There are countless streaming platforms currently available, and the cost of signing up for multiple can add up quickly.
That’s where Tubi comes in. The American-based streaming service launched in the UK back in 2024 and offers a completely free way to watch over 200,000 TV shows and movies. These include old favourites like The Bourne series to Tubi Originals, including Vice News documentaries and more.
Sounds too good to be true? We explain everything you need to know about Tubi, from what the platform actually is and how you can access it, to whether it is really free.
What is Tubi TV?
Tubi is a streaming service that was originally founded back in 2014, but was acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020.
Unlike other streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video, Tubi is entirely ad-supported and free to use. In fact, Tubi doesn’t even offer users the option to upgrade and subscribe to ad-free content. Instead, it funds its platform purely with the use of advertising.
At the time of writing, Tubi has a library of over 200,000 movies and TV shows, although specific content will vary depending on your location. US-based viewers will also benefit from over 260 Free Ad-Support Streaming TV (FAST) channels too.
Is Tubi actually free?
Yes, Tubi really is completely free. Users don’t need to enter any payment or card information to access the service, nor does Tubi even offer a paid-for subscription.
In fact, the only information users need to provide when signing up is their age and gender. Asking users for their age is to determine whether a user meets age requirements and ensure Tubi doesn’t show advertisements or content not suitable for minors, while Tubi explains asking for gender is used “to create a customised experience for users.”
Is Tubi available in the UK?
Yes, although it’s an American company that’s headquartered in San Francisco, Tubi is available in the UK. Aside from the UK, Tubi is available across the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and LATAM.
You can access Tubi in the UK through the Tubi website, iOS, Android and Amazon Fire apps.
What channels do you get on Tubi?
You won’t receive any FAST channels on Tubi in the UK, as this service is reserved for US users.
Otherwise, those in the US benefit from over 260 FAST channels that stream 24/7. At the time of writing, these channels are made up of 70 entertainment, 14 sports, 104 local news and 18 news. You can find the full list of Tubi FAST Channels here.
Who owns Tubi?
Tubi is owned by Fox Corporation, which also owns the likes of Fox News Media, Fox Entertainment and Bento Box Entertainment production. Purchased for $440m (£348m), Fox Corporation allegedly purchased Tubi as a way to attract younger audiences.
Does Tubi have ads?
In order to afford to keep its content library free for everyone, Tubi shows ads and doesn’t offer a subscription or paid-for service to remove them.
Tubi promises that its ad breaks are usually one to two minutes long and happen approximately every 15 minutes or so. Tubi also claims that with around four to eight minutes of adverts every hour, it has “far fewer adverts than other services”, although we’re yet to verify this claim.
Is Tubi safe?
It may seem like there’s a catch involved with Tubi, but it really is a free and legal streaming service. Not only will Tubi never ask for credit card information, but it also promises that you’ll never receive any security warnings, pop-ups, malware or redirects to malicious sites.
Tubi also says users will never be asked to use a VPN either, to prove it’s a legal and safe site.
How does Tubi make money?
Tubi explains that it stays free by showing adverts during movies and TV shows. It elaborates that showing advert breaks “pays for the content that [its] partners […] provide to us” as the ad content “pays so you don’t have to.”
Tubi’s partners include huge studios like MGM, Lionsgate and Paramount, alongside indie studios like Full Moon Pictures.
Does Tubi have live TV?
While Tubi does offer live TV channels in addition to on-demand shows and movies, this feature can only be found in the US. These live channels are what’s known as FAST, and are a type of streaming that doesn’t require a subscription fee. Instead, it pays for itself with its ad content.
Streaming 24/7, Tubi’s FAST channels include the likes of live news and sports channels such as Bloomberg TV, Euronews and Fubo Sports Network.
In addition, Tubi also offers dedicated channels for specific TV shows, including Baywatch and even The Only Way Is Essex, plus film channels for different genres such as Filmrise Westerns, Filmrise Comedy and Filmrise True Crime.
In total, Tubi offers over 260 live channels across the US.
