Nine Worthwhile Fire TV Stick Apps You Should Try
However you view the Fire TV Stick, you probably have the same set of apps as most people: Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, the list goes on. But there are some useful apps beyond the ordinary that you should definitely consider. And since the Amazon Fire TV Stick is, after all, an Android device, you can even run custom Android apps on it to really unleash the power of this little streaming device.
Loader
Fire TV’s OS is Android, which means you can use any verified Android APK on your Fire TV Stick. But to get there, you need to do two things. First enable developer access ( I have a guide on this here ), then download Downloader .
Downloader can help you download any application using the built-in browser. You can go to any reliable APK site like APK Mirror or apps hosted on Github to directly download the APK on Fire TV Stick.
Cody
Kodi is an all-in-one media center that’s easy to customize. It’s free and open source, and its library of plugins provides features like live TV streaming and cloud syncing. You can use Kodi to stream movies and TV shows from your home server, or use the built-in plugins to stream free content online.
Kodi is not officially available on the Amazon app store, but installing the Kodi app using an APK is quite easy. I have a detailed guide on how to use Downloader to install and set up Kodi.
If Kodi seems like a lot to you, I recommend you take a look at Plex and Jellyfin. Plex is a popular media center. It’s really well designed, but many of its features that are available across devices are behind a paywall. Jellyfin , on the other hand, is completely free and open source, and although the interface is basic, it is fast and feature-rich.
VLK
While I prefer using IINA on Mac , VLC is an undeniable classic. VLC is a video app that plays whatever you throw at it, and that’s even true of VLC for Fire TV Stick. The application will stream content online or play locally hosted media files. VLC will even download the subtitles and sync them for you.
SmartTube
SmartTube is one of the few third-party ad-free YouTube clients available on the Fire TV Stick. ( NewPipe is a great option for Android smartphones). Like Kodi, SmartTube is not in the Amazon app store, so you’ll have to download it using Downloader. However, it is hosted on Github and is open source, so it can be checked for security issues.
SmartTube is 100% ad-free and even integrates SponsorBlock to automatically skip sponsored video sections. It supports 4K and HDR content, custom buttons and chat, but the app does not support voice search.
AirScreen
AirScreen adds AirPlay to your TV without having to buy an expensive Apple TV. The AirScreen app can turn your Fire TV Stick into a wireless display receiver for many platforms, such as AirPlay, Miracast, and even Chromecast, so you can share your screen from your iPhone, Mac, or Android phone.
ProtonVPN
If you’re looking for a private and secure VPN app, I recommend Mullvad VPN because of its simple price (and the fact that you don’t need an account to use it). Mullvad VPN is not available in the Amazon app store ( though you can always use “Download” to install the Android version ). If you want a VPN designed for the Fire TV Stick, I recommend Proton VPN . It has a generous free plan (no data cap, but limited to three servers and one connection per account), as well as a paid upgrade if you need more, such as streaming content from other countries in 4K.
Tooby
Tubi offers a little bit of everything, including movies, TV shows, and live TV. There is a huge catalog of content with over 50,000 movies and TV shows. The advantage is that the application is completely free to use. The only negative is, of course, advertising.
However, if you don’t mind watching ads, this is a great way to access free entertainment. Lifehacker’s sister site PCMag loved Tubi in its full review of the service .
Roku Channel
You don’t need a Roku device to enjoy the Roku Channel . The Fire TV Stick version offers a vast library of free movies and TV shows to watch, even if it doesn’t have all the latest and greatest content on the market. You also have access to live TV, sports, kids’ shows, news and more. Plus, it’s actually pretty easy to use considering it’s a Roku app.
Airy TV
Airy TV is another free TV channel app that’s especially useful if you don’t want to spend money on services like YouTube TV. It’s completely free and doesn’t even require registering an account. Download the app and you are watching live TV. Of course, you will have to watch ads, but this is standard for such applications. Airy TV has a good collection of channels for streaming movies, TV shows, and even live sports, including MMA.