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Pluto TV Review
Pluto TV is one of the most popular services in the growing list of free video streaming services. But this innovative service is no small player in the market. Since the platform’s launch in 2013, Pluto TV has grown to more than 20 million viewers and was purchased by ViacomCBS for $340 million in March 2019.
The reason for its rise is that Pluto TV provides access to more than 200 live channels and on-demand content for free and without the need to sign up for the service. Its library of more than 1,000 titles includes Hollywood hits, and there’s a never-ending stream of documentaries, entertainment, news, and sports shows to keep viewers entertained.
Pluto TV is easily accessible through Android and Apple mobile apps, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and smart TVs.
Pluto TV at a Glance
How We Evaluated Pluto TV
Free video streaming services are becoming increasingly popular. As a result, the quality of these services is always improving. Pluto TV is one of several platforms that offers a rich mix of good on-demand and live streaming content. We took a closer look at what users can expect from the service and compared it to several of its closest competitors. We assessed these services based on the amount and type of content they provide and the viewing quality they offer.
Pluto TV vs. Other Free Video Streaming Services
All information accurate as of 02/10/2020.
Pluto TV Key Features
Excellent user experience
Pluto TV may be free, but it certainly doesn’t skimp on quality viewing experiences. On-demand content via Pluto TV’s apps and web player comes with useful 10-second fast-forward and rewind buttons and playback features that enable viewers to skip through on-demand content. It also allows users to turn closed-captioning on and off and to customize font options as well as the color and size of the text and background.
Pluto TV’s live streaming service will feel familiar to the majority of viewers as it takes the form of an online TV guide. It begins by playing the last channel that the viewer watched, then lets them scroll through and play the desired channel in full-screen or standard-sized web modes. Upon closing the full-screen mode, content continues to play in a small pop-up screen as viewers navigate the site and look for things to watch. Of course, it’s worth remembering that all content will be supported by ads, but that’s a small price to pay for free live streaming and on-demand entertainment.
Pluto TV Channels
Pluto TV’s extensive choice of live TV channels more than rivals the majority of paid-for live streaming providers. Its lineup includes over 20 channels dedicated to live streaming movies around-the-clock and more than 70 channels filled with comedy, drama, and entertainment options.
There’s also a good selection of news options, including CBSN, CNN, and Sky News, as well as live sports channels such as Fox Sports and NFL Network. Live sports action viewing is restricted by the lack of local network channels, which typically carry big games. But there’s plenty of sporting content on Fight, which provides Bellator and UFC action, SportsGrid, Stadium, and Winter Sports TV.
Strong movie line-up
Pluto TV boasts a strong selection of movies to fuel many a movie night. Its biggest recent releases include the star-studded expose of the financial crash in “The Big Short,” and Jake Gyllenhaal starring in “Nightcrawler and Zodiac,” which focuses on the hunt for the Zodiac Killer. These are bolstered by excellent older movies like Kevin Spacey’s classic “American Beauty,” wartime epic “Apocalypse Now,” and Robert De Niro playing boxer Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull.”
Specialist TV channels
An interesting, unique quality of Pluto TV is that it has created channels dedicated to specific TV shows. Some of these choices are fairly niche and unusual — for example, viewers can watch around-the-clock streams of “Baywatch,” “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” or “The Hills.”
The Bottom Line
Pluto TV is an unusual beast in the modern world, let alone the streaming space, as it enables anyone to watch free movies and TV shows without even having to create an account. It may lack the high-quality channels and on-demand content that signing up for a subscription to a premium video streaming service guarantees, but it still offers viewers an impressive range of entertainment. Viewers are well served by the option of live streaming entertainment, news, sports, and even movies, or choosing from an extensive library of on-demand movies and TV shows. Pluto TV is a great option for anyone looking for free TV streaming.
About the Authors
Rob Latham is a writer focused on technology, music, entertainment and sports. He is particularly passionate about the role that technology plays in improving peoples’ lives.
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