Best TV Everywhere apps for Roku, Fire TV and Android

LAST UPDATED JUNE 15, 2017 AT 7:42 P.M.

The Best TV Everywhere apps for Roku, Fire TV and Android TV

There is an arms race going on among live streaming services like Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and even fuboTV.

Which streaming TV service has the most TV Everywhere apps that you can authenticate with your subscription?

Right now, PlayStation Vue is the king with the ability to authenticate more than 50 apps. DirecTV Now is close behind with about 45 apps. And surprisingly, fuboTV subscribers can authenticate apps for around 33 channels, including BeIN, FOX and A&E Networks.

Sling TV appears to be catching up, but slowly.

Being able to authenticate apps gives you some mobility with your TV content that you may not have otherwise. People want to be able to watch their shows outside their home or on the road.

But there’s an added bonus from authenticating apps too. Some will have more on-demand content than the live streaming service you’re paying for.

So you don’t have to completely rely on Sling TV or PlayStation Vue to carry all the shows or movies you want.

That’s a pretty big deal if you’re searching for a whole season of “Mr. Robot” or “Better Call Saul”. The very best apps offer something more than just the channel itself.

The CNN Go app is a great example. It has a live feed CNN as well as a live CNN International feed along with live content from HLN.

There are episodes shows like “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”. The network also rolled out its first original show exclusive to the CNNgo app.

FXNOW also combines all three channels, FX, FXX and FXM into a single app. You get a huge movie selection on-demand alongside full seasons of shows like ‘Taboo’.

Apps war: PlayStation Vue vs Sling TV, DirecTV Now and fuboTV

Below is a summary of some of the best TV Everywhere apps. Many of them offer more than just on-demand content.

For a fuller accounting of apps, I recommend that you check out the apps list offered by these Reddit users as well. Note that there’s a separate tab in that list for Sling TV and DirecTV Now.

Live streaming services continue to add app authentication, so I will continue to keep this list updated. This isn’t a list of every app out there, but if you see one that you think should be included on the list, drop me a line or weigh in the comments section below.

A&E

The A&E app has most of the network’s shows, including “60 Days In”, “The First 48” and “Nightwatch”. In the Featured section, you will find some of the most popular shows in A&E’s lineup including “Bates Motel” and “Duck Dynasty”.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Web

Verify with: Sling TV, fuboTV 

AMC

With the AMC app, not only are you getting full seasons of “Better Call Saul” and “The Walking Dead”. You’re also getting some Sundance TV shows like “Hap & Leonard”, which just started Season 3. This is a great deal because there is no dedicated app for Sundance TV.

Devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Web, Windows 10

Verify with: DirecTV Now, fuboTV, PlayStation Vue, Sling TV

Animal Planet GO

Forget the old Animal Planet app showing live feeds of Sharks in a tank like the Yule log burning on your TV screen. The re-launched app has a live feed of the Animal Planet network and full seasons of River Monsters and its roster of popular shows. A “Curated Lists” section pulls together a cross section of content favorites and firsts on the network.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue

CNBC

It’s been interesting to watch cable news channels broaden into niche programming and reality TV. You can watch “The Profit” or one of my favorites, “American Greed” while getting your financial news fix.

Devices: Android, iOS, Roku, Web

Verify with: DirecTV Now, fuboTV, PlayStation Vue

CNNgo

CNNgo has a robust lineup for news shows and features like “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”. An app-exclusive show “Mostly Human with Laurie Segall” just debuted on March 12. The app has a live feed of the HLN channel.

You’re also getting the added channel of CNN International, which may not appear in your live streaming subscription.

Devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue, Sling TV

Discovery GO

These days the Discovery Channel is a unique soup of reality TV. Shows like “The Killing Fields” and “Naked and Afraid” are here, and you can also dive into the Live TV feed.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue

ESPN (WatchESPN)

When you want to watch the NBA Finals and you don’t have cable, having app authentication is a big plus. This year, if you couldn’t get ABC with an antenna, then your other option was WatchESPN. It was broadcasting a live feed of the NBA Finals from ESPN3

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android and Kindle Fire, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4, Roku, Windows, Xbox One

Verify with: DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV.

FXNOW

There’s a great movie selection drawn from three channels, FX, FXX and FXM. You can catch full seasons of great shows like ‘Taboo’ and some that should have been great like ‘Legion’. There’s tremendous content and value in this app. 

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android and TV, iOS, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung STV, X360, PS4, Web, Windows 10

Verify with: DirecTV Now, fuboTV, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV

History Channel

Watch “American Pickers” and “Pawn Stars” on the app if you’re looking for more lively variations of “Antiques Roadshow”. The History Channel app has just about every show and most episodes you want to see.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Web, Android

Verify with: fuboTV, Sling TV

HGTV

Admit it, you watch “Beachfront Bargain Hunt”. It’s OK. I’m with you. Now you can watch it live if you want. Stream “House Hunters International”, “Caribbean Life” and other envy-infused shows that make you fantasize well beyond your tax bracket.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Chromecast, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue, Sling TV

ID Go (Discovery ID)

The Discovery ID app has recently stepped up its true crime game with shows like “Vanity Fair Confidential”. You can also watch a live TV feed of the network.

Devices: Amazon Fire TV, Android, iOS, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue

NatGeo TV

The NatGeo TV app has shows from the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild. The content is somewhat limited. Nat Geo Wild seems to have better choices like Season 3 of “Snake City”.

Devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung TV, Xbox 360, Xbox ONE, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue, fuboTV, DirecTV Now and Sling TV

TNT

Sure, you can watch some live NBA games on this app. There are new hits like “Good Behavior” and classics like “Law & Order” too.

The real surprise comes with the movie collection. It’s not as vast as the FXNOW app, but it has some impressive titles. As of this writing, it had a number of the Lord of The Rings films, Casino and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue, Sling TV

SciGo

Shows like “How It’s Made”, “Impossible Engineering” and “How the Universe Works” are among some of the titles you can check out with the Science Channel app.  Their lineup of shows also helps us understand how chemistry, physics and engineering are applied in the real world.

Devices: Android Fire TV, Android, Roku, iOS, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue

USA Now

Pick any series on USA that you want to watch and the app has it. Catch up on “Suits”, Season 2 of “Mr. Robot” or “Colony”.  USA Now has a clean looking user interface, but a sparse movie collection. Maybe that will change soon.

Devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Web

Verify with: PlayStation Vue, DirecTV Now

What apps can I authenticate with Hulu or YouTube TV?

This list will be updated as competitors like Hulu and YouTube TV go live later this year. YouTube TV is expected to have some app authentication, but an exact lineup has not yet been disclosed. With Hulu, it’s been a little less clear. Hulu is now implementing a beta test of its live streaming service, but it’s playing things pretty close to the vest. 

What’s the most useful app that you tap into using DirecTV Now, Sling TV, PlayStation Now, fuboTV or another live streaming service? Let other readers know in the comments below.