads are part of the free version; the YouTube Premium, paid, removes the ads.
Quick comparison
| App | Cost | What is live for free | Point of attention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pluto TV | Free | Own channels of various genres | Commercial breaks |
| Globoplay | Free version and paid plans | TV Globo and ge tv | Full catalog only in paid plans |
| +SBT | Free | SBT and other channels | Contains ads |
| RecordPlus | Free Plano Play and paid plans | Record with regional signals | Full-length soap operas only in paid plans |
| Bandplay | Free | Band | Requires sign-up |
| Cultura Play | Free | TV Cultura | Programming from a single broadcaster |
| YouTube | Free with ads | Broadcasts from the official channels | Check that the channel is the official one |
How to install safely
Install only from the phone's official app store. APK or XAPK files downloaded from websites may carry viruses or tampered versions, and none of the apps above need that. Also be wary of ads that imitate a system warning saying your player is “outdated”: to update any app, just open the store.
On Android
- Open Google Play and search for the app's name.
- Check the developer right below the title: Pluto, Inc., Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A., TV SBT Canal 4 de São Paulo S/A, Rádio e Televisão Record S.A., Band apps, TVCultura or Google LLC, depending on the app.
- Tap Install and wait for it to finish.
- On first launch, the app may ask permission to send notifications. It's optional; accept only if you want to be alerted about programs.
On iPhone
- Open the App Store, tap Search and type the app's name.
- Check the seller on the app page. In the Apple store, the names appear slightly differently, such as GLOBO COM. E PART. S/A, Radio e Televisao Bandeirantes LTDA and Fundacao Padre Anchieta.
- Tap Get and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your Apple ID password.
- If the app offers a paid plan right at the start, look for the option to continue with the free version.
Tips for watching without running out of your data plan
- Prefer Wi-Fi. Live video uses far more internet than music or messages. On 4G, the data plan can run out before the end of the month.
- Lower the quality on 4G. When the app lets you choose the video resolution, a lower quality uses much less data and still looks good on a small screen.
- Look for your region's signal. On RecordPlus, if your area is among the regional signals, choose the location to see the local news and weather forecast from near home.
- Set up your favorites. On Pluto TV, save the channels you watch most so you don't have to scroll the entire guide every time.
- Take it to the TV. The Bandplay mentions screen mirroring via Chromecastin the store; in other apps, look for the cast icon in the player, when available.
- Keep an eye on the battery. Long streaming heats up the device; if you're going to watch a whole game, keep the phone charging.
Precautions before installing or subscribing
No legal service offers all premium channels for free. If an app or site promises that, it's pirate IPTV: the signal drops often, the service disappears overnight, and whoever charges for it offers no guarantee at all. Even worse are those that ask you to install files from outside the store or grant strange permissions, such as access to SMS and contacts.
Official apps require a different kind of care: paid plans are prominently displayed, and some offers start with a free trial that turns into automatic billing at the end. If you want to try a plan, note the date and cancel through the store itself before renewal if you don't want to continue. And if a child uses the phone, check the age rating on the app page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to watch TV through these apps?
Yes. They are all distributed by the broadcasters themselves or by companies licensed to carry the content, and they are in the official stores. The Pluto TV, for example, presents itself in the store as 100% free and legal, supported by ads.
Can you watch Globo live without paying?
According to the Globoplay page in the store, the free version includes the TV Globo and the ge tv live. The group's premium channels and the full catalog are in the paid plans.
Do I need to sign up?
It depends on the app. The Cultura Play says it doesn't require sign-up, and the Bandplay does. On the Pluto TV, the free account lets you pick up where you left off on another device. For the rest, the store pages don't say whether the free part requires login. If any app asks for a card to unlock a part that should be free, stop and read the screen again.
And the Samsung TV Plus?
In Brazil, the Samsung offers the service on the brand's Smart TVs and Smart Monitors. As of November 2026 we found no official confirmation of a phone version in the country, so it was left out of this list.
Does it use a lot of data?
Video is what uses the most data on a phone, and the usage grows with image quality and viewing time. To watch full soap operas or football, it's best to be on Wi-Fi. On 4G, lower the quality when the app allows it.
Enjoyed it? In the Apps category you will find other guides to useful everyday apps, and in Curiosities there is more good reading for your free time.
